This community hall started life as S. S. No. 8, Oxford, and has served the Oxford Mills community as a school, a library, as well as avenue for meetings, concerts, exhibitions, weddings, Christmas parties, and so much more.
The school built on land bought from John Lindsay in 1875. It was built by A. Willoughby with broken course limestone from the Harris Quarry on Bedell Road. It opened in August, 1875, and continued in use until June, 1964, when it closed following the amalgamation of rural schools into consolidated Public Schools. The building was bought by the Township of Oxford-on-Rideau and became a school for the mentally challenged in 1968, a role it continued to play until 1983, when it finally closed. In that year, the local Library moved into the north end of the building, while the south end was used for local meetings.
The building was completely renovated in 2001 and has served as the community hall ever since. In 2008, administration of the hall was transferred to the local Community Association for a few years before reverting back to Municipal control. This building has seen so many of the great and small events of Oxford Mills since 1875, and remains an important part of the village’s life and history. It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1991.
