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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1954-07-28, Page 25Dominion Bank ■Wingham's First Bank Was Operated by Private Firm It is understood that the first bank in Wingham was the Bank of St- Lawrence. Jt was situated on the south side of Victoria Street, just opposite Edward. Benjamin Willson and his brother, R, H- Willson opened a private bank in 1875, on the present site of Stain­ ton's hardware store on Josephine Street, In 1879 the Bank of Hamilton took over his bank with Mr, Willson in charge of the branch, which con­ tinued to operate at this location for some years. Wingfjam gfobanceJEames Wingham, Ontario, Wednesday, July 28, 1054 The Mason Block erected by Geo. Mason in 1879, was rented by the Dominion Bank for some years and purchased in 1921. In 1890 the Bank of Hamilton pur­ chased the Royal Hotel building and grounds on Josephine Street and Dia­ gonal Road, and the following year commenced removing the building and preparing the site, By July 1892 the new Baronial style three-storey, red brick building, with stone facings, was just about ready for occupancy, when a fire broke out, caused by the explosion of a coal oil stove, Considerable damage was done to the first floor but the t°P two flights were not at all damaged. Al- most.every pane of glass on the main floor was cracked by the intense heat. The estimated damage was about $1,500. By November 1st the repairs were completed and the bank was moved and ready for operation. Two teams were used to draw the safe from one building to the other. HURON COUNTY Salutes the Town of WINGHAM On the Occasion of Its 75 th Anniversary and Looks Forward to a Future of EXPANDING PROSPERITY TOGETHER oksoi Xi 1954 Huron County Council TOWNSHIPS Benjamin Willson, W. Corbould and S. C. P. Smith were the managers of the Bank of Hamilton during years of its existence here. HALSTEAD & SCOTT In January 1890 Halstead and Scott opened a banking business on Jose- ,phine Street, one store south of Ed. jDinsIey’s jewellery shop. Mr. A. E, Smith was brought from Shelbourne to take charge here. When the Bank of Hamilton moved into its new premises in 1892, Halstead and Scott moved into the old Bank of Hamilton building. It is believed that Mr. Smith later purchased this business from his em­ ployers, since the bank was known as Smith’s Bank when it was taken over by the Bank of Commerce in 1906. BANK OF COMMERCE The Bank of Commerce erected the building on Josephine Street where Drs. Corrin and Palmer are now locat­ ed.. The first officers were A. E. Smith, manager, Mr. Hellman of To­ ronto, accountant; S. M. Wedd, Walk­ erton, teller; Harry Green, junior. In 1924 the Bank of Commerce and the Bank of Hamilton amalgamated, S. C. P. Smith, who was manager of the Bank of Hamilton at the time, re­ maining in charge. The Bank of Com­ merce building was disposed of and the larger building used. R. R. Hobden is the present man­ ager of the Bank of Commerce and has been in Wingham since March, 1944. DOMINION BANK The Wingham branch of the Do­ minion Bank was opened for business October, 30th, 1901. The present quar­ ters were rented from George Mason in 1913, and the building was purchas- by the bank in 1921. - The first manager was Alfred E. Gibson, who remained until 1903, when he was transferred to Seaforth. He died in February 1937. Clayton Gammage, now manager of the Niagara Falls branch, was the manager from 1941 until July 1952. He was followed by the present man­ ager, N. L. Smith, who came here from the Dupont and Christie Street branch, Toronto. the FIRST CURLING DONE ON MAITLAND RIVER In the very earliest days of curling in Wingham, the Maitland River, be­ hind the Isard home on Victoria St., was used as a rink, Mr. Inglis, who operated a woollen mill here and was known to all as "the laird" because he owned property in the Old Country, brought wooden stones from Scotland, which he used on the river. These were made of wood blocks bolted to­ gether and banded with iron. The first curling club was organized in 1873 and in 1879 it affiliated with the Ontario Branch of the Royal Cale­ donian Curling Club. Officers of the club in 1889 were: Patron, H. W. C. Meyer; patroness, Mrs. J, Neelands; president, John Inglis; vice-pres., Sextus Kent; rep. member, Hugh Miller, Walter Scott; chaplain, John J. Anderson; sec.- treas., John Neelands; committee of management, John Inglis, Sextus Kent, John Neelands; hon. member, John R. Gair. The list of regular members for the- year was made up as follows: John Inglis, Sextus Kent, John Dinsley, John Neelands, Andrew Mitchell, Ben. Willson, John Coad, H. W. C. Meyer, C. E. Williams, James Duffield, Geo. McKenzie, J. J. Anderson, E. L. Dick­ inson, D. Sutherland, George Hughes, George Duffield, Wm. Armour, Thos. Gregory, John Hanna, Wm. Easton, Fred Hughes, Levi Lattimore, Frank Paterson, Richard Vanstone, George Anderson, Wm. Anderson, and E. R. Talbot. The fees to the Ontario Branch of the Royal Caledonian Club were pay­ able by the club, and entrance and annual fees for a club of eight mem­ bers and under twenty was $4.00; 20 members and under 50, $6.00; 50 mem­ bers and under 100, $8.00; 100 mem­ bers and over, $10.00 The Grand Trunk and the C.P.R. railways granted to curling clubs as­ sociated with the Ontario Branch of the R.C.C.C. special fares when travel­ ling in bodies of not less than eight, to and from matches. The rates for single trip fare was 2c a mile from station to station and return fare was one and a third the ordinary single fare, and included the handling and carriage of stones and brooms. Rinks Erected Some time in the late '70’s a curling and skating rink was built on the southwest corner of-Alfred and Jose­ phine streets. William Armpur pur­ chased the rink and converted it to a roller rink. The curlers were then without facilities and after trying to arrange for one of several private Jots, managed an agreement with the cricket club to rent the park for $10, It seems that getting the ice in shape proved almost impossible and the pro­ prietor of the roller rink was even­ tually induced to provide ice in the winter for skating and curling, oper­ ating as a roller rink only in the sum­ mer months. The rink was later moved to the present Reliance Garage location on Josephine Street and continued to ac­ commodate the curlers until 1925. Fol­ lowing an altercation, the curjers se­ cured the building at Western Foun­ dry which was not in use, and car­ ried on' activities there for one seas- son. A portion of the Bell property was purchased and A- M. Crawfprd, D. Rae,< Harry Diamond and Wm. Mitch­ ell raised enough mopey by subscrip­ tion to pay for the lot. * A framer from Hqwjck wps con­ tracted to erect a building 1.46x48 feet, Shares were sold, $3,500 being raised, The building itself cost $2,500 and the remainder was used for the install Jation of lighting, etc. Alex Crawford skipped what was considered rather a famous rink for several years, consisting of Dave For-* tune,‘Jack Currie and Bill Mitchell, This rink returned home with many prizes through the years. In fact, A. M, Crawford has a whole house full of bowling and curling trophies. The Wingham club joined the Curling Association in 1925, J. A. Wil­ son being secretary at the time. Among the oldest curlers in town are A. M. Crawford, Jack Mason and Jim. Murray, “• AshfieM Colbome Goderich Grey Hay Hay Deputy Howick Ho wick Deputy. Hullett McKillop Reeve Cecil Blake Reeve Terence Hunter Reeve Edward Grigg Reeve Clifford Rowland Reeve Earl Campbell Reeve Valentine Becker Reeve Harold Gowdy Reeve Arthur Gibson Reeve William J, Dale Reeve Daniel Beuerman TOWNS Morris Stanley Stephen Stephen Deputy Tuckersmith Turn berry E. Wawanosh W. Wawanosh Usborne Reeve Bailie Parrott Reeve Alvin McBride John Morrissey Wellington Haist James Doig John Fischer Reeve Reeve Reeve Reeve Reeve Orval Taylor Reeve John Durnin Reeve Verne Pincombe Clinton Clinton Deputy Exeter Exeter Deputy Reeve John Nediger Reeve Melvin Crich Reeye R. Edward Pooley Reeve William McKenzie * Goderich Goderich Deputy Seaforth Wingham Wingham Deputy VILLAGES Reeve John Graham Reeve Reeve Reeve Reeve Joseph Allaire Joseph Scions Eldon McKinney Joseph Kerr Reeve William Merritt Reeve Roy Cousins Reeve Alvin Kerslake FRANK BUCHANAN HAPPY ' Blyth Brussels Hensail WILLIAM JL DALE, Warden A. FL ERSKINE, Clerk-Treasurer J. G. BERRY, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer PETER D. PATTERSON*Engineer A. A. ALEXANDER, County Assessor Frank Buchanan learned the har­ ness making trade and later operated a harness, boot and shoe Shop here. He went to Toronto in 1.885, where he had a wholesale saddlery and harness business. In 1904, Mr. Buchanan returned to Wingham and entered into a partner­ ship with A. E. Lloyd. He died in 1918. i SHERBONDY’S For A Snack During The Celebration