The Village of Bright: A Short History

A short history of the village of Bright and the disastrous fire that destroyed a business block in 1929.

By Liz Dommasch, Archivist

Originally known as Plattsville Station, settlement in Bright began as early as 1830. However, it wasn’t until the 1860s that the community ceased to be a satellite of the Village of Plattsville, (located in Blenheim Township), and became known as Bright thanks to the efforts of George Baird.

A view of John Street in the Village of Bright. [J. Gruszka PC 0011]

George Baird immigrated to Canada to set up a shoe manufacturing plant in Chesterfield. He would eventually give this up in order to establish a saw mill at Plattsville Station and built a store, which also became the first post office in the area for several miles around. There he laid out the village and named three of the streets after his three sons: John, George and James. Upon his suggestion, the hamlet was named after John Bright (1811-1889) a prominent English orator and statesman. However, according to local folklore, Mr. Baird had two oxen named Buck and Bright with the latter being his favourite, and when the Village secured a post office, it is said he named the place after his beloved bovine.

By the early 1870s, the village boasted three stores, a steam stave factory and cooper shop, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, a saddle and harness shop, two boot and shoe shops and two tailoring shops. There was also a Methodist church, built in 1865, and a Baptist Church and three hotels including the Anglo-American, which was said to furnish ample accommodation for travelers. In addition, as the land was cleared Bright became known more and more as a dairy centre. One of the first cheese factories (Bright Cheese and Butter) was founded there as a co-operative company in 1874 and is still operational today, making it Canada's Oldest Registered Independent Cheese Company. By the 1880s, the village’s population was around 350.

Map of Early Businesses in Bright – "A History of Blandford Township, 1867-1967" by George Oliver

In June 1929, a large frame business building on the main street of Bright was destroyed by fire. Originally owned by Herbert Sharp, the building once housed E.J. Bristow’s General Store and a drugstore operated by William McKie, druggist. At the time of the fire the building was owned by David S. Aldridge and housed his hardware store, a barber shop, a dentist office, and an apartment. Mr. Aldridge was born in Brussels in 1857 and worked as a tinsmith in Plattsville for some time, before arriving in the village and opening his hardware store. He would pass away in 1937, and is buried at the cemetery in Chesterfield.

Main Street in Bright, Ontario in 1925. From the Plattsville Women's Institute Tweedsmuir No. 4 [COA169]

The fire was said to have originated on the evening of June 3rd, in the dental office used by Dr. Sinclair, of Plattsville. Dr. Sinclair opened his dental office in Plattsville around 1926, though only remained in the area for a few years before moving to Welland, Ontario. Upon hearing an explosion, a resident quickly sounded the alarm and a call was immediately sent to Woodstock for assistance. Although the building couldn’t be saved, the Woodstock Fire Department and volunteers from the village were able to contain the fire from spreading to nearby businesses and homes.

“Bright Village Business Block Razed by Fire” Woodstock Sentinel-Review. – 4 June 1929.