The Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 40Cotninerci41.hoit.,
red k to have
ittopoi .„40. big -
box shove rc lobby
(Editor's Mate: In 1875 Seaforth.
had many hotels, taverns and
liquor shops. In 1075 there are
just two hotels, the Queens and
the
How
and one LCB0,,
How times have changed! Mrs.
Jean (Dungey) Kruse has written
a history of some of the highlights
of the Commercial Hotel, owned
and operated by her family for
many years.)
The Commercial Hotel was first
owned by Alex Davidson - sold to
Alex McLennan and then to the
-late Charles Dungey -in 1922.
The first frame Hotel on this
site burned down and the present
one was built in 1895. For years it
had an upper veranda but several
years later Charles Dungey had
the lower one constrcuted.
Through the years the hotel has
contained a bank, a dry-cleaning
plant (which was operated by the
late Sydney Dungey) three
different barber shops and an
Express Office.
At one time at the far end of the
long hall on the first upper floor
there was a door which led into
rooms that were used as an
annex. These were above the
present Old Forge and the corner
store below was operated . by
Kruse Bros.
There had been a large li very
stable at back where the present
parking lot now is. This, was
destroyed by fire in the late
1920's.
No old h otel was ever complete
without spitoons. Well,,' there
were several, !nit for some
strange reason there were always
a good many misses, and one
time 'one old genteleman ended
up with his foot stuck in one. Mr.
Dungey decided ,'out with those
spitoons.
Many people will notice and
perhaps get pleasure from the
beautiful old Steinway • piano
standing in the Cocktail Room.
This was brought from Mitchell
by the Dungeys and was
eventually given to their daughter
Jean who later sold it. It was
purchased and kept at the hotel.
Many years ago there .was a
dreadful commotion in the
basement, and, after the family
finally investigated they found
two step-dancers and a mouth
organ player having a ball in the
cistern.
Charles Dungey Sr. died at 58
years of age and his son Roy
managed-the hotel for his mother
until his death. Mrs. Dungey sold
her business to John Chernis. He
in turn sold to the present
owners, Joe and Mary
Czerwin ski .
The huge mantle wall clock in
the lobby came with-the hotel and
always contained the merchant's
names and phone numbers.
as
SEAFORTH GIRL'S BALL TEAM — it was a successful baseball team that these
Seaforth girls Olayed, op about 1.925 or '30 according to one ''of the •players. Tom
Beattie was the coach and players were, back, left, Winnie Kruse (Mrs. Raymond
Nott), debeased, Norma Bolton, Mary Reid (Mrs. Nelson Shelky), Evelyn Grieve
(Mrs. Fred Willis), Norma -H4bkirk„ .,deceased, middle, Margaret Cudmore
(Simpson), Bernice Dorrance, Pearl Reeves (Neely), Anna Edmunds (Mrs. Frank
Kling) and Ona Nicholls (Mrs. Lionel. Fortune), deceased. 4A
There was a h uge box stove in
the centre of the lobby where
everyone came to get warm.
There were two large sample
rooms 'on the east side where
travellers displayed their wares.
Also a spacious drawing or
writing room where the same.
gentlemen did their homework.
Another old attraction used to
be the Dungey owned ice house
'which is now the men's beverage
room.
People sleeping on the 3rd flor
after every one had gone to bed,
could hear the very pleasant
swing of the pendulum up
through the open st airwell. A
couple of years ago some
thoughtful person removed that
pendulum late at night. In the
meantime Joe has replaced it with
a new one.
Another relic of the past in the
hotel-is a bank vault which still
stands in the ladies beverage
room.
WHO KNOWS WHO'S IN THE TELEPHONE OFFICE? — The only personvt'rho!s
been identified in this photo is Mary Acirns (Mrs, Bert Kling) on the left. But does
anyone remember when Seaforth's telephone office was ih a house and two ph-one
booths were beside the' counter:for the convenience of customers?
Seaforth's third hospital
Best Wishes
TO
SEAFORTH
ON ITS
100 th Anniversary
r
May the town groW aper
in the coming ye re.
MARY'S SEWING
CENTRE
CLDNITON
White - Ehum Des Der
19—THE HU ON expOSOTOR; JUNE 19, 1979
(Continued from Page 4)
Contributing to the
construction program were
Federal grants totalling
$123,380.00. Provincial grants of
$262,981., and a Provincial loan
of $170,000.00. inn, addition, 'the
County of Huron contributed
$96,000.00. and - area
municipalities have participated
in making available maintenance
grants.
Services, including Street,
sewers, street lights, hydro and
water, were provided by the Town
of Seaforth and the Seaforth
Public
the site selected met all
essential' requirements and
permitted a ceinpact
Contemporary hospital, designed
oil two levels in order to take full
advantage Of ',, the sloping
contours.
The hospital is positioned so
that, patient rooms have an
excellent view, of the surropnding
countryside from the hilltop
location. The dining area_on the
lower level commands an equally
pleasant view.The over-all design
utilized the principal of the
r double corridor plan which in one
nursing unit permits 'the
segregation of the medical and
sidgidal,•materitity, c :hildren and
long-tetra patients by locating
their" rooms on either side of a
-double collider nursing Work
core. 'Bath department and
seri'icd has Veen lecatedio afford
the best 'pattern of interdepark
Mental,' -horizontal
conmaunication; each is internally
deiigned to permit &bare
horizontal enlargement with nut
extensive renovation to exisiting
space. Thus there is provision for
further expansion.
The seleetion of.materials for a
-hospital requires careful attention
to ,de_taik and to,the peculia'r_
requirements of such a building.
Economy, pertnanence,
cleanliness an ease of
maintenance were the main
consideration in material
seleetion.
The layout of the building and
• size of various areas was the
result of ' long and careful
development with hospital
Consultants; and the Hospital
Services• Coimmission, requiring-
consultant 'srviiion of sketch
plans. The result is a functional
building, carefully planned to
meet the needs of a groeving
community.
- •