Loading...
Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 48PAGE TW E Oi" Y-7'HIRE'E Government watches establishments Taverns are nt at all what they used to be Taverns. Today we call them bars or hotels and use them for different reasons than they were used in the early days. In those days they were a place to rest your weary bones and wet your whistle before continuing on your journey. Today they are a place that provides its patrons with enter- tainment. In the beginning, Tuckersmith had its share of taverns as well as shops licensed to sell liquor. But because transportation wasn't what it is today, a local supplier was needed so the sellers could keep their shelves stocked. The Egmondville Brewery was one such supplier. *The brewery was initially started by eorge Weiland who, in 1850, sold it to enry Colbert Sr. It was located on Mill Road, west of the Colbert home which is now occupied by John Flannery. In January of 1889, all but th malt house of the brewery was burned to the ground. However, by July of the following year, a new brick building was built to replace the one lost in the fire. Restrictions on the brewery employees werenot as strict as they are today, and as a result, some interesting stories came from the brewery. One such story involves a man who did his drinking on company time. Employees at the Egmondville Brewerey were permitted to drink all the beer they wished while they were working. One of the employees who took advantage of the offer, is said to have averaged 50 glasses of beer per day for several years. This same employee died of internal complications at a relatively young age. In 1842 there were approxim. stely 42 inns between Goderich and London, each about one and a half miles apart. The Colbert family operated the brewery until the Canada Temperance Act, or the Scott Act, carne into effect. The number of taverns in Huron County during its early stages is amazing. In 1874 there were 150 taverns and 18 shops licensed to sell liquor, in 1877, 124 taverns, 16 shops and in 1882 there were 124 taverns and 15 shops. In 1842 it was estimated that there were 42 inns on the road between Goderich and Lon- don, each about one and a half miles apart. Township council kept a watchful eye on the many taverns by sending inspectors to inspect each inn every three mothns, collec- ting a fee of 10 shillings from the owners. If a charge was laid 'and the owner prosecuted, there was an additional fee of five shillings. If the inspector failed to lay a charge, he was fined up to one shilling, plus the costs. 1851 tavern inspectors were William Payne, William Hunter and John McLean. In 1858 they were William Cooper, David Walker and Thomas Gemmell. In 1864 An- drew Main was hired and given $2 for each license he granted. A few Tuckersmith Township tavern owners were John Daly, Susan Robertson, Frederick Neilans; John Cock; Ed Elliott; John Dill, William Van Egmond; William HOURS: SUN. & MON. TILL 11 P.M. TUES., WED. & THURS. TILL MIDNIGHT FRI. & SAT. TILL 2 A.M. ON HWY. 8 NEXT TO MAC'S MILK 1111I11 ru�unun��� Dixon and William Kyle. The temperance movement spread to the Tuckersmith area after settlers realized they were consuming too much alcohol, drinking themselves into early graves. Many of these people joined societies like the Royal Templars of Temperance of Kip - pen and the Seaforth Christian Temperance Union, introduced in 1880. Some of the groups forbid the drinking of liquor but allowed the consumption of beer and wine while others were for total abstinence; against not only liquor but tobacco, profane language and the reading of "bad books and papers." The government responded to the increas- ing number of people wanting prohibition with the introduction of the Canada Temperance Act. In 1884, Huron County voted on the Act, passing it with a 1,653 majority. McKillop, Stephen, Hay Townships and the Village of Bayfield voted against it. In 1888 another vote was taken, reversing the decision and bringing back the licensing of taverns in the area. However, some Huron County municipalities kept the Act until the late 1940s. When the Temperance Act was lifted in 1888, Huron County had 108 taverns and 11 shops selling liquor. In 1892 the numbers were reduced to 102 taverns and five shops. During the later part of 1892, County Coun- cil decided that the taverns were being used mainly as drinking spots with few people stopping to spend the night before continu- ing on their travels. Therefore, in the best interest of the county, many taverns were closed, reducing the number to 85 with six shops selling liquor. Tuckersmith Township Council took fur- ther steps in 1906 by passing a by-law which allows six taverns in the township. In 1985, the only establishment that has a license to sell liquor is the Glasgow Restaurant in Vanastra. Best wishes to all our friends and customers in Tuckersmith. Have a TreeMendous Celebration! 1 :*TREE mendous JOHN GIBSON R.R. No. 2 SEAFORTH 482-3229 Landscape Design r--