HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-30, Page 146Page toe
Died before achieving success
Hamlink built factor
lerreck Hamlink's father-in-
law gave him a chunk of
Menesetung Park, for the
customary $1. Date of the deed
was December 25, 1895, which
invites more than passing
notice. There are fathers-in-law
and fathers-in-law, but
probably few who put valuable
real estate in a son-in-law's
Christmas stocking:.
There was an additional
transfer of land in the same
area in April, 1897. The two
parcels became site of a
summer hotel, the Menesetung.
D.F, Hamlink, a native of
Sodus, N.Y.. came to Goderich
in 1892, at the age of 26, which
turned out to be the exact
centre of his life span. He
married Hulda Smith, a
daughter of Abraham, a
prosperous merchant tailor.
Hulda was born in the big white
frame house which was moved
from Elgin avenue to the
corner of Victoria and
Britannia to make a parking lot
for I.G.A. Her father owned 300
acres on the lake shore north of
Goderich, including what
became known as Menesetung
Park.
"Abe" Smith, as he was
widely known, was a native of
Dorsetshire, who came to
Canada in 1856 with his parents,
four' brothers and five sisters.
(The Belden Atlas list of
Goderich subscribers includes
35 besides Smith who gave their
nativity as the British Isles, 30
who were horn in Canada and
five in the U.S.A.)
Abraham spent ten years in
Woodstock. There, it must be
supposed, he became
acquainted with another Dorset
man, William Swaffield. They
settled in Goderich and the
families became connected by
marriage.
Mr. Smith in 1858 married
Ellen, second daughter of John
Allen, famed Irish innkeeper of
Goderich and Dunlop. They had
eight ,..childr'e'n, and one
daughter was married to Case
Allen, grandson of John.
Smith the tailor was at one
time owner of the Goderich
Signal, selling to A. -McD.
Allan. He served for some
years on the council in the.
1870s, and a term as deputy
reeve.
Hamlink was not given the
lakeside land merely to enjoy
the scenery. In accordance, no
doubt, with a plan long hat-
ching, Hamlink built a summer
hotel. In. the first year, the
Saunders and Elliott families
were guests, and there is a
memory of walks in the cool,
unspoiled woods, a picturesque
path to the beach, and good
meals.
In 1903, the year Abraham
Smith died, Hamlink "closed
his business interests here,"
the Signal reported, and went
into business in Chicago .. for
several years. "Through the
rascality of business associates
he was defrauded," 'the
newspaper stated, and upon his
return to Goderich "was not in
a good financial position." •
Having "closed his business
interests," Hamlink
presumably had no further
connection with the summer
hotel, but in July, 1914, we find
him, in conjunction with the
Mutual Life Assurance Co.,
subdividing part of the
Menesetung block into 12 lots.
He was perhaps not the
success, as hotel manager, that
J.J. Wright was at Point. Farm.
"He was a quiet man," the
Goderich Star said of Hamlink
in its obituary article. "He was
of a quiet, unassuming
disposition," the Signal said. In
other circumstances, the word
"taciturn" might have been
used. This writer recalls
walking with him over the park
in connection with some chore,
and not a word was spoken.
Evidently the hotel prospered
in later years, judging from a
newspaper item of August,
1929: "There was a record
crowd at the Menesetung Hotel.
Many tents were in Use, some
people sleeping in cottage
kitchens, while others had to
find accommodation in town."
It was 1909 when Hamlink
bought from James Buchanan
the lot on Bruce Street at
Cambria road where Buchanan
& Lawson conducted a planing
mill, and launched an
evaporating plant.
Fruit production in the area,
especially of apples, was
favorable to such a venture,
and through subsequent years
the® "quiet man" built a sub-
stantial business in canning
and evaporating fruit. Before
the outbreak of war in 1914 he
enjoyed an important export
The former storage building in rear of the cannery was
remodelled into apartments
trade with several European
countries. This export business
was handled by Hamlink and
the• domestic trade by a part-
ner, L.K. Sh,ourds, of
Wellington, Ont. The partners
appear to have hLgninvol
similar plants elsewher
• Turn to
CONGRATULATIONS
GODERICH
150th ANNIVERSARY
SUNOCO
CHISHOLM FUELS
GODERICH
524-7651
BILL & DORRIE
BEN n BESSIE
LUCK NOW
529-7524
GRANT & WILMA
ELDON & MARY
Stewart's Aluminum
& Insulation Ltd.
A
extends
Best
Wishes
to Goderich's
150th Birthday Celebrations
207 Huron Rd.
(formerly Stewart Aluminum Sales)
We are proud to have served Goderich and area
for over 19 years
Phone: 524-$121
The
can.
join
lit
al
es
Cam
lir
'rY
the
die
He h
rsa
mis
sful
ennel
ming
i
m
mlir
Ith
inc
e."
Rev.
reet
uc
mes
etil
ine
socia
Hiatt
AA
E