????️ The Fascinating History of Broadway: Tillsonburg’s Iconic Main Street

If you’ve ever walked or driven through downtown Tillsonburg, one thing stands out immediately:
Broadway isn’t just any main street — it’s unusually wide, beautifully historic, and full of stories.

Today, Broadway is the heartbeat of Tillsonburg, lined with restaurants, shops, cafés, and heritage buildings. But its origins stretch back nearly 190 years, and its design reveals a lot about how our town began.

Let’s take a step back in time and explore how Broadway became one of the most distinctive main streets in Ontario.

???? 1830s: A Town Built on Timber, Mills, and Industry

Tillsonburg’s story begins with the Tillson family — especially Edwin Delevan Tillson — who helped transform a rugged, heavily forested landscape into a thriving settlement.

In the early to mid-1800s, Tillsonburg was known for:

• Sawmills

• Grist mills

• Lumber yards

• Woolen mills

• Shingle mills

Timber wasn’t just a business — it was the industry. Trees were felled, hauled, milled, and shipped out, forming the backbone of the local economy.

And all of this activity converged on what would become Broadway.

???? Why Broadway Was Built 100 Feet Wide

Most Ontario towns built in the 1800s feature narrow, compact main streets. But Tillsonburg was different.

When the town site was officially laid out around 1836, Broadway was intentionally designed to be 100 feet wide — far wider than anything you would typically find in a rural settlement.

Why so wide?

1. The Logging Wagons Needed Space

Massive oxen-drawn and three-horse wagons carried logs and mill products through downtown daily.
Turning these heavy loads required a huge radius, and narrow streets simply wouldn’t work.

2. Broadway Was a Working Street, Not a Shopping Street

In the beginning, the main traffic wasn’t people — it was industry. Broadway functioned as a transportation corridor for lumber and grain.

3. The Settlers Built for Growth

The Tillson family planned ahead, creating a wide, functional, durable main road that could support decades of expansion.

This forward-thinking decision became one of Tillsonburg’s defining features — and it still shapes the town today.

????️ Late 1800s–Early 1900s: Broadway Becomes a Social & Commercial Hub

As the mills prospered and the population grew, Broadway evolved from an industrial path into the town’s main commercial street.

By the late 1800s and early 1900s, Broadway featured:

• General stores

• Hotels

• Banks

• Tailors and shoe shops

• Rail connections near the station

• Horse-drawn delivery wagons

• Beautiful brick commercial buildings

The street was bustling — but even with horses, buggies, and early automobiles, the massive width of Broadway made the downtown feel open and grand.

Old photos show angled parking with room to spare. Even then, people remarked on how wide the street was.

???? 1940s–1960s: The Modern Era Takes Shape

As automobiles became the norm, Broadway’s width became even more valuable:

• Two full lanes of traffic could pass easily

• Angled parking lined both sides of the street

• Parades, celebrations, and community gatherings fit comfortably

• The town’s commercial district grew without feeling cramped

New shops and businesses continued to fill in, giving Broadway the charm that locals remember from mid-century Tillsonburg.

????️ Broadway Today: A Blend of History & Vibrant Local Life

Today, Broadway stands as one of the most unique and recognizable streets in Southwestern Ontario.

It offers:

???? A welcoming, walkable downtown

Wide sidewalks, shops, cafés, and green spaces that invite people to explore.

???? Beautiful heritage architecture

Many historic brick facades remain, giving the street character and charm.

???? Community events and parades

The width of the street continues to shine during celebrations — a perfect design for a community-focused town.

???? A thriving small-business district

Restaurants, boutiques, bakeries, and services fill the street, creating a vibrant local core.

???? A Street That Tells the Story of Tillsonburg

Broadway is more than just a road — it’s a physical reminder of the early settlers who built a town with vision, hard work, and industry.

It connects Tillsonburg’s past to its present:

• From oxen-drawn logging wagons…

• To early merchants and mill workers…

• To families, businesses, and visitors who enjoy the downtown today.

Every time you walk along Broadway, you’re experiencing a piece of Tillsonburg’s living history.