Vol. 27 No. 5 January - February 2003 ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.hhpl.on.ca/sigs/ehs/home.html JUDGEMENT NIGHT RETURNS! Ward Brownridge Knox Presbyterian Church Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Clean out the attic, poke into the back of your closets! It(s time to bring that interesting piece of family history out into the harsh glare of daylight! Ashgrove(s own venerable auctioneer, Ward Brownridge will return to share his expertise and regale us with interesting bits of local lore, gleaned while auctioning off the accumulated heirlooms of Esquesing and area. The January 2003 meeting of the Esquesing Historical Society will feature Judgement Night! Ward will happily examine whatever interesting pieces you can present to him and tell you what it is and what it was used for in days gone by. Ward particularly likes a challenge, so search for that most unusual piece to bring in. Ward will not be providing valuations. WILDWOOD by John Mark Rowe The heavily-treed area of Esquesing Township where the 20th Sideroad meets Silver Creek and the 8th Line, was dubbed Wildwood sometime in the early history of the North Halton. The only business or public building that ever stood here was the saw mill of Charles Kennedy. Kennedy logged his property and the surrounding lots of his brothers, George, Morris, Samuel and John. Benajah Williams acquired the lot to the east of the mill and opened a road down into the Credit valley, where his mills at Williamsburg, later Glen Williams, provided competition for his brother-in-law. This Cross Road was renamed Wildwood Road in the 1960s after Robert McMaster started selling large house lots along the route. The focal point of the area was the stone bridge over Silver Creek. A trestle was built over the creek in 1877 when the Hamilton Northwestern Railway, on its way to Barrie, crossed the Eighth Line and the Williams property. About 1896, the route was changed and the trestle removed. Early residents attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church, on the south-west corner of Charles Kennedy(s land. A plaque, giving the history of the church and adjoining cemetery, is mounted on the Region of Halton pumping station at Trafalgar Road and Lindsay Court. Today a nursing home occupies much of the area. Wildwood children attended a school house up the 8th line at 22 sideroad, until School Section #16 was opened at 22 Sideroad and Trafalgar Road (7th Line). The Stone School, as it was known, was for many years home to the Farm Forum, a rural discussion group. The (wild( nature of the area continued until the twentieth century when logging was reestablished and summer cottages sat on the banks of the creek. The steep winding road was modernized and a new utilitarian bridge replaced the picturesque model, about 1980. New homes populate the area, as Georgetown crept up to the place. The Watchtower division of the Jehovah(s Witness purchased the site of the original sawmill. The Georgetown Herald 100 YEARS AGO... (A selection of items) Wednesday Evening, January 7, 1903 CONDENSED NEWS ITEMS -The sleighing is now very good. -The firemen meet to-morrow evening. A full attendance is requested. - Holmes & Wetherald shipped on Monday 140 hogs, besides several cattle and sheep. - Mr. H. A. Reid has the thanks of the HERALD staff for a basket of choice apples. - Are you going Thursday night this week to see the fine motion picture program at Town Hall? - The collector draws attention to the fact that water rates are payable on Jan. 16th and 17th. - Everybody in Georgetown should see the Coronation pictures in real life motion Thursday evening. - The license commissioners for Halton just appointed are W. F. W. Fisher, Alex. Waldie and Henry Robinson. - The County Council vote stands: Peacock 677, McGibbon 599, Hutcheon 564. Trafalgar district: Andrew and Cook re-elected. PERSONAL - Miss Bessie Mountain, a graduate of Georgetown High School, has been engaged as teacher for the Gladstone Public School for 1903. HOUSES TO RENT Two dwelling houses in Academy, also house on Water St. Apply to Wm. McLeod. _________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE Any person removing coal from the Paper Mill coal-yard without a written permit from the undersigned, will be prosecuted as the law directs. JOHN R. BARBER _________________________ HOUSE TO RENT On Maple Terrace, Queen Street, Eight large rooms, summer kitchen, wood-shed, ice house and barn, all in good repair. Fruit trees, all bearing. Hard and soft water. Apply to THOS. BAILEY Georgetown The Glen Store We carry a choice line of raisins, currants, orange and lemon peels &c., just what you want for your PLUM PUDDING for Christmas. We also have a nice assortment of goods suitable for Christmas gifts in our Dry Goods Department. Thos. McWhirter THE FIRST CARNIVAL The managers of the skating rink announce their first carnival of the season for Tuesday, January 13th. A good list of prizes is offered and with favourable weather, a very large patronage may be looked for. Full particulars may be seen on posters. THE FIREMAN(S ASSEMBLY The annual New Year(s eve event in connection with the Fire Brigade took place as usual and was in every way a success. The attendance was greater than on any former occasion, and everything passed off harmoniously and pleasantly. The music was supplied by the well known D.A.G. Gliona(s Orchestra and Prof. E. O. Smith was director of ceremonies. The music was pronounced the best for years. LARGEST VOTE FOR YEARS Not for many years has there been as large a vote polled in town as on Monday when a Reeve and four councillors were elected to look after the affairs of the municipality for 1903. REEVE R. D. Warren..................201 A. B. Bradley.................132 COUNCIL A.D. Thomson...............221 Frank J. Barber..............213 J. G. Harley ..................211 J.A. Bell........................188 W. R. Brown.................127 ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 8 Jan. 2003 Judgement Night - Back by popular demand! Retired auctioneer Ward Brownridge invites everyone to bring items to share from home. Interesting items, family heirlooms and things you can(t figure out, are all welcome. Ward will share his vast expertise. He will not be providing valuations. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 12 Feb. 2003 Breaking Up Is Hard To Do! - The ice is breaking up, which means Glen Williams may be flooding again! The years of regular flooding in the (Glen( will be explored with stories and pictures. Bring some snapshots yourself! This will also be our Annual General Meeting. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 12 Mch. 2003 Fresh Milk Delivered to Your Door! - Join Society members as they present the history of several local dairies, researched by Dawn Livingstone, Anne Lindsay and others. Bring your own anecdotes and souvenirs of local dairies to share. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 9 April 2003 History of Methodism in Ontario - John Biddell of Guelph will talk about the evolution of Methodism in Ontario, a topic of consuming interest in the 19th and early 20th century. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 14 May 2003 Acton Town Hall - Heritage Acton members Bill and Kathy Sanford will be leading a tour of the designated former Town Hall and adjacent former fire hall. The struggle to save the Hall from the wreckers ball and the on-going campaign to restore the property will be highlighted. ACTON TOWN HALL, Bower Avenue, Acton, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 11 June 2003 Historical Terra Cotta - Local resident Ted von Zuben will lead a discussion on the history of Salmonville / Terra Cotta, following our annual pot luck dinner. Perhaps Credit River salmon might be on the menu! Come for dinner at 6 p.m. or join us for the talk. COMMUNITY HALL, Isabella Street, Terra Cotta, 7:00 p.m. ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE! Please bring your own cup for refreshments to help protect our environment. RESEARCH REQUESTS The EHS charges $5.00 for the initial fee, and $1.00 per photocopied page. Postage and handling charges also apply. Requests can be made by e-mail or regular mail, but we cannot guarantee a delivery time. PHOTOGRAPH REPRINTS Besides the cost of printing a photo, an Archives user fee of $5 will apply for the first photo and a $2 fee for each subsequent photo, ordered at the same time. Postage and handling charges will also be applied. Orders require three weeks for processing. Society Notes EHS EXECUTIVE Stephen Blake 877-8251 President Karen Hunter 838-2109 Dawn Livingstone 877-6506 Doug Cole 877-3657 Sherry Westfahl 873-7145 J. Mark Rowe 877-9510 Carol Wood 873-0792 Marj Allen 877-9985 Judy Payne 877-7627 Don(t forget to add 905 when dialing the above listed numbers. ACHIVAL REPORT Winter has arrived and we hope for a bit more time spent volunteering in the Archives. If you(d like to help occasionally, contact Mark Rowe. Publications have been shifted out of the Archives which gives us some room to expand our orderly placement of items. The photo collection re-organization on the internet continues to allow better computerized records. INTERNET CONNECTIONS The Esquesing Historical Society has an official web site on the World Wide Web. You can visit us at Send your e-mail to rowem@aztec-net.com or dlvngstn@stn.net Canadian Council of Archives web site: EHS NEWSLETTER This newsletter was prepared by John Mark Rowe with assistance from Karen Hunter and Dawn Livingstone. Submissions are welcome. MEMBERSHIP It is time to renew for 2003. This will be your final newsletter if you do not renew. We had 94 paid members in 2002. Please encourage friends and family to join the EHS and support our efforts to preserve and share our local history. The individual rate is $10. The family or institution rate is $12. Cheques payable to the Society can be mailed to our post box. Marj Allen, membership secretary, will gladly accept your fees at the next meeting. Renew NOW! ACTON: THE HISTORY OF LEATHERTOWN The Freckled Lion and Wetherby(s are both carrying the book, but the bulk of sales come from The Olde Hide House, The Olde Book Shoppe and the Acton Leather Store in Toronto. The book sells for $24.95 from the EHS, which does not charge taxes. Retail stores, like The Olde Book House, must add the necessary taxes. Card carrying members of the EHS can buy as many copies as they wish at $20 each, directly from the Society. Books can be purchased at regular meetings or by contacting Publications Officer, Carol Wood. She can e-mailed at . ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING February marks the beginning of another year for the Esquesing Historical Society and a chance for renewal of the Society. We are looking for a couple new people to sit on the executive. One particular need is for a coffee convenor for our meetings. Please consider supporting your Society by offering time. Contact Stephen Blake or Karen Hunter to stand for election. Absolutely no experience is needed. We have fun and learn while we go along. RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Any long-time members of the EHS know that we often receive requests for information from people who live outside this area. We try to verify that Esquesing is the right place for their research and provide references for their future research. We do not research family or local history. Nevertheless, coupled with our internet resources, this is a valuable service to these people. Available time is always an issue, but if you would like to be contacted when a request arrives, please give your particulars to Karen Hunter or Dawn Livingstone. A note or an e-mail is satisfactory. If you have a particular area of interest, please identify it in your note. Many thanks to those who have assisted in the past year in this area. ANNUAL GRANT RECEIVED The Ministry of Culture, David H. Tsubouchi, Minister, has sent a notice that the Esquesing Historical Society will receive a Heritage Organization Development Grant for the amount of $529. TERRA COTTA HISTORIAN DIES AT 90 Mr. Art von Zuben passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2002. He was in his 91st year. He leaves his wife, Mabel, his children Edward (Ted), Dorothy and Peter and their families. Mrs. Von Zuben resides at Avalon House in Orangeville. The funeral was December 11th at Maple Ave. Baptist Church, Georgetown. FORMER STREETSVILLE MAYOR DIES William G. Tolton, former Mayor of the Town of Streetsville, and past President of the Streetsville Historical Society, passed away on Thursday, December 26, in his 89th year. Funeral service was at Streetville United Church on Monday, Dec 30, 2002. ARCHIVE COLLECTABLES The EHS Archives has been the recipient of many, many donations over the years, all gratefully accepted. As our Archives fills up, we have decided to remove duplicates and out-of-area donations. Several of these will be offered to collectors at our January meeting for a small price. A few yearbooks, textbooks and newspapers comprise the bulk of the items. BRAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month at 7:15 p.m. at Heart Lake Presbyterian Church, 25 Ruth Avenue, Brampton. There is a $5 admission fee. Visit: www.bramptonhistoricalsociety.com ONTARIO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY The following meetings for the OGS - Halton-Peel Branch take place in the lower level meeting room of the Chingaucousy branch library at 150 Central Park Drive, Bramalea, Ontario. January 26 - Margaret Williams will speak on Irish research. For further information call Betty Cameron at 905.792.0907 or e-mail at HERITAGE WEEK QUIZ February is Heritage month and so the EHS presents the following quiz to focus on our heritage. A prize of membership and/or EHS publications gift certificate will be awarded at the February meeting. Bring your entry to the January or February meeting or post it to the Society post box. The contest is open to the world. THEME: Street names 1. Name the street named after one of the famous discoverers of insulin. 2. The Masonic Hall sits on the street named for the neighbouring farm family. 3. A Georgetown dry goods merchant who bought land where the railway route was planned has an Acton street name for him. 4. The world famous mail order seed firm was commemorated in this name. 5. A private boys( college in the backwoods of Georgetown is remembered here. 6. A rural school section is recalled in this escarpment level street. 7. A generous dairy owner from Toronto who supported children(s summer camp was remembered on this street. 8. This small street commemorates the creek which provided power for the mill though which it ran. 9. A famous Norval doctor who was County sheriff is remembered in this street name. 10. The founding family of Acton was honoured with this street name. 11. The last mayor of Acton had his family name grace this street. 12. A Glen Williams lumber merchant had this street named for him. GOOD LUCK ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN FEBRUARY! - renew your membership! - put your name up for election to the executive! FLOODING IN GLEN WILLIAMS Join the Society on February 12th for a discussion of flooding in Glen Williams entitled, (Breaking Up is Hard to do!( Bring your snapshots and tales to share, or come and be entertained. A few historical footnotes follow for your background reading. McNab vs Adamson - ...damages caused by water from defendant(s mill dam on River Credit overflowing on plantiff(s land on Concession 10, esquesing. The foundation of the dam was laid over 20 years ago, but about 10 years ago it was raised. The plaintiff was awarded (20. - The Hamilton Spectator, 24 April 1850 Flood At Georgetown - On Friday night last it rained in torrents... considerable damage about Georgetown. The dam of Messrs. Barbers paper mill sustained some injury.... great flood at Brampton... - Halton Journal, 4 September 1857 A number of bridges and mill dams in this county have been carried away by the freshet. Canadian Champion 21 April 1870 Esquesing Council committee to look at bridges in the Glen. - Canadian Champion 26 May 1870 Overflow of the Credit - Streetsville, 6 March - The ice in the River Credit suddenly broke up today. The bridge at Messrs. Gooderham & Worts( late flax mill was carried away.... - The Acton Free Press, 9 March 1876 Two bridges have been swept away, and for a time as the water kept rising things looked serious indeed. A Flood At Glenwilliams - Not for a quarter of a century has such a disastrous flood been known at Glenwilliams... The Main Street was a rushing torrent for two days, and debris of all kinds floated along the streets. Some houses were half filled with water, the inhabitants having vacated them.... Two bridges have been swept away, and for a time as the water kept rising things looked serious indeed. A huge block of ice struck a brick house belonging to Mr. A. Cooper and knocked down one wall and completely demolished the frame kitchen. Other less disastrous damages are reported to dwelling houses. The damage to water privileges has been extensive. Several of the mill races gave way Monday afternoon. The loss to Messrs. Sykes and Ainley alone is estimated about $1000. The mills being flooded, work is at a standstill. The business part of the village was submerged in several feet of water for two days... - The Acton Free Press, 25 March 1897 Georgetown - A large number of our citizens went out to Glenwilliams to see the raging waters... The upper dam has been badly damaged. The Red bridge was lifted from its foundation by the heavy drifting ice... - The Acton Free Press, 25 March 1897 Glenwilliams - More than three months after the flood, work has commenced on the damaged sidewalks. Optimists in the village are of the opinion that work will be commenced on the foundation of the bridge by December 31st. - The Acton Free Press 25 July, 1912 Daybook of Alex Stirrat, Glenwilliams 1916 January 31 - Fair and mild - rained most all night. Ice all out of river and lodged at Weaver(s and Simon Prout(s, flooding the Glen! March 28 - Credit River getting high. March 29 - high water! Big jams at Weavers and Cockerys - took brackets off the dam. March 30 - Big flood! -about noon the jam started through the dam. There was a continous flow of ice and timber for 3/4 of an hour through the dam. Quite an exciting time with high water which rushed down the main street and blocked it with ice. March 31 - River down a great deal. Glen Williams - The water was high in the Credit River last week and cut off the lower end of the Glen from the upper end. At Hunt(s bridge the water was high over the road, and also at Mr. S. Allen(s. It made things bad getting to and from Georgetown. Some horses had to suffer going through the high water over the roadway. Mr. S. Roberts and Mr. J. Bell are still surrounded by water at time of writing. The frost on Friday night prevented a lot more damage being done. - The Georgetown Herald, 17 March 1920 Terra Cotta - The floods passed without doing any damage. - Acton Free Press, 26 March 1925 Raging Credit River waters carried out bridge at Glen Williams, northeast of Georgetown, yesterday and gave 100 pupils a pre-Easter holiday when basement of United Church was flooded. - Toronto Telegram, 6 April 1950 Narrow escape for Glen Williams At approximately 10:45 last Saturday night OPP Constable Joe Feldcamp sat in his cruiser on the main street of the small community of Glen Williams. A few feet off, the Credit River, swollen by an early thaw and choked with huge slabs of ice, churned and bubbled beneath a small iron bridge. Clustered in small silent groups, citizens and county workmen stood or sat in cars, their eyes fixed intently, suspiciously, on the rising current. Not far down the road were stationed bulldozers, graders and emergency equipment. - The Guelph Guardian, 28 February 1961 Ice cakes piled up near Beaumont Mills forming a dam which sent water and debris cascading into houses upriver about midnight. - Independent, 6 March 1974 FEBRUARY IS SCOUT AND GUIDE WEEK 1ST ACTON ORGANIZED SEPTEMBER 1910 Boy Scouts were founded the third week of September 1910 under W.H. Stock and James Fogg and was sponsored by St. Alban's Anglican Church. It was reorganized in October 1915 by Sergeant Wilfred Coles. After folding in 1922, it was again reorganized by Foster Ferris and the Rev. Alexander Stewart. Once again it faded away in 1931, only to start afresh in 1934 with Rev. E. Brillinger as Akela and George Mason as Scoutmaster. The group has continued since that date. Originally sponsored by the community, the Rotary Club of Acton has sponsored them since 1961. 2nd ACTON ORGANIZED OCTOBER 1978 3rd ACTON ORGANIZED SEPTEMBER 1983 1st ASHGROVE ORGANIZED 1961 1st BALLINAFAD ORGANIZED JANUARY 1961 1st GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1910 Boy Scouts were formed in Georgetown in 1910 under High School teacher L. R. Halnan. They participated in the July 1911 Drummer's Snack parade. The group closed sometime after that. In 1916, St. John's Methodist Church reorganized the troop under Scoutmaster J. S. Long. St. George's Anglican Church was the next sponsor when the troop was registered again on 21 May, 1921 under William Herb Foster. In July 1922 Wolf Cubs opened under Charles Lucas. Cliff (Tim) Stacey was the new Scoutmaster in 1923 when he took the boys to Toronto on the Toronto Suburban Railway (Radial Line) to meet Sir Robert Baden-Powell. 2nd GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1956 3rd GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1957 4th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1959 5th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1961 6th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1961 7th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1962 8th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1966 9th GEORGETOWN ORGANIZED 1968 1st GLEN WILLIAMS ORGANIZED 1957 Boys from Glen Williams have belonged to Scouts in Georgetown for many years, but it wasn't until 1957 that the 1st Glen Williams group was formed. The group committee was Roy Norton, Jr., Henry Lorriman and Gordon Hilts. They supervised a Cub pack under Jean Hawksby, David Livingstone and Marion "Billie" Young. In the Autumn of 1957, a troop was formed under Scoutmaster Bob Hardman. 1st HORNBY ORGANIZED 1959 1st LIMEHOUSE ORGANIZED 1958 1st NORVAL ORGANIZED 1921 1st SCOTCH BLOCK ORGANIZED 1962 1ST TERRA COTTA ORGANIZED 1959 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter 1