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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-22, Page 16TIMES -ADVOCATE Crossroads 16 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Lucan Hodgins history turns 150 years old By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN — "The hodgins farm that we live in is 150 years old this year," says Lucan resident Cec Hodgins. "This farm has been in the same fami- ly since 1835." Cec and his wife Sheila have lived on this Saintsbury Line lot just outside Lucan since 1998, in a house built in 1856 — but the Hodgins history begins much earlier. In April of 1835, "Hill" George Hodgins, Cec's great -great-grandfather and his wife Esther (Napier) Hodgins immigrated to Biddulph Township from Cloughjordon, County Tipperary, Ireland, with their three small children, George, Edward and Jane. The property they settled on was Lot 25, Con. 3. After immigrating to Biddulph, anoth- er son was born in 1838, "Hill" John. Their oldest son, Cec's great-grandfa- ther "Croube" or "Lame" George, nick- named "Lame" George, because he limped, according to Cec, married Rebecca (Roberts) of London Township. They then bought the land on Lot 28, Con. 5 and constructed a log cabin, hav- ing three children, Alfred, Jane Ann and Ainsley. A new house was built in 1860, where seven more children were born — Mary Elizabeth, Esther Ameila, George Walter, Edward Aljoe, James Irwin, Sarah Ellen and Rebecca Alfretta. "Croube" or "Lame" George and Rebecca died in 1906. They willed the farm to their youngest son, James Irwin, Cec's grandfather. The house was bricked in 1908. "The bricks were brought in by horse and buggy from Crediton," say the Hodgins Irwin and his wife Ellen Jane (McFalls) had two children, a girl, Myrtle, and a boy, James Cecil Hodgins. Myrtle was married but had no chil- dren. James Cecil, Cec's father, married Thelma (Strasser) of Lucan in 1939 and had two boys, James Cecil (Cec) II and William Joseph. Cecil, besides working on the farm, also did custom work with his Allis Chalmer tractor and threshing machine. He worked in later years for the Department of Highway during the win- ter and worked full time as a foreman of a crew, erecting new fences and widen- ing roads. For years Thelma helped run "Strasser's Restaurant," with her moth- er on Main Street in Lucan. On Oct. 5, 1965, Cecil died. Thelma rented out the land and worked for several years at London's Dominion Automobile Association, until retiring. In 1958, James Cecil (Cec) II married Exeter resident Sheila Ford and con- structed a new home on the south cor- ner of the farm. They have three chil- dren, Lori, Debbie, and James Cecil (Jamie) Hodgins III. Cec and Sheila have six grandchildren — Lori has Katie and Michael; Debbie has Jenny, Meghan and Adam; and Jamie has Jeremy James Cecil Hodgins IV. Cec has been retired for 10 years but previously worked in London for Emco, Eaton Automotive and at General Motors for 26 years as a material plan- ner in the Purchasing department. Sheila worked in London for Westinghouse and worked at Canada Trust for 30 years as a management accountant. "Over the years the home has held many family gatherings and that tradi- tion continues on today," says Cec. The home has been completely reno- vated by Cec and Sheila, but the original hardwood floors remain along with many antiques including an old antique dining room suite. In 2004 the home was showcased in Lucan's 1st Annual Country Christmas Hodgins home — The Hodgins farm on Saintsbury Line just outside of Lucan turned 150 years old this year.Above, Cec and Sheila Hodgins stand in front of their home. Below is a picture of the Hodgins home in 1905. From left are "Croube" or "Lame" George, his daughter Myrtle and back James Irwin and his wife Ellen Jane (McFalls). (above photo/Nina Van Lieshout; below photo/submitted) Home Tour hosted by the Lucan Area Heritage. The Hodgins family history is also found in the "Pioneers to the Present; 1850-2000 Biddulph Township" book. "We would like to see the farm kept in the family for generations to come. We certainly are not going to sell it," say the Hodgins. Hodgins history — The Hodgins family history dates back many years.Above from left are the sons of "Croube" or "Lame" George and Rebecca (Roberts) Alfred, Ainsley, George Walter, Edward Aljoe and James Irwin, Cec's grandfather who inherited the farm in 1906. Below left are the family of "Croube" or "Lame" George and his wife Rebecca (Roberts), front from left are Alfred, Rebecca, George and Jane; middle row are Rebecca, Sarah, Esther, Mary and Irwin; back row are Aljoe,Walter and Ainsley. Below right are in 1915 from left Irwin, James Cecil, Cec's father and Ellen Jane (McFalls), Cec's mother. (photos/submitted)