Elmwood

Elmwood is home to rich farmland that straddles Bruce and Grey Counties. All households west of Bruce and Grey Road 10 fall within the Municipality of Brockton, while households on the east side are residents of the Municipality of West Grey.

The hamlet is a quiet rural escape with a strong sense of community that features a post office, local businesses, an active Chamber of Commerce, the Elmwood Fire Hall and Elmwood Lions Park both located at 25 Dirstein St. S, which feature baseball diamonds and a playground, and the Elmwood Community Centre that plays host to celebrations throughout the year, and private functions throughout the year making it a social hub in the community. 

History

Elmwood was founded by John Dirstein, Sr., who acquired 273 acres in Brant Township to establish a community. The name Elmwood, comes from a giant elm tree, which was in the way of progress and was felled near the intersection of Main and Queen Streets. It is likely all of Elmwood’s citizens benefitted from the resulting wood.

At one time the village offered five churches, a hotel, carpenter, furniture factory, doctor, flour mill, grain dealer, hardware store, cooper, four general stores, carriage, harness and wagon makers, blacksmith, livery, wood dealer, two grocers and a pump maker.

It is of some interest that a local inventor, Elhanan Bowman, strung some wire between himself and a neighbour a few blocks away, establishing telephone service in 1908. Before long he had 160 subscribers. The business passed through various ownerships until it was taken over by Bell in 1966.