Clinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 23Hamlets
Many hamlets make up Stanley Township
It takes a lot of people working together to
make anything successful, and Stanley
wnship is fortunate to have many hard '
rking people, pulling together to make
e township what it is today.
In total, the township presently has 1,509
residents, but when the surruner months ar-
rive, the beautiful sunset attracts an addi-
tional 891 property owners, bringing the
total population to 2,400.
These people do not reside in one area, but
are spread out in the various hamlets which
make up Stanley Township. These hamlets
include Brucefield, Kippen, Varna, Blake,
Drysdale and Hillsgreen."
Varna
A pat master and store owner named
Josiah Secord gave Varna its name in 1854.
Mr. Secord named his new home after a
Bulgarian fortress -seaport.
Several years after Mr. Secord settled in
the hamlet, in 1900, a cabinet factory, two
wagon blacksmiths, a harness shop and a
shoemaker shop made up the business
section.
Ernest Epps started a transport business
in the early years which is now a repair shop
for Dave Roy.
The post office and general store, situated
in the heart of Varna, is now owned by Ken
and Shirley Boyce.
1967 proved to bring endings .and beginn-
ings for Varna as the Varna Public Library,
which began in 1921, was closed and the Var-
na Water Works Association was formed.
Brucefield '
. While some residents of Brucefield live in
the Township of Tuckersmith, others live in
Stanley. The dividing line for the two
townships puts those living on the west side
The Hillsgreen Post Office was in the name of Currie when this picture was taken back in
1913, however, William Jarrett became postmaster around 1911. He is pictured here with
his daughter, Annie. (photo submitted by Marg Elliott)
of Highway 4 in Stanley and those on the Samuel McCowan who named the village
east side in Tuckersmith. after Major Bruce of Scotland. Mr. Mc -
The Ross name has been connected with Cowan was Brucefield's first storekeeper.
Brucefield for many, years. One of the first Travellers began to build their homes in
settlers, in September of 1830, was Neil Ross Brucefield once the road was put through
and the first white baby to be born in the and, in turn, the business section of the com-
Township of Tuckersmith was his son, munity grew. Among the many stores,
Donald. Another early settler was Peter taverns and other places of buiness were the
McMillan who built a store at the north-west doctors. Brucefield had a doctor as early as
corner of what is today the main intersec- 1863 when Dr. John Birtch, Dr. Munroe and
tion and is located in the Stanley Township Dr. Swan established practices.
portion of Brucefield. A post office was later One of the later doctors, James Stewart, is
opened in the store by Donald McMillan. said to have made only 25 cents over a three
Brucefield received its name from month period.
Page SA
Dr. Glanville was the last resident doctor
in Brucefield.
The lousiness section of Brucefield is not
as large as it was in the early years, but the
friendliness of the village still lives on.
Kippen
Three townships claim portions of Kippen
- Hay, Tuckersmith and Stanley.
The area was settled in the 1830s with
Robert Bell, William Cooper, Robert Doig
and James and John McLean being some of
the earliest immigrants.
The peak of village life in Kippen was dur-
ing the mid -1860s. The railway route
through the village brought trade while
other local communities provided services.
One of the moire prominent men in the
community during this time was Henry
Shafer who had his hand in everything. Ac-
cording to the Tuckersmith Memories
history book, he owned and operated the
hotel, built a general store, bought and ship-
ped livestock from his stockyards, installed
weigh scales for the convience „ of the
farmers, did butchering and made sausage.
He had a livery stable and an ice house
where he stored ice to keep the meat fresh.
He even bought lots, built homes on them
and then sold them.
Kippen was fortunate enough to- have its
own public hall so social gatherings and
meetings could be held.
Today, Kippen is quiet. Cars pass through
on Highway 4 and local residents stop at the
corner store to buy a few necessities, but the
hustle and bustle of the early years is gone.
Blake
The hamlet of Blake is situated at the in -
Turn to page 9 •
The Township of Stanley
Welcomes Everyone
to. our Sesquice.ntennial
"To our residents and to those who
have returned - have the best of times
at our Homecoming Weekend"
BACK ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT: Bill Taylor, Jack Coleman, Betty Graham, Richard Erb, Bin Dowson.
FRONT ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT: Howard Armstrong, Clarence Rau, Mel Graham.
THE 1986 TOWNSHIP
OF STANLEY COUNCIL
REEVE: Clarence 'Rau
DEPUTY REEVE: Howard Armstrong
COUNCILLORS: Jack Coleman
Richard Erb
Bill Dowson
CLERK -TREASURER: Mel Graham
DEPUTY CLERK -TREASURER: Betty Graham
ROAD SUPERINTENDENT: Bill Taylor