HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 19THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. PAGE 19.
Twp.of West Wawanosh
s original township office records
In memory
West Wawanosh Twp., bounded by
County Rd. 86 to the north. County
Rd. 25 (Blyth Rd.) to the south,
County Rd. 1 (Lucknow Line) to the
west and County Rd. 22
(Donnybrook Line) to the east, was
once part of a much larger land hold
ing which included East Wawanosh,
Ashfield,- Turnberry and Bruce
County municipalities to the north.
Ashfield was separated from the
group in 1852 and Turnberry in
1854. Twelve years later, the Huron
and Bruce townships were separated.
The division of east and west came
on Jan. 1, 1867, by an act of parlia
ment.
The township is one of the few
which retained a native name.
There are no records of the origi
nal township office due to an 1896
fire, though the hall was used until
1974 when the new building was
constructed. An addition for office
space was added in 1988.
The old hall burnt in 1986,
most old records were saved.
Prosperity
Situated on the northeast corner of
Lot 21, Cone. 4 (Prosperity Line),
West Wawanosh Twp. stood
Prosperity. Estimated to have been
settled in the early 1880s, it had a
post office, store, blacksmith shop
and a carriage manufacturer.
It is believed Moses McBrien
the blacksmith shop during
1890s. George Bradford was
blacksmith until 1904. Charles
Robinson owned the store until 1905
when he sold it to William
Shackleton. Joseph Smith had been a
previous owner.
Rural mail delivery began around
1915 and the store no longer existed
by this time.
Donnybrook
Donnybrook sat astride of the
boundary between East and West
Wawanosh (Donnybrook Rd.) at
Cone. 6/7 (Glen’s Hill Rd.), Lots 27
and 28.
It was the place to go for fun and
games in the late 19th century when
Donnybrook was known far and
wide for its fall fair. It was one of
the first communities to host a fall
fair. It flourished through the 1860s
until about 1873. It was eventually
moved to Belgrave.
The church and cemetery sat on
Lot 27, Cone. 6 and McLaughlin’s
but
ran
the
the
Hotel, across
Cone. 7.
There was
hotel and a
blacksmith shop, stable and cob
bler’s shop.
McLaughlin’s Hotel was built
around 1868 with the adjoining liv
ery used for dances. It is believed the
Donnybrook Hotel closed by 1891.
Fair buildings for the famous
Donnybrook Fair were built by
McLaughlin on Lot 28, Cone. 6, in
1867. There was also a shoemaker
on this lot.
The store was situated on Lot 28,
Cone. 7. Jonathon Jefferson also had
a blacksmithing and woodworking
shop there in 1885.
An Orange Lodge was in
Donnybrook from 1880 to 1894.
The first school for Donnybrook,
S.S. No. 7, on Cone. 8, was replaced
with S.S. No 15, on Lot 27, Cone. 27
in 1863. The school was closed from
September 1917 to April 1918 due to
the lack of teachers and students.
The four children went to Fordyce or
St. Augustine. It closed in
when most of the children
transported to Fordyce.
A log building served
Methodist church for many
until a frame structure was built in
1880. The brick church was con
structed in 1910 and operated as
Donnybrook United Church.
The end of an era came June 27,
1999 when the final prayer was
said. The chattels were sold off in
July and the building removed from
the lot.
() Proposed road names
the road at Lot 27,
Tom McLaughlin's
woodworking shop.
1936
were
as a
years
St. Helens store, circa 1905
Prosperity store, circa 1900
Since 1866
Craig Hardwoods
Auburn Mill ~ Early 1950 s
I
St. Augustine Mill ~ Early 1900 s
The Craig family has been involved
in the log and lumber business in this
area since 1866 and are presently
introducing the 6th generation into the
business.
In the beginning the first mill was
built just north of St. Augustine and
was operated by John Craig and John
Craig Jr.
Around 1900 they built a second mill
across the road from the first mill. The
family business continued in St. Augustine
until 1946 when after one mill had burned
and the other was worn out, James T.
Craig, the third generation, purchased a
mill at Auburn from Edgar Lawson who
was retiring at the time.
James T. and son, Melvin ran that mill
until 1951 when Melvin left the business to
begin farming in Morris Township.
William L. Craig then took Melvin’s place
in the business and eventually took it over
Present Mill ~ 1998/99
from his father Jim.
In 1970 Allan Craig joined his father Bill
in the business and in 1971 they built a new
automated mill.
In 1985 Allan and his wife Elaine took
over the business and have been updating
the mill with laser lights, computerized
sawing and most recently added a new
debarker that strips the bark from the logs
before sawing.
Allan and Elaine's three sons, Tyler, Peter
and Ben have all recently begun working at
the mill putting the sixth generation of the
Craig family in the history book.
Over the years these mills have employed
a great number of people who have
contributed greatly to the success of
the business.. Today the mill employs
yearly, 15-16 people in the yard and 7
or 8 people as bush crews.
The hardwood lumber produced
here is mainly sold in the U.S. and
Canada but some of it finds its way to
Europe and the Pacific rim.
The lumber is produced from logs which
are purchased from local farms and private
woodlots in the area many of which the
business has worked in many times in the
past.
The company is finding business very
brisk these days and look forward to many
more years serving the local community.
€ CRAIG HARDWOODS LIMITED
AUAuburn, Ont. P.O. Box 70
N0M1E0
519-526-7220 I