Did you know Beachville was the first named Post Office in Oxford County?

In light of that, we are really looking forward to discussing postal history and its importance as a means of communicating and exchanging information in Oxford County

Arthur McLelland will discuss the 22 post offices in South West Oxford (formerly Beachville and Oxford West Township) and in Zorra Township (formerly Embro, East Nissouri Township and West Zorra Township). 17 of these post offices are no longer in operation, and 5 of them still exist - Beachville, Embro, Ingeroll, Kintore, and Thamesford. 

McLelland will also provide a history of the rural postal service in Canada, promoted by George Wilcox of Springford, Ontario. 

About Arthur McLelland

Arthur McClelland has been a librarian at the London Public Library for 35 years and has been in charge of the Ivey Family London Room for 25 of those 35 years. Arthur was born in Woodstock and grew up in the community of Newark just west of Norwich. He graduated from Norwich and District High School, received his B.A. from the University of Windsor and has a Masters in Library Science from the University of Western Ontario.  Arthur acquired his interest in local history from his maternal grandmother whose family operated the Deller Brick and Tile Yard on Quaker Street for 60 years. He has written entries in several local history books on London and newspaper articles on genealogy and local history. He is the programme chair for the London and Middlesex Historical Society and the London Region Branch of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario. Arthur also sits on the Historic Sites Committee of the London Public Library Board. Arthur was recognized for his promotion of heritage in the city of London by being on the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List in 2020.