HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-16, Page 694-- WAY BACK i- - ,
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Nile was
rapid stream
Two of our earlier historians, Alma (Gir-
vin) Reid,and Gladys (Pentland) Dustow,
wrote an article for Colborne Township
Recollections, which is very enlightening
about this area. Our 'hamlet was called
S.quatary until John Cantelon named us
Nile, because of the rapid little stream at
the back of his lot.
According to the ladies, there wernithree
stores, two shoemakers, and Samuel
Pentland who made his own weaving loom,
for wool and carpets.
I believe James Rhynas had one of the
first businesses in the area with his
sawmill. As the surveyors laic] out the lots
around his property, he built one of the
first stores, and the rake factory which
was on the east of his property behind
buildings Lots 16 & 17. This factory was
operated in later days by Wm. McVittie
known by some of our senior citizens of
today.
George May had a blacksmith shop on '/z
acre S.E. corner of Lot 12, Con. 1, Ashfield
Township by 1856. James Rhynas opened
the first Post Office, 1861.
There was a hotel called the Brunswick
on Lot 18 on the north east corner. It burn-
ed to the ground with the keeper, Mr.
Levey.
Beldon's Atlas lists Henry Austin but-
cher, and Charles Dodd bookkeeper, of
Nile. Two miles east of Nile on the
Wawanosh side, Henry Dodd had a saw
mill and a wooden pump shop. Half a mile'
beyond Dodd's, Robert Wilson had a
ed after a
in the village
blacksmith shop on Colborne side.
In 1900, Charlie McPhee had a vineyard
to serve the public on N. 'fz Lot 6, Con- 9.
East Division just about where Jerry
McPhee built his -home in 1905. One mile
south of Nile Lot 1, Con. 10, West Division
by the creek was a cheese factory owned
by the area farmers with J. Tiffin as
secretary. It was sold to Bissett Bros. in, -
1917.
n1917.
Jim Elliott owned the west part of the
sawmill land by 1890. He was a honey -.roan
and a concrete contractor. By 1945, Stuart
Taylor had this land, and ran a blacksmith
shop and later a welding business. Walter
Petman ran the store, and sold State Farm
Insurance — 1940's and 50's. Arthur
Spragge built the feed mill on Lot 4 in the
early 1940's. The Orange Lodge, which sat
on east /, Lot 15 was demolished.
The first church was built in 1866-69 of
white brick and faced west, by 1900 the
congregation was 200 strong. The present
church was built on the same site, this
time with a basement at a cost of approx-
imately $5,000.00 in 1903. Church service
was conducted in the Orange Lodge, while
the new church was being built. '
Harvey Pettman built the garage in 1947,
run today by Bob Sheppard.
Our other 1985 businessmen are: Arnold
Stothers — back -hoe and gravel trucking;
Brian Stothers — bricklaying; Charlie
Culbert — ditching operations; Bud Mahon
— aluminum siding; and half way between
Nile and Auburn — Ralph Starkey— box
frames for collector plates.
Pogo 45
The Carlow General Store
Hotel was a toiidayhaven
ched the length of the building. The
registration desk was located in the
spacious hall beneath the wide staircase
which ascended without turns, up the north
wall of the hallway. The bright, cheery
dining -room occupied the north side of the
building.
Mrs. McCreath, mother of the owner,
was famous for her apple pies which she
baked in a wood stove. Later im-
prove. lents were made to the kitchen but
her pies were never improved on! No li-
quor was served.
The sitting -room, complete with
fireplace, piano, card tables and unpainted
wicker furniture, took up the south side of
the hotel.
The 1fi-room, two-storeya, IIlenesetung
Hotel, designated on Plknl, Colborne
Township, as Hamlinck Place, was located
in Menesetung Park, north of Goderich. It
was built about 1895 by Mr. Hamlinck. He
also operated a Canning Factory in
Goderich using the fruit from the orchard
adjacent to the Hotel.
Mr. Bert McCreath, a Toronto lawyer
and brother of Harry McCreath- of
Saltford, bought the hotel around 1920. It
was a bright, airy building painted white
with traditional dark green trim. It
catered mostly to families. The main en-
trance faced Lake Huron, commanding a
superlafjve view of the famous Colborne
sunsets from the long verandah that stret-
Col, (Highway 21 North across from Provincial Paris)
We're happy .to be Part
r , fYour GROWTH.
From .a,' rry G Marla Dykstra
''" 524-6362
Clifford Real Estate
extends a hearty
CONGRATULATIONS
t� all of those involved in Colborne Township's
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