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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1957-11-22, Page 6a"uyrr.a k' taar NAPOSITOR, SEAFORTH, ONT., NOV. 22, 195 er Difficuit. ecifo rth Shows Ste ivalry Marked Start (From The Huron Atlas of 1879) The Atlas describes the rivalry that existed between Harpurhey and Egmondville and the infant community of Seaforth: The name of the place (Seaforth) was so called by Messrs. Patton, Bernard and LeFroy in their first registered village plans, in honor of the native place of one of them in Scotland, which name it has since retained. Mr, Patton was of Scotch de- scent, being a son of Andrew Pat- ton, a native of Fifeshire, Scot- land, a .Major in H.M. 45th Regi- ment of the line, from which he retired after the close of the An- glo-American war of 1812-15, and settled in the County of Lennox, U.C., where his family were rear- ed. He was at that time a law partner of Hon. Mr. Macdonald, of Kingston, He is now the Hon. James Patton. and is still the part- ner of Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Mac- donald, and the only surviving one of the trio who may be said to have been the founders of Sea - forth. Messrs. Bernard and Le- Froy were lawyers of Barrie, Ont. The former had been a regular army officer of high rank, an Irishman, who subsequently re- turned to his native country. A station and village on the North- ern Railway. near Barrie, was named after the latter. A brother of Hon. Mr. Patton was the first postmaster in the place. He, in company with one Torr. were among the earliest bus- iness men, having moved here in 1861 from Wroxeter. Previous to that the post office had been at Harpurhey; but through the enter -i prise of a few men who controlled the destinies of Seaforth, Harpur- hey (which until about that date had been the leading place of the two). Lost the office, which was removed here as above stated. About the same time also most of the business men of Harpurhey, giving up the fight for supremacy which had been waged between the ta'o Iocalities for some time past, moved down to Seaforth, thereby adding to the prosperity of the latter place, and effectually settling the destiny • of Harpurhey as a place of any possible future importance, Move From .Harpurhey Among those who moved down at that time were Dr, Coleman (of Coleman and Gouinlock, who was the first practising physician in the place, William Ballantyne (pre- sent Inspector of Licenses), James Watt (shoe dealer, and subsequent-, ly largely identified with munici— pal pal affairs), William Grassie, also afterwards closely identified with public matters; Thomas Knox (who built the Commercial Hotel as it nowrstands, and carried it on for some years), and Edward Hick- son, of the present firm of Hick- son & Bleasdell, who erected a ' store and commenced business at D. D. Wilson's present stand. At this time the Huron Road was a very primitive and inferior one from the western, limits of the County of Perth, which had macad- amized it as far ,as the Hibbert and Tuckersmith town line: but its extension westward, together with the adoption of Seaforth as j the southern terminus of the "Grey Turnpike" instead of Harpurhey. as was originally intended. added still further to the prosperity of the place by a fresh stimulation ()f- its development and progress. When the Buffalo and Lake Hur- on Road was first built, though Harpurhey was' many timesd. the extent of Seaforth, neither place was considered of sufficient im- portance by the Railway Company to require a station. The people of the former place, however, built a "flag" station themselves; and the people of Egmondville built a like station on the Egmondville and Seaforth Road—now Main Street of Seaforth. They were both used simply as flag stations for a con- siderable time — meanwhile both localities using their utmost en- deavours with• the Company to establish, the real station with themselves. No action was taken, however, till Messrs. Patton, Ber- nard and LeFroy laid out the vil- lage plot, and made an offer of station ground to the Company, free' of charge, on condition of their locating their station thereupon. This offer was accepted, with the additional condition on the Com- pany's part that a station be like- wise built free of expense to them- selves. Thereupon the inhabitants of Egmondville and Seaforth com- bined, and erected the station still used, and on the spot where we l now see it; and Harpurhey was i obliged to give up the contest for supremacy as above narrated, though previous to this time it was quite a flourishing village, con- taining nearly a dozen stores, sev- hotols, and a corresponding AMONG THE IMPROVEMENTS in Seaforth during recent years is a new police office. Erected two years ago, adjoining the Town Hall. the office provides accommodation for the two man force. as well as cell accommodation for any who. from time to time, are guests of the municipality. For a number of years the Ontario Provincial Police policed the town, but this arrangement is being terminated on January 1, 1958, when a municipal appointed force takes over. number of mechanics' establish- ments of all descriptions. • Seaforth Emerges And now began the same strife Between Egmondville and Seaforth, which had previously existed be- tween Seaforth and Harpurhey. In short, the people of the first nam- ed place only assisted those of Seaforth to•the ascendancy over Harpurhey, to be themselves simi- larly deprived of it by this now important place, whose embryo growth, if not exactly inaugurated, was at least wonderfully develop- ed by the decadence of its two jealous neighbors. Even subsequent to the estab- lishment of the permanent rail- way station here, Egmondville was for some time by far the most populous and important place, con- taining nearly a dozen good stores, Nth local manufactures of various hinds to correspond with the ex- tent of its then population and mercantile trade. Soon, however, the relative position of the two" places commenced to be changed, • and, as in the case of Harpu%hey, the merchants and mechanics of Egmondville began to exchange locations, the movement contin- ing till the chief part of the busi- ness men of the latter place had withdrawn from it and settled iri the, rival village, now fast assum- ing the proportions and impor- tance of a busy little railroad town. Among the first to remove was James Dickson, now Registrar ,of the County, then the leading mer - Fire Ends • (Continued from Page 3) cure a full supply of fire protec- tion apparatus. This is a matter which will not stand unnecessary delay, as the citizens of the town have too much at stake to run any risks. The townspeople are particulars ly indebted to the councils of the sister towns of Clinton and Mit- chell for the loan of hose to tide us over until we can get a supply for ourselves. The latter place kindly loaned 500 feet of new rub- ber hose out of their entire stock of 1200 feet. Stratford fire brigade also responded promptly to the call Sunday morning, and had a special engine and a full supply of fire apparatus ready to start to our aid should their services be required. We hope none of these places never require our services in a similar event, but should they, we are sure our authorities will cheerfully respond. CONGRATULATIONS to the TOWN of SEAFORTH on the modernization of its Town Hall The Canadian Bank of Commerce takes pleasure,in congratulat- ing the Town of Seaforth and the Seaforth Public Utility Com- mission on their foresight and intiative in modernizing the Seaforth Town Hall. Our best wishes to the Town of Seaforth for continued prosperity in the years ahead. THE CANADIAN BANK QF COMMERCE SEAFORTH BRANCH: G. C. BRIGHTRALL, Manager 745:Branches Across Canada Ready To Serve You fhant of Egtni,ondvilje, ands M. or- the County of Hunan. He built the first building in- Seaforth—on the west side of Main Street, one corners," which 'is now occupied by Mr. Sparli ag. • Grain Centre The new town continued to_de- velop with an unchecked growth, and the location here aid some en- terprising produce dealers. soon gave it an enviable reputation as a grain market, which it continued to sustain, till the amount of wheat handled at this point was estimated as greater (from first producers) than at any point in Ontario, not excepting Toronto. There are single firms in the place who have handled over a. million dollars worth of wheat at this point in one season, and it was an everyday occurrence to see the street filled with teams from all points to the north 'for a distance of 50 miles and upwards —Brussels, Wroxeter, Gorrie, Pais- ley, Walkerton, etc., finding an outlet for the chief staple of the country through the Seaforth merchants. CREDIT, FOR THE PROGRAM OF IMPROVEMENTS to Seaforth Town Hall goes to mein - hers of SeaforthCouncil. Committees of council have spent hour after hour determining on the, details of the work as it advanced. Shown here ae: front row, (left to right) Scott •Habkirk, Norman Scoins, reeve; Dr. E. A. McMaster, mayor; B. F. Christie; D. H. Wilson, clerk; back row. Thorpe Rivers, John Kellar, J. O. Turnbull, William Ball. While the improvement program was initiated by the 1956 Council and carried out 0y this year's Council, earlier councils played their part, too, in ensuring a sound economic background making possible this year's expenditures. Mayors of previous administrations shown here dur- ing the 1955 Old Boys' Celebration' are: present Mayor Dr. E. A. McMaster; 'J. E. I( dog (1949-50); M. A. Reid' (1947-48); Senator W. H. Golding (1921-29), and Harry Stewart (19 17). Davis, Dunn. and Broughton. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS- Kitchener CCOUNTANTSKitchener - London - Guelph - Sarnia D. BRUCE DAVIS, F.C.A. K. H. DUNN, C.A. J. H. K. BROUGHTON, CA. JOHN 0. ARNOLD, C.A. J. A. FINLAYSON, C.A. W. P. PERNFUSS, C.A. E. A. ROBINSON, C.A. P. H. UJi FELMANN, C.A. R. P. UFFELMANN, C.A., Associate MP Vaid tiff ) t.