HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1966-08-25, Page 91)
His Presence Brought Hope
LI
•
Died Before Automobile's Advent
By W. E. Elliott
"His very presence earri
an air of hope," it was said4f
Dr. George C. Shannon, w
practised in Goderich for more
than 40_ yedrs• -
He and his son, Doctor -"Reg.'"
were probably the 'best -loved
physicians who ministered to
the people of this town and
district in their time—and that
was In horse-andsbuggy days,
Both passed on before anyone
n Goderich owned a car.
Sixty-five year have rolled by
since they died—within a year
—but older residents well re-
member the unusual affection
in which father and son were
held. For 16 years. Dr. George
Shannon's sight was so impair-
ed that he was said to be almost
blind, going his rounds with
constant assistance, during 4ntsch
of that time, from his son, born
several years after the father
began practice here.
Forgotten by or unknown to
os - 's ---- • • ....-,,,,,, ,-,... ,,... , --- - ...... -.,_ . .
all but the older generation, the sized houses built a century ity of Toronto, 'frorn Which he perfunctory tribute "would bo Goderich, residing with ha r son, .
beautiful old house which stands
on a gore immediately west et
Alexaddra Marine and General
Hospitalgs in a way a Shannon
nIemorial'•
Stately Trust
Unoccupied now for some
years, but still immensely at-
tractive in its white coat among
stately trees, it was built by
James Watson, who also built
4"Phe, Mapjes." the M. C. Cam -
extol house which later formed
part of the hospital and was
demolished only recensly to
make way 'for theism/ additioti.
With it was associated two, if
not three doctors, and three
others come into this narrative
later. •
Dr George Shannon acquired
the property in 1880. It would
appear from date of the 'deed,
though it was not registered
until 1882. -His executors sold
it in 1909 to Mrs. Caroline Jones,
and her family resided there for
some years. As in most "good -
This beautiful old house, immediately west of the hospital,
was built by James -Watson, for whom the Cameron house,
later part of the 'hospital, also was built. It was acquired in
1869 by Dr. George C. Shannon, who practised in Goderich
for more than 40 years, much of that period with his son, Dr.
"Reg."
ago, there were fireplaces—lour
in this ease. Dr. Shannon must
have had a stable somewhere
near. M. C. Cameron, next to
the east, certainly ,had a large
one, -
Dr. George Shannon was born
near Brockville in 1833. eldest
son of John Shannon, who came,
from County Mayo, Ireland. He
attended WoodstOck Grammar
School and was graduated in
1857 from the Toronto School
of Medicine founded by the
famous Dr. John Roiph and
which was later the medical
school of Victoria University.
For about a year' he practised in
Hamilton, then for a short time
atsselinton, and moved to Gode-
rich in 1859, according to a
printed record so dim it is hard
to read the figures.
First Doctor
Here, briefly, we come to the
town's first doctor, Morgan J.
Hamilton, also from Ireland—
Cork, to be specific—son of a
Navy officer. He married twice,
and' his ,second wife was Ann
Lambert. Watson, daughter of
the James Watson who built the
Cameron and Shannon houses.
Dr.. Hamilton -died in. 1858, at
the early age of 48, leaving four
children by hisArst wife, Agnes
Brown, and three fern to Ann
'Datson, one two months old. His
widow was 2/2 years of age,
graduated, in 1807. After a per-
iod of. training lifNew York, he
returned to Goderich in 1889.
In 189f he married Agnes Ross,
daughter .01 Hon. A. M. Ross,.
former treasurer of Huron and
from 1885• treasurer of Ontario.
Col. Ross in the latter year con-
veyed to Agnes the big frame
house on Nprth Street, opposite
the museum, known to older
residents as the Captain Shep-
pard house and to others as
the Garrow place.
No Opposition
Dr. Reg. was elected, Unop-
posed, as mayor of Goderich for
1096 and again for 1897. At
35, he was the youngest Mayor
the town had ever had. He
and his wife had few years
together; the doctor died in the
North street home,- of typhoid,
January 19, 1901. Being almost
next door to St. George's
Church, the pallbearers carried
the casket there without using
the hearse.
• Dr. Reginald Shannon had
two daughters, Dorothy, now
Mrs' Graeme Watson, and Gwy-
neth, Mrs. Christie Clark. Both
live in Toronto.
Dr. George Shannon, to whom
the untimely death of his sOn
was a ,heavy blow, died Sept. 7,
1901. In a sort of footnote testi-
fying to the shattering nature
of his grief, it is entered upon
s
Six years later, ors George the Maitland Cemetery record
Shannon married Ann Watson -that he died of "old age." He
Hamilton. In 1865. their son, was 68 -
Reginald, was born, but not in "He practise& up to about a
the house here illustrated un- week before his death," the
I ' li ed the e be- Huron Signal recorded. "Any
impossible to one who knew him Cayley, and family in the line
as he went out fighting disease old Wellington' -Street house:
and pain and, death." known to an older generation
Pallbearers were leading eiti- as the Charles Widder place.
zens: W. J. Holmes, Francis mention has been made in
Jordan, Philip Holt, John Galt, this narrative of the Jones Um=
Sheriff -R. G-. Reynolds and Mal- Hy -'s Qectipancy of -the white
colm Graeme Camertin• house near the hospital. This
Through marriage with Ann brings into the story another
Watson Hamilton, Dr. George doctor—of dentistry. Unsworth
Shannon became stepfather of N. Jones, born on a Colborne
three Irish - Scotch children: township farm near Carlow, at -
Charles James Hamilton, Marian tended school in Goderich, went
Hamilton and William Cayley to University of TorontosSchools
Hamilton. and obtained his Arts degree.
Charles Hamilton became a then served overseas in World
doctor, graduating at the Uhl. War I in the Royal Naval Air
versity of Toronto, practised in Serviee.
Goderich for a time, then re- , He graduated in dentistry in
moved to Cornwall, where he 1921. He was on the board of
had a distinguished record of Toronto East General Hospital •
community service and in a and Scarboro General, and
ess Dr. forge v
fore he bought it. While Reg.
was still an infant, his father
was -"surgeon on the gunboats
Cherub and Prince Albert," sent
to. Lake Huron in the Fenian
troubles of 1866.
John Reginald Shannon went
to school in Goderich, then the
medical school of the Univers-
larger sphere as M.P. for Stop'
mont. A Conservative, he was
elected in 1925, one of Rt. Hon.
Arthur Meighen's followers.
Marian .Hamilton became the
wife of 0. F. Carey, Goderich.
They resided for about 20
years in the St. George's cres-
cent house bulit by Edward
'Sharman in 1878 for Joseph
shipslauilder, and now
owned -by John Sully. It is On
the site of the first St, George's
church.
Law Practice
s William Cayley Hamilton,
K.C., practised law in Regina,
Where he died at the age of 43.
He, married Florence Horton,
Goderich, daughter , of Horace
Horton, three times M.P., for
Centre Huron. They were the
parents of Mrs. Norah Hill of
chairman of the steering com-
mittee of Scarboro Centenary
Hospitals. For eight years 116
was a member of Scarboro coun-
cil.
- Activities as a council member
led to his acceptance in 1953 of
a nomination for the House of
Commons after the death of
Joseph Harris, for many, years
member for Danforth. He was
defeated by R. Hardy Small,
Conservative, 12,500 to 11,800,
and Mr. Small was in turn de-
feated by Reid Scott NDP, in
1962..
Dr. Jones retired from prac-
tice to give more time to bitsi-
neSs interests and was president
of Jones WoodSpecialists Ltd.
He was president of Scarboro
Arena Gardens, and had organ-
ized the building of•it for Scar -
Dr. Shannon.
boro Lions Club, of which ho
was axharter member and la(;
' president.
He died Aug. 6, 1964, at his
Hill Crescent home in Scarboro,
survived by his wife, one son
and two daughters. Miss ?,lyn
Jones of, Goderich and M. N.
C. Hutchinson, Toronto. are
sisters: A brother, Dr. E 0.
Jones of Toronto is a sessdicat
practitioner.
119th Year — No. 33
oberitb
ignat=
THE GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, TI-LURSDAY, AUG. 25, 1966
0
Second Section Pages 9-16
'11 A Horse Could Talki.:
addle Breeds Gaining Popularity -
By Tom Fortner
I guess a good articleon
horsemanship could only be
written by a horse.
I believe he could easily an-
swer all arguments of riders.
He could, for instance, point
out where to sit for comfort.
The horse is making a re-
markable come back. Ths!
Toronto police have added
more horses to their mounted
division, the Giovernor‘Gen-
eral's Horse Guard has bro-
ught back its horses and have
a musical ride. In the'Metro
Toronto area alone it is estim-
ated there are • more than
1.000 saddle horses, and there
are more women buyers than
men.
Prices for saddle horses
start at $150 and go as high
as $40.000, which an apaloosa
recently sold for.
Popullrity Growing
The saddle horse • or west-
ern horse is fast growing in
popularity. Most persons start
off with a plain horse and
then obtain •a special breed.
Cost for maintaining such a
horse would run the owner
about $100 a year, oats, straw,
1 -lay. winter blanket, summer
blanket and bridle and halter.
of coUrse, one hes to have
t he horses hooves clipped
every six weeks., They grow
like finger nails if not cared
for.
By the way, you Can now
learn how to shoe a horse.
George Reid, of Barrie ,iron
works, is running a course.
The interest in horses has put
the blacksmiths back in busi-
ness.
There is such a demand for
horses that one has only to
look around. We have 'tte
Exeter Riding Club, the Clin-
ton Fair and Blyth Fair which
have done much to contribute
to riding, roping and many
,western contests.
Some contests require such
skills 'as bulldogging, bronc
busting, riding, roping, flag
races, barrel races. They
even play m-usical chairs in
a great many of these events.
.Women are right up front had a -horse step from a box
to prove they are fast and to a rain 'barrel, into the
as ,goo(1 as any man or better'saddle and balance a glass of
tin mo cases bettor). water on his forehead.
.1 became interested in hors-
cs some years back .andI join-
ed the Governor- General's
Horse Guard where I did a
considerable amount of rid-
ing. I was a member*of the
guards when the musicai ride
started.
Believe me there is nothing
more spectacular than a bunch
of raw recruits flying gaily
through the air ‘yhile practis-
ing for thi's ride.
G6derich can juin the 1:erd
to. saddle horses. It can claim
some fipe riders such as the
famous Dick Shelton VI -13 once
There are many others like
E. Little, R. Merriam and Ray
Jeffery, who once sat a buck-
ing horse which went the
length of 'the town barn in
about four jumps.
It s planned to orgnize a
G',derich Saddle. Club which
uld carry out such activities
as providing an escort f n- the
Goderich Racing Asscciation
races, parades, campet, ions
a(1. good. clean 'whol.?.- me
ridin:y.one '
Ain tyres' ed can- eon-
'
tact inc by Ma.1 in ..aro of
Tho S4Jtal-Sar.- s
Tom Fortner astride his beautiful ap;loosa
stallion takes pride in the form of his riding
and the appearance of his horse. Many
more persons across Canada are taking *
an interest in saddle horses. for pleasure
riding. Fortner says more women than rnen
are taking to the saddle on horses that
range in price from $150 tR, $40,000.
•
' ' •
Among the tricks Fortner hos taught his
apaloosa Is kneeling. Although it is one of
the standard performances by horses it will
be among the items Fortner plans to use in
entertaining at hospitals and for charify
on a .no -charge basis. He also plays the
guitar and has a repertoire of wiestern
songs.
1
At full gallop Fortner displays good
interest in a Goderich' Saddle Club.
for pleasure, parade appearances and
for the 1967 Canadian Centennial is
ride.
form. He hopes to revive
His plans include riding
competition. His prolect
organization Of a musical
Fortner calls this trick "taking a drunk
home." The horse comes nuzzling up to his
master's spine nudging him toward his
destination as if he was his master's keepee.
This trick has been described as dangerous
with a high spirited stallion, but can b'
taught with patience and understanding.
Fortner trained this horse from the day
was a raw bucking cayuse.
g,