HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-16, Page 54t
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WAY BACK Maw
People rented rooms before the hotel was
"During the building of the house,"
Wright recalled, "several parties sent che-
ques and drafts to obtain rooms for the
season. One in particular, known as the
`lumber king' of Saginaw, sent me $100,
but for one reason or another was always
unable to come. I wrote to him that he
could take out the money by proxy. His
reply was short and characteristic of the
American "Too busy to come; as to the
$100, let it rip."'
Wright called 1877 his banner season,
"with 200 bona fide guests in August,
which meant 600 to 700 meals daily. Let-
ters and telegraphs brought requests from
50 others, but they could not be received."
From his journal in that year he produc-
ed for his reminiscences a copy of an in-
vitation sent to a couple who were among
the leaders of Goderich society:
"Mr. and Mrs. Wright to Mr. and Mrs.
Otter, and they request the pleasure of
their company at an evening party, 30th in-
st., as a slight acknowledgment of the
liberal patronage extended to them. Danc-
ing from 8 to 10. Refreshments half -past
ten. Point Farm, 8th August, 1877."
Albert M. Polley, a liveryman who came
to Goderich from New England, opened 'a
branch at the hotel, and provided a four -
horse coach to meet trains. The Huron
Signal of July 29, 1881, reported as follows:
"The Point Farm coach, swarming with
living freight, attracted considerable at-
tention on Wednesday afternoon as the
four-in-hand dashed around the Square,
ithe Stars and Stripes being waved by an
enthusiastic passenger. Mr. Wright was on
board, but how he managed to put that
many persons into and upon the coach we he unfurled his flags. 1 thought our men '
cannot understand." should have put a shot across his bows."
Among distinguished guests Mr. Wright Subsequently, Gen. Sherman was enter -
mentioned General William Tecumseh tained by the officers of the Goderich gar -
Sherman, at the time commander-in-chief rison at a "sumptuous dinner."
of the United States army ; Mrs. Garfield, At the start of the Point Farm enterprise `
wife of the 20th President; Bishop Conroy and for many years thereafter, Mr. Wright
of Cork, and J.B. Bengough, noted Cana- has recorded, "a very great advantage ex-
dian cartoonist. fisted, as compared to conditions now. Then
When General Sherman, accompanied domestic help rias good, cheap and plen-
by an aide, arrived from Washington to be tiful, something that will- never occur
a guest at "my house," as Wright termed again. This proved of great assistance in
it, the staff co-operated in giving him a managing such an establishment."
proper reception. "To give an idea of the amount of
"I possessed a brass cannon," Wright business I did et this time, I. sent Steven
recalled, "and borrowed the Stars and Andrews a written order to lay aside for
Stripes from the American consul in town. me 100 pounds of fresh meat. This did nbt
It and the British ensign were suspended include hams, bacon or eggs. The last -
from the balcony over the main entrance. namedwere required at the rate of 40,
On' the arrival of Sherman it was found dozen a day. As much as 100eloaves of
that quite a number of our children were read we got in one day from Belcher's
sdns and daughters of old comrades. bakery, and it took the milk of 10 cows to
Several affecting scenes took place as he supply this article of diet."
took them in his arms." For the entertainment of guests there
Wright took the general apart in one of were dances, concerts and singsongs. G.R.
the summer houses to reveal to him the Elliott, now a retired petroleum consultant
whole story of an earlier visit to Goderich, in Santa Monica, writes that he has "a
at the time of the Fenian raids in 1866. very distinct recollection of getting a sum -
Wright seems to have felt that it was too mer job at the hotel as porter. Rothwell
well known to need retelling for the public, was the manager. The R.othweii family
but the incident has been related by came up from, Detroit for the summer;
William Swaffield, a member of the there was a boy and a girl about my age.
Goderich garrison under Major Ross. Ping pong was popular. As I remember the
"A ship came in sight and made for the hotel, it was pretty old even at that time,
harbor," he wrote. "It turned out to be the with creaky verandahs."
revenue cutter Michigan, with Gen. Sher- According to Mr. Wright, "it was a sim-
man on board. He knew ?bout the excite- ple matter to provide spiritual entertain-
ment and perhaps wanted to see what we ment, for at one time I had six ministers.
would do, for he got under the guns before There was Sunday school in the morning,
TE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASI
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finished
service in the afternoon and sacred song in
the evening. One enterprising clergyman
discovered that there were quite a number
of members of his faith, and obtained per-
mission to have prayers after breakfast-"
Such details being missing from Mr.
Wright's reminiscences, it is necessary to
invoke the law of probability and assume
that there were fireplaces on the main
floor of the hotel. Nobody seems to recall
indoor plumbing, but in the bedrooms were
ewers (pitchers) and basins of a type now
regarded as antiques.
The steam yacht . Thomas Wright, built
by Charles Wells (Wright states) was
launched July 20, 1874. "A party of
townsmen numbering about 40 was invited
to bo present. As the boat slid into the
water, the proverbial bottle was broken as
cheers went up for the. health of Tom
Wright (son of the proprietor. Healths
were drunk and speeches were made by
Matthew Hutchinson (of the 'Big Mill')
and others. Captain Dancey acted as
engineer and took charge of the boat on the
trial trip as far as Four -Mile Point, but as
there was no landing place we could not
get .ashore. ,However, the stall engaged in
building the house assembled en the bank
and shouted a welcome and fired the brass
cannon which I had picked up from the of-
fice of Black & Young, Detroit. The craft
did well, coming up to all expectations.
Later I built a dock 75 feet long, straight
out into the lake, which gave eight feet of
water at the west end, so that in calm
weather she could land passengers."
A W,A
Congratulations
Colborne Township
on your
150th Birthday
The Council and Residents of
West Wawanosh Township
CONGRATULATIONS
COLBORNE
ON YOUR
SESQUICENTENNIAL
From your neighbours
in Goderich Township
REEVE: Grant Stirling
DEPUTY REEVE: Laurie Cox
COUNCILLORS: Case Brand
John Rodges
Carol Wammes
CLERK: Robin Thompson
TREASURER: Ben Whitely
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