Culled from a 1927 publication "The history of Westboro"

Westboro is situated on the south bank of the Ottawa river and is about three quaters of a mile west of Ottawa. It has an area of 670 acres and a population of 2800.. Running east to weat, is the main arterial road, to and from Otta, which is known as Richmond road. This is one of the finest roadss in the country. Crossing this is Main St, which runs through the centre of the Village from North to South. One may readily note that the two roads, sddivided the Village into four sections.The section East of main St was previously know as Birchtown, so named after its first settlers . The portion west of Main St was for some years called Baytown. It was 114 years ago that the first settler arrived in what is now known as Westboro His name was Thompson and it was he who built the spacious home on the Richmond Road so long occupied by the widow of the late Thomas Cole. About this time the gouvernment built the first road through Westboro, whihc was a corduroy one, and which connected Bytown with Richmond. It was in the year 1819 that Thomas Birch and family came out from Ireland. They arrived at the City of Quebec, where they resided for a short time. It was not long however, before Brich, with others made a move which resulted in the beginning of Westboro. Brich and his brother Robert took up residence at Richmond, Ont., where he lived for several years. The advantage of locating on the banks of a river such as the ottawa could not long be lost sight of and Birch started over the trail through the bush and settled upon the section which is now know as Westboro East of Main St.

About that year 1852 the Hon Has Skead purchased a large tract of land, north of the present CPR track and part of the thompson farm, erecting one of the largest lumber mills in Canada upon the property, thereby greatly helping to increase the population and build up the settlement. Beacuse of the Hon Jas Skead's enterprise the residents of Birchtown changed the name of their settlement to Skead's Mills as a signal mark of honour to him. Two mills were erected in Westboro by Skead and both fell a prey to the flames. the first from all accounts, accidentally, on a Howwow-eve, the second a number of years later.This was a serious blow to the prosperity of the Village, but while a number of the residents moved away on this account others soon came to take their place. After many years of continued prosperity to the pioneers and the increasing numbers who began to move into the village it ws evident that the change from a pioneer settlement to a residentian section had begun. It was at this point that the agitation for a change of name began, the contention being that Skead's Mills was not an appropriate name for such a fine residential section. After a considerable number of meetings had been held and as a result of long debats upon the question, it was finally decided that the name of the Village should be Westboro.

Soon after the Ottawa Electric Railway extended its tracks to the rapidly growing centre. About this time Mr John E Cole whose father had some years previously purchased the thompson property and renamed it Highland Farm, subdvided a portion of his proberty into building lots and placed them on the market at such favourable prices as to be an inducement for new resident to locate in Westboro. At the same time he commenced a campaign in the Ottawa papers, setting out the advantages of home life in Westboro and the small cost of locating here. The great results obtained are best shown by the large increase in the Village population of which a considerable portion located in Highland Park. In 1905 the population was 200, 1913 it was1400 and in 1926 had grown to 2799.This beautiful residentail district compares favourably with any in Canada.

In the year 1905, the 10th day of June, Westboro was incorporated as a Police Village, under by law No 500 of the Township of Nepean, and by By Law 540 Township lots No 30 and the west half of lot 31, in concession A, North of the Southerly limit of the CPR track allowance were annexed to the village. There ia a complete street lighting system, excellent shools four churches and a well equipped orce of fire fighters under the able direction of Chief Howard Cummings.Westboro is splendidly located as regards rail transportation, being on the main line of the CPR and having a comfortable passenger station with a freight shed adjoining, also siding facilities for car load traffic. It is within reach through a regular and freguent switching service, of the CNR , also of the NYCR. These three railway companies' lines reach all points with which business may be done, there being an agent in charge of the CP station, a telegraph and express service in also provided. These different services are of great assistance in the tranaction of business, and an encouragement to the different interests. The Village is served by the Ottawa Electric Railway, furnishing frequent passenger car service, rendering it very easy to travel to and from the City on the east and to the villages of Woodroffe and Britannia on the Bay to the west.

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W J Laing (the Ottawa Citizen)
A former resident of Ottawa, William James Laing , of Newcastle , Calif., died in a Scarmento Calif hospital, Wednesday. He was 72. Son of the late Mr and Mrs James A Laing , he attended Elgin School and Knox Presbyterian Church . He Left Ottawa , in 1903 with his family to live in Auburn Calif. Surviving are his widow the former Amy Pullen, a brother Robert of Merrickville and two sisters Miss Jessie A Laing of Auburn and Mrs Ross Haynes of Oakland Calif.

Laing, William James - In hospital Scaramento, California, on December 2 , 1953. William James Laing age 72 years, beloved husband of Amy Pullen

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Tuttle family photos

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