(Kimball Road at Courtright Line)

Kimball had a post office from 1878 to 1913, but it was the two general stores at this intersection for which it was known.  The two stores sat opposite one another with Kimball Store, built in 1872, on the northwest corner and one on the southwest corner which was variously owned by Wm. Ruddick (1904 – 1913), Mr. Staples (1913 – 1919), Ed Arnold (1919 – 1952), Mr. Wagg (1952 – 1954) and Milton MacKinlay (1954 – 1979).  The name derives from the proprietor of the former, James Kimball, who served as the first postmaster.  Kimball was one of only four stops in Moore Township on the Canada Southern/Michigan Central/ New York Central railroad line (others being East Brigden, Brigden and Courtright).  MacKinlay’s store outlived Kimball’s, operating until the late 1970s. 

Sources:

Belden’s Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Lambton, Ontario, 1880, Edited and Published With Additions by Edward Phelps.  Sarnia, Ont.:  Phelps, 1973.

Johnston, A. J.  Lambton County Names and Places.  [s.l.]:  Lambton County Council, 1925, revised 1942, second edition.

“Story of an Old Store”.  Sarnia, Ont.:  Sarnia Observer, Jan. 18, 1997, pg. A4  [photo]       
    Photo of Kimball’s and Reddick’s general stores at Kimball, Ont.