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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1971-11-04, Page 4The Walton post office for many years was located in on the site was in operation as early as 1865. It was pur- Neal's 'General Store which was on the county road and chased by George William. Neal about 1890. The building looked north along the Walton Main Street. The first store was destrdyed by. fire during the Christmas season of 1930. ' (Picture loaned by Mrs. D.Ennis) -READ'S- SHOES and LUGGAGE \lot) -,trevl Seaforth WARM AND WEATHERPROOF WINTER FOOTWEAR We have in stock a full line of the following Winter Footwear at , READ'S MEN'S — Dressy Ties and Zipp Boots LADIES':— Shaft Boots, latest fashions in Vinyl and Leather COCKTAIL BOOTS — In Brushed Nylon. Leather and Vinyl CHILDREN'S — Zipp Shaft Boots and Pullovers in various colors SNOWMOBILE BOOTS — For the whole family LINERS — All Sizes. for yourSnowmobile Boots. Guess who's c oinc cishes ? r•-•c• .ea's c! s'-es -as tee - ane a"e s e. 's zeza-se 'adto -7a!: e ec:* s -osas -e's a -C -no-e cecz' e a'e c..• s 3 - _--eces.Sa•, e, =c -s ce• --e a - a,..c —a e s -o.as -e• can sa.e ,s es gs we '`e '0! -ea' was- 3-: cc's a-C sees day a`'e - a. sca - 'a —Cs "."e a'le'-^a1" arc spe -1 .trays c -s !'" s A io; o' wavers Sw'e.s !hat` co..,,c .ce soe-• - a co —e A :-e ,a),s C— So c —awe a —0'Ct --*-e 'y 9'..,a,, e ect• c o shvvas'-e'l See 1 :1,' SoO' arce cease' soar atout c ca:ed The W'fesavers for Kr`C A' • your hydroQ BOX FURNITURE WESTINGHOUSE, AND KITCHEN AID DISHWASHERS Phone 527-0fisO Seaforth CROWN HARDWARE KELV I NATOR DISHWASHERS • Phone :527-1120 Seaforth GINGERICH SALES AND SERVICE Phone 527-9290 Seaforth FRANK KLING LIMITED GENERAL ELECTRIC DISHWASHERS Phone 527-1320 Seaforth CITATION TOP-LOADING PORTABLE DISHWASHER City Prices -- Right a Home!! Wash dishes once a day ' Keeps dirty dishes out of sight and your sink and kitchen clean. Simply load soiled dishes after every meal, and, at the end of the day wash 'em all at once. ZURICH Two Locations SEAFORTH PERSONALIZED COASTERS - GIFT IDEAS - SERVIETTES THE HURON EXPOSITOR Phone 527-4240 Seaforth Re AA-4ifir get a WI for -una ,alkakeinkk4010W40kAite•ett. NISItallpfaerl, esaver hristmas A history of Walton prepared by Mrs. Nelson Reid of that village, was presented to a meeting of the H iron Historical Society held in Walton on Oct- ober 27th. The following is the first in a series of three extracts from the history. HISTORY OF WALTON (By Mrs. Nelson Reid) • The village of 1i alton is situated at the union of three townships of Huron County. It is at the southwest corner of Grey township and the southeast corner of Morris township ,.and on the north boundary of McKillop. It is on the main road between Seaforth and Brussels - county road No. 12. It was first settled in the 1850's. A man by the name of John Hewitt, a native of England, married Anna Button in 1843 at Walton, England. They camo to Canada five weeks later. Ten years later they took up the land on the southwest corner of Grey township,,and established a home and Walton, Ontario was founded. The is now occupied by Gerald Ryan. Here they had twelve children. They played a great part in the early establish- ment of industry and religion in the village. Mr. Hewitt died May lg. 1895 and his wife in August 1900. The Queen's Bush was the term used to designate that por- tion of Ontario now known as Huron County when it was un-. broken forest. In the 1850's there was a great influx of settlers. These settlers were English, Irish and Scotch. They -came on foot along the Huron Road and as there was no Seaforth and no direct road to Walton they crossed the stream at places called Harpurhey and Rox- boOrPugh. There was a grist Mill at Roxborough erected by the . Canada Corn sny. A Mrs. McKay of Ethel in 1944,. then 84 years old, told of her coming as a child to the Walton area. Their company was composed of thir- teen members. Night overtook, them at Harpurhey. There was no accommOdation for them. A large elm tree had fallen down, so they spread their blankets on the ground along the trunk of this tree.. The thirteen lay down with their heads toward the tree trunk and spent the night. John McFadzean and Mr. Mosher with Mr. McFadzean's two sons came in 1854 to take up land. They lighted a fire on the knoll where Ross Bennett's orchard is now located. Soon all ' the land in the corn:nullity was taken up by Mr. Smillie, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Blair and many others. These were noble men of Christian character. No less courageous were the women Who accomoanied them as sisters, wives and daughters. What difint- less courage is required to take an axe and begin the task of clearing one hundred acres of unbroken bush and erecting thereon the necessary buildings. These men and women toiled. to m Ike homes. What hom e meant to them! The foundation laid in their strength and the super- structure was erected in love. No wonder that home was to them a sacred place. Im,gine one of those early buildings. The brick was * brought from Monkton. Glasses were held in both upstairs and in the basement of this build- ing. Due to overcrowding,another school was built in 1920, a few yards north of the brick school on the same property. This building was to serve the junior classes. It was a frame build- ing with red shingles and was built under the supervision of John Shortreed and Roy Bennett. This school was closed in 1932 and the pupils returned to the red brick school all under one teacher. The red brick school is no* occupied by McGavint Farm Equipment. A new school area was formed in 1961 which was known as Grey Township School Area No. 2. This took in portions of Morris and McKillop townships. The move was the outcome of a vote in Morris township which voted down the proposal to build a new school in Walton. A peti- tion of interested Morris and Grey township ratepayers asked for the formation of a new school area. • On January 2, 1962 an in- augural meeting was held at the 'hom,•?, of the chairman Wilfred Shortreed. The members of the board present were - Wilfred Shortreed, Jack Bryans, Donald McDonald, Stewart Humphries, Wm. Coutts. They were assisted by Inspgctor J. H. Kinkead and Rev. Arthur Higginbotham, min- ister of the United Church. Alvin McDonald was , appointed secretary-treasurer. Arrangements were made and a 6 acre lot was purchased from Ernest Stevens of Lot 1 Con 18, Grey township. A new four room school of brick was offic1a113 opened December 5th, 1962. It cost, approximately $84,000. The teaching staff included Mrs. Doreen McCreath, Mrs. Marg- aret Robertson; Mrs. Marie Toll. The children were brought to the school in buses operated 133 Russel and Nelson Marks. Records show that the first Arbour day was 'conducted if 1884 by teachers Daniel Johns- ton and Martha,, Hillen. Mr. • Johnston had a horse of his owr and he borrowed one from Mr. Dennison. With the older boys helping, they. 'levelledpart of the school grounds and filled in ar old well. They secured scam small maples from a nearby bust and planted them. Two of these grew the first year and several grew the second year. In those early years Examin- • ation Daywas a big event in the school year. The school would be decorated for the occasion and the children would be dressed up and on their best behavior as the parents attended as well as teachers from other schools. After the examination prizes' would be given and lunch -served. School Fairs were held in Walton from 1916 - 1924. Seven neighbouring schools partici- pated. Gilbert McCallum was the first president. In 1919 a speech making contest was held at the fair. First prize went to Marjory 1-lover with Gordon M?.Gavin, Grace Short- reed and Jim Ritchie runners up. USE EXPOSITOR WANT -ADS Phone 527-0240 • • settlers with his wife entertng'for the first time 'into the 'rude log shanty that was to be their home. Were the hearts of these settlers filled with inexpressable loneli- ness as the wind sighed in the branches overhead and the howl of the timber .volfisounded from. the forest depth? It was 'only natural their minds should go back to .far away Scotland. Cal- ling upon God beside the individual fireside was a daily practise but this was not enough for these Christian families. A decision was reached to build a house to HiS name. A meeting • was called about 1863 by invitation froM house to house and the people responded heartily. The meeting was held in Hugh McDonald's log shanty. John McFadzean was elected chairm an and Adam Ferguson ap- pointed secretary. Among the matters discussed was the erection of a church. A com- mittee was appointed to select a site. This con. m ittee approached the Canada Company but was re- fused. Robert Dennison was approached and though a member of the Methodist Church, readily granted one-fourth of an acre free of charge. This was on the corner, across the road from the United Church and is now Owned by McGaviris. To the everlasting credit of those pioneers, the first church was not a log but a frame building. There was very little money in those days but each contributed as he or she had ability. Some gave sticks of timber. A story of riyalry is told In the first building program. Mr. Blair, who • lived on th17th con. of Grey said he would have the first stick of 'timbe , on the ground. . His neighbour. —Thos. McFadzean, living—djiposit e Mr. Blair, said nothing. The morn- ing arrived for delivery of the timber. , Mr. Blair was early about his morning chores and early on the road with his timber. Passing by the McFadzean home he called to Mrs. McFadzean; “where is Tom?" "He is at his breakfast." ' I said I'd have my timber there first." "He has been down with his," replied Mrs. McFadzean. The lumber for the first church was sawn with a whipsaw with a Mr. McLeod doing some of the work. The church was erected prior to June 1865. At the first, Communion, Hugh McFee and Jas. Fulton acted as Elders. Other names mentionedw ere Jas. Campbell and Jas. The first 'minister was Rev. John Ferguson 1870 to 1875. The membership contained 139 names. An item in the January 1881 issue of the Huron Expositor tells of a tea meeting being held to raise money to buy another lot to be added to the manse grounds. The manse was built more recently. A story is told of Rev.Fer- guson on one occasion he foond a man in the ditch helplessly drunk, He secured a wheelbarrow, loaded the man in it, wheeled him to the liquor seller's door and compelled the liquor seller to keep 'him until he was sober. Other ministers to, follow were Rev. Alan McNaughton, Rev, F. Hallantyne, Rev. David For- rest, Rev. J. A. Cranston, Rev. ,,,Andrew McNabb, Rev. R. A. vLundy - During his pastorate the Presbyterian and the United 'Presbyterians across the road united. The present church was built in 1912 while,he was here. Next was Rev, F. Chandler, 1921.1926. While he was here the present manse was built and the United Church came about with the unionof the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Follow- ing Rev. Chandler was Rev. W. J. Maines, 1926-1930; Rev. Chas, Cumming, 1931-1938; Rev. R. G. Hazelwood,. 1942-1951; Rev. Frank Gilbert, 1938-1942; Rev. M. Thomas, 1951-1961; Rev. A. Higginbotham, 1961-1967;. Rev. Derwyn Docken 1967 - . The United Presbyterian Church of North America or- ganized a congregation in 1862. The first minister in this church was inducted on March 22, 1867 with 32 members; The Huron Expositor men- tions that in January 1881 Mary Ann Garvey and Jennie Knight presented Rev. Mr. Reid of the United Presbyterian Church with a watch on his leaving. This took place in Button's school where he conducted weekly prayer meetings. Some names connected with. the United Presbyterian Church were Shortreed. Hislop, David Knight, Richardson. This church was l&cated where the present United Church stands, The two Presbyterian churches united October 31, 1910. THE METHODIST CHURCH The early Methodists held their services in the schoOl at Leadbury with their preacher coming from Seaforth. In 1873 their work was linked with Brussels when Rev. Robert Davey was minister. During his time . the church building was erected at the corner of the Seaforth road and 14th concession of McK'illop on the farm of Andrew Morrison, now Lawrence Ryarfs. In 1874 Walton became the head of the circuit and in 1905 the church was moved to the east edge of the 'village. In 1925 when the Methodists united with those of Duff's Church to form the United Church, the building was no longer used for worship and if was sold to the Orange Order. During the 52 years of its existence, the Methodist con-. gregation had twenty-six minis- ters. Three of the former youths of this congregation entered the ministry. Rev. C. W. , DeWitt Cousins, Rev. A. McKibben, Rev. J. H. Young., ST. GEORGE'S AN5LICAN CHURCH Anglican services were held in the village schoolhouse start- ing in July 1$72 when Rev. R. S. Lindsay was Rector. Then they were held in the Orange Hall which was situated between the homes of Stewart Humphries and Lloyd Porter, In 1877 the church was closed for two months on account of a fever epidemic. A church was built in 1880 on what was then John Hewitt's farm.-He donated the land on condition that he and his wife and family"would be buried on the church property. This promise was fulfilled. The cornerstone was laid with a ceremony with Major Jas.Ben- nett of Toronto officiating,, assisted by Rev's Matthew and Henderson. Itwas laid on Friday, .June 11, 1880. The day was very hot and 500 people sat down to dinnerr A. a small sum of money and a, document was put inside the cornerstone. On the night of July 31, 'T880, the 'cornerstone was broken and the contents taken. A new one was re-laid August 25 in the presence of twelve people. The church was opened on December 12, 1880. Theproperty was vested in the synod office at London, May 6,1881. The church was consecrated May 28, 1882. The clergy lived in Brussels, the rectory being built 'In 1887 with the Walton congregation con- tributing. The ladies Guild held an annual bazaar'for many years which was looked forward to each fall by all the ladies of the corn- munity.A supper always followed. As their numbers grew less a light lunch replaced the supper. During the summer of-1968 the church was di;mantled and torn down. This beautiful little church is only.a. Memory but will long' be remembered by all who have been associated with it in the past 88 years., SCHOOL The first school built in the village was a frame building erected sometime before 1873. The land was bought from Robert Dinnison for one dollar on the southeast corner of lot 30, con.9, 'Morris. Later another school was built to the east of the first and the two were joined by a hallway. The house of E. Stevens, now on the back street, was the old school. In 1907 the red brick school was built to replace the two • to • I 4 • 0 •