Atwood

Atwood was the last name chosen for the hamlet located on C8L15,16 [of Elma Townshi, Perth County, Ontario]. Situated close to the centre of the township, strategically on an important road, and also the site of the first train station in the township, the southern part of what we now know as Atwood was once considered a suburb of Newry, and referred to as Newry Station. The north part of the town had been referred to as Tennants Corners, and then as Elma Centre.

Some of the first buildings in the township were hotels and taverns where pioneers could find overnight lodging and a meal. In the 1850s Tennants Comers was associated with such an establishment, for after George Blair recorded his claim to C7L15 his step daughter, Margaret C Collins and her husband Jacob Tennant operated a hotel on the property. The name Elma Centre was used by the Presbyterians for the church that they built in 1862, and the name was found elsewhere in the community as well.

Another early hotel was located on the southwest comer of C7L16. It was known as Graham's Hotel, built on land George Graham had settled before the Crown deed was given. Blair Tavern was located kitty-comer across the gravel road, on the northeast comer of C8LI5, where the cenotaph now stands. This property was claimed in the name of James Blair, although the first taxable occupant was listed as Ellenor 'Ellen' Blair. The same surname appears on C8L16.

The Blair family came from Quebec to Peel Township then to a farm near Trowbridge. In 1854 James Blair died at Trowbridge and his wife, Ellen (Keo), and family moved to C8L16. They built the first log cabin located at 185 Main Street, Atwood. At one time the Blair family owned and operated a wagon shop.

In 1873 the railway was staked to run 80 rods east of the gravel road, but in 1877 when the railroad was finally constructed, it was built on the property lines from C2LI6,17 through C7L16,17, before it curved west through C8LI6 towards Henfryn. The Blair family sold some of their land to the railway for the line as well as a railway station, the first in the township. They then sold lots along the Main street, and William, the youngest son, acted as spokesperson for the family. Today many street names in Atwood carry the names of the Blair children. The lots along the west side of Main were laid out in 1878 by Fuller and Watson. Elma Centre was noted on the north side of Atwood and Newry Station on the southern portion of their survey.   [David James Watson tells the story of his family getting on the train at Elma Centre about this time, and moving to Manitoba]  

Blair Tavern

Ellenor Blair, after the death of her second husband, married William Coghlin and operated the Blair Tavern. The next owner of the tavern was John C Henry who sold to Nathaniel Coghlin around 1892. Nathaniel Coghlin operated this hotel until it burned in 1912. He went to Alberta. The ruins of the fire remained on this abandoned until the cenotaph was erected about 1924. [Elmanac pp. 145-146]

1861 census of Canada - Elma
Coghlan Wm. L 16 C 8 Inn Keeper Ireland Ang 64 Married Male 1796
Coghlan Ellen   Quebec " 42 Married Female  1818
Coghlan Robert   Ontario " 21 S M  1839
Coghlan Elizabeth  " " 19 S F  1841
Coghlin Charles   " " 17 S M  1843
Blair Thomas   " " 17 S M  1843
Blair John   " " 16 S M  1844
Blair Mary Ann  " " 14 S F  1846
Blair Wm   " " 13 S M  1847
Coghlan Nathaniel  " " 5 S M  1855
Coghlan Ellen   " " 3 S F  1857
Coghlan Henry   " " 1 S M  1859
[The last number is year of birth calculated from the age]   By the 1871 census, Ellen was again a widow, living with her children. Mary Ann is no longer livig with her.