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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 17THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. PAGE 17. Hamlet of St.Augustine ■ddrst settler arrives 1847 and buys 200 acres St. Austustme store One of the first settlers to arrive at Lot 24, Cone.6/7 (Glen’s Hill Rd.) of West Wawanosh Twp. was William Hawkins who arrived in 1847 and purchased 200 acres of farmland on Cone. 7. Through a succession of sales. 44 acres were sold to Edward Brophy Sr. in 1880. A few small lots of Lot 24, Cone. 7 were sold off and developed into St. Augustine. Though the comer lot is now one lot. it began as three. The store was eventually located south of the inter­ section at Cone 6/7 (Glens-’ Hill Rd.), Sideroad 24- 25 (St. Augustine Line). Margaret (McIntosh Brennan) Baker operated a store in 1891 on Cone 7, facing the sideroad, but it is believed she and her new husband Henry Baker built the store at Lot 24, Cone. 6 in 1901. They may have had the post office as well. John Boyle bought the store in 1902 and sold it to his brother William in 1921. A butcher shop was operated during this time. With the arrival of cars, gas was available at the store. Glen and Margaret McConnell took over ownership in 1972 from Augustine Devereaux (purchased in 1949), but were forced to close in 1977 due to inflation on competition from supermarkets. The McConnells bought the lots to the north and east and removed the houses. The St. Augustine post office opened in 1880. Though rural routes began in 1914, St. Augustine contin­ ued until 1918. Jon Craig and John Murphy oper­ ated a sawmill and when Craig bought out Murphy in 1871, it was the beginning of a milling business which continues today. He moved the operation across the road to Lot 25, Cone. 7 in 1880. There was also a slaughterhouse and beef ring in the early years. Lot 24, Cone 6, originally owned by William Conners, was being developed during the same time. A six-acre and one-acre lot were sev­ ered off in 1870 by Conners’ sons. It is believed the one acre was used for the first frame church, built in 1872. Eight years later, nine acres were given to the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the London Diocese for a school. The school was built in 1864 thought the children were being taught by the mission as early as 1861. A new frame school house, which remains today, was built in 1872. It closed in 1966. The log church was built in 1857 after years of services in homes. A frame church, constructed in 1972, was just a few yards west of the pres­ ent stone church on Lot 24, Cone. 6. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1903. () Proposed road names St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church Insurance is an Elliott 'Tradition In today’s diverse and changing economic climate, it's getting harder and harder for business to operate in the black and continue to provide quality service and products to their clients. In Blyth there is such a business, that can boast of 90 continual years of success throughout four family generations and that name is Elliott Insurance Brokers Limited. The Elliott family has played an integral part in the history of Blyth and area, since 1910 when J.H.R. Elliott moved to Blyth from Thessalon, Ontario to purchase the "Blyth Standard" newspaper, plus a book and stationery store and two small insurance agencies. In the beginning Wm. Alexander Elliott, who was J.H.R.'s eldest son worked in the office until entering the banking business. Gordon B. Elliott, J.H.R. Elliott's third son, began working with his father at the age of 21 years in the insurance office until his retirement in 1980, after 44 years of commitment to the community. During that time, the insurance industry was far more basic in part from the needs of its customers, as there were few vehicles, buildings required only basic fire and wind coverage, which was purchased separately. Throughout the Great Depression, the Second World War, the introduction of hydro to the rural areas, the office embraced change and flourished. The basis of business was a pen, paper and a handshake to cement the business relationship and trust was an integral primary part. "I got into the insurance business by accident. When I came out of Grade 13 in 1934,1 worked at the neighbouring garage. I started in insurance when my father needed someone to help him with the business. I came in because of necessity and I've never been sorry for it," said Gordon Elliott. "The education that was needed for the business was taught to me by my father, and a license was not required to sell insurance" said Gordon. In 1955 the partnership between J.H.R. and Gordon Elliott terminated with the death of J.H.R. at the age of 82 years. Gordon’s eldest son, R. John Elliott, joined the family business in 1956 on a part-time basis and then full time in 1961 when he became licensed with the Ontario Insurance Agents Association. Gordon and John operated the business as a partnership known as Elliott Insurance Agency until 1978 when they incorporated the business into its present name of Elliott Insurance Brokers Limited. "It was my desire to go into the insurance business when I was in grade 9," explained John. The opportunity of working with my father and carrying on the family business was a simple and meaningful decision that made sense! With time comes experience and being able to draw on the experiences of J.H.R., Gordon and John provide a tremendous resource of industry-based knowledge and consumer relationships combined with the changes in both business and community. The rates in 1948 were - the automobile rate was $17.00 annual for liability and an additional premium of $12.00 for collision and $3.00 for fire & theft totaling $32.00. In 1983 the liability premium was $144.00, collision $100.00 ahd fire and theft was $45.00 for a total annual premium of $433.00. Presently the coverages have broadened to provide extensions for loss of use and waiver of depreciation to name a few, and the premiums differ as much with the model and year of the vehicle as the age and use of the operator. Amazingly, the fire/property rates over the years have remained relatively constant. In 1948 the rate charged on a barn was 30 cents for fire and wind-per hundred dollars of limits, whereas in 1983 and present the rates are still around 34 cents, but the coverages are much broader and can include all perils. The largest change remains in the replacement costs of the buildings and the limits required to protect that investment "Why are today's rates relatively low in comparison to 1948?" John says, "It's because of the better fire protection and the consumers risk management of their property. The consumers are continuing to upgrade their homes and businesses with electrical wiring, heating, plumbing and roof systems. This reduces everyone's potential to loss of property, thereby reducing the overall costs paid in claims." In 1983 John's eldest son J. Richard Elliott joined the firm completing the fourth generation to work within and manage the Insurance Business and service its growing clientele. Rick completed a 2 year Insurance Administration Course at Mohawk College of Applied Arts prior to joining the office in 1983 and graduated from the Insurance Institute of Canada with his "Associate" degree in 1987 and became a partner in the firm. Currently, they are providing trusted advice and protection to their clients throughout Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa and Toronto to as far away as Cochrane in the north. The scope of their business territory encompasses those customers wherever they are or wherever they move to, from generation to generation within the Province of Ontario. The office is composed of two additional full-time brokers working in the business, which includes Barbara M. Snell who has been with the firm since 1978 and has also completed her Associateship Degree with the Insurance Institute of Canada in 1998 and Aimee E. Townsend who was employed in 1997. The support staff include Jacalyn Lantinga, Lorie Falconer, Anne Elliott and Bryan Allan, all of whom are pleased to speak with you and discuss your insurance requirements and questions. They have expanded their services too with Inset: J.H.R. Elliott In back from left: J. Richard (Rick), R. John and seated is Gordon B. Elliott the addition of Bryan Allan to the staff as their property inspector. Bryan brings 30 years of field experience in the farm, residential and commercial risk evaluations, which will allow more current property evaluations and advice on replacement values to protect you, the client. They provide a full range of insurance products which include both personal and business/commercial automobile insurance, home, tenant and condominium owners policies, farm, business, industrial and commercial insurance forms. In addition to these, they also provide out-of-province travel insurance, life, disability and financial products such as guaranteed investments, R.R.S.P., R.R.I.F., and segregated funds. They have also joined forces in 1998 with three area brokerages to create and form the cluster known as Huron Insurance Managers Group, which provides an additional foundation of eight insurance companies, their products and services as well as a talented pool of insurance industry professionals to launch their firm into the new millennium! The Elliott family business has interwoven a fabric of trust, quality and service over the past 90 years that provides security to their clients and exhibits pride in their work that will stand the test of time.