The Wingham Advance-Times, 1954-07-28, Page 8rail >i<bt The Wingham Advance-Time*, Wednesday, July jj|, 19M
Fisher Family Early Residents
Built Lower Town PlantsI
Mr. and Mrs. John Fisher, the, in I860, coming here from St. Marys,
fpunders of a family which becameIHis home was located on the south
important in the development of hank of the Maitland, immediately
Wingham, came from Berkshire. < across the Lower Town bridge, where
Scotland, with their son Peter, in 1831. i Allen F. Walker now resides, His
The family settled in the Ottawa Vai-1 daughter, Margaret, born in 1861, was
ley, where the other children were; the first white girl born in Wingham.
born, . I In the early days, before the erec-
In 1846 Peter Fisher moved to’Won of the Baptist Church, prayer
5 were held at Archibald
. Fisher’s home. It was a popular place
I for social gatherings too, and the
i beautiful grounds overlooking the
| Maitland River afforded accommoda-
i tion for garden parties, complete with
bands, Chinese lanterns and decora
tions.
Mr. Fisher sold his saw milling
I business and moved to Paisley in 1885,
1 where he went into business with his
brother Duncan, after having resided
in Wingham for over 20 years.
The
1 Archibald, were important to
; growth of the Town Plot, their busy
I mills concentrating much trade in
i Lower Wingham, even after that part
| of the settlement was overshadowed
j by its larger neighbor to the east.
I
Guelph, where he learned the woollen; meetings
milling business and later became ■ Fisher s
manager of the Guelph Woollen Mills.
Purchasing this enterprise in 1857. ho
continued to operate the business
until 1863, even after his removal to
Wingham in 1860,
Mr, Fisher purchased the water
rights iri Lower Wingham and erected
the Lower Town dam and with his
brother Archibald built the grist mill,
woollen mill, shingle and saw mill.
Visiting Ottawa in 1867, Peter Fish
er interviewed the Prime Minister.
Sir John A. Macdonald and secured
the latter’s promise of the position
of postmaster in Wingham. Mr. Fish
er, being a great Liberal and a forth
right man, informed Sir John that in
all probability he would vote against
him at the next election, but the ap
pointment did come through as pro
mised, and Peter Fisher held the post
from 1867 until his death in 1914.
Mrs. Peter Fisher, the former Miss
Wright, of Guelph, was the first bride
in Wingham.
Archibald Fisher
Archibald Fisher joined his brother
MRS. MARGARET FISHER
Original Town Hall Is Now
Wood Products Factory
drape, were added and incandescent
foot lights put in place,
Permanedt tenants of the hall were
the independent Order of Good Tern*
plars, Royal Templars of Temperance
and the Sons of Scotland.
of Athens from the brush of the scene
painter, G. Penson, of the Grand
Opera House,. Toronto,
Two dressing rooms were built at
the back of the building and at the
entrance was a ticket office to the
right and cloak room -to the left. Two
new wood-burning hot air furnaces
were installed by James Murray & Co.
of Wingham, an improvement on the
old wood stoves. Later that year a full
set of scenery, consisting of three
One of the business places of town
with an interesting history is the
present Campbell and Gorbutt sash
and wood products factory.
Originally the old public (school,
built in 1863, this building stood op
the southwest corner of John and
Leopold Streets, on the present site
of R. H. Lloyd’s house. About 1878,
after the new public school was erect
ed, the building was moved to Jose
phine Street and used for a town hall,
approximately where the -present hall
stands.
With the increase Of pbpulation th®
hall was eventually considered too
small to accommodate the crowds that
gathered for local entertainments,
and the present town- hajl was built.
Sealed tenders were asked for by
the council for the purchase of the
old building, not including the council
chamber or fire halj. ‘It is believed
that this section had been the ante
room attached to the side of the old
school. It is now used by the local
Battery for storing equipment.
Finally, in March 1891, the old town
hall was offered for sale by public
auction, Peter Deans being the auc
tioneer, It was sold to Alex Dawson,
representing a' number of members of
the Anchor of Hope Lodge, who had
formed a company known as Wing
ham Temperance H^l! Company. The
hall was moved the lot/ opposite the.
Salvation Army Marrackd.pn, Edward
Street. '
In 1900 William Armour purchased
the building and converted it into an
egg packing establishment. Two years
later* he put brick veneer on the build*
ing, which accounts for the changed
appearance today.
The building wasjater sold to Wm.
Davies Co., Art Adams, and is now
occupied by Campbell and Gorbutt.
the
regard-
Miss Fisher was also president of
the W.C.T.U. for Huron County. She
was one of the first to be baptized
here, officiant being Rev. F. Ratcliffe.
of 1875
coming
The
the
was
years before going to Paisley, where
he entered business with his brother.
%
Fisher brothers, Peter and
the
HENRY DAVIS MEMBER
OF FIRST COUNCIL
MR. AND MRS. PETER FISHER
i
i ■. *
i Father Here Too
( Other members of the Fisher fam-
| ily settled in the new community in
11862. The father, John Fisher, arrived
| here with his son, John. Jr., and three
‘ daughters, Margaret, Katherine and
Mary Ann. They came to Wingham
! from St. Marys and became valued
I members of this community. John Jr.
Better Get
A HUDSON JET!
Troubled with old=fashioned
transportation?,
Is the old buggy not
what she used to be?
BETTER GET A HUDSON JET!
Drop in any timje —
before, during or after the
Celebration — see the terrific
New Hudson!
TRADE IN THE OLD BUGGY
on a
NEW HUDSON JET
and you can have a
CELEBRATION ALL YOUR OWN!
MERKLEY
Motors
ARCHIBALD FISHER
late Archibald Fisher operated
first sawmill in Wingham. He
a resident of town for over 20
The first white girl born in Wingham
was Margaret Fisher, a daughter of
Mr, and Mrs. Archibald Fisher. She
has resided in Paisley for many years.
WE EXTEND
A Hearty Welcome
later moved to Regina, and Margaret
and Katherine became deputy post
mistresses after their brother had se
cured the position of postmaster. In
conjunction with the post office they
operated a store, handling stationery,
china, music, toys and dolls, Many of
the older residents of the town today
can still recall the longing with which
they gazed at the display of dolls in
the Fisher store.
Leaders in the Baptist Church, Miss
K. M. Fisher organized the mission
band of that church, and led its acti
vities for many years. At one time
meetings were held in a hall on the
main street and members of all de
nominations took part. At one of these
meetings all in attendance were pre
sented with the cups and saucers from
which they had enjoyed their tea.
was early in the winter
a group of small boys
school paused at the corner of
and Josephine Streets to watch
Sparrows Came to
Wingham in 1875
A telephone call was received at the
Advance-Times a few weeks ago. The
speaker made a suggestion that the
story be re-told about the day the
sparrows came to Wingham. So, from
The Advance-Times dated February
1st, 1950, we have pleasure in grant
ing the request.
'We are indebted to Mr. Wm. Fleuty
of town for* this bit of legend
ing Wingham.
“It
that
from
John
a flock of little, chattering birds that
had settled upon the road between
the Queen’s Hotel and the Mason
block.
“Little boys in those days, even as
much as now, were keenly interested
in birds and not one of them had ever
seen the like of these before...........
saney, boistrous, bold little birds, quar
relling among themselves in the snow.
“Bill Fleuty was one of this group
of boys and he arrived home to ^tell
his father about the flock of sparrows,
for sparrows they were, the first
flock to arrive in Wingham.
“Mr. Fleuty’s father -and other pio
neers identified the birds at once as
English sparrows. He'and others from
the Old Land, at that time expressed
the wish that the English house* spar
rows had been introduced into Can
ada instead of the lively little fellows
who were the pioneer ancestors of
these hardy little chirpers that are
With Us today, but who have endear
ed themselves to each generation by
their resourcefulness, persistent cour
age and good cheer through all the
seasons of the years, but especially
admired and appreciated during ;our
long, cold winters.’’
Charles J. Reading
Charles J. Reading sold his interests
in a Saw milling partnership with R.
N. Duff, of Bluevald, in 1889 and mov
ed to Wingham. He took an active in
terest in the Union Factory and was
one of the shareholders who helped
in its re-organization after the fire
and held his interest for some years.
Mr. Reading then purchased a pump
business. He served on the town coun
cil and was an active member of the
I.O.F. Mr. Reading died in 1909.
to
One of the earlier residents of
town was Henry Davis, who will be
remembered by many as the veteran
Collector of Customs, having held that
post for forty years.
Mr. Davis came to Wingham in 1869
from Stratford, the same year marry
ing Frances, daughter of John Laird,
of Haysville, Waterloo County. When
the couple arrived in Wingham there
were only 300 inhabitants. Six .child
ren wer-e added to their home, John-
and Maude (Mrs. W. R. Birtcli), who
recently parsed away, William and
Chester, who died many years ago;
and Mrs, C. N. Peake and Miss Irene
Davis, of Toronto.
Mr. Davis came of a family which
was closely connected with the Church
of England. His father was Rural
Dean of Huron and served as rector
of St. Paul’s Church here for eight
years. One of his brothers was V-ery
Rev. Dean Davis, D.D., of London, and
others were Rev. Canon Davis, M.A.,
of Sarnia, Mr. R. Davis, of Toronto
and Mr. W. R. Davis, who founded
the Mitchell Advocate in 1860.
On his arrival in Wingham in 1869
Henry Davis engaged in the carriage
making business, carrying on his
trade in a building .which stood on the
site of the present office of Drs. Cor-
rin and Palmer, ,He was also issuer of
marriage licenses.
In 1874 he was elected to the first
council of the newly formed village,
and in 1876 acted as reeve, Elis ap
pointment as Collector of Customs
came in 1882, at which time he gave
up the carriage trade. He passed away
at his home on Centre Street in 1922.
Mrs. Davis died four years later.
Building -Redecorated , x
■ Improvements were made i immedi
ately. Four 50 ^candlepower (incandes
cent lights illuminated the interior,
showing up the new paper and paint
on ceiling and walls. The woodwork
was painted and grained and the stage
extended. In front of the stage was a
beautiful drop curtain with a scene
VISITORS and TOWN FOLK
z on the occasion of
WINGHAM’S
75th Anniversary
A. J. LOCKRIDGE
BUTCHER
Edward Sherman
Known as “General*
in Wingham was Edward Sherman..
He was a true pioneer, having been
born here about the time of incorpor
ation as a village.
He took a keen
affairs and was
Company of the
ment. As his name was the same
as that of a famous leader during the
American
wondered
sobriquet
supported
many years.
interest in military
a sergeant of "B”
33rd Huron Regi-
Civil War, it was not to be
that he should enjoy
of General Sherman,
his widowed mother
The founders of Wingharn would be proud
indeed of the manner in which the men and
women of this community have continued to
make their town a good place in which to live
Wingham maintains a progressive spirit which
is notably reflected in its schools and hospital
To
tile
He
for
At the New Year's celebration at
the roller rink the main attraction was
a turkey hunt. Each contestant was
blindfolded and the turkey was caught
on the roost. James Johnston captured
the bird and skated off with the prize.
News item 1886.
A disastrous firq demolished E, Ft.
Talbot’s store (dry goods) together
with contents. The weather was ex*
tteinely cold, with the thermometer
registering 15 degrees below zero and
higji Winds prevailed, The wind blew
wat<ir back on the firemen, who were
soon .covered with ice from head to
foot. News item 1887
over
OR. ALEX M'KENZII
YOUNGEST GRADUATE
Perhaps the youngest student
to be graduated as a member of the
medical profession in Ontario was Dr.
Alex, McKenzie, son of George Mc
Kenzie, ex-mayor of Wingham.
Dr. McKenzie was too young to be
allowed to practise, so had tq bide
his time until he reached 21 years of
age. *
He married Miss Pake( a merti-
bfer<of the teaching staff in Wingham
Public School. They arc both living,
the doctor being about 90. years
and Monktdh, Ontario, is their place
of abode. Their son, Dr. Kenneth Me*
Kenzie of Toronto, one of Canada's
most famous braim surgeons.
V
Canadians as a whole are confident that this
country has a great future, the limits of which
are beyond present comprehension. Wingham
probably will have greater importance with the
development of Ontario in the next quarter
century than ever before.
The faith of its people ip their ability to build
a greater Wingham within a greater Canada,
combined with the will to, make it so, are prime'
essentials for this greater future