Dixon's Corners

Population and Governance

1905 Population: The village had a small population of 50 residents in 1905.
Municipal Leadership: James Collison, a resident of Dixon’s Corners, was a prominent local figure who served as the Reeve of Matilda and chairman of the regional drainage committee in the late 19th century.

Postal and Economic History

Post Office: The post office was established in 1852, with John Dixon serving as the first postmaster.
Local Businesses (1905): Despite its small size, the community supported various tradesmen and services, including:
- General Store: James Steinburg.
- Blacksmith: John Barclay.
- Butcher: William Fisher.
- Cheese Maker: Thomas McIntyre.
- Other Professionals: Agent Charles Hanson, contractor James Shaver, and livestock dealer A. Stenberg.

Religious Life

Presbyterianism: A Presbyterian church was built at Dixon’s Corners in 1858. This congregation was later united with the one in Iroquois to form a single pastoral charge.
Roman Catholic Church: The first Catholic church in the village was a frame building, which was replaced by a brick church in 1864. This congregation was part of a larger parish that included Morrisburg and Iroquois.

Education

School Section No. 11: Dixon's Corners was the site of S.S. No. 11 Matilda.
Notable Teachers:
- Alexander McFarling taught there in 1850.
- Daniel Rose had a long association with the school, teaching there intermittently between 1842 and 1867.
- Thomas Johnston, known as "Big Tom," was a teacher noted for being a strict disciplinarian and a skilled arithmetician.
School Closures: The original school (S.S. No. 11) closed in 1963. It was succeeded by the New Dixon’s Corners School, which eventually closed in September 2008, at which point students were moved to Nationview, Iroquois, or Centennial '67 Public Schools.

Infrastructure and Landmarks

Roadwork: In the mid-19th century, a contract was awarded to Alex Donell and George Brouse to construct a gravel road running north from Dixon's Corners at a cost of $1,000 per mile.
Cenotaph: A memorial stands in front of the Matilda Township Recreation Centre at Dixon's Corners, honoring more than 50 local men from Williamsburg and Matilda Townships who were killed during the two World Wars

Sources:

Chesterville Record

Canadian Official Postal Guide

SDG Counties History

Upper Canada District School Board

Dundas County Directory