HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1971-12-02, Page 3.1 •
Recalls Walton --Activi
A history of Walton prepared
by Mrs. Nelson Reid of that
village, was presented to a
Meeting of the Huron gistorical
• Society held in Walton on October
27Th.
The following is the fifth and
last in a series of extracts from
the history.
WALTON HOTEL
The Walton Hotel situated on
e the south-east corner of
Township dates back over 100
years. According to a picture
in the 1873 atlas the building is a
frame structure. This was evi-
dently bricked over prior to1900.
The first proprietor was John
Swallow in 1862. Charles Sage
who came over from England in
1855 as a farmer took over the
hotel in 1868. Many stories are
told regarding This family who
were great entertainers. Mrs.
)Sage and girls of which Annie
was one, played musical numbers
"on glasses and travelled with the
Chatoqua in the United States for
a time. Alice tended bar and
Tillie the stable. A clipping from
the Huron Expositor in the year
1891 reads as follows: A pleasant
social evening was spent in the
Walton Hotel. Mr. Sage and
family moved to the hotel 24
• years 'ago that evening and their
kindness and hospitality had won
a warm place in the affections
of the travelling public as well
as their neighbours. Mrs. Sage
gave several selections on the
musical bottles. Another clipping
tells that Mrs. C. Sage, the re-
tuned musical glass and bottle
player of Walton , accompanied by
her daughter Annie, are engaged
to play at four different con-
certs. Mr. Sage died in 1894.
Other proprietors were Mr.
Aimee and William Thamer.
In May 1909 the Hotel was
purchased by John Eickmeyer and
Fred Miller of Brodhagen. After
several months Mr. Miller took
full ownership and continued
there until 1943 when it was
pqrchased by Russel Marks..
As far back as 1910 lamps
o were stil 1 in use but several
years later acetylene lights were
installed. These were lit with
a match but turned out similar
to electric lights. During the
summer of 1924 a hydro line was
extended from Seaforth to Walton
when a sub station was erected
at the north end of the village.
tr, 'At first only a few people were
able to take advantage of the
modern convenience due to the
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tit, MORON IPPOSEt*, (MT. DRC, 2 1971,-.3
(It Correspondent _
Mrs. C. Geddes
. Mrs. Wm. Rothon has re-
turned home froth Seaforth com-
munity Hospital with her daughter,
Leigh Anne. Mrs. Rothon's
mother, Mrs. W.m. Thorne spent
the past week with her daughter
and granddaughter. She has re-,
high service charge.
Many commercial travellers
who were driven by horse drawn
vehicles and later travelled by
train were given meals and lodg-
ing. Travellers with large trunks
of dry goods and samples dis-
played their goods in the hotel
-sample 'rooms to the merchants.
This sometimes toblktwo or three
days.
Boarders included bankers,
school teachers and saw-mill
workmen. A large barn stabled
horses during the day and over-
night and usually a man known
as the Holster" was in charge.
An open shed for ,shelter during
the day was compulsory.
An ice house was also a
necessity. Large squares of ice
were cut from the pond east of
the village on the 17th of Grey
or from the river at Brussels.
This was drawn by sleighs and
packed In sawdukt for use in ice
boxes during the summer months.
With the coming of motor
vehicles a great change took
place in the hotel business. Mr.
and Mrs. Russel' Marks pur-
chased the Hotel in 1943 and
carried on until Mr. Marks
passed away in 1967.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fischer
of Kitchener purdhased the build-
ing from Mrs. Marks in July
1969 and have carried on a
restaurant and variety business
for almost two years.
THE VICTORIA HOTEL
Advertisement in The
Huron Expositor August 1874 -
Victoria Hotel, Walton, John
Winter proprietor. This hotel
is situated on the Gravel Road,
10- miles north of Seaforth in
the village of Walton, and
possesses every accommodation
and comfort for travellers. The
best brand of liquors and cigars.,
kept in the bar and a careful
and attentive hostler in atten-
dance. Good stabling in con-
nectione with the hotel.
In 1876 the owner was Henry ,
Chapman ,and in March 1877 Mr.
Wm. Beirns rented it. In 1880
we read that he redecorated it.
-Then he made a visit to the Model
Farm near GUelph and purchased
for the benefit of the breeders
in the locality two young hogs for
which he Paid a large sum of
money. He bought the hotel that
same year for the sum of $100.00.
A number of friends assem-
bled at the hote 1 and partook of
the hospitality of the host. A
turned home to Niagara Falls.
Visitors with Mr. and Mrs.
Howard James on the week end
were Mr. and Mrs. Edward James
of London.
Mr. Jon Fraser is home from
the Navy on leave visiting-with
his parents, Mr.- and Mrsz, Jack
Fraser.
sPlendl,d supper of canned lobster
and salmon, etc. was served up in
first class style, Mrs.- Beirns
being a great mistress. Song and
sentiment followed in rapid
succession and a most enjoyable
time was spent. After the time
honoured "Auld Lang Syne" had
been (rendered by the entire com-
pany in the most hearty manner,
all retired highly delighted with
the good cheer and entertain-
ment."
The next occupant was Thos.
Jones of Blyth who rented from
Mr. Beirns and then Mr. McKim.
bought it and it was known as
McKim's Hotel. It was later con-
verted into apartments. The
three Driscoll sisters, Margaret,
Susan and Ida operdted a dress-
making shop on the lower floor.
A barber shop in the same build-
ing was operated by Pete
McTaggart. A Dr. Robinson had
an office and rooms here too for
a time.
Later J. S. Lawrence Cum-
mings purchased the building and
converted it into a garage while
living in the upstairs rooms.
Later he had the building de-
molished and a new building erec-
ted where he carried ona garage.
Several years later he sold this
to Cecil L.ydiatt who again sold
it to Gordon McGavin. It was
then 'converted into a farmeqUip-
ment and repair shop. ln 1963 the
McGavins moved tWe. business to
the red brick school but they still
own this corner lot
EGG GRADING STATION AND
COLD SW-RAGE
This large building was built
as a doctors' home by Dr. Arm-
strong. When the doctor8 no
longer 'used it, it was occupied
by .John Bolger for a time and
then Jacob Barrows bought it.
W. J.. Neal bought it and they
lived •there until the death of
Mrs. Neal in 1934. The next
owner was Dunc Johnston who in
turn sold it to Cfarence Bennett
who ,converted the lowe r floor
into an egg grading-station and a
cold storage: This„ proved a
great thing for the people in the
community where they could
store their own meat 'and fruit:
Then more home freezers came
into use and there was less
demand Air this means of storage.
Fewer people kept hens on
account of the higher cost of
feed and lower price of eggs
and the „business was sold' to
Export Packers. The upstair
apartment was occupied by Ron-
ald Bennett, his wife and family
who were in charge of the busin-
ess.
WALTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Public Library has been
an important factor in Walton and
the surrounding community for
many years. According to an old
treasurer's book, there was a
library in Walton in 1902. The
• treasurer then was Alex W.
Dever. At that time they received
a County grant of $15.00 and $5.00
from the townships. The
librarian received $15.00 per
year. They paid $12. for rent for
the hall in which it was located.
In 1920 this was raised to$20.00.
For some years, the library was
in private homes. Some of these
were the 'homes of Andrew John-.
ston, Dunc Johnston; Mrs, Chas.
Drager (1937-3.8). In 1933 it
was located in the upstairs of
Pete McTaggart's barber shop
and Mrs. McTaggart was librar-
ian. How long we do not know.
For some time it was in a room
at the back of the U.F.O. store.
In 1939 the Library was moved
into the old bank building which
was occupied by barber,
Ken Ferg. In 1943 when Wes.
Hackwell bought this building,he
continued to look after the library
until 1946-or 1947.
In 1946 'the Library Board
decided to have a regular build-
ing for the Walton Library. A
used building was obtained and
was moved to its present lo-
cation by Russell Marks. it is
located on land that was once
surveyed for a street in the
village. This building was fin-
financed by a canvass of the
community for donations, grants
from government and the town-
ships. The building was repaired
...with a new front and inside walls
with this work being done by
William Bennett and Harvey
Johnston.
The officers of the board at
this time were Chairman - Harvey
Johnston, Secretary - Mrs. Herb
Kirkby, Treasurer - Douglas
Lawless. Other members of
the board were" Percy Taylor,
Mrs. Harvey Craig, Miss Ethel
Dennis, Mrs..E. Hackwell, Mr.
Percy Holman, Rev, R. G. Hazle-
wood. Many others have served
"\.
through. the ' to t4e-
Ithrm a success,
Each year the 'Library Hoard'
would have concerts. vOttiP;
plays and dances to .help with
the finances., From 194LPSOICS
were ohtained through the
Travelling ;Library. 0,1967 it
came under the management of
Ole PO4ht7.felerarliYeteltuThaF. are ee .members '.tees holv;-
0,Mehe in, the community may
use Its~ facilities.
Mrs PCKTict :PROciliP Wig! librarian from ';944 to 000.•
Mrs, Torrance 4..441-1014
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