The Citizen, 1996-07-31, Page 16Happy 140th
Anniversary
Morris Township
from all of us at Hanun's
SHARP DEALS
ON QUALITY - CLEAN
READY-TO-GO
USED CARS
Great Savings on
These Used Cars &
Trucks. Some One
Owner Low Mileage.
1994 Buick Regal Grand Sport • loaded
1994 Buick LaSabre • custom, loaded
1994 Ford Tempo • 4 door with air
1993 Buick LaSabre • custom, 4 door,
loaded
1992 GMC 515 Pickup • extended cab
1992 Jimmy S10 • 4 door, air
1987 GMC half Ton • V8, automatic
HAMM'S
CAR SALES
BLYTH
PHONE 523-4342
MORRIS TOWNSHIP on your
140th Anniversary
from all of us at . . .
MANNING'S BUILDING
SUPPLIES LTD.
Hamilton St., Blyth (519) 523-9305
Congratulations
Morris Township
Happy 140th Birthday
and many more
From Gerry
and all the
staff at
Wheeler Auto Glass
DIV. OF WHEELER BUS LINES INC.
WINGHAM 357-1270
11411 1ummliffellial
MINMEMAII
•
Coligrd-#1afib
on your
140th
Morris Township
Looking forward to keeping you
covered for the next 140
BRUSSELS UPHOLSTERY
For all your upholstery needs
• Furniture • Auto
• Machinery seats etc.
Sample and estimates free of charge
Brian & Sandy McKnight
Mill St., Brussels 887-6056
Morris Township
on your
140th Anniversary!
from Hank & Agnes
TEN PAS CONSTRUCTION
Brussels 887-6408
Yust For You
Gifts & Flowers
Brussels 887-9731
CI P CSEI
tp
555
1
E
Congratulations
.3
.55
E,
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
on 140years
* from
55
55 BACKHOE
BOB WATTAM'S
SERVICE
Bob, Donna & Family
Belgrave, Ontario
(519) 357-3069
"We Can Dig It."
P LI
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1996
Morris Kicks in '96
140 YEARS 140 YEARS
Goderich resident first to settle in Jamestown
The first known inhabitant of
Jamestown was Thomas J.
Moorehouse. He came from
Goderich and built a frame inn
where the Maitland River crosses
the Seaforth-Wroxeter road, hoping
to serve the early settlers moving
into the Northern Townships. We
don't know when this first tavern
was built, but it was burned down
in 1864.
Jamestown was named after
James Aitcheson, a news
correspondent for The Huron
Expositor between 1855 and 1860.
Perhaps in part, it was also named
for the multitude of James's that
lived there in those early days —
James Lynn, James Strachan,
James Simpson, James Forrest and
James Moses. In 1875, a post office
was established here, with
blacksmith James Lynn acting as
the first postmaster. By 1893, the
post office had moved to the
general store and J. J. Vincent was
the postmaster.
In 1875, the hamlet included a
wagon shop, three hotels, a shoe
shop, a general store and a
blacksmith and harness-maker.
In those early days, Jamestown
was considered to be too small a
community for the establishment of
a church, but regular devotions
were still held. Using Mr. Mills'
hall, clergymen from the
neighbouring villages would in turn
preach the sermon.
Residents of the surrounding area
sent their children to school at S.S.
#4, Grey, where Robert Weir
taught an average of 22 pupils
daily.
In 1882, the blacksmith and
wagon shops of John Jones were
totally destroyed by fire. James
Wright, the shoemaker, left the
community and John Forrest sold
his blacksmith shop to George
Eckmier for $1,000. The
community was changing as
improved roads made the route to
larger villages more convenient.
In 1901, the people of Jamestown
purchased the old congregational
church from Salem, in Tumberry
Twp. It was moved to Jamestown
and rebuilt on a new foundation.
The people named it Victoria Hall,
and from that time until 1910, used
it frequently for church services
and meetings. The Union Sabbath
School, which had always been
held in James Strachan's house now
had regular accommodation.
The hall burned in 1910. A new
cement building was erected on the
old site.
October, 1911, the opening
services were held.
In 1913, the stage stopped
running between Brussels and
Wroxeter. This was the end of the
post office in Jamestown, as rural
mail delivery had replaced it.
The hotel business had been
steadily declining with the
increasing pressure for temperance,
and then prohibitionThe lack of
travellers from the Brussels-
Wroxeter stage, must have been the
last straw for Thomas McEwan, for
he announced an auction sale of his
hotel property, and Moved to
Clinton after 35 years of living in
Jamestown. His property was
purchased by Ed Bernard
Even with the hotel gone, and the
post office replaced by the rural
mail carriers, the general store
continued under the management of
Duncan McDonald for many years.
In 1914, the large home of Ben
Fralick was cut in two and moved
to Brussels to be used as a home for
Harvey Bryans. Walter Yuill was
now the owner of the Fralick Farm.
In 1915, A. Currie, a butcher from
Brussels called in Jamestown once
a week with fresh meat for sale.
Around 1928, Duncan McDonald
left his store and moved to
Brussels, ending a 22-year
ownership of the general store.
McKercher's had installed a gas
pump for the convenience of
motorists. Morris Bosman was
honoured for his service as mail
carrier for 11 years. In 1929, the
old horse shed was removed from
the Victoria Hall property. By the
1950s and 1960s Victoria Hall had
gradually fallen into disrepair. In
1968, the building was sold for
taxes, as no corporation then
existed to take an interest. The new
owner, Flem Johnston, tore the
building down, and sold the brick.