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Building in Lindsay

Our Experience :: History :: Past Activity :: VIDEO

Location: Lindsay, Ontario
Date: May 22, 2007
Members: Amanda, Brenda, Jay, Rachel and 2 Guests
Equipment: 3 Digital cameras, 2 camcorders, 3 voice recorders, 1 digital thermometer, 1 EMF detector, 2 audio enhancers, 2 walkie-talkies

History

Lindsay, Ontario is a quaint little town situated 45 minutes northeast of Oshawa, Ontario. Part of Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay has a long line of history surrounding it.
Lindsay was built on both sides of the Scugog River, and half way between Lake Scugog and Sturgeon Lake. Beneath the town lies an ancient preglacial rock valley that is carved out of limestone. A Mississauga camp site was also located near by and was know as "Onigahning" or 'The Portage'.

Early Settlers
An early pioneer to the area had declared that the scenery along the shores of Scugog were beautiful. No human had disfigured the serenity, and the ugliness of waste, destruction, and decay had yet to take a hold of it.
The first settler to the area was Patrick Connell in 1825. The same year the following families joined him: the Brady's, Pyne's, Hyde's, Twohey's, Murphy's, and Hoeya. However, the real founders of the town that would be known today as Lindsay were three Americans: William Purdy and his two sons, Jesse and Hazard. The town was originally called Purdy Mill's because of the large grist mill that the Purdy's had built.
This small village, sometimes known as "Portage Village" was growing up, and it was all in thanks to the Purdy estate that was located east of Lindsay St. During the winter of 1834-35, Jeremiah Britton, with his two sons Charles and Wellington, bought an acre of land from the Purdy's, which is now the foot of Kent Street and the present Academy of Music corner. On this piece of land, Jeremiah built a log shack and opened a tavern. In 1837, James Hutton moved from Ops Township and opened the first store in Purdy Mill's. This store was located on Kent St. Soon after, other notable citizens began to come: James Twohey, Thomas Clarke, Thomas Vane, Nicholas Powell, Dominic McBride, and William Thatcher.
Though Purdy Mill's was growing, untouched wilderness still surrounded the settlement. Deer could bee seen drinking out of the river in town or being chased by wolves up Kent St. It is said that a woman was eaten by wolves or bears at Sucker Creek, near Riverside Cemetery. Nothing but the woman's handkerchief was ever found.
Lindsay became a distributing centre in 1841 when Thomas Keenan opened up a General Store east of Jeremiah Britton on Kent St. East.

A Period of Invasions
For a period of ten years, Lindsay saw a variety of armed invasions, which made life in the settlement anything but peaceful.
The first invasion occurred in December of 1837. There had been a provincial revolt that year. A man by the name of Major Murphy started a rumor in the town of Peterborough that William Lyon McKenzie was hiding in Lindsay. The results of this rumor had 300 men armed with muskets and a large flag descending the riverbank to the north. The villagers of Purdy Mill's rushed from their cabins to see what was happening and found that these visitors were a detachment of the Peterborough militia under the orders of Colonel Alexander McDonnell. They were there in search of W.L. McKenzie. Because of Major Murphy's involvement, William Purdy was very outspoken over the situation. Major Murphy took this opportunity to lay information against William Purdy, and in return Mr. Purdy was arrested and taken to the Cobourg gaol. William Purdy stayed in Cobourg without trial for a period of time, but was liberated and told to go home and mind his own business. After this incident William Purdy decided to move away from Purdy Mill's.
The second invasion happened in 1838. The Purdy dam had the waters from the Scugog backed up over 60,000 acres of land that surround the river and the lake. The forest had been drowned out, vegetation had rotted, and a plaque of fever and ague was running rampant and have claimed nearly one-third of the population. To put things in perspective, there were not enough men to bury the dead. Hostility towards the dam became more definite and bitter. In the summer of 1838 the villagers had had enough. A large group of farmers from Ops, Manvers, and Cartwright armed themselves with flint locks, pitchforks and axes, marched to Purdy Mill's and hacked away part of the dam.

The third invasion appeared on July 12, 1846. A man by the name of "Billy" Parker, was a noted Orange fighter from South Emily, had received a beating in Lindsay. Hundreds of celebrants of the Boyne victory marched on the little village to avenge the defeat of their champion. The villagers had been warned of this impending attack and had begun to prepare themselves. Muskets were put to working order, pitchforks served as bayonets. Thomas Keenan made rude swords by winding cotton around the hilts of scythe blades as handles. The old log bridge that ran across the Scugog was chopped down into the river, while sharp shooters lined the river banks. Alexander Bryson headed a deputation that was sent out to meet up with the angry mob at Lang's Corners. Wise counsels prevailed and the town was spared.

The fourth and final invasion took place in the summer of 1847. In June of that year, Bigelow looked for and secured permission from the Board of Works to put a line of one foot high planks along the top of the dam in the summer to help maintain the flood level of spring time and ensure a uniform flow of water. As soon as the news of this became known through out the Scugog valley, Manvers and Cartwright, farmers assembled once again. Armed with axes and rifles, the farmers marched to Lindsay and removed the planking.

Men Who Made Lindsay
The following is a list of established business men in the town of Lindsay in 1861:

Broughall & Gimson - The West End Store. Direct importers of dress goods in all the newest styles, at every price. Thompson's former corner, opposite Doheny's hotel.
P. Brady - "the Fine Arts". Dealer in mural, mosaic, fresco, and canvas paintings; house, sign, ornamental, and carriage painting, etc. corner of Russell and Albert St.
David Browne - Stoves and Tinware. Next door to W.L. McDonald & Co's General store, Kent St.
John Klaus - Tailor; the latest fashions and best workmanship. Opposite Veitch's saloon, William St.
Bradley Mowry - Foundry and machine shop; machinery and castings of all descriptions. Ridout St.
S & O Bigelow - Dry goods, bonnets and mantles, black and green teas, boots and shoes, hardware, dyestuff, crockery, school books, etc. "The White Block".
W.J. Webster - Boots and shoes. East side of William St.
O'Connor & Fairfield - Wagon, buggy, sleigh, and cutter factory. Back of Barragy's saloon, Queen St.
John Might - Saddles, single and double harness, trucks, etc. William St. opposite Fournier's Hotel.
G.P. Rummelin - Ladies and Gentlemen's furs and caps. Johnson's new building, one door south of Blakely's Store, William St.
John Johnson - Tailor and fancy habit-maker. William St., three doors south of Peel St.
J.B. Knowlson - General insurance agency. Western Assurance Co., Phoenix Insurance Co., Canada Life Assurance Co., Canada Permanent Building and Saving Society.
G.R. Brewer - Tailor and habit-maker. William St.
G.H. Keeve Jr. - Hardware, oils. Kent St. W.
James Watson - General store. Adjourning T. Dohany's block on William St.
C. Passage - Gunsmith's shop, in Thirkell's wagon shop, Kent St.
Dr. Playter - Residence, Wellington St. near the Methodist chapel.
G.H. Keeve - Shelf hardware, saddlery, iron, steel, glass, putty, paints, oils, etc. Kent St. W.
Wm. Hudson & Sons - Builders, bricklayers, plasterers, brick makers, and lime-burners.
W. McDonnell - Surveyor of customs and issuer of marriage licenses.
Dillip Klees - Hair dresser and perfumer, etc. Dealer in stationary and fancy goods. East side of William St.
W.G. Cox - House, sign, carriage, plain and ornamental painting and glazing. Market St.
John Douglass - Licensed auctioneer. Market St.
John Tigh - Flour and pork barrels, churns, washtubs, etc. Caroline St.
T.J. Dennehy - Provincial land surveyor. Civil engineer and surveyor of highways for the Counties of Peterborough and Victoria. Kent St.
Fred Whitt - Attorney-at-law, Keenan's brick block, Kent St.
William Davis - Painting, glazing and paper hanging. Near Kent St.
G.W. Smith - Lindsay carding mill. In a portion of the building used as a foundry by Bradley Mowry.
J.H. Knight - Late organist of Trinity Church, Galt. Teacher of piano forte and melodeon. Residence at Mr. C. Britton's, Kent St.
George Calvert - Market gardener.
Thomas Fee - Builder and contractor; dealer in planed lumber, etc. Kent St.
William Margach - Furniture. Large assortment of coffins on hand and made to order.
Ward & Cadwell - Bakery and confectionery. Adjoining Pearson's saloon, William St.
G.H. Reeve, Sr. - Watchmaker and jeweler. Thirkell's new brick block. Kent St., next to G.K. Keeve's hardware store.
H. Timmerman - Builder. Kent St.
Hazlitt & Maguire - Penitentiary boots and shoes. Next door to Watson's store, William St.
W. Thompson - Having sold his business to Matthew Blakely, William St., now requests all persons to call there for their accounts and pay the same.
Funk's Hotel - Lindsay St. near Mr. Kempt's new building.
John Moore - "Victoria Stove Store". Cooking and parlor stoves, country produce taken in exchange. One door west of A. Wrights boots and shoes store, Kent St.
W.L. McDonald & Co. - General groceries, dry goods, liquors, hardware, leather, boots and shoes. Kent St.
Drake & Foley - "The No. 40 Hardware Store". Brand, bar and hoop irons, nails, chains, glass, saddlery, shelf and heavy hardware. Mrs. Patrick's new brick building, opposite W.L. McDonald's Cheap Cash Store, Kent St.
Doheny's Hotel - Choicest Liquors. Careful hostler always on hand.
Andrew J. Bounsall & Co. - Foundry, iron castings, cultivators, threshing machines, fanning mills, etc. Smiths work in all branches. Farm produce taken in exchange. William St.
Veitch's Saloon - E. Veitch, proprietor. First class liquors always on hand. William St.
Harrington's Hotel - A.J. Harrington, proprietor. Immediately adjoining the passenger station of the Port Hope and Lindsay Railway.
Drs. Lloyd & Kennedy - Instructions give in the dental art. William St.
J. J. Wheeler - Dry goods, grocery, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes. The building formerly occupied as the "Victoria Herald" office, William St.
Hugh Workman - Livery Stables. "2 - 40" horses always to hire. William St. adjoining Fournier's hotel.
M. Dunsford - Attorney-at-law. Foot of Kent St. over Mr. C. Britton's store.
John Emery Alexander - Cooper, pork and flour barrels, tuba churns, etc. Bond St.
Almon Harris - Lumber. Cash paid for saw longs. Near the railway depot.
William Deane - Provincial land surveyor, civil engineer, etc.
Winters & Goodwin - Painting, glazing and paper hanging. Opposite Mr. Wheeler's store, William St.
M. Deane - County engineer and provincial surveyor. Russell St.
Jeremiah McCarthy - "East End Furniture Factory". Furniture of all descriptions. Near the east end bridge.
J.H.O'Beirne - Wellington Street Tannery. Kid, calf and cow hide leather.
J.O'Leary - New Hotel, opposite the post office. Billiard table at the command of players.
Thos. Benson, M.D. - Residence at corner of William and Peel Streets. Office at Mr. Gregory's store.
James Heap - Liverpool and London Fire and Life Insurance Co. British American Insurance Do. Edinburgh Life Assurance Co.
Jas. Lenihan - Dealer in dry goods, clothing, groceries, liquors, hardware, schoolbooks, and stationary. Kent's building, foot of Kent St.
John Matthie - Turner and undertaker. At Mowry's foundry, Ridout St.
Knowlson & Gregory - Dealers in drugs, patent medicines, perfumeries, toilet articles, etc.
L.A. Hudspeth - Barrister-at-law, solicitor in chancery, notary public, etc. Office - Mrs. Patrick's building, Kent St.
Pearson's Saloon - Opposite Blakely's store, Williams St.
J. Kennedy - Dry goods, groceries, clothing, liquors, boots and shoes, etc. William St.
Thomas Devaney - Furniture, cabinet, chair, and upholstery. Kent St.
George Moore - Builder, contractor, etc. William St.
John Phillips - Furniture and spinning wheel maker, turner, etc. Produce taken in exchange. Colbourne St.
G.H. Lennon - Dry goods, groceries, hardware, wines and liquors, etc. Opposite Crown Lands office.
Trenouth & Brother - Manufacture of doors, sash, and blinds.
G.C. Atkinson - Saddlery, harness, etc. Kent St.
Z. Mitchell & Co. - Bakery and grocery. Corner of Broadway and Kent St.
William Bell - Town and village lots, farms and buildings for sale.
Geo. S. Hobart - "Medical Hall". Wholesale and retail dealers in drugs, patent medicines, etc. In Mrs. Patrick's brick block, Kent St.
Cluxton & Dundas - Dry goods, groceries, crockery, boots and shoes, Spanish leather, etc. Also, purchasers of wheat, oats and wool. Keenan's brick block, first shop Kent St.
Dr. Fidler - Russell St.
William Belch - Victoria bakery. Groceries, crockery, boots and shoes, confectionary, etc. Corner of William and Peel St, south of Pyne's Hotel.

The Great Fire
On July 5th, 1861 fire swept through the town of Lindsay. An election had just taken place and the town was full of visitors who were waiting to hear and celebrate the official announcement of the returning officer. At around 11:30am a fire was notices in a small frame house of the south side of Ridout St. It has always been said that the owner of the house (who put up the building, but could only rent the land), set it on fire as the climax to an argument with his landlord. As the fire began to gain strength, a wind rose from the south and helped the flames spread from building to building. Both sides of Kent St. west to Williams were soon in ashes, and all the buildings between Kent St and Peel St. were destroyed, with the exception of one little log cabin which was owned by a widow named Murphy (corner of Peel and William St.). The fire spread farther east and consumed Fournier's Hotel (on the present Cain site), the grist mill and saw mill, and all of the adjacent buildings. It ended up spreading to the other side of the river and turned Brown's Alma Hotel and the Port Hope and Lindsay Railway Station to ashes.
By 3:30 that afternoon the fire had burnt itself out. It had destroyed the area bounded by Russell, William, Peel, Queen, Caroline, and St. Lawrence Streets. The aftermath left four hotels, two mills, the post office, customs office, and 83 other buildings in charred ruins, as well as approximately 400 people with out shelter. No lives were lost in this catastrophe. Distress was large, though much food and clothing was provided by unharmed citizens and farmers. The west side of Cambridge St, between Wellington and Peel, turned into a makeshift campsite for weeks, first shelter less and later with tents.

Within a year the Britton Block, Funk's Hotel (McConnell's), the east half of the Keenan Block (four stores and a hotel), and the Bigelow (Spratt and Killen's, and McBride's), Wilson (Kennedy), Wright (Armstrong and Forbert), Knowlson (Gregory and adjacent stores), McLennan, and Baker (Adams) blocks were completed. Most of all were now three storey brick buildings which were remarkable for their day and environment.

Never again was the town reduced to ashes, but there have been a few times when circumstances have been favorable. In August of 1881, Ontario was going through a drought that scorched and blistered the entire province. Fires broke out in Victoria County and quickly swept across the countryside. Forests, crops, fences, and farm buildings we reduced to ashes. Railway bridges were burned away and the rail ties were twisted out of shape. Thankfully a torrential rain brought this to an end.
A similar episode happened in September 1887, but the fire was confined to the northern townships.

There have been some serious local fires during within the town of Lindsay. Fires have consumed and turned to ashes the following places: The Doheny Block, northwest corner of William and Kent (1875), Parkin's sawmill (1882.1884, 1886, and 1892), the Scugog Paper Company's Mill (1886), the McDonnell block, southwest corner of William and Kent (1888), the Flavelle warehouses, East ward (1888), Peel Street, in rear of the Elsmure block (1902), the Kennedy and Davis sawmill (1907), and the Carew sawmill (1908)

Murder in Lindsay - 1856
In the year of 1856, the town of Lindsay saw the murder of John McGuinty, a blacksmith. John McGuinty had been shot outside of his place of employment on Kent St, at approximately half past 5 o'clock. The bullet had entered a few inches below his right arm, striking a rib first and then into his liver. John McGuinty was removed from the scene on a shutter and taken to his home where he died a few minutes later.
The suspect was a 16 year old boy named Robert Barlass, son of William Barless who kept a saddler and harness shop in town. It was said that the William handed the pistol to his son. Robert had escaped.
Once the fatal truth was known, William Barless was placed under arrest, and hunting parties we sent out to capture Robert. The following day Robert was captured by a young man named O'Keefe.
In the end Robert Barlass was found guilty of Wilful Murder.

History taken from http://www.canadiangenealogy.net/ontario/victoriacounty/lindsay.htm