Updated Tuesday, April 21, 1998
Compiled by St Joseph Island Historical Society
| 1622 | Etienne Brule arrived in Sault Ste Marie. Enroute there he was likely the first white man to set eyes on St Joseph Island. |
| 1641 | Joques and Raymbault were missionaries in this area. |
| 1763 | St Joseph Island passes from French control to English. |
| 1778 | Jean Batiste Rousseau, a trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company arrived on St Joseph Island. |
| 1783 | North West Company establishes a fur trading company. |
| 1791 | St Joseph Island included as part of Upper Canada. |
| 1792 | North West Company builds an establishment on Rains Point. |
| 1796 | British arrive and start Fort St Joseph. |
| 1798 | Chippewa Indians sell St Joseph Island to the English. |
| 1802 | Fort bakehouse burned. |
| 1812 | War declared against the U.S. |
| 1814 | Fort St Joe burned by Americans. |
| 1828 | Fort abandoned by British. |
| 1835 | Major Rains, Archibald Hamilton Scott, and Charles Thompson start settlement at Milford Haven/Pembroke/Pecksville. First saw mill set up at Milford Haven on Collins Creek (Scott’s Mill). |
| 1838 | Rains, Scott and Thompson partnership dissolved. Samuel Peck runs store at Milford Haven for Thompson. Area called Pecksville/Pembroke. Major Rains moves to Rains Point/Hentlan. |
| 1846 | Bruce Mines settlement started. |
| 1848 | Bruce Mines has 3 frame buildings, 30 log houses, 2 wharfs and population of 250. |
| 1849 | Major Rains moves to Loch Rains. |
| 1850 | Hilton/Marksville established and a wharf built. |
| 1851 | Tudor Rains builds dock at Sailors Encampment. |
| 1852 | T.N. Molesworth begins survey. |
| 1855 | Molesworth survey completed. David Coulter comes to St Joseph Island. |
| 1856 | Alexander Trainor takes out patent for land in Hilton. |
| 1858 | District of Algoma organized, St Joseph Island part of Algoma. |
| 1860 | John Bishop family arrive. Hugh and John Jones, Cox family, Wiley family, Gordon family, Murray family, Belval family, Andrew and Nelson Desjardins, Collins family, Howard family, Richmond family, Rousseau family, Ricollett family, and Trainor family all settle in or near Hilton Beach. |
| 1861 | Census shows 174 |
| 1863 | John Marks builds a dock at Sailors Encampment. |
| 1866 | John Richards has store in Bruce Mines. |
| 1867 | Confederation of Canada, Upper Canada reorganized as province of Ontario. |
| 1868 | Homestead Act instituted. |
| 1872 | John Marks moves from Sailors Encampment to Marksville, later to be named Hilton Beach. S.S. Cumberland frozen in ice all winter at Sailors Encampment. E.J. Pink becomes first teacher. |
| 1875 | Archie and John McGuigan start saw mill on Richardson’s creek. Joseph Ridley Kent and family arrive. |
| 1876 |
John Richards starts settlement at Richards Landing. St. Joseph Township organized, John Richards as Reeve; Council – P.T. Bailey, T.B. Lay, David Coulter, Owen & Arthur Rains and John Shewfelt. First post office called St Joseph Island post office opened Oct 1 in Richards Landing at home of John Richards. Families of John Campbell, Joseph Kent, and Christopher Young arrive. John Morton and family arrive with John Richards. John Ross family arrive. Miss Alice Stirling hired as first school teacher for St Joseph township. |
| 1877 | School house built at Hilton/Marksville. First church (Church of Mary) built at Sailors Encampment. Eliz. Bishop first woman to locate land. Richards Landing post office moved to John Richards store and called Richards Landing post office. |
| 1879 | Archibald Hotel built by J. Archibald at corner of Cedar and Maple streets in Hilton Beach. William Fremlin came to Island as timber buyer. Bolt family arrives. Henry Joseph Brown arrives. |
| 1880 |
First hotel in Marksville started by Mr. Archibald. Cheer school built on corner of 10th and F&G line. Cedar Grove Methodist and Presbyterian Church at corner of A line and D Line. Patrick Trainor family arrives. Catholic Chapel at Sailors Encampment built. Tax role for St Joseph Township was 49. Alex Duncan arrives. Andrew Clifford arrives. |
| 1881 |
First Anglican churches built in Marksville and Jocelyn. St Joseph Island post office changed to Richards Landing. 2nd post office opened at Marksville. John Marks postmaster. Post office started in Jocelyn (July 1). B.P. Morgan and N.J. Murphy build saw mill in Richards Landing. Census shows 1235. John Brownlee arrives. Alex McMaster arrives. |
| 1882 | Bessy Young family arrives. John Ross arrives at Sailors Encampment, purchases store from Hoel Rains and opens Sea Gull post office. |
| 1883 | Thomas Brandon opens the Brandon House(hotel) in John Richards former home. |
| 1884 | C Line school built on corner of C Line and A Line Mountain church on P line erected. |
| 1885 | Kaskewan school built. Miss McQueen teacher.Quinton McQueen runs saw mill at Milford Haven. |
| 1886 |
Jocelyn township formed - Reeve was Jesse G. Reesor. Dr. Hector Ross first Island resident Doctor. Hilton Township organized. A.G. Duncan first Reeve. First School board meeting held at Brandon Hall, Richards Landing. Executive was John Richards, Chairman; T.H. Johnson and B.P. Morgan trustees; John Smith secretary-treasurer; Josephine Kent teacher. Brandon Hall rented for 3 years at 50 cents per year for school purposes. |
| 1887 |
F.B. Kent builds grist mill on Richardson’s creek. John and Irwin Dean have saw mill at Twin Lakes. McQueen builds saw mill at Milford Haven. Presbyterian Church Hilton Beach built under guidance of Rev. Ferguson (burned down in 1927). New families to Hilton Beach area Chas Diboll J.W. Weurgik Dan and Wm. See Alf Kitchen and Martin Kitchen Margaret McDermott Mrs F. Campbell J. A. Dingle |
| 1888 |
Businesses in Hilton Beach Hotel M. Archibald General store S.T. Bowker Shoemaker R. Chester Wagonmaker J.C. Cooper General store and sawmill A.G. Duncan Sawmill Dean and Davis Blacksmith T. Steinburg Justice of the Peace A.G. Duncan, D. McPhail, John Marks George Lines builds saw mill at Two Tree River E.O. Van Horn builds a grist mill |
| 1889 |
Van Horn sells grist mill to Dickson P.T. Chesterfield builds saw mill at Richards Landing Kents start mill at Kentvale |
| 1890 |
Public school built in Richards Landing Archibald Hotel moved to present location on Marks St. (there were 8 owners before being purchased by Stan Wells in 1943) Population of St. Joseph Township was 529 John Ross builds hotel at Sailors Encampment |
| 1891 |
Census shows 1258 Robert Armstrong arrives |
| 1892 |
Alex Browns mill built on U Line Population of Hilton Township was 279 John Axworthy arrives |
| 1893 |
McGuigan brothers (John and Archie) start saw mill in Hilton Beach Church built on corner of Base Line and Hilton Road Mountain Presbyterian church built in Jocelyn Population of Jocelyn Township was 341 |
| 1894 |
David McGregor family arrives on Island Melville Church (Presbyterian) built in Richards Landing Kaskewan Presbyterian Church Ferguson Memorial Pres. church corner A Line and I Line Nelson family arrive at Hilton Beach. They came by train from Cornwall to Bruce Mines and to the Island in a sailboat operated by Mr. Thibault, the mail carrier |
| 1896 |
Lyons school/church built on A line at Two Tree River Population of Hilton Township was 367 Brick school in Hilton Beach built Tenby bay school built |
| 1897 |
Free Methodist Church corner 10th Side Road and Hilton Road Population of St Joseph Township was 900 |
| 1898 |
Joseph Rickaby starts Island Herald newspaper mention of a Dr. Ross on Island |
| 1899 |
Population of Jocelyn Township was 435 School erected at Harmony |
| 1900 |
Church built on land donated by Bruce Prout at Tenby Bay Zion 1900 Church built on I line |
| 1901 |
Humphrey and Heber Young begin a telephone system Census shows 1928 |
| 1903 |
Peter Chesterfield begins milling J.E. Murphy runs the saw mill at Milford Haven |
| 1904 | Charles Jagger arrives |
| 1906 | St Boniface Catholic Church in Hilton Beach |
| 1907 |
Fire in Richards Landing. Eleven buildings destroyed Population of St Joseph Township was 1136 Kaskewan (stone) school built |
| 1908 | Population of Hilton Township was 415 |
| 1909 | Population of Jocelyn Township was 406 |
| 1910 |
Stone Lumber Co. started. Buys saw mill from McGuigan brothers Stone Lumber Co. builds railway track |
| 1911 |
Chapel of the Intercession built at Llewellyn Beach Dr Rowenthwaite on Island Dr. Allen Blackwell on Island - opens Drug store |
| 1915 | 116 Islanders go to war |
| 1916 | Fire in Richards Landing |
| 1917 | Joseph Diboll arrives |
| 1919 |
Imperial Bank of Canada opens in Richards Landing Ferry started at Kensington Point by George Langstaff |
| 1920 |
Library opened in Hilton/Marksville by Women's Institute Ed Whicher runs saw mill at Milford Haven Dr. Arthur Lipminn on Island |
| 1921 |
Marksville becomes Hilton Beach Dr. G.E. Lepsett on Island |
| 1922 | Fire in Richards Landing |
| 1923 |
Hilton Beach incorporated as a police village Dr. E.G. Case on Island Ferry at Pine Island started by Walter Lay |
| 1924 | A hospital with 3 beds opened in rented space in Richards Landing |
| 1925 |
Richards Landing Continuation School built St Joseph Island Hospital Association formed |
| 1927 |
Dr. Webb on island |
| 1928 |
St Marks United Church in Richards Landing Mrs. Orrell builds cottage next to Rainsmere Hotel |
| 1929 |
Matthews Memorial Hospital built in memory of Mortimer Matthews |
| 1930 |
Great Lakes brings power to Island Dr. A.N. Morphy on Island |
| 1931 |
Census indicates 1882 people on St Joseph Island |
| 1935 |
Childrens Library started using funding from Mrs. Orrell |
| 1937 |
Dr. Harold S. Trefry on Island |
| 1946 |
Fire in Richards Landing |
| 1953 |
Ferry 'St Joseph Islander" starts at Humbug point |
| 1961 |
Richards Landing High School opened |
| 1963 |
St Joseph Island Museum opens |
| 1967 |
Bell Canada takes over Island phone system |
| 1972 |
Canadian Bank of Commerce opens in Richards Landing Richards Landing High School closed |
| 1973 |
All schools move to CASS |