The Citizen, 2006-10-28, Page 4IIAITLANO
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Westmoreland Street
DrumMond Street
Dinsie Street
CURIES
Jima STREET
21
ALFRED STRUT
STREET EAST
9
EAST'
\
ALFRED
PAT
23
1
PATRICK
HWy # 4
- to Lonclesbor
Site 74 °
& Clinton
EAST
WAWANOSH 11
BELFAST RD
BELE3RAVE RD
NATURE CENTRE F
WESTFIELD RO
DINGWALL RDA-
SEE
AUBURN
MAP
#8 is located 3/4 mile east on Jamestown
Road & #15 is on corner of Morris & Clyde
Line. Both are located in Morris Township.
PAESI
WINGHAM
BLYTHJQ
STREET
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1 • Alice Munro Literary Garden: between 263 & 273 Josephine St.,Wingham.
The garden was created to honour Wingham's most famous writer. Alice Munro's short stories have been
published in many different languages and have won prestigious literary prizes from Australia to Canada.
The garden was created by the Wingham Horticultural Society and opened to the public on July 10,2002.
A book-lover's paradise ...
2. North Huron Museum: 273 Josephine St. Wingham.
The North Huron Museum was once a federal post office, designed in 1906 to be a government symbol of
stability and solidarity. Construction began in 1904 with S.S. Cooper of Clinton winning the contract. The
cost for the building was to be $15,500.The post office took 3 years to build but was not officially opened
until May 31, 1907. At that time, there was no clock in the clock tower.
A clock was finally ordered in 1913 from N.T. Evans Clock Company in Birmington, England. It arrived in
April 1913 to be installed. But, there was a glitch - find out what happened at the North Huron Museum.
3. Barn Dance Museum: 273 Josephine Street, Wingham.
The Barn Dance Museum, formed to honour the entertainment pioneers who played a role in the devel-
opment of the original Barn Dance show, is located in the basement of the North Huron Museum.Their
first exhibit opened to the public on April 14,1996.
The first Barn Dance show was broadcast in 1937 from the Wingham Town Hall Heritage Theatre. The
show featured different country music artists each week - though over time developed a host of regulars
and a house band known as the Ranch Boys.The last CKNX Barn Dance was broadcast from the Formosa
Community Hall in 1963.
Who is in the Barndance Hall of Fame? And, who has been recognized with a Pioneer Award?
4. Town Hall Heritage Theatre: 274 Josephine Street, Wingham.
From 1890 to the 1930s, the majority of entertainment in the Opera House was provided by travelling
troupes who advertised with a brass band parade followed by skits, variety shows and short musicals. In
the 1930s, Mr.& Mrs. Clarence Armitage directed three musicals using local actors. In the mid to late 1930s,
professionally directed plays were done by outside troupes using local actors.The beginning of organized
local theatre began in 1955 with the creation of the Wingham Community Players. This group formed and
re-formed from 1955 to 1979. There was also a short stint of Children's Theatre organized by the Recre-
ation Department between 1968 and 1977.
For a decade, use of the town hall opera house declined.ln 1990, a group of local citizens decided to revive
use of the theatre.They renamed the opera house - Town Hall Heritage Theatre and decided to focus on
honouring the town's proud country music past.
5. Wingham Jail Cells: 274 Josephine Street, Wingham.
Before the Town Hall was built in 1890, the lock-up (jail) was located on Edward Street across the street
from the Orange Lodge. In Wingham in 1879, there were 7 justices of the peace.
When the new Town Hall was built in 1890 the Wingham jail cells were located in the basement of the
Wingham Town Hall along the southwest wall. Wingham police force was formed in 1879. As the solitary
member, Chief constable James Davidson, was to collect taxes, enforce town by-laws, perform the duties
of peace officer, be the health inspector, board inspector, hire inspector, licence inspector and street
inspector. The Chief's pay was $400 per year in 1879.
The cells have housed criminals, travelling musicians (like Stompin' Tom Connors) and drifters. In the
1930's men riding the rails into Wingham were given a nights' board in the jail and 2 meals, to discourage
them brom begging (or stealing).
6. Wingham Masonic Hall - Corner of John and Centre Streets,Wingham.
The Wingham Masonic Hall was built in 1879 by the Methodist Episcopal Church congregation.This group
was a breakaway party from the Wesleyan Methodist Church, lead by George McKibbon. When the
Methodist congregations united and created the Methodist Church in 1884, the church ceased to be
used by the Methodists and was soon used by a breakaway group of worshippers from the local Presbyte-
rian Church.
The building was called the"Club"and at one point housed two bowling alleys, 2 billiard tables and indoor
basketball.The building was used to house kindergarten in the late 1940s.
The Wingham Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. No.286 was founded in 1873. Physician John Tamlyn was the first
ruling master. He presided from 1873 to 1874. The Lodge was meeting at the Kent block until 1932.The
lodge, under the leadership of John McMichael, purchased the former church at the corner of John and
Centre streets.
7. Old Grand Trunk Railway Station, 431 Josephine Street, Wingham.
The second railway into Wingham arrived in 1887. The Canadian Pacific rented the line to the Grand
Trunk Railway who held the line until their dissolution in 1923. At that point Canadian National Railway
took over the Iine.The present railway station is the last of three that have been located on the site. It was
built in 1906 and had two lovely onion-shaped domes on the front of the station. When the railway
company saw the final building, they ordered the domes be removed.The railway station was witness to
the departure of many North Huron men and women as they went to fight and help in World War I and
World War II. It was by the railway that many the area's young sons went West to begin again in the early
1900s. And it was by the railway that many unemployed men passed through Wingham on their way to
find a job - any job - in the 1930s.
The railway station was threatened with removal in 1992 when the Canadian National Railway closed the
line and removed the tracks. Although it was offered to the town of Wingham for $1, the offer was
turned down. At that time it passed into private hands and has been handsomely renovated. Town and
Country Support Services use it as their headquarters to provide services to the areas infirm and elderly.
8. Wingham Golf and Curling Club - RR#4,Wingham.
The present Wingham Golf Club came into being in 1950 when J.H. Crawford and W.H French purchased
a 50 acre farm on the first concession of Morris Township. They turned the land over to the newly formed
club. John Cruickshank was the first elected president. R.H Lloyd contributed his building skills as well as
a new tractor, mowers, pump and materials for its watering system to the creation of the golf course.
In 1950 & 1951, weekly work parties removed the barn, tons of stone and cleaned up fence bottoms. In
groups of up to 60,they worked hard to create a new golf course.The ladies also had work parties to clean
up, paint, paper and furnish the club house.The first president of the ladies was Marjorie McKinney.The
Wingham Golf and Country Club officially opened on May 25, 1951.The president, R.H. Lloyd drove the
first ball.
The curling rink was added in 1977-78.The Wingham Ladies Club was formed in 1950 with Ella Gurney as
its first president. Soon mixed curling began. High school curling began in 1955.
Who has been conferred with Life Memberships? Find out at the Wingham Golf & Curling Club ...
9. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church - 220 Carling Terrace, Wingham
The original church was completed in June 1877 under the influence of Father James Murphy who built
it under the patronage of the Sacred Heart. Up until this time, the catholic masses had been celebrated in
the Queen's Hotel and later at the home of Mr. King in Lower Town.The brick church was simple in design
with a Norman tower at the front of the church.The front facade was trimmed in wooden gingerbread.
Which Reverend excavated the basement of the former parish hall by hand? Under whose pastorate were
cemetery grounds purchased and electricity installed in the church?
1 0. Wingham United Church - 217 Minnie St.,Wingham.
In 1874, three different congregations of Methodists united to form the Methodist Church of Canada,
although in Wingham there were still a separate group called the Primitive Methodists.They had a church
building on Minnie Street. In 1925, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists united to form
the United Church of Canada.The Wingham United Church changed its name from the Wingham Method-
ist Church that year under the leadership of minister Reverend M.M Bennett.
In 1900, under the leadership of Reverend Richard Hobbs, work began on a huge church of white brick that
had a seating capacity of 650 people.The congregation of 356 laid the cornerstone on May 24, 1901 with
the official opening taking place on February 16, 1902.The cost of construction was around $18,000 plus
$1,300 for the new pipe organ.The debt was retired by 1905. By that time, the congregation had grown to
530.
The Wingham United Church was the first church that CKNX radio did live broadcasts from on Sundays.
Find out more at the Wingham United Church.
11 . Blyth Memorial Community Hall - 431 Queen Street, Blyth.
The Blyth Memorial Hall was built by the residents of Blyth, East Wawanosh, Morris and Hullett to
commemorate their sons who had fought in World War I. The cornerstone was laid on July 28,1920. It was
built in the style of early Canadian Theatre Architecture and included an auditorium that could seat 600 on
new opera chairs, a basement and the firehall. It cost $25,000.
Since the hall opened, the basement has been used for banquets, council meetings, wedding receptions,
Division Court sessions, community dances and more. The firehall moved out of Memorial Hall when it
required more space. In its place in 1946, an addition was added on the south side of the building for the
village library and new public washrooms.A kitchen was put into the old fire hall with the floor lowered so
that it was on level with the basement meeting room. The auditorium, like many small town theatres and
opera houses,thrived during the days of vaudeville and travelling companies of entertainers. It has hosted
community musicals and local talent plays. With the advent of television, the auditorium languished from
disuse.
In the early 1970's, the senior citizens of the community applied for a grant that asked that the hall be
saved, so that it could continue to be a "memorial hall." Since 1975, the Blyth Festival has been presenting
a season of Canadian plays in the Hall each summer. Behind the scenes tours of the theatre will be offered
during Doors Open.
1 2. Around the Block Walking Tour:
Departs from Blyth Memorial Community Hall, Blyth - 10:30 a.m.
"Good things come in small packages"is an expression that could have been coined to describe the Village
of Blyth. From the arrival of the first settlers around 1850 to the present day, this gem of a community has
shown qualities of enterprise and community spirit. The village holds buildings, stories, and the footprints
of unforgettable characters that inform its modern richness and charm. Round the Block Tours are aimed
at revealing the personality of Blyth through lively accounts of its history, its people, its humour, and its
steadfast refusal to allow time, change, and urbanization to reduce it to a faint memory.
Please wear comfortable footwear and appropriate clothing for an outdoor activity.
Your Hosts: Janis & Brock Vodden, Round the Block Tours
1 3. Huron Pioneer Threshers Reunion & Hobby Association ... Gypsy Lane, Blyth.
To understand better.what this show is today, we must appreciate from where it came. Harold Turner
(Goderich) had a threshing' machine and Hugh Chisholm (Sarnia) had a Steam Engine. Both were
interested in having a reunion or show. Stuart Muir (Paisley) was approached, as well as George .Searson
to get their involvement. The Horticultural Society of Goderich was approached about a location without
any success or interest. They came to Blyth to present their idea ...
Visit the Log Cabin on the site behind the Blyth & District Community Centre
for information on the annual show and on the Log Cabin that was moved to the site a couple of years ago.
1 4. Pianovations - 287 Main Street, Londesborough (Hwy. 4 between Blyth & Clinton).
Pianovations is a unique Doors Open site because it is not a heritage building but houses a heritage
business. Pianovations, a piano/music workshop 5 minutes south of Blyth, centres around the care and
restoration of pianos.This fascinating piano workshop is home to amazing vintage pianos, one of which
contains a whole orchestra.
During the Doors Open North Huron event, Pianovations will be open for tours. Co-owners, Lianne
Hoogenboom and Tamara Andre, will be on hand to answer questions about pianos and talk about some
of the restoration they have been involved in.
Many pianos have an interesting history and story to tell. Lianne and Tamara are experts in getting old pianos
to sing anew. Touring through Pianovations is a unique opportunity not to be missed.
Sites ... continued on next page
PIEASE NOTE
Special T • ime for th •
Activity 's