The Axe and the Wheel

A history of West Oxford Township, 1790-1974

The Axe and the Wheel: a history of West Oxford Township, was published in 1974 by Otter Publishing Tillsonburg, and authored by the West Oxford Women's Institute Book Committee; members included Kit Caffyn, Dorothy Currie, Laurene Hargreaves, Grace Hill, Anne Jakeman, Hilda Julian, Shirley Law, Edna Meek, Beth Shelton, Elizabeth Heeney [art and cover design], Earl Hill [photography].

The forward of the book reads as follows:
"We of the West Oxford Women's Institute Book Committee have sought to present a true picture of early beginnings of our West Oxford District, and some record of those pioneers whose courage, determination and earnest endeavours converted the unbroken forest into the thriving community of today. We wish to express sincere appreciation to all who contributed in any way to make this history possible. We regret any errors of omissions; they were not by design - but by inadvertence. Our information was gained primarily from interviews with descendants of early settlers, from family records, newspaper clippings, gazetteers and above all, from our own wealth of material contained in our Women's Institute Tweedsmuir History Books. It is our hope that the reading of this book may enhance our knowledge of, and respect for, the pioneers who have bequeathed to us so rich a heritage".

This book is now out of print.  Oxford County Library has developed an index for The Axe and the Wheel.

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