HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-06-24, Page 78.y
PAGE 2411 --CL "ON NEWS -RECORD„ THURSDAY. JUNE 24,1976
win once undertaker
ClintonNew Era .Sept. iS.1893: ors.rtirescool teachers
"Erwin Eros. an" firm are to Detroit, ught
one-half
carry en the furniture and un- of Lot 159 in 1946 ar4 the house on
&flaking, business. Harter and it which had been Alfred's home.
Attie Erwin will manage a In 1947.they opened their gift shop
branch firm for Cornell of "The Village Guild" in this
°house, Miss Margaret died in 1960
,and Miss Rhea continued to run
the shop until 1971 when it was'
purchased by Mr: and Mrs.
Richard Dick, teachers from
Michigan. whoxontinue to run it
during the summer months. It is
safe to say that thousands have
been attracted by its charming
appearance and its reputation for
good and unique gifts -- it is a
decided asset to Bayfield.
In 1972 the Dicks purchased the
other half of Lot 159, on which
stood the Jiminy Erwin house,
from Mrs. George Hopson who
had at one time operated a -fruit
and vegetable stand there. In
earlier days it was Mrs. Ross'
Millinery Shop, Thus Lot 159 was
put back together once again.
Subsequently, this house. con-
nected to the Village Guild by the
Go -Between, became the Store -
Next -Door and thus part of the
Guild. .
The Ancient Mariner
Harry Erwin lived in the frame
Goderich" They will occupy Mr.
Alf Erwin's store on Main St.
where a full line of undertaking
supplies will be kept. They have a
good hearse and. should their
services be required, they will no
doubt do their utmost to please
their customers
So ran the news item nearly
eighty-three years ago. Anda in
the same paper. "George Erwin;
who has the blacksmith shop on
the south side of Main St.. has
been engaged to do the ironwork
an the new bridge."
George Erwin. the father of
Harry, Alfred and George, had
settled in Bayfield in its earlier
days. He is registered as owning
the property in 1842' and is
believed to have built what is now
known as the Village Guild. In the
County of Huron Directory of
1863-4. the Erwins are listed as
follows: Erwin, William - wagon
shop: Erwin, George - general
blacksmith shop: Erwin, James -
carpenter. house on Lot 158. Main St.. which
On handbills of 1893 and still
visible in the old display building had been occupied at one time by
on the Fairgrounds is an Erwin Donald Fraser. Bayfield's first
ad for their new furniture and postmaster. and then by James
undertaking establishment -- Gairdner, the next postmaster.
.'Most fashionable styles of He served for many years as
furniture - low prices. Repairing clerk of the village. Later, the
pronlptly attended to. First class house was occupied by Charles
hearse furnished for funerals. .Toms and the building now
Children's coffins $2.50 up. Full- housing the Library (the Erwin
sized coffins 810 up, The best Shop) was used by the Toms
embalming fluid used." Bros. to repair and store their
The Village Guild fishing nets. Mrs. Van Egmond
Many still living in Bayfield acquired the property and lived
remember "Alfie" Erwin. The there for a while. In 1974..the new
Bayfield Directory of 1905-1906 owners. Brian Stevens and his
lists "Erwin A & H - Furniture". wife Suzanne from England.
Hewas active in community named it "The Ancient Mariner".
affairs. was Reeve of Bayfield. They imported the contents of
and in 1924 was elected Warden of their A,ntique Shop
in
Huron Co. (Bayfield's only Shrewsbury. England. to
warden). He had a fine voice and. Seaforth and then to Bayfield.
at many concerts. sang Harry The front of the house has been
Lauder and other songs altered for use as a gift shop --
Misses Rhea and Mrmix and a new building, behind the
:•C?,' ..c.... +� "!l/"?F'uTto '4s' t,. ":'>�.
Library houses the antiques.
Both gifts -and antiques -are im-
ported from England and
Suzanne is hoping to visit other
countries in the near future to
find other unusual gifts. The
antiques which Brian imports
will continue to come from
England and Wales. He also
carries Canad•iana and buys
locally.
George Erwin's brick
blacksmith shop was one door
east. and was later run by
"Mannis" Ward who continued
the business. It was burned and
Mr. and Mrs- Arnold Mbkins now
live in the house that was sub-
sequently built there. •
In the early leers Alfred "Alfie"
Erwin was a well known Bayfield
resident.
This very old house was built by W.W. Connor, one of Bayfield's:
pioneers. itis now the Baptist Parsonage.
Conner house one of originals
The Connor House is at the
corner of C1artGregor Square and
Hwy. 21 and was built by W.W.
Connor as a store and a dwelling.
The store had a big window in
front.
His first home was of logs as he
was one of the early settlers. His
daughter was married to a Mr.
Ryan so they inherited it.
Misses Kate and Susan Parke
lived there for years. as did Mr.
and Mrs. Dowson. The George
Litties moved from there to the
Lakeview Hotel which they
renamed the "Little Inn".
Since 1963. this has been the
Baptist Parsonage and has 'un-
dergone renovations. one being to
put in a new heating system. This
is one of Bayfield's oldest brick
houses, dating back to those days
when Mr. Connor was one of its
foremost citizens.
•7
ah,
The Ancient Mariner, a present day antique store in Bayiicid
was once Harry Erwin's home.
graffiti graptics
CONTEMPORARY & TRADITIONAL
art galery
noon "til dusk
main street
bayfieid cent
d.riag the Centennial,
di.piits
gra-ffiti graphics
But we've already learned that
Bayfield is a great place in which
to do business.
We look forward to serving YOU
during B AT EiELD!S second century
Next Door t fth• 4.C.B.O.
pa a a at1+
Moats r plrefessiteviity Prepared
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