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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-07-22, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1992. Wawanosh becomes two townships in 1867 Continued from page 13 north of them at that time; but in 1854 the Currie brothers - Robert, John and David - settled on Lots 40 and 41, along the Turnberry town-line, near Wingham. From this time onward a steady and rapid tide of settlers flowed into Wawanosh, and the settlement of the township soon became general. The municipal history of Wawanosh as a separate township takes date from its separation from Ashfield in 1852, and although the records of its municipal transactions from that time up to 1858 are lost, yet we find by reference to the minutes of the Counties' Council during those years that Wawanosh was represented in that body for the first time in 1852 by John Pentland, Reeve, who was followed in 1853 by Charles Girvin, who held the office continuously three years. We have not the names of the incumbents of the Reeveship during 1856-57; but in 1858 Henry Mathers was Reeve, and during the years 1859 and 1860 respectively, Thomas Holmes and Stephen Yates occupied the chair. In 1860 they became entitled to a Deputy Reeve, and Robert Currie received the election to that office, and in 1861 was re-elected, in company with Henry Mathers as Reeve; the latter gentleman being honoured with re­ election in 1862, when Andrew Cook was elected to the Deputy Reeveship, each being re-elected in the years 1863 and 1864. Robert Currie held the Reeveship during 1865-66, with Wm. Farquharson as Deputy the former, and Hezekiah Helps the latter year. By this time the people in all parts of the township began to realize the fact that Wawanosh was too large and populous to be conveniently handled by one municipal Council, and in accordance with this general conviction, an Act (29th Viet., cap. 82) was passed by the Canadian Parliament on the 15th August of that year, by the provisions of which the township was divided by the road now running north and south between Lots 27 and 28; the townships created on either side of this line being named respectively East and West Wawanosh. In West Wawanosh after the “divorce”, we find that in 1867 Charles Girvin was elected Reeve and Edward Gaunt Deputy Reeve, and that they have retained their respective offices by annual re­ election ever since, having thus held their seats during twelve consecutive years, a coincidence heretofore unheard of in the annals of municipal government in Huron County, and probably in Ontario. It is also worthy of remark that the entire Council of 1873 have been re-elected each year since, and in 1875-76 by acclamation, except that this year, in consequence of Mr. Mcllwaine's refusal to again be a candidate, Mr. John Washington was elected in his place. The Council for the current year, then, consists of Messrs. Charles Girvin, Reeve; Edward Gaunt, Deputy Reeve; Charles Durnin, William Kinahan, and John Washington, Councillors. The other officers are Robert Murray, Clerk; William Durnin, Treasurer; Hugh McCrostie, Assessor; John Pentland, Collector; John H. Taylor and Alexander Pentland, Auditors. There are but two villages in the township worthy of extended notice. Manchester is situated chiefly in West Wawanosh, though there are portions of it also in East Wawanosh, Hullett, and Colbome, as before stated. The village was originally laid out by Messrs. George Fulton, on the Wawanosh side and F. Elkins on the Hullett side, who first took up the land on which it stands. The nearest railroad station is at Blyth, six miles east. The village contains two stores, four blacksmiths' shops, one wagon shop, one tailor's shop, two shoe shops, one harness shop, one tannery, one cheese factory, four churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran), four hotels, and is served with a daily mail off Goderich, twelve miles distant. The Montreal Telegraph Company has an office here, in addition to its other facilities. The Maitland River at this point is spanned by a fine wooden truss bridge, which rests on substantial stone piers; the cost of this bridge was $10,500, it being the most expensive in the county, with one exception. The name of the post office at this village is Auburn; it was situated across the river from its present position before the village was laid out, and though its location was subsequently changed, its name remained the same. Saint Helens is built along the line between the 10th and 11th Concessions, in Lots 18 and 19. It was laid out in 1857 by Mr. Molesworth, a Government engineer, at the request of Messrs. William Gordon and Henry Mathers, the former of whom named it after his wife - Helen. The first store-keeper here was William Gordon, now engaged in the wholesale carpet trade in Toronto; the first Postmaster was John McKay. The village possesses one store, telegraph office, several small mechanics' shops, a steam saw-mill, two churches (Presbyterian and Episcopal), a temperance hall, and a population of 150 to 200. The post office is served with a daily mail off Belfast, 2 1/4 miles west, on the Ashfield town-line, which is referred to at sufficient length in the sketch of the latter township. St. Helens is surrounded by a good farming country, and is withal a pleasant little village. Dungannon, on the Ashfield town-line, about midway between the north and south boundaries, is described in our sketch of Ashfield. Nile is a post office at the extreme south-west of the township, at the junction of the Ashfield and Colbome town-lines. It received a daily mail north and south by the Goderich and Lucknow stage. . The financial condition of West Wawanosh is even better than that of her sister township on the east, as it is entirely out of debt, and had a balance of $551.70 on hand at the Continued on page 15 .£2^ much much Quilts Crafts Shetler Enterprise Sales ■at St. Helens WE'VE GROWN We recently officially opened our expanded office space to accommodate a four-fold increase in business and staff. OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SERVICE We will continue to uphold West Wawanosh Mutual's motto of - 'Neighbour Helping Neighbour" into the next century. i . SL -1 ft Congratulations to the people of West Wawanosh Township on their 125th anniversary. WEST WAWANOSH MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. Dungannon 529-7921 PROVIDING BETTER INSURANCE SERVICES IN HURON & BRUCE