Lucknow Sentinel, 1910-08-11, Page 4The Caledonian Society
A SKETCH - OF THE ORGANIZATION
THAT MADE LUCKNOW FAMOUS
Rarely does a village organization
gain. such strength and such celebrity
as was attained by a Scotch society that
flourished in Lucknow during the last
quarter of the nineteenth century. In
the winter of 1874-5 a half dozen en-
thusiastic Scotch and Scotch Canadian
residents of the village formed a brahch
of the American United Caledonian
Society, an organization that had a con-
siderable membership in parts of Ontar-
io and throughout the Northern and
New England States. Who it was that
first suggested the organization of a
branch at Lucknow does not now appear
to be known. But be that as it may,
the seed fell upon good ground. The
large Scotch element in the village and
in the townships immediately surround-
ing, constituted a congenial atmosphere
for the young society, and it waxed
strong in numbers and wealth.
In this as in all organizations of men
who do things that are worth while,
there was an active inner circle that un-
selfishly, and without reward other than
that of the joy of accomplishment, did
the work and directed the affairs. For
a number of years after the birth of the
society. this inner circle consisted of Dr.
D? A. MacCrimmon, Messrs. Alex. Mac -
4'44" U-,M.uSC!RTMMON
Pherson, Alex. Maclntyre, W :MacIn-
tosh, Allan MacDonald, A. D. and A. K.
Cameron, Alex. Currie, Dougald Mac-
Kinnon, Malcolm Campbell, James Find -
later and Captain J. MacPherson. At
a'later date Messrs. J. Murchison,.D. C.
Cameron, G. E. Kerr and D. D. Yule
took an active part. With the excep-
tion of one year, Dr. MacCrimmon was
chief of the society from its'formation
until his removal from Lucknow to Un-
derwood in 1890. His successor was
Mr: Alex. MacPherson who still holds
the position of chief executive. -
The: Scotch are said to be "clannish",
and though the remark,.in the disparaa
_, ing sense, is no more true of them than
itwould be of any other nationality, the
clan spirit appears to' have' been the
chief bond of union and source of en -
MR. ALEX. MAcPHERSON
Iri the palmy days of the society, as he
won prizes in dancing and as "best
dressed Highlander".
thusiasrn among the members of the
Caledonian Society. In a small way
the organization was a benefit society,
but its chief aim was the fostering of
Scotch sentiment and patriotism by
concentrating attention upon things of a
•
national character, the holding of Scotch
concerts, banquets, balls and field
sports.
It was in the carrying out of this
last feature—the field sports—that the
society won its greatest triumphs. For
twenty years Caledonian Games Day
was the big annual event of Lucknow.
It drew bigger crowds than any other
celebration in the two counties ; and it
drew athletes from all over the English
speaking world. The second Wednes-
day of September was the day fixed on
which to hold the annual games. The
choice of day proved propitious: For
nine consecutive years following the
organization of the society, weather
conditions (an all-important factor) on
JIMMY HUNTER
Prepared to sing "Will ye no' come
back again".
On the field days of the old Caledonian
Society no man was more conspicuous to
the assembled multitudes than Jimmy
Hunter. Possessing the voice of a Troub-
adour—ready to shout or ready to sing
as occasion required ---to him was dele-
gated the announcement of the results
of the athletic contests. No megaphone
did Jimmy require: like a trumpet blast
his stentorian tones rolled forth to the
very limits of the field, not forgotten
to this day by those who were present
to hear him.
ttte second Wednesday of Sep-ambe.l,
were ideal for out -door sports. This
was great good fortune. It brought
the crowds, and it•enabled the commit-
tee in charge each year to carry out
their program to completion. This
alone, of course, would not insure con-
tinued success. Those who prepared
the program showed great enterprise
and zeal in securing new attractions.
They were always going "one better",
and as they always lived up to their
promises they completely won the con-
fidence of the public. A number of
men, distinguished in their own way,
were at the solicitation of this society,
induced to come all the way from Scot-
land to tour the continent and to par-
ticipate in the games at Lucknow. In
1878 it was George Davidson, a famous
all-round athlete from Dundee ; in 1882
came Donald Dinnie, the champion
wrestler and heavyweight athlete of the
world. William MacLennan, champion
piper and dancer was another importa-
tion, and in 1881 an attraction was
Joseph Hendry, one time of the 78th
Highland Regiment, the sound of whose
pipes fell upon the super -sensitive ears
of Jessie Brown at Lucknow, India,
bringing hope of relief and life to the
besieged whites when hope had been
abandoned. On several occasions the
48th Highlanders Pipe Band from To-
ronto enlivened the day with their
choicest music. • The first year that the
games were held, the modest sum of
$300 was given in prizes. The next
year the management felt warranted in
putting up an additional hundred, and
each year as greater and greater crowds
attended, the amounts offered in medals,
cups and prize money was increased un -
till in 1881 and 1882 the handsome sum
of $1300 was distributed among the
competitors in the various events. In
these years the crowds are said to have
numbered about twelve thousand.
By 1880 the society had made such
progress in wealth that it felt justified
in purchasing a park for its own purp-
oses. It selected a six acre plot at the
southwest corner of the village and this
was splendidly fitted up for the holding
of sports and the accommodation of the
spectators. The park is a sort of nat-
ural amphitheatre. The northers part
is perfectly flat whila at the south a hill
rises abruptly to a considerable height.
The grassy slope ,of this hill made a
splendid viewpoint from whieh to watch
the exhibitions on the plain below. On
the west and north sides there was er-
ected a grand stand that would comfort-
ably accommodate four thousand people,
Near the entrance .to the ,park was
erected in 1883 Caledonian Hall, a large
octagonal frame structure. This was
the meeting place of the Society, and
for the purpose of holding banquets and
balls—features which occupied the ev-
enings of Caledonian Games Day.
The early eighties marked the zenith
of the society's success. ..It is a feature
of the order of nature that every living
thing shall have a time of rise, a period
of greatest developement and a time of
decline. The Caledonian Society had
to make the cycle. In always going
one better it necessarily reached a point
when it could go no further. But the
first real set -back came in 1885 when
the weather charm that had so long
guarded the second Wednesday of Sept-
ember failed. Rain fell in torrents from
morning until night. The games could
not be held. There were no gate re-
ceipts. Heavy expenditures had
been made and there was no return.
This with the recent expenditures upon
the park and the hall was , a heavy
strain upou the finances of the society.
But the men who had accomplished so
much were not easily beaten. The soc-
iety survived the misfortune and next
year it was proposed to hold the games
as a Dominion Day celebration. The
change of date was unfortunate. Dom-
inion Day did not have the drawing
power of Caledonian Games Day and
the crowd was only a fraction of that of
other years. For three years after, the
games were held under Caledonian Soc-
iety auspices, but they never recovered.
from the shocks of 1885 and 1886. The
spell had been broken.
After 1889 the athletic games were
conducted by the Sons of Scotland, a
younger orgngization than the Ca/e,-1^ -
ian Society,
were .44°'^sae
ha
it has never become defunct. As
Lucknow Past and Present
A BRIEF HISTORY,—THF TOWN
AS IT IS TO -DAY
As of most Ontario towns the begin-
ings of Lucknow were the erection of
those first requirements of a Piot eer
settlement—a saw mill and a grist mill.
These were built where what was known
as the Woolwich and Huron Road cross-
ed the Nine Mile River.
As a village Lucknow was horn soon
after the distressful days of the great
"Indian Mutiny";" accounts of which
penetrated even to the furthest corners
of the wilderness. The name suggests
that fact. Not only is Lucknow named
after the city in India around which the
fiercest struggle of the mutiny occurred,
but a number of the early -named streets
bear the name of generals who took a
leading part in the ''saving of India to
the Empire, as witness: Camfibell,Have-
lock, Outram, Wheeler, ,dough and
Rose streets.
The first saw mill was built by one J.
it be united with the other. It is need-
less to give the details of the cojltes'.
There was the holding of many lrublic
meetings, and the passing of resolutions,
and the making of representations to
the County and . Provincial Govern-
ments. It is said that politics finally
decided the result. The electorate was
strongly Liberal. Mr. R. M. Wells
was representative for South Bruce. He
had received valued support from that
part of Lucknow located in his riding,
and naturally was reluctant to have
that support transferred to another
County. So evenly was opinion divid-
ed that a vote of the ratepayers proved
practically a tie. Appeal was mile to
the Provincial Authorities, and here, it
is thought that the influence of Mr.
Wells made itself felt in determining
that the village should be a part of
Bruce County. Word of the final settle -
The old Town Hall; erected 1885. For municipal purposes it has been
abandoned for better.qufirters in the new Library Building.
Eli Stauffer, a German,
who came: up
from Waterloo County. He, as a re-
ward`, received from the goverjrment a
grant of two hundred acres of the sur-
rounding land. Stauffer early sold his
property to James Somerville, a native
of Dumfermline, Scotland. He had the
esti r site of the future village surveyed into
A.0lots, the plan being ;gistered on Sept -
w1 Mitf a-emiier 1St, 1858 (' the mine date the
.s was bel F nem loll Pale,
tY, bra note e•" even 1.1.44/. , nggestive
al- of poneer -life in a timbered country.
We are told that instead of the custom-
ary salute of twenty-one guns,'; there
were twenty-one charges el gunpowder
exploded in augor holes bored in large
trees.
The first considerable impetus .,to
growth came in 1866 with the opening
of a good road northward through` the!
township of'K.i floss. This was follow-
ed seven years later by the coming of
the railroad—an an impgrtant event, and
one which _first gave the village a char-,
ac aya
acteristic which it'has ever retained—
ne nd • m
ready intimated it still exists, and it.
still holds the title deed to Caledonian
Park.
The idea that the Reunion just cele-
brated was managed by the Caledonian
Society, revived and reorganized, gained
considerable currency during the early
period of promotion. Such, however, is
not the case. The Reunion was promot-
ed by a committee of citizens specially:
organized for that purpose. The mak
ing of Caledonian Games Day the big
feature of the Reunion entertainment
was an appeal to the spirit and memory.
of the old days. It was a happy thought;
for the thousands who, as boys .and
girls or young men and young women
went forth from Lucknow, Huron and
Bruce to the larger world, Caledonian
Games Day is the most outstanding
fact in their memories of the Sepoy
Town.
JOCK ADAMS
There are few readers of the Sent-
inel but would recognize the features
here presented, even if no name were
attached. Well known, indeed, i.
Jock Adams—honest Jock who pitched
quoits and ran bucket -of -water races
at the old time Caledonian Games.
Nearly eighty years ago, in Ayrshire,
Scotland, where Jock was born, he
served as errand boy for the great Dr.
Norman MacLeod. For half a cent
ury he has been a familiar figure in
and around Lucknow; a man who
seemingly defied all weathers and all
diseases, and is still to be seen about
the streets. a living '`link with
times that few of -the present gener-
ation remember.
The late MALCIOLM CAMPBELL,
pioneer merchant of Lucknow.
that of being an excellent market for
farm produce of every description.
To the late Malcolm Campbell belongs
the distinction of being the first mer-
chant and the first postmaster. ,'In the
merchantile line he soon ha51'contpeti-
tion in Messrs. Walter Armstrong, Alex.
Murray, Chas. Secord, John Treleaven
and Bingham & Little.
In 1863 Lucknow was erected into a
police village, but ambition for self-
government soon outgreiv the limitations
of that status and by 1873 • steps were
taken to secure incorporation as a vil-
lage. This, however, was not attained
without a struggle which .engendered
feelings of antagonism that long left
their traces. This was due to the fact
that,the village was located partly 'in
Bruce and partly in Huron Counties.
An element of the population desired
that the village be united with the . one:
an equally strong element desired that
ment was received by the Bruce County
Council on June 4, 1874.
A Reeve and Councillors had been
elected in January preceeding the settle-
ment. It consisted of •Mr. Malcolm
ampbell, as Reeve, and Messrs.Thomas
awrence, Charles Mooney, Alexander
acIntyre, Walter Treleaven as coun-
cillors. Geo. T. Burgess was apse '-"ted
ied to the joint office of clerk ` ,..rd treas-
rtrer11{
. r. Can ,n1-)..11 eon tpRF'rl.-t12LYi:
the end of 1877 when he was superceeded
by D. A. MacCrimmon M. D. Other
occupants of the position' were.—Geo.
Kerr, 1879, '80, '81, '82; D. Campbell,
1883, '841,'85; J. Tennant, M. D-, 1886,
'87; R. Graham, 1888; James Bryan,
1889,'90, '91, '92, '93; James Lyons,
1894, '95, '96; J. G. Murdoch, 1897,
'98, '99; Wm. Taylor, 1900; Wm. Allin,
1901, '02, '04, '05; A T. 'Davison, 1903;
J. G. Anderson, 1906; James Lyons,
1907; J. G. Anderson, 1908; J. Joynt,
190091,1 '10.
several occasions Luck now has
suffered heavly by fire, but as with
other towns the loss was not whcly
unmixed with benefit ;' the destruct
ions of old wooden buildings giving
.app ;rtunity for the erection of new
ones of more substantial material and
better appearance. Especially is this
true of the fire of 1905 when a con -
sideral section on the north side of
Campbell street was burned down,
making possible the building of the
Beaver and Andel son Blocks, both
substantial two story structurs of con
trete blocks, a credit to = the builders
and to the town.
In 1890 a system of water works
for fire protection was put in at a cost
of $10,000.
Educaticn in the town had a. lowly
begunnintr,•instruction being fir•tt im-
parted to the young in a building
previously used as a tannery. In
1862 a frame scsool house was erected,
and soon afterwards_ a school section
embracing parts of Kinloss, Ashfield
and Wawanosh was organized. A
Mr. MiddieLon was.the pioneer ter:cher,
he being succeeded in 1866 by 11r.
MacCrimmon, a man who later as Dr.
M::cCr•imman to..k a leading part in
the affairs of the town. The present
handsome eight-rocm school house
was built in 1878, it erection necess
itating the first issue of debentures
grade by the corporation.
As might be expected of a settle-
ment in which the Scotch element
predominated,the first public religious
services held in the vicinity of Luck -
now were conducted under Presby-
terian auspices. A church elder by
the name of Campbell whose home
was in Ashfield first supplied the
place of minister; the meetings it
would appear being held in the vicin-
iy of the pra.ient "big ch ureh" a short
LUCKNOW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
distance outside the corporation limits.
This accounts for the fact that the vill-
age proper was somewhat late in having
a Presbyterian congregation organiz-
ed within it. It was not until 1869
that steps in this direction were
taken. The action was incidental up-
on the resignation of the Rev. John
McNabb from the South Kinloss
charge. On a congregation being
formed in the village, a neat frame
Church building was erected and was
known as Knox Church. In the
South Kinloss charge M r. McNabb
was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Cam-
eron. About this time a split occurr-
ed in the Village Congregatiou, a
number of leading members with-
drawing to form "St. Andrews"
Church under the Church of Scotland
in Canada. They built the stone
Church south on Havelock Street,
now occupied by the Roman Catholic
congregation. The separation was
not of long duration for in September
of 1886 a reunion took place, the
LUCKNOW METHODIST CHURCH
Rev. Angus McKay being the first
pastor. It was during Mr. McKay'9
inr'Mmbeucy in the year 1588-9 that
the present large and handsome brick
Church was built. Mr. McKay con-
toued in charge until L9°4 when ho
T. T,. McKerroii.
The Methodists were also early in
the field, a congregation of the Wes •
leyan Methodists being organized in
r862, .lhe Rev. David Ityiui was the
first Minister. The new Connection
Methodists organized a Church in
1865; ,vith the Rev. John Walker as
minister \ For many years services
were held in a rough -cast building
which preceded.the present fine brick
and Havelock Streets. As with all
Methodist Churches, this one has a
long list of names on its roll of pastors.
The pulpit is at present ably filled by
the Rev. W. J. Js11i `'e wiio ci le here
LUCKNOW ANGLICAN CHURCH
from Clinton at the beginning of the
present Circuit year.
The Anglican and Rornan Catholic
Churches came at later dates and now
minister to the spiritual needs of a
not inconsiderable elemoat of the i'op-
ulation.
Lucknow as it is To -day
In an article such as this it is diffi-
cult to :tri:, e a happy medium between
that which might be considerer] 'un-
warranted flattery and the opposite
extreme of unjust reserve. Lucknow
is, in general features, much like any
other inland town of Western,Ontar-
io : not more be tutiful than some, not
less beautiful than others ; orderly,
prosperou', conservative; a place
where a man inav live a full and
wholesome life and feel no want that
cannot be here supplied in fair meas-
ure. But while the latter statement
is true, one qualification shou:d
be made : Lucknow has that /in its
citizer ship which distinguishes it
from the citizenship of --many similar
(Continued on next page)
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hUCKNOW R, C..CHNRCH
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