A to Z challenge - Elora

Today we are leaving the north and going to Ontario to visit a lovely town called Elora. I was there about twenty years ago and some day I would love to go there again.

Elora was founded in 1832 by Captain William Gilkison (1777-1833) - a sailor, adventurer and speculator born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland and emigrated to North America in 1796. He was a cousin of John Galt, founder of Guelph and Goderich, Ontario. In 1832, Gilkison purchased some 14,000 acres of land. The town site for his proposed settlement was laid out by Lewis Burwell, deputy provincial land surveyor, late in 1832, and the following year Gilkison established a sawmill and a general store.

Originally called Irvine Settlement, the village was renamed Elora when the post office was established in 1839. Capt. Gilkison named the community after his brother’s ship, which was itself inspired by the Ellora Caves in India. Elora was settled by mainly Scottish pioneers who left their mark on finely crafted limestone houses, many of which remain today.

Elora is a cultural haven with so much to offer. Rich in live music, visual arts, crafts, up-scale boutiques, natural beauty, architecture, culinary flavours, and diverse in culture; Elora provides an alternative lifestyle not typically found in small, rural communities in this day.



So long my friends,
Evalina

Originally called Irvine Settlement, the village was renamed Elora when the post office was established in 1839. Capt. Gilkison named the community after his brother’s ship, which was itself inspired by the Ellora Caves in India. Elora was settled by mainly Scottish pioneers who left their mark on finely crafted limestone houses, many of which remain today. - See more at: http://elora.info/elora-history/#sthash.nj1vsWuA.dpuf

was founded in 1832 by Captain William Gilkison;

a sailor, adventurer and land speculator born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Originally called Irvine Settlement, the village was renamed Elora when the post office was established in 1839. Capt. Gilkison named the community after his brother’s ship, which was itself inspired by the Ellora Caves in India. Elora was settled by mainly Scottish pioneers who left their mark on finely crafted limestone houses, many of which remain today.

- See more at: http://elora.info/elora-history/#sthash.nj1vsWuA.dpuf

Elora was founded in 1832 by Captain William Gilkison;

a sailor, adventurer and land speculator born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Originally called Irvine Settlement, the village was renamed Elora when the post office was established in 1839. Capt. Gilkison named the community after his brother’s ship, which was itself inspired by the Ellora Caves in India. Elora was settled by mainly Scottish pioneers who left their mark on finely crafted limestone houses, many of which remain today.

- See more at: http://elora.info/elora-history/#sthash.nj1vsWuA.dpuf