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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-06-24, Page 73Bicycles were very popular around 1835. People used to eycle from London to Gotlerich and used to stop here at the River Hotel, 1 1 1 1 1 41 • ft 1„ The River Hotel was one of the stage coach hotels in Ute 180's. It was well patronized by tourists of the 1882's and 18911's. ' " - .,11,0 Part of old River Hotel remains as apartments The River Hotel had a splendid situatton Byfield Terrace where, in the 1800's and earl!, 1900's, one could see not only the river but also the harbour and lake. That was before the trees hid the magnificent vieW. The original part of the structure was either the second or third building in Bayfield, Riley's boarding-house and the Canada Co. office being built on the lake bank. It was the Canada Co. Store in 1134; tnnde-orlegs-and-being-one- storey. Henry Hoacke built an addition to make it a hotel, and tater two More additions were put on until it had 23 rooms. The old brick bake oven was • under the log part, which was torn down by Mr. Jacobs after -he bought the building. The hotel became a "stage coach hotel'. An ittrn in the Bayfield News of the Clinton paper told of Mr. T. J. Moorhouse having dined there in 1856 on his way from London to Goderich. by stage coach. A root cellar (and milk cellar) stood near the back door and the stone walls set well down into the ground made it cool on the hottest days. The barn was about 90 feet long with .4a hayloft across the top and below, 12 stalls plus open space for rigs or conveyances. Interesting posters decorated its walls, one being for the Greyhound Moonlight Excursion .11 at Goderich and the excursions to Detroit, Many Bayfield and area people will remember them. • Newspaper items, about these old hotels are most interesting. 1882 - There will be sold at Sheriff's sale in Bayfield at Morgan's /tete% on Tuesday; May 3, a quantity of dry geods, groceries. boots and shoes, and crockery valued at *520 as per inventory. Stock list may be seen at Sheriff's office. 1886 - Mr. Swartz, our new hotelkeeper is- adding 60 feet to s hotel -----making- -great Aillt provements and getting ready for the crowds of summer visitors who will find Jack the right man in the right place. (A later item said he was preparing for thousands.) 1889 - Mr. John Swartz is ex- tending Itis stable as he is exi pecting more people in the village this summer. (He made it about twice as large.) Mr. Swartz also had a little park for his guests which, in the summer, was gay with Japanese lanterns and beside it, a number of rowboats. In 1891 he purchased a canopied rig for the conveyance of visitors from the station. It was owned by Jas. Pollock in 1893 and then sold to Mr. Ed Swartz. Later owners were Mr. Stephens and Mr. Greenslade. This hotel became a private home in 1908 and the section remaining after 1952 has been made into apartments. Garbage business has been "picking up" since In August of 1973. the Ministry of Environment condemned the Bayfield Dumping Grounds and "advised" the village council that an alternative site must be found as soon as possible. By December of 1973, the council had passed a waste disposal by-law to establish a system for the collection. removal and disposal of waste of the municipality. The council then made arrangements with the Holmesville Land Fill Site Committee for disposal of the, waste and hired Bud Chamney of Auburn to remove the garbage at a cost of $3.600 for the contract year 1974. This was not the first time the villagers had had the service of a garbage collector. however it was the first time a by-law had been passed to hire a collector for ail the households in the village. In the early spring of 1942, an enterprising fellow by the name of Todd Brown decided there was money to be made in Bayfield in the summertime. He had a chat with Doug Gemeinhardt one day and Doug,, who had the Supertest 1 1 1 1 1 AA` Garage (now the B.P. Garage neit to the Orange Hall owned by Reg Francis) suggested that what Todd needed was a truck for his enterprise. Todd owned a 1927 Model -T two door sedan at the time, not very practical for collecting garbage. so Doug remodelled the car. made it into a truck with a very modern and convenient feature; that being a wind-up dump box with a spring- loaded tail gate. Doug's brother. the late Charlie Gemeinhardt painted the truck a shiny aluminum and Todd's name and "Bayfield Sanitation Dept." were painted on the doors in black tettering. Todd was solidly entrenched in the waste disposal business. Todd established a route and gathered garbage from the householders for 25 cents a week. He also had his own land fill site on his own property. Methinks he was the proudest businessman in the village then and for quite a few years that followed. He was also well- ' thought -of by his customers as well. Congratulations Bayfield Ws cordially invite everyone to the 1 5TH ANNUAL 4•11,01...... • AM", t- 4 . a-iWaWifitift Oft ilePt-- A A n A , WrogiforP! • • " Pioneer Thresher Hobby Assoc. Reunion IN BLYTH 10,1-1112 'CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE BAYFIELD, ONT. Happy 100th Birthday Bayfield NEW SUMMER HOURS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Mid - May to Mid - September Mon. - Thurs. 10-12 1-3 Friday 10-12 1-3 4:30-5:30 Our courteous staff serving yCU:-. Ann Chapman Rose Taman Ken Knights Main St. Bayfiaid •