unfinished log house. 1855: A grist mill is completed. By now, the community consists of five houses and two taverns. 1856: A steam sawmill is erected by Samuel Bricker. 1857-58: A commercial pier is built by private enterprise for landing passengers and goods. (Previously, a large scow rowed out to steam ships in order to transport visitors and goods.) The piers of the harbor would continue expanding until at least 1899. 1859-60: A small foundry and brick works are opened. A woollen mill is already operating. 1866: The population is about 630. There are five churches, two schools, a large Town Hall, four stores, three hotels, a job printing office, a brewery, two tanneries, a woollen factory, a foundry, two sawmills, a grist mill, a pottery, many retailers of handicrafts and one physician. Circa 1869: Electric telegraph reaches the community. 1873: The village is incorporated on June 7, to be effective in 1874, with a population of 941. The name is changed from Normanton to Port Elgin. The railway has arrived and is helping to increase trade with other areas. 1889: The first high school opens. 1905: A large sawmill opens; work begins on a spur line from the railway station to the mill. 1906: Port Elgin is becoming more popular as a summer resort. "The splendid beach, the bracing breezes that blow from off Lake Huron, and the mineral spring and baths are attracting each season an increased number of visitors." Economy In addition to serving the many farmers in the area, the original economic development of Port Elgin during the 19th century was based on its harbour facilities on Lake Huron constructed in 1857–1858. This made the village a distribution centre for the surrounding agricultural region. The increasing urbanization of Ontario and the increased importance of the road network for transporting goods resulted in a declining economy and population. More recently, tourism and the nearby Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, which is a major employer of the workforce living in Saugeen Shores, have dominated the local economy. The nuclear station in nearby Tiverton, Ontario started a $13 billion refurbishment program in 2016 which will provide employment for many residents and maintain demand for other services. According to Bruce Power, this multi-year plan "will generate between 1,500 and 2,500 jobs on site annually – and 18,000 across Ontario directly and indirectly – while injecting up to $4 billion annually into