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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-06-15, Page 13"Walker taught me to catch bass in the river below the house," Hem r Ransford wrote in his memoirs. The young Englishman tasted this sport on the Maitland, just about at the spot shown in this picture, near Piper's Dam, 7 p! p •F ,.4.11 din tortx On tario Second Section horsdoy, June 1$, 197 Three Rans ford houses, only one still remains 107 Year No., 24 9uo49w00090u.s.suitpuo-Q9Q9o4.994_9um9 .990,m0Q,0P94DP (BY W. E. ELLIOTT) "Thomas Walker taught me to catch the bass, a very fine fish, in the river below the house." The man who recorded this pleasant recollection was Henry Ransford; the river was the Maitland at the site now known as Piper's Dam, and the year was 1844. The house, hereinafter described as Ransford's third, and which he called Clifton, is long gone. Not an identifiable trace of it has been discovered. Henry Ransford was a young Englishman, member of a noted Sussex family, who had been an officer in the army, is said to have studied medicine in London and Paris, and lived in Jamaica before coming to Canada. His talents included, surprisingly, ability as a. carpenter, but all his travels had not brought him the delectable experience of catching bass. Thomas Walker, his instructor, was a carpenter who helped build Ransford's house on Lot 2, Maitland Concession, He is not otherwise identified by Ransford, but his name liveth after 128 years. The first of the Ransford houses described in this narrative was the family residence, No. I Buckingham Place in Brighton, which was Henry's home most of his life. The second was built in 1833-34 in Concession 1, Tuckersmith, just east of Clinton. It was built mainly by Ransford, aided by a handyman, Jack Hamilton, and a carpenter named Freeman, It is still there, with some later construction at the east end, and is occupied by Mrs. Idelle M. Willis, a dealer in antiques. Of the three Ransford houses, only this one remains, No. 1 Buckingham Place in Brighton may have been very old; it was near the centre of that famous seaside resort. Unsuccessful search for a picture, to go with this story, led finally to the London office of the Archives of Canada. From 2'7 Chancery Lane came the information that the chief. librarian at Brighton had no picture of the house. Mr. J. M, White, chief of the Archives' London office, writes: "Unfortunately, the house no longer exists, Miss Ransford lived there until 1916, and later Lloyds Bank occupied part of the premises. They then redeveloped the site." In his account of "dates and events connected with my family, 1667-1881," Henry Ransford gives full' particulars of the construction of the house east of Clinton, on the estate which he called Stapleton. Of his first journey home, in 1833, he gives no description whatever. Considering the nature of travel in the 1830s, his terse "I returned to England" must stand as one of the massive under- statements of the time. In contrast, he had plenty to say about the journey to Canada and Huron in 1834. He and his wife were passengers on the steamer Canada, reached Buffalo and Port Stanley by ship, London by wagon, Somewhere north they hired a horse for Mrs, Ransford, "as the wagon jolted her too much," They found a meal and a bed at a log house in Usborne, kept by a Devonshire man named Dalkwill. Ransford had acquired from the Canada Company 3,400 acres in Tuckersmith and Hullett. In June, 1833, he "fixed on a pretty spot overlooking the river (Bayfield)" and proceeded to get three or four acres cleared. On his return from England in 1834 he found that the carpenter had done little toward completing' the house, but the Vanderburgh tavern was uncomfortable, so the Ransfords Moved into their new house. Henry relates: "I and my wife slept on the half upper floor, reached bye ladder, which t had to Make before we could go to bed, Our kitchen and fireplace was a large hemlock stump outside, our dinner table a broad Cherry board on top of the flour barrel. For chairs we used our trunk and boxes, and the piano made a capital cupboard." Bearing in mind Ransford's • description of transport at the time, one wonders about that piano, but it may have reached Goderich by water. Stafford Johnston, in a Stratford Beacon- Herald article some years ago, stated that Ransford's building supplies, other than what could be prepared on the spot, had to be brought by ship to Goderich and packed inland. Nails, doorknobs, window glass were brought in on pack-saddles. That still does not quite account for the piano, which five years later was moved to Ransford's third house "in a large sleigh." With this "pleasant spot" and the big house the Ransfords were content for only five years—or should we say five winters. In 1839, Ransford found another pretty spot, close to Goderich and society. He exchanged lots in Hullett for 64 acres in the Maitland Concession, Lot 2, and "began to think we should like to move up there." In 1841 he bought Lot 1. Meantime, he "engaged a house" of Rev. R. F. Campbell, rector of Goderich, in his glebe land three miles east of the town. The site of Ransford's new house was reached by the Mill Road, some 13 miles from Stapleton. He worked hard with Walker raising the house, which he called Clifton. He built also a small barn, a "drying house" and catfle Shed, "Although very incomplete"— the house was left unfinished for two years "so that the 4-inch planking on all the floors might thoroughly season" they moved in in March, 1841. Ransford sold one horse to "Gosman, who has taken the farm at Stapleton", but the registered owner from 1846 was Rupert Munro. At Clifton the Ransfords were better able to associate with families Henry, has listed as the Hyndmans, Lizars, Gaits, Aclands, Webbs, Browns, Campbells, McKenzies, Kinnears, Morgans, Ledyards and Mercer Jones. Henry Hymnman was first sheriff of the district, Daniel Lizars was first clerk of the court in Huron. John Galt, son of the first Canada Company commissioner, was registrar of deeds and collector of customs. Arthur Acland, an Englishman, was county judge. George Brown was the first treasurer of the county and first treasurer of the town at its incorporation. Thomas Mercer Jones was second commissioner of the Canada Company. "Hamilton" would be Dr. Morgan Hamilton, an early physician, and "Ledyard" probably should read Luard (of Colborne), Lot 1, Maitland Concession, now within the town limits, is sliced across by the CN railway track, along which are a few trees, remnant of "Ransford's Grove", or "Woods", as an old map has it. Many years ago it was a popular spot for picnics. Victoria Street Methodist Sunday School had its annual outing there at times. In July, 1902, according to the Signal, St. Peter's Church held a big picnic at Ransford's Grove, with visiting priests, and music by the Marine Band, The Ransfords' sojourn at Clifton was little longer than at Stapleton. "In 1846," Henry wrote, "having sold everything for cash or credit, I let my house to John Haldane." A man does not —sell everything" if moving to another house inthe area, so at this time Henry must have returned to No. 1 Buckingham Place. His sons, Richard and John, continued to reside at Stapleton. It was not until 1866 that drillers encountered rock salt at 1172 feet. Richard went to England to consult his father, He was given permission—and funds—to start a salt works, which was in operation by August, 1868. Henry came over for the formal opening, and before he went back lie erected a second salt block and other buildings, In 1870 a trestle bridge over the river connected with the Grand Trunk, and soon a sawmill and cooperage were added, According to one account, 100 men were employed. The industry carried on for about 50 years, but in 1915 only one well was working, and in 1918 it was closed. Richard and John were partners in this enterprise until 1907. In 1911 the Signal reported that "the old plant of the North America Chemical Company, now controlled by John Ransford of Clinton, was put in operation after several years of idleness." This was the predecessor of Domtar's modern evaporator plant. Richard Ransford married Florence Hale, of Clinton, and they lived in the original house at Stapleton, John in one of the cottages built for workmen. When Richard moved to Goderich, John occupied the old home. Melville G., son of John was last of the family to own the property. When Henry Ransford made his will in 1892, it was in two sections, In the "English will" he left the Buckingham Place residence to his daughter Caroline, along with 300 pounds; to Eugenie Marion Ransford 1,000 pounds, and the residue in trust for Frances Bolton Conframail, Robert Bolton Ransford, Marie Gifford Bigelow and Gifford Ransford. Trustees were Rev. R. N, Ransford, Clifford Ransford and Caroline, the unmarried daughter. In the "Canadian will" there was left to Richard and John "all those my lands with the salt works and farm comprising Lots 38 and 39, Con, 1, Tuckersmith; house, salt blocks, sawmill, barns, workshop, steam engine and derrick. Lots 41 and 42 were bequeathed to William Henry Ransford, a son in England. Henry Ransford died on March 28, 1893, In his will—there is a copy in Huron Historical Society's archives—no mention is made of Clifton. Nonetheless, the wording of a subsequent deed by John Ransford indicates that his father disposed of Clifton in a will. (Just one of those little problems that crop up when this writer is 300 miles from home and the surrogate office.) In the year of Henry's death there were several transactions, the end result being to give Richard and John the title to Clifton. John sold his share to Richard, In this deed, dated Dec. 24, 1894, John Ransford of Clinton, gentleman, arid his wife, Kate Pugh Ransford, transferred to Richard Ransford, of the same place, gentleman, for 81,250,, "those lands and premises situated in the town of Goderich. being composed, firstly, of one- half share of the farm called Clifton, as mentioned in and by the registered will of the late Henry Ransford, Lot 1, Maitland Concession, 3 acres and 114 perches; also Lot 2, 64 acres except strip on east containing 3 acres and 80 perches which was conveyed by the Canada Company for a roadway and except 2 acres 69-100 of an acre conveyed by Henry Ransford to the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railway; also Lot 19 in Harbour Flats, now running BY A.R. BUCKLEY The September and October garden depends a great deal for its beauty on what plants you choose now. If you don't include the garden chrysanthemum you will he missing a lot. These flamboyant semi-hardy plants will give you white, gold and pink flowers in addition to the most colorful of reds, bronzes and yellows that will blend perfectly with autumn colors. Breeder's of the modern Outdoor mums have been concentrating for many years on developing garden flowers for improving landscape plantings, Now you can get very shapely plants that are not tall or leggy but produce a massive floral effect with perfectly shaped dowers and fairly short stems on mound-like plants, Of course, as you will see in the cultural instructions that follow, they need some assistance to attain this stature. Garden chrysanthemums grow best in a well-drained garden loam that has been supplied with organic matter such as peat moss, leaf mold,well-rotted manure or compost. The plants thrive in full sun but can be grown in semi-shaded areas where they receive full sunlight for at least six hours a day. Plants purchased from the nurseries usually arrive during mid-May or early June. They are either rooted cuttings or cuttings that have been growing for some time in pots, Set these plants in the garden as soon as possible about 18 inches apart. Group three or more plants together at this distance in the border, If the plants are to be set out separately in a bed, plant them 18 inches in the row and the tows two feet apart. ThiS is a good plan to follow if you Want to fill your window boxes or patio planters with mums in the fall, for they transplant easily in full floWer. number 1053, one-fifth of an acre." _ There is a note in my Ransford Material to the effect that the Stapleton house was "a replica of Henry Ransford's father's house in England," Thus, though No. 1 Buckingham Place is gone, it may be seen in some degree today in Henry's house at Stapleton, The main room and If you want to carry over the mum plants that have survived in your' garden, don't leave them to grow as they are, for they will most assuredly produce lots of stems and very few well-formed flowers. Instead, lift them now when the shoots are two or three inches high and separate each shoot into individually rooted plants, These may be planted 18 to 24 inches apart according to the ultimate size of the cultivar. You should mix about four pounds of 6-9-6 or' similar fertilizer per 100 square feet into the beds when they are being prepared and give a side-dressing of two pounds of this fertilizer per 100 square feet of area in aaugus' when the flower buds first appear. During the summer a good mulch of peat moss, leaf soil, buckwheat hulls or cocoa beans will prove extremely beneficial in keeping the soil moist and cool, besides eliminating the need for watering unless an unusual drought occurs. The most important operation in growing outdoor mums is the pinching out of the terminal growing points or shoots when the plant is five to six inches tall. This causes them to send out lateral shoots. When these lateral shoots also reach five to six inches, pinch the tops of these as well, Pinching in this way makes a spreading, bushy plant with an abundance of bloom, After July 15th no further pinching will be needed or is advised, If you require the mums for cutting, one pinching will suffice but allow only three or four main stems to develop by pinching out all side shoots. These plants should also be disbudded if you want to grow the largest blooms for cutting and exhibiting. When selecting new cultivars of chrysanthemums for your garden, note particularly the dates listed as 'Flowering fireplaces are believed to be as Henry left them. Elaborate woodwork over interior doors is original, There are coats of arms in the front wall, and the massive beams bear the marks of broad-ax and adz. The Ransfords are not found at Clifton much later than 1898, and there is no trace of the house. In his detailed account of its maturity', Although these dates are usually for plants growing farther south they often fit our own dates because of the shorter clays we get in the fall. Take note of the expected frost dates in your. own area and select only those which will flower before this date. Cultivars are now changing every year as new colors, more vigorous kinds and neater mounded types are developed. The following kinds have been tested in the Canada Agriculture Plant Research Institute's test gardens in Ottawa and have proven to be of merit for the size and shape of plant and bloom, and for their long flowering period. All are types likely to succeed in areas where the expected severe fall frost is likely to occur around the end or September, construction, Henry Ransford made no mention of a cellar, which he surely would have done if he and Walker had excavated one and hauled stone for a foundation. Building stone lay all about him in the bed of the Maitland and was much used in later year's. An excellent example is the Stanley Whiteman house at the foot of Mill Road in Lot 3. GARDEN TYPES White: Powder River; Snowbound; Spotless, September SnoWsprite Yellow: Summer Sun; Muted Sunshine; Shining Light: Golden Autumn: Playmate; Folksinger; Pure Gold; Fortune-Teller Bronze and Red: Sunny Glow; Zonta; Best Regards; Ruby Mound; Brown Eyes; Stampede; Rustic; Pancho Pink; Cameo; Grandchild; Purple Water; Rosy Nook; Pink Pagoda; Small Wonder LARGE MAMMOTH' CUT FLOWER TYPES Harvest Giants: Touchdown; Indian Summer; Redskin; Football mums.Stadium Queen: Homecoming; Pioneer Lady Stapleton, Henry Ransford's house east of Clinton, was built in 1833-34, partly by Ransford himself, and is said to be a replica of No. 1 Buckingham Palace, the family home in Brighton, Sussex. B asswood roof-beams at Stapleton Show pta inly the marks of broad-ax and adz used by Ransford and his tarpettter in 193-34. Members of the Clinton Horticultural Society recently travelled to London for the taping of the program "Act Fast" which will be seen June 18 at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 10, Here Mrs. Catherine Howard is seen with Bill Brady, host of the show and Mrs. Frank Fingland. Plant mums for fall beauty The pure white Spotless outdoor chrysanthemum is one of the best of the newer kinds. J JJ