Loading...
The Wingham Advance-Times, 1967-06-29, Page 977,17,791 History of Stone School Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, June 20, 1967 cTION SECOND By Mrs. William Kelly The Original site for the fifist school was chosen In 1861 and in 1.863 of en acre was pur- chased from John Braedon and a log school was erected In the South west corner of the lot, The first teacher was. John Isbister (grandfather of Miss Christine Isbister and Mrs, Ed- ward B. Jenkins of Wingham). lie received a salary of $200,00 a year plus the frame of a house *and Mr. Isbister was to finish it and give up possession at the end of his. term, He taught for 8 years. Reminiscences of ,Belgrave May 24 and the grand opentng was In November of that year, Rev, Clark of London was guest speaker and at the afternoon service Rev, Richard Hobbs, Methodist minister cf Wingham. We were all proud of our new church and it was filled every Sunday. At that time families were large and they came in what was known as a democrat, a two-seated vehicle, and a sleigh in winter. Mx. and Mrs. James Taylor were the first couple to be mar- ried in the new church. (Mrs. Taylor is living on Patrick Street in Wingham) There is one historical build- ing I neglected to mention, namely the "Show Hall", as we called it in olden days. It was situated along No. 4 Highway on the farm now owned by George Johnson. It was a high frame building, sort of round in shape with windows mostly at the top. Belgrave Show was a big event held late in the fall, generally a cold, miserable day. We kids were given a few coppers to spend. One copper would buy a bag of candy. The candies were hard but eventual- ly melted away through time. Belgrave also had a cheese factory west of the village. Mr. Roy was the cheesemaker. I re- member his daughter Daisy quite well, James Owens with daughters Bella and Lizzie liv- ed on the Johnson farm adjoin- ing the village. East and north was Charles and William Mc- Crea. As I look back over the years they bring to mind fond mem- ories of old times and old friends, many of whom have passed on. THE LATE Samuel Peddle's home and family taken 60 years ago, one mile from Whitechurch in East Wawanosh, A Piateeded Jubilee COOP, Oen was held in 1928, a cene tennial reunion was held in 195E on August 4th, A similar get together is being planned for the latter part of this summer.. Between the years of 1948- 1954 the ball team from Stone School competed with teams from surrounding districts win- ning many eharepionships.They also had their own hockey team. THE OLD SLATE Say what has become of the lit- tle old slate, That we Used in school back in say '98? The little old slate that was bound with red felt, And don't you remember how musty it smelt? Or maybe that smell I'm think- ing about, Belonged to the sponge that we used to rub out The words and the numbers we'd awkwardly writ (But some little rascals -- my goodness used spit). )))))))))) mitt )))))) ,,,,,, ettetatitt4 ttttttt tortommttntttottitt11.11111 tttttt ttt ttttt And then as they dried it -- it's hard to believe-- They used nothing less than their hand, or sleeve. That seems like a terrible thing to be told, But things are so different, be- fore you grow old. And don't you remember that sharp little sound The slate pencil made as we scratched it around? And oh, what a screech now and then we would make, I'll bet teacher thought that her eardrums would break. The birth of Morris What wouldn't you give to be back in that seat With your little slate, when all life was so sweet? And wouldn't you like to take back with you, too The same little happy-eyed gang that you knew? But I don't believe we would be different men If we would go back and start over again, But oh, if we could, it would surely be great To start once more with a new and clean slate. the most loved men in the vile loge and in partnership with William Whaley they had a wagon on the road gathering eggs and selling groceries. We kiddies got a ride from No, 0 school with him on Thursday and I still remember the horses. Dan was a bay and Fleet was black. In the Charles Coultes house lived Mrs. Tufts and Mr, and Mrs, Heal, They had one son, Carl. The hotel stables were next and south of them a big frame building which I believe at one rime was a hotel. It was divided into different apart- ments. Dan Geddes had a tail- or shop in part of it, on the northeast corner a butcher shop run by Phillips and Lott, and Dol- ly Ross also had a dressmaker shop. In the next house was Mr, and Mrs. Arthur Brooks. Across the street, on the corner, was the Queen's Hotel operated then by John Scand- rett. South of the hotel Mr. Haslam had a flour and feed store and Mrs. John Scott (Alice Harrison) had a dressmaker shop. The Fred Cook house was built later by William Watson. Next to this was the Anglican Church which has been remodelled con- siderably since then. In the Jess Wheeler residence was Mrs. Sackrider and her two sons, Ed and Charlie. Ed was station agent at Belgrave for a time. Crossing the street south was Mr. Bengough and daughter Mina. Mr. B. was a faithful worker in the Bible Society as I remember him. The old Pres- byterian Church was on the next lot and I well remember going to S.S. there. The Michies sat behind us in the side seats at the front and Willie Michie (Jim's brother) used to pass pep- permints over the seat to Pearl and me. Old Mr. Wightman lived alone in the next house, One day when work wasn't too rushing I got to thinking of Belgrave and who lived in each home when. I moved with my parents from Wingham to the 4th line of Morris in the year 1879, As many of you rememe ber, our farm was one mile east of the village. My grand- father, Thomas Anderson, bought it from Simon Van Nor- man after which he built the stone house and barn. When he passed away in 1879 my father, Robert Anderson, took it over and in 1917 at his death we came back from Saskatchewan to reside there, so it continued in the Anderson family for three generations, As I remember Belgrave at that time and the following years there were more places of business but fewer dwellings. I think the oldest landmark left is Ross McEwen's store. At that time Charles McClelland and his brother Alex were the own- ers and adjoining, Tillie and Maggie had a millinery. Robert Gallagher had the hardware store and next in line was Wal- ter Allison's blacksmith shop. His mother and four sisters, Belle, Kate, Maggie and Susan lived in the next dwelling. John L. Geddes owned the house on the next lot and had a black- smith shop to the north of it. Then, as I remember, there was a shoemaker by the name of Trott; this house has since been removed. Mrs. McKen- zie occupied the cottage and Mr. and Mrs. William Geddes lived next to the chopping mill, which he operated, but some years before that it was a saw- mill and Mr. Livingston was the owner. On the west side of the street was Frank Wheeler's wagon shop and later the property of Herb Wheeler. In the other general store was David Sproat, one of 1928 School reunion pictures below The Stone School, S. S. No. 7, Morris, as it stands now was built in 1877 at a cost of $850, A well was dug the same year, The first teacher in the new school was Miss Martha Gilpin and her salary was $360.00 a year. Mr. R. L. Stewart taught one year, 1888-1889. He lat- er became a doctor in Wing- ham and then became a medi- cal health officer in the schools. Mr. W. A. Aberhart taught in the stone school in the year 1900 and later became Premier of Alberta from 1935-1943. Nelson Higgins taught school in the years 1909-1912 and then again from 1921-1923. Miss Wilhelm was the teacher when the school was closed in De- cember 1966, Mr. Robb was one of the first inspectors followed by Dr. Field 1919-1936, Mr. Hartley, 1937, A, E. Nelson, 1938, Mr. J. H. Kinkead, 1938-1966. Pupils of the Stone School attended their first school fair in Bluevale in 1918-1919. From 1920 to 1966 they attended Belgrave School Fair. A prominent person of the Wingham community, W. T. (Doc) Cruickshank attended the Stone School. In June of 1932, the teach- er, Miss Viola McLeod asked her pupils each to bring a brick to school to send to the Dunlop Tomb at Goderich. Pupils of the first and second line of Morris during spring floods crossed the railroad bridge to get to school. The first school bridge was built in 1879 and replaced in 1893; a steel structure in 1909 was built and a modern cement bridge was built in 1965. cradle being the first imple- ment used for that purpose, fol- lowed by the reaper which left the grain in small piles to be bound later into sheaves, the bands being made from straw. Then came the self binder, considered at that time the latest thing in farm machinery. Today the combine is quite common. Baying operations in those days too, required plenty of muscle, first the scythe and hand rake, the loading and spreading the hay in the mow was done with a pitchfork, Lat- er followed the new horse drawn mowers and side rakes together with hay fork, operated by a track and pulleys, making the work much lighter. Today we have the hay loader and the for- age harvester. With the march of progress comes one of the saddest events of the centenary, the replace- ment of the farmer's old faith- ful friend, the horse, who has to give way to the tractor. Though some farmers are still reluctant to part with the horse, many are kept on, more or less for sentimental reasons. The tractor has revolutionized the farming industry by its con- veniences, the saving of time and labor, for both men and horses. Mixed farming being the on- ly industry in Morris Township, its citizens can boast of its fine farms, the splendid buildings and equipment. A great many homes enjoy all the modern conveniences of the urban dwel- ler, such as refrigeration, tele- vision, telephone, bath rooms, heating plants, etc. The barns too, are now equipped with all the modern conveniences, elec- tricity, running water, air con- ditioning, hammer mills, among many other improve- ments, with their trucks and au- tomobiles are able to travel on good secondary roads to the highways, a far cry from the early days. With our modern way of life has come greater financial obli- gations in the way of taxes, our educational system devours the largest portion of the taxes, our children are transported to their respective schools, including the high schools at Clinton, Wingham and Seaforth. --From History ef Morris Township and Stories Relating to Pioneer Days When we realize the condi- tions the early settlers faced up- on their arrival in a virgin coun• try, being handicapped by the lack of equipment and finances they deserve the admiration of all. By their fortitude and faith, by hard work and perse- verance, they cleared their land, built their homes and churches. Farming was very difficult in those days. Most all operations had to be done by band, grain threshed by flail, wheat had to be carried on their shoulders to a mill in order to have it ground into flour (in some cases had to be carried many miles). Oxen were the common beast of bur- den until replaced by horses af- ter the land was gradually clear ed and roads constructed. With the passing of time and some- what better conditions, the set- tlers were able to erect better buildings and increase their livestock, but prices for farm products were very little in those days and after the bare necessities of life were purchas- ed, the balance of their cash was used for the improvement of their buildings and equip- ment. The event of the two rail- roads running through Morris Township was a great boon to the early settlers, providing them with a contact with the outside world, a better means of transportation and shipping accommodation for their prod- ucts to a wider market. With the arrival of the automobile era, many other changes were brought about. The first auto- mobiles making their appear- ance in the Township about 1912, very much to the annoy- ance of some farmers and their horses, travelling at an exces- sive speed of twenty-five miles per hour and considered very reckless in those days. This was the beginning of the end for both the Railroad and the Horse and Buggy Days. With the im- provement of the automobile, transport and trucks, roads and highways, the horse and buggy has become a rarefy, The keen competition by the trucking firms compelled the railroad to discontinue their services from Clinton to Wingham, the rails being removed in 1944. The harvesting of grain was a laborious and back-breaking procedure in the early days, the Emerson farm in family since February, 1862 Miss Lila Emerson, Lot 25, Con. 12 West Wawanosh, lives on the farm which has been in the family since 1862 when her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Emerson came from Hal- ton County on February 2. They had four children, none of whom are now living. Louise became Mrs. Lithgow and lived in Toronto; Mary was Mrs. Addison who resided here; Henry went to the United States and Alexander, Miss Emerson's father, remained on the farm. Alexander married Mary Jane Small of Guelph. They had five children. James and Alfred are deceased, Victor lives in Whitechurch, Mrs. Maude Haggitt is a patient at the nursing home in Lucknow, and Miss Lila Emerson on the home farm. A log house was built to ac- commodate the family of the first settlers. Later a frame house was erected and the fam- ily moved into the new home. This frame building was bricked and modernized in 1921 and is the main part of the home to- day. Additions were made when the house was remodelled. and alongside Mrs, Wiley, Jetties Wightman built the next house, and moved out to Ed- monton. The last home on the street was a log house and Mr. Hobbs, a shoe repairman lived there with daughters Olive and Laura, Rev, and Mrs. Qaten occupi' ed the Methodist parsonage on the hill, and it was here the twins were born. On the cornet was an old gentleman named McCorkinciale. South of that street was William Conray and this house was moved down street, remodelled and is now owned by George Jordon. Be- fore being moved school was held in it for a year while the present one was built. I may say I spent my last year at school there. Alfred Naylor was the teacher. In the corner house were Mr. and Mrs. Dalgarno, a dear old couple; next door Mr, and Mrs. Thomas Wilkinson and on the corner Mr. and Mrs. Dan Wheeler. South of them lived Mr. and Mrs. Ferrier, He al- ways wore a black skull cap and was an avid fisherman. East of the corner were Mr. and Mrs, Littlefair. Bob Gallagher lived in the Coultes house and across the street was Frank Wheeler. They both had large families and it was a merry corner. I spent many Saturdays there. The next home was occupi- ed by William Watson. He was a carpenter and did most of the building in the village. David Geddes and daughter Maggie were in the next house and on the corner Mr. and Mrs. Abra- ham Procter. South was Robert Stonehouse and on the corner Peter and Jessie Budge. Going back down the street we see the Methodist church shed and next to it a small frame house where Mrs. Barc- lay lived with her twin grand- sons, Charlie and Ira Little. I wander if anyone remembers them? Next was the Presbyter- ian manse on the present site, only situated much farther back -- a big rambling house. Rev. W. T. Hall was minister. Across the street lived Dr. McAsh and family. Next door Mr. and Mrs. Stonehouse Sr. and east of them a family by the name of Crooks. Then the Methodist Church which still is used for worship services. I may say we all attended night service there after we reached the teenage stage, and many of us met our first boy friends af- ter phurch. I can still see the choir up in the corner with El- len Owens as organist and Harry Hopper as leader, and some of those old gospel songs are clear in my memory. Mrs. Ceasar, everybody's friend, lived next to the church and next in the brick house was William Sutton, station agent at that time. Then of course the Foresters' Hall where most of the events such as square dances and Christmas concerts were held. Knox Church was built in 1899 at a cost of $4, 000.00. The cornerstone was laid on