HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1954-07-28, Page 32Page Thirty-two The Wingham Advance-Times, Wednesday, July 28, 1934
Salt Block Was
Busy Industry '
(Continued frontpage 31)
Bill Elliott and Mr. Cochrane, all be
ing in the same locality.
Grey, Young and Sparling (were
pioneer salt manufacturers of Huron
County. For many years they not only
operated the Wingham salt works,
but also similar plants in Seaforth
and Blyth. In 1901 Messrs. Young and
Grey withdrew from the business and
F. G. Sparling was sole controller until
his retirement due to illness.
A. Young, who had operated a hard
ware store here for several years,
then puchased the salt block. When
Mr. Young died, his son, L. S. Young,
carried on until 1918, at which time
the plant was bought from the Young
Estate by the Wm. Davies Co., with
L. S. Young as manager,
The salt block
about 1926, and
Jater torn down.
Thos. Graham
of the lhte R. A. Graham, is an auth
ority on the operations of the salt
block, having been employed there
for 18 years. As a matter of fact, Tom
has an insight into more than one of
Wingham’s industries. He worked at
the chair factory, Chapman’s tannery,
Jack MacLean’s, the salt block and at
C. Lloyd and Sons for ten years.
Ladies* Auxiliary to
Wingham Legion
The Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Legion,
Branch No. 180, was organized in
1936 with Mrs. W. W. Armstrong as
the first president. Meetings were held
in the Armouries until June 1947, when
the Legion Home on the south-east
corner of John and Centre Streets was
opened.
During World War II the Auxiliary
assisted with Red Cross work and did
a great deal of sewing and knitting
for the bombed-out victims of Eng
land. Following the war a shower and
presentation was made to each bride
from overseas.
existed till sometime
the buildings were
of John Sreet, son
At the present time needy veterans’
families are given financial aid, and
the Auxiliary also supports Westmin
ster Hospital, London, Donations are
made to the British Sailors’ Society
and the Legion University Scholarship
Fund. Locally, the organization has
made contributions to the Huron
County fund for Crippled Children, the
General Hospital and the Salvation
Army.
Those who at present hold office
in the organization are: Pres. Mrs.
Ernie Lewis; vice-president. Mrs.
Stewart Forsyth; secretary, Mrs. Em
erson Shera; treasurer, Mrs. Lloyd
Hingston; standard bearer, Mrs.
Harry Browne Sr.
MacLean Lumber Now Beaver
W. H. Gurney came to Wingham
from Georgetown in 1906 and
rented the glove making department
of Mr, Pringle’s tannery. Following
a fire in 19Q9, when both firms were
completely wiped out, Mr. Gurney
rented and later purchased the build
ing on the east corner of Victoria and
Scott Streets, the present residence
of Horace Aitchison. He continued in
business there until he bought the
Kent Block on the north-west corner
of Victoria and John Streets about
1916, where the business has since
been carried on.
In the early days of the firm the
machinery was run by gasoline power.
About 30 people were employed, but
when the industry located in the
Kent Block, Mr. Gurney expanded his
business and the work force enlarged
to 60 hands.
At the present time from 30 to 35
people are employed in the shop and
there are eighteen machines placed in
homes around town. Gurney’s ship
direct to chain stores and wholesalers,
their products being sent all over
Canada.
W. W. Gurney, better known as
“Jim”, entered the business with his
father in 1930. Both father and son
have taken an active interest in the
welfare of the community, as well as
in sports.
W. H. Gurney was elected to council
about 1916 and remained a councillor
until he was elected mayor in 1920.
It was during his time in public of
fice that outside hydro power was
brought into Wingham. Mr. Gurney
served as hydro commissioner for 27
years,
He was active in sports, being keen
ly interested in lacrosse and baseball.
It is his belief that the automobile
did a great deal to kill the interest
in such games as lacrosse. The young
men became more interested in tour
ing around by this new method of
travel than in working out on track
and field.
As for other entertainment of his
day, the Chatauqua was for many
years outstanding in Wingham. While
fairly expensive, the Chatauqua pro
vided the very best of entertainment
with a high calibre of music, About
thirty citizens would back
prise financially and for
part, “it
cover
from the backers, but Mr. Gurney re
members one year when
about $30 each.
Jim Gurney also held
for several years. From
he sat on council and
mayor of the town in 1950, He served
in that capacity until 1952, He was
very much interested in sports and
played both baseball and , hockey.
When Jim played on the teams, most
of the travel by clubs was done by
special trains and
today.
W. W. Gurney
former Ella Rae,
late Donald Rae
Wingham.
was successful
expenses without
this enter-
the most
enough to
assistance
it cost them
public office
1946 to 1950
was elected
not by car,as it is
to the
of the
is married
a daughter
and Mrs. Rae, of
Town's Largest Lumber Concern
Was Owned by MacLean & Son
Birthday Greetings
TO WINGHAM
The J. J. Anderson sawmill was
operated in Upper Wingham at an
early date and was situated on the
site of the present Falconer sawmill
on James Street. It was apparently
a very busy spot, for it is reported
that over a million feet of lumber
were turned out annually. The local
papers of that day spoke in admiring
terms of the huge piles of logs and
sawn lumber and the activity about
the mill. Eighteen teams and 24 men
were employed during the winter
months and “wages totalled $30 per
day”.
MacLean Mill
Most familiar of all names in the
lumber business was that of the Mac-
Lean family. Lachlin MacLean was
born in
coming
He was
store in
for the
from Goderich. It was he who brought
in the boiler’ for the Zetland.sawmill,
toting it from the county town on the
front bob of a sleigh.
Cape Breton Island in 1837,
to Zetland at an early age.
first engaged to work for a
Zetland, teaming all the stock
business through the bush
In 1866 Mr. MacLean moved to
Lower Wingham, where he was em
ployed in Archibald Fisher’s sawmill,
later buying the business. A few years
later his son, • J. A. MacLean, joined
his father as a business partner.
In 1885 they purchased the Scott
& Bell sawmill, which was situated
near Brennan’s tannery, approximate
ly where the Cunningham implement
sales building now stands. In 1889 an
other business was added with the
purchase of the Anderson mill (now
Falconer’s). The same year the mill
in Lower Wingham was torn down
all activity was centred in the
mills in Upper Wingham.
Early Se/tlers
August Hoinuth was born in Ger
many and his wife, Mary Adelaide
Netterfield, was born near Smith's
Falls. The both came to Wingham
while young children. At that time
there were no buildings on the east
side of Josephine Street and the hill
on that side of the town was dotted
with springs which kept the ground
damp.
MR. AND MRS. A. HOMUTH
WELCOME
AND BEST
The late Miss Bernice Howard Rey
nolds is fondly remembered by hun
dreds not only in Wingham, but vir
tually all over the continent, for she
taught in the public school for oyer
53 years. For 47 of those years she was
organist of the Methodist, and later
the United Church.
Born in Morpeth, Ontario, she came
to Wingham with her family in 1876.
She was educated at Guelph and be
came a teacher, joining the staff* of
the Wingham school on 1888. Her
length of service is certainly unequall
ed here and is believed to be a
cord for the province.
At the time of their marriage, their
honeymoon was short. The bride and
groom drove to Teeswater and back
over the corduroy road, followed by
several other buggies, and that night
started housekeeping in their own
home. Mr. Homuth died in 1941 and
his wife, two years later.
In many instances she had the uni
que experience of teaching not only
the children of former pupils, but their
grandchildren as well.
Upon her retirement Miss Reynolds
was honored by a group of former
students, who* presented her with a
purse of money and other gifts in
tribute to her untiring and patient
service to the community and its suc
ceeding generations. Miss Reynolds
passed away in 1953.
JOS. A. FLACK
WISHES
ON THE
7 5 T H
AN N
OF
on its
75th ANNIVERSARY
I
HAMILTON
JackStan *
CAMPBELL & GORBUTT 1
oper-30 YEARS AT WINGHAM’S SERVICE
SASH AND BUILDING SUPPLIES
Optical Company
WINGHAM
raw#*
b
I
in Business in WinghamForty Years
JOHN A, MacLEAN
ni
\
WELCOME, OLD
TO
May Your Stay
LACHLIN MacLEAN
TIMERS
ODR TOWN
Be Pleasant
Your Memories
J. A. MacLean
A. MacLean took over the
ation of the business about 1900 and
added steadily to its scope and suc
cess. At about the same time he add
ed the coal and wood retailing de
partment which is still carried on by
the MacLean family.
He was actively connected with the
Western Foundry, of which he was at
one time president. In 1920 he pur
chased the Dinsley House for use as
a planing mill and the office, which
had been located in the present W.
R. Hamilton store until that time, was
moved to the new location. Business
was carried on at this location until
1947, when the lumber business was
sold to the Beaver Lumber Company.
Miss Margaret MacLean now carries
on the coal and wood business, known
as the MacLean Coal Co.
J. A. MacLean’s family includes five
sons and five daughters, Fred and H.
C. of Wingham; C. E. MacLean, of
Sarriia; Frank and Gordon, of Toron
to; Mrs. W. H. Bailiffe (Annie), of
London; Mrs. D. E. Holmes (Nell) of
Goderich; Miss Agnes MacLean, of
Toronto, Misses Sarah and Margaret
MacLean, of Wingham.
A resident of Lower Wingham from
1864 to 1905, Mr. Flack operated a
tannery. He was prominent in the af
fairs of the Methodist Church and was
one of the first trustees of the Lower
Wingham School. Mr. and Mrs. Flack-
moved to the West in 1905 to live with
a son.
7
Congratulations, Wingham!
REAVIE MOTOR SALES
A Wingham “Native” since 1932