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[The village of Lucknow
bears the name of the city in India around which so much interest centred
in the days of the Indian Mutiny, which was fresh in the minds of all at
the time of the survey of the village. A number of its streets are named
after prominent generals in the Indian Army.]
The present thriving
village of Lucknow owes its origin to an offer made by the government of a
grant of two hundred acres of land to any one who would erect a mill on
the Nine-Mile River near the spot where it crossed the Woolwich and Huron
Road, which road forms the boundary line between Kinloss and Wawanosh.
This offer was closed with by J. Eli Stauffer, a German from Waterloo
County, mentioned in the preceding chapter as one of the first settlers on
the Durham Road in the township of Kinloss. It was in 1856-57 that Mr.
Stauffer erected the dam and sawmill. The latter could hardly be called a
first-class mill, but it supplied a much-felt need of the adjoining
townships in Huron and Bruce. One of the first to settle near the mill was
Ralph Miller, who in April, 1858, purchased a small parcel of land from
Mr. Stauffer, on which he built a log tavern, that went by the name of the
"Balaclava House." James Somerville, [James Somerville was born at
Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1825 and came to Canada in 1841, with his
parents, who settled at Dundas. He there learned the trade of a
millwright. In 1851 he moved to Wawanosh and built a sawmill, between what
is now Belfast and St. Helens Mr Somerville, in 1858, secured Mr.
Stauffer's mill and right to the land' From that date he continued to be
associated with Lucknow until his death which occurred September 19th,
1898. In 1872 he was the Reform candidate for the House of Commons for
North Huron, but was defeated In 1882 he again was a candidate, this time
for West Bruce, and was successful Mr. Somerville also sat in the township
councils of Wawanosh and Kinloss.] who deservedly is entitled to be called
the founder of the village, was probably living there at the time the
agreement for this sale was drawn out, as his name appears thereon as
witness to the signatures. During the summer of 1858 Mr. Somerville,
having purchased from Mr. Stauffer the mill and his right to the land, had
the south halves of lots 57, 58, 59 and 60 on the first concession of
Kinloss surveyed into village lots. The date of the registering of this
plan is September 21st, 1858. [It seems strange that the Crown patent was
not secured before the survey was made. It was April 2nd, 1862, before the
patent for the south halves of 57 and 58 was issued to M. C. Cameron, and
March 23rd, 1863, when the patent for the south halves of 59 and 60 was
issued to James Somerville.] This plan shows both a saw and a grist mill,
the latter built, in all probability, that summer by Mr. Somerville. On
September 1st, 1858, the village lots were offered at auction, and the
ceremony of naming the place was celebrated by a salute of twenty-one—we
cannot say guns—but of explosions of that number of charges of gunpowder,
placed in large auger-holes bored in good-sized trees standing in the
village plot. The survey of the village lots on the Ashfield and Wawanosh
side of the village [It was in October, 1854, that the lands in Ashfield
and Wawanosh, now in the village of Lucknow, were settled upon by Daniel
Webster and James Henderson respectively.] was not made until the early
spring of 1861.
The first merchant in
Lucknow was Malcolm Campbell, who commenced business in 1859. He was also
the first postmaster, the post-office being established shortly after he
came to the village. Other merchants, foreseeing the possibilities of
development at this point, opened up business shortly after Mr. Campbell
had done so. Half a dozen years after the post-office was established the
following were carrying on business as merchants at Lucknow: In addition
to Malcolm Campbell there was Walter Armstrong, Bingham & Little, Alex.
Murray, Charles Secord and John Treleaven. The grist and sawmills were
then being operated by Walter Treleaven and Messrs. Lees & Douglas ran a
wool-carding mill. The population was then (1866) placed at 430. The
village received quite an impetus in the same year from the construction
of the gravel road northward through the township of Kinloss, which had
the effect of bringing to Lucknow much of the trade of the township that
had previously gone to Kincardine. The next forward step of note made by
the village was the result of the opening of the railway in 1873. No doubt
the business men of the village have complained loudly and deeply at the
poor service that the railway has given them at times; but it should be
borne in mind that it is the railway that has made Lucknow a grain market,
and the shipping point for the produce of the farms situated for miles
north and south of the village. It also has given the shipping facilities
which induced manufacturers to there establish factories. In fact, it is
the railway which has made Lucknow the flourishing village of to-day.
The initial step taken with
a view to Lucknow becoming a separate municipality was made in December,
1863, when, on petition of James Somerville and twenty-three others, the
United Counties Council erected it into a police village.
The incorporation of the
village of Lucknow was an event that created a commotion unusual in the
ordinary routine of procedure as laid down in the Municipal Act for the
incorporation of villages. This arose from the fact of the village being
located partly in the county of Bruce and partly in the county of Huron.
The convenience of the inhabitants would perhaps have been secured to a
greater extent by being united to Huron, as the county town would then be
but twenty-two miles distant. But Bruce had an interest in retaining the
village as part of the territory of the county. The arguments used on this
side were: That the majority of the inhabitants and three-fifths of the
area of the village were on the Bruce side of the county line; that the
bulk of the business of the village came from, and would continue to come
from, the Bruce side, and this as the result of gravel roads constructed
at the cost of the county at large; and, lastly, that the large railway
bonus paid by Bruce would, if the separation take place, be for the
benefit of a village in another county. This last argument, especially,
made the Bruce County Council strongly oppose loss of territory at this
point. But politics had possibly the largest share in influencing the
decision finally reached. The member for South Bruce (B. M. Wells) had
received at election times strong support at Lucknow, and he was unwilling
to submit to the loss of so many votes as the placing of it in another
electoral division involved, and so his influence, though unapparent, was
felt in the contest. With so many interests at work, no wonder that a year
passed before a settlement was arrived at. The history of the proceedings
was, so far as the author has been able to trace, as follows: "At a
meeting of the ratepayers of the village held in the spring of 1873, a
motion was unanimously passed that the necessary steps be taken to have
the village incorporated and annexed to the county of Huron. Messrs. B.
Graham and R. Clendening were appointed delegates to bring the matter
before the Huron County Council, and Messrs. James Somerville and Robert
Hunter were to act in the same capacity before the Bruce County Council.
The prayer of the petition was acceded to by each of these bodies, and
both councils on the same day (June 7th, 1873) passed a by-law
incorporating the village of Lucknow and annexing it to the county which
it represented. When it became apparent that a deadlock was likely to
ensue on account of this dual annexation, and the question would have to
be decided by the Governor-in-Council, the Bruce County Council appointed
the warden (Robert Baird) and Robert Purves as delegates to go to Toronto
in the interests of the county. The first Village Council (elected in
January. 1874) at an early meeting passed a motion to memorialize the
Lieut-Governor to have the village annexed to Huron County. Meanwhile the
people of the townships of Huron and Kinloss, who did their trading at
Lucknow, gave emphatic expression to the business men of the village of
their opinion, that it would be an unjust act to have Lucknow, which had
been largely built up by their trade, severed from their common county and
united to another. These pronounced expressions of opinion produced an
effect, and many in the village were prepared to accede to the wishes of
their customers; prominent among those willing to do so were Malcolm
Campbell, Robert Graham and Dr. MacCrimmon. On the other hand an equal
number held out that to be united to the county of Huron was for the
interests of the village. The leaders of this party were James Somerville,
Thomas Lawrence and J. Treleaven. Each of the parties sent largely signed
petitions to the Lieut.-Governor presenting their views for his
consideration. Excitement in the village ran high; in fact, so many bitter
feelings were engendered at this time, as the result of the hotly fought
controversy, that years passed before they were smoothed away. Finally a
meeting was called of the ratepayers, in hope of an agreement being
reached. After each side had presented its side of the question, a vote
was taken, which gave a majority of one in favor of the village being
annexed to Bruce. This vote was challenged on the ground that one who was
not a qualified ratepayer had voted for Bruce. In April, 1874, at the
suggestion of the authorities at Toronto, so it is said, another vote 'was
taken, which resulted in a majority of two being obtained for union with
the county of Huron. Notwithstanding this final vote, the Lieut.-Governor,
on June 11th, 1874, issued a proclamation annexing the incorporated
village of Lucknow to the county of Bruce. A week prior to the issuing of
the proclamation, a telegraph message announcing the decision arrived at
was received by the warden, and read to the Bruce County Council, then in
session; when it was moved that the reeve from Lucknow do now take his
seat at the Council board. Up to this date (June 4th, 1874) Lucknow was
unrepresented at the County Council of either county. In January, 1875,
the respective wardens of Huron and Bruce met with the reeve of Lucknow,
and after consultation agreed that the proportionate share of the
liabilities of the county of Huron chargeable to Lucknow was twelve
hundred dollars. This the county of Bruce assumed, and payment was made in
two instalments. The
first Village Council (elected January, 1874) was composed of M. Campbell,
reeve; and Thomas Lawrence, Charles Mooney, Alex. McIntyre and Walter
Treleaven, councillors. The joint offices of clerk and treasurer were
conferred upon George T. Burgess. In a footnote are given the names of the
reeves and officers of the municipality from its organization until 1906.
[List of reeves of the village of Lucknow, with years of office : M.
Campbell, 1874, '75, '76, '77; D. A. MacCrimmon, M.D.,' 1878; George Kerr'
1879, '80, '81, '82; D. Campbell, 1883, '84, '85; J. S. Tennant, M.D.,
1886' '87; R. Graham, 1888; James Bryan, 1889, '90, '91, '92, '93; James
Lyons' 1894, '95, 96; J. G. Murdoch, 1897, '98, '99; William Taylor, 1900;
William Allan, 1901, '02, '04, '05; A. D. Davidson, 1903; J. G. Anderson.
1906. List of village treasurers: G; T. Burgess, D. E. Cameron, George A
Siddall, and John Murchison, at present in office. List of village clerks:
G. T. Burgess, W. H. Smith, Brown Mallough Hugh Morrison, and P. A.
Malcolmson, at present in office.]
The building first used as a town hall was
properly known as the Temperance Hall. The land on which it stood was
given by James Somerville, at an early date, to a temperance society that
they might erect a hall thereon. This they did in or about 1862. The
present town hall was built in 1885, [The formal opening was on May 24th,
1886.] at a cost of $4,500. It contains a fire-hall and a lock-up on the
ground floor. Over these, in the second storey, is a commodious hall,
suitable for public meetings and entertainments. Unfortunately, the plan
of this structure was defective in respect to the roof, which, after the
building was completed, had to be given additional support in a way that
has marred the appearance of the auditorium. In the present year (1906) an
arrangement was made with Andrew Carnegie, the millionaire, famous for his
gifts to public libraries, who has donated $7,500 for a public library
building. The building to be erected will be 50 x 80 feet in size. To all
intents and purposes it will be the town hall of the future, as in
addition to giving accommodation for a public library it will provide an
auditorium and a board-room. The latter will be used by the Village
Council to meet in. The village, for its part in the agreement with Mr.
Carnegie, undertakes to furnish the site and to make an annual grant of
$750 toward the maintenance of the library and hall.
The first public school building known to the
village was a modest frame building 24 x 30 feet, erected in 1862. The
pupils in attendance there were at first wholly from Kinloss. Three or
four years later a union school section was formed by the adding of parts
of the townships of Ashfield and Wawanosh. The first to teach in the new
building was a Mr. Middleton. [Before the erection of the school building,
school was held in a building on Campbell Street, previously used as a
tannery.] In 1865-6 the teacher was D. A. MacCrimmon (now Dr. MacCrimmon,
of Ripley). He was succeeded by James Warren, P.L.S. (of Walkerton), Angus
McCharles (a prominent son of Huron Township, lately deceased), Charles
Cliff (of the Wingham Advocate) and others. The last principal in the old
school-house and the first in the new was C. Priest. He was succeeded by
P. M. McEachern (now the Presbyterian minister at Glammis). D. D. Yule
succeeded him, and continued as the principal of the school for seventeen
years. Mr. Joseph Stalker, who entered upon his duties in 1902, is the
present principal of the school. The commodious eight-room school-house
now in use was built in 1878. The erection of this building necessitated
the issue of the first debentures sold by the village. In a footnote these
are to be found included in a list of all debentures issued by the village
corporation. [List of
Debentures Issued by the Village of Lucknow.
In 1878, for school building and furnishing, $10,113.
In 1885, for town hall, $4,500.
In 1890, for waterworks, $10,000.
In 1890, for Cliffe & Forester loan, $5,000.
In 1902, for granolithic sidewalks, $7,100.
In 1905, for granolithic sidewalks, $3,785.]
Lucknow has on different occasions suffered
severely by fire, which destroyed important sections in the business part
of the village. The first of these serious losses occurred in 1864. Some
time in the seventies a good hand fire-engine was purchased by the
village. Ten years later, when a proposition was made to invest in a steam
fire-engine, public opinion decided that the wisest thing to do would be
to instal permanent waterworks for fire protection. This was done in 1890.
Since then at the pump-house steam is kept up all the time. The numerous
'hydrants are favorably located, giving an assurance of a bountiful supply
of water if a fire should break out. The result of this has been a marked
reduction in insurance rates. In addition to the above, the village
annually, from 1875 to 1890, inclusive, paid the sum of $130 as its share
of the debentures given by the county as a bonus to the Southern Extension
Railway. The earliest
public religious services held in the vicinity of Lucknow were conducted
by a Presbyterian elder of the name of Campbell, who resided in Ashfield.
This was at a time prior to that when roads had been cut through the
forest, so the elder and his flock had of necessity to find their way to
and from the place of meeting by the blaze on the trees. The Wesleyan
Methodists organized a congregation at Lucknow in 1862, of which the Rev.
David Ryan was the first minister. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. W.
Eraser, and he by the Rev. Wm. Tucker. The New Connexion Methodists were
organized into a congregation in 1865, the Rev. John Walker being the
minister. The present handsome church edifice on the corner of Campbell
and Havelock Streets, erected in 1885, in which the Methodist congregation
worships, was preceded by a much less pretentious building of rough-cast,
which did service as a place of worship for a number of years. Although
Lucknow has always had a large Scotch element in its population, it was
some time before a Presbyterian congregation was formed within the
village, the "big" church (or South Kinloss congregation), just outside
the village, being where the Presbyterians attended services. Sometimes,
however, the minister at the "big church" held evening services in the
village. About the time (1869) that the Rev. J. McNabb resigned the
pastorate of the South Kinloss congregation, steps were taken by the
Presbyterian residents of the village to there erect a church building.
The result of these efforts was a good-sized frame edifice, known as Knox
Church. Soon after the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Cameron at South Kinloss
some of the leading members from the village separated from the
congregation. Not obtaining what they wanted from the Presbytery of Huron,
they applied to the Church of Scotland in Canada, and were erected into a
congregation that bore the name of St. Andrew's, Lucknow, which built for
itself a neat stone church. [After the union of the two Presbyterian
congregations in the village the building was sold to the Baptists. At
present it is owned and occupied by the Roman Catholic congregation.] The
Rev. I. B. Taylor was the first minister, but he resigned after a
pastorate of seven or eight years, and was succeeded by the Rev. John
McNabb in 1882. In 1886 the Rev. Mr. Cameron, who continued his ministry
in Knox Church, Lucknow, after resigning (in 1881) the South Kinloss part
of his charge, and Mr. McNabb both resigned in order to afford the two
congregations in the village the opportunity of uniting, which they did in
September, 1886. In 1887 the united congregation called the Rev. Angus
McKay, and in 1888-9 built the present large and substantial brick church.
On Mr. McKay's resignation in 1904 the present pastor, the Rev. D. T. L.
McKerroll, entered upon the pastorate of this large congregation. The
Church of England at Lucknow is known as St. 'Peter's, and was erected in
1878. It was in the
first week of January, 1874, that The Lucknow Sentinel published its
initial issue. Since then, week by week, this chronicle of the local
events of village and country has been issued. The first proprietors were
Messrs. Bowers and Hunt. In a short time the paper passed into the hands
of D. B. Boyd, who conducted it for two or three years. On his death his
widow continued to publish it until her marriage to James Bryan. For
nearly three decades Mr. Bryan filled the editorial chair of the Sentinel,
until he sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Albert McGregor, in
October, 1906. Ever
since the railway has been in operation Lucknow has been a good market
where the farmer could sell his grain and other farm produce. J. G. Smith
was one of the first to be prominent as a grain buyer after the advent of
the railway. Prior to that event merchants purchased grain, pork and other
produce largely "for trade." To dispose of their purchases they had to
team them to Goderich for shipment.
The author, lacking that intimate and personal
acquaintance with the citizens of Lucknow, past and present, which might
enable him to refer to them individually in these pages, must touch but
lightly on such a topic. For a number of years the village possessed among
its citizens a trio of medical doctors that stood out prominently. Dr. D.
A.. MacCrimmon, as chief of the Caledonia Society, is referred to
elsewhere. Dr. J. H. Garnier, noted as an ornithologist, possessed a
collection of stuffed birds which numbered over twenty thousand, and Dr.
J. S. Tennant, councillor and reeve of the village, and Conservative
candidate for South Bruce, whose sudden death, September 12th, 1902, was
so deeply lamented. Another old and worthy citizen, the local bard, is
Robert Graham. What old curler is there in this part of the province but
knows J. B. Hunter and the rinks of keen curlers that stood by him on the
ice playing the "roaring game," one of the sports for which Lucknow has
made a name for itself.
If there is anything which more than another
has bestowed on the village of Lucknow an almost continental fame it is
the Lucknow Caledonian Society. It is an acknowledged truism the world
over, that the Scot, wherever his lot may be cast, cherishes with
enthusiasm everything of a national character, its language, history,
poetry, songs, pastimes, sports, and also the national costume. There are
few sections, if any, in the province more thickly settled with Scotchmen,
or those of Scottish descent, than the townships in the vicinity of
Lucknow. These conditions existing, it only required a few leading spirits
to inaugurate and maintain an organization the aim of which would be to
develop and perpetuate everything characteristic of Scottish sentiment,
life and practice. Who was the first to suggest the formation of the
Lucknow Caledonia Society the author cannot say. [The records of the
society have unfortunately suffered loss from fire on two occasions. The
author is indebted for the facts of the society to Chief MacCrimmon and
his successor, Chief Alex. MacPherson, and John Murchison, late financial
secretary of the society.] The society, however, was enthusiastically
inaugurated during the winter of 1874-5. Provision was made in the
constitution for extending help to Scotchmen in need or to their families,
also for the development of national sentiment by the holding of Scotch
concerts, banquets and balls, and for what became the most prominent
feature in the history of the society, the holding of annual gatherings
for athletic sports. It was the success that attended these gatherings,
celebrated on the second Wednesday in September in each year for twenty
years, that gave the society a widely extended fame, and caused Lucknow to
be appreciatively spoken of in many a far distant group of Scotia's sons.
That these gatherings were so successful and so largely attended may be
attributed, primarily, to the enthusiastic Scottish element of the
adjoining district and to the untiring efforts of the officers to provide
attractive features. [The Lucknow Caledonian Society was instrumental in
inducing the following to visit America and be present at their
gatherings: Donald Dinnie, the leading athlete of Scotland; also Geo.
Davidson, another famous athlete; the champion Scottish piper, Wm.
McLennan, was another who left Scotland on a visit at the solicitation of
the Society. Duncan C. Ross a noted athlete from the United States, was an
annual competitor in the' sports for several years. In 1881 one of the
attractions was Piper Joseph Hendry, late of the 78th Highlanders, the
sound of whose pipes were the first assurance the besieged in Lucknow
(India) had of the nearness of the troops sent for their relief at the
time of the Mutiny.] Then the management at all the gatherings was
excellent, and everything promised in the programmes was carried out. With
all this there was accorded a hearty, liberal support by the people of the
village to the efforts of the society. Among those connected with the
Society at its inception were the following: Donald A. MacCrimmon, M.D.,
[Dr. MacCrimmon was chief of the society from its formation until he left
Lucknow, in 1890, excepting one year, when he was absent in Europe taking
a post-graduate course. The doctor is a native of Glengarry, Ontario,
where he was born in 1838. His first association with Lucknow was as the
teacher of the public school, which position he held in 1865 and 1866. He
resigned to take up the study of medicine. On obtaining his degree he
commenced to practice in Lucknow, remaining there until 1890, when he
moved to Underwood. After a sojourn there of five years he took up his
residence at Ripley, where he at present resides. There is no doubt but
that the success of the Caledonia Society of Lucknow was largely due to
the enthusiasm, energy and personality of Dr. MacCrimmon.] Alex.
McPherson, Capt. John McPherson, Alex. McIntyre, Wm. Mcintosh, Allan
McDonald, A. D. and A. K. Cameron, Alex. Currie, Dougal McKinnon, Malcolm
Campbell, James Findlater, and others. Among other active members who
joined the society at a later date might be mentioned John Murchison, D.
E. Cameron, George E. Kerr and D. D. Yule. The society held the first of
its athletic gatherings in September, 1875. The place where held, both in
this and the following year, was at Hugh McKay's grounds. From 1877 to
1880 the Agricultural Society's park was used for this purpose. After that
all the gatherings were held at Lome Park, a property purchased by the
society. This park has an area of six acres, and is situated in the
south-west corner of the village. It is admirably adapted for the objects
the society had in view when purchasing it. On its south side there is a
gradual slope rising to a considerable height, affording ample seating
accommodation for thousands of spectators. To add to this the society
erected on the west and north sides of the park large grand stands, on
which some four thousand persons could be seated. The sward, on which the
contests of strength and skill came off, perfectly level and of ample
size, lay before the uninterrupted view of all these spectators. On the
grounds there were also two platforms, on one of which the dancing for
prizes came off; the other was occupied by bands of musicians and pipers,
who enlivened the proceedings and filled up all intervals with music. In
the park the society also built the Caledonian Hall, a large frame
structure of octagonal shape. Of its eight sides each was sixty feet long.
This building, erected in 1883, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in
1900. The first athletic gathering, as above-mentioned, was held in 1875.
About $300 was then offered in prizes. The attendance thereat was so
encouraging that in the following year the management felt warranted in
increasing the amount offered in prizes by $100. As the gathering in each
succeeding year proved to be a greater success than the preceding one, the
prizes offered gradually increased in value until in 1883 and 1884 the
handsome sum of $1,300 was offered. The attendance at the games increased
from hundreds to thousands, until high water mark was reached in 1882,
when fully twelve thousand persons attended the games. Such a large
attendance could only be secured by the co-operation of the railway
company, which in 1878 offered fares at excursion rates; then, as the
demand for transport increased, furnished special trains. These would
arrive filled to overflowing with enthusiastic Scots, of whom might be
quoted the sentiment that headed each annual programme of sports, which
was: "Oh, Canada, I
lo'e ye weel,
Altho' nae son o' thine;
Within thy wide domain there beats;
Nae truer heart than mine.
But when a day like this com's roun'
Auld Scotia has her claims;
The thistle aye corn's uppermost,
I'll gang to see the games.''
The main features of the sports were
distinctly in accord with the name and objects of the society. Prizes were
given to the best performer on the bagpipes, to the best dancer of reels,
strathspeys, the Highland fling and sword dance, also to the best dressed
man and boy in Highland costume. In feats of strength and skill the prizes
offered covered a wide field familiar to all Scottish athletes. Then there
was an archery contest for ladies and also a quoiting tournament. The
various contests were eagerly watched and the winners were loudly cheered.
The excitement reached its climax over the tug-of-war between teams chosen
from the men of Bruce and Huron Counties. This was generally the last
event on the programme The men are selected with care by each captain. As
the muscular fellows that compose each team strip for the event their
supporters are loud in prophesying victory for their county. Then when,
each team in place and grasping the rope, the word "go" is given, the
"tug" commences. Among the spectators the excitement is intense, some of
them being so carried away by it that it is with difficulty they are
prevented from seizing the rope to help their side to victory. The
handkerchief that marks the centre of the rope quivers over the centre
line. Each team, encouraged by the cheers of its friends, strains every
muscle. Maybe a foot slips, a slight advantage for the other side is thus
obtained. Encouraged thereby yet one more effort is put forth, and amid
the shouts of thousands a "draw" is made, and their opponents are pulled
across the line. It
seems a pity that these annual sports have for the last ten years been
given up, but from various causes the Caledonia Society has not the
strength it once possessed. Some of its most interested and active members
have left the village; many others have become members of "The Sons of
Scotland." Weakened as it has thus been, the feature of the annual games
has been dropped, let us hope but for a time. |
