The Village Squire, 1981-05, Page 20From left: An unsual photograph by
Sallows, even the illustration on the back
is interesting! The portrait on the right
was taken at the beach in Goderich.
Models are Douglas Wilson. his daughter
Verna Sallows, and Ronald Wilson.
Ronald Wilson. now 76 years old re-
members he wasn't to pleased being "got
up in " this costume. [from the collection
of Ronald Wilson].
Sallows is remembered by 76 year old
Ronald Wilson who lives just outside of
Goderich. Mr. Wilson was "featured" in
a series of Sallows' photos taken at the
beach. In 1910, Sallows took pictures of
him, his brother Douglas and Sallows'
own daughter Verna playing on the
beach, building sand castles. Those
pictures were widely distributed, even 12
years later when one was used on a
Presbyterian Order of Service. Twenty
four years later, in 1934. the Toronto Star
Weekly used one.
Mr. Wilson remembers Sallows as a
very "affable chap"well known, stopping
to talk to you on the street. He
remembers going to his studio and he
remembers his white moustache.
In 1937, Reuben Sallows, on his way to
take a photograph at a school camp on the
Iakeshore highway, was killed when his
car overturned just south of kintail. He
was 82 years old.
Photographic history was made by
Sallows; thankfully his work is being
preserved. Robert Kalbleisch, manager
of photographic services for the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculutre and Food, has a
large collection of agricultural photo-
graphs and he's still looking for more.
The whereabouts of Sallows' equip-
ment is not know; it was sold many years
ago. But there is a rumour his glass
negatives were buried somewhere in
Colbourne township.
The Huron County museum has origi-
nal photographs; its collection includes a
portrait of Charlotte Green, first white
child born in Colborne township, taken in
1833; poetess Eloise Skimmings and a
photograph of Mrs. Charles Saunders
who was Florence, the daughter of
Reuben Sallows.
More material is at the Ontario
Agricultural Museum near Milton, and
the D.B. Weldon Library at the Univer-
sity of Western Ontario. Sallows' daugh-
ter, Nancy Cook of Mississauga is still
gathering material. and hopes to com-
plete the story of her father.
Years before his death Sallows said, "1
always strive to take people unawares. in
their natural moods, at their common
callings, or in familiar surroundings --all
of which 1 find imparts natural and lifelike
qualities to all my studies.
The popular approval with which my
work was received urged me to use all my
efforts to place in my productions a mark
of distinctive quality."
R.R. Sallows was a portrait and
landscape photographer. Now he is also a
photographic legend.
We wish to acknowledge and thank the
following for providing the sources for the
research for this article: O.M.A.F.
Guelph; Stratford Beacon Herald:
Goderich Signal Star; Ronald Wilson.
Goderich; Jennifer Anderson W. B.
Weldon Library; Huron County Pioneer.
Museum. Goderich; and Nancy [Sallows]
Cook. Photographs courtesy the late R. R.
Sallows.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1981 PG. 19
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