HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 63RBI
USBORNE c HIBertil
Francistown
was active
JOTTINGS BY J.M.S.
Nov. 27, 1952
There is considerable activity
at the present time in what was at
one time known as Francistown.
Francistown was an active,
bustling community when Exeter
was in toddling clothes. As
Exeter grew Francistown
gradually lost its industries. It is
now known as Exeter North and
the post office as Hay post office.
In my 'early days, a large brick
building stood on the corner now
occupied by Les Gibson's store
and garage. It was the Walper
Hotel and contained a bar and
many rooms. Just south of the
building was a general store
owned by Trick & Currelly. The
hotel was the stopping place for
stage coaches and travellers on
their trips to and from London.
Many stories have come out of
the hotel. One is told of a tramp
that visited the place and for
some misdemeanor was placed
under arrest. A fake court was set
up for his trial and the late
Lancelot Hardy, quite a
character in his time, was sent
for to defend the prisoner.
He was introduced as a man
learned in law. Hardy appealed
to the court for a recess of five
minutes to consult his client.
They went outside and Hardy
advised the tramp that he had
five minutes in which to get going
and as he trudged northward the
men in the hotel had a great
laugh as they watched him go.
Two characters that were
frequent visitors were Silas and
Sam Stanlake, twins from
Stephen Township. Besides
farming they ran a sawmill at
Sodom, about three miles west of
Exeter. They were very fond of
singing and their voices could be
heard to good advantage after a
wee drop or two.
They carried a ladder when
bringing a load of hay to town so
that they could get down and up,
for it was said they hardly passed
a tavern without a visit. A
favorite expression of theirs was:
"We've made our money
together and we spend it
together."
Corn in Egypt
Another story of these days
comes from Joseph Davis. He
was ploughing in a field near the
old hotel at the station when the
proprietor of the hotel came over
with a bottle of Scotch and
holding it up said: "There's still
corn in Egypt". As the
hotelkeeper was adverse to
drinking fr,om a bottle he was in a
dilemma but notbeaten.Going to a
turnip patch he pulled a turnip,
cut away the dirt and then
hollowed it to form a cup.
South of the Walper House
Digory Braund ran a blacksmith
shop and Alex McPherson was
the wagon-maker. Mr. Braund
with a sizeable family, built a
large brick home on the property
that was later sold to Charles B.
Snell, who demolished it and the
material went into several new
homes that were built by Mr.
Snell in Exeter. Mr. McPherson
was a taxidermist and won many
prizes at fairs for his work. He
had numerous cages of birds and
small animals.
T-A April 20th, 1933
Checker players from Exeter
and Hensall wound up the season
with a tournament in Exeter on
Thursday evening of last week.
Sides were chosen as follows: Dr.
Moir, Archie Brintnell, Jas.
Sweet,B. Edwards and E. Faber
vs J. Zuefle, J.M. Southcott, C.
Brintnell, Chas. Triebner and
J.S. Grant. Two games each were
played. Dr. Moir and A. Brintnell
were high with 15 points each out
of a possible 20. Dr. Moir's side
won 56 to 44. The checker players
have had some interesting
evenings during the season.
Section 3, Page 11 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973
SOLDIERS PARADE - In the early 1900's as now, everyone loves a watch the 33rd Regiment march north through Exeter on its way to the
parade. Here, the shoppers and merchants stopped long enough to camp at Goderich.
Founded in 1876
. . . by the ancestors of the area
to protect their investments
if disaster should strike
Maintained through the years by
their successors for the same reason
USBORNE & HIBBERT
Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
OUR NEW EXETER OFFICE OPENED IN 1972