William Fletcher and his sons built a sawmill and a gristmill on the banks of the Boyne River in the early 1850's. A new village, Alliston was soon established. A fire in the winter of 1877-78 destroyed most of the business section of the fledgling town, but people soon re-built their homes and businesses. Another fire, May 8, 1891, left the business section, and most of the town, a smouldering ruin once again. Brick buildings replaced wooden structures, with many of these "new" buildings still part of the streetscape in the 21st century. Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). The face of the downtown has changed over the years. Businesses such as livery stables, harness shops , general stores, bakeries and butchers were once the main businesses in the downtown area, providing needed essential services. Businesses and services have changed many times as Alliston has strived to keep pace with progress, and the growth of the town.