Look Back at the Past

Previous Articles

• British Home Children

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  The British Home Children of North Dundas

  On September 28, people across Canada commemorated British Home Child Day. But who were the British Home Children?
  In 1869, religious and philanthropic organizations in Britain began to send orphan and pauper children to Canada to give them a chance at a better life. Young children were to be adopted, and older children were to be indentured as domestic servants and farm labourers until they turned 18.
  The emigration program operated until 1948, by which time over 100,000 children had been sent to Canada. While some found loving homes and fair employers, others suffered severe abuse and trauma. 
  Over 10% of Canadians are descended from Home Children. However, the stigma attached to these children led many to hide their pasts, meaning that descendants are often unaware of their family history. 
  British Home Child Day is an opportunity to recognize this history. It was first observed in Ontario in 2011 after a bill tabled by former Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim Brownell was passed in the Ontario Legislature. 
  Brownell, a Home Child descendant, chose September 28 to commemorate the day that his grandmother arrived in Canada. 
  The late Judy Neville, Brownell’s sister, spearheaded the effort for a federal British Home Child Day. She and others worked with the office of former SDSG MP Guy Lauzon to put forth a motion in the House of Commons, which passed in 2018.
  More than 300 British Home Children came to North Dundas, both as indentured children and as adults. Some were here for a short time, while others remained in the district for the rest of their lives. Regardless, they left their mark on this community and their legacy endures through their contributions and those of their descendants.

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

• Dr. Marion Hilliard

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  Dr. Marion Hilliard (1902–1958)
  Hero of women in Dundas County

  Dr. Marion Hilliard was born and raised in Dundas County, but her impact was felt nationwide.  
  In fact, she impacted the lives of women throughout the world. And yet, not that many people are aware of her or her place in Dundas County history.  
  As one of the first female gynecologists to be licensed in Canada, she earned her place in our history books. She was part of the team that developed clinical testing for women’s cancers. She also helped to promote women’s health initiatives through her clinic in Toronto and her series of articles for women (and men) published in Chatelaine Magazine between 1954 and 1957. She certainly paved the way for women’s health.
  In these articles she wrote about topics that were simply not discussed in polite society at the time. They embraced topics such as female sexuality, menopause, postpartum depression and parental fatigue. She was early to point out that a medical doctor’s role was to be a sociologist as many ailments are rooted not in the physical but in mental and emotional causes. 
  Her articles in popular press were important as she realized how little most women knew at the time about their own health. Her articles were then combined into several books and translated into many languages and available worldwide.
  Dr. Marion Hilliard also played a role in the development of the PAP test, to detect cervical cancer. The procedure was first developed by George Papanicolaou in the 1920s, but Hilliard and a team of other doctors developed a more simplified form of the test in 1947. It was for this accomplishment that in 2018 she was nominated to appear on the new $10 bill, but Viola Desmond was selected instead. 
  She was also extraordinarily successful in her drive to make the Women’s College Hospital an accredited teaching hospital under the University of Toronto Medical School. She eventually became the head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in 1947, a position she held until retiring in 1957. 
  Unfortunately, she did not enjoy a long retirement as she died of cancer in 1958. She was buried in her hometown of Morrisburg.
  It is my hope that people will remember Dr. Marion Hilliard for her selfless dedication to women’s health. It was a personal goal of mine to nominate her to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Their mission is to honour medical heroes – those of the past, present and future. In their description, a medical hero is one whose work has advanced health and inspires the pursuit of careers in health sciences. That certainly describes Dr. Marion Hilliard.  
  However, she was not one of the people selected for this honour. Dr. Marion Hilliard is my hero and the hero to the women of Dundas County and those who have loved them.

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives
  dundascountyarchives@gmail.com

• William Bow

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  William Bow (1825 – 1915)
  Longest serving postmaster in Dundas County 

  William Bow was born on May 18, 1825 in Aberdeen, Scotland to Thomas Bow and Mary Jack. He immigrated to Canada around 1840 and settled in Mountain Township, where he farmed for a number of years. 
  In 1846, he married Charlotte Fleming and the couple had four children: Thomas, Emily, George and Margaret. 
  He gave up farming in 1848 to become a schoolteacher, spending five years at Cass Bridge. He and his family then moved to West Winchester, where he taught for two more years before opening a grocery store, then a general mercantile business.
  When a post office was established in the village in February of 1855, William was appointed postmaster—a position that he would hold for the next 57 years. It originally operated out of his general store on the north-west corner of Main and Ottawa Streets. 
  Winchester became an incorporated village in 1888, and later that year the post office was moved to William’s newly built store on the north-east corner of St. Lawrence and Caleb Streets (now Mary’s Restaurant). 
  William continued as postmaster until December 1912, when he was relieved of his duties at age 87. To date, he is the longest serving postmaster in the history of Dundas County.
  William was involved in all aspects of the community. He served as Winchester’s police magistrate for over 30 years and became known as a strict but fair enforcer of the law, especially during the years of local option when the sale of alcohol was prohibited. He was also the superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school for several decades.
  In addition to the post office, he owned several businesses during his career. He operated his general store until 1879, when he passed it on to his son George and son-in-law Alex Ross in favour of becoming a druggist. 
  By 1910, the druggist business had been taken over by his grandson George H. Challies (future MPP for Grenville-Dundas) and William had moved on to selling stationery and fancy goods.
  William Bow passed away on April 2, 1915, just one month before his 90th birthday. He was laid to rest beside his wife at Maple Ridge Cemetery. 
  His dedication to the village and its people made him a much loved and respected man, and the loss of Winchester’s ‘grand old man’ was keenly felt throughout the community.

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

• A Day at the Archives

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  Helping to solve a historic murder
  A day in the life of an archivist

  I’m often asked about what happens on a daily basis at the archives. The answer is that it depends on the day. Every day can be a new adventure. 
  Some are spent searching for building permits or drain records, others I catalogue boxes of By-laws and Minutes of Council. One day I might search through newspapers for someone on the phone, including the odd professor wanting to settle a bet with a colleague.
  As an archivist, I collect, preserve and make available the records of the region. 
  I have visited a farm house where coroner investigation records were found in a sealed envelope between walls of the home. How they ended up there is anyone’s guess. 
  The Dundas County Archives has only been around for a few years and a major focus has been put on historic newspapers. We have brought in the entire collection of the back issues of the Winchester Press and Chesterville Record. 
  Through generous individuals, we have received donations of Iroquois Post, Iroquois Chieftain, the St. Lawrence news, Morrisburg Banner and several other publications. 
  This is all part of a huge project to collect and digitize the historic newspapers of the county, in partnership with the Lost Villages Historical Society and the Glengarry County Archives, through generous donations from local service clubs and funds from the United Counties Council.
  What is truly remarkable is that these are accessible to the public free of charge. 
  This has been a huge undertaking because in many cases, the old papers are in pretty bad shape. They are brittle, fragile and in many cases ripped or fragmented. Before they can be scanned and digitized, they must be repaired to archival standard. One can get a little bleary-eyed with all this piecing together, like a long-forgotten puzzle with no visual guide. 
  Some days I self-identify as a newspaper whisperer.
  But back to what happens at the archives on any given day. I was asked recently if I could help the police in an investigation of a possible historic homicide, believed to have taken place in 1925. 
  There was a tip that an individual may have been murdered and his body buried in the basement of a rural home. My job was to look through records and try to identify where the house was located. I also searched for death records because odds were that a story like was reported on. 
  The challenge is that due to the fragile nature of newspapers, not all periods are covered by the existing collection. Fires, rodents and other issues have caused many of these back issues to be destroyed over time. 
  Luckily, we did have copies of the Chesterville Record and Morrisburg Leader from that period. After a thorough examination, I determined that this murder did indeed occur. 
  On February 8, 1917 William St Pierre was murdered. His body was hidden in the basement of his home and the case was covered by local newspapers, along with publications all across Canada and the United States. Initially the suspect was 17-year-old Nettie Richmire of Williamsburg. Eventually it was determined that her confession was intended to protect her boyfriend, Emerson St Pierre, the son of the victim. 
  The investigation was covered by newspapers as far away as Saskatoon and Vancouver and the further afoot, the more sensational the story. By March 12, American papers reported that St Pierre had murdered as many as 20 infants, allegedly all of whom he had fathered. 
  The South Bend Tribune in Indiana said that these 20 infants were all born to St Pierre’s widow and that he had murdered mostly male infants. 
  The St Louis Star in Missouri reported that Mrs. St Pierre stumbled on her late husband’s grave in their basement while collecting coal for the fire, after he had been missing for three weeks. It also said that her son Emerson was arrested while on route to Syracuse, New York with a large sum of money. 
  The coroner’s inquest began on March 13 with at least 600 people in attendance, many of whom were reporters. Apparently, people were injured in the rush to get access to the inquest. 
  The reports of the case were highly variable, but most attested that Nettie was sexually assaulted by William - more than once - and she acted in response to her concern for her own safety. 
  She was given a more lenient sentence of 5 years in prison. Emerson was convicted of manslaughter and served a life sentence at the Kingston Penitentiary. 
  But their story doesn’t end there. They did eventually get married after Emerson served his sentence and they lived out the rest of their lives together in Dundas County. 
  As for what happens next at the archives, only time will tell. Every day is a new adventure.

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives
  dundascountyarchives@gmail.com

• Chesterville King Street Fire

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  Chesterville King Street Fire, 1909

  In the early hours of April 6, 1909, Chesterville residents were awoken to the alarm of fire and the smell of smoke. Within hours, an entire block of the village’s business core was reduced to rubble. It would become known as the worst conflagration in the history of Chesterville.
  It originated in a wooden-framed building on the north-east corner of King and Water Streets, which housed W. J. Nash’s tailor shop on the first floor and the Masonic Hall on the second. The flames quickly spread east down Water Street to the Chesterville Record office, destroying the printing presses, then travelled north up King to Ralph Street.
  Equipped with only one hand pump and pails for water, there was very little that could be done. The fire destroyed everything in its path, including Wilford Saucier’s jewellery store, Isaac Pelletier’s confectionary and fruit store, Gordon Robinson’s blacksmith shop, Joseph Fisher and Colborne Robinson’s butcher shop and the Sanders, Soule and Casselman general store.
  The village was left rattled by this tragedy - it was not the first they had dealt with that spring. Exactly three weeks before this incident, the Temperance Hotel and Foster’s Hall, situated at the north end of King Street, burned to the ground, and the train station and water tower narrowly escaped with minor damage. 
  In light of these incidents, steps were quickly taken to improve the village’s fire protection. By May, the village council was preparing a new by-law to mandate that only ‘fireproof’ (e. g. brick, stone) buildings could be erected in the business section. That summer, a steam pumper fire engine was purchased and a proper fire department was formed with Frank McCloskey as fire chief. 
  Meanwhile, life went on in the village. The Chesterville Record was back in print on May 6, operating from a temporary office in a blacksmith shop. By the end of the summer, bigger and better buildings replaced those that were lost. Sanders, Soule & Casselman rebuilt on their former site (now Mike Dean’s). The Fisher Block (burned in 1989, now the Mike Dean’s parking lot) was erected, where Fisher and Pelletier carried on their businesses. The new Record building (demolished in 2018) was constructed and Saucier rented part of the space for his jewellery store. Wesley Hamilton built the Hamilton Block on the corner of King and Water Streets (now Louis’ Restaurant).
  The response to the King Street fire demonstrates the resilience of this village and its people - something that we continue to see today.

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

• The furniture makers of Dundas County

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  The furniture makers of Dundas County

  Dundas County was originally settled in 1784 by loyalist refugees of the American Revolution. As refugees, they brought with them only basic necessities for their new life in the wilderness. While they did have furnished homes in the Colonies, their loyalist leanings necessitated their departure and all their worldly goods were confiscated by the Americans. As they resettled into what became Dundas County, they had to start fresh.  
  It was not until 1847, with the completion of the St Lawrence Canal, that industry could build. Iroquois was the industrial center of Matilda Township, as Morrisburg was for Williamsburg Township. The Williamsburg Canal enabled the harnessing of water power so that mills could be built in Morrisburg, along with the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1854. It was not until 1884 that Mountain and Winchester townships were serviced by rail courtesy the Canadian Pacific.
  As industrialization was slow in Dundas County, so was the development of furniture making. For many years, rural settlers could only afford the absolute bare necessities for survival. The first furniture makers did not advertise in local newspapers until 1842.
  The first known cabinet maker in Dundas County was William Marsh. His son continued with the business until at least 1900. They were listed in directories, census and newspaper ads in Iroquois. By 1884, his son W.J. March was also listed in an advertisement as ‘furniture maker and undertaker.’
  Between 1840 and 1900, there were 112 cabinet or furniture makers in Dundas County. 
  Several were long-term businesses, such as M. F. Beach. Nearly two-thirds were located in Iroquois. Other communities have supported furniture makers, including Pleasant Valley, New Ross, Glen Stewart, Brinston and Dundela.
  As Mountain Township did not have water access, it was slower to develop industries. Mountain was home to 13 per cent of the furniture makers of the county. Two were in Inkerman, three in South Mountain and two in Van Camp. 
  Elijah Gregory was in business in South Mountain from 1874 to 1900. Earnest Hunter served the same region from 1896 to 1900. Inkerman was the base for William Suffel from 1864 to 1871. George Hope served Van Camp from 1881 to 1895. His business included a general store as well as furniture and he was succeeded by his son Wesley in 1881.
  Williamsburg produced 32 cabinet makers between 1842 and 1900. About half of these were short lived. Twenty-one lived in Morrisburg and two in East Williamsburg. Five were in North Williamsburg. Brothers John and William Kilgour ran their business out of Morrisburg from 1873 to 1900. In 1895, they began manufacturing coffins as well. 
  They were only surpassed by Mahlon Beach of Winchester and Iroquois. In 1865, the Morrisburg Cabinet factory was established by E. W. Kellogg. He produced chairs, bedsteads cabinets and ‘other furniture.’ By 1871, they were also building coffins. 
  Winchester Township was a challenge to research due to the fact that a large percentage of the furniture makers had a very short tenure. The other challenge was the constant name changes of the communities. 
  Armstrong Mills became known as Winchester in 1845. In 1875, it was changed to Chesterville. Bates Corners was at one point known as West Winchester. By 1892, it was known as Winchester Village. 
  The township produced 33 of the 112 cabinet makers in the County. 
  In West Winchester (later known as Winchester Village), John Ross operated as a furniture maker and undertaker from 1890 to 1896. 
  The most noteworthy of cabinet makers in Dundas County was Mahlon Beach. He moved to Winchester in 1856 and set up a saw mill. Between 1861 and 1878, he also operated a general store, cheese factory and a grist mill. In 1883, he ran a roller mill in Iroquois. 
  On July 12, 1884, the entire plant in Winchester was destroyed by fire. But he was undaunted and built a bigger factory. He was by far the largest player in the furniture business, employing over 100 people in 1900. His success could partially be attributed to a long-term contract with the Eaton’s Company during this time: selling ready-made furniture through their show rooms and catalogue. 
  Beach was also involved in local politics. He was Warden of SD&G Counties in 1873. He left a legacy with 10 children, many of whom continued in his business endeavours. 

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives
  dundascountyarchives@gmail.com

• North Mountain Consolidated School

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  North Mountain Consolidated School in Hallville
  The first and only of its kind in Dundas County history

  This year marks one century since construction began on the North Mountain Consolidated School in Hallville. On August 8, 1922, four hundred people gathered to witness the school’s cornerstone being laid at the southwest corner of County Road 43 and Shaw Road.
  Founding a consolidated school, which would accommodate students from kindergarten to Grade 13, was an ambitious plan for this little community. At the time, the school was said to be only the second of its kind in Eastern Ontario, and it remains the first and only consolidated school in the history of Dundas County.
  It began in 1921 when residents of Hallville discussed the need for an advanced education facility in the area. The first meeting of trustees was held at St. Andrew’s Church on October 28th, 1921. Soon it was decided to amalgamate four nearby schoolhouses: SS No. 9 Hyndman, SS No. 12 Loughlin, SS No. 13 Kerr’s Ridge, and SS No. 14 Reid’s Mills.
  The North Mountain Consolidated School was officially opened on September 19, 1923. Over 150 students were enrolled, and the first staff consisted of principal Orville E. Ault and six teachers: Misses Morrow, Smith, Bates, Pack, Bradley and Millar.
  The school was a source of pride for the community but falling enrollment over the years threatened its survival. In 1960, all secondary students were transferred to South Mountain Continuation School, which became known as Mountain District High School. The consolidated school became Hallville Public School.
  The same issue of low enrollment caused both schools to close just ten years later in June 1970. While secondary students were split primarily between Seaway High School and North Dundas District High School, elementary students got a new facility: Nationview Public School. The old buildings were temporarily revived during the 1970/71 school year when the construction of Nationview was delayed. 
  To mark the end of an era, a giant reunion for students of the two schools was held in the summer of 1970 with about 1,200 people in attendance. Another was held in 1995 and a third was planned for 2020, which would have marked the 50th anniversary of the closing. However, it was postponed due to COVID-19. 
  Unfortunately, the school no longer exists. In the early hours of February 15, 1979, fire ripped through the structure and firefighters could do nothing but watch as it was engulfed by flames. Herbert Scarf, who purchased it in 1973 and had been living there while renovating the building, was away at the time of the blaze.
  On 11 October 1980, the crumbling, burnt-out shell of the once bustling school was demolished. Now, all that remains of the North Mountain Consolidated School are memories and photographs.

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

• Aaron Sweet

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  Aaron Sweet (1854 – 1937)

  It is often stated that the level of respect for a person can be measured by how many people attended their funeral.
  In 1937, when Aaron Sweet died, his funeral had one of the largest attendances in Winchester history. He certainly touched many lives. He was viewed by many as ‘a man apart and unusual in many respects, popular, capable and willing to an unusual degree…and to be without pretense or sham.’
  Aaron Sweet was driven and very involved in the community. He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge. At least 300 members of various Masonic lodges attended his funeral at the Winchester United Church, illustrating how respected he was amongst the Masons. The event was also attended by respected church dignitaries.
  Who was Aaron Sweet and how did he achieve this level of honour and respect? 
  He was born in Hemingford Quebec on February 12, 1854, but his family moved to Morrisburg when he was young.  Why Morrisburg? It likely had something to do with the fact that his mother was the sister of Andrew Broder. If his name seems familiar it is because Broder had represented Dundas County in the Provincial Legislature from 1875 to 1886, and the Federal Parliament from 1896 to 1917. 
  The Broder/Sweet clan appeared to be close knit and Aaron was taken under the wing of his famous uncle. Aaron worked in his uncle’s general mercantile store in Winchester in his youth and by 1876, Sweet had become a partner. By 1881 the store was renamed ‘A Sweet and Company,’ so it appears that he became the owner. 
  Uncle Andrew had taught his nephew a little about community engagement and involvement. In 1876, Aaron was elected as the deputy Reeve of Winchester, while his uncle was serving in the Provincial Legislature. Sweet was later elected as the first Reeve in the newly incorporated Village of Winchester. He also served as a Councillor. 
  But his involvement in the community didn’t stop there. Aaron was an elder in the United Church, served as Treasurer for the Winchester Public Library, became a Director of the Beach Foundry, as well as the Winchester Arena Company. 
  The Dundas County Archives recently acquired the first ledger for this company. He was also very active with the Masonic Lodge, the Orange Order, the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, the Canadian Club and various other organizations.
  In his political leanings he was a Conservative. Aaron successfully ran in the 1923 provincial election as a candidate supporting Prohibition. He certainly wouldn’t have supported the move to create Ontario Government ownership of the Beer Store or LCBO. It was during the Prohibition era that Sweet was involved with the establishment of a Temperance Hotel in Winchester. 
  It appears that his wife, Mary Esther Boyd, was just as driven and community oriented as Aaron. Her commitment and generosity earned Mary the respect of her community as well. In one of his obituaries, it stated that Mrs. Sweet ‘reigned regally with subtle warmth of hospitality and sincerity that made those old ivy-clad walls the center of much charm and happiness.’ 
  Mary was very active in the local church, where she served as the organist, along with many other local organizations, including: the Red Cross Society, Women’s Institute, Women’s Missionary Society, Horticultural Society and Ladies’ Aid Society. 
  Their daughter, Mabel Sweet, was born in Winchester on December 20, 1882. While she began her education locally, she was a highly educated lady for her time. She attended the Whitby Lady’s College and the Emerson College of Oratory in Boston. 
  On November 9, 1918, she married Benjamin Langton Carr, a land surveyor and civil engineer. They settled in Morrisburg and bought the former home of Millionaire J Wesley Allison. 
  During the Dr Locke era, they ran two different guest Homes: ‘The Ship’s Mate’ and the ‘Sign of The Ship.’ The Dundas County Archives is in possession of the ledger for the ‘Sign of the Ship’ Guest home (1931-1948), providing an interesting history of the business. The collections are building on this fascinating family and their businesses. 
  The Information for this article came from various newspaper articles ledgers, and materials donated by the Sweet Family.

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives
  dundascountyarchives@gmail.com

   

• Temperance and Prohibition

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  Temperance and Prohibition in Dundas County

  In the pioneering days of Dundas County, liquor was cheap and widely available. It served as a persuasive tool in early elections, and as an easy incentive when one needed help to raise a building. But when the temperance movement gained popularity across Canada in the mid-1800s, some local residents began to reconsider their stance on the consumption of intoxicating beverages.
  By the early 1850s, temperance organizations were being formed in Dundas, with chapters of the Sons of Temperance and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union popping up across the county in the following decades. Temperance hotels opened in many areas.
  It wasn’t long before legislation was introduced that allowed communities to vote on whether to allow the sale of liquor in their districts—something known more widely as local option. Both Mountain and Winchester Townships voted to go ‘dry’ in the 1870s, but limited records from that period make it difficult to know how long the legislation was in effect in these communities. 
  Provincial and federal referendums in the 1890s and early 1900s showed that a majority of locals favoured banning the importation, manufacturing and selling of alcohol. 
  It appears that local option had been repealed in most areas of the county by the turn of the 20th century, but that was soon to change. Over the next decade and a half, almost every municipality voted on the issue, with Mountain Township adopting it in 1906, Winchester Village in 1907, Iroquois in 1909 and Matilda Township in 1914.
  Prohibition was enacted in 1916, banning the sale of alcohol across Ontario. But tales of bootleggers, passed down through the generations, show that this legislation did very little to stop (or even slow) the flow of liquor in Dundas County. Those who wished to drink only needed to know where to go and who to talk to.
  By 1926, public support for prohibition in the province was wavering. With an election scheduled for that December, Premier Howard Ferguson (Conservative MPP for Leeds and Grenville) made his position clear: if he was re-elected, prohibition would come to an end. 
  This troubled many locals, including Dundas MPP Aaron Sweet, a staunch Conservative and life-long prohibitionist from Winchester. Putting his principles before his party, Sweet chose not to seek re-election, and the county instead voted in a Prohibitionist candidate. 
  Premier Ferguson and the Conservatives were re-elected. True to his campaign promise, he ended prohibition in 1927 and established the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). 
  Still, some areas of Dundas remained ‘dry’ for almost a half-century, preventing stores, hotels, and restaurants from selling alcohol. Iroquois went ‘wet’ in 1959, followed by Williamsburg Township in 1970 and the village of Winchester in 1973. Winchester Township held out until 1976. 
  Morrisburg was a unique exception, which saw an LCBO outlet and a brewery warehouse in operation by 1936. Iroquois and Chesterville opened LCBO stores in the early 1960s, and Winchester got one in 1977 after much resistance and delay. All four of these stores continue to operate today.

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

• Winchester Springs Sanitarium

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  Winchester Springs Sanitarium

  Did you know that Winchester Springs was once a thriving hive of activity as a resort destination? While it reached the height of its prosperity between 1876 and 1904, the discovery of the Springs dates back to 1799. Following up on local lore of a salt lick in the area that attracted wild creatures, a government surveyor named Fraser located two mineral springs on lot 5, Concession 1 of Winchester Township. However, after filing his survey, an exploratory crew was not able to locate the site when they later searched for it. 
  A few years later, the springs were once again ‘discovered,’ this time by lumberman Thomas Armstrong who owned a lumber yard in Winchester. Armstrong was in the area harvesting trees when he and his crew came upon the Springs. According to lore, they decided to drink the water and it allegedly cured their scurvy, which had developed due to poor diet. Whether the waters cured their scurvy is not known, but they spread the word and before long throngs of people started showing up, camping out at what was perceived to be the Fountain of Youth. 
  Of course, it didn’t take long for speculators to learn of the Springs. This was the era of people flocking to mineral springs all over the world. It was viewed as a cure or at least a way to treat a number of different maladies. Blue Licks Springs in Kentucky was thriving at the time, as was Sarasota Springs in New York, both harnessing the view that mineral springs can promote both physical and emotional well-being. In Canada, Carlsbad Springs near Ottawa was reaching its heyday in the 1870s. 
  Sometime in the late 1860s, James West purchased the property with plans for a large development at the site. His goal was to establish 78 lots over a number of streets. He also planned shops and the ‘Victoria House’ hotel. In the end, the development floundered after he had begun construction on the hotel.  
  This is where Dr William John Anderson enters the scene. The son of a Dundas County Presbyterian Preacher, he was born in Antrim, Ireland, but was educated in the Iroquois Grammar school and went on to Queens University. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1861 and first established a medical practice in Smiths Falls. 
  In 1870, when he learned of the opportunity to purchase the property, he decided to take the leap. He expanded the Victoria House into a sanitarium and a resort destination. The difference between Anderson’s plan and the failed plan of James West was that he brought with him medical credentials and a league of colleagues. He was able to offer medical treatments along with the ‘water cure.’ 
  Under his leadership, the property was greatly expanded: tennis courts and a croquet field were constructed between meandering garden paths, all of which were hidden behind tall privacy fences.  Perhaps the fences also added an allure. A report from Toronto in 1889 described the grounds as ‘delightfully shaded with maple, chestnut, pine, oak, elm, apple and other trees and velvety lawns studded with flowers.’ The grounds were about 60 acres of parks, gardens, pavilions and gazebos creating a panorama of bewildering beauty.
  At the centre of the property was the Sanitarium. This was a three-storey brick building, housing 60 bedrooms, parlours, a dining hall, clinical examining rooms and bathing rooms. This was pretty advanced for the 1870s. Heated mineral spring water was piped in to fill soaking tubs. The spring water was thought to have curative qualities for maladies such as rheumatism, biliousness, dyspepsia and urinary obstructions. The ads for the resort mentioned that they had a telegraph on site so that business men would be able to keep in touch with their office. As a further incentive, there was a daily coach to pick you up or deliver you to the train station in either Morrisburg or Winchester. 
  The resort thrived until the death of Dr Anderson in 1904. Unfortunately, the waters could not cure him of his chronic Bright’s disease. After his death, the resort fell into ruins and the sanitarium was eventually torn down in the early 1900s. 

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives

• Old Home Week 

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  Old Home Week 

  In the midst of the Great Depression, hundreds of people travelled to Winchester from all over Canada and the United States to attend Old Home Week - a grand reunion for current and former residents of the district. 

  The idea was first proposed in the summer of 1933 by village Reeve James H. Ross, who was also the owner and editor of the Winchester Press. The plan was immediately put into motion and the Old Home Week Association was formed with Reeve Ross as chairman and local insurance agent Walter Moffatt as secretary-treasurer. Committees were organized, and residents and businesses all did their part to bring the plan to life. 

  From August 4th to 8th 1934, hundreds of visitors came together in these streets to celebrate the one thing they had in common - their love of Winchester and its people. There were events for everyone - old and young - including parades, concerts, midway rides, horse races, street dancing and sporting matches. The Press dedicated almost three full pages to covering the reunion.

  Four years after the overwhelming success of Winchester’s Old Home Week, Chesterville decided to hold a reunion of their own. William O. Dixon, the local funeral director, served as president of the Association, aided by treasurer Howard Fulton (owner of Fulton Bros.) and secretary William H. Casselman (former MPP for Dundas). It took place from July 30th to August 3rd 1938 and enjoyed the same success as their neighbours.

  One of the surviving legacies of these Old Home Weeks are two short histories of Winchester and Chesterville that were written to promote the villages and their progress. A Historical Review of Winchester, Ontario, written by Fern Workman, a long-time employee (and later owner) of the Winchester Press, was available at the reunion for just 25 cents. A History of Chesterville, written by businessman and former Dundas MP Orren D. Casselman, likely cost about the same. 

  Today, these brief snapshots of our communities are priceless. 

  Written by Ashley Harper
  Chesterville and District Historical Society

   

• Royal Platinum Jubilee

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  Royal Platinum Jubilee

  Commemorating the Royal Visit

  In June of 1959, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, came to Dundas County to officially open the St Lawrence Seaway. After flying from England, the Royal Couple joined the Royal Yacht Britannia after opening the Seaway at the St Lambert Lock in Montreal. According to the Cornwall Standard–Freeholder, the presence of fog ‘threw carefully timed arrangements into a cocked hat.’  

  While they were in Ontario for 14 days, the main focus of the tour was the official opening of the Seaway. Preparations for such an event involved many hours of logistics, security and protocol. Even local groups had their hand in the planning of the event that was to take place in Iroquois. 

  The local newspapers of Dundas County all reported on the plans. The Chesterville Record - dated June 25, 1959 - identified the schedule and route that the cavalcade was to take. This information would be considered high-risk for planning in our current era and wouldn’t be released to the public. In 1959 however, that was not on their radar. 

  There was also information regarding the planned speed of the cavalcade at certain stages. The route was to follow the Long Sault Parkway at 35 miles per hour. The speed would then pick up along the ‘Queen’s Highway,’ referring to Highway 2. They would slow down again at Riverside Heights as they expected a crowd to gather, along with Morrisburg.  

  There was no planned stop in Morrisburg so crowds only got a glimpse of the Royal couple. The highlight of the tour was an actual stop in Iroquois. The Queen and Prince Phillip made a ten-minute scheduled stop at the new Iroquois Plaza. 

  Written by Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives

• RMS Empress of Ireland

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  RMS Empress of Ireland

  The Dundas County Connection to the RMS Empress of Ireland

  When one considers the best known maritime tragedies one thinks of the Titanic and even the Edmund Fitzgerald, made famous by Gordon Lightfoot. Virtually no one knows about the RMS Empress of Ireland. This is despite the fact that the Empress lost more passengers than the Titanic.   This may be because the Empress of Ireland did not have passengers who were millionaires, and business magnates such as the Allisons of Chesterville and John Jacob Astor, and Benjamin Guggenheim. The Empress of Ireland was primarily a vessel to transfer immigrants and goods.

  She was first launched on January 27, 1906. The ship was part of the fleet owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway in shipping goods and immigrants between Liverpool and Quebec. At the time the CPR was one of the most powerful companies in Canada, and had created a shipping and passenger empire between the CPR railway and the Empress Hotel line across the country. 

  Learning from the experience of the Titanic, the Empress was fully equipped with the latest Marconi wireless telegraph, and carried lifeboats and life belts sufficient for 1800 people. The ship would carry a capacity of 1500 passengers and 420 crew. The captain, Henry George Kendall, assumed command of the ship as of May 1, 1914, after a lengthy career. The rest of the 420 crew members were split between three departments:  the pursers, engineering, and the deck department.  

  On her last voyage The Empress of Ireland had on board 1,057 passengers. Like the Titanic, there was a distinction between First and Second Class and Steerage, each having their designated relaxation and dining areas. On the last voyage there were 87 First Class Passengers, who dined in opulence in comparison to the 700 Third class passengers who dined in a crowded cafeteria like setting. 

  Many of the passengers aboard the Empress were immigrants. Some stories include men who were sailing back to England to bring their bride back to Canada. Some were men returning after a business trip. One such individual was Edward Adie who came from Birmingham to meet with clients in New York. They traveled by train from New York. Some were wealthy British tourists returning home after a vacation. The Canadian Museum of History hosted an exhibit to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of this ship and it included many such stories. Contemporary newspaper accounts also shed much light on these stories. On this particular voyage there were 171 passengers in second class who were part of the Salvation Army. They were heading for a World Congress in London. One such member of this group was a woman born and raised in Dundas County. Her name was Nettie Beckstead.

  Jane Etta Elizabeth Beckstead was born on the family farm near Dundela on October 5, 1871 but she was known to family and friends as Nettie. She was the eight child of Joseph and Catherine Beckstead. At aged 20 Nettie joined the Salvation Army, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Caroline. She gained her credentials as a nurse and worked in a rescue home for women in Helena Montana and later in Hamilton and the Grace Maternity Hospital in Montreal. Ironically she was not part of the original group set to travel on May 28 1914 to the World Salvation Army Congress. At the last moment, she was asked to replace an individual who had taken ill.

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  The Empress set off on May 28, 1914 from the Port of Quebec with engines humming. At the same time the Norwegian ship, Storstad was traveling in the opposite direction from Sydney, Nova Scotia bound for Montreal, loaded with 10,000 tonnes of coal. Hidden in thick fog they would collide at 1:55 am on May 29. According to newspaper reports the Empress sank within 20 minutes. Reportedly 1,012 people lost their lives, 800 bodies were never recovered. None of the Salvation Army members were recovered, including Nettie. Most died of hypothermia in the cold water. Only 465 passengers survived. 134 children lost their lives. According to the coroner’s inquest that ensued, a contributing factor may be that the crash occurred when most people were asleep as well as the confusion that ensued. Reportedly there was no time to close watertight doors and portholes that were opened for ventilation. On May 29 we should remember those who were lost in the sinking of the Empress of Ireland and especially the Dundas County native, Nettie Beckstead.

  Susan Peters
  Dundas County Archives