Vol. 26 No. 2 May - June 2001 ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.hhpl.on.ca/sigs/ehs/home.html YOUNG(S PHARMACY SINCE 1958 Rumour has it that way back around the turn of the century the old Young(s Pharmacy location housed a furniture store/funeral parlour, and from that it became a pharmacy operated by a Mr. Ruston. On September 10, 1907 Mr. Edward J. Scott took over, as was discovered in a poison control book that turned up during the relocation of the Pharmacy on September 10, 1992 ( 85 years later!). The book also contains a copy of the 1897 Pharmacy Act. The poison book has records of the purchase of poisons, who bought them and what they were used for. Halton must have been alive with rats for the first quarter of this century as about three quarters of all entries were for strychnine for rats and some mice. A lot of dogs and cats were treated to the same fate. As nasty as strychnine poisoning is, there was one lady who purchased one ounce of carbolic acid to get rid of a dog. That would make almost anyone shudder. Of interest on the same page another woman purchased some carbolic acid for (internal( use. One would assume she did not take an ounce. Another interesting item is the use of Laudanum way back then. Laudanum was classified as a poison but seemed to be taken by many and for many various reasons including fever, cough, colds and sick horses. No small wonder it was popular, it did not require a doctor(s order and it was made from opium! In October 1913 L.V. Hourigan took over the store ( at least he started signing the poison control book)... In 1919 a J. Lasby operated the pharmacy at 4 Main Street North (the old address for Young(s before the renumbering of Main Street) and in 1919 Les Wraggette took over. In 1923 W.R. Watson became the proprietor and operated Watson(s Drugs until 1932 when J.N. McLennan and J.M. McLennan took possession for less than a year... In June 1933 R. Wes Robb started Robb(s Drug Store and it remained Robb(s until 1958 when Stu Young bought the store and incorporated it as Young(s Pharmacy Limited.... - (Long time Georgetown Pharmacy relocates( Neil Young, Georgetown Independent, Dec. 9, 1992 Ontario Gazetter and Directory 1903-1904 Georgetown: W.J. MacFadden, druggist; G.A. Ramsden, druggist Acton: A.T. Brown, druggist; W. Erskine, druggist Union Farmers( and Business Directory 1896 Georgetown: G. E. Morrow, druggist; Thomas Ruston, druggist Acton: J.V. Kannawin, druggist Milton: Higginbotham & Co., druggists and Stationers; J.H. McCollum, drugs. Lovell(s Business and Professional Directory 1881-1882 Acton: James E. McGarvin, chemist and druggist; R. Morrow, MD, physician and surgeon, chemist & druggist Georgetown: G.E. Morrow, chemist and druggist, Main; Thos. Ruston, stationer, chemist & druggist, Main. Lovell(s Province of Ontario Directory for 1871 Acton: A.H. Freeman & Co., druggists; Nelson McGarvin, MD, of A.H. Freeman & Co. Georgetown: Thomas Ruston, druggist unidentified directory c. 1867-1868 Georgetown: Thomas Ruston, druggist Canadian Champion, Georgetown, January 3, 1867 Thomas Ruston, druggist, Main Street. Canadian Champion, Georgetown, March 5, 1862 Thomas Ruston, chemist, Main. Canada Directory 1857-1858 Watson and Ruston, druggists and stationers. There were no chemists or druggists listed in the 1851 directory. E.J. SCOTT, Phm.B. - Druggist and Optician Mr. E.J. Scott is a Georgetown boy who secured his education here, after which he served his apprenticeship to the drug trade in Hamilton. He graduated from the Toronto School of Pharmacy in 1904, and for three years he was in Hamilton and Chatham. Then he returned to Georgetown and opened out the drug store he has since conducted for himself. Four years ago he took an optical course and prepared himself to treat those who have defective vision, and fit them with proper glasses. In common with the druggists elsewhere, Mr. Scott not only carries a well supplied stock of drugs and medicines, but has several other lines of goods in his neatly kept store. Stationery and school supplies, combs, brushes, and other toilet articles, cigars, safety razors, razor strops, and other shaving requisites, can be obtained from him at right prices. He has the sole agency for the town for Huyler's bonbons and chocolates, and the Jersey Cream Chocolates. The Scott drug store is the "Rexall" store in Georgetown. This is an asset that is highly valued by all druggists who are fortunate enough to secure it. The store is situated on Main St., close to the Merchant's Bank. (Herald, 1913) ************************************************************************************ THEIR STORIES! Riding on the wave of the success of (Herstory(, the Society held a meeting in March on the topic of (Their story(. Again, it was a great success. Mary Finley gave a wonderfully romantic presentation about the lives, courtship and marriage of Gwen and Charles Mills. This wartime couple was married by Colonel Barber. Elaine Bertrand presented her research on Donald McKinnon from Ireland who settled as a Pioneer in Esquesing. We also thank her for donating her research, enabling us to now have a McKinnon genealogy file in the archives. Betty Brownridge presented a wonderful personal story of her grandmother Manerva Howsen, and the wonderful memories that came from sharing special times with her. John Somers enthralled the audience with two presentations. The first, on Frank Black, a famed artist who lived locally. Frank loved Georgetown and became an integral part of the art community in the area. John Somers( second presentation was on the collection of love letters by Jack Ballyntine sent to his wife during the war. These letters were covered by John when he wrote for the paper. Overall the night was a great success. Please remember that you can go to the archives and arrange to listen to the audio recordings of these and past meetings on cassette!! A MAIN STREET RECORD? A Main Street building and business, one hundred and twenty years old, and owned and run by only two families over all those years must be some kind of record, especially for Georgetown, where we are not noted for preserving our heritage! Sadly, with the closing of Goodlet(s, that record has been broken. The building is one of our few designated heritage buildings and the only one on our Main Street. It had been built in 1879 by Dougal Reid, specifically for his hardward store, which at that time was located further up the street. In the early days, as well as selling hardward, Reid had a department for selling coal at the back of the building. Portions of that original building are interesting. Take a walk down the alley at the south side of the building, and have a look at the (coursed rubble stone( foundation and a door, long blocked off, which has a large stone lintel. Take a look in the front window and notice the large plaster rose in the middle of the store ceiling, and the unique staircase, both of which are original. Stand across the street, and have a good look at the front of the building, and imagine a mirror image to the north, with another similar building where the CIBC now stands, and think of what we have lost. Dougal Reid operated his hardware business until his death in 1903, and it was then run by two of his sons until 1945, the store taking up the bottom floor, with family living quarters in the apartment above. When they sold the store in 1945, it ended the Reid family(s seventy one year connection with the Main Street. James Goodlet had come to Canada as a child from Scotland, and in 1937 he moved to Georgetown where he purchased and ran the Budget Groceteria (building next door to Goodlet(s). In 1945 he decided to change business, and he sold the grocery store to Bob Caldwell (Caldwell(s Food Store) and purchased Reid(s hardware store. At that point he held a clearance sale in August, then did some remodelling before reopening under the name Goodlet(s Economy Hardware, where he was noted for selling (a full line of hardware and electrical supplies.( In 1948, a storage area was added to the back of the original building, and over the years the interior has been renovated, including the original stone basement as showroom. Evidence of the apartment was still very obvious in the arrangement of rooms on the upper floors. In 1971, Jim Goodlet, sr. Retired and the business since has been run by his sons, Jim and Brian, early on, then Jim and Doug, along with their wives, barb and Doris. Over the years the business evolved, adding electrical appliances, and more recently fading out the hardware business to deal strictly in appliances and furniture. Indeed there are many homes in Georgetown and area who are completely outfitted by the Goodlets. Their ever friendly home town approach to business was always refreshing, and their delivery truck was constantly seen around our town, either delivering new goods or taking back the old appliances for disposal. And so for the second time, after a fifty five year run, the business in this unique building is closing up... with no one in the wings to carry it on. The Goodlet family have been well respected in the town over all these years, and while it is sad to see them go, we wish them all the best in their retirement. The retail business is not an easy one, and they have earned their relaxation. -Dawn Livingstone, Esquesing Historical Society 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 Don(t forget to add 905 when dialling the above listed numbers. ARCHIVAL NEWS Springtime means the Esquesing Historical Society is anxiously waiting to hear from the Federal government about our summer student grant. Once again we have applied for a student to work in the Archives. Applications have already been received. The successful applicant will continue to work in the Archives at Georgetown Library, particularly on scanning negatives. 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 EHS NEWSLETTER This newsletter was prepared by John Mark Rowe with assistance from Karen Hunter, Sherry Westfahl and Dawn Livingstone. MEMBERSHIP Membership fees for 2000 are valid until February, 2001. The individual rate is $10. The family or institution rate is $12. Cheques payable to the Society can be mailed to our post box. Our current 2001 membership stands at 66. Marj Allen has accepted the post of membership secretary and will gladly accept your fees at the next meeting. RESEARCH REQUESTS We are a small group of volunteers, and we do have difficulty getting the time and people to do much research. We charge $5.00 for the initial fee, and $1.00 per photocopied page. The request can be made by e-mail or regular mail, but we cannot guarantee a delivery time. PHOTOGRAPH REPRINTS The EHS has offered reprints of its( vast photographic collection for many years. The executive have decided to set new rates. 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. BRAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETINGS 2001 May 15 Restoring Heritage Homes with George Duncan. All the way from Richmond Hill comes the expert on old homes for an encore event, sequel to his previous talk on early 19th century architecture. Sat. June 2 Walking Tour of Brampton Tour Guide Andrew de Groot gives us a sole-searching tour of historical downtown Brampton, everything from the well-heeled to the downtrodden. (Brampton in Bloom( Garden tour and plant sale on Sunday June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bovaird House, Brampton. Call 874-2804 or e-mail bovairdhouse@hotmail.com HOW(S THE WEATHER IN ACTON? The answer to the above stated question has always been answered with a subjective opinion. Thanks to Jason Fournier of Acton, an objective precise answer is available on the internet. If you log onto www.chezfournier.com/ActonWeather you will see the latest temperature, wind speed, dew point, barometric pressure, wind chill, precipitation, sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset. Perhaps this will be Georgetown(s early warning system! For the complete story read The New Tanner, 15 March, 2001. LOCAL MERCHANT RESEARCH Scott Douglas is looking for information on the following businesses: Georgetown: J.J. Gibbens Bakery - Does anyone remember the bakery, the man, the use of the tokens? .....Good for 1 loaf. Location? Jackson(s Department Store - location? Does anyone remember the use of tokens for 50c / 25c/ 1c? Creelman Bros. 1896 - ? Acton: R.B. Scott - General Merchant. Any information at all is welcome! He issued tokens from 1902 - 1906. Henderson and Co., General Merchants - Any information would be welcome. He used tokens from 1902 - ? Please call Scott E. Douglas of Acton with any information at 519-853-3812. APPELBE INFORMATION NEEDED We have had an inquiry regarding Elizabeth Appelbe who lived from 1872 until 1958 in Georgetown. She was a member of the Women(s Institute and on the board of the Ontario Historical Society. Please see Karen Hunter with any information you may have to offer. FRIENDS SHOCKED BY DEATH OF KEN KIRKWOOD! Friends and family were shocked to hear of the death of Ken Kirkwood on April 5th, 2001. Ken, a long-time member of the EHS and a close friend of founding EHS member the late Jean Ruddell, was in excellent health and passed away while napping. Heart-warming tributes were offered at a Memorial service at Jones( Funeral Home. Ken did not want a funeral to be held. NEW ACTON PLAQUE READY SOON After working closely with the Esquesing Historical Society, the Ontario Heritage Foundation will soon be ready to unveil the new heritage plaque about the founding of Acton. It will replace the former plaque in the Acton Horticultural Society garden in front of the Acton Centennial Library on River Street. The old plaque was badly faded by the sun. The new plaque has had the wording improved and translated into French on the reverse side. It will be a wonderful addition to Acton(s tourist circuit! The Society is currently negotiating a home for the old plaque, rather than having it melted down. RARE IMMIGRATION RECORDS RETURN TO ONTARIO The Archives of Ontario has just acquired 23 volumes of immigration records from the Butler Library at Columbia University with financial assistance from the Friends of the Archives of Ontario. While at Columbia, they were known as the Toronto Emigration Office Records, or more formerly as the Hawke Papers. They are now designated as RG 11-1 to RG 11-7. A.B. Hawke (1793-1867), Chief emigrant Agent for Upper Canada / Canada West from 1833-1864, was instrumental in establishing services to assist immigrants in Upper Canada. These official government records, which include Hawke(s letterbooks, date from 1831 to 1892. Other highlights include assistance registers and arrival/destination registers, an inspection record of British Home Children, and an emigrant hospital register from the Irish immigration following the Great Potato Famine. The letterbooks in particular fill a gap in the historical record of early 19th century immigration to Ontario. Available on microfilm from Feb. 1, 2001, they can be used on-site or borrowed through interloan. See the archives( website for more information - www.archives.gov.on.ca -Off the Record, Winter 2001 ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 9 May, 2001 Young(s Drug Store - Stuart and Neil Young will recall the long history of Georgetown(s Main Street pharmacy. Hear tales from behind the druggist(s counter from the sources themselves! KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 13 June, 2001 Historic Georgetown Homes - Using Heritage Halton Hills inventories and other historical information J. Mark Rowe will lead a walking tour of the Market, Park, Charles and Church Street areas of Georgetown. Join us for a pot luck dinner first. Bring your own cutlery, and dishes. Coffee and tea will be available. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 6:00 p.m. Tour begins 7:00 p.m. Wed. 12 Sept, 2001 Acton Cemetery Tour - Join Sherry Westfahl as she takes us on a walking tour of Acton(s Fairview cemetery. Interesting stones and the interesting people they commemorate will be highlighted. Please note that Fairview Cemetery has several hills. Meet at the chapel just inside the front gates. There will NOT be refreshments available after this meeting. Note the early start time! FAIRVIEW CEMETERY, Cobblehill Road, Acton, 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. HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL Explore the highways and by-ways of Esquesing township by reading our series of short informative pamphlets about settlements in our township. STEWARTTOWN is the latest pamphlet to join our collection. Read a synopsis of the history of Georgetown, Acton, Limehouse, BALLINAFAD, Glen Lawson, Glen Williams, Norval, Speyside, Ashgrove, Each pamphlet available for only 25 cents! Complete your collection at the next meeting! Be sure the arrive early for the pot luck in June. Jake Livingstone wants to be sure to sample every dish! HISTORIC HOMES OF GEORGETOWN The June meeting of the Esquesing Historical Society will be a walking tour of one of the residential areas of downtown Georgetown. Society Archivist John Mark Rowe will lead the walk about. While known information about several buildings will be shared, it is hoped several other people on the walk will relate stories about other homes. BERWICK HALL The home of Mr. John R. Barber is a neat Queen Anne building, designed by Mr. Lennox, of Toronto, and is situated on the east end of Main street, on the hill overlooking the west branch of the River Credit. Mr. Barber is the second son of the late Mr. James Barber, on of the early industrial pioneers of this section. Mr. John R. Barber is president of the Barber & Ellis Co., of Toronto, the sole owner of the Georgetown Paper Mills, and president and managing director of the Toronto Paper Co., whose mills are at Cornwall, Ont. He was born in the old family homestead, which stood on the site of his present residence, in 1841, and has spent his whole life in the village of his nativity. He was served in every municipal capacity, has been a councillor, reeve of the village, a position be filled for ten consecutive years; warden of the county, and member of the 20th Battalion for the past thirty years. (Daily Mail, 1893) It was built in 1883 on the site of the original house which burned in 1882. The family moved out shortly after the death of John R. Barber in 1917. It was left empty, being nicknamed (the haunted house(, until it was renovated into apartments in 1948. PINE GROVE COTTAGE This building, in which Mr. J. McDermid resides, is on Charles Street, in the southern suburb of the village, adjoining the park, and was erected in 1887. It is a twelve roomed brick cottage, surrounded by commodious grounds ornamented with flowering plants and shrubs, and backed a by dense cluster of pine trees. Mr. McDermid is a native of Scotland, having been born in Argyllshire in 1834. He came to Canada in 1862, locating in Georgetown, and shortly after engaged in the grocery business; a calling he has followed almost uninterruptedly for thirty-one years. The Star Grocery, of which he is proprietor, is in the McLeod block, in which it has been housed for twelve years. Mr. McDermid, who deals in groceries, provisions, crockery, and general produce, is one of the most reputable merchants in his line in the County of Halton (Daily Mail, 1893) The bricks came from the original Presbyterian church, built in 1867. LAWSON'S COTTAGE ROW This handsome tier of residences was built in 1890 for homes of the better class. There are four in number, all of which are substantial brick cottages surrounded by commodious grounds. The one shown in the foreground, in the illustration, is occupied by Mr. N.M. Livingstone, manager of the local branch of the Bank of Hamilton. Mr. H.P. Lawson, the owner of the row, is a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1840, but he came to Canada in 1852, settling in the township of Esquesing, of which he is now deputy-reeve; and subsequently engaged in lumbering, farming, and kindred pursuits. He is an extensive land holder in this township and elsewhere, and the owner of considerable property in Georgetown and Stewart Town. (Daily Mail, 1893) 126 MAIN STREET SOUTH In 1854, Lot 10 of the Young and Barber Survey was purchased by John McLellen, a young carpenter. Mr. McLellen completed the construction of 126 Main Street South in 1855. In the spring of 1998 its transformation to Canneberges began. (Canneberges website, 2001) 45 CHARLES STREET According to the reminiscences of C. W. Young, Mr. Hugh McKay moved into a home built by his brother Walter, (on newly opened Edith Street.( Walter McKay told the Halton County Atlas that he arrived in Georgetown in 1859. However, land records do not show the property being conveyed to the McKay family until 18 April, 1887. Hugh McKay and family likely rented the property from William Barber. The McKay family lived in the frame 1( storey house until 1928 when it was given to Mary (McKay) Coffen. 51 CHARLES STREET In March 1881, William Barber sold the lot to Walter George Tubby for $125. In July, Tubby took out a mortgage for $500 to pay for the house he built there. The Tubby family sold the new house the following spring to Charles Culver Roe for $1200. Roe was a law clerk in town. The 1881 census notes the Tubby house as under construction. Walter and Isabella (McKay) Tubby, both aged 25 years had a one year old son Charles. He was involved with the Lorne Rifles before leaving town. Tubby went on to be Assistant Superintendent of construction for the Canadian Pacific Railway, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway and the Great Northern Railway. He worked for the California Oil Company finally. He died and was buried in San Francisco, USA. 51 EDITH STREET On 15 November, 1858, lot 101 and 102 in the Young and Barber Survey, was purchased by Francis Barclay. This formalized the gentleman(s agreement which allowed Francis Barclay to construct his home on this lot. Barclay employed the leading plasterer in the village to finish his home. William Watson worked on the Barclay house from May until August, 1857. On 29 August, 1857, Barclay paid Watson $1000 for work completed. This triple, Flemish bond brick house stands out because of the unique porch which was added a few years after construction. The same brick pattern was used in the building of the Barclay Block, which housed the dry goods store of Francis Barclay and his partners for many years. Built in 1852, part of the building on the south-east corner of Mill and Main Streets, was demolished to accommodate the Royal Bank. 22 & 24 CHURCH STREET This lot, being lot 61, was sold in December, 1864 by James D. Freeman to John Freeman. John was a farmer who built himself a house in town, probably in the Spring of 1865. Freeman sold the place in October 1869 to the Rev. Joel Briggs, who in turn transferred it to the Georgetown Congregation of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Briggs had the place renovated and moved in on the 20 December, 1869. Briggs wrote, (We were happy to find it cosy, convenient, and very comfortable.( The Wesleyan Methodist Church, the first in Georgetown, was built in 1841. The frame Church was replaced by the present brick building in 1876. The house on Church Street was used as the parsonage until 1890, when it was deeded to Thomas Bell for $700. 157 MAIN STREET The former home of Bruce and Margaret Harding was mentioned in the reminiscences of C.W. Young as the last school house for the Georgetown Common School before they moved into the Temperance Hall on Guelph Street (where the Ambulance Station is today). JUNE 1898 REVIEW 2 June A delightful evening was spent on Monday by about 30 of our local cyclists who paraded the principal streets in town, took a few times around the course at the park, and took a run out to Bannockburn School. The first baseball match of the season in the park... 9 June The cornet band rendered several selections from the band stand on Town Hall square Monday evening but the programme was suddenly terminated by the alarm of (fire( at the tannery. The new street sprinkler has not been much in demand the past week. J. P. Worden, the old reliable, has opened a barber shop in George Adams late stand. Asa Hall Celebrates 89th Birthday! Our honoured and earliest living settler celebrates his 89th birthday today. Asa Hall saw the light of day at St. Andrews, Quebec in 1810. He came to Acton 65 years ago this spring and settled on the farm on Main Street bordering the north-westerly limits of the present corporation boundaries. He had purchased his property two years before from the Canada Company. When he came here there were but two houses in the new settlement, one of which is still standing in the rear of the residence of D. Henderson, M.P., Bower Ave., and the other was on the site of Mr. Adam Cook, Main Street. They belonged to and were occupied by the Messrs. Adams, the founders of Acton. There was no clearing above the creek on Main St. and the place had neither name nor post office. Mr. Hall is still vigorous... 16 June Fire in new hair house at Acton Tanning Company! Citizens! Do you do your Duty? Scattered as they are throughout town, it is impossible for our firemen to reach the fire hall immediately but it is important that the steamer, hose reels and hook and ladder truck be dispatched at once to the scene of the conflagration. But the citizens almost invariably hasten to the scene of the fire, leaving the half-score or so of firemen at the hall to haul the apparatus. If citizens of muscle, instead of complaining of alleged tardiness, would hurry to the fire hall and lend a helping hand to the dauntless firefighters they would be acting with rare common sense. The steam engine can easily be hauled to any part of town by 20 men yet sometimes only 10 are willing to pull. The noble firemen work neither for honour, glory or cash, but to save the property of our citizens when it is in jeopardy. 23 June Rousing Military Parade! Not since the days when Col. Allen and Capt. Shaw were connected with Company 6 when red coats mustered on parade won the hearts not only of the pretty girls but of the populace generally, have our soldier boys presented such a fine appearance and received so many encomiums of praise as was the case with the company as they paraded to the depot to embark for Niagara to join the 20th Battalion. Capt. Langton is every inch a soldier and his kindly treatment of the men has put the company in splendid form and enthusiastic spirts. Acton Cornet Band led the parade followed by a bugle band brought from the city by Capt. Langton at considerable personal expense. Also in the parade were the 32 members of the Acton Fire Brigade in their natty new uniforms. The town was out en masse to give eclat to the occasion. Acton Free Library opened on Monday evening 4th July, 1898 30 June Council by-law bans riding bicycles on the sidewalk. Another Fire - on Water Street! Yesterday the fire alarm sounded and in a few seconds it was ascertained that the planing mill of Thomas Ebbage at the head of Water Street was on fire. Within five minutes flames spread through the entire two floors of the factory and the tannery of councilor Francis adjoining and by the time the firemen arrived flames were busting through the ceiling.... Mr. Ebbage has been a man of rare misfortune. This is his sixth fire in which he has lost nearly, if not entirely, his all. But kind friends have always willingly assisted him upon his feet again and no doubt he will find them true. Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter 1 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter 10