HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-06-24, Page 29eld hub w
by MIlvena Edelman
In the beginning, Coderich and
Bayfield were laid out on the
same plan — the wagon wheel
style --- with the centre a park. Ia
Bayfield the "hub" is called Clad
Gregor Square.
Clan Gregor Square had been
used for baseball. football,
' cricket and other sports popular
in the 1800's. Many competitions
were held here, of which Bayfield.
often emerged the victor. A `ball
screen and homeplate were
established at the north-east
corner of the park; around the
1940's, the screen was moved to
the opposite (diagonal) corner.
due to the increase in traffic and
disturbance of Sunday Church
Services by picnicers enjoying
the diamond:
In the early days of the Square,
a road ran through the middle of
it. Later a fence with turnstile
entrances was erected around it.
Now• the cows could be kept out.
Before this it was impossible to
walk safely through the Square at
night. as the cows were allowed
to roam freely.
A motion in the old minute
books of Council on Jan. 9, 1878,
that- the treasurer be instructed
to write some firm about a hay -
scales for the Village not Less
than four or five tons, and
ascertain the cost of putting up
and leaving said scales in good
weighing condition was carried.
A week later on Jan. 16 the offer
of Fairbanks was
accepted; that said scales be of
four tons for the price of *132.00;
exclusive of carriage from
Brucefield;. lumber and ex-
cavation. On Jan. 28, 1878. a
motion that the timer be acquired
for the scales; the platform to be
of oak. other parts cedar and
pine, the scales be placed on the
Square between E. Elilotts and
Struthers (which is where the
Westlake flower bed now grows)
was carried.
On Feb. 16. 1878. James
Thompson was paid $24.86 in full
for bill of lumber and freight of
scales from Brucefield Station to
Bayfield; and tenders were
called for operating the scales for
a year. The tariff rates were to
be; a load of hay. straw or
anything weighed in a wagon or
vehicle, each 20 cents; horses.
cattle (horned) and all other
drafts 10,cents.
On Feb. 25. 1878. the tender for
hay -scales was not satisfactory.
so they decided to let them by
public auction. This they did. and
Mr. "Robert Beacom was to hand
the treasurer six months rent on
the scales he being the successful
bidder.
The following year. Mar. 1879.
Mr. T. Garniss rented the scales
ti JO ,rJvnuiirr clic;
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD. TUURS
Clan
,111,6447
fora year for $17.00. the next year
3.8. Hall rented them for $13.00
per annum, then in Nov. Mr.
Robert Harrison rented them the
following year for $8.50. In Jan.
1881; the Council took over the
operation of the hay -scales and
appointed a caretaker to take
charge of them and the fee
derived be handed over to the
Village and the other half be
retained by him for his services.
Another 'caretaker was John
Pollock and in 1887 a motion was
passed that Thomas Parker take
charge of the Corporation scales
as John Pollock hadthem for the
past three years. A year later
F.A. Edwards rented the scales
for $11.00 for the year.
From May 29, 18.0 to Mar. 2.
1914. there are no records
available. and no other mention
is made of the scales, but I am
told that the scales were used to
weigh wagon loads of grain
before it was shipped by boatload
out of the Harbour. At times it is
said that as many as 50 wagons
were waiting in line to be
weighed. The grain was tran-
sported to the Signal Point and
dumped into long chutes to the
storage bins where Tom Castle's
shanty now stands.
In I930-32. ZI+Ir. Alf Westlake
purchased the scales and they
were moved to the residence of
his son. Gladwin Westlake. on
Bayfield looked something like this 4routtd 1502. The Hayfield Town Hall Is In its original location
here, the school Is to the left and behind, Dr. Stanberry's Is in the centre and to the right Is the Har-
dware store(formerly the Woollen Mill.)
NOY.
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Bayfield!
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ii
SAY. JUNE 24.1976 --PAGE IA
quare
Highway 21. south of Hayfield in
Stanley Township. Gladwin
continued to use them for a few
years to weigh his cattle before
shipping them to a market in
Toronto. The scales are in the
barn at Mr. Westlakes farm. and
the framework is still in the
garage where the scales were
situated when transported to his
farm.
In 1878. from April to
November, a road was con-
structed and graveled around the
Square. apparently this was not
done without some problems as
the Constable was instructed to
remove all obstacles on the track
around the square so it could be
graveled.
In 1882. shade trees were
planted around the square. at the
expense of Council to the number
of 20 of Maple. Elm and Locust
varieties. F.A. Edwards got the
contract for planting the 20 trees.
The contract is as follows: the
trees to 'be protected by an en-
closure formed by three posts of
seven feet 4n length each and four
inches in diameter at the top -
two feet of which post shall be
firmly imbeded in the earth and
five feet above ground. The post
to be secured by three slats
nailed on the top and three about
18 inches above ground -- the slats
to be three feet long and firmly
secured by two nails at each end.
Mr. Edwards was paid X10.00 for
supplying the trees* other
materials and performing the
work set forth in the resolution.
In 1914 cedar posts were placed
around the Square. turnstiles.
fencing around and it was seeded
with grass seed. In July and
August the Council hired
villagers to mow the grass and
spud the weeds. The fall of 1914 s
must have been a very mild one
as they mowed the grass in
November. The same month a
reward of 510.00 ;was offered, by
Council for information leading
to the conviction of the person or
persons who destroyed the tur-
nstiles and fence. It is obvious
that vandalism was apparent 60
years ago to Village as it is today.
Several times during the next
two years tenders were. called for
cutting the hay in Clan Gregor
Square for which the Council
received around 518.00.
On August 3. 1914. there was
lighting in the Square and E.
Ward was paid 54.25 for lighting
the lights and supplying the coal-
oiL
After the war in 1918. tenders
were called for the removal and
sale of posts and wire around the
Square. The Council received l8 .
cents for each post and 30 cents a
rod for the wire. and the con-
tractor was given one month •to
have everything removed. and
the post holes filled in. They also
(continued on page I4A ►
Happy Birthday
Bayfield
on your 100th
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