HomeMy WebLinkAbout89Paperbound book, 16 x 22.5 cm., 90 pages, compiled by Beatrice and Mrs. Irven McLean,
in 1960, for the Greenwood Farm Forum. Cover illustration by Ranly MacDonald.
In warm appreciation of your interest
Mary E. McLean
Beatrice R. McLean
Greenwod through the years
Complied - 1960 - by
Mrs. Irven McLean and
Miss Beatrice R. McLean
for
Greenwood Farm Forum
Greendwood, Ontario
First printing, June 1960
Second printing, June 1963
Price $2.00
1
A few years ago Greenwood Farm Forum, looking about for a worthwhile project, conceived
the idea of doing some research concerning the history of Greenwood Village and the farms
surrounding it.
This year the Committee, preparing a Centennial Program for Greenwood School in June
1960, desired to have a history of the School written. Members of the Forum thought it a
good thing to combine their research with the school history, which proved acceptable to the
Centennial Committee.
The credit for the gathering of the material and the editing of this booklet goes to Mrs. Irven
McLean and Miss Beatrice McLean, who have so generously given of their time and labour
to accomplish this project.
The members of the Forum feel that in these rapidly changing times, with its social security,
its forty hour week, its abundance of mechanical power to do almost every kind of work with
ease, it is good to remember those who gave us this heritage; those who faced the
immense task of clearing the great forest with only the naked strength of mind and body;
who faced hunger, sickness, loneliness, the cold of winter and the heat of summer, to which,
in many cases, they were unaccustomed. Always they hoped that a better day would come.
And now that that day has come, when we live in a land immensely productive, "fair as a
garden of the Lord," let us with thankful hearts remember those who have gone before.
-MILTON N. PEGG, Chairman, Historical Research Committee
A great man once wrote: "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward
to their ancestors."
Out of our past we build our future; therefore, the past should be on record. We have done
what we can to record the past history of Greenwood. We have used every source available
for our information— from the Cradle Roll to the Record Office, Minute Books, and even the
Cemetery. Much of the information we wanted was not on record. Therefore, we have had to
rely on memory. In such cases, we had two persons work together to recall the past.
In compiling and editing this History of Greenwood the items included and the people named
are not necessarily the most important. If you are a former resident of Greenwood and your
name does not appear in this booklet, it is because you didn't supply us with the information
and we were unable to get the necessary data.
We wish to thank everyone who has given us assistance in procuring the information for this
history. We are very grateful to Alan Clark for supplying information from the Records at
Whitby. We would also like to say a special thanks to May Brown and to Fred Byers and
others for their recollections. Edna Green and Gladys Brown have supplied much resource
material.
You cannot realize the many hours or days of research which must go into even one page of
this booklet.
Everyone leaves some change on the place where he lives. That is why we have made this
book a story of "people". We hope you will find the booklet both interesting and useful.
Mrs. Irven McLean, Secretary, Greenwood Farm Forum
Greenwood, Ontario.
Miss Beatrice R. McLean, Editor of the History Booklet
June 4th, 1960.
2
CONTENTS
Greenwood Beginnings .......................................... 4
1960 is Centennial Year .......................................... 5
"Good Men and True" ........................................... 6
We Now Praise ............................................... 7
Famous "Ex" Pupil .............................................. 9
Of, By and For the People ....................................... 12
Salem ........................................................... 13
"Class Meetings" at Salem ....................................... 16
The Young Men's Brotherhood ................................... 17
Greenwood Church .............................................. 17
Ministers who Served Greenwood................................. 21
The Parsonage................................................... 21
The Sunday School .............................................. 22
The Ladies Aid .................................................. 23
The Evening W.A................................................ 24
The Women's Missionary Society ................................. 24
Epworth League — Young People's Union......................... 25
The Sons of Temperance ......................................... 26
Pickering Township Agricultural Society ......................... 27
Transportation .................................................. 28
The Village..................................................... 30
The Lower Mill.................................................. 30
The Upper Mill .................................................. 34
The Creameries ................................................. 37
Barrels and Hoops ............................................... 39
Boyer's Mill ..................................................... 40
Carding Mill .................................................... 40
The Old Blacksmith's Shop ....................................... 41
The Brickyard................................................... 42
Potash .......................................................... 43
The Saw Mills ................................................... 44
Greenwood Blacksmith Shop (cover story) ........................ 44
Greenwood Store ................................................ 45
The Post Office .................................................. 47
In Times of Illness............................................... 48
Grim Tragedy ................................................... 49
Greenwood Militia ............................................... 50
The Two World Wars ............................................ 51
Greenwood Hill ................................................. 51
Pioneer Families................................................. 52
Early Families................................................... 58
Village Properties — South....................................... 61
Village Properties — North....................................... 65
South Half of Concession Five.................................... 67
North Half of Concession Five.................................... 69
South Half of Concession Six ..................................... 73
North Half of Concession Six ..................................... 77
Concession Seven and Eight ...................................... 80
Last Miller of Greenwood ........................................ 83
Farming ........................................................ 86
Greenwood Farm Forum......................................... 87
Centennial Year Pupils .......................................... 87
Greenwood's 1960 Residents ...................................... 88
3
Greenwood Beginnings
In 1801, Greenwood (formerly Norwood) was the site of one of the first township meetings
for Pickering and Whitby Townships.
The earliest municipal record is of a meeting held at the home of Samuel Munger (Lot 7,
Con. 8 Pickering) on June 4, 1801, for the choosing of township officers and other
regulators for the townships of Pickering and Whitby.
The officers chosen at this meeting were; township clerk, Ebenezer Ransom; assessors,
John Majors, Eleazir Lockwood; township wardens, Anthony Rummerfield, Adam Stephens;
collector, David Stephens, pathmasters, Samuel Munger. Matthew Dewilinger, John
McGahon, William Peak, and David Crawford; fenceviewers, David Lloyd, David Crawford,
Abraham Townsend; pound keeper, Silas Marvin.
An interesting item in the later minutes is the following: "Received from
Mr. E. Lockwood, collector of the Townships of Pickering and Whitby for the year 1802, five
pounds, 19 shillings, Halifax currency, being in full payment on the assessment roll for that
year." This amount represented the total taxes collected from the settlers in 1802, a sum of
around $30.
A census of Pickering Township, taken in 1809, showed a population of 75 adults and 105
children. The Township had a great influx of settlers in the 1830's. The Greenwood-Salem
area was mainly settled by English people from Yorkshire and Irish from Northern Ireland.
The early settlers hewed a home out of the wildness. They were possessed with but one
idea - to secure space in which they could plant potatoes and grow wheat for bread. They
went at the trees with all the savage ferocity of wild animals fighting for food. For days,
weeks, and years, the battle went on, the giant trees yielding slowly to the axe - the great
logs straining men and oxen to the limit in hauling them into place for the burning. They must
grow food and have grass for pasture for livestock.
The story is told of how Christopher McAvoy, who lived on Lot 8, Con. 8, had become the
proud owner of a milk cow but had no grass for her to eat. The nearest clearing was down at
Hyfleld's corner - a distance of three miles. So, they put the cow down there to pasture and
Mrs. McAvoy walked down twice a day to milk the cow and carry the milk home.
Rude log dwellings were made. The logs were hewn to make the inside as smooth as
possible. At first the house was a one-story shanty, with a flat roof with very little slope to it.
This roof was covered with what they called "scoops” - that is, the logs were split in half and
hollowed out, then placed from front of house to the back with the hollow side up. Another
layer of such logs was put on top. Moss was used to chink the big cracks and then lime and
sand was prepared for plastering and levelling the walls, inside and outside.
The early homes were furnished according to the settler's ingenuity and skill with simple tools
- the axe, the saw, the draw-knife and the hammer.
How the settlers appreciated the first simple conveniences! One woman who lived on the 7th
Con. walked to Whitby with her daughter. There they bought two chairs and carried them
proudly home on their backs.
It is quite apparent that many of the early settlers were well-educated for record books of the
early years show some very fine handwriting. The lack of a school for their children must have
been a greater hardship than many of the physical difficulties. Therefore, as the struggle for
existence eased, the settlers began to think of schooling for their children.
A log school house was built on the north-east corner at Hyfield (Salem). Joseph Gillespie
and George Gamble are the names of two of the teachers at Salem. Mr. Gamble taught
school during the week and held religious services in the school on Sundays.
1960 Is Centennial Year
The year 1960 marks the centennial of the building of the present Greenwood School, but
previous to that the first school in what is now the village of Greenwood had been on the site
of the present school.
The original school was of frame construction. To be able to attend school in those early
days was a privilege, highly prized, even though the teachers were the strictest of
disciplinarians. To reach school, the children were obliged to find their way through the
woods by numerous paths leading from the scattered homes.
School opened with prayer and then began the study of the "3 R's". The beaches were
arranged in long rows about the room. Books were very scarce in those early days.
School Section No. 9 Pickering, as was the custom at that time, set their own mill rate for
school purposes and arranged for its collection. Mr. Nelson Chapman was the Collector of
the school tax in the Greenwood school section in the 1850’s and 60's. For which he
received approximately $10 a year.
In the late 1850’s residents of the Greenwood school section realized that they must have
larger school, and so for a few years they levied a tax in excess of the current needs. (For
example, the general school tax of $491.23 was realized from an assessment of five mils on
the dollar.) In 1858 besides the local taxes, the years receipts included a County Grant of
$72, a Legislative Grant of $79, and the Clergy Reserve, apportioned by Township Council,
was $85.
(You will recall that, by the Act of 1791 establishing the provinces of Upper and Lower
Canada, the British Government set apart one-eighth of all the crown lands for the support of
“a Protestant clergy”. These reservations, after being the cause of much bitter political and
ecclesiastical controversy, were secularized by the Canadian parliament in 1854 – a law
being passed whereby the money derived therefrom should go into a separate fund to be
divided proportionately in the districts from which it came, to be used for secular purposes,
chiefly educational.)
An excerpt from the minutes of the Greenwood Annual School Meeting, January 12, 1859,
reads in part: "Moved that we have a free School for 1859. Moved in amendment that we
have a rated School. Amendment lost 12 in favour of rate School and 19 against. A poll
demanded. Free School 20, rate School 11. Moved that non-residents pay the sum of 2/6
per month as School rate. Carried." (Editor's Note: Apparently there were at least 32 tax
payers present at this Annual Meeting.)
At a special School Meeting held March 22. 1859, with Frederick Green Esq. as Chairman
and George Ballard acting as Secretary, we find this important decision; "It was moved by
Mr. William Sadler and seconded by John G. Craig that it is expedient to build a new school
house during the present year in this School Section. Carried almost unanimous.
"It was moved by Mr. Samuel Snell, seconded by William Sadler, that the Trustee’s of this
School Section be authorized to purchase one fourth of an acre of lot land from Edward
Jackson adjoining the present school site, providing they can purchase the same for a
reasonable sum - for the purpose of erecting a new school house thereon. Carried.
Proposed size of School house 52 x 34."
Later excerpts from the School Records continue the story.
Jan. 11, 1860 “… Moved and seconded that the Trustees sell the old School House, by
Public Auction, as soon as the new House is finished. Carried...."
Dec. 22, 1860 ". . . Received for Old School House by note Mr. Vere McCann $37.” (Mr.
McCann moved the old school across the road to his farm and used it as a dwelling for
some years.)
July 13, 1860 -
"Paid E. Jackson on Land for Site - 49.47
Paid R. T. Mannel for Building - 1,039.00
Paid R. Hicks, Team and Scraper - 1.25
Paid A. Fullarton for overseeing building - 29.72"
(According to the school accounts, this appears to be the full cost of building the new Brick
School in 1860, which leads us to suppose that there must have been considerable voluntary
labour and possibly donated lumber. The bricks for this school were made in Samuel Adam-
son's brickyard, a mile east of the School.)
The School Section felt the importance of a large roof bell to toll out the call to classes, and
so, in 1860 there was a special levy to cover the cost of a bell for the new School. The bell
came from Saint James Cathedral in Toronto, It cost $99 plus transportation and a frame for
the bell.
The furniture in the new school consisted of two box stoves, one cupboard, a desk and chair,
and double seats for the pupils. There were no slate blackboards as we have today. The
blackboards were of wood, painted black.
The total population of the Greenwood School Section, in 1861, is recorded as about 450,
and the average attendance for the winter months was 55. When schooling facilities became
available, many of the grown-up sons and daughters went to school during the winter months.
This made it necessary to have an assistant teacher for four or five months of each year from
about 1864 to 1884. In 1864 the average school attendance was 64.
Many improvements in the one-roomed brick School have been made. A basement was
added in 1929 in which was established a new heating system with a coal-burning furnace.
Inside toilet facilities were installed in 1929 and again in 1943. One of the added
conveniences which proved a great boon to learning was the installation of Hydro in 1946. In
the 1950's the present (1960) oil furnace and water pressure system was added. Electric
fixtures, a piano, a radio and travelling library are prominent signs of the advancing times.
The many new homes in the community, and the consequent increase in the school
population, made it necessary to employ two teachers in 1952. Curtains and partial
partitions were not very satisfactory, and so, a more permanent partition was erected in
1955 to make the School into two rooms.
Our children today have many fine educational aids, but we should not forget those who
paved the way for these better things when they walked endless miles through mud and
snow to hold school with a few slates and a half-dozen dog-eared books for equipment.
"Good Men and True"
There has been little change in the “trustee" system in this School Section in 100 years
although, after the early years, the school taxes were collected with other township taxes.
Each school section is autonomous. At the local meeting, which is held annually in the
school, trustees are elected to serve for a three-year term. The trustees choose which of
them shall act as Chairman and which as Secretary-Treasurer for the year.
An excerpt from the minutes of the Greenwood Annual School Meeting, Jan. 12, 1859, reads
as follows: “…Moved that Mr. Ballard act as Trustee. Moved in amendment that Edward
Jackson act as Trustee for the ensuing three years. Moved as an amendment to an
amendment that Mr. Lennon act as Trustee. Moved in amendment to the amendments that
Dr. Fullarton act as Trustee. On a show of hands a majority was declared in favor of Mr.
Ballard. A poll was demanded
by Mr. Chapman and Mr. Gibson. The Polling resulted in majority of three in favour of Mr.
Jackson. Mr. Jackson was then declared duly elected."
At times the trustees had unusual problems to solve, as evidenced by the following; Dec. 26,
1888 "........... Moved by Thomas Wilson and seconded Alex Moore that this Section will stand
John M. Gerow a Law Suit in the event of him suing an a/c which he claims for wood delivered
in February 1884. Carried."
On May 11, 1889, a special School Meeting was held to authorize the Trustees to arrange to
borrow (until such time as the Taxes for 1889 were collected) sufficient funds to pay the
principal and costs of the Suit of John Gerow vs. School Section No. 9 - it having been
decided against the Section in the Court.
The success of the School has depended largely on the "Good Men and True" who have
acted as Trustees of S.S. No.9 Pickering throughout the years, without pay. The public-
spirited citizens who have been Greenwood’s Trustees during the hundred years are listed
below. (The records of a few of the years are missing.)
Edward JACKSON 1859, 66;Nelson CHAPMAN 1860; William Mc-CULLOUGH 1861;
Samuel SOMMERVILLE 1862; George BALLARD 1863, 65; James GEDDES 1864, 71;
Samuel ADAMSON 1865, 68, 72, 82;Oliver JOHNSON 1867; George GIBSON 1869, 84;
Joseph MONTGOMERY 1872; Fred MEEN 1873; William McKITTRICK 1874; William
DEVITT 1881, 91, 94, 1908; Michael GLEESON 1883, 93, 97; John MITCHELL 1884, 87;
Lovell HARRISON 1887, 88, 90;Joseph BRIGNALL 1888, 90; William CLARK 1889; Fred
L. GREEN 1882, 92, 1911, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26; George LAW 1895, 98, 1901;E.
JACKSON 1896, 99, 1902; John E. DISNEY 1900, 03, 06;Richard WILSON 1904, 07, 10,
13, 16; John SELDON 1904; Wm. PENGALLY 1908;Fred W. GIBSON 1909,12,15, 18, 21,
24, 27; William MIDDLETON 1917, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37; W. Fred. DISNEY 1929, 32;
William G. CLARK 1930, 33; Percy CLARKE 1935, 38;Norman WILSON 1936, 39, 42, 47;
Herb. MIDDLETON 1940, 46, 49, 56.59; Howard ORMEROD 1940, 41, 44; Frank
HAYWARD 1943; Edward PASCOE 1945, 48; Charles CLOSSON 1950; Charles
McTAGGART 1951, 54, 57; Elmo DISNEY1952; Frank WEBB 1952, 53; Denis OWEN
1953, 55; George MOORE 1958.
We Now Praise
When Jesus, the son of Serach, wrote his famous 44th chapter in the apocryphal book
known as Ecclesiasticus, to praise famous men, he began by recalling the acclaims due to
kings and ministers of state, then he went on to pay tribute to teachers. We, too, wish to pay
tribute to teachers the Teachers of S.S. No.
9. Pickering!
1859 5. DILLWORTH; 1860 Donald J. BEATON; 1863 James BROWN;1868 William
BALLARD; Assistant Mr. GLASS; 1869 asst. Sylvanus PHILIP; 1871 G. H. HOPPER; 1871-
75 asst. Marion SOMMERVILLE;1874 Sam. F. JOHNSON; asst. John WILLISON*; 1877 G.
P. SAMON; asst. Wellington STERLING;1878 Andrew HAMILTON; 1878-82 asst. Mary Ann
JACKSON; 1879 Mr. HENDERSON; 1882 W. A. FRASER;1885 Robert H. WALKS;1890
W. C. SHEIR;1892 W. J. MARQUIS; 1894 William G. WARD; 1899 William T.
DIEFENBAKER; 1900 William EADIE; 1903 Etta CLARKE; 1905 Georgia VAN
VOLKENBURGH; 1906 Eva WILLIS; 1908 Robert B. HINMAN; 1911 May SONLEY;1912
Jane F. PILKEY; 1914 Elsie ROBINSON;1916 Cora CRUSE; 1919 Ada NICKLE; 1920
Kathleen WEBSTER;1924 Marian FRASER; 1925 Lillian PLEWMAN; 1928 Jean
McWHIRTER; 1929 Marion BRANDON; 1934 Isabel RUTLEDGE; 1937 Pearl HICKSON;
1938 William MAFFEY;1941 Robert HUNT; 1942 (Mrs.) Gwen LADE; 1942 Emily PETTY;
- Jas. Thomas
Illustrations
- S.S. No. 9, Pickering - The Greenwood School is 100 years old in 1960.
- John Mills
- Caught by the camera during the happy reunion, May 28 1957,
from left are: Michael Starr, George Johnson, Walter Carleton, John Diefenbaker, Fred Byers,
Mrs. Diefenbaker, Jack Bayles adn Walter Wilson.
1943 Edith STEWART; 1944 Helen KEAN; 1946 Eileen PUCKRIN; 1949 Edna GREEN;
1952 Jerry STACHOW and Edna GREEN; 1955 Jerry STACHOW and (Mrs.) Mildred
EASTWOOD; 1956-60 Sr. - (Mrs.) Mildred EASTWOOD; 1956 Jr. -(Mrs.) Elizabeth
JOHNSTON; 1957 Jr. – Audrey HOPKINSON; 1958-60 Jr. – Elva STEARMAN.
(*) John S. WILLISON, born in Huron County of Scottish parentage, came to Greenwood
when in his teens to visit his uncle, Robert Elleker, then living half a mile east of Greenwood.
Mr. Willison spent some years here and was an assistant teacher. He was active in
community activities and took a special interest in the "Mechanics' Institute". After John
Willison left Greenwood, the next word that came of him, he was a "cub" reporter on a
London, Ontario, paper. Shortly afterwards, it was learned that he was on the Toronto Globe.
This was followed by the information that he was promoted to the position of editor-in-chief.
He became a close friend of Sir Wilfred Laurier, and wrote the life of that great statesman.
Later, he himself, received a title. This was SIR John Willison who had been the assistant
teacher at S.S. No. 9 (Greenwood) in the 1870's.
Famous "Ex" Pupil
(On May 28th, 1957, John DIEFENBAKER now the Prime Minister of Canada - visited the
Greenwood School, which he had attended as a youngster. The following are excerpts from
newspaper accounts of the event.)
Youth Recalled by Diefenbaker
(From the Times-Gazette, Oshawa)
John Diefenbaker received one of the biggest morale lifts of this current federal campaign
Tuesday afternoon when he paid a visit at Greenwood Public School in Pickering Township.
Greenwood S.S. 9, once had as its teacher, W. T. Diefenbaker, late father of the National
Progressive Conservative leader. The small, one-room school was also the first seat of
learning the politician attended.
Mr. Diefenbaker arrived at the appointed hour of 3 p.m. and was greeted by an estimated
200 people, many of them old friends of the Conservative leader.
Diefenbaker was visibly pleased with everything on the program and those directing his
appointments were frustrated when he remained a half-hour longer than the intended
duration of his visit. The Conservative leader delayed his departure by his determination to
pursue all documents on display relating to the period (1889) of his father's and his own
association with the school.
IDENTIFIES TREES –
One of Mr. Diefenbaker's first acts after arriving was a visit to the rear of the building to
identify trees planted there by his father and a class around the turn of the century. Two of
the trees were still alive, a factor which appeared to give the politician cause for much
satisfaction.
Of particular interest to Mr. Diefenbaker was roll call of the class of 1899. It was during this
feature of the program that the guest-of-honour renewed numerous friendships of his
boyhood days at Greenwood. The roll call was called by Miss May E. Brown, herself a
teacher and a former member of the 1899 class. Some of those present yesterday, when
the roll was called, included Walter Canton, Frank Lynde, May Wilson, Ethel Wilson, Gertie
Gibson, Fred Byers, Fred Disney, Aggie Byers, May Brown, Myrtle Wilson, Bill Brown and
Stanley Byers. It was to this reunion of classmates that Mr. Diefenbaker devoted
considerable of his allotted time in
Greenwood.
Mr. Diefenbaker showed obvious pleasure with folk dances provided by Grade 1 and 2
pupils.
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE -
Speaking to the boys and girls of the school at the close of his visit Mr. Diefenbaker said; "I
consider my visit here today the most wonderful experience that can come to anyone. It is
one of those experiences to be remembered again and again in later years."
He indicated how pleased and privileged he felt to renew friendships of his early school
years. Mr. Diefenbaker recalled how he and his father had journeyed from the West in 1924
to re-visit the old schoolhouse and former friends. His father died in 1945 but his mother is
with him in the Diefenbaker home at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
The Conservative leader told the children that he was much interested in the 1860 record
book of Greenwood School. He said that schools, such as the one he was visiting are
representative of something of our country’s early pioneering Spirit.
This was in the day before Confederation when this area of the Dominion was known as
Upper Canada. Rev. H. Moore, Greenwood minister, read the minutes from the old records.
PLEASANT BREAK –
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Diefenbaker described the visit - "A truly wonderful break for
me to be here.” He added “Father and I both agreed on our visit here in 1924 that the five
years spent here around the turn of the century represented some of the happiest days of
our lives.”
Mrs. Diefenbaker was shown a class photo for the year 1899 and was able to pick out her
husband without any trouble. “I didn't want to be in that picture, Mr. Diefenbaker said. “That's
why I'm the most annoyed looking fellow in the group.”
Elderly men and women in the classroom laughed heartily as Mr. Diefenbaker told them he
had two reasons for going to school. One was that he was so much trouble at home his
father took him with him to keep an eye on him, and because he wanted to learn to read so
he could understand the barometer readings that appeared on the front page of the old
Toronto Globe.
...At the outset of the program Mr. Diefenbaker assumed his old seat, two desks - from the
front of the classroom. With the exception of the time he spoke, he remained in the desk
among the pupils of this present day...
Diefenbaker Is Reunited with Old School Friends
(From the Daily Times-Gazette, June 7, 1957 - by the Greenwood correspondent May E.
Brown)
Tuesday afternoon of last week was a red-letter day for the pupils of Greenwood Public
School when John Diefenbaker, the now famous Canadian, returned to the school he first
attended. A large number, including 14 former school friends, were on hand to greet Mr.
Diefenbaker.
Mrs. Glynn Eastwood, principal, and Miss Audrey Hopkinson, teacher of the Junior Room,
arranged the following program: Welcome, Sharon Clarke: songs, Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 -
"Song of the Open Air", "The Rainbow"; introduction of present staff and trustee board
members; reading of some minutes from the secretaries' books, 1857 - 1957; dance
"Northern Lights" by the Juniors: 1899-1900 roll call; Responses in form of reminiscences
ending with "Johnnie Diefenbaker"; songs, Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 - "Big Coral," "Sing
Canadians, Sing" . . . A social hour with tea and cookies followed the singing of "God
Save The Queen".
Diefenbaker Again Is “Pupil” at Greenwood
(From the Stouffville Tribune)
The years dropped pleasantly away and for a few brief hours the hardships of political
campaigning were forgotten for Conservative leader John Diefenbaker on Tuesday, May 29
when he visited the 97 year old schoolhouse in Pickering Township where he went as a
child and where his father taught.
Mr. Diefenbaker described his visit to Greenwood School as a “kind of pilgrimage . . . a visit
I have wanted to make for such a long time”. He was accompanied on his journey into the
past by Mrs. Diefenbaker and Mike Starr, Progressive Conservative member for Ontario
Riding for the last five years.
Before he entered the big, old-fashioned red brick building, the Conservative leader took a
walk around the grassy schoolyard where he played as a youngster of four. Then he went
inside to meet old schoolmates and friends as well as boys and girls who attend the school
today.
Once inside the school the conversation immediately turned to the past… “Do you remember?”
…”How things have changed!”…And during his visit John Diefenbaker forgot he was now a
successful lawyer campaigning for the biggest political job in Canada.
He was taken back to the days when he was Johnnie Diefenbaker, the serious-looking kid
who sat two seats from the front of the room under the eyes of the teacher father.
“This is an experience,” he said later, “that comes once in a lifetime. Nothing can be more
wonderful than to relive the memories of your school days.”
Mr. Diefenbaker was shown a record book that has been kept since the school was opened
in 1860 that covered the period when his father, William, was the schools only teacher. One
entry shows that William Diefenbaker had been paid $50 for his month’s salary.
“That was one of the good months,” Mr. Diefenbaker laughed. “As I remember, there were
times when the school had no money and dad was lucky if he got two or three dollars."
…On a serious note, the Conservative leader looked around the ancient classroom and told
a now quiet audience that: “Schools like this one represent something in our history that time
and events cannot replace or destroy. This type of school, not as modern as the ones we
have today, helped build the character of pioneer citizens of this country and made Canada
what it is today.”
In a brief speech later, Mike Starr stated that one of the most important Canadians
Greenwood School turned out was John Diefenbaker.
…”Great men come from schools such as this one,” Mr. Starr said. “These schools have
produced men and women who are out country’s leaders. The same opportunity awaits the
pupils that are here today.”
When time came for his party to leave, Mr. Diefenbaker took a long look at the two trees in
the schoolyard that he had helped his father plant on Arbor Day in 1900. Then he shook the
hands of his former class mates, chatted with groups of boys and girls on the school steps,
stepped into his car and drove away… into the future and June 10.
* * *
When the Brooks family remodeled their house, they salvaged from the clothes closet walls
newspapers dated 1872, 71, 73 and 80.
One news item was the death of the Earl of Lonsdale. There was also a piece about Prince
Bismarck making a speech in Berlin.
The T. Eaton Co.’s ad (4x6 in.) listed “ladies’ silk umbrellas and feather boas” as a specialty
– special attention to out-of-town orders.
Market report Feb 21, 1872: Eggs very scarce. Butter 17c – 19c per pound.
Of, By and For The People
When this area was first surveyed, 1791-96, Pickering was named Glasgow and was one
of the Townships within the District of Nassau in Upper Canada.
Reference has already been made to the earliest municipal meeting recorded as having
been held at Greenwood at the home of Samuel Munger in 1801 for the Townships of
Pickering and Whitby. For Pickering Township alone there is a record of a similar meeting
held in March 1811. From that time until 1850 the Township had no council, but the
ratepayers met once a year to elect officers and transact necessary business. The appointed
officers met regularly, usually at various taverns throughout the Township.
The first By-law dealt with fences, and for forty years the By-laws passed dealt mostly with
control of animals running at large, roads, and appointments. The following are examples:
1811 - A By-law "Voted that fences be four feet and a half high and not more than five
inches between rails."
1816 - "Hogs is not to run as free as commoners nor horses." "Voted that hogs is not to run
on the commons without a yoak (sic) that is six inches above the neck and four below."
1821 - "Horned cattle that is none (known) to be breachy is not free commoners.
Such By-laws were necessary because in the early days no one hesitated to let his livestock
run loose. In the summer they were supposed to run in the woods. But since the young trees
and tender shoots in the woods did not appeal to them as some other greens did, often in
the fall they "ran" in wheat patches and vegetable plots. Likewise, in the winter they were
supposed to huddle about their own straw stack for both shelter and fodder, but if their
neighbor’s was a haystack, they often found it. (The hay was cut from the beaver meadows.)
An act of Parliament passed in 1851 divided York into three counties - York, Ontario and
Peel. In 1854 one Deputy-Reeve was allowed for every 500 ratepayers. In Pickering
Township there was one Reeve, three Deputies, and one councillor, for this important
Township sent four representatives to the County Council. In 1877 S. J. Green was first
Deputy-Reeve of the Township and the Warden of the County was Yeoman Gibson, a
former Greenwood resident.
If judged by attendance (4,000), or by enthusiasm, Thursday and Friday, June 22nd and
23rd, 1911, was a memorable - event the two day celebration commemorating the one
hundredth anniversary of the municipal life of Pickering Township. This was probably the
first centennial celebration by a township in the history of Ontario.
Rev. W. R. Wood of Claremont, who had just published his book entitled "Past Years in
Pickering," was largely responsible for the celebration. Busy men were R. R. Mowbray,
Reeve, and other members of the Township Council. Among the members of the executive
committee were: W. J. Clark. Wesley Gee and F. L. Green.
An enormous tent was provided and here the speaking was conducted. A feature of interest
was the old log cabin, 108 years old, and in which were many priceless heirlooms and
relics handed down through, some of them, eight and ten generations. Arrangements for
handling the big crowd were excellent, and everybody had enough and to spare of good things
to eat and drink. The caterer was F. L. Green.
The Centennial choir, composed of 300 voices, sang a number of patriotic hymns at the
morning and afternoon services.
On the second day of the celebration the main speaker was Sir Alan Aylesworth. minister of
justice. Sir Alan passed in review the chief
events which constituted the history of Pickering Township since its foundation in March, 1811
and concluded with a glowing tribute to the pioneers of this municipality for the splendid
legacies they had handed down to the present generation, and called the present (1911)
citizens of the township to preserve and cherish these traditions and inheritances, and in
their turn, hand them down unfaded and unhampered to posterity.
He characterized the present system of municipal government in Ontario as ''most complete
and most workable system with which we as lawyers are concerned.''
He referred to the early surveys and the early form of municipal government in Ontario. The
beginning of things municipal in Pickering was in 1811, but Sir Alan pointed out it was not
"representative government" of the Township, and differed much from the present system.
He referred to Lord Durham’s report of 1839, in which a more representative government
was suggested. It was not until 1849 that the Municipal Act, as it is now known, was placed
upon the statute books. He declared it the inalienable right of the citizens of a municipality to
be governed by men elected by themselves.
In the early days, land owners had the privilege of electing a member to represent them in the
provincial pariament. However, voters did not then vote by ballot but declared their votes
publicly at the polls. The returning officer read the writ. The candidates were proposed by
their respective friends and then addressed the crowd. (In order to qualify, the deeds of the
property of the candidate had to be taken out six months before the election.)
At length the polling began and was kept up until five p.m. Both parties in the evening sent
out sleighs or wagons in all directions to bring in votes, and the night was as busy as the day
had been. At the end of the second day's voting the candidate who had been behind was
often ahead. The law allowed six days for an election. If the voting began Monday, by Friday
or Saturday morning the low man might resign the contest. The victor was then chaired in
grand style by his friends in an impromptu procession.
Salem
(By MILTON PEGG)
As stated elsewhere in this history, a log school was built on the northeast corner at Hyfield
(Salem) where Mr. George Gamble was the teacher. This meeting place was known as the
Hyfield Branch of the Markham Circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
In the late 1840's, John Adamson, an Anglican, who lived on the southwest corns at Hyfield,
gave land for a small cemetery for relatives and friends. In 1847 the Oshawa Circuit replaced
the Markham Circuit. About 1848 the settlers decided to build a church. So, preparations
were made and a church, to be known as Salem Church was built upon its present location,
upon land given by John Adamson for a cemetery. Mr. Adamson, being a carpenter,
supervised and helped with the building. Some of those who assisted were: Robert Clark,
William Gibson, John Sadler and William Gee. The church was of frame construction at first.
(Later, in 1880, it was bricked over with bricks made in Samuel Adamson's brickyard in the
low area just north-west of the church.)
In May 1849 the new church was finished and dedicated. One of the first services held was a
funeral service for one of its builders, Mr. William Gibson.
Salem Church continued under the Oshawa Circuit until 1855 when a Whitby Circuit was
formed. During these six years the ministers were: 1) John Law, assisted by Robert
Lochead and David C. McDowell; 2) Peter Ker; 3) David B. Madden, assisted by Robert
Fowler.
- Jas. Thomas
Illustrations - The Methodist Church at Salem, built in 1849
- Greewood's last Grist Mill. (See pages 30 and 63.)
From l855 to 1862, while under the Whitby Circuit, the ministers were William Willoughby, John
Hunt and L. Warner, successively, and the assistants were: Alexander Drennan, Thomas D.
Pearson, Alfred Andrews, G.N.A F.T. Dickson, S. Might and R. O. Wilson.
In 1863 the Pickering Circuit was formed, consisting of ten congregations. (It was in this year
that the congregation was organized at Greenwood - see elsewhere.) From 1863 to 1873 two
ministers with several local preachers were needed to core for these charges. In 1874 the four
different branches of Methodism united to form the Methodist Church of Canada.
Services were held in the Salem Church regularly for 41 years. Being more or less in the
centre of the Circuit, the service was usually held in the evening. An old Kinsale lady used to
tell how they went to Kinsale Church in the morning, walked to Audley Church in the
afternoon and walked to Salem at night. They thought this was grand. Walking many miles
meant nothing to them in those days, as they were accustomed to it. Usually one of the two
ministers on the Circuit was a single man and the girls tried to see to it that he didn't stay that
way very long.
Salem Church never had an organ or any musical instrument when regular services were
held. Alexander Brown used to lead the singing. He had a fine tenor voice.
The names of some of the families connected with Salem Church were: Wm. Gibson, Wm.
Gee, Geo. Gibson, Sadler, Montgomery, Brown, Richard, Wilson, Geo, Wilson, the Clarke
family, Adamsons, Wetherall, S. Snell, Harrison, Richardson, Hyfield, and others.
The church was closed in 1890 as there were the three Methodist Churches of Greenwood,
Kinsale and Mt. Zion nearby. There was some bitterness over the closing of this church
since some of its members loved it dearly. One old gentleman came to the Church regularly
for some time after it was closed, and sat in his old pew on Sundays and worshipped his
God alone and in silence.
New lots have been added to the original cemetery three times - first in 1888 to the south,
then in 1914 another lot to the south, then in 1939 a new lot across the road to the east was
added. A caretaker is engaged each year by the Trustee Board. In recent years the
appearance of the cemetery has been improved by removing fences, levelling the ground
and restoring monuments to proper positions. A new roof was also put on the Church.
Since 1890 the Church has been used for occasional funerals and for Annual Memorial Day
Services, usually held on the last Sunday in June. Although several of the original members
of Salem Church still have descendants living nearby, many have scattered far and wide,
across Canada and down through the U.S. The writer has received letters from California,
Washington State, North Dakota and Pittsburgh containing fond recollections of Salem
Church.
Although the interior of the Church is plain and the old pine pews straight-backed and
uncomfortable to sit on long, yet for 41 years people met there to worship and to hear the
Word of God. Who can tell how many were comforted, how many received a new strength
greater than their own, in this one of God's Holy places.
"Class Meetings" at Salem
The Class Meetings were an important part of the religious life of those connected with the
Salem Church. From the "Class Meeting" books of the 1860's and 70's in the possession of
William Brown, we can piece together the following.
The number on the “roll” varied from 27 in 1861 to a low of 15 and then up again to 24 a few
years later. George GAMBLE was the "Leader" during the 1860's.
Among the regular members in the years 1861 and 1862 we find the following: Mary
ANGELL; Peter BIELBY; Alex and Mary BROWN; George COATES; Alice and David
COULTAS; George, Daniel, Mary, Caroline, William, John, and Thomas GEE; William,
Sarah, Judson, James, and Dinah GIBSON; Hannah HARRISON; John HYFIELD; Ann
PICKERING; Jane and George SADLER; George and Ruth SALTON; Jane SCOTT;
Edmund and William STEPHENSON; George WYBILL; and Jane YEOMAN.
In 1863 new-comers to the Class included Hudson LEE; Samuel SNELL and Thomas
YOUNG. Isaac and Ann PUCKERIN joined the Class in 1864. During 1868 others, to join
the Class included; Elizabeth, Mary A. and Mary E. ADAMSON; Robert and Dinah BROWN;
and William and Rachel HARBRON.
In 1871 Alexander Brown became Class Leader and continued active in that capacity for
many years. It was during 1871 that William and Zorah GEE began attending the Salem
Class regularly, and in the same year the names of Richard and Mary SQUIRE are noted
among the Class members.
The "givings" in Class for the quarter varied per person - from one shilling three pence, to
five shillings. In the fall of 1863, although the regular givings are listed in shillings and pence,
the "remarks" column has the notation "Br. James Gibson's munificent gift of Five Dollars."
In the summer of 1869 "the munificent donation of an outward Court Worshipper Two
Dollars" is noted, and the same appears in the fall of 1871. The regular givings were first
marked in dollars and cents in 1871.
In the Wesleyan-Methodist Church in Canada a "Society" was "a company of men, having
the form and seeking the power of Godliness; united in order to pray together, to receive the
word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to
work out their salvation." That it may the more easily be discerned whether they were indeed
working out their own salvation, each "Society" was divided into smaller companies, called
"Classes," with a "Leader."
In extracts from "The Discipline of the Church" we note that every Leader was examined
quarterly. All Leaders were to be men of sound judgment and truly devoted to God. It was the
duty of the Leader: To see each person in his Class once a week and enquire how their
souls prospered; To receive their givings towards the support of the Preachers, Church, and
poor, and pay the same to the Stewards; To meet the Ministers once a week and report the
sick, or any that walked disorderly, and would not be reproved.
Tickets were given to none until they were recommended by a Leader with whom they had
met at least six months on trial. If members failed to attend Class regularly they were
excluded, after a warning visit from the Preacher.
"Rule on Fasting; The Discipline of our Church, Rule 12, Section IX, directs that a Fast shall
be held in every Society, on the Friday preceding every Quarterly Meeting."
The marks for weekly attendance at the Class Meetings were: p for Present; a - Absent; d -
Distance; s - Sickness. The "State of Mind" was marked; p for Penitent; j -Justified; s -
Sanctified; d-Doubtful; b - Meets in Band.
The one condition required of
those who desired admission into the "Societies" was "a desire to flee from the wrath to
come, and to be saved from their sins."
Members had to continue to evidence their desire of salvation by avoiding evil of every kind,
such as: swearing; buying, selling or working on the day of the Lord; drinking spirituous liquors
(unless in cases of necessity); "the buying and selling of men, women and children with the
intention to enslave them”; quarrelling, returning evil for evil; uncharitable conversation
(particularly speaking evil of Magistrates or of Ministers); the putting on of gold or costly
apparel; borrowing without a probability of paying. (And there are others, which space does
not permit us to include here.)
All members were required to observe the Word of God, which is the sufficient and only rule,
both of our faith and practice.
The Young Men's Brotherhood
(By Mrs. William Brown)
The Greenwood Circuit “Brotherhood” was organized by Rev. S. Tucker. They met at Salem
Church and had an outstanding choir. Some active members were: Bob PILKEY, Charlie
PILKEY Roy MOWBRAY. Richard WILSON, Jack PALLISTER, Bob HINMAN, John GARRY
Perry WILSON, William BROWN, Walter STEVENSON, Fred STEVENSON, Melvin
TINDALL, Cliff TINDALL, Willf WILSON from Mt. Zion, and Alonzo and Harvey EDWARDS
from Audley. Rev. Mr. Tucker led the singing. They had no organ except for special
occasions when they obtained one.
The Young Men's Brotherhood had a "rink" down by the willows with boards around it, and a
stove. Parts are still to be found there. They had a football team in the summer which played
in Frank Harrison's field (the farm on the north-west corner at Salem).
A newspaper clipping from November 1911 reads as follows: "The Young Men's Brotherhood
of Greenwood circuit held a box social in the new Kinsale hall. A good program was
presented and auctioneer Maw of Whitby was on hand for the disposing of the boxes."
Greenwood Church
(By Rev. Henry Moore, and others)
We believe that the Greenwood Methodist Congregation was organized in 1863. In the
Circuit Register compiled in 1872 by the Rev. George H. Cornish, there is an entry reading
as follows: "The list of names from 1 to 36 as here recorded is the membership as returned
to the Conference of 1871 by my predecessor, Rev. Thomas Stobbs. No permanent records
of members' names on this Circuit has been kept from its organization in 1863 until the
present time." G.H.C.
In the Sunday School room there is a framed copy of a "Plan of Sabbath Appointments for
the Ministers and Preachers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church on the Pickering Circuit" for
the year 1855-6. Salem and Greenwood are detailed as separate points where services
were conducted at that time. Other points on the Circuit were: Duffin's Creek (now Pickering
Village), Kinsale, Claremont, Mount Pleasant (west of the Brock Road on Con. 7), Brougham,
Jackson's (now Mount Zion), and Glen Sherrard (Glen Major). The minister then was the Rev.
John N. Lake and his Assistant on the Circuit was Edward Morrow. Laymen who helped to
carry on the work on the circuit at that time were Messrs. Law, Darlington, Gamble, Eldon,
Bunting, Lock, Switzer and Blow.
Previous to 1876, services of the Greenwood Methodist Congregation were held in the
Orange Hall which stood a short distance to the north
illustrations - The Greenwood Church, 1876-1927, a white frame building.
- The present Greenwood United Church opened in 1928, red brick.
of the Parsonage property. We understand that Presbyterians, Anglicans and Methodists all
held services in the Orange Hall, at different times.
In 1876 the Methodist Congregation bought the present site of the Church and erected a
white frame Church. This lot, being on the west side of the road, partway down the hill, is
part of Lot 11, Con. 6.
Registry Office records show that Lot 11, in common with many others in this area, was
originally owned by Farrand, then Elmsley, then Macaulay. In 1845 the south-west 50 was
purchased by Demorest who in 1848 sold a part to Abraham Bryan who in turn sold 12 1/2
acres to John B. Carolan in 1848. Carolan, who was a Roman Catholic, built the first building
on the lot now occupied by the Greenwood Church, and Roman Catholic services were held
in it for some time (many of that persuasion residing in the district in those early years.) We
understand that the Anglican Church next took possession of the site and buildings. However,
as they were not strong in number, they found it very difficult to carry on their work.
Consequently they sold to the Methodist people in the community in 1876.
The white frame Church erected on the newly acquired property is very dear to many
present-day residents as it was used until 1927 when the congregation decided to build a
new Church. All worked together with a will and succeeded in erecting a very fine brick
Church. The builder was a man named Ashenhurst who lives near Goodwood - prior to
taking up carpentry for a living he had been a school teacher. The brickwork of the Church
was done by a man named Deverill. The Church was opened with special dedication
services January 15th, 1928.
At the time of church union between the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational
churches in 1925, the Greenwood Circuit was re-organized into a three-point charge of
Greenwood, Kinsale and Mount Zion. It became a member of the Oshawa Presbytery in the
Bay of Quinte Conference of The United Church of Canada.
Music has been an important part of the Church. Greenwood has always boasted a good
Choir. Often members were depleted and difficulties arose, but these were overcome.
Space will not permit the listing of the hundreds who have rendered splendid service.
For over 50 years Mrs. Fred Gibson played the organ. Later organists have been Mrs. A. C.
Luffman, Edward Pegg, Joyce Closson, Jean Pascoe and Mrs. Charles McTaggart.
The present Hallman e1ectric organ was dedicated at a special ceremony on Sunday,
October 17, 1857. It was dedicated as a memorial to the young men who paid the supreme
sacrifice and for whom Greenwood Church holds hallowed memories, also to the many who
served in the various fields of activity.
We owe a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to repay to those unselfish, untiring
men and women of the early days of Greenwood Church. May the same courage, faith, and
unity characterize our efforts today as characterized those of former days.
Our Church has had a marvelous past. The present is favourable. The future, what of it? Are
we prepared to make the sacrifices that our forefathers made, that our Church will be a force
for good in the community? Will our Church and our Community be better for our having lived
and served, and will we be proud of what we are passing on to another generation?
"O God and Father of us all,
Today our hearts rejoice
In those who build Thy kingdom,
Lord,
Obedient to Thy voice.
A hundred milestones mark the road
Our fellow-workers trod,
Who as a torch to light the way
Held high the Word of God.
Today as stewards of Thine house
We lift to Thee our prayer
That we who have this charge to
keep
Be kept within Thy care."
(Hymn lines by Elizabeth Knobel)
illustrations - The Parsonage at Greenwood, built in the 1850's, pictured here as it appeared in
1910 when Rev. S.T. Tucker was minister.
- The Parsonage at Greenwood,as it appears in 1960, when the Rev. Thomas
Fleetham is the minister.
Ministers Who Served The Greenwood Congregation
The ministers from 1863 to 1873 were: William McFadden, John N. Lake, Henry Reid,
Thomas Stobbs, and George H. Cornish, and the assistants were: Alfred McCann, Edward
Morrow, Albert C. Wilson, Newton Hill, William Walsh, James E. Werden, Joseph Deacon,
and Andrew W. Rose.
From 1874 to 1888 the ministers were: W. W. Leech, S. Washington, W. Dingman, Charles
Langford, F. C. Keam, H. S. Matthews and G.M. Brown. The assistants were: 1874-6 - T. P.
Steel, 1879 - W. Wilkinson, 1880 - William H. Learoyd, 1881-2 - T. Bartley, 1883-5 - J. J.
Ferguson.
The ministers from 1889 to 1896 were: W. Hall, G. W. Hewitt, John Harris, and James Thom,
and the assistants were: W. A. Bunner, George Mason, C. W. Reynolds, W. Elliott, E. A. W.
Dove, and T. H. McDonald.
By now Greenwood was a six-point circuit. Therefore the student assistants were
discontinued and substituted by lay ministers, if available.
From 1897 onward the ministers were: G. R. Clare, James MacFarlane,
W. W. Leech, Daniel Williams, E. A. Tonkin, S. T. Tucker, E. W. Tink,
J. 0. Totton, H. Wilkinson, J. W. Bunner, Rev. M. W. Leigh, who came in 1923, was the
minister when the union took place in June 1925.
Ministers of the Greenwood United Church have been: Joseph Barnes, W. S. Smart, Fred
Horton, H. H. Mutton, R. W. McVey, A. C. Luffman, H. R. Monkman, Henry Moore, and the
present pastor, Rev. T. H. Fleetham who came in July 1958.
The Parsonage
It is recorded that in 1847 John Macaulay sold to Robert Gunn 5½ acres, being the south-
east corner of Lot 11, Concession 6. In 1851 Robert Gunn sold this land to Thomas Waddell
and in the same year Wadell sold it to Nelson Chapman.
Chapman was a carpenter and built a house on this 5½ acres -
this being the front portion of the present residence. Nelson also made furniture. There are
still round-backed chairs in some of the local homes, made by Nelson Chapman. He was
also the Tax Collector for the School Section for a number of years. (Later Nelson Chapman
married Eliza Jane Hall of Darlington and they had four children: Frank M. who married Lena
Gibson, Ernest L., Miles S. and Winnifred.)
In 1865 Chapman sold the property to John Edward Gee. In the possession of the present
Greenwood United Church is an "indenture” in which John Edward Gee and his wife,
Caroline Elizabeth Gee, on the 20th day of November 1868, sold and transferred and
conveyed that parcel of land and buildings thereon, where the Parsonage now is situated, to
Richard Brignall and others representing the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canadian
Connexion with the English Conference.
This home was used as the Parsonage for the ministers on the Pickering Circuit until the
Greenwood charge emerged as a separate entity.
Evidently in the early years the 5½ acres was needed for pasture for the minister's horse.
The barn, which is now used as a garage, on an early insurance policy, was euphemistically
called "Driving House and Stable" and was valued at $200.
In 1882, 28 feet was sold off the north end of the parsonage lot to the Trustees of the Orange
Lodge. It must have been for the purpose of enlarging their grounds, as the Lodge Hall had
been there many years before that date. In 1892 the parsonage lot took on its present
dimensions when the balance of the land was sold to F. L. Green.
Improvements have been added to the parsonage through the years to
keep up with the times. It is about 110 years old at time of writing but is still a comfortable,
homey place for our ministers to live. The Rev. Thomas Fleetham, who is not married, is the
minister at this time.
For a complete list of ministers who resided in the Parsonage at Greenwood we would refer
you to "Ministers who Served the Greenwood Congregation."
The "families" of some of the ministers are still well-remembered and so we are naming
some of them here.
In 1892-96 the family of Rev. John Harris was James (who married Wendredas 'Winnie"
Meen), Bert, Euphemia, Minnie, Eunice and Winnie. Rev. T. H. McDonald and family were in
the parsonage in 1896. Two of his daughters were Gertie and Blanche.
In 1897-99 Rev. G. R. Clare's family was Candace and Meta (who became Mrs. Etock and
lived where Andy Morden is now).
In 1901-2 Rev. Daniel Williams had a family of five - John, Edna, Leslie, Frances and Percy.
The Tonkin family, 1903-8, included Billy and Zella (Mrs. George Jackson). In 1908-12 the
family of Rev. S. T. Tucker was Ewart and Gladys.
Rev. E. W. Tink and his wife, 1913-191A, had three sons - Walter, Beverley and Fletcher.
Walter and Fletcher both became ministers themselves. Rev. Fletcher Tink can currently be
heard each Sunday evening on a Hamilton radio station.
In 1916-18 Rev. J. 0. Totton had one son, Harold. There were two children in the family of
Rev. H. Wilkinson, 1919. The family of Rev. J. W. Bunner, 1920-22, was Ewart, Grant, Helen
and Dwight. In 1923-25 Rev. Montague W. Leigh's family was Dawson, Dorothy and Horace.
The family of Rev. Joseph Barnes, who retired when he left Greenwood in 1929, was Mrs.
Osborne Orr, Mrs. Leslie Landon, Norris, Howard, Keith, and Fred who was the youngest
and therefore best known at Greenwood. In 1929-31 the family of Rev. W. S. Smart was
Wesley and Marjorie (Mrs. William Porter). Rev. Fred Horton, 1932-34 had two daughters,
Freda and Doris.
Gerald, Elmer and Clifford were the sons of Rev. H. H. Mutton, 1935-39. Elmer was killed
overseas in World War II. Rev. Robert W. McVey and his wife, Ethel, (1939-45) had a family
of four - Robert, Marion (Mrs. Robert Cruikshank), Evelyn (Mrs. D. Kydd) and Carol (Mrs.
White).
The Sunday School
(By MRS. MILTON PEGG
In the sixties William Gibson organized a Union Sunday School which was held in the Orange
Hall. The Brown family have a little book which was given to John Brown for attendance in
1865.
There is a framed poster in the Sunday School room of the Greenwood Church advertising a
social to raise funds for the Sunday School in 1876. It reads as follows: "The Greenwood
Sabbath School will (D.V.) hold a Social on Wednesday, November 8th, 1876. Tea will be
served in the Orange Hall at 5 0'-clock p.m. sharp, after which addresses may be expected
from the following gentlemen who have been invited: Revs. Messrs. Ross and Pickering,
Duffin's Creek, Leech of Greenwood, Coffey of Claremont, Hon. F. N. Gibbs, N. W. Brown M.
P.P., and Dr. Tucker. Admission 25c, children 15c. Proceeds to be applied towards
furnishing books and papers for the Sabbath School. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
William Gibson, Superintendent, Greenwood, October 31st, 1876.
Printed by J. M. Watson,
Gazette Office, Whitby."
From the very earliest in the life of the Greenwood Congregation the Sunday School has
been a vital factor.
For years, William Wilson (known as ‘Uncle Billy’) was Sunday School Superintendent and
Richard Wilson
was the Treasurer.
In 1906 Wesley Gee became Superintendent when Sunday School was held in the
Methodist Church. He held this office for 17 years. Mrs. Gee and their three daughters were
active as teachers and pianists.
In 1915 an adult ladies class known as "The Gleaners" was organized. They held monthly
meetings until 1944, as well as Sunday classes. Mrs. Fred Gibson was the teacher and,
when she was lo longer able to carry on, Mrs. Milton Pegg took her place and is the teacher
at this time (19-60). A young men's class, organized at the same time, was called "The
Helping Hand". May Brown was teacher of this class for some years.
A number of willing workers have carried on as Superintendents - Wesley Sadler, William
S. Pegg, and William Brown (who served for about ten years). Milton Pegg was appointed
in 1939 and continued for 17 years. Ross Jackman served for a few years and Mrs. Milton
Pegg is the present Superintendent.
A number of pianists, secretaries and treasurers have given their services through the years.
Perry Wilson was treasurer for many years and his wife still teaches the Primary Class.
Other secretaries and treasurers were Reta Flynn (Mrs. Leslie Harbron), Cecil Walls,
Gertrude Corbett, John Griffin, Alfred Pegg, Ina Robertson and Ken Robertson. Pianists
were Marion McVey, Edward Pegg, Carol McVey, Marjorie Byers, Joyce Closson and Jean
Pascoe. In 1960 the pianists are Marion Pegg and Hazel Closson.
Some of the teachers were Edna Green, Elva McLean, Edgie Pegg, Frank Hayward, Mrs.
C. McTaggart, Beatrice McLean, Jean Pascoe, Mrs. C. Closson.
Joe Pegg taught the boys' class and was leader of the "Sigma C". He was succeeded by
his cousin David Pegg and at present Ken McTaggart is the teacher of that class. Sharon
Clarke teaches the girls' class in 1960 and Ross Jackman has the young people's class.
Grant Pascoe is the current treasurer and Marion Pegg and Verna Closson are the
secretaries.
The Sunday School is one of the most important aspects of church activity. People are
seldom active in church life after they are adults unless they have been interested when
children. We owe much to the teachers and officers of the Greenwood Sunday School
throughout a hundred years of activity.
The Ladies Aid
(By MRS. E. TRIMBLE)
The Ladies Aid of Greenwood Methodist Church was organized about 1894. Records have
been lost, but Mrs. John Seldon was the first Secretary. Before that time women had carried
on work in their own homes, employing what talent they had to ease the burdens of a pioneer
settlement.
The first social was a Honey Social held on the lawn of Mrs. Seldon's home. It was much like
a modern garden party - the refreshments consisted chiefly of honey supplied by Mrs. A.
Boyer. At many summer evening gatherings, ice cream, a rare treat indeed in those days,
was donated by Mr. F. L. Green from his creamery. I have heard "oos" and "ahs" at its
memory. Good home-made ice cream, all cream, so rich it stuck to the roof of the mouth.
Though most of the records were lost in a fire, some momentos from minute books have
been preserved. Delicious tidbits from a past era.
1) A motion was carried to ask the other appointments on the circuit, Brougham, Mt. Zion,
and Kinsale to aid Greenwood in supplying a rag rug for the parsonage. It would take 35 to
40 yards, and a Mrs. Brown was to be asked to weave it.
2) It was carried that 50c be taken from the treasury to purchase a spray of flowers for our
dear departed member.
3) Plans were discussed for the
coming garden party. Each member will bring a brick soaked in oil and a lantern, Bonfires
will be kept burning on the grounds.
4) The members were asked to consider raising the fee of the Ladies Aid Society from 5c to
10c.
With the coming of church union came many changes. The Ladies Aid passed into obscurity.
A new label appeared - The Women's Association came into being.
During the first World War much sewing and knitting was done and $1,000 donated to the
Red Cross through Sherbourne Street Church, Toronto, of which Miss Kate Green was a
member.
The idea of a new church to replace the old one was a long cherished dream. Slowly and
quietly the ladies laboured. How proud they were when plans were finally assembled and the
ladies were able to present $1,000.00 to the building fund. In 1928 the new church was
opened, the pride and joy of its members.
The Second Great War found the W. A. pitching in where the need was so great. Working for
the Pickering Red Cross centre, great quantities of quilts, sewing and knitted goods grew
under nimble fingers. The need was great and many a silent prayer went up that it would
never come our way again.
The work goes on. We will continue to build anew so our children and children's children will
have a better world to live in.
The Evening W.A.
(By MRS. E. TRIMBLE)
The Evening W.A. was organized under the leadership of Mrs. A. C. Luffman, chatelaine of
the parsonage, in January 1947. Our society has enjoyed the work throughout the years. Our
highlight was the presentation to Greenwood church of an electric organ to beautify our
services. We thank our many friends who helped make this venture such a success.
We have worked, communed, and prayed together. On the lighter side we have enjoyed
social gatherings of many kinds, with fun and nonsense. Work comes easier when
interspersed with humor, and it aids success. Through work and service we look into the
future and pray for guidance for a fuller life.
As the baby organization of our community we think of Edgar Guest's poem "Our New
Acquaintance ".
"The old acquaintance that we sing
Which ne’er forgot shall be,
Was once an acquaintance new, my friend,
Without one memory.
And so I sing to you, my friend,
And our acquaintance new.
And wait the day when time shall
make
An old, old friend of you."
The Women's Missionary Society
The Women's Missionary Society was first organized in the City of Hamilton in 1881. Within
a few years the W.M.S. Auxiliary was organized on the Greenwood charge. It is difficult to
say who the early Presidents were.
One of the aims of the W.M.S., through the years, has been to build up a fellowship
committed to the doing of God's will, and to the extension of God's kingdom in the home,
and the community, in Canada and throughout the world. In claiming the world for the Master
these W.M.S. women follow the guidance of our Lord's mother when she said to the servants
at the wedding supper in Cana, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
Greenwood members of the W.M.S. Auxiliary who have served on the Presbyterial executive
include: Miss May E. Brown, Mrs. H. R. Monkman, and Mrs. Milton N. Pegg.
Other organizations, branches of
the W.M.S., were formed in later years. Mention is made in the old minutes of a Mission
Band being in existence in 1921. There has been an active Baby Band Leader for many
years.
The Greenwood Mission Circle was organized November 5th, 1920, with an enrollment of
thirteen The officers were: President, Miss Gladys Pegg; Vice-President, Miss Gertrude
Mayne; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Nellie Russell; Recording Secretary, Miss Edith
Ormerod; Treasurer, Miss Gladys Trimble. The Mission Circle disbanded in 1949 when the
Greenwood Evening Auxiliary of the W.M.S. was organized. Most of their funds are raised
by personal givings through the use of monthly envolepes and the Easter and Autumn thank
offerings. On December 31st, 1959, the Afternoon Auxiliary of the W.M.S. - which was for the
three points on the charge - dissolved and the Greenwood members joined the Evening
Auxiliary.
The annual observance of The World Day of Prayer for some years has created a deeper
interest in a "sisterhood round the world."
Mrs. F. L. Green, who had a lifelong interest in the missionary enterprises of the Church, in
1915 attended the 36th annual meeting of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society at
Adams Basin, New York. From the program folder for that five-day meeting, a copy of which
is in the family scrapbook, we quote the following:
"Missions - The Thermometer of the Church. BOILING - The Ideal Church. Always abounding
in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58. HOT - Gifts for missions equal or in excess of self-
support. Rev. 3:15. BLOODHEAT - Ever in the spirit of prayer. 1 Tim. 2:8. WARM -
Deepening interest in Mission Study. 2 Timothy 2:15. LUKEWARM -Faith without works.
James 2:14-17. COOL - Thinks charity begins at home and ends there. Luke 24:46 - 48.
COLD - Has no thought for others - loves only self. Romans 12:10. FREEZING - Has no
interest in Missions; never reads; never prays; never gives. 1 Tim. 6: 17-19. ZERO -Opposes
and criticizes missions. Rev. 3:1-3.
Reader! Where does the Mission Thermometer stand in your church? What is your own
temperature?"
Epworth League - Young People's Union
An organization for Young People has been an integral part of the church's work since the
1880's.
The Motto of the Epworth League of Christian Endeavor of the Methodist Church was "Look
up, lift up, for Christ and the Church." The Object of the League was (a) to save souls; (b) to
promote an earnest intelligent, practical Christian life in the young members and friends of
the Church; (c) to assist them in the study of God's Word; (d) to increase their usefulness in
the service of God and humanity.
The work of the League was carried on in four departments: Christian Endeavor, Missionary,
Literary, Social. Regular religious meetings of the League were held weekly, with a
consecration meeting held monthly.
The earliest Minute Book available to us at this time is that for 1900. The officers that year
were: President, Mr. E. Jackson; Vice-Presidents, Mr. W. T. Diefenbaker, Miss E. Gee, Mr.
George Law, Miss L. Gibson; Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. John S. Gerry.
In 1917 the officers were: President, Mr. Will Brown; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. F. W. Gibson,
Mrs. F.L. Green, Miss May Brown, Miss Gladys Pegg; Secretary, William Pegg; Treasurer,
Miss Emma Wilson; Organist, Miss Agnes Byers.
When the Methodist Church became a part of The United Church of Canada in 1925, this
organization became known as the Young People's Union. The Y.P.U. Motto is "Look up,
Lift up." Their fourfold purpose became: "To seek the
abundant life, to share in building Christ's Kingdom, to find God's daily guidance, and to
follow Christ, our Leader and Friend." The four Departments became: Christian Fellowship,
Christian Missions, Christian Citizenship, and Christian Culture. In 1952 the Programme
Commissions were changed to: Faith and Evangelism, Stewardship and Training,
Citizenship and Community Service, and Missions and World Outreach, with a Recreation
and Culture Division.
The Greenwood Y.P.U. have taken part in various Presbytery Y.P.U. activities. They were
winners of the Presbytery Drama Festival cup five times - 1949, 50, 51, 52, and 59. In 1950
they went on to win the Bay of Quinte Conference Y.P.U. Drama Festival.
Members of the Greenwood Union to serve on the Presbytery Y.P.U. executive include:
Edna Green, Elva McLean, Beatrice McLean, and David Pegg. Beatrice McLean had the
honour of working on the Bay of Quinte Conference Y.P.U. executive for five years, including
the years 1954 - 55 - 56 when she was Missions and World Outreach Convener on the
National Executive of the Young People's Union of the United Church of Canada.
The Sons of Temperance
Our pioneers were sturdy, energetic men. If they weren't, they died young. He was thought
quite a man if he could defend himself with his fists upon the slightest provocation (preferably
with an audience) and drink considerable whiskey without getting drunk. They enjoyed
watching "a good clean fight", just as today we watch wrestling matches.
It is said there were three stills and five hotels in Greenwood. We have had verification of the
location of two of the stills and two hotels and a store which sold whiskey by the keg and
always had an open keg by the counter and a cup for the customers to help themselves.
There were such quantities of whiskey about that there were men who drank to excess and
even at 25 cents a gallon it meant deprivation for their families. The situation became
serious and so the community organized a temperance society.
In the 1870's Greenwood had an active Sons of Temperance Lodge known as the
"Greenwood Star Temple No. 244." They met weekly in the Orange Hall. Both men and
women were members and either could hold office. Their officers were elected quarterly
and they had quarterly dues.
From time to time they sponsored lectures. They often attended district conventions. In
October 1876 Bro. Willison was appointed to attend Grand Lodge. Apparently his report
was a lengthy one for a motion toward the end of the meeting of November 4th, 1875, reads
"Moved by Bro. Richardson and seconded by Bro. McGregor that Bro. Willison be allowed
to speak five minutes longer." (Bro. Willison, you will recall, was the John Willison who lived
at Greenwood for 4 or 5 years as a young man, then later was knighted for his journalistic
achievements.)
The surrounding communities each had a sister Lodge - Kinsale, Brougham, Claremont,
Green River, Markham, Whitevale, Duffin's Creek, Whitby, Brooklin and Columbus. When it
was decided to visit a neighboring Lodge, teams had to be arranged for to provide the
transportation.
One major undertaking was apparently a Temperance Demonstration held in William Clark's
woods, May 24th, 1876, with a concert at night. The fee was 35 cents and there was a booth
of home baking. It is likely that a procession took place, parading behind the band over to
Clark's grove where a temporary building had been erected for the band, the officers of the
Society, and the orators of the day.
Although other Lodges were invited and tickets were printed, the
event was not a financial success, as money had to be borrowed to pay the expenses, which
included a $7.00 item for printing the tickets.
At the weekly meetings of the Lodge, a charge could be brought against a Brother for
"violation of his obligation." After a committee of investigation reported on the person in
question, he was either sustained and fined, possibly 25 cents, then reobligated, or, after
several weeks' deliberation, expelled.
Each of their weekly meetings included a section called "Good of the Order". This was a
time of vocal or instrumental selections, readings, dialogues, etc. Bro. Clark often entertained
with songs and almost every week Bro. Willison gave a reading or recitation. The Lodge had
an organ which they loaned for school programmes.
On November 30th, 1876, Bros. Wilson and Willison were captains for a debate of the topic
"resolved that a man will do more for honour than he will for wealth". (Surprisingly, or is it a
surprise, the "negative" side won!) A topic debated at a later meeting was "resolved that
modern men are greater than ancient." The "affirmative” won on this occasion.
A similar Lodge, known as the "Greenwood Division of Sons of Temperance
No. 319" was organized December 27, 1877. All ministers of the Gospel were admitted as
honorary members of the Lodge and a Chaplain was appointed. The initiation fee was set at
25 cents and the quarterly fees were also 25 cents.
At one meeting it was moved, seconded and carried that Bro. William McKittrick furnish two
dozen white and two dozen black buttons for ballots. At the next meeting it was moved and
seconded and carried that an order be drawn on the Treasurer for the sum of ten cents to
pay for ballots.
On June 26th, 1880, it was moved that the Lodge close (disband).
Pickering Township Agricultural Society
(We are indebted to the Rev. William R. Wood's book "Past Years in Pickering" for the
following information.)
Pickering had an Agricultural Society in 1850. Its constitution stated, "its objects shall be to
promote Agriculture, Horticulture, Household Arts and the Importation of Farming Stock."
The first Spring Fair was held on April 23rd, 1851. It had been planned at a meeting at
Thompson's Inn in February.
Sterling's Hotel, Norwood (Greenwood), was the scene of the second annual meeting, in
1852. The minutes read in part ". . . the Spring Show shall be held at Peter Head's Hotel in
the village of Canton, and the Fall Show to be held at J. C. Sterling's Hotel, Norwood." We
must assume that it was a success as the Society continued to flourish.
The following are from the report of the President and Directors of the Society for the year
1854:
"The Spring Show of the Society was appointed at Claremont and was held on the 26th day
of April...”
“The ploughing match took place upon the 25th day of April in a field kindly given by Mr.
William Miller for that purpose." It seems incredible today that they would feel sure enough of
the condition of the land for a Plowing Match to plan months ahead for it to be held on the
25th of April!
At another meeting the Society arranged for the Importation of Farming Stock. "Your
President, being instructed by the Directors, having corresponded with seven or eight of the
most celebrated breeders of horned cattle, learned that a bull of two years old was to be
had of Mr. Wade, near Cobourg, a meeting of the directors legally called took place at
MR. J. C. Sterling's - seven present - upon the 7th of June (1854), when it was resolved that
a deputation . . . should purchase said bull, if they, when they saw him, should judge that he
would be suitable to the society. These gen-
tlemen kindly undertook the mission, and purchased the bull, named Lord Elgin. When the
directors met on the 21st day of June, they resolved that the said bull should be sold for the
good of the Society under proper limitations and conditions drawn out and read as the
articles of sale, which took place upon that day. He was purchased by Mr. J.C. Sterling."
Another excerpt tells us that "the Fall Show was held upon the 18th day of October (1854) at
J. C. Sterling's, Greenwood." (We note, with interest, that the 1852 minutes refer to the
village as "Norwood", but that in this 1854 item the name is given as "Greenwood".)
According to the report, the exhibits of the manufacturers and the stock and produce were
excellent. There was not a great quantity of Fancy Work but it was of good quality.
The premiums at the Spring Show that year amounted to £13 5s. and at the Fall Show £36
10s.
This Agricultural Society undoubtedly wielded a great influence of the agriculture of the
Township for years.
It became so well established that, in 1866, they decided to arrange for permanent show
grounds and buildings. Greenwood presented the Society with a subscription of $751.50
and hoped to have the honour of having the Grounds at Greenwood. This offer was not
accepted and the decision was to establish the Society at Brougham.
"It was moved by Daniel Thornton and seconded by John Haight that a vote of thanks be
tendered to the inhabitants of Greenwood and vicinity for their very liberal spirit manifested
in getting up so large an amount of subscription for the fair grounds and building. Carried."
Brougham continued to be the site of the Township Fairs until they were discontinued in
1889. We believe that Pickering is one of the few Townships in Ontario County which does
not have a "Fair" within its area today.
Transportation
In the early days travel was on foot. A man often carried supplies of seed grain or food
essentials on his back. Needless to say, every farm became as self-sufficient as possible
to save transportation. The real meaning of "good neighbors” was understood in those days.
The pioneers readily shared anything they had with a neighbor.
Oxen came into use next, with primitive wagons, or "jumpers -
(which were simply - constructed sleighs). The oxen plodded along almost unbroken trails
through the woods. Oxen did not wear harness as do horses. They wore what was called an
"ox-yoke” which went over the back of both oxen's necks and a bow went under their necks
and up through this yoke and fastened above the yoke with a pin. A large iron ring hung
down from the centre of the yoke for the end of the sleigh or wagon tongue to hang into. The
oxen were called a yoke of oxen'', not a “team”.
Due to the dense woods and the difficulties encountered in making roads, the farms which
could be reached by water were usually the first to be settled. But some pioneers were
venturesome. Samuel Munger travelled inland to Greenwood prior to 1801 and made his
home on Lot 7, Con. 6. It is easy to understand why he was active in organizing a
municipality in order to have roads opened up. In the early days the roads were kept up by
the township and every tax-payer did two days "statute labour" - that is he worked two days
with no pay, then he could work on the road to pay his taxes. The roads gradually became
more passable and horses and lumber wagons appeared, followed later by buggies.
When the Greenwood Mills became active, the roads were improved and the "Low Road"
established so that teams could more readily haul to and from the port at French-man's Bay.
It was a red-letter day for Green-wood when the Toronto-Trenton Line of the Canadian
Northern Railway was built and a station established at Greenburn. The station was a little
more than a mile-and-a-half south of Greenwood (a little east of the "lookout" at the
Greenwood Conservation Area Park).
The William Brown family have receipts dated September 22, 1909, and November 4th,
1909, for the right-of-way and one farm crossing their property. The Canadian Northern
Ontario Railway Company paid $60 per acre.
Service was opened over the Line on Monday, October 9, 1911, there being one eastbound
and one west-bound train daily.
"First Trains Move Over Canadian Northern Railway Line to Trenton," reads the heading on
a newspaper clipping, excerpts of which follow:
"At 9:30 this morning a train of seven cars, well-filled with passengers, left the Union Station,
Toronto, and in addition carried a large number of prominent officials of the Company. The
journey of 110 miles was scheduled to take just under four hours, arrival time at Trenton
being billed as 1:20 PM.
"........The train took passengers at Queen St. Station, Rosedale, Malvern, Cherrywood,
Greenburn (Greenwood), Brooklin, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Orono, Starkville, Osaca, Port
Hope, Cobourg, Grafton, Colborne and Brighton........
(Return Trip). "The train left Trenton at 7 a.m. with three well-filled coaches. . . . When the
train arrived in Toronto, the engine was drawing fifteen coaches, all filled to capacity.
"The train was drawn by a single engine and it is a remarkable fact that allowing for the time
taken in adding the coaches and for the crowds to swarm into the coaches at each stop, the
train made scheduled time.....
"The crowds waiting for the new train were unusually demonstrative at those points touched
that have not previously had railway communication, such as Malvern, Cherrywood,
Greenburn (Greenwood), Orono, Starkville, and
Osaca.........
“The length of the line to Trenton is 110 1/2 miles. It will run eventually to Ottawa and later be
continued direct to Montreal."
Greenwood residents recall the importance, locally, of the newly established train service.
The line was used for both passengers and freight. The Greenwood Mills could now receive
their grain in car lots at the Greenburn Station and ship their flour out by train. Cattle were
shipped from this station. It was the site, a1so, of William Gibson's coal yard.
There was a spur line running into the pit of the Greenburn Sand and Gravel Company (Lot 8,
Concession 5). However, with the improvement in roads and the increase in car and truck
transportation, this Railway, along with many others, found their business dwindling. For a
few years before its demise, there were only freight trains making use of this line of the
Canadian Northern. Its operation was discontinued and the tracks lifted about 1936.
By the time this Railroad ceased to operate, the roads were good. No. 7 Highway was
paved in 1934. The Highway was built around the big hill at Greenwood and so the Village
remains sheltered from the turmoil of the highway - except that on Sunday evenings or
holidays those who know the cut-off over the hill travel through the Village at breakneck
speed hoping to cut off a line of traffic.
Today every family has a car and many farmers have small trucks. The country is getting
smaller with the increase in speed. Our School Section and church area have remained the
same geographically so far, but our "community" activities have broadened. In addition to
our local activities an afternoon or evening is often spent in Oshawa or Toronto.
The Village
(By Alan Clark)
For over a hundred years Greenwood was famous for its mills. The first mill was constructed
in 1840, and the milling industry continued to thrive until the burning of the Main Mill, or Upper
Mill, in the winter of 1937. On the site of this mill Frederick L. Green constructed a second
and smaller mill for gristing. However, with his death in the mid-nineteen-forties the history of
milling in the community had almost ended.
For three generations of the Green family, the industry thrived and by the mid-nineteen-
thirties was said to be the oldest established industry in the County of Ontario to be
operated by the same family. Essentially the history of milling in Greenwood is the history of
the Green family. In the eighteen-forties and the early fifties the community was known as
Norwood; it is with the prominence of the Green family in the milling industry, that the name
was changed to Greenwood.
In its prime, in the middle years of the nineteenth century, Greenwood showed great prospects
as a thriving business centre. At this time, as well as its other industries, it boasted two flour
and gristing mills, and four sawmills. Ultimately, its location and other circumstances proved
somewhat of a liability, and its peak as a commercial centre was reached around the turn of
the century. For several years it maintained this level, but with the advent of the motor age,
Greenwood was bypassed in competition with more favourably situated communities.
Three physical factors can be said to have made it an outstanding milling centre in its time.
The first, of course, is the fall of Duffin's Creek, where within a distance of two-and-a-half
miles, centred on the village, the drop is over 125 feet. This, in conjunction with the volume of
the stream, resulted in a valuable source of power.
The second factor is the location of the village in the centre of a prosperous agricultural area,
on the southern slope of the Uxbridge moraines, with access to the markets of Toronto and
lake ports which, in early years, did an export business through the Erie Canal to New York
City.
The third factor was the building of the Canadian Northern Railway along the base of the old
Lake Ontario shoreline, about a mile-and-a-half south of the village, providing for many years
an efficient and reliable means of passenger and freight transportation. Although at the time
of this writing only the remnants of the right-of-way of the old C.N.R. exist, it is largely due to
the freighting facilities of the Greenburn station and the spur line into the Greenburn gravel
pit to the southeast of the village, that the marketing of the community's surplus resources
was possible.
However, fine as these physical factors may have been, it was ultimately the industry and
perseverance of the residents of the community which gave it its stature in the centres of
Southern Ontario. It is with this information in mind that the reader is invited to investigate
the history of milling in Greenwood.
The Lower Mill
(By Alan Clark)
On property, originally patented by Benjamin Hallowell in 1798 and later owned by Hon.
John Elmsley, an Englishman, by the name of Matthew Cockerline, purchased a mill-site of
about 100 acres in or about 1840. The former gentlemen, being residents of York (Toronto),
and travelling conditions being primitive, it is highly probable that Cockerline was the first
owner to see the property which he had purchased.
30
This property lay in the north half of Lot 12, Concession 5, and contained in its whole length the
valley of Duffin's Creek.
At a point about a quarter-of-a-mile south of the present village intersection, on the west side of
the Greenwood road, where the river banks steepen and narrow to about 150 yards, the mill-
site was selected. Here he constructed his mill-dam and mill.
Three years later, in January of 1843, he decided to sell this property. On January 31,
Matthew Cockerline paid off the balance of his mortgage, and three days later, on February
3, he sold the property, mill and water rights to Frederick Green. Mr. Green was a miller by
trade, originally from the Isle of Ely, England. As his milling and property interest expanded
in the community he became known as 'Squire' Green.
The original dam construction must have been no minor undertaking with its clearing of the
site, the arresting and diverting of the then greater flow of the river, and the building of the
flood gates and mill race. The dam contained a timber core over which the earth was piled
to a height of eight to ten feet near the road, and to a height of nearly twenty feet at the river
bed. It stretched east and west across the narrowing of the valley. At the west end of the
dam, the timber flood gates spanned the stream. At the east end of the dam the mill race
was built parallel to and only a few yards from the road.
Behind the dam the water backed up over an area of over five acres, and old-timers say that
it presented a lovely scene in summer and fine skating in the winter. Willows rimmed the
banks of the pond, and a number of these great, old trees are still standing at the site at the
time of this writing.
Some twenty to twenty-five yards south of the east end of the dam, at the end of the mill-race,
a large, timber flume carried the flow of the water to a point above the centre of the great
wheel which turned against the east side of the mill.
Over the wheel the waters tumbled and fell into the tail-race flowing south-west to the river-
bed to the south of the dam. The full flow of the stream would be used in midsummer,
whereas in the spring and at flood-times, the extra water was eased over the flood gates.
This mill became known as the Lower Mill.
Sheltered in the lee of the dam wall against the slope of the east hill, the original mill, a frame
building of three - and - a - half storeys, faced onto the road and to the south. It is believed
that the great wheel must have been well over fifteen feet in diameter, to operate such a
large mill, and made of oak. It revolved on a thick oak-timber axle which disappeared into
the side of the mill. As the flume discharged the flow of the stream over the broad rim, the
water tumbled into timber troughs or cups about three to four feet wide set into the face of
the rim.
Inside was the rumble of the millstones. There were three 'run' or pairs of these, with each
single stone between four and five feet in diameter, about a foot thick and weighing about
600 pounds. It is speculated that these must have been hauled over corduroy roads by
teams of oxen from Frenchman's Bay or a similar port. When installed the upper stone
revolved above the stationary lower stone. The power from the mill-wheel axle was
transferred to the revolving upper stones by means of pulleys, wide leather belts and large
wooden gears with hard maple cogs. Later a number of elevators were added to lift the
milling products from hopper to bin throughout the mill.
To permit a gravity feed, the grain was unloaded into a hopper at the middle storey, on the
east side by the mill-race. From here it was probably elevated one storey, and then flowed
downwards to the various pairs of mill-stones. The grain entered the pairs of stones by
means of a vibrating shoe which distributed the kernels through a hole in the centre of the
upper stone. As the grooving in the stones ground the
31
Illustrations - The Lower Mill - looking North-west.
..................- The Mill Pond and Dam for the Lower Mill.
..................- The Lower Mill - looking east.
grain, it was collected at the side of the lower stone where it dropped through a chute to the
reel. The reel sorted the bran from the flour; these were bagged and reclaimed at the ground
floor level. This meant that the teams had to stop at the east side for unloading, and then drive
around to the south side for loading the flour.
In these early days there were few mills in the County, and it is said that pioneer farmers
brought their grain to Squire Green's mill from as far north as Scott Township. The surplus
flour, over and above the needs of the farmer, was shipped in barrels to the lakeport
warehouses at Frenchman's Bay and Port Union via the 'Top Road' from Greenwood and
the Kingston Road. There were two direct results of this.
The first was the cooper-trade, or barrel-making. The flour was shipped in wooden barrels
of about 200 pounds capacity, and in the manufacture of these a large number of men were
subsequently employed. So numerous were the Irish in this trade to the west of the village
that it became known as Cooperstown. The wood, usually oak, was secured from the local
bush.
The other result was the need for additional roads. It is known that for a number of years a
roadway existed that ran north-east from the site of the Lower Mill, although all trace of it has
long since disappeared. It probably connected with the Sixth Concession at a point opposite
the driveway of the present church. It was not until later that the right-of-way for the south end
of the 'Low Road', as it is commonly known, was purchased by Squire Green. In all
probability the north portion did not exist until the Tannery and Distillery were located along
the west side of it about 1850. It can therefore be said, that what is known as the Greenwood
Road, is in fact a 'given' road in its northern extension.
As business expanded, with the prospering settlement, additions were added to the mill. A
two-storey addition was added to the east end of the mill and jutted out over the mill-race,
forming a type of rustic arcade at the second floor level of the mill along the roadside. A two-
storey-and-a-half lean-to was also added to the west end, and to these the necessary
additional milling machinery was installed. At a later period a stone and brick oatmeal kiln
was built north of the frame building and west of the race, and was connected to the mill by a
low storage shed. (This kiln is incorporated into the residence of Dr. L. T. Barclay, which
stands on the site of the Lower Mill at the time of this writing.) All these additions were made
prior to 1875.
An excerpt from the letters of Ross Johnston which appeared in December, 1884, under the
name of "The Traveller" in the Whitby Gazette and Chronicle states:
"The south mill is owned by Frederick Green, Esq. It is a three storey frame building, with
three run of stone; it is ... driven by water power; machinery in good condition (old Process);
capacity 50 barrels per day. Work done here is mainly custom work; run off about 200
bushels a day in gristing and chopping; I reached this mill by taking a short cut across the
mill-race, a very slippery operation, which requires me to 'walk circumspectly' in the literal
meaning of the expression." (The Frederick Green referred to is the grandson of Squire
Green.)
In 1887, flour-making at the Lower Mill was discontinued, and it was changed over to an
oatmeal mill. The mill continued to operate for another eight years until a flood destroyed the
dam. It was decided to discontinue milling at this site, and the buildings were torn down, the
materials being salvaged for use in the Upper Mill. Thus ended an industry at the Lower Mill
which had served its owners and community well for over fifty years.
After Squire Green's family purchased what is known as the Upper Mill, the Lower Mill was
operated by his youngest son, Charles R. Green. For a period of eight years it was leased to
John Mitchell upon
33
the death in 1878 of Samuel J. Green, eldest son of Squire Green. From about 1886 until it
was closed down, the Lower Mill was under the operation of Frederick L. Green, whose
name was mentioned previously. (Frederick L. was a son of Samuel J. Green.)
The Upper Mill
(By Alan Clark)
Many residents of Greenwood, even in 1960, will well remember the hum of industry that met
the ear as one turned north at the foot of the hill during the daylight hours of any weekday. The
ring of the anvil from the Blacksmith Shop and the distant drone of the great mill at the north
end of the road seemed to blend into a harmony which in winter or summer was the working
voice of Greenwood. Add to this the creak of freighted wagons, the clink of the trace chains,
the call of the teamsters of a midsummer morning, or the jingle of jaunty harness bells, the
complaint of a grating sleigh runner of a winters' afternoon and one hears the sound picture
of the work-day life that was the pulse of the village. Indeed, those who have heard it will not
soon forget.
The focal centre of most of this daily industry was the Upper Mill which stood about 200 yards
north of the lower intersection of the village. For nearly a hundred years this great building
and its industry dominated the village, attracting other industries around it, and providing a
livelihood for many families in the village and a market for the farmers of the valley. With its
burning in 1937, truly an era of the village life passed, never to return.
This mill had known Greenwood from the very beginning. In or about 1840, Nicholas Howell
arrived in Greenwood and shortly thereafter purchased the north half of Lot 13, Concession
5, all 200 acres of Lot 14, the north 150 acres of Lot 15, and 50 acres of Lot 16 of the same
concession. He built up a fairly extensive business in milling, distilling and storekeeping in
what became known as 'Howell's Hollow,' the valley south of the big hill a half-mile west of the
village, on Lot 15. With this business prospering he purchased in 1847 the south half of Lot
12, Concession 6, and there in the valley to the north of the village intersection, he built a four-
and-a-half-storey mill. It was an ideal location, and Nicholas Howell claimed that he would
"soon send Green out of business." However, it appears that he underestimated his
competitors. By 1855, he had lost title to much of the property he had undertaken, including
the mill in Greenwood. (The map of 1895 shows that Howell descendants still owned 200
acres in Lots 15 and 16, Concession 5, at that date.)
Although records indicate that the Upper Mill property passed into other ownership, it is
believed that about 1856 Squire Green leased this mill and began to operate it. The first
record of ownership by the Green family was in 1868, when Samuel J. Green, the son of
Squire Green, purchased the property, the mill and water rights from James B. Bickel for
$6,500. It continued in the family for well over the next seventy years.
As stated earlier, this building was four-and-a-half storeys high, and its original dimensions
were approximately 80 feet long, 40 feet wide and 55 to 60 feet high. It is said that it took
three years to build this mill and the timbers used were hand-hewn from pine trees off
Howell's land to the west of the village, about 24 inches square and 80 feet long.
A number of years later an addition, known as the Red Mill, was brought from a location on
the Ninth Concession, and located at the northeast corner. This building was three storeys
high, about 36 feet wide, 40 feet long, and formed an ell to the main mill.
Both buildings were of timber and frame construction with clapboard siding. The smaller mill
had at one
34
time been painted red.
In the south-east angle formed by the two mills, a two-storey lean-to was added. At later
times, a lean-to was added to the west side and another to the north side of the mill. In the
east-end lean-to was located the office of the mill, for many years.
Each of the four storeys had a number of windows that encircled the grey, weather-beaten
sides of the main mill. A frame canopy extended along the front of the mill to shelter the two
doorways, and the unloading platforms. This canopy also sheltered some of the fattest and
tamest sparrows and pigeons in Pickering Township.
The mill was powered by a 75 horsepower, down-draft wheel which revolved on a vertical
shaft many feet below the level of the ground floor. Its power was transferred to great line-
shafts suspended from the ground-floor ceiling; these ran the length and depth of both the
main mill and the Red Mill.
Over a period of many years a tremendous quantity of milling machinery was installed in this
Upper Mill worth thousands of dollars. The installations were made by expert craftsmen
known as mill-wrights. Perhaps the best-known of these was Robert Brown, whose skill in
his trade was unsurpassed.
The water pressure to drive the wheel was derived from damming Duffin's Creek some
three-quarters of a mile farther north, and transferring the water through the mill-race to a
point at the north-east side of the mill where its 'head' or fall was at least forty feet. The water
from the penstock was originally brought down to the wheel by an enclosed wooden flume;
however, this was later replaced by a 36-inch steel pipe of boiler plate that descended at an
angle of approximately thirty-five degrees for over 115 feet to the wheel.
With such a fall and volume of water, it was possible to operate many milling processes at
the Upper Mill. A list of these is as follows:
(a) Flour milling — both bread and pastry, with by-products of middlings, shorts, bran, and
Graham flour. Also buckwheat flour was made.
(b) Barley flour milling—pin-head, pearl and pot barley as by-products, (also barley feeds).
This was milled in the Red Mill, or 'Barley Mill' as it was sometimes called.
(c) Cereals—Scotch Barley, Wheat-lets, Oatmeal and Flaxseed cereals. Also three grades
of corn flour were milled.
(d) Gristing—oat and barley chop, barley feed and screenings. This Mill gristed three days
per week; the Lower Mill gristed each week day.
At the peak of its operations, the Upper Mill business grossed many thousand dollars per
year, filling contracts with Toronto and Montreal firms, and at one time even as far as South
America. Brand names of the Greenwood flour were: Golden City, Wonder, White Daisy,
Kissimi, and Baker's Joy.
Although there are none who can recall it at the time of this writing, it would appear that the
mill-dam and mill-race were originally built some six feet lower than the present remains
would indicate. The meanderings of the older upper portion of the mill-race are still traceable
as is the lower level just behind the old mill-site. It is recollected that, at the point where what
later was known as the Second Dam or the Little Dam was constructed, there was a great
timber flume spanning the gully, and it was about 50 to 60 feet long. It carried the full flow of
the mill race over the gully, and is said to have been a favourite swimming place, 'even for
the young girls from the school', an old-timer recalled of his boyhood.
The main dam spanned a gorge about 150 feet wide. Originally it consisted of an earth dam
reinforced with timber cribbing both within and on its face. There were flood gates near the
south-east end and a control gate near the north-west end. Subsequent floods washed out
portions of this dam until it was replaced entirely with the cement
35
Illustration - The Upper Mill.
36
structure, the remains of which can still be seen.
It is at this point that mention should be made of the many courageous men who attended
the dam under the trying and dangerous days and nights of flooding. It is said that in high
flood the roar of the water was so great that it drowned out the shouts of the men only feet
from each other. Add to this the blackness and the fury of a storming night, and one realizes
the mettle of the men who endured the trying vigils in an effort to keep the mills running and
the breadwinners of the village earning. At normal level, the dam backed up over many
hundreds of yards, almost to the Seventh Concession; in severe flood times, it is said that
the waters roared through the gates up to six feet deep.
However, it would be unfair not to mention the beauty and the charm of the race and the mill-
dam under normal conditions. The walk along the service road to the west of the mill-race to
the dam was the favourite pastime of many generations of villagers of a Sunday afternoon in
pleasant summer weather.
Over the many, many years in which the Upper Mill was in operation, scores of millers and
labourers lived with their families in the village. Some of the resident millers and employees
of the Greenwood Mills were: John MITCHELL, Edward WARD, Mr. MARSHALL, John
GERRY, Charles WILSON, D. LOCKWOOD, Alexander MOORE, Alfred TRIMBLE, E.
HOWSAM, Robert BROWN (mill-wright,) James GIBSON (head teamster).
The mill operated on a ten-hour day, from seven to six, and in busy seasons operated day
and night. The record set for the gristing mill is fifty bags per hour, or 500 bags per day. At
times like these the farmers' sleighs would be lined up as far back as the blacksmith shop
and the store waiting their turn. At these times the farmers stood about in groups talking
crops and animals and the current politics. Indeed, the Mill at the turn of the century in rural
Ontario was not without its social value to the community, too.
About 2.00 a.m. of February 7, 1937, an employee of the Upper Mill discovered a fire raging.
Other employees had been working late at the mill until midnight. An alarm was sounded and
nearby residents of the village and farms tried to battle the fire. The heavy smoke and the
flames proved too much. The flames were visible for miles. Fire brigades from Brougham,
Brooklin and Claremont rushed to the scene. Firemen found the building a raging inferno. By
dawn the Upper Mill lay a great smouldering pile of charred rubble. It was days before the
ruins were cool enough for men to begin to probe the ruins. The total loss was estimated at
$30,000.
Yet, the figure tells only part of the story. For the rest of the story, ask the old-timers — and
watch their eyes light up.
The Creameries
Greenwood's early Creamery was operated by Squire Green in conjunction with the Lower
Mill. This frame building stood in the south-east corner of the mill-yard, on the east side of the
tail race.
It stood one-and-a-half storeys high and contained shelves for the skimming pans and
churns such as were used for commercial butter-making in those days. The fresh water
supply was piped in from a flowing spring to the south-east of Squire Green's residence,
which stood on the hill above the mill on the east side of the road.
Mainly custom butter-making was done at this Creamery, where several sons of village
families learned the trade and went out into the world to be successful butter-makers and
dairy operators.
Later, Frederick L. Green had a Creamery south-east of the Upper Mill for the manufacture
of butter from his large herd of Jerseys.
37
Illustrations - THE CEMENT DAM for The Upper Mill and for Greenwood's early hydro
electric power.
THE OVERFLOW FROM THE FLUME.
38
Three hundred pounds of butter were turned out per week.
A feature of the F. L. Green operations which is commonly remembered is the installation of
the first water-driven electric generator. This was mounted below the ground floor level of the
Upper Mill. It provided electricity for the Mill, the Green residence, the Green barns and
Creamery, and the village church, long before other and much larger communities in the
township had hydro-electric power.
Due to the water-powered flour mill they did not need to build a dam specially for the electric
power. However, a separate 10 h.p. water wheel was used to drive a 5 h.p. dynamo. The
water wheel was fed from the main penstock which fed the large mill wheel. It was a
horizontal Leffel type with vulcan gate enclosed in an iron case and operated under a head
of about 42 feet running at 800 revolutions per minute. The dynamo, which was a direct
current 110 volt machine, was belted to the turbine. No governor was used on the water
wheel and any change of load was regulated by taking off or putting on more water on the
wheel. As the Mill was running practically all the time, and lights from this dynamo were used
there, the mill hands could notice the change in voltage representing a change in speed and
they regulated the wheel accordingly. If the wheel had been isolated, it would have been
necessary to have some method of voltage regulation.
Besides lighting the buildings mentioned above, this energy was used to operate a milking
machine that would milk six cows at a time. In the dairy building a motor ran the cream
separator with a capacity of 1,200 pounds per hour. It also ran the pasteurizer and the churn
which turned out 100 pounds of butter at a churning.
The electricity also ran a circular saw, emery wheel and other appliances in a well-equipped
repair shop in which all repairs for mill, creamery, and farm implements were made.
The water for barn, creamery and house was supplied by gravitation and was under pressure
all the time.
The Creamery continued to operate until 1918 when the Jersey herd was sold.
Barrels and Hoops
Flour from the Greenwood Mills was shipped in nothing but wooden barrels. The coopers
had to secure the wood from the bush and make the staves, heads and hoops by hand. A
large number of men were kept busy in this trade. Several of the Irish families in the
Township can trace their advent to the community to the fact that the Greenwood Mills
required the services of many coopers.
Lennon and Shea were partners in a large Cooperage on the northwest corner of Lot 13,
Con. 5. They were assisted by Michael Carey.
Robert Lennon was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1816. He came to Labrador in 1840, where
he remained for three years. Intending to return to Ireland, by an accident he boarded a ship
for Quebec, and luckily, too, for the vessel on which he was to have returned to Ireland was
never after heard of.
Mr. Lennon, being a cooper by trade, located in Greenwood in 1843. In 1850 he married
Bridget Murphy, daughter of John Murphy, a miller of the village. Mr. Lennon was a zealous
Roman Catholic and did anything he could to advance the cause of religion in those
primeval days. For a time Mass was celebrated in his home every month, there being no
Roman Catholic church in the village. Sunday School was taught either by the pastor of the
parish or the good man of the house.
In 1890 the Lennon family moved to Goderich. Six years later they moved to Mount Carmel
where, in 1900, Robert and Bridget Lennon celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Henry Shea, partner of Robert
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Lennon in the Cooperage, was the head of another Irish family at Greenwood. Henry's son,
Joseph Shea, who was born at Greenwood, married Jane Quigley of Oshawa in 1870. They
had a family of nine children. Joseph Shea was engaged in the cooperage business at
Greenwood until they moved to Toronto in 1905. Joseph's youngest son, Henry, moved to
Brougham. Joseph and Jane Shea celebrated their diamond wedding in 1930.
Jacob Slatter is another Irishman who was engaged in the barrel and hoops business at
Greenwood. In the "Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory," published in 1869, Jacob
Slatter is listed as a manufacturer of barrels, staves and hoops.
Boyer's Mill - Lot 12, Con. 7
(By Milton Pegg)
Samuel Boyer came from Pennsylvania in the late 1830's and settled on Lot 12, Con. 7,
Pickering, where he built a dam on Duffin's Creek and a flour and grist mill and a sawmill.
The old grist mill is still (1960) standing though the part where flour was made is gone. The
sawmill was a short distance east of the grist mill. At that time game was very plentiful and
Sam Boyer was a noted woodsman, hunter of deer and of wild bees.
His son, Abraham, carried on the business after his father passed on. He, too, was a great
worker, a noted hunter and must have learned much about bees from his father, for he kept
more than forty swarms of bees. Abe married Jane Smith in 1865. They had no children but
Mrs. Boyer's niece, Edith Betts, made her home with them from the age of two until she
became Mrs. Wesley Perkin.
At one time Abe served as Councillor for Pickering Township. On January 28th, 1904, when
Abe was 69 years old, he was accidentally killed in the mill. His coat was caught by a key on
a pulley shaft and he was thrown violently around striking his head on a beam.
In 1905 Thomas Bayles, a brother-in-law to Abe Boyer, took over the Mill. He continued
there until 1907 when he, too, was accidentally killed while moving a pile-driver up to the
dam. Tom Bayles' two sons, John and Walter, carried on with the mill from that time. (Later
Waiter Bayles bought a farm just south of Brougham, where he and his wife still live, with
their son William now operating the farm.)
John Bayles operated the mill from 1907 to 1929 when a great spring flood washed out the
dam, as well as most of the bridges and culverts in the Township. During that time he ground
grain for the farmers five days a week, averaging 120 bags a day at five cents per bag. He
also sawed lumber in spring and early summer and made wooden stone-boats. In the fall he
ran a cider press.
John Bayles also farmed the tillable land, keeping livestock and poultry. His farm has always
been kept neat and tidy with everything in its place, while Mrs. Bayles has always had a
wonderful vegetable and flower garden that gave pleasure to behold. At time of writing,
Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority have expropriated the whole
property.
Carding Mill
(By Milton Pegg)
Benjamin Boyer, a brother of Samuel, settled in Whitchurch. His son, David Boyer, with his
family, settled on Lots 13 and 14, "Con. 7, Pickering, about 1845. They built a carding mill
on the Claremont Creek just west of the sideroad between Lots 12 and 13.
This carding mill served the early settlers well for many years. They
40
took their wool there to be made into yarn.
Many farmers kept sheep. In the spring, as soon as the water warmed up a bit, the sheep
were driven down to a creek or pond and herded by some of the family while two others led
the sheep, one at a time, into the water and washed them. They were then driven into a clean
pasture to stay until their wool was perfectly dry, then taken into the barn and sheared. (That
is, the wool was clipped off as close to the skin as possible with shears, somewhat like
grass shears.)
The women would make bees for picking the wool—perhaps a dozen or more would pull the
wool apart until all dirt fell out. The wool was greased by sprinkling warm tallow on it. Then it
was piled in large piles and turned over with a pitchfork until all was evenly oiled.
This wool was sometimes carded and spun at home into yarn, but was more often taken to
the Boyer Carding Mill. Some of it was made into rolls for spinning at home into flannel as
some families had looms of their own. (In the early days the children were clothed in home-
made flannel garments, dresses and petticoats. Men's shirts and underwear also were made
of flannel. Beds were all well supplied with flannel sheets and quilts.)
The Boyer Carding Mill was sold to Cornelius J. Willson, great-grandfather of the
internationally-known news commentator, Willson Wood-side.
The Old Blacksmith's Shop - Lot 12, Con. 6
(By Milton Pegg)
When Samuel and Abe Boyer were operating the mill on Lot 12, Con. 7, a blacksmith,
George Graham, had a shop on the south side of the Seventh Concession opposite his
house, which was on the north side of the 7th, and right on the corner of the Boyer's farm.
Today, Mr. Raymond Scott owns the site of the shop and a heap of large stones marks the
place where it stood.
On the opposite corner a bed of tiger lilies, that bloom every summer, marks the place where
the house stood. Sixteen children were born there. George Graham had two girls and four
boys born before his first wife was tragically killed by a cow. He engaged a housekeeper
and later married her. To them were born ten more children.
John Graham, one of the sons of George Graham, who was born in 1864 and died in 1955
at the age of 91, learned the blacksmithing trade from his father. He must have moved to
Toronto while a young man and worked there at his trade.
In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. J. Bayles, John Graham said he worked at his trade in North
Toronto on Yonge Street for 62 years and was the last blacksmith in Toronto to quit. He
also said that he was a great-great-grandfather. His last letter to Mr. and Mrs. Bayles was
written in 1954, the year before he died, and in it he vividly described, in his own quaint way,
the times in which he lived as a boy and young man. The following is his letter, verbatim.
"We will soon have Christmas on us again and we alys think of our friends at that time. That
place alys seems near and dear to me as I was born there and spent my happy days there.
The buildens are all gone but the landscape seems much the same. That creek uest to be
live with fish, big chubs would go a pound or more and lots of speclad trout and shiners and
suckers. Us boys uest to do a lot of fishing them days. My father done great trade there and
so did Abe Boyer. Abe uest to have a road east of the bridge to go into the mill and there
was a big line up near every day.
"Carder Willson had a carding mill and the people uest to come from all over to gett their
wool carded. We never wore eny under ware in them dayes just wollen shirtes. There was a
weaver in Claremont by name of Graham MacDonald and my mother
41
uest to take yarn there and gett it made into cloth. And that was the pigon age. Every few
minots you would hear a flock coming mabey a thousand in a flock. Every body was making
pegon pie.
"Them ware the days. The young farm hands would come for miles around at night to my
father's shop and there would be a line-up on both sides of the shop setting down. Then in
turns one side would sing a song then the other side. Quite often thay would end up taking
up a colection and send to Greenwood and gett a half of whiskey. I guess they would be dry
after singing. That was the way they entertained their selfs and there ware some good nights
there."
The Brickyard
Any building, legislation, business or other good thing which remains useful beyond the
present generation will improve the standard of living for those who follow. When the
Adamsons operated their brickyard, they little knew that the school and many homes made
with bricks from that yard would be providing for our generation a hundred years hence.
The Adamson Brickyard was situated at the north end of Lot 7, Con. 5. John Adamson
operated the brickyard until his death in the early fifties. Then his son, Samuel, carried on the
family brickyard for many years.
As "grandfather" tells the tale, small boys found the brickyard very fascinating. In the daytime
there was the shouts of the men running with barrows, the crack of the whip over the horse
travelling incessantly in the circle, the rush of flame from the kiln doors. At night there was the
rosy glow from the kiln!
About one hundred years ago was the beginning of power use in brickyards. Previous to that
time the clay was mixed by hand and the ball of clay was held over the maker's head and
plunked down into the mould, scraped off, and the mould turned upside down on a pallet and
lifted off. The pallet was then set on a shelf and air dried before being put in the kiln to burn.
The process which came into use about 1860 was a one horse machine. A hopper and
barrel was constructed about two feet off the ground by six feet deep. In the centre was a
post about 18 inches in diameter. It rested in a wooden bearing at bottom and top and
projected about two feet above the top. To the top was bolted a long arm reaching near the
ground, about 25 feet from the centre. The horse was hitched to the arm and kept travelling
in a circular motion. This revolved the post which had blades with square shanks driven into
the post and set at an angle to force a downward pressure on the clay as it revolved.
The barrel was kept full of clay with a wheel barrow. As soon as the horse passed the
barrow, a man would push up the ramp and dump his load in the hopper. The one skilled
person required was the temperer who added just enough water to soften the clay. It
required very accurate tempering — if too soft it would not hold its shape after leaving the
moulds, and if too stiff it wouldn't fill the moulds in the corners.
The moulds were the shape of the brick and usually about six to a board. They were dipped
in burnt sand and shaken, then dumped be -fore being pushed through under the revolving
blades of the post. As the next set of moulds pushed them through to the opposite side, the
blades scraped off the top of them. A pallet was placed on top of the mould, then turned over
and rapped as the mould was removed, leaving the six brick on the pallet which was wheeled
to the drying racks. When completely dry they were piled in the kiln for burning. The drying
required about three weeks of good weather.
There were different types of kilns but all were down draft, meaning that the fire rose to the
top of the
42
kiln, passed down to the flues under the brick and out to the chimney. The "beehive" kiln was
round, with thick walls, and a circular dome of one length of brick on their ends. The fire
boxes projected at intervals around the outside with openings into the kiln. They required
very careful firing while warming up or steaming. Once steamed, the kiln could be fired as
hard as possible.
The bricks were burned until they started to shrink. A rod was set to extend through the top
of the kiln. It would rise with the expansion of the brick under it, and when it started to fall the
burn was complete. The kiln was then closed up tight and let cool for a week before opening.
Two things contribute to the colour of the brick — 1) not burnt long enough; 2) lack of iron
oxide in the clay. The iron oxide comes from decaying vegetation and seldom penetrates
more than three feet deep. Below this depth the clay will burn white.
Nowadays each spring there is a pond formed at the north end of Lot 7, Con. 5, where the
clay was taken out to make the Adamson brick. When viewed from the west side of the pond,
the old Church at Salem (built of brick from this yard) is to be seen through the graceful, lacy
willows.
Potash
In the early days one of the ways to make a livelihood was to cut the timber which was so
plentiful, not for lumber, but to be burned to produce black salts and potash. The logs were
cut and hauled by oxen and piled in what they called "log heaps". They were then burned and
the ashes were used for making of potash.
Thomas Gleeson had an "ashery" on the Fifth Concession, west of the Low Road. He made
potash and soap. Some of Thomas Gleeson's family were: Edward, Michael, Patrick, Jack
and Conrad. ("Ned" had a hotel at Greenwood for many years. Michael was the genial
merchant of whom you can read in the story of the Store elsewhere in this history.)
To make potash they had first to build a letch to leach the ashes. A platform of timber was
made with a trough-shaped log in the middle which extended 12 or 15 inches beyond the
platform at one end. On top of the platform was a wall three or four feet high, also made of
timber and as air-tight as possible. Hardwood ashes were filled into this, and as it would be
about twelve feet long, it would hold quite a quantity of ashes. The ashes would be hollowed
out in the centre and water poured in. It took a great deal of water to soak through to the
bottom and start running out of the end of the trough.
An iron kettle was used to catch the lye thus formed. Then it was emptied into what was
called a potash kettle, holding about 35 gallons. This had to be put over a fire and boiled to
a certain degree, then made into large cakes when cooled.
Potash was shipped in huge barrels, made of heavy oak staves and containing 560 pounds
of pure potash. This was the concentrated product of about an acre of standing hardwood
timber. A bushel of hardwood ashes was said to make about five pounds of potash. In the
early days potash brought from $80 to $120 a hogshead (560 pounds), and with wheat
selling at 40 cents a bushel, black salts and potash made more money for the farmer.
The potash was drawn to Lake Ontario, probably the harbour at Frenchman's Bay, where it
was loaded onto sailing vessels.
* * *
Other 1869-71 artisans at Greenwood were: Robert GRAHAM, James HENDERSON,
shoemakers; Eliza McKITTRICK, Sophia TATE, milliners; James McMURRAY, James
SADLER, Wm. TATE, carpenters; J. R. MONTGOMERY, insurance agent; David DUNLOP,
agricultural implement agent.
43
The Saw Mills
(By Alan Clark)
As mentioned elsewhere, Samuel Boyer had a saw mill near his flour and gristing mill on Lot
12, Concession 7, to the north of the village. Nicholas Howell had a saw mill as one of his
enterprises in Howell's Hollow to the west of the village, on Lot 15, Concession 5. To the
south-west of Greenwood George Ballard had a saw mill located in the south quarter of Lot
15, Concession 5.
And, almost in the village itself, James Demorest built a saw mill on Lot 12, Concession 6,
just to the north of the Upper Mill. It is believed that this saw mill was situated about where No.
7 Highway crosses Duffin's Creek and it is conjectured that it was supplied water power by
means of a flume brought west from the mill-race.
The saw mills of early times did not contain circular saws, but a type known as "gate saws").
This was a great crosscut saw blade suspended between a hardwood frame of seven or
eight feet in length and about six to eight feet wide. This whole frame was made to move up
and down in a sawing motion by eccentrics. Not much water power was necessary for this
design of a mill.
The feeding of the log through the saw could be by hand, by gravity, or by a ratchet device.
Few of them handled logs more than sixteen feet long, and it is said of them that "you could
start a board, go in and have your dinner, and when you came out the board was cut off."
It is believed that the mills mentioned above, except the one on Lot 12, Concession 7,
ceased to operate before the turn of the century, for by this time the countryside was cleared
to a point even greater than that of today.
The Greenwood Blacksmith Shop
Since the earliest days of Greenwood there has been a Blacksmith Shop, that requisite of
every prosperous pioneer village.
It is situated at the bottom of the hill and was convenient to the mills. It was here that the
whole community went to have shoes put on their horses, farm machinery repaired, or to
have small tools made.
We do not know the names of all the blacksmiths who have been at Greenwood. We know
that Michael Ryan did blacksmithing here in 1871. Mr. Virtue and George Law were early
blacksmiths. In 1884 William Beaton, son of Hector Beaton, who was Pickering Township
Clerk for many years, rented the Shop.
Walter Wilson, a grandson of the pioneer Richard Wilson, spent most of his life as the
Blacksmith of Greenwood. In 1927 Walter went to Toronto for a few years and during that
time the Shop was rented to Pat Mantell, Fred Woodward and Ralph Sadler, successively.
In the year 1899 Walter Wilson married Ottalena Walters of Oak-wood. They made their early
home at Audley. They had two sons, Lloyd and George, and a daughter who died. In 1906
they moved to Greenwood and Walter operated the blacksmith shop, with the exception of
the few years mentioned above.
The craftsmanship of Walter Wilson was known throughout the Township and well beyond.
His forging skills with cast metals and his tempering skills with tool and veterinary -
instrument steel were in constant and widespread demand. Coupled with this, he was an
expert shoer of horses and a skilled woodworker.
He made many small tools, as well as sleighs, wagons and spike harrows. Old-timers recall
the busy years when his shop turned out 200 horseshoes a day. Business declined as
tractors replaced horses and there
44
was not such a need for a village blacksmith.
In 1959 at the age of 86 Mr. Walter Wilson went to live with his son, Lloyd, in Oshawa. There
will be no other blacksmiths in Greenwood. The old Shop is used now as a stable for the
Rogers' riding horses.
A picture ,is worth a thousand words! On the cover of this book is a copy of a painting of the
Blacksmith Shop at Greenwood.
We gratefully acknowledge permission granted by the famous Canadian artist, Mr. Manly
Macdonald, for the privilege of using his picture (The Village Smithy) on the cover of this
book "Greenwood Through the Years". Mr. Macdonald painted this picture of the Greenwood
Blacksmith Shop, with Wes. Sadler's team before the open door and the "Green" home in
the background.
Greenwood Store
(By Mrs. Charles McTaggart)
It would seem that there has been a Store at the bottom of Greenwood Hill since the early
days of the village. We understand that the original structure was a long, low frame building
situated on the south-west corner.
The first owner of whom we have record was Frederick Meen, storekeeper and telegraph
operator in the year 1869. (The old Montreal Telegraph line crossed from Whitby to Markham
and had an office in Greenwood. Mr. Meen Came to Canada in 1860 from England. The
Historical Atlas of Ontario County, published in 1877 by J. H. Beers and Company, lists
Frederick Meen in the triple capacity of Merchant, Postmaster, and Division Court Clerk.
When the original store burned it was rebuilt on the north-west corner, a little bit north and
west of the present (1960) building.
Michael Gleeson operated the business for many years. As nearly as we can ascertain, it
could have been from 1882 to 1919. A visitor to Greenwood in 1884 recorded this for us:
"At the foot of the hill, occupying a prominent business position, we find Michael Gleeson,
Esq. holding forth in the four-fold capacity of Division Court Clerk, Postmaster, Telegraph
Operator and General Storekeeper. Michael is evidently appreciated as a business man.
His store is well filled with general merchandise and he and his assistants seem to have
their hands full in attending to the wants of numerous customers."' Michael Gleeson's family
was Frank, Walter, Lyman, Levi and Sophronia.
In 1909 the Store became the property of Frederick and Walter Green and remained in the
Green possession until 1946.
Bert Harvey and Sons took over the business in 1920. They were followed in 1928 by Philip
Willows. One cold Sunday evening in January 1929 flames shot up and the old frame
building was burned to the ground by a fire of unknown origin.
While the new building was being constructed by William Sadler, business was carried on in
the house now (1960) owned by Ken Elson. William Sadler remained the storekeeper at
Greenwood until his sudden death. He was followed by Mr. Bethel in 1942, and later by Mr.
Blythe.
Joe Wannop took over the business in 1944 and later purchased the property. Their
daughter is Marion, now Mrs. Jack Stone. In 1948 Joe Wannop sold the Store to Charles
McTaggart.
During 1950 and part of 1951 Mr. and Mrs. John McTaggart operated the business and in
1953 it was sold to Mr. Crozier. George W. Pentland purchased the store in 1954 and
resold to Mrs. E. T. Clarke in 1955. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke and their son, Douglas, operate the
Greenwood Store today (1960). Doug, has one son, Bobbie.
"There's something in the atmosphere
Of a country store that spreads good cheer."
45
Illustrations - The Greenwood Store, pictured when Michael Gleeson was the proprietor.
..................- Greenwood General Store in 1960, and the Blacksmith Shop is shown at the right
of the picture.
The Post Office
The first post office in the County was opened in 1823 at Hamar's Corners, a mile and a half
east of Whitby. It was operated in connection with a general store kept by the Warren
brothers, John and William. This store at Hamar's Corners is said to have been the only
store at that time between York (Toronto) and Port Hope. (For more about the Warren family,
see "Early Greenwood Families").
In 1827 Donald Cameron of Beaverton obtained the consent of the Postmaster-General that
a man could be employed in carrying mail matter between Beaverton and the Warren Post
Office on the Kingston Road. A subscription was raised and Kenneth Campbell was
appointed postman. He walked from Beaverton to Whitby once every two weeks. He
received the subscriptions and a small sum from the persons for whom he carried letters. It
is possible that the settlers in the Greenwood area had an arrangement with one of the four
families at Winchester (now Brooklin) whereby their mail would be carried that far by Mr.
Campbell.
Incidentally, it is recorded that when it was first proposed to establish post offices at Duffin's
Creek (Pickering) and Skea's Corners (Oshawa), the Postmaster at Hamar's Corners,
protested stoutly on the ground that he could do all the post office business for these
townships and have plenty of time to spare.
We understand that in the late 1830's a post office was opened near Brougham (Lot 15,
Con. 5) and the settlers from the area took turns at walking for the mail.
In the early days, the carrying and delivery of mail was indeed a somewhat uncertain
adventure. Today, our mail is carried swiftly, safely and surely all over the world—provided
that it is correctly addressed!
In 1851, when Canada first issued stamps for the prepayment of post-
age, the Postmaster received payment in English currency. (This was only eleven years
after the first postage stamps were issued in Great Britain.) Canada's first postage issue
was in three values. The red threepenny stamp bore a picture of a beaver. The violet
sixpenny stamp carried the portrait of Albert, the Prince Consort, and the black twelvepenny
had as its illustration the portrait of the youthful Queen Victoria.
In 1859 Canada changed its currency to dollars and cents, and an entirely new set of stamps
was produced in 1, 5, 10, 12 1/2 and 17 cent values.
When a daily mail delivery was established from Whitby to Brooklin and across to Brougham,
a post office was opened at Greenwood. Most of the time the post office has been in
connection with the General Store. However, we know that in 1869 the Postmaster was Dr.
Adam Fullarton. Dr. Fullarton, besides being a Medical Doctor, was a Justice of the Peace,
and also operated a drugstore where Bybergs now (1960) live.
In 1908 Rural Mail Delivery was inaugurated. The Post Office Department undertook the
delivery and collection of mail matter to and from persons residing in rural districts along the
line of travel of all existing stage routes. Any person living more than one-quarter mile from a
town or village could take advantage of the opportunity afforded to have his mail delivered in
a box at the roadside. Thus, a number of the families who had, prior to 1908, received their
mail at the Greenwood Post Office, became holders of rural mail boxes on R. R. No. 1,
Locust Hill.
* * *
Besides the thrills, spills and joys of Greenwood Hill, it was used as a "testing ground" for
General Motors' new cars before they built their proving grounds in Oshawa in the early
1930's.
47
In Times of Illness
In the earliest days people simply had to do their own doctoring and many women were
forced to use whatever practical skill they had acquired. The Indians had used the local trees
and herbs as medicine for generations. Many early settlers were glad to learn what they
could from these herbalists.
Cholera first reached Canada in 1832. As the disease was brought to our shores by ships,
Canada established a quarantine station at Grosse Island, below Quebec in February of
1832. There were four later cholera epidemics, the last being in 1854. These epidemics
spread from community to community all across what is now southern Ontario.
Today's residents do not recall any outbreaks of cholera or smallpox among their ancestors
in Greenwood, but it is not likely that the early settlers here missed these early deadly
scourges.
One seldom hears of smallpox in Canada today and our medical students graduate without
seeing a case. It was in 1798, through the genius and courage of a man named Jenner, that
medicine learned to substitute a mild disease, cowpox, for the plague of smallpox. The date
"1798" doesn't tell the whole story, however. There is always a latent period before the status
of new procedures is accepted and their use on a community scale undertaken.
Smallpox has ravaged all races in all climes and areas of the world since the dawn of history,
and the pioneers of Upper Canada were no exception. An epidemic of smallpox often broke
out among the Indians, almost wiping out entire villages, and it often was spread by traders
and others to the white settlements. We know that some pioneer families did their own
"vaccination" against smallpox. A father vaccinated his child by cutting two small pieces of
flesh out of her arms and two on the abdomen. Then, taking a scab from someone who was
getting well of the disease, or a vaccination scab, he rubbed it on the wounded parts. Three
days later it took effect and the child was immunized.
Among the immigrants in the great tide from the British Isles in the 1840's ship's fever
became very prevalent.
A local resident has been told how her great-grandfather, with his wife and three-year old
daughter emigrated to Canada on a wooden sailing vessel in 1842. Ship's fever broke out
on the nine week trip and his wife with many others died on board and were buried at sea.
When the vessel reached Port Hope, the father died of the fever, leaving the three-year old
girl without a relative in this new country. Another family from the ship took care of the girl
until she was eight. Then she started to work for other families for her keep and education.
It is recorded that in 1847 ship's fever caused the death of 5,293 immigrants on board ship.
And of the 8,563 who were admitted to Grosse Ile Quarantine Hospital on arrival, 3,452 died.
Today the scourge of diphtheria is banished. Practically every child in Canada is protected
against this fatal disease. Yet few realize that their fathers or grandfathers lived in an era
when antitoxin was unknown. It was only in the years 1923-25 that the diphtheria and tetanus
toxoids were discovered by Ramon who learned how to convert the deadly poisons, or
toxins, to harmless toxoids which proved to be potent immunizing agents in the case of
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids.
The Brown family recall hearing how the dread diphtheria struck the home of Mrs. John
Brown when she was a child. Her brother died. A neighbour who was caring for little Emaline
during the funeral decided to try another cure she had heard of — everyone had said that the
little girl couldn't live. She used a fly blister on the child's throat and she recovered.
Many a pioneer mother has looked
48
into her child's throat to find it covered with the dreaded fungus of diphtheria. A treatment
which was sometimes successful was swabbing the throat with sulphur and then giving them
charcoal to eat to clear the passages and prevent strangling.
In 1902 the Lynde children attended Greenwood school one day with throats so sore that
they couldn't eat. Other children urged them to try some of their lunch. It was the dread
diphtheria the children had and school was closed for several weeks. Two of the Lynde
children and Mrs. Lynde died. Florence Trimble contracted the diphtheria at school and also
died. We believe these were the last deaths at Greenwood from diphtheria.
Truly, the conquest of diphtheria is a "modern" success story. Within five or six years of the
discovery of the toxoid in 1923 it was being used on a fairly wide and increasing scale.
An immediate and dramatic decline in both cases and deaths occurred. Whereas in 1929 in
Toronto there were 1,030 cases; in 1940 there were no cases and the number per year since
then has been few or none.
Today an appendix operation is no longer a major operation, with modern methods of
surgery and wonder drugs, but in the olden days it was called "Inflammation of the Bowels"
and usually was a fatal condition.
Bleeding by a "leech" was a favourite old-time treatment for many ills.
According to the Rev. William R. Wood's book, "Past Years in Pickering," Greenwood's first
doctor was a Dr. Caddie, after whom came Dr. Tucker, who later moved to Pickering. In
1869 Dr. Adam Fullarton was a resident of Greenwood, and had been for some years, for
he oversaw the building of the Greenwood School in 1860.
Grim Tragedy
Bill Pengelly told of the grim tragedy which took place before the turn of the century. Fred
Wood, his wife, their son David, who was about fourteen, and their daughter Lydia, who was
about eleven, moved into a vacant house across the road from the Pengelly home.
David, or "Bud", worked for Pengelly and was a nice lad. Lydia went to school. Bill said that
Mrs. Wood was a fine little woman and Mr. Wood wasn't a bad short when he was sober but
could think of nothing but getting more "booze". He probably moved there to be close to the
still in Howell's Hollow. The only work he did was for a few days at a time at the still and he
took all of his pay in whiskey. (Today he would be termed an alcoholic.) He was very
quarrelsome and abusive when he was drinking. The Pengellys were often awakened with
his quarreling.
Bud slept in the hay loft so that he could get his rest. One morning he didn't come to work as
usual. Later he came running over, calling for help. He said that his father was going to kill
his mother. Bill ran back. When he was between the window and door, he heard a shot. He
went in and found Fred Wood lying near the door with a smoking pistol in his hand. He was
dead. Mrs. Wood raised on her elbow where she was in the middle of the room and asked if
he was dead. She had been shot three times in the abdomen. Poor Lydia was cowering in
the corner.
Fortunately Georgina Pengelly, who was a nurse, was at home. Supplies needed in nursing
Mrs. Wood were brought from the Pengelly home and Nurse Pengelly gave her every care,
but she died in the evening. Relatives claimed the bodies and took the children home with
them.
We sat quietly in the twilight for a while, thinking of this tragedy which took place near where
we sat, so many years ago. At last Bill's face brightened — for he did enjoy telling a story, if
the joke was on himself.
49
"But, that wasn't all of it," Bill stated. "I was an ignorant young 'gulpin' at that time. They kept
sending me bills for the two coffins I had ordered. I owed Wood nothing and wasn't going to
pay the bill. Then they sent me a summons to go to court at Whitby. They asked if I would
'swear'. I told them I would tell the truth but I wouldn't swear. I said that I did swear at times
and probably would again, but I didn't feel like swearing now, and I wouldn't. They wouldn't
listen to anything I said and the case went against me."
He said that another man went with him to the judge the next day and got things straightened
out.
Bill then told us that there was a sequel to the story. About a month before we were talking of
this incident, a fine big car, with a California licence, stopped at the Pengelly house. The
couple who called on them was the former Lydia Wood and her Doctor husband.
"She had been very happy, except for the tragedy of her parents' death. She thought that if
she talked to someone who knew all the facts, it would no longer be confused with childish
horrors and she could forget it."
"They were a charming couple, and it was nice meeting her again," concluded Bill.
Greenwood Militia
For a number of years Greenwood had an active militia. The drill shed was on the west side
of Lot 10, Con. 6.
Let us hear part of the story in the words of William Warren, a resident of Greenwood from
1850 to 1866.
"On May 25, 1857, I was appointed a lieutenant in the Fourth Battalion, Ontario Militia, with
Lieut-Col. Bennett commanding. In 1862, the Canadian government, with trouble between
the United States and Canada over the Trent affair, called for volunteer companies of the
militia of Canada. I raised a volunteer company at Greenwood of 55 men, and was gazetted
captain of the company on January 9, 1863.
(Samuel J. Green was appointed ensign of the Greenwood company in 1858, under Sir
Edmund Walker Head, 'Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief,' and D. Macdonnell,
lieutenant-colonel. And, in 1863, under the regime of Monck S. J. Green was made
lieutenant.)
"In the spring of 1866 I was ordered to take my company of volunteers and the Uxbridge
company and proceed to Niagara-on-the Lake, to relieve two companies of Militia from
Quebec which had got into disgrace with the civic authorities of that town. We remained in
Butler's Barracks in that town until May 20th, when we were recalled.
"On June 2, 1866, we were again ordered out to attack the Fenians who had crossed the
border at Fort Erie. We went direct to the suspension bridge at Clifton, and from there to
Port Colborne to reinforce the 13th Battalion of Hamilton, which was stationed there after
the battle at Ridgeway. I had under my command the Greenwood Infantry Company and the
Oshawa Infantry Company.
(At the time of the Fenian Raids the Greenwood company included the following: Frederick
Meen, Frederick Green, Samuel Green, Charles Green, John Boddy, J. Mitchell, M. Ryan,
Judson Gibson and Joseph Shea.)
"After everything had quietened down, we were ordered home until the fall of that year. In the
fall we went into camp at Thorold, under the command of General Wolseley, later Lord
Wolseley, commander-in-chief of the British Army."
To refresh the reader's memory— The Fenians were a group of Irish fanatics who hated the
English. They gathered together after the American Civil War. Some had the wild idea of
conquering Canada and continuing their conquest to vanquish England. The American
government apparently made no attempt to control them. Numerous groups of
50
armed Fenians gathered along the Canadian border in the spring of 1866. There was
activity in various places from Detroit to New Brunswick.
In March 1866, the Canadian government considered the situation grave. They called up
10,000 men to defend the many miles of border. It was a dreary wait for the volunteer army.
As the invasion failed to materialize, men who had left their farms and businesses to answer
the call became very anxious.
On June 1, 1866, they learned that the Fenians had entered Canada and were about four
miles from Fort Erie. Our troops closed in at Chippewa, Port Colborne and Dunnville.
The next morning 600 Fenians and about the same number of our troops had a skirmish
near Fort Erie. The Canadians were repulsed and made an orderly retreat. However, on
June 3rd the Fenians were severely beaten at Stephensville about five miles from Fort Erie.
The Battle of Ridgeway was another win for the Canadian volunteers. Although alarms
continued for several weeks, the Fenian Raids were over. Nine of the volunteer Canadians
had been killed.
The Fenian Raids caused a good deal of concern and alarm in Canada for the Canadian
border was very vulnerable. It was difficult to find out how strong the Fenian army was and
just what the American attitude was toward the raids. June was a very anxious month in
Canada in 1866.
The Two World Wars
On Tuesday, August 4, 1914, there began what was to become known as the Great War.
Eleven names are on the "Roll of Honour" at Greenwood.
BAIRD, Charles
BROWN, Fred R.
MAIR, J. Archie
MIDDLETON, W. Percy
NUTT, Fred
NUTTALL, Harry
PEGG, Milton
RUSSELL, Milton
TRIMBLE, W. Christopher
WIDEMAN, Garnet H.
WILSON, Ronald
(Sgt. Fred R. BROWN made the
supreme sacrifice at Vimy in
1917.)
Canada officially declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939, and we were into
World War II. Fifteen names are on the Roll.
ANNIS, Lawrence
BROWN, Fred
CAMPBELL, Ross
HODGSON, Fred
KINNEAR, James
McARTHUR, Angus
McARTHUR, Neil
McVEY, Robert
PARKS, Lawson
SHORT, Allan
SHORT, Harold
SHORT, Vernon
SILCOX, Rev. A. P.
WILKIE, Lee
WILKIE, Lorne
____________________________________
GREENWOOD HILL —
(By W. J. Brown)
I wandered to the summit,
They named it Greenwood Hill;
Many times went I as a boy,
And love to go there still.
Such a panoramic picture,
To North and East and West
Of farm lands, woods and rivulets,
An ideal place to rest.
Against this pleasant hillside
A village lies serene.
In days that have gone by
Was quite a busy scene.
Where grist mill, store and shop,
Were going in full sway.
Now turned to a summer place,
Here children come to play. . . .
I've wandered many places
Both near and far and wide.
But at the top of this hill,
Is where I would abide.
51
Pioneer Families
McKITTRICK-DISNEY FAMILY
In 1812 Andrew McKittrick came to Canada from the north of Ireland and with his mother
settled at Greenwood. It is said that Mrs. McKittrick brought to Canada with her a belt of
golden sovereigns, with which she purchased her land in the Greenwood district. Andrew
McKittrick, as a boy, shared with his mother, a sister, and two brothers (John and James) the
perils of a settler's life.
When Andrew had grown to manhood he went back to Ireland to claim his bride-to-be, only
to find that she had died while he was in Canada. The girl he was to have married was of the
Byers family, and as he stood, grief-saddened before her mother, the woman took pity on
him and, nodding to the baby girl in a cradle, said, "I'll keep her for you, Andrew." The young
man accepted the offer, and returned to Canada to perfect his farm. When the baby girl,
Jane Byers, had grown to a handsome lass of eighteen, the Byers family came to Canada,
and she was married to Andrew McKittrick, in fulfilment of the family pledge.
Andrew and Jane made their home on the McKittrick farm, Lots 9 and 10, Con. 5. They had
a family of six: Mary (Mrs. W. Ianson), James, John, William (Lot 10, Con. 6), Elizabeth (Mrs.
Stilwell), Sarah (Mrs. John E. Disney). Jane McKittrick outlived her husband. In 1897 she
rented the farm to Smith Cochrane, also the Corbett brothers. There were two houses on the
property, one west of the stone house.
Mrs. Andrew McKittrick died in 1900. The 100 acre farm (parts of Lots 9 and 10, Con. 5)
was sold to John E. Disney, her son-in-law. John and Sarah Disney had a family of three
sons—Fred, Lew, and Stanley.
Fred Disney married Gertrude Gibson in 1907. Their children were: Vernon, Elmo, Ross
(Greenwood), and Dorothy. Fred bought his father's farm and lived on it two and a half
years. It was then rented for ten years to Joe Wideman. Fred Disney and family then returned
to the farm and lived there for twenty-two years.
(In 1943 the farm was sold to Edward Pascoe. Ed. and Susie Pascoe have a family of five:
Lloyd of Claremont, Jean (Mrs. James Thomas) of Stouffville, Neil of Greenwood, and Allan
and Grant at home.)
* * *
THE BYERS FAMILY HISTORY . .
(By Fred Byers)
Andrew Byers was born in Ireland and his wife, Nancy Mills, was born in Scotland. In 1838
they emigrated to Canada and settled on a fifty acre farm (parts of Lots 13 and 14 of the
Sixth Concession of Pickering).
They had a family of seven: John, Jane (Mrs. Andrew McKittrick), Elizabeth, Catherine,
Andrew, James and William.
One of the youngest sons, James Byers, carried on the home farm. James maried Jane
Devitt in 1887 and they had four children: Fred, Leslie, Agnes, and Stanley. Leslie was
drowned in the creek in 1902, at the age of twelve.
In the year 1920 Fred Byers married Ethel Wilson and they made their home on the farm on
Lot 13 of the Sixth Concession, immediately south of the Byers "home" farm. Fred and Ethel
had two children, the first one died at birth. Their daughter Marjorie married Douglas Morden
and they live in the village of Greenwood. Marjorie and Douglas have a family of three—
Lloyd, Larry and Mary Lou.
Agnes Byers married Perry Wilson and farmed the George Wilson "home" farm. Agnes and
Perry had one son, Leslie. He married Marion Disney and they have two daughters —Janice
and Donna.
Stanley Byers married Gladys Dolphin. Their daughter, Lois, married Charles Flynn and has
four children. Stan continues to live on the original "Byers" farm.
52
WILLIAM SADLER'S FAMILY
(By Wesley Sadler)
William Sadler and his wife came from England. About 1840 they settled on the fifty-acre
farm which in 1960 is owned by Wilmot (Dick) Tweedie (Lot 13, Con. 6). They had to clear
the land as it was still covered with large pine trees. They had seven children: William, John,
Mary Ann (Mrs. Spence Taylor), Frances, Anne (Mrs. Harry McQuoid, Lot 10, Con. 5), Sarah
(Mrs. Frank Harbron), and Harry.
The youngest child, Harry Sadler, married Mary Ann Fisher. They lived for a number of years
on the farm now (1960) owned by Mr. and Mrs. J. Brooks (at the north end of Lot 13, Con. 6).
Harry and Mary Ann had four children: Sam, Kate, William, and Wesley.
When William Sadler gave up farming his son, Harry, took over the farm. Mr. and Mrs.
William Sadler Sr. bought a house from Mr. Andy Byers and moved it onto the fifty acres
(Lot 12, Con. 6)which they had bought, from Mr. Boyer. The dam that held the water to run
the Green Mills was on this property. (It is just across the road from Fred Byers present
home.) They lived there till they died.
Harry Sadler died when his youngest son, Wesley, was a year and a half old. The family
continued to live on the farm till William Sadler Sr. died, then they moved up to the house
where he had been. They lived there till the year 1911 when they rented the farm owned by
Mrs. Tom Catherwood.
The Sadler family lived on the Catherwood Farm (Lot 14, Con. 6) till Wesley married Gladys
Trimble in the year 1922, at which time Mrs. Harry Sadler purchased the old farm (Lot 13,
Con. 6) back from John Adamson who then owned it. (He had bought it from Frances Sadler.)
So, Mrs. Harry Sadler, and three of her family—Sam, William and Kate —moved back to the
Old Sadler Homestead.
Wesley and Gladys Sadler stayed on the Catherwood farm, which they
bought in the year 1927. They still live on the same farm (Lot 14, Con. 6). In the year 1961
Wesley will have lived on this farm for fifty years. The family of Wesley and Glayds Sadler
was Eileen (Mrs. Lome Slute of Raglan) and Ernie, who died when he was sixteen years old.
THE GREEN FAMILY
In July 1833 Frederick Green first landed in Quebec and began his Canadian career. He
had set sail from the Old Land on May 17th, 1833. The record of his six weeks' journey
across the ocean by sail, the storms encountered, and the daily activities on board are
inscribed in a diary still in the possession of the Green family, as is his apprenticeship papers.
The apprenticeship agreement shows that on the 20th day of July in the 7th year of our
sovereign lord, George IV, he was apprenticed by his father, Samuel Green, of March, Isle
of Ely, County of Cambridge, for three years to learn his "art" of miller and baker. The sum
paid by his father was 35 pounds.
Under the terms of the indenture the apprentice was forbidden to "play at cards or dice
tables." It was agreed that "he shall neither buy nor sell, nor contract matrimony within the
said term, and he shall not haunt taverns or play- -houses nor absent himself from his said
master's service day or night unlawfully."
Frederick Green's first position in Canada was in Gray's Mill, north of Toronto. From there he
went to Bogartstown, near Newmarket, and later to Capt. Milne's mill at Markham.
In 1843 he came to the village of Norwood, afterward named "Greenwood" in his honour.
The Green family were successful business men. For details of their milling enterprises, read
"The Lower Mill" and "The Upper Mill".
Frederick Green's wife was Agnes Bell and their family was: Samuel J. (born in 1836), Mary
A. (Mrs.
53
Benjamin Meen), Frederick, Margaret (Mrs. John Lawton of Kinsale), Susan (Mrs. Levi
Mackey), and Charles R. (Mrs. Mary Ann Meen died in her 87th year — she was the last
member of the old-time Green family.)
Mrs. Frederick Green Sr. was a great lover of flowers and as an early settler presented
seeds, plants and shrubs to the neighbours all around the district. She had the genius not
only to develop her love of flowers but to transmit to her grandson a family trait of great value.
Samuel J. Green followed his father in the milling business at Greenwood. He married
Catherine Slater of Markham Township. Their family was: Frederick L., Walter S., Minnie C.
(Mrs. A. Burk), and Catherine.
Samuel J. Green was a Deputy Reeve of Pickering Township in 1877, the year before his
death at the age of 41. Mrs. S. J. Green took great interest in the works of the Methodist
Church. August 27th, 1906, Mrs. S. J. Green died, in her 70th year, and was buried beside
her husband in Salem Cemetery.
Frederick L. Green carried on the Green enterprises in the Village. Along with many other
interests, Fred L. Green was the proprietor of Unadilla Farm. He kept a large herd of high
producing Jerseys and had the honour of being the President of the Dominion Jersey
Breeders Association.
In 1894 Frederick L. Green married Miss Katherine E. Stevenson. Their home was on the
east side of the road leading to the Upper Mill. In 1913 the present beautiful brick home was
built. It was surrounded by expansive lawns, trees, and many rare flowers. On the west side
of the roadway there was another acre of the most beautiful and rare flowers. A sundial
made from stones preserved from the original Greenwood grist mill, is an interesting
ornament in the gardens. On the sundial are the words "Grow old along with me, the best is
yet to be."
On a Saturday and Sunday afternoon in late June 1923, a Peony
Social was held at Green's by the Ladies' Aid of the little frame Methodist Church. A
newspaper account stated that they considered it the finest natural display of peonies that
existed in the Dominion of Canada, and flower lovers from far and near, who had received
word of the Social were delighted to be present and were amply rewarded for their visit.
Although the exhibition was a first attempt it was a splendid success. Thereafter, annually,
Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Green exhibited their flowers and sold bouquets as a contribution to the
Greenwood Church. Mr. Green's gardens were planned so that not a Sunday in the year
would go by when he did not decorate the pulpit of the little church with flowers.
Their daughter, Miss Edna Green, continued to live in the family home until it was sold in
June 1957 to the Rogers family. At the time of writing, Edna is in her new home on the Low
Road.
* * *
THE WILLIAM CLARK FAMILY
(By Alan Clark)
Robert Clark was of a sea-faring family. He was born in a small town on the coast of
Yorkshire in 1804, and when he became a young man he owned his own boat. In the
summer he lived in England's north country and in the winter he took residence in the south.
Within a few years he became a sea captain who travelled in many countries, sailing as a
fisherman in the summer months and as a tea merchant in the winter. According to an old
remembrance, his tobacco box of 1825, he resided in the town of Wilton, Yorkshire, in what
is known as the Vale of Pickering. It is believed that in that year he married Isabella Sadler,
and in 1826 he emigrated, with his wife and brother John, to Canada.
He settled on a tract of land in Hogg's Hollow, York Township, on Yonge Street at a point
then some eight miles north of Toronto, or Muddy York. For this property he
54
had secured the timber rights. Here he traded in horses, and contracted with the provincial
government at Toronto to supply some 200 cords of wood annually for the government
buildings. At these business enterprises he prospered, and in 1837 he branched out and
purchased a 100 acre farm on Lot 16 on the Base Line at Pickering from Isaac Linton, a fellow
immigrant and neighbour from Yorkshire. It is not known how much of this farm was cleared, at
any rate, he continued to reside with his wife and family in York Township.
Six of his seven children were born at Hogg's Hollow—William (1836), Sarah (1837), Isabella
(1839), James (1840), Robert Jr. (who died in infancy, 1841), and Mary (1842). From 1826
to 1843 he resided at Hogg's Hollow.
In 1843 he purchased a second farm of ninety-six acres from James McMurray at Greenwood
on the 6th Concession of Pickering. The Crown patent for this property, like that of many
properties on the 5th, 6th and 7th Concessions of Pickering, was given to one, James
Farrand, in 1798. In 1825, the property was willed to the Hon. John Elmsley from whose wife
James McMurray purchased the property in 1835. To this farm Robert Clark brought his wife
and family in the spring of 1843, after an arduous journey from York Harbour to Frenchman's
Bay, and thence to Greenwood over primitve roads.
The family were sheltered in a comfortable log cabin (the foundation stones of which are still
visible from No. 7 Highway), and the stock of some twenty horses and a few cows were
quartered in the several barns and sheds, all of which the McMurray's had built. Only eight
acres of land were cleared at the front of the farm, and the hardwood forest contained both
deer and bear. A large beaver dam spanned the creek in the narrows of the flats half way
back the farm, and this stream contained an abundance of fish. A small orchard was planted
in the yard of the log cabin that summer; the clearing of the land was carried on
simultaneously with the seeding and the harvesting.
Some eighteen months later, Robert Clark died after a short illness in his fortieth year, on
October 19, 1844. His was the third burial in Salem Cemetery. Three months later his
seventh child, Robert Thomas, was born, however, this son died within a year and was
buried beside his father. In his active life, Robert Clark had accomplished a great deal, but
did not live to see his family mature, nor his farm cleared. With his passing went one of the
original pioneers of the Greenwood area.
Isabella Clark, Robert's widow, continued to manage the affairs of the two farms with the
assistance of John Sadler, Isaac Linton and the neighbours. In addition she had the rearing
of her young family, the eldest of which was only eight years old when her husband died. In
due time, William, her eldest son, and James grew into manhood and took over the
management of the farms. The dividing of the properties was determined by the balancing
of a walking stick; the Pickering farm went to James, and the Greenwood farm went to
William. In her latter years, Isabella Clark enjoyed the comforts of the large brick house which
was designed by her son William, and which was built in or about 1866. Her daughters
Sarah and Mary, and her sister Susan Sadler resided with her; William and his wife, Sophia
Maria (Graham), to whom he was married in 1867, having made their home in the log cabin.
In 1875 at the age of 73, Isabella (Sadler) Clark died, and was buried beside her husband,
Robert, and her infant son in Salem Cemetery.
By the time of her passing, Isabella Clark had seen four of the seven grandchildren that were
born to William and Sophia at the log cabin— Robert II (1869), Louisa (1871), William
Graham (1873), and Lock-wood (1874). The three younger children—Thomas (1877, who
died in infancy), Franklin (1878), and Lavina (1881), were born after William had moved
from the log cabin to the brick house. In 1883, Sophia Clark's
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death left William a widower with six children. Louisa, who was by then twelve years old,
gradually assumed responsibility for the household until her marriage to George Mutch of
Pickering. The eldest son, Robert II, a gifted scholar, died when only twenty-two; his brother,
Lock-wood, had died four years earlier at the age of fourteen.
William Clark, like his father Robert, was a keen horse fancier and breeder. He purchased
in or about 1875 an imported stallion which brought distinction to his stable at Greenwood.
This stallion, Warmanbie, having acquired top honours in his class at Canadian competitions,
was shown at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876 where he was awarded the Gold Medal
for "the best light stallion in the field" against international competition. Warmanbie sired
many outstanding foals in Ontario, Durham and York Counties before he was acquired by
other owners.
From the mid-eighteen-nineties, William Clark had found it necessary, with the marrying of
his daughters, to retain housekeepers. For nearly 20 years his household was managed in
this way. From 1908 to his death, these duties were carried out by Annie Jardine, who had
come directly from Dumfrieshire, Scotland, to the residence at Greenwood. On June 10,
1914, William suffered a stroke and was buried at the age of 78 beside his wife and their
three sons. With the passing of his generation went the firsthand accounts of pioneering in
Pickering Township.
Some months later, William Graham married Annie Jardine, and they continued to reside
and operate the farm at Greenwood until their deaths in 1956 and 1950 respectively. Among
many other things, to William and Annie goes much credit in particular for the preserving of
the family records and the pioneer antiques which had been collected over the one hundred
and fifteen years since Robert and -Isabella Clark had come to Greenwood.
William and Annie had a family of four—William Eric and Alan are their sons, and Dorothy
and Phyllis are their daughters. Both William and Alan live in the Clark home at Greenwood.
William married Pearl Fyke and they have two children, David and Suzanne. Dorothy married
Percy Jones and they live on Lot 7, Con. 7, with their family, Sharyn and Keith. Phyllis married
Donald Piett. They and their children, Paul and Judith, make their home at Hamilton.
* * *
THE GEORGE WILSON FAMILY
(By Mrs. Agnes Wilson)
George Wilson came from England about 1840 and settled on the one-hundred acre farm at
Greenwood which is the north half of Lot 10, Concession 6. His wife's name was Jane
McMurray.
They had four sons — Richard, William, James and George. Richard Wilson became
established at Mount Zion. William moved to Brougham. James Wilson made his home at
Maxwell, Ontario, south of Georgian Bay.
In 1853 George Wilson, Sr., built the brick house which is still the farm home. Their son
George, Jr., at the age of eleven, helped to carry the brick for it.
George Wilson, Jr., married Eliza Lewis and carried on the farm after his father's death in
the year 1877. George, Jr., and Eliza had seven of a family -Minnie (Mrs. Ed. Jackson),
George, Elizabeth (Mrs. Gorley), Annie (Mrs. William Puckrin), Emma (Mrs. A. Johnston),
John and Perry.
Perry Wilson, son of George, Jr., was the third generation to operate the family farm. The
barn that is now on the farm was built in 1924.
In 1920 Perry married Agnes Byers. Their son, Leslie, is still on the farm—making the fourth
generation. In 1953 Leslie Wilson married Marion Disney and they have two daughters—
Janice and Donna.
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RICHARD WILSON'S FAMILY
(By Mrs. Fred Byers)
Richard Wilson and his wife came from England and settled in 1846 on fifty acres of Lot 8,
Concession 5, Pickering Township. His first wife's name was Grimston. Their three children
were: Hannah (Mrs. Whitter), Mary Ann (Mrs. S. Adamson), and John. These three left
Greenwood and made their homes in western Canada.
Elizabeth Pallister was Richard Wilson's second wife. They had four sons and four daughters:
Thomas, married Nancy McKittrick; Elizabeth (Mrs. H. Calvert); Richard; Newrick; Isabella;
William, married Margaret Johnston; Rachel (Mrs. J. Lemon); and Mary (Mrs. T. Sanderson).
Richard and Elizabeth were twins.
On December 16th, 1886, Richard Wilson, Jr., married Annie Sanderson at the Wilson
home on Lot 8, Concession 5. It was a double wedding with a brother and a sister marrying
a sister and a brother, for Mary Wilson became Mrs. Sanderson the same day.
Richard, Jr., and Annie made their home on the farm on Lot 11, Concession 6. Two children
were born to them — Ethel, who married Fred Byers in 1914; and Norman, who married
Hazel Russel in 1920.
When Richard Wilson, Sr., died in the year 1898 in his 91st year, he left the hundred acres,
Lot 11, Concession 6, to his son Newrick, and the "home" fifty acres, Lot 8, Concession 5,
to Richard, Jr. In 1902 Richard, Jr., bought the adjoining fifty acres from Adamson. Norman
and Hazel lived on the one hundred acres, Lot 8, Concession 5. Norman died in 1958.
* * *
THE BROWN FAMILY
(By Mrs. William A. Brown)
Alexander Brown and his bride, Mary, came out from England in 1849. They lived for two
years on the Carpenter place on the Third Concession, west of the Audley Road. They
walked to Salem to attend church.
Fifty acres in Lot Seven in the Fifth Concession of the Township of Pickering was purchased
by Alexander Brown in the year 1851 from James Wright Sharrard. (Mr. Sharrard had come
to Pickering Township in 1812 and settled on Lot 21, Con. 6.)
No buildings had been erected on Mr. Brown's farm and no one had lived there except what
was known as "squatters."
Alexander Brown took possesion in March 1852. They had one son, Robert, at that time
who was born in 1851 and was eight months old. Dinah and John were born later— Dinah
in 1853, and John in 1858.
John Brown lived all his life on the "home" farm with the exception of one year spent in the
Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, before he married—he was with what was known at
that time as "The Pickering Syndicate." John Brown purchased fifty acres in Lot 8, Con. 5,
from Patrick Maddigan in 1877. This completed the present "Brown" farm.
In 1888 John Brown married Emaline Smith, daughter of William Smith, a stonemason and
plasterer, then living on Lot 8, Con. 4. Two sons and one daughter were born to John and
Emaline Brown—May E., Fred Russell, and William A. Sgt. Fred Russell Brown was killed in
the First World War at Vimy in 1917.
On November 6th, 1922, William A. Brown married Gladys Llewella Pegg. They have lived
on the farm since that time. Two sons and one daughter were born to them—Mildred
Llewella (Mrs. Glynn Eastwood), Fred Newton, and William Andrew.
Fred Brown and his wife and daughter live in Brooklin where he is a merchant.
Mildred and Glynn Eastwood and their daughter, Lynda, live in the village of Greenwood. Mrs.
Mildred Eastwood is the Principal of the Greenwood School. Miss May E. Brown makes her
home with the Eastwood family.
William A. Brown, with his youngest son, William Andrew Brown, operates the "Brown" farm.
57
THE MIDDLETON family history
(By Herb Middleton)
George Middleton came to Canada from England in 1834 at the age of twelve. In 1855 he
purchased a farm owned by his cousin, Robert Middle-ton, on the rear of Concession 7,
Pickering Township (Lot 13).
George Middleton married Maria Horsley. They had ten children: James, John, Richard H.,
Mary (Mrs. Gauslin), Jane (Mrs. Burgess), Elizabeth (Mrs. Usher), Matilda (Mrs. Story),
George Jr., Hannah (Mrs. Gibson), and William.
George Middleton Sr. died in 1903 at the age of eighty-six. His wife died in 1895.
The original "Middleton" farm was carried on by George Jr. He married Georgina Barnes.
Their family were George, John and Ada. John Middle-ton now owns the farm (Lot 13, Con.
7) his grandfather bought in 1855. John married Jessie Beelby (Lot. 10, Con. 5) in 1939.
In 1908 George Sr. and Maria's youngest son, William Middleton, purchased a farm at
Greenwood (Lot 10, Con. 6) from Robert Cowan. Its original owner was the Hon. John
Elmsley. It had been owned by William McKittrick for many years.
William Middleton's family includes: Percy, Edna (Mrs. Russell Philip), Alice (deceased),
Herbert, Elva (Mrs. Kenneth Elson), Howard (died when an infant).
Elva and Ken Elson have their home in Greenwood village. They have three children—
Wayne, Virginia, and Larry Kevin.
Herbert Middleton married Doreen Whalen in 1941. They live on the farm at Greenwood
(Lot 10, Con. 6). They have a family of four children —Herb. Jr., Brenda, Howard and Allan.
Early Families
THE ADAMSON FAMILY
John Adamson came to Greenwood in the late 1830's from Yorkshire. His farm was the 100
acres on the north end of Lot 7, Con. 5 (the south-west corner at Salem). He married
Elizabeth Sadler. Their family of seven were: William, Samuel, Thomas, Robert, John Jr.,
Henry and Annie (Mrs. Robert Graham).
Samuel Adamson succeeded his father on the farm at Salem. (Lot 7, Con. 5). His wife was
Mary Anne Wilson. (See the Brickyard Story). Sam and Mary Anne's family were: Samuel Jr.,
Albert, William Robert, Hughbert, Mary, Delia and Irene. (This land is now—1960—used for
ranch purposes and is owned by Walter Milne.)
Thomas lived on the fifty acres Lot 8, Con. 5 adjoining his father's farm. His mother lived with
him after she was widowed. Thomas married Rachel Bowers. They had a family of eight.
Robert Adamson married a daughter of William Gibson. He was a cobbler. They had a family
of five boys and two girls.
John Adamson Jr. lived for a time on the south half of Lot 9, Con. 6 and then bought a fifty
acre farm, part of Lot 13, Con. 6 (See Wm. Sadler Story). John married Adelaide Harvey of
Udora. Their family of five were: Annie (Mrs. William Emmerson), Simon, John, Norman and
Elizabeth (Mrs. Arch. Davis).
Henry (Hank) Adamson was a painter. He had his paint shop in the Village on the south side
in the house now owned by Wm. Green.
* * *
THE GEE FAMILY STORY
William Gee came from Scarborough Township in 1848 and settled on Lot 6, Concession 5
of Pickering, which he bought from James Orvis. He cleared the land and the rest of his life's
work was on this farm. They were a family who were active in the community, especially in
the Methodist Church.
Their family was: John, Elizabeth (Mrs. William Hodson), Fred, Dan-
58
iel, Thomas, William, Mary (Mrs. Cookman), and Henry. These names all appear in the
record of the "Class Meetings" at Salem. John and his wife Caroline bought the land where
the Parsonage now stands and presented it to the Methodist Church. Elizabeth's husband,
William Hod-son, was a teacher at the early school at Salem corner and later became a
preacher.
William Gee. Sr., died in 1884, three years after his wife had gone to her reward.
William Gee, Jr., and his wife, Zorah, bought a fifty acre farm on the south half of Lot 7,
Concession 5 — across the road from his father's farm. William and Zorah had a family of
two — Wesley and Etta (Mrs. Fred Gibson, Lot 7, Con. 6).
Wesley Gee married Marie McLean and they continued to live on the farm on Lot 7, Con. 5.
They had three daughters, Doris (Mrs. Thomas Hortop), Margaret (Mrs. Hugh Miller), Zorah
(Mrs. Kenneth Holliday).
Mrs. Wes Gee was President of the Ladies Aid and later the Women's Association for
about twenty-five years. Wesley Gee was active in many phases of Church work. Wesley
died in the 1940's and Mrs. Gee went to Toronto to live.
* * *
THE WILLIAM GIBSON—
JUDSON GIBSON FAMILY
On April 30th, 1838, William Gibson and his wife Sarah Yeoman and their two sons,
Yeoman and Judson, came to Greenwood. He bought the 75-acre farm (being parts of Lots
7 and 8, Concession 6) from Mr. James Munger. (This farm had been the site of the early
Township meeting —referred to elsewhere in this his story of Greenwood—held in 1801 at
the home of Samuel Munger, Salem.) erall), was born to William and Sarah erall) was born
to William and Sarah Gibson after they settled on this farm. In 1847 William Gibson died
suddenly from apoplexy and his widow survived him forty years.
Yeoman married Belinda Hyfield and lived in Whitby. In 1877 Yeoman Gibson was the
Warden of the County.
Judson Gibson married Carrie Graham and took over the home farm in 1863. Judson and
Carrie's family were: Lena (Mrs. Frank Chapman), Fred W., and Gertrude (Mrs. Fred Disney).
Judson Gibson died in 1910.
Fred W. Gibson married Etta Gee. Their only son, Derwent, died when he was about eight
years old. They made their home on the farm until their retirement to Greenwood Village
about 1928.
The Beef Ring: Mr. Judson Gibson and his son, Fred, had a small slaughter house on their
farm and a beef ring was in operation from the late 1890's to about 1930. There were no
refrigerators or freezers in the farm homes in those days. It was many miles to a butcher
shop and, so, a beef ring was the best way to provide fresh beef for the farm family at a
reasonable cost. If you couldn't get fresh beef, your diet was likely to be salt pork or eggs. The
beef ring would start to operate on June 1st and continue for twenty weeks. There were
twenty shares and each shareholder took one share. The different cuts were rotated so that
each shareholder got every type of cut sometime during the twenty weeks.
Once in the season each shareholder had to supply one animal that would dress at least
400 pounds. The animal was to be not more than three years old.
Ther were two beef rings from this slaughter house for a time. It was a very satisfactory co-
operative effort and filled the need for the farmers of that era.
When Fred Gibson retired to Greenwood, the farm was sold to Errol Carson. At the present
time (1960), Mrs. Errol Carson and her son, Kenneth, and his family are on this farm (parts
of Lots 7 and 8, Concession 6).
59
THE WILLIAM GIBSON FAMILY
(By MRS. ARCH BUNKER)
William Gibson came out from England around 1835 and settled on the south part of the
north half of Lots 7 and 8, Con. 6, Pickering, purchasing it from Ralph Mowbray. Mr. Gibson
cleared it. The farm home was at the west end of the farm, facing onto the sideroad which is
now closed between Lots 8 and 9. William Gibson's family was George (born 1835), Martha
and Elizabeth. Mrs. William Gibson was the first buried in Salem Cemetery, in the 1840's,
before the Church was built.
Around 1850 William Gibson bought, and moved to, the fifty acre farm on the north end of
Lot 10, Con. 4. This land had belonged to his daughter-in-law's family. The property was
always in a Gibson name, for it was Sophia Gibson who married George Gibson
(consequently her name wasn't changed). Sophia Gibson's family had come from Ireland.
The original house on this farm was a log one. It was burned and the present (1960) house
was built in 1878.
William Gibson was Superintendent of Greenwood’s first Sunday School for many years.
(See the Sunday School Story for details of the framed poster, dated 1876, when he was
Supt.)
George Gibson owned part of Lot 9, Con. 5. On the map of 1877 he is shown as having the
north 50 of the south half, Lot 9, Con. 5.
George and Sophia's family was: George, Robert, William, James, Elizabeth (Mrs. Jack
Calvert), Bertha (whose husband, James Pengelly was the blacksmith at Kinsale for a time),
and Nellie (Mrs. Jack Brignall). James Gibson married Emma Hooker and they lived on the
Low Road at Greenwood. Robert also made his home in Greenwood. His family was
William, Gus, Jim, Lenny, Alice and Gertie.
William Gibson married Georgina Murdock and they carried on the family farm (Lot 10, Con.
4). William and Georgina's family was George, Norman, Pearl (Mrs. Arch. Bunker), May (Mrs.
Robert D'eath) and Margaret (Mrs. Morley Harlock).
George lived at Greenwood all his life. His family was Mildred (Mrs. Crawford) and Bert.
Bert lives in Oshawa and his son, Ronnie, is the sixth generation of the Gibson descendants.
There was the original William, then George, another William another George, then Bert and
Ronnie.
Norman continued to live on the Gibson farm (Lot 10, Con. 4) until 1942. His family is William,
Robert, John, Vernon, Irvine, and the twins Elmo and Evelyn.
(Mr. and Mrs. Leonard JUBB bought the farm from Norman Gibson, but only stayed at
Greenwood for two years when they sold it to the WEBB brothers, Ken and Frank. Ken and
Winnie Webb came to Greenwood in December 1944. Their family was Norman and Joan.
They left the community in 1947. Frank and Kay Webb came to the farm in March 1945 and
are the present owners. Their family is Ronald, Caroline and Douglas. The Webbs are
market gardeners.)
* * *
THE JOHNSTON FAMILY
(By MRS. NORMAN WILSON)
Oliver Johnston was born in the County of Fermanagh, Ireland, in the year 1803 and came to
Canada in 1821. He settled on Lot 16, Con. 6 in 1847.
He married Elizabeth Smith whose home was on the farm on the north half of Lot 9, Con. 6.
Oliver Johnston died in 1897, his wife in 1908.
They had a family of nine children, all of these children attending (Greenwood School. There
was John, Arthur, William - all three settling in Collingwood Township; Sarah (Mrs.
Carscadden); Thomas, who married Anna Rogers and lived in Howick Township; Mary
Ann; Sophia, who married Henry Russell and lived in North Dakota; Martha, who married
David Russell and lived on Lot 15, Con. 7; Lancelot, who married Emily Taylor and lived on
the old homestead for years. All of
this generation is now deceased except Mrs. Lancelot Johnston who lives in Brougham. She
is the mother of Lloyd Johnston, the Township Clerk.
Martha and her husband, David Russell, had a family of seven children. They always
attended Greenwood Church. Their family was: Milton; Arthur (deceased); Alleda (Mrs.
Daugherty); Jessie (Mrs. Norman Burton); Hazel (Mrs. Norman Wilson); Nellie (Mrs. J.
Allison); and Charles. The only one to settle at Greenwood was Hazel, Mrs. Norman Wilson,
who lives on the old Wilson homestead, Lot 8, Con. 5.
WILLIAM WARREN
The William Warren of whom we write was the second son of the William Warren who with
his brother, John B. Warren, opened a general store and post office at Hamar's Corners
(east of Whitby) in 1826. In 1840 William, Jr., was sent to the Victoria Academy of Cobourg,
now Victoria College, Toronto.
In 1842, at the age of 16, he was apprenticed to a tannery in Thornhill. After serving 5 years,
he spent a few years in the United States. Returning to Canada, he went into the tannery
business with his brother at Manilla.
In 1850 he dissolved the partnership with his brother and bought the tannery at Greenwood.
He carried on this business until 1857 when he sold it and bought the business formerly
carried on by his uncle, J. B. Warren, general merchant and miller of Greenwood.
On October 16th, 1858, he married Elizabeth Pole of Whitby. They had eight children:
Frederick William, born March 6, 1860; Charles Augustus, born December 15, 1861; Anna
Maria, born March 24, 1864; Emily Frederica, born 1865; Henry H. 18-68; Elizabeth M. 1869;
Robert B. 1872. The eighth child, a boy, died with his mother on September 6th, 1873. Mrs.
Warren was then 37 years and four months old.
In 1864 William Warren sold his business at Greenwood and entered the military school at
Toronto. (For details of his military career, see the story entitled "Greenwood Militia".) In
1872 he was gazetted major of the 34th Regiment, and in 1874 as Lieut-Colonel of the
regiment.
It was in the month of August, 1864, that William Warren moved from Greenwood to Whitby
Bay. In later years he took an active part in the municipal affairs of Oshawa, where he
conducted a tannery business until he moved to British Columbia in 1875.
William Warren played his own important part in the story of both Greenwood and Oshawa -
this colourful man who was tanner, merchant, miller and soldier.
Village Properties - South
It is quite likely that some properties were delayed in being registered in the early years of
our community, due to the long hard trip to Muddy York to register the ownership. Col. J. E.
Farewell, in his little book on the early days in Ontario County, tells us: "In 1825 to register a
deed one had to journey to Toronto, Stephan Jarvis being the Registrar at that time for the
territory which is now York, Ontario, Peel and Simcoe Counties. There were only four
Commissioners within this district entitled to take affidavits as to the execution of deeds on
which they could be registered."
We understand that the Registry office was not established at Whitby until about 1859.
This section pertains to the village lots on the south side of Greenwood Hill (Lot 11,
Concession 5).
In 1849 James Demorest sold one acre to James Sterling. In 1857 he resold to Hugh
McConachie and two years later Margaret Sisley was the owner.
On the Top Road, the home to the south of the School was built by Weatherston. They have
been the only occupants. Leonard and Betty's
family is David, Dawn and Darlene. The two houses to the north of the School were built in
the 1950's. One is owned by Nicholsons who moved to B.C. It is vacant at the present time
(1960). Denis Owen and his family were in the other house until they moved to Whitby,
Jeffrey Copely and his wife, Audrey, now live here. They have two daughters, Jill and Judith.
Misses Mildred and Gertrude Corbett own the corner house. Frank Thompson and family -
Evalina, Bob, Kate (Mrs. Vie. Parkin), Archie and Mabel resided here. In 1908 Mr. and Mrs.
John Gerry lived here with their family of John, Susie, Harry and Edgar. The Graham
Johnstons also lived here, their family was Charles and Vera (Mrs Groves).
As you go down the hill you will find, on the south side of the road, a house which was built
by Patrick Reede in 1855. He was a wagon maker. The Green family bought the house from
Reede and it remained their property with many people renting it until Glynn and Mildred
Eastwood bought it in 1947. Alfred Trimble lived here before he bought the farm adjoining
and moved into the farm house. Tom Proctor lived here. His family was Clive, Phyllis and
Edgar. The Earl Howsams lived here for a time. Sandy Moore and Jack Cowse are others
who called this home. The William Issards lived here when their only daughter, Joyce, was
killed while sleighriding on the hill, January 7th, 1939. Frank and Kathleen Hayward lived
here in the 40's. Their family was David and Karen--Susan was born later.
In 1854 George Wilson bought one acre so that he would have school rights. It was willed to
Perry Wilson. It is here that Douglas and Marjorie Morden built their new bungalow-type
home in 1959.
Henry (Hank) Adamson built the next house. This is where he had his paint shop. Thomas
and Patrick Ryan had their home here. William Green and his wife are the present owners.
Their daughter, Isabelle, is with them.
William Darlington sold one acre to Robert Wood in 1855 and he sold to Michael Boddy the
same year. It is thought that Michael Boddy (one of the shoemakers) lived in a house east of
the Trimble home. The house is no longer there.
Trimbles live in the farm home which was probably built by James Demorest.
In 1848 Demorest sold a quarter acre to Abe Bryan. In the same year Demorest sold
Yeoman Gibson a lot.
Former residents of the home occupied in 1960 by the Scriver family include Mrs. Joseph
Brignall, Chas. Wilson and John Adamson. Robert Pretsell and his wife Amy were the
owners in the early 1940's. James Brooks and his wife bought this home when he retired
from the railroad. They sold to Ross Scriver in 1955. Their family is Rosemary, Sylvia, Carol
and Darlene.
Some of the other early owners of village property on Lot 11, Concession 5 were as follows.
Demorest sold a quarter acre to George Bigg in 1854, who sold to Samuel Gunn in 1858.
This was resold in the same year to Hugh McHowell.
William Darlington sold a quarter acre to Hugh McHowell in 1859. Another property was one
acre which John Watkins sold to Joseph Howell in 1857 and he resold it to James Geddes
in the same year. Ben Boyer bought this property in 1866.
Michael Gleason built the next house. Later owners were Mr. and Mrs. Bert Harvey who lived
there with their two sons Robert and Albert, well-known in the field of entertainment. The
Harveys operated the Greenwood store in the 1920's. William Middleton was the next owner
and the house was rented to a number of families. Levi Linton lived here in 1933. Jean and
Lloyd went to Greenwood School. The Geordie Gibson family was living here in 1939.
Kenneth Elson, who married Elva Middleton now owns this home. Their family is Wayne,
Virginia and Larry Kevin.
In the early days the 'Andy Morden' house was the shoemaker shop
of the Boddys. They not only made shoes for local use but their shoes were sold further afield.
Jack Teefy also was a shoemaker in this shop. Andy Morden still has a pair of boots made in
the shop in the front part of this home. The Mossom Minaker family lived here in 1942.
Andrew Morden and his wife, Ellen, bought the Greenwood Grist Mill in 1945. They made
their home in the house of which we are speaking here. Andy and Ellen's daughter, Joanne
(Mrs. William Mitchell) died in 1954 of leukemia. Their son, Douglas, lives in the village.
“Jack the Tailor" was established in a building which no longer exists, just west of the
“Morden” house. John Irven was a well-educated man from Yorkshire, England. He not only
carried on tailoring in his home but he went from home to home and stayed long enough to
do their tailoring. Another little home nest1ed between these houses was where Peter Perry
and his daughter Maggie lived.
"The British Arms Hotel" - The 1arge frame building at the southeast corner, across from the
store, was built for a hotel and was called "The British Arms". In 1869 Owen Doyle was the
proprietor. He probably was followed by George Henderson. Later Edward Gleeson was the
proprietor. Their family was Minnie (Mrs. Fred Evans), Margaret (Mrs. Wilker) and Wilbur.
There was a spring in the basement of the hotel and water was piped to a trough west of the
building where horses were watered. The west door at the front was the barroom door. G.
Bone was another proprietor of this hotel and John McLean was the last hotel keeper. He
sold only soft drinks. The McLean family was Earl, Eva and Elgin.
Harold Mathews and his wife bought the former hotel and made their home there for about
thirty years. After Harold Mathews died, Mrs. Mathews went to New Zealand to live with her
sister. We understand that Lawrence Wismer had it made into a double house. In 1955
Phillip Benns and his wife and family moved into one-half of the house. Their family is Eric,
Michael, Philip, Joey, Douglas, Cathy, Sharon, Robert and Thomas.
On the east side of the Low Road George Moore and his wife, Minnie, built a new home in
the 1950's. Their family is Wayne, Wanda, Bonnie, John, Judy and Lloyd.
Ross Jackman and his wife, the former Gwen Tait, built a home just south of the Moore
home. Their famliy is Steven and Lynn.
As this is being written Miss Edna Green has just moved into her new home. This is on the
site of the home of her grandfather, Samuel J. Green.
Bill Crummer lived here. James Gibson and his wife spent many years here, in the old house.
James worked at the Green Mill. After his death Mrs. Gibson went to live with her sister at
Myrtle and is now at Fairview Lodge.
The fine old brick home on the hill overlooking the site of the South Mill was built by Squire
Green more than a hundred years ago. Levi Mackey and his wife, the former Susan Green,
lived here after they moved from Kinsale where they had operated the store. The Albert
Harvey family occupied this home about 1920. Mrs. Crews (now Mrs. Charles Fothergill) and
later Mrs. Gerald Stone and her son John were other residents. A lawyer who became
Reeve of the Township, William Lawson, and his wife Bridget bought this home in the 1940's.
Their family is Hugh, Hilliary and Emily. The Lawsons now live on Lot 10, Concession 4.
They sold to G. C. Jones and his wife in 1957. The Jones have two boys, Derek and Jeramy.
There are a number of fine new homes on both sides of the Low Road. We believe that the
present owners are the original owners. Their names are listed among the 1960 residents.
Illustrations - Greenwood Village about 1900 - Looking south-east from The Upper Mill.
- Greenwood Village - About 1935 - looking up the hill.
Village Properties - North
For our story of the properties on the north side of the village we are beginning with the home
owned by Charles McTaggart in 1960. In 1844 William McKittrick, who owned the farm on
the south half of Lot 10, Con. 6, sold one square acre to Alexander McKay. Alex McKay had
a thriving tailoring business for many years, as late as 1869 and 1871. In 1873 Donald
McKay sold to Jennett Madden. The home burned and was rebuilt by William McKittrick. We
believe there was a small store operated here for a time. Later residents in this house
include: Mr. Rodd, Mrs. Thomas Bayles, Max Soldish, A. Southwell, Jack Hedge. About
1943 Elmo Disney bought this home. Elmo and Evelyn (nee Clarke) have a family of two,
Gary and Gayle. In 1953 the property was purchased by Charles McTaggart. Charlie and
Mildred (nee Pegg) have three sons, Kenneth, Robert and Brian. Charlie is a contractor,
specializing in houses.
In 1847 William McKittrick sold one square acre to Thomas Tate. We believe that this later
became two properties, the most easterly of which we shall designate the "Perkin" house.
Mr. Bowes lived in this house about 1896. George Jackson followed him. Mrs. Abraham
Boyer bought this home after her husband was accidentally killed at his mill on the Seventh
(See the Boyer Mill story). Jane Boyer lived here until her death in the 1940's. When she
celebrated her 100th birthday in 1944 she was congratulated by Prime Minister McKenzie
King. Her niece, Mrs. Edith Perkin, cared for her for many years and made her home here
until she herself died about 1955. The present owner, Irvine Perkin, is here occasionally on
weekends.
The Oldest House in Greenwood
(BY MRS. Ross DISNEY)
The oldest house in Greenwood is situated on the north-east corner on top of Greenwood
Hill, forming a part of Lot 10, Con. 6, Pickering Township.
This home is a white frame house and approximately 150 years old. The house is on its
original stone foundation and when the upstairs of the house was replastered, we noted the
hand-made laths.
In the year 1885 the property was owned by the Alex Tate family. They had a daughter, Alice,
who later married Fred Lawton of Kinsale. Miss Lena Gibson, now Mrs. Frank Chapman of
Pickering Village, stayed overnight in this house with Alice Tate August 21st, 1885. When
she arrived home the following day she had a baby sister, Gertrude-now Mrs. Fred Disney
of Brooklin, Ontario.
The same chestnut trees in front of the house can be remembered 73 years ago and they
looked as large then as now.
Some of the owners after the Tates were: George Lane who kept a store and had a grocery
wagon, Edward Gleason, James Plaskitt, J. Boardman, and the present owner is Ross
Disney. Ross and Evelyn (nee Brock) have two daughters, Helen and Ruth.
In the field to the north of this lot there was a Drill Shed that soldiers drilled in. This Shed
later was used for suppers, and the entertainments which followed were held across the
road in the Orange Hall, to the north of the parsonage property.
* * *
(For the story of the Parsonage, see a separate article elsewhere.)
An early resident of the 'Cole' home was Patrick Teefy. He had a family of nine. About 1895
Robert Brown, carpenter and millwright, lived here. His family was Randall and Ida (Mrs. F.
Joyce). William Sadler bought it from the Browns and rented it. Frank Walls and his wife, the
former Pearl Ormerod, lived here for fifteen years. Their family was: Cecil, Clara (Mrs.
James Jones), Roy, Vanessa (Mrs. Walter Biggs), Ross and Milton. Frank Walls was killed
in 1941 when struck by a car while walking along No.7 Highway. Ivan Hadwin was another
renter. Mrs. Rose Cole rented this home. After her son, Nelson, married he bought it and has
continued to live here. Nelson and Violet Cole have two boys, Clarence and David.
The home now owned by George Blake was in the possession of Walter Green before the
turn of the century. He rented it to the teachers who were married. In 1894 William G. Ward
was the resident teacher. In 1899 The William Diefenbaker family made it their home. They
had two sons, John and Elmer. As you know, one of their sons, John, is now the Prime
Minister of Canada. We believe that William Eadie, early in the century, was the last of the
teachers to occupy this house. William Wilson lived there. Fred and Etta Gibson bought this
property when they retired from the farm in the early thirties. George Blake bought it from
their estate. The fami]y of George and Ruth (nee Annis) is Robert, Carol, Sharon, and Janice
and James, the twins.
The lot now owned by Peter Byberg was sold in 1850 by James Demorest to Dr. Adam
Fullarton. At that time the lot was 10 3/4 acres. The extra acreage, no doubt, was needed
for pasture for Fullarton's horse. He kept a drug store in this home and, besides being a
medical doctor, he was a Justice of the Peace and Postmaster in 1869. And, according to
the school records, he supervised the building of the School in 1860. A Mrs. McKay lived in
this house for years. Mr. Green bought it and it was rented. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Annis lived here
for many years. Their family is Lawrence and Ruth (Mrs. George Blake). Alan Short lived
here. The present owner is Peter Byberg. They have a family of three children.
Older Greenwood residents recall when there were three houses between the present
Byberg residence and the Church. These houses are all gone now. Hamilton Dunlop lived in
the most easterly of these three houses. He had been born in 1834 on his father's farm, Lot
10, Con. 4. After "Hammie's" death in 1910, Mrs. Dunlop and their son, George, lived here
and George lived alone after his mother passed on.
Mrs. Sam Fisher (the former Bella Sadler) lived in the next of these three houses. Her
husband was killed in an accident. She worked very hard to support her four small children -
Will, John, Kate and Mary Anne. Mrs. Fisher was care taker of the School, the Church and
the Orange Hall. She was well liked, especially by the school children. Our older residents
today say that as children they wouldn't think of going up or down Greenwood Hill without
calling on Mrs. Fisher to tell her of their problems and their achievements. Her daughter,
Mary Anne, married Harry Sadler. (See the Sadler Story).
Mr. and Mrs. George Skinner have built a fine new home where the two above-mentioned
houses were in years gone by. They have three children, Michael, Janis and David.
The third house, which no longer exists, was where the present Church is built. The old
Church was on the same lot but further to the west.
The home to the west of the Church has had many people renting as well as different owners.
Miss Minnie Wood rented for many years. Joseph Clarke and his wife owned it in the 1930's.
The Rev. Phillips Silcox bought it early in the 40's. His wife, Marjorie, and their three sons,
David, Graham and Kenneth, lived here while Captain Silcox was overseas in the Second
World War. Their son, Louis, was born later. The Silcox family live at Lorne Park at this time.
Phyllis Richardson and her uncle were the next owners. Lionel and Helen Dyer have been the
owners since 1953.
The story of Lorraine Clarke's home is in the farm story (lots 11 and 12, Concession 6).
It is difficult to follow through on some of the early real estate transactions and say definitely
which property is which. However, from the Registry Office records we glean the following.
In 1848 James Demorest sold Hannah Kavangh 1 rood ( a quarter acre.) Ephraim White
sold William
Bower 1 rood in 1852.
In 1846 John Macaulay sold five acres to Robert John Gunn who sold a part of it to Thomas
Murray in 1849. The same year Murray sold one acre to John Sheppard. In 1852 Sheppard
sold his acre to D. Paterson who sold it in 1864 to William Murray and William Warren. In
1867 John Tye became the owner of this acre.
In 1854 Abraham Bryan sold one acre to William Warren which was sold to Margaret Birrell
in 1865 when William Warren left Greenwood (See the William Warren Story.)
Abe Bryan sold a lot to John Welsh in 1854 and in the same year Welsh re-sold it to William
Bowers. In 1856 Bowers sold to Hannah Liscombe. (We believe this could be the property
presently owned by the Dyers.)
A quarter-acre lot was sold by Demorest to John Snell in 1856. The following year Snell sold
it to John McCullough who kept it for ten years. In 1867 it went to Jane Devitt.
To return to the present - the new home west of the Clarke home was built by George Staley
and his wife Myrtle. They have lived at Greenwood since 1952. Their family is Ronald, Daryl
and Bradley. A little daughter, Donna, drowned when about two years old.
The home which is next to the Blacksmith Shop has been the residence of the village
blacksmith until Walter Wilson retired in 1959. The Edward Kellar family live in this home in
1960. Their family is Shirley, Beverley and Heather.
For the history of the beautiful, large brick home with the lovely grounds see the "Green
Story". Roy Rogers and his wife, Phyllis, own this home now. They have a daughter and a
son - Carol and Bruce.
Travelling along the private road past the Rogers' home you come to the building that was
the grist mill. It was converted into a double dwelling in 1950 by Vic Wardle. Robert Mitchell
and his wife have lived here since 1951. The J. McFayden family live in the other half of this
house. Victor Wardle also built the nearby double house. (The Wardle family moved to
Florida.) Mossom Minaker and his wife, Maybelle, live in one half of the house. Their oldest
daughter, Joyce, died when she was16. Their family is Donald, Helen, Charles and Glenna.
William and Margaret Thomas reside in the other half of this house with their children Billy
and Linda.
The South Half of Concession Five
Lot 7 and east half of Lot 8 – see "The Brown Family". Lot 8-west half.
In 1858 John HUTCHISON bought this fifty acres, and sold it to Richard BRIGNALL in 1866.
J. MADDIGAN was the owner in 1872 and T. W. BAYLES had it in 1895. George
JACKSON farmed here and built a good barn.
It became apparent that this land held a wealth of sand and gravel. It was purchased by
"Greenburn Sand and Gravel Company." A spur line of the "Canadian Northern" into the
gravel pit made this a thriving business for years. Local people recall when ten to twenty
carloads of washed gravel were shipped daily. The farm buildings were demolished as they
used the gravel on which they stood
The small spring-fed lake, which was left after the gravel operations were over, was "the old
swimming hole" for years. Charles PUCKRIN bought this fifty acres and sold the north 14
acres to Irven McLEAN in 1947.
Lot 9.
John CRAIG owned one hundred acres in 1834. He sold the south fifty to James SMITH in
1857. John POTTER was the next owner in 1867. Andrew SOMERVILLE bought it in 1870.
The map of 1877 shows the house in about the same location as it is at the present time. In
1895 this fifty acres belonged to F. J. RICHARDSON. Later, William PAR-
PARRINDER had this farm. His family were: Arthur, William, Archie, Jack and Walter. In
more recent years Hector ROSS was on this farm. The demand for gravel resulted in the
opening up of a gravel pit. There has been little farming here since that time.
John CRAIG retained the north fifty acres of this farm until about 1870 when George GIBSON
(of Lot 10, Con. 4) became the owner. T. MADDEN had this farm in 1895. Thomas Madden
married Janet McKay and their family were: Lizzie, Edith, Sophia, William, Fannie and Olive.
Later this land was owned by John SELDON, who lived on the adjoining fifty acres to the
north. It is now (1960) owned by Ed. PASCOE, who lives on the farm which adjoins the north-
west half of this property.
* * *
Lot 10.
John McQUOID bought the south fifty acres in 1840 and added the fifty to the north of it in
1854. In 1895 T. NEWMAN was the owner. James LEDGETT rented the 100 acres for
some time.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirk BEELBY were the next owners. In 1949 they retired from the farm to live
with their daughter Jessie (Mrs. John Middle-ton, Lot 13, Con. 7).
Charles and Olive CLOSSON bought the farm in 1949. They have four daughters: Joyce
(Mrs. Ronald Watkinson of Brooklin), Dorothy (Mrs. Kenneth Randall of Whitby), Verna and
Hazel.
* * *
Lot 11 - (By Miss EDITH ORMEROD)
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, Samuel SOMERVILLE
purchased one hundred acres, more or less, Crown land from the province of Upper
Canada through the Canada Company office in Toronto for the sum of ninety-three pounds,
fifteen shillings.
Samuel Somerville and his wife, Marion Wilson, were emigrants from Lanarkshire. Their
oldest son, Adam, was born in Scotland. Ten other children were born at Greenwood:
Andrew of Brooklin, Agnes (Mrs. Alex Waddell), William, James, Ellen, Jane (Mrs. William
Gilchrist of Cherrywood), Marion (Mrs. John Seldon of Lot 9, Con. 5), Samuel, John of
Cherrywood, and Robert A. of Lot 11, Con. 5.
In 1871 the side road allowance was purchased from John McQuoid, composing nine and a
half acres.
November 5th, 1895, following the death of Samuel Somerville, Mr. John ANNAN bought the
farm and resold same to Robert A. SOMERVILLE, son of Samuel, November 15th of the
same year.
In 1921 William C. ORMEROD (having been on the "Green" farm for three years) purchased
the above-mentioned property from Robert Somerville.
William C. Ormerod's son, Howard ORMEROD, now owns the property and with him live his
sister, Edith Ormerod, and a brother, William G. Ormerod.
In 1854 Samuel SOMERVILLE sold one square acre to William McKAY. It is situated in the
north-east angle of the farm. Mr. McKay built a house on the land. Joe HILTZ was there for
many years. Chester KEELER bought this home for his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard
Keeler. Percy CLARKE bought the house and rented it to Mr. and Mrs. COLE in 1944. After
Mr. Cole died, Mrs. Rose Cole and her son, Nelson, moved to the village and bought the
home they live in now (1960).
Mr. and Mrs. Ross JACKMAN were the next owners of this one-acre lot and home. They
made it a two-storey house, which made it much more roomy, and did other remodeling.
They sold to R. C. STRAITON in 1955. The Jackmans bought a lot on the east side of the
Low Road and built a modern ranch-type home. They have a son and daughter, Steven and
Lynn.
* * *
Lot 12.
This 100 acres was sold by Elmsley to James DEMOREST in 1848. Then it was sold to
George BALLARD in 1851. Ballard sold the thirty acres east of the Low Road to George
HICKS, prior to 1860. Mrs. MATTHEWS was the owner of this thirty acres in 1895. Mr. and
Mrs. James
HICKS, and later Mrs. Hicks after she was widowed, lived here. Later George GIBSON
farmed it.
George BALLARD sold the seventy acres west of the Low Road to Thomas PUGH.
* * *
Lots 13 and 14.
The Thomas PUGH, mentioned above, also owned the 100 acres of the south half of Lot 13,
and apparently also possessed the 100 acres on the south of Lot 14 in 1877. On the map of
1895, Mrs. HAMILTON is shown as the owner of the 100 acres in Lot 14.
* * *
Lot 15.
The south fifty acres of Lot 15 was owned by George BALLARD in the 1860's. He was a
sawmill proprietor. In 1877 it was owned by Mrs. George BALLARD, and in 1895 by Isaac
CONNOR. The Connor family were: Ray, Willis, Bruce, Ella (Mrs. Henry White, Lot 6, Con.
5 at Salem), Ambrose and Oscar.
* * *
Lot 16.
In 1836 Benjamin HURD sold 150 acres to Samuel BENTLEY. In 1852 Bentley sold the
south 24 acres to W. SAUNDERS who, the same year, sold it to Joseph COUTTS. Coutts
resold it in 1860 to James PATMER. In 1864 Patmer sold the 24 acres to Thomas
BRIGNALL who was still the owner in 1877.
The North Half of Concession Five
Lot 7-see "The Adamson Story."
Lot 8-see "The Richard Wilson Family."
Lot 9-The East Half
The north-east quarter of Lot 9, Con. 5, was farmed first by John McKITTRICK. He bought
the north 100 acres of Lot 9 in 1834 for 75 pounds. (The deed specifies it as being in the
Township of Pickering in the Home District of the Province of Upper Canada. The year 1834
is further stated as being in the fifth year of His Majesty's Reign-William IV.)
Mr. and Mrs. John McKittrick's first home was a log cabin with a loft for sleeping quarters
which was reached by a ladder. The heavy work of clearing the land was no doubt very
strenuous.
In 1849 Mr. McKittrick became badly crippled and he and his wife moved into Greenwood
village. They lived in the house west of the church. John Brown remembered going with
William Clark to McKittrick's after school to help Mrs. McKittrick cut wood and carry water.
She always had a "piece" for them. John McKittrick moved away after her death.
In 1851 Patrick LARKIN bought this fifty acre farm from John McKittrick for 337 pounds, 10
shillings. Although Patrick Larkin owned it, his brother, John Larkin, lived on this fifty acres
(Lot 9, Con. 5). Patrick Larkin's home was across the road on Lot 9, Con. 6.
Patrick Larkin sold to John SELDON in 1892. Mr. Seldon also bought the fifty acres adjoining
his farm to the south. John Seldon's first wife was a Miss Ledgett. They had one son,
Frederick. His mother died when Fred was a baby. John Seldon re-married. His second
wife was a teacher, Marion Somerville, whose parents lived on Lot 11, Con. 5. Mrs. Seldon
was a charter member of the Kinsale Institute. Mr. and Mrs. John Seldon had an adopted
daughter, Lillian. Frederick Seldon lived for a time on the south fifty acres.
In 1918 John Seldon sold the north fifty acres to Norman BIE and his wife, the former Hannah
Cornell of Pickering. They had two children, Edward and Mabel (Mrs. Clifford Barkey).
Norman Bie remodelled the house and built the verandah. He pioneered in chicken farming.
He would start the season with about a thousand mixed chicks and carry over about four
hundred layers. During that time Fred Disney pastured most of the farm. Mr. Bie died suddenly,
about 1937, and Mrs. Bie moved to Pickering.
Irven L. McLEAN and his wife, the former Mary Bartlett, bought the farm in 1939. Their
daughters
are Beatrice, and Elva (Mrs. Gerald Henning). His nephew, James McLean, also made his
home with them.
Irven McLean changed the barn to use it as a dairy farm and shipped milk to Toronto until
1950. Elva and Gerald HENNING bought two acres on the north-east corner of the farm and
built their home in 1954. Their children are Edward, Lloyd and David.
Lot 9 West Half and
Lot 10, East Half —
—see "The McKittrick Family"
* * *
LOT 10 — THE WEST HALF
In 1849 Vere Ward McCANN bought the farm on the south-east corner at the top of
Greenwood Hill. In 1861 the first Greenwood School was sold at auction. Mr. McCann
bought it and moved the building across the road onto his farm where it was used as a
dwelling. In 1870 Mr. McCann sold the road allowance 6 acres to F. Green. Samuel Snell
built the barn in 1890. The owner in 1895 was E. REMMER.
Stewart CORBETT and his wife Nellie (nee Moore) bought the 40-acre farm about 1915.
Their family is Mildred and Gertrude Corbett who are teachers in Whitby and still (1960) live
in the Corbett home, situated across the road on the southwest corner. (This home is on the
site of the original J. C. Sterling Hotel which was established about 1847. For years quarterly
stock sales were conducted at Sterling's Hotel.)
In the mid 1940's Stan DIX bought the farm from the Corbett family and built a house on it.
The present owner (1960) is William McKAY.
* * *
Lots 11 and 12
(By Frank Brock)
The following shows the changes of owners of the farm now (1960) occupied by Frank and
Margaret BROCK, made up of parts of Lots 10, 11 and 12 of the Fifth Concession of
Pickering Township.
Charles WARD was the early owner of this land in Lots 11 and 12. He sold a number of lots
off along the Low Road.
In 1843 Ward sold to John WEIR 2 acres. In 1856 John Weir sold this 2 acres to Frederick
GREEN.
In 1845 Charles Ward sold to Frederick Green 3 acres. It is interesting to note that,
according to the document, Mrs. Cynthia Ward was unable to write.
In 1846 Ward sold to William BURNS 2 acres. In 1856 Burns sold this 2 acres to Frederick
Green.
In 1846 Ward sold to Frederick Green 5 acres.
In 1847 Charles Ward sold the main parcel of land to Frederick Green, 60 acres.
Also in 1847 Ward sold to John Weir 5 acres. In 1856 Weir sold this 5 acres to Frederick
Green for £37 10s. This is the last transaction shown in English money.
In the next purchase in 1870 the amount is shown in dollars. It was in 1870 that Vere Ward
McCANN (Lot 10) sold to Frederick Green 6 acres, 29 perches. This sale was necessitated
by the moving of the 'top' road to the east. (The seller, Mr. McCann, in this case was unable
to write.)
The next transaction is in 1887 Frederick Green to Ontario Bank 74 92/100 acres. The
following year Benjamin R. MEEN obtained this farm from the Ontario Bank. Benjamin
Meen and his wife (the former Mary Ann Green) had a family of six: Frederick W., Arthur,
Wendredas "Winnie" (Mrs. James G. Harris), Ethel G., Anna (Mrs. E. F. Bell) and Bruce.
The farm was next sold to Holland and June TINDALL in 1918. Their family were Melven,
Delia (Mrs. Fred Nutt), Pearl, Clifford, Ross, and Everett.
In 1930 Melven O. TINDALL sold to H. Percy CLARKE (who had lived in the village of
Greenwood for five years). Percy and Carrie Clarke have a family of six: Evelyn (Mrs. Elmo
Disney), Reg., Muriel (Mrs. Lawson Parks), Harold, Gerald and Ronald.
In 1954 Percy Clarke sold the 74 and 92/100 acres to Frank and Margaret BROCK. They
have one son,
Kerry. (Ed. Note: The Brocks have the only goat farm in Greenwood. Their animals have won
many awards at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto.)
Ronald CLARKE lives in another house on this farm. He married Violet Binstead of Claremont.
Their family is: Karen, Brian, Bridget, Janet and David.
* * *
Lot 11
James DEMOREST (who had obtained it from the Canada Co.) sold the north forty acres to
William DARLINGTON in 1853. In 1856 Darlington sold it to Edward JACKSON.
(This is the farm from which the School Lot was purchased - the first 1/4 acre from Demorest,
the second 1/4 acre from Ed. Jackson in 1860. The last school land, although purchased in
1860, was not registered until 1871.)
Edward Jackson was the second son of John Jackson who came from Ireland early in the
1800's and bought Lot 6, rear Con. 7, Pickering, in 1834, selling it to John Disney in 1861.
John Jackson's five children grew to adulthood but only two married and only Edward had a
family. John Jackson gave the land for the first church at Mount Zion and it was called
"Jackson's" until 1873. His son, Edward, was one of the trustees as early as 1845.
We understand that Edward Jackson had three farms -one of them being the 92 acres of
Lot 11, con. 6 which was leased to Benjamin Brignall.
Edward Jackson was nearly 35 when he married Harriet F~int of Whitby Township, January
4th, 1860. They raised eight children (Mary Ann's twin dying at birth). The family were: John,
Rowena, Mary Ann, William, Isabel, Maria, Edger-ton and George. Edward died when his
youngest son was only six years old.
Four of their children married. Their second daughter, Mary Ann, taught at Greenwood and
at Lovering, Ontario, before marrying and moving West, to be followed by two of her sisters.
(A scientist with his Ph.D., who has worked at Chalk River, is a grandson of Mary Ann.)
Isabel and Maria did sewing and some millinery. Rowena clerked in a store and did some
housework until she married. One of Edward and Harriet's four sons was drowned at
Greenwood. One was a carpenter, then motor car conductor in Toronto, and finally manager
of an elevator in Newcastle. The youngest, George, ran his mother's farm (Lot 21, Con. 3,
Whitby) until it was sold in 1910, and he moved to the 4th Concession of Pickering.
Edgerton Jackson, the seventh in the family of Edward and Harriet, married Minnie Wilson.
Their family was Alma (Mrs. Lloyd Pegg), and Maurice. Edgerton was known as a local
preacher. He worked at the Greenwood Mill, and, deciding to follow that trade, he left
Greenwood in 1904. He joined Ogilvy Millmg Co. in 1907 and remained with them until he
died in 1936. He rented the farm (Lot 11, Con. 5), and later sold it to Alfred TRIMBLE.
Alfred Trimble and his family came to Greenwood in 1896 and lived in the second house
west of the top of the hill, on the south side (Eastwood's 1960). The family was Christina
(who married Charles Wilson, miller of Brooklin), Florence (died of diphtheria), Gladys (Mrs.
Wesley Sadler) and Ernest.
When the Trimble family bought the farm from Edward Jackson, they moved into the farm
home. Ernest Trimble and his wife Olive Whitter (whom he married in 1934) still own this
home, but they sold the farm to William LAWSON.
* * *
Lot 12
This 100 acres had been owned by Benjamin Hallowell, then the Hon. John Elmsley, before
Matthew COCKERLINE obtained it and built a grist mill on it in 1838. Apparently this was
Norwood's (Greenwood's) earliest industry.
Frederick GREEN purchased the land and mill from Matthew Cockerline for £1,200 - the
sale was registered February 3, 1843. North of the mill the village tannery was located, and
north of that again, on
the Concession Road the first store was established.
About 1843 the "Low Road" from Greenwood was established for the convenience of
hauling to and from the mills. It is said that the right-of-way to the Fifth Concession was
purchased for fifty barrels of flour and a gallon of whiskey.
In 1887 the old mill was changed to an oatmeal mill and was operated as such for about ten
years. The buildings were then dismantled, except the brick building which had been the
drying kiln for the oatmeal.
* * *
Lot 13 –
Robert LENNON and Joseph SHEA had their cooper shop on the north-east portion of
this Lot. (See "Barrels and Hoops")
The north 100 acres was owned by J. HAMILTON in 1877 and was sold to Ellen GLEESON
in 1898. The same year she sold it to Miss Georgina PENGELLY and her brother William.
These two, and their brother James, were the family of William PENGELLY Sr. who
operated a tannery on Lot 12 on the west side of the Low Road.
There is a house set further back on this farm. Ben FOLEY lived there for a time. Their family
was James, Ben, William, Kate, George, Jennie, Frank and Agnes. Ben Foley had a
threshing machine and did custom work. Elmo SHORT lived in this house and worked on
the Pengelly farm for years. The Short family is: Harold, Allan, Vernon, Kenneth and Ronald.
* * *
Lot 14 –
The north 100 acres was owned by William REYNOLDS in 1836. Then it was owned by
Moses WILLSON, and later Robert CATHCART, before coming into the possession of John
DEVITT in 1852. His son, Matthew DEVITT got it in 1902.
Later owners were McNABB, William KNOX and Arch GIBSON. Mr. and Mrs. John SODEN
bought it about 1927. The present (1960) tend ants are Karl, Anne and Chris LEN' SEN.
* * *
Lot 15 - (By MRS. EDITH SODEN)
In 1834 George SISLEY became the owner of the north 150 acres of Lot 15, Con. 5. He built
a saw mill and a grist mill. A few years later Sisley sold this 150 and the northeast 50 of Lot
16 to Nicholas HOWELL.
The farm, now known as "Meadowbrook Farm," was purchased from the late Nic
McCARRON by John F. SODEN in the 1920's. It was known in former years as "Howell's
Hollow."
Nicholas Howell was a very progressive man. With the aid of his sons he cleared the land,
and cut down large pine trees to build one dozen or more cottages on his land in which his
hired help lived.
Mr. Howell built a small store in the central part of the farm and the first Brougham Post
Office was established here.
Dr. Reardon was born in one of the cottages near the store. And, Mr. Edward Gleeson was
born in a cottage on a spot near a tiny pond as you drive in from the sideroad. (The pioneer
Devitt family's first house was built in the field close to the sideroad and afterwards another
house was built on the then Devitt Farm - Lot 14.)
In the late 1830's the Howells erected a Distillery and carried on a considerable business.
Men came through the bush, along a winding path or trail, on horse-back with a bag of wheat
to exchange it for whiskey. A cup was chained to a "help-yourself" jug. A good drink was
taken when they arrived and one when they left-but they didn't stay long after they took the
last one. This fact was told by Mr. John Gerow, a former Reeve of Pickering Township, who
lived on this farm when eleven to seventeen years of age. One of young Gerow's chores was
to carry the hops to the pigs to eat.
Today a few signs of a road or pathway can be seen and also where at one time there were
two large ponds. The heavy old iron exhaust pipe from the Distillery is among the
relics, and part of a post (the last post) is still in the ground. Every springtime "oil" can be
seen in the small water holes where this factory once stood.
It is rather strange, but true, to learn that large pine trees that at one time grew on a hill known
as the "gravel pit" were used to build Mr. Green's flour mill at Greenwood, and, when this
Mill was burned in 1937 an east wind blew the ashes back to the spot where they were
once little seedlings.
The Soden Farms consist of 207 acres—the north half of both Lot 14 and Lot 15, and a few
acres on* the north-east corner of Lot 16. (John Soden died in 1945 but Mrs. Soden has
carried on the farming operations. Editor's Note.)
Lot 16 —
John RYCKHART was registered as the owner of the 200 acres of Lot 16 in 1831. It was
sold to George SISLEY in 1832. In 1833 Sisley sold 150 acres to Benjamin HURD, who in
turn sold to Sam BENTLEY in 1836. In 1843 Bentley sold 125 acre? to Peter PERRY. It was
sold in 1853 by Robert PERRY to Ira B. CAR PENTER.
Ira B. Carpenter was a son of James Carpenter who was one of the first blacksmiths
in the county, having come from Vermont about 1E25 and settled in Pickering Township near
the town line of Whitby. In 1854, after formation of the new County of Ontario, Ira B.
Carpenter was appointed a Commissioner of the Peace. (Other Greenwood residents
appointed Justice of the Peace at the same time were Frederick Green Sr., and Dr. Adam
Fullarton.)
In 1960 this farm is owned by Fred HAMILTON, grandson of John Hamilton who lived on Lot
15, Con. 5 (and possibly was the J. Hamilton who owned the north half of Lot 13 in 1877).
John Hamilton had a family of six: Milford, born in 18-74, Frank, Alfred, William, Walter, Willis
and Alma (Mrs. Earl Hogle). John Hamilton did custom threshing.
Milford Hamilton married Ada Burton (of Lot 16, Con. 7). Their family was Fred, Marie (Mrs.
Clarence Balsom), and Mabel (Mrs. Clifford Hubbard). They bought Lot 16, Con. 5 from
James HOGEL in 1917.
Fred Hamilton married Cora White in 1923 and they live on Lot 16, Con. 5. Their family of
four is Beulah (Mrs. Donald Duncan), Kay (Mrs. Gordon Wagg), John and Ronald.
South Half of Concession Six
Lot 6 — (The North-East corner at Salem)
John HYFIELD, father of Mrs. Yeoman Gibson and Mrs. Joseph Montgomery, settled at
Salem corner in 1836.
The first school in the area was built on this property about that time. John Peacock was the
first teacher, followed by Miss Thompson and Mr. Gamble.
As early as 1861 6 1/4 acres on the south-west angle of the adjoining fifty became a part of
this parcel. The farm changed owners many times—James HORTOP, Wm. HAR-BRON,
Eva JOSE, A. MARKLE, Holland TINDALL, Mel TINDALL, John BROADBENT, Walter
BALL, and in 1928 to Joseph HARLOCK. Morley HARLOCK and his wife, the former
Margaret Gibson, lived in this home with their daughter, Dorothy. In 1944 Harlock sold to Mr.
L. W. BURT. Mr. and Mrs. Fred TITTERTON have lived in this home since that time. Their
family is Ivan, Harold, Garry, Marion and Ronald.
* * *
Lot 7 —
(The North-west Corner at Salem)
The records show that MUNGER bought this property from ELMS-LEY, and in 1835 he sold
it to James HUNTINGTON.
In 1860 Thomas HARRISON became the owner and three generations of his family lived on
this farm. He had one son, Lovell, who carried on with the home farm in 1893. His family was
a son, Frank, and three daughters, Carrie, who
married Sandy Moore, Mable, and Mildred who married Alex. McPherson.
In 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Sandy MOORE took over the homestead and lived there until after Mrs. Moore's death, about 1940. Mr. Moore sold the farm to Howard PLAXTON.
Mr. and Mrs. Archie BUNKER were the next owners. When they moved to Kinsale they sold the farm to Mrs. William LINTON and her son, Donald, about 1946. The Lintons moved to Raglan in 1954. At present the farm is occupied by John LOEFFLER.
In 1844 James HUNTINGTON sold the corner lot off his farm to John HYFIELD. In 1855 John Hyfield sold it to Samuel SNELL.
Samuel Snell built the home on his property. He was a carpenter and owned several places but this was where he lived and had his carpenter shop.
Later James LEDGETT lived here. Mrs. Frederick HARBRON and her daughter, Mabel, lived there in the 1940's. In 1948 William STEWART and his wife bought this home and are the present owners.
* * *
Lot 7 - north part of South Half-see "William Gibson-Judson Gibson Story"
* * *
Lot 8- see "The William Clark Family History"
* * *
Lot 9 –
Patrick LARKIN came to Greenwood in 1843, settling on Lot 9, Con. 6. In 1855 he married Mary O'leary. (Patrick also owned the fifty acres, part of Lot 9, Con. 5, on which his brother John Larkin came to live in 1849. John moved to the Broken Front some time after 1860.) Patrick Larkin took a deep interest in the affairs of the Township and was tax collector for nearly twenty years. He moved to Toronto in later years, where he died in 1908.
The 100 acre farm was sold to John E. DISNEY who in turn sold it to Alex MOORE. During this time Charles LEDGETT rented the farm. His family was Jean (Mrs. Cecil Disney), Roxena, and Ray who was killed overseas. William HARRIS was also a renter. Mr. Alex Moore and Mr. Annan built a canning factory in which tomatoes were canned for eight seasons in the 1930's.
In 1940 Frank CARTER owned the farm for a short time and then sold it to Robert THOMSON of Toronto. Mr. Willis WHALEN managed the farm for Thomson for a few years. His eldest daughter, Doreen, is still a Greenwood resident (Mrs. Herb Middleton). The farm had many renters.
Tragedy struck in 1946 the day that the George HILL and Roy HILL families were moving to this farm. Douglas Hill was driving their truck to Mount Zion to get another load. Mr. George Hill and his two-year old granddaughter, Beth Hill, were with him. Just below their gate, Doug lost control of the truck and it swerved in the gravel and turned upside down. Jim McLean was the first to arrive at the scene and pulled Beth from the wreckage before it settled on her. Mr. George Hill was killed instantly. Doug's legs were pinned in the wreck but he was not seriously injured. Mrs. George Hill has been bedfast since she fractured her hip in 1952. Roy and Jean Hill have one son, George, and a daughter, Beth.
* * *
Lot 10 –
For the story of the farm on this lot, see "The Middleton Family History".
William McKITTRICK's daughter, Nancy, married Thomas WILSON who was a carpenter. Their home was built on two acres on the northwest corner of William McKittrick's farm. Thomas and Nancy's family was Thomas, William, Lizzie (Mrs. Fred Hoar), and Bruce.
Later this home was owned by the Cowan estate and many different families lived there. Archie DAVIS, who ran a threshing outfit for years, lived there. He married Elizabeth Adamson. Their daughters were Reva (Mrs. Cecil DeGuerre) and Erie (Mrs. William Arsenault). Archie moved away in 1940.
Blake WARD bought this home next and still lives there.
Lots 11 and 12 –
John MACAULAY sold 371/2 acres of Lot 11 to Edward JACKSON in 1848. In 1850 Thomas
NORTON bought 50 acres. Four years later he sold it to Isaac LINTON who sold it to Edward
JACKSON in 1868. (For the Edward Jackson story, see Lot 11, Con. 5, north half.) In 1869
Samuel GREEN bought Lot 11, Con. 6.
The Hon. John McMURRICK sold JAMES BICKELL 100 acres of Lot 12 in 1867. Two years
later he sold it to Samuel GREEN.
From the S. J. Green estate both Lot 11 and Lot 12 went to F. L. GREEN in 1909. This is the
farm where Frederick L. GREEN specialized in Yorkshire pigs and in Jerseys. In 1911 he
had 84 Jerseys, one of the largest herds in the County. His prize herd was dispersed in 1918.
William ORMEROD and family rented this farm for three years and were the first to occupy
the large red brick home. In 1921 James RAINE bought 113Y4 acres (parts of Lots 11 and
12) which included all the farm buildings. Ross RAINE and his family moved to this home
after Mrs. J. Raine's death. The Ross Raine family is Betty, Joyce and June.
Highway No.7 cut through these two lots when curving a r 0 u n d Greenwood Hill when it was
constructed in the early 1930's. F. L. Green developed "Greenwood Park" in the area
between the mill race and the creek. There were two swimming pools, a good supply of
tables and a booth. It became very popular with people far and near.
In 1947 Reginald CLARKE purchased Greenwood Park from Edna GREEN. It consisted of
79 acres in Lots 11 and 12. He extended the Park to include ten acres for a ball field east of
the mill race.
In 1950 Reginald Clarke bought the farm of 113/4 acres from Mr. Raine. This was in Lots 11
and 12. Reg and his wife, the former Lorraine Todd, lived in the farm home. Their family is
Sharon and Janice, and a nephew John Paxton who lives with them.
Reg. operated the Park until the time of his sudden death due to an accident in 1953. He was
drawing water from the flowing well on the Fifth Concession. The tractor overturned when it
went into a hole on the shoulder of the road. Reg. was pinned under the tractor.
Mrs. Lorraine Clarke continued to operate the Park until 1956 when she sold 99 acres of
park and farm land (Lots 11 and 12) to Mr. SAKERIS of Toronto. She and Sharon and
Janice retained 44 acres in Lot 12.
In 1954 one acre on the north-west corner of Highway No. 7 (Lot 11) went to Percy CLARKE
and his wife, Carrie. Mrs. Lorraine Clarke retained an adjoining acre and a half.
In 1955 Lorraine CLARKE sold one acre of farmland to Mr. Wilkins who built a home on it.
This lot faces onto the sideroad between Lots 10 and 11. In 1959 this was purchased by
Rodd OXFORD. Mr. and Mrs. Oxford have two daughters, Anne and Rae.
In 1956 Mrs. Clarke sold 47 acres of land to Mr. CRUIKSHANK. She retained the farm home
and 3/4 acre of land situated on the Sixth Con-cession in Greenwood Village.
Verna (Mrs. Andrew Appleton), Margaret (Mrs. George Lee), Bob, Greta (Mrs. James Smith),
Barbara, and Bill. Mr. Hicks built another house in 1954 and sold the Restaurant and Garage
to WHITTINGTON, then it went to S. WIG~IN5, and in l958 Gerald FISHER bought it. Cerry
and Rita Fisher have a family of three - Debora, Leslie and Lita. Another house on this 41
acres is owned by Thomas CAMPBELL, who came from Greenwood in 1958. There are two
children in the Campbell family – Stephen and Sheila.
The 25-acre parcel north of the above 41 acres was bought by Matthew HARBRON in 1849.
In 1860 George VINER made it his home for fifteen years then sold to Thomas LAMOREUX.
Oswold WOOD bought this farm in 1872 and sold it to Sam uci STEWART. He married
Grace Cammick. Their family was Maggie, Aggie, Kate (Mrs. Rankin), Alex, Sarah, Elizabeth,
Bill and Jack (twins), and Ethel (Mrs. Thomas Oliver). Mrs. Kate Stewart RANKIN is the
present (1960) owner. There have been many renters. The Levi LINTON family lived here
while he worked for William Pengelly. Their family is Lloyd and Jean.
Fifty acres of Lot 13, Con. 6 was registered in the name of William SADLER in 1841.
According to the 1877 map, William SADLER Jr. was the owner. (See the "Sadler Story".)
In the fall of 1945 Wilmot TWEEDIE moved on to this farm.
Lot 14 –
The patent for the south 150 acres went to the Hon. David William SMITH in 1798. In 1802 it
went to Jacob FISHER, then in 1816 to Joseph HOLLY and Elizabeth STANG. In 1835
Daniel STANG sold to George BARCLAY.
In 1843 George BARCLAY sold the south 100 acres to Robert BARRY and in the same
year Barry sold 13 acres on the south east corner to William SADLER. In 1868 Barry sold
the remaining land to James GEDDES who was still the owner of the south 40 acres in 1895,
but Mrs. O. PALMER owned the north 50. For years William PENGELLY pastured the south part of Lot 14 and then it was sold to Harry NEWMAN.
Mrs. PALMER left the north 50, of the south half, to her daughter, Mrs. Thomas
CATHERWOOD. The Catherwood family lived there until 1906. Their family was: Sherwood,
Closson. Cashel, Lestral and Virgil.
From 1906 to 1911 this 50-acre farm was rented to Eli WILLSON, son of Cornelius J.
Willson, owner of the Carding Mill on Lot 13, Con. 7. Eli's family was Nettie, Fred, Lilly, Myra,
Art, Norval and Lyle. Nettie Willson s married name was Wood-side. She was the mother of
Willson Woodside, the well-known news commentator and author. She and her family
returned to the parental home for a year or two while the Willson family lived on this farm.
In 1911 the farm was rented to Mrs. Harry SADLER and family. (See William Sadler's Family
Story.)
Lot 15
The 200 acres of Lot 15 was patented to Benjamin HALLOWELL in 1798, then went to John
ELMSLEY and to John MACAULAY before it was sold to Thomas SMITH in 1839.
About 1847 Matthew and Thomas DEVITT bought the south 100 acres.
Matthew Devitt, his wife, Jane Strong, and family had lived near the Bay of Quinte for a time
after coming to Canada from Ireland about 1827. Their family was: George Susan (Mrs.
Allbright), Wright, Mary (Mrs. William Gibson), John (Lot 15, Con. 6), Jane (Mrs. Alex.
Browne), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Cochrane, Lot 11, Con. 8). Matthew Devitt died in 1850
and his wife in 1864.
In 1865 two acres on the south east corner was registered in the name of Jane DEVITT.
The farm was owned by William COCHRANE for two years and purchased from him by John
DEVITT (Matthew's son). (One of John's sons, Robert Devitt who had no children, lived on
Lot 14, Con. 5.) In 1895 John's other son, William J. DEVITT had the farm on Lot 15,
Con. 6. William J.'s family was: Leslie, Kenneth, Carl E. and Gwen (Mrs. Harry Lade).
Carl E. DEVITT bought the farm in 1932. Carl and Gertrude's family is: Helen (Mrs. Bowes),
William and John. In 1944 Carl Devitt sold to Harry NEWMAN.
Anthony GARDNER is the farm manager for Mr. Newman. Anthony and Velma's family is:
Shirley, Bonnie, Kenn~eth, Joan and Terry.
Other families living on this farm are: Mr. and Mrs. J. HONNINGH, and Mr. and Mrs. Weiger
RUITER, whose family is Jake, Elizabeth and John.
* * *
Lot 16 –
In 1828 the patent on the 200 acres in Lot 16 was taken out by King's College. The south
100 acres was sold by the University of Toronto to Oliver JOHNSTON. (See the Johnston
Story.) The farm is now owned by Mr. Wm. NEILSON.
North Half of Concession Six
Lots 7 and 8 –
Ralph MOWBRAY and family settled on 200 acres, the north half of Lots 7 and 8, in the
1830's, their closest neighbour being Samuel Munger. Ralph and Catherine Mowbray, who
were United Empire Loyalists, had a family of six. Their grandson, Ralph R. Mowbray, was
the only man in the history of Ontario County to serve as Warden of the County for two terms-
in 1893, and again in 1909. (Ralph R. lived on a farm just north of Kinsale. Among his family
was: Louella; Adelaide (Mrs. R. S. McLaughlin), Roy, Frank, and Ralph E., who still resides
on the farm at Kinsale in 1960.)
The Mowbrays sold a portion of the south end of their land in Lots 17 and 8 to William
GIBSON. (See "The William Gibson Family" story.) In 1881, through William Gibson's will, it
was given to Robert GIBSON who sold it, in 1882, back to Ralph MOWBRAY.
In 1910 Robert CARSON bought the farm in Lots 7 and 8, Con. 6. Robert and Barbara's
family included: Erroll, William and Walter. In 1960 Mrs. Barbara Carson, William and Walter
still live on the home farm. Walter and Cora Car-son's family is: Louella, Lorne, Ruth, Alan,
Ray, Grant and John.
* * *
Lot 9
In 1836 Thomas McMURRAY Sr. bought this 100 acres from the Canada Company.
In 1846 the north 50 acres went to James McMURRAY whose executors sold it in 1868 to
John JONES the grandfather of Percy and Ralph who are on Lot 7, Con. 8 in 1960.
In 1882 the south 50 acres of this 100 went to Thomas McMURRAY Jr. There was a house
on this land, facing onto the side road. between Lots 8 and 9 which is now closed. The
CRAYFORDs were a later family to live in this home. Their family was: Rosie, Roland,
Edward, Sydney and Harold. Although there were once three homes along this road, the
homes are all gone now and the road has been closed for many years.
* *
Lot 10 –
(See "The George Wilson Family"story.)
* * *
Lot 11 –
In 1846 Richard WILSON bought the west fifty acres of this lot (see "Richard Wilson" Story).
In 1849 Alex DUNLOP owned the east 50 acres. Mr. Dunlop sold it to John TYE in 1854.
This fifty was added to the WILSON farm prior to 1895.
In 1898 this 100-acre farm went to Newrick WILSON on the death of his father.
Emerson ORMEROD rented this farm in 1920. Other renters were Fred MIDDLETON, and
Mr. HARDY.
In 1928 George PEGG bought the 100-acre farm. In 1934 the buildings were burned, and
Andrew PEGG had the farm until Edgerton PEGG bought it in 1935. Edgie built the present
house in 1946. In 1947 he married Betty McPhail. Their family is "Hal" and "Kathy".
Lot 12 -The "south" 50 acres of the North
Half of this lot was bought by Samuel BOYER in 1856. In 1868 William SADLER purchased
it from Boyer. (See "William Sadler's Family" Story.) Sadler descendants continued to live
there until 1911.
A number of families have lived on the south end of this land. The present owner of the south
portion is Roger BENDLE. Mr. and Mrs. Bendle and their son, Peter, have made their home
at Greenwood since 1957.
In 1960 Mr. and Mrs. Harry NEWMAN are having a new home built to the north of the Bendle
property.
Further north is the home of the Gordon NEIL family, who came to Greenwood in 1954.
Gordon and Grace Neil's family is: Mary, Maureen, Margaret, John, Jacqueline and Michael.
The BATES family, who moved here in 1956, have their home north of Neil's. Andrew and
Esther Bates have two sons, Michael and David. Their home had formerly belonged to Mr.
Rolph KNUDSEN.
The "north" 50 acres of the North Half of Lot 12 was purchased in 1865 by Samuel BOYER,
who had the Mills on Lot 12, Con. 7. Later, it went to his daughter Elizabeth (Mrs. John
MILLER, grandmother of Hugh Miller on Lot 18, Con. 8, in 1960).
Alfred JAMES, who came to Greenwood in 1956, has his home toward the south end of
this 50 acres.
To the north of James, Mr. I. FREW has built a new home. He moved to the community in
1957.
Ray SCOTT's home faces onto the Seventh Concession road. He came to Greenwood in
1950.
* * *
Lot 13 –
The south 25 acres of the North Half of Lot 13 was bought by James JOLLY in 1852. In 1882
he sold to John MITCHELL. Mitchell sold the farm to William G. CAMMICK whose family was
Mary Jane, Grace (Mrs. Sam Stewart), and Robert. Bob CAMMICK's family was Grace
(Mrs. George Hicks), George, Bill, Archie and Eddie. Belle LISCOMBE became the next
owner of this farm. There were many renters. Aaron BURKHOLDER lived there about 1889.
His family was Oscar, Orval, Ruth and Ralph.
Abija FORSYTHE also rented, as did George YOUNG. Mrs. GIL~OOLY, whose mother was
a Young, lived there with her three children Bert, Fred and Jessie. Fred BYERS has owned
this farm since 1911. (See "The Byers Family History".)
In 1957 the HAMM family moved to Greenwood. Their home is on a lot on this south 25 acres.
Jim and Betty have a family of three daughters, Marilyn, Barbara and Cathy.
The 25 acres, adjoining the aforementioned to the north, has always been in the Byers name.
(See "The Byers Family" History.)
The North 50 ACRES, Lot 13
(By MRS. JOHN BROOKS)
This 50 acres is part of the lands granted by the Crown to Benjamin HALLOWELL April 16th,
1798. Andrew STORY was one of the early owners of this property. William WOODS
bought the farm in 1878. Later it was rented to Harry SADLER, father of Sam, Wesley, Kate
and William.
Lorenzo WHITE bought the farm about 1893. He and his wife and family (Meldrum, Millie
and Edith) lived there. After he died in the spring of 1933, Mrs. White moved and went to
live with her daughter Millie (Mrs. J. Stephenson of Claremont).
Walter C. THOMSON, Q.C. of Pickering took over the farm in 1938 and spent some time
here during summer holidays with his family. It was rented to numerous people until June,
1944 when John James and Ivy Pearl BROOKS bought it from Mr. Thomson.
The original home on this property was built of logs. The present frame house was built about
1840. The foundation is of field stone, 8 feet deep; the cellar floor, earth, where fruit and
vegetables were stored. The beams are of hand-hewn logs and some are whole tree trunks
with the bark still adhering. The outside was
clapboard siding, insulated with sawdust. The floor boards are about 2 inches thick, and
square cut nails were used in construction. Some of the sheathing boards used were as
wide as 32 inches. Plaster was put on split cedar lath. The back kitchen, with no foundation
under it, seems to have been a small building brought to the site and added at a later date.
There was also a driving shed at one time.
There are hops still growing, that years ago were used in making the yeast from which the
bread was made.
The frame barn was built about 1845 and a stone foundation was put under it about 1865.
Mr. White planted 15 Norway spruce in 1905. And, in 1906, he planted the apple orchard.
He used to take apples, potatoes and hay to Toronto by team and wagon. He would leave
home at 9 p.m., drive down to Liverpool and stop for a rest at "The Half-Way House" (the
hotel on the north-west corner). Around 12 midnight he would start off again and arrive at the
St. Lawrence Market about 7 a.m. His apples sold for $1.00 a barrel, potatoes $1.00 a 90-
pound bag.
Mr. and Mrs. John Brooks and family, prior to coming to Greenwood, had lived in Montreal
and then in Toronto for six years. (Mrs. Brooks came from the Isle of Wight, England.) Their
family-Kenneth, Patricia and Barbara-attended th~ school at Greenwood until their
graduation to high school at Whitby, Claremont and Pickering, respectively. In 1958 Barbara
married Alfred Pegg and they have a daughter, Ruth. In 1959 Kenneth married Sheila Pegg
and their daughter is named Rosalie Ann.
The Brooks family named their farm "Echobrook,” but recently learned it had been called
"Lone Elm Farm." The elm tree is 141/2 feet in circumference at five feet from the ground-
one of the biggest and tallest in these parts.
In 1956 a house was built just north Qf the site of the demolished barn for John Brook's
parents, Mr. And Mrs. James E. BROOKS. They had lived in Greenwood Village since his
retirement in 1946 as a C.P.R. Engineer in Montreal. Mrs. James Brooks died in 1958 and
is buried in Salem Cemetery.
* * *
Lot 14 –
In 1843 Pat GIBBONS bought the south 25 acres of the North Half of this Lot.
In 1847 Gibbons sold 10 acres to Joseph JOLLY. The next owner of this 10 acres was Jane
McKITTRICK in 1852. In 1859 W. LISCOMBE became the owner.
In 1850 Gibbons sold 10 acres to Ed. CONACHY. He sold it to Andrew BYERS in 1851.
Jane McKITTRICK received it from Byers in 1854. And, in 1859 W. LISCGMBE became the
owner of this 10 acres.
In 1853 Gibbons sold five acres to Thomas FLANERY, which went to Patrick LARKIN in
1857, and he resold it the same year.
Liscombe was the owner of the 25 acres in 1877 and still had it in 1895, according to the
two maps we have for reference.
In the late 1930's this 25-acre farm was purchased by Frank and Kay HAYWARD. Their son,
David, attended Greenwood school from the farm before they moved into the village of
Greenwood.
In 1941 Mr. and Mrs. Russell WHITEHEAD came to this farm. On December 18th, 1942,
when their son, Paul, was 11 years old and their daughter, Lois, was six, the four of them
were in their car, returning from a Christmas shopping trip to Whitby, when the car was
struck by a train at the crossing north of town. Both Mr. Whitehead and little Lois were
instantly killed. Mrs. Whitehead and Paul both had serious injuries and were hospitalized for
many months.
The above-mentioned 25 acres is now owned by George GRIFFIN. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin and
their son, John, came to Greenwood in 1943.
The second 25 acres in the North Half of this Lot has been in the Byers' name since the early
years.
(See The Byers Family History.)
Along the sideroad there are now three new homes. Bruce McLEAN, who came to the
community in 1956, has the most southerly of the three. Ken KEDDLE, brother of Mrs. John
Brooks, built a home in 1948. To the north of the Keddle property is the home of Don.
RANDALL who came to Greenwood in 1956.
Concession Seven
Lots 9 and 10 –
(By MILTON N. PEGG)
The farm now (1960) belonging to Milton Pegg and family on the south half of the rear of
Lots 9 and 10, Con. 7, was originally a part of the 400-acre block owned by Ebenezer
BIRRELL from 1834 to 1888. Upon the death of Ebenezer Birrell, the easterly 162 acres
passed to James BIRRELL, his son, and 60 acres along the side-road between Lots 10 and
11 passed to his daughter Christina. When Christina died in 1886 it passed to her husband
Arthur JOHNSTON.
Following World War I, Milton Pegg and D. V. Hoskins who had served together as Flying
Officers in No.12 Squadron, RAF., in France, bought the easterly 162 acres from the James
Birreil Estate in 1919. D. V. HOSKINS took the northerly 81 acres and Milton PEGG took the
southerly 81 acres. Because of a minor depression in 1921 and lack of working capital,
Milton Pegg turned to the teaching profession, for which he was qualified, and taught school
at the Industrial Farm, Burwash, until June 30th, 1927. Meanwhile D. V. Hoskins studied the
profession of Chiropractic’s, eventually receiving his degree as a Doctor of Chiropractic’s
and becoming very successful in the practice of his profession. Today his son Reginald
HOSKINS operates the 81 acres together with an additional 100 acres he acquired on Lot 8,
Con. 8.
In 1927 Milton Pegg purchased 20 acres on Lot 10, Con. 7 from his father, Andrew Pegg, in
order to have a 100-acre farm which was the standard in those days, and to be able to build
on the side-road 10-11. A well was drilled first and a plentiful supply of water found at a depth
of 126 feet. Then the present house was built in what was then a bare hayfield. On Nov. 16th,
1927, Milton Pegg married Elizabeth Jenkins at her home near Magnetawan, Ontario, and
brought her to their new home where they have resided ever since.
Three sons were born to them: Edward Newton in 1928, John Alfred in 1929 and Joseph
Andrew in 1935.
Some trees were planted in 1928, but most of these around the buildings today were planted
in 1931. The barn was built in 1929 by John Ashenhurst of Goodwood. Other buildings were
added in 1933, 1936 and 1951. In 1953 the farm had ten thousand feet of much-needed tile
drains installed, which greatly increased the productivity of the farm. In 1954 a spring-fed
farm pond was built in the back pasture for water conservation and recreation. It has been a
joy to see many kinds of wild birds use this pond including wild ducks, plover, snipe, gulls,
terns, swallows, red-wing blackbirds, herons ~nd bitterns. In 1956 a loo~ehousing barn was
built for young cattle and dry cows, which proved a great labour-saver.
In 1957 Alfred was given a lot of land on the south-west corner of the farm and a start was
made at building a house upon it. The house was ready for use by July 26th, 1958, when
Alfred married Barbara Brooks.
In June 1958 it was necessary to build a new milk-house and install a bulk-cooler if shipping
milk to Toronto was to be continued. In 1958 a ranch of 100 acres near Beaverton was
purchased for pasture purposes. In 1959 it was decided to install a milking parlour and use
loose housing for the milk cows. The milking parlour has proved very satisfactory, but the
loose housing as yet is not entirely satisfactory.
From 1927 until the mid 40's mixed
farming was practiced and horses were used with a tractor. By the 50's all horses were gone \
and two tractors were in use with several lines of farming discontinued. The trend to
specializing has continued until today whole milk is practically the only product sold from the
farm.
Mention might be made of a fine 15-acre hardwood bush on this farm. Although of second
growth, it has trees up to 100 years old. For the past 40 years the policy followed has been
to remove inferior trees for fuel and lumber and to leave sound maple trees. Today there are
about 200 maple trees large enough for taping and several hundred nearing the necessary
size. The cattle have never been allowed to pasture in the woods and the wild flowers in
spring are a joy to behold.
* * *
CONCESSION SEVEN
South Half-Lot 11 –
(By MILTON N. PEGG)
On June 20th, 1846, William COULTIS bought this farm from the Canada Land Company.
William Coultis came from Yorkshire, England, in 1828 on a sailing vessel which took eight
weeks in crossing the Atlantic owing to adverse winds. He settled in Scarboro Township at
first, then moved to Pickering, where he bought the farm on Lot 11, Con. 7, on June 20th,
1846. He had five boys and three girls. He died in 1861, aged 76 years and his wife died the
following year. They were buried in Salem Cemetery.
By the will of William Coultis the farm passed to his son Richard who lived there until
September 22nd, 1864, when he sold it to William SMITH for ~2,000 and moved to near
Tillsonburg. The only descendants of the Coultis family today in Pickering Township are
Frank, Blake and Alberta Coultis who are the grand-children of a brother of Richard Coultis.
William Smith, a stone mason by trade, came originally from northern Ireland, though he had
lived eleven years in Scotland before coming to Canada in 1848. Five of his children were
born in Scotland and five more were born in Pickering previous to 1864. Jane, the oldest
daughter, marned Abraham Boyer in 1865-he operated a mill on the 7th concession, lot 12.
Eliza married Mr. Hopper. Ruth became Mrs. John Betts. Margaret married Tom Bayles.
Emmaline became Mrs. John Brown (Lot 7, Con. 5). The boys were: James, William, David
and Frank.
During the eleven years the Smiths were on the farm they worked at their trade as stone
masons as well as farming. In 1875 William Smith sold the farm to Arthur JOHNSTON for
$3,250.
The first clearing of the land on this farm must have been done by William Coultis and his
family. Also, the first house and barn built. The original barn is being taken down as this is
being written (in April 1960) and it is interesting to see that all the timbers were hewn by
hand, some up to fifty feet long cut from one tree. Some of the planks flooring the hay mows
are around two feet wide. The oldest part of the house, presently being remodelled by Metro
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, is also of timbered construction with logs and
beams squared with an axe.
What stories the old barns could tell about the many hired men who worked there such as
Thomas Wilson, whose name is inscribed in fine writing on the inside walls to this day. Of
Sandy Moore, Fred Nutt and William Maw, and how William Maw, being not too fond of work,
used to stand on the manure pile and "auction off" the cattle as the other men led them out
to water. 'Tis said that is how he got his training to become a very successful auctioneer
and that he became such a fast talker he frequently had bidders bidding against themselves.
The old barn could tell of romances that were started there, of at least two that resulted in
marriages between the men and maids that worked for Arthur Johnston. It could tell of
tragedy too, when in the earliest days before there were churches or cemeteries, two little
children were buried by their sorrowing parents on a knoll nearby.
Arthur Johnston had taught school
(1864-66) in the original school in School Section No.13 (Mount Zion). He married a daughter
of Ebenezer Birrell and engaged in importing and breeding Scotch Shorthorn cattle at which he
was very successful and he was one of the men who made a useful contribution to the
improvement of Shorthorns in Canada. During the 35 years that Arthur Johnston owned the
farm he added to the house, making it much larger, and also built other buildings and extended
the barn to 100 feet in length. He also added more land to the farm until it consisted of 206
acres.
Arthur Johnston had three children by his first marriage: Robert, Nettie (later Mrs. Clare), and
Mabel (Mrs. Arthur Howden). Following the death of his first wife he married Emmaline
Mowbray. They had two children, George, a lawyer, now Chief Librarian, Osgoode Hall, and
Eleanor, now Mrs. White.
In 1910 Arthur Johnston advertised his farm in the "Family Herald and Weekly Star." It was
seen by Andrew Pegg and his wife of La-Salle, Manitoba, who wishing better educational
opportunities for their children were thinking of moving east to somewhere near their former
homes in Whitchurch Township. Following a trip to inspect the property Andrew PEGG
purchased it for $10,500 and moved down in November 1910, bringing two carloads of
cattle and goods.
The cattle were grade Holsteins, which were new to this district at that time, when Shorthorn
reigned supreme. About the same time R. H. Carson moved onto Lot 7 and 8, Con. 6, north
half. He also kept Holsteins and began shipping milk to Toronto. Since that time Holsteins
gained steadily in popularity until today they are by far the most popular breed in the
community.
Andrew Pegg was the first person in the community to own an automobile, purchasing in
June 1916, the first model of Chevrolet put on the market. As the roads were all gravelled
then with horses and wagons and levelled with shovels they were quite rough and rolling, so
that a speed of twenty miles per hour seemed quite fast and thrilling enough. Later, as steel
drags came into use and autos improved, the speed increased. Andrew Pegg loved driving
and drove an auto until he was over 75 years of age.
In 1929 Andrew Pegg, being 65 years old, rented his farm to his son William who married in
1928. William worked the farm until 1938 when he bought his own farm on Lot 11, Con. 8.
Andrew Pegg, then 75 years of age, man aged the farm two more years and in 1940 rented
it to Charles McTAGGART who worked the farm for eight years. Then the south half was
rented to Edgie Pegg and the north half to Milton Pegg until the spring of 1959, when the
farm was sold to M.T.R.C.A. for $35,000.
There were nine children in the Pegg family, as follows: Milton N., who now lives on Lot 10,
Con. 7, Pickering; Gladys L., now Mrs. Wilham Brown, Lot 7, Con. 5, Pickering; J. Lloyd,
now living in Oshawa; William S., now on Lot 11, Con. 8, Pickering; George E., now in
Markham; Essie W., now Mrs. R. Appleby, living in west Whitby on Con. 8; Alice M., now
Mrs. Bertram Wilson, living at Maxwell, Ontario; C. Edgerton, now on Lot 11, Con. 6,
Pickering; Mildred A., now Mrs. C. McTaggart, living in Greenwood Village. At the present
time (1960) there are 28 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, descendants of Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Pegg.
* * *
Lot 11 –
Concession 8, South Half
(By MHS. WILLIAM PEGG)
This farm was deeded from Crown land in the early 1800's. Among the earliest owners were
the LINTON brothers, each having 50 acres with separate sets of buildings.
William COCHRANE bought both farms around 1858, and built the present buildings. He
had worked for the Miller family of Atha after coming to Canada from Ireland in
1845. On December 30, 1854, he marned Eliza Devift. After four years at Atha they moved
to Lot 11, Con. B and spent the rest of their lives there.
He was a Shorthorn importer and made several trips to Scotland to purchase breeding stock.
It is said that on one of his trips to Scotland he left his wife $500 to be used in case of
emergency. She used the money (in hig absence) in renovating the house and adding new
furnishings, much to his surprise.
A nephew of Mr. Cochrane was killed by the cave-in of a turnip pit on this farm. William and
Eliza Cochrane had a family of five sons and five daughters. He died in 1903, aged 80, and
she died in 1905, also at the age of 80. Their daughter Josephine and son James continued.
to run the farm in the early 1900's.
The farm was rented to Emerson ORMEROD for 3 years, and then to James STEVENSON
for 17 years, and one year to Norman LINTON.
In 1938 William PEGG bought this farm and they are the present (1960) owners. Will and
Bessie Pegg have a family of four. The eldest, Sheila, is now Mrs. Kenneth Brooks with a
daughter of her own. David is teaching Canadian Army children in Germany. The two
younger members of the family, Marion and Gerald, are in High School.
In December 1951, the four-day County Folk School was held in the William Pegg home,
with sixteen living-in full-time. The School was under the leadership of Clare Burt, then
Provincial Secretary of Farm Radio Forum.
Last Miller of Greenwood
(BY GREGORY CLARK)
(Excerpts from an article written by the nationally known Gregory Clark following a visit to the
home of F. L. Green, as published in The Toronto Star Weekly, Saturday, July 5, 1924)
F. L. Green, though not a horticulturist, has developed a series of gardens of rare loveliness
in a little valley north of Pickering.
The miller of Greenwood is the fifth generation of millers in a direct line. He is the third
generation of his family to operate the water mill at Greenwood. He is not merely the owner
of the mill. He is the miller. And-he is the last miller of Greenwood.
Frederick L. Green is a living representation of the miller of tradition. The place the miller
holds in the literature of former days is comprehensible through him.
On Duffin's creek, . . . stands a huge bare flourmill straddling the millrace. It is a water mill,
the great grinding machines of which are driven by the water wheel, only slightly modified
from the wheel the Egyptians used.
Mills are tall and ugly things. But this one is screened by tall and stately trees, and
surrounded on one side by - acres of flowers in extra-ordinary profusion, and on the other
side by a watery meadow in which woods are flourishing as beautifully as they seldom do in
old Ontario.
Beside the mill is the miller's house, a fine buff brick mansi6n amidst gardens such as you
would not see in the finest estates in Toronto.
This is the setting in which dwells the miller of Greenwood, a gentleman out of an old and
passing tradition.
I went up to Greenwood to write about Mr. Green's peonies, of which he has three hundred
and fifty varieties in almost countless numbers, now at the height of their blooming. People
come from far and near to visit his gardens in the peony season. He is . . . holder of a cup for
general mastership in flower growing that he took away from the competition of Colonel
MacKendrick and Mr. D. A. Dunlap.
Because it was raining, we went at once from the mill into the house. It is a mansion, not a
house: a mansion estimated from the inside as well as from without. It is filled
The home of Frederick L. Green.
F.L Green beside one of the rarest of his 350 varieties of peonies - This, a white bloom,
Kelway's Glorious.
with treasures of furniture and ware of every description, not from the point of view of a
collector of rare furniture but as expressing the personality of a man.
We sat near a small rosewood card table, at which I directed a hard glance. "A card table,"
said the miller of Greenwoodq "which was brought out from Scotland by Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, the first explorer of the far west and the first to reach the Pacific across Canada."
He went to an old sideboard and took down a claret jug of cut glass and hand wrought silver
- an extraordinary, gleaming, complete thing. "Also Mackenzie's," he said.
I remarked the dinner table. "I made it out of two old tables I got in this district, from old
homesteads. Here is a fine piece of wood," he said, showing a china cabinet of simple old
design.
In this cabinet he had a number of pieces of what was left of his grandfather's dinner service,
a blue china picturing on each set of pieces a different scene from classical history, old
plates and cups and bowls that he has got from his own family and from the old homesteads
of that historic region of Ontario, representing the gentility of a race and a time that has
passed.
Old furniture, pictures, china and silver, that preserve a former time. It is only one aspect of
the character of the miller of Greenwood.
He led into a small vault-like room. "Now, these are treasures," he said. The vault was lined
with books. "Books on horticulture, flowers, gardening," he said . . . Then he showed "The
Complete Gardener," by Monar. De La Quintinye, chief director of all the gardens of the
French King, "made English by John Evelyn, Esquire," and dated 1640.
What strange and elaborate and old-fashioned instructions and ideas on gardening these
old and very formal and wordy books contain can be imagined. . . . "And they contain much
that has been forgotten," he said. "They were gardeners in those days."
So much forgotten and so much lost - this from the miller of Greenwood, whose water mill is
grinding bravely still, though the great electric mills of the cities have spelled its doom.
I asked him about the milling, and how he came to take it up as a calling. "My grandfather
came out to this country and began milling just below here on a mill that has gone," he said.
"His father and grandfather before him were millers in Cambridgeshire, and I have a picture
of the old windmill which ran their flour mill, for Cambridgeshire is the fen country."
"When I completed my schooling at Jarvis Collegiate in Toronto," said Mr. Green, "I came
and learned the milling trade from my grandfather, and from the lessee of the mill, and as
apprentice I was paid five dollars a month."
When we went out to view the gardens. . . the rain had passed, the sun was trying to thrust
through the shadow of a gigantic maple which spread a dozen great branches like
secondary trunks in every direction over the velvet lawn.
"What a magnificent tree!"
"I planted that myself. It is only thirty-five years old."
That dates the beginning of Mr. Green's building of this beautiful estate of terraces, gardens,
pools and walks. . . . For the miller of Greenwood is a builder-up. .
His mill race is a thing of beauty, "Lovers' Walk" it has been named by visitors - hundreds of
yards of quietly flowing water, the water that drives the great mill, all bowered with the native
woods of old Ontario, a pathway along it, as secluded and far from the world as he could
devise it. . .
Not until the sun was low. . . did we go back down to the gardens, where the thousands and
thousands of peonies, red and white and pink, were throwing off a cloud of fragrance that
smote the sky. . .
We went from the peony garden, past roses, iris, and scores of multicolored flowers, into the
gardens
about the house, with its lawn like a deep, close carpet. Here was the inner sanctum. By a
pool made in the garden grew a wild garden, filled with the best flowers nature grows without
art or aid. . . . In the pool are hundreds of goldfish that have bred there. Water lilies make
rostra for the bullfrogs.
In rocky glens and flagged pathways all about these house gardens, literally scores of flowers
of every kind.
He is not a horticulturist, this miller of Greenwood. He is a man with a perception of the
beautiful in the less obvious places.
"The big mills have doomed the small water-power mills," he said. "This is an age of quantity
production, standardized production. I am not milling a fraction of the flour I did when I first
came here a young man. There were once seven mills in Pickering township. Now there are
two."
Farming
In the early days the grain, planted among the stumps was cut by a reap-hook and threshed
by a flail. A flail consisted of thin sticks tied together by leather thongs and was used in a
swinging motion to thresh the grain. It was cleaned by pouring the grain from one dish to
another, letting the wind blow away the chaff.
Later a cradle was used to cut the grain and the "fingers" carried the grain around to the left
side and laid it in a swath. It was raked into bunches and tied with bands of straw. After
drying in the "stooks" it was drawn to the barn to be threshed.
One aspect of the pioneer life was the "bees" - bees for clearing the land, for hauling wood,
for harvesting, and so on.
The first threshing separators were run by horse-power. As the cleaner had no "blower" at
that time, it took many men to handle the straw. Fanning mills, turned by hand, were used to
clean the grain.
Coming up to more modern farming, about the turn of the century-Most farmers around
Greenwood engaged in mixed farming, producing cream for sale, also cattle, hogs, eggs,
poultry, and some fruit. The grain crops grown were winter wheat, oats, barley, peas, and
corn for the silos. For hay only timothy and red clover were grown then. Alfalfa was first
grown about 1920. It was slow in becoming popular because it was so hard to plow down
with horses, owing to the thick, tough roots. This difficulty was overcome later by the use of
tractors and special shares for the ploughs.
Today's farming in this area is more specialized and threshing machines have been
replaced by combines.
Greenwood Farm Forum
(By MRS. I. L. MCLEAN)
Greenwood Farm Forum came into being as the result of a unique roll call at the local
Women's Institute meeting. In the summer of 1944 the ladies were asked to answer the roll
by completing the sentence: "If we had $2 to spend for the good of our community, I would
suggest that we …”
Naturally some of the suggestions put forth were impractical, while others were carried out
with definite and permanent results for the betterment of the community. For exam -plc, the
suggestion that shrubs be purchased to beautify the school grounds, like the five barley
loaves and two fishes with which Jesus fed the 5,000, multiplied by the addition of donated
plants, with the result that the school yards at Greenwood and Kinsale were both landscaped.
But, you say, what has this to do with Greenwood Farm Forum? Well,
one suggestion at the W.I. meeting was that an open meeting for neighbours from three or
four communities be arranged for time purpose of hearing about Farm Radio Forum. Later,
a very successful meeting was held with Wesley Neelands, then provincial secretary, as
guest speaker. From the interested persons present, four Forums were started that season.
Unfortunately, the others petered out after one or two seasons, but Greenwood Farm Forum
has continued uninterrupted.
The regular Greenwood Forum meetings are held in the homes of the members. Each
Monday, 'from October to March, the host of the evening is chairman. When arranging the
discussion groups, the chairman sees to it that man and wife do not land in the same small
discussion group. This contributes to a freer discussion.
We believe that the sociability of the gathering is nearly as important as the discussion.
Therefore, we always have recreation, and lunch. A sense of unity is one of the dominant
factors in forum neighbourhoods. The difference made in a community through Farm Forum
is inestimable. When a Forum group sums up its findings, it can't all be put on paper. The
fact that they have learned to think and act as a neighbourly group is an asset that cannot be
assessed.
During the years many and varied activities have been carried out locally through the
Greenwood Forum, such as, well-water testing and soil testing. A farm machinery course
was organized by the Forum in 1950. The interest shown in this series of lectures and
demonstrations pointed out to the Agricultural Representative the need for such courses -
with the result that something similar has been sponsored by the Department of Agriculture
in the following years at five different points throughout the County.
The Forum has financially sponsored a number of young people attending the Christmas
short courses. Also, Greenwood Forum members have actively supported the Folk Schools
held for Ontario County. In fact the 1952 School and the 1953 School were both held in
Greenwood in Forum homes - the home of William Pegg in 1952 and the home of William
Lawson in 1953. The extra beds and other household equipment necessary for the large
"family" were all supplied by local Forum members. Some of the Forum ladies helped in
other ways to make the Folk School run smoothly.
At the suggestion of Greenwood Farm Forum, during the winter and spring of '48, joint
meetings of four or five Forums were held each Review Night to study and discuss
Cooperative Medical Services. This effort culminated in the calling of a county-wide meeting,
and the setting up of Ontario (County) Cooperative Medical Services. This Medical Co-op
received its charter in June 1948 and has grown so that now it is serving nearly 5,000 persons
with prepaid health insurance. The office of this county-wide Medical Co-op has always
been at Greenwood. Mrs. Irven McLean is the Manager. In 1956 the third full-time employee
joined the staff.
The current Greenwood Farm Forum project is the compilation of the History of Greenwood.
Milton Pegg is the Chairman of the History Committee and Mrs. Irven McLean is the Farm
Forum Secretary. Miss Beatrice McLean is the editor of the publication.
Centennial Year 'Pupils
GREENWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL
Grade 8 –
Donna Barlow, Gary Titterton, Doug Webb, Kathie Wilson.
Grade 7 –
Jill Copley, Bonnie Gardiner, Ken Gardiner, Bonnie Moore, Bruce (S.S. No. 9 Pickering)
1959-60 Rogers, Marion Titterton.
Grade 6 –
Eric Benns, Sharon Blake, Beverley Kellar, Shirley Kellar, John Moore, Elizabeth Ruiter,
Ronnie Staley.
Grade 2 –
Joey Benns, Wayne Brooks, Bridget Clarke, Richard Day, Virginia Elson, Derek Jones,
Brenda Middleton.
Grade 1 –
Dougie Benns, Brian Brooks, Stephen Campbell, Debbie Fisher, Barbara Hamm, David
Henning, Larry Morden, Carol Scriver, Jan-is Skinner, Billy Thomas, Henry Vanderwille.
Beginners - (Pupils registered for September, 1960)
Cathy Benns, Rosemary Brooks, David Clark, Janet Clarke, Clarence Cole, Leta Fisher,
George Hill, Howard Middleton, Lloyd Moore, Dawne Weatherston.
Grade 5 –
Michael Benns, Philip Benns, Karen Clarke, Robert Clarke, Judy Copley, Joan Gardiner,
Edward Henning, Brian McTaggart, Judy Moore, John Ruiter, Rosemary Scriver, Ronnie
Titterton. (Mrs. Mildred Eastwood is the teacher of Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. Miss Elva
Stearman is the teacher of Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4.)
Grade 4 –
Bryan Clarke, Lloyd Henning, Heather Kellar, Herbie Middleton, Lloyd Morden.
Grade 3 –
Janice Blake, Jimmy Blake, Linda Eastwood, Marilyn Hamm, Sylvia Scriver, Linda Thomas.
Greenwood's 1960 Residents
(The year given indicates, to the best of our knowledge, the year in which the family came to
live at Greenwood, or the year their ancestors came here.)
1838 - BY~RS, Fred, Stan; 1840-~ADLFR, Wesley; 1843-GREEN, Edna; CLARK, William,
Alan. 1847 - WILSON, Mrs. Norman; 1849 -WILSON, Mrs. Perry, Leslie. 1851-BROWN,
William, May. 1855 -MIDDLETON, Herb.; 1877-HAMILTON, Fred. 1896 - TRIMBLE,
Ernest.
1905 - DISNEY, Ross; BAYLES, Jack; 1909 - CARSON, Mrs. Robert and family; 1910-
PEG~, Milton, William, Edgie, Alfred; 1915-COR-BETT, Mildred, Gertrude.
1921 - KINEER, Edward; ORMEROD, Howard, Edith, William; 1926-CLARKE, Percy,
Ronald; 1927- SODEN, Mrs. John; 1930 - OLDFIELD, Violet; 1935-MeTAGGART, Charles;
1937- ROBERTSON, Arch; 1939-McLEAN, Irven.
1940 - CLEMMER, Dr.; ELSON, Kenneth; 1942-MINAKER, Mossam; 1943 - GRIFFIN,
George; PASCOE, Edward, Neil, Allan; 1944-BROOKS, John; COLE, Nelson. 1945 -
MORDEN, Andrew, Douglas; NEILSON, William; TWEEDIE, Wilmot (Dick); WARD, Blake;
WEBB, Frank; 1946-GARDINER, Anthony; HILL, Roy; NEWMAN, Harry; 1947-BLAKE,
George; EASTWOOD, Glynn; JACKMAN, Ross; 1948 - KEDDEL, Kenneth; STEWART,
William; 1949-CLOSSON, Charles; HICKS, Vernon; TITTERTON, Fred.
1950 - BARCLAY, Dr. Lyman; MAXWELL, Mrs. Anne, Robert, William; McKAY, William;
SCOTT, Ray; 1951 - CLARKE, Mrs. Reg; MITCHELL, Robert, William; 1952-BROOKS,
Ray; MASON, Norman; MOORE, George; STALEY, George; 1953 - DYER, Lionel;
LENSEN, Karl, Anne, Kris; 1954 - BROCK, Frank; HENNING, Gerald; LEE, George; NEIL,
Gordon.
1955- BENNS, Robert; CLARKE, E. T., Douglas; KINGSTONE, John; LONGLAND, Ed.;
SCRIVER, Ross; STRAITON, R. C.; WEATHERS-TON, Leonard; 1956-BATES, Andrew;
JAME~, Alfred; McLEAN, Bruce; RANDALL, Donald; 1957-BENDLE, Roger; FREW, I.;
GREEN, Edward; HAMM, James; JONES, Geoffrey; ROGERS, Roy; SCHRAM, Robert;
THOMAS, William; 1958 -BARLOW, Ed.; CAMPBELL, Thomas; COPLEY, Jeffery; FISHER,
Gerald; FLEETHAM, Rev. Thomas; HONNINGH, J.; WILSON, John.
1959 - BYBERG, Peter; GREEN, William; MAXWELL, Barrington; McFAYDEN, J.;
OXFORD, Rodd; RUITER, Wieger; SKINNER, George; 1960 - KELLAR, Edward
SCHOOL AREA NO.3 (Greenwood-Kinsale) 1962-63
Grade 8 –
Tony Bazen, Karen Clarke, Robert Clarke, Joan Gardiner, Edward Henning, Brian
MeTaggart, Rosemary Scriver, Ronald Staley.
Grade 7 –
Bryan Clarke, Debbie Coles, Mark Guest, Lloyd Henning, Lee MeTaggart, Herbie Middleton,
Judy Moore, Lloyd Morden, Greg Shewin, Eleanor Thompson, Ruby Thompson.
Grade 6 –
James Blake, Janice Blake, Daniel Coles, Linda Eastwood, Mary Hoar, Nancy Hooker,
Betty Lee, Norah Lloyd, Sylvia Scriver, Paul Smith, Linda Thomas, Shirley Thompson.
Grade 5 –
Wayne Brooks, Richard Brown, Rose Budreau, Bridget Clarke, Virginia Elson, Steven
Goodwin, Sheila Gray, Derek Jones, William Lee, Lynne Legg, Brenda Middleton, Michael
Nicholson, Bruce Stell, Carolynn Thompson, Dawn Wagg.
Teachers
Mr. William Boyd teaches Grades 7 and 8. Mr. M. Phillips teaches Grades 5 and 6. Mrs. H.
Malcolm teaches Grades 3 and 4. Miss Patricia Diasio teaches Grades 1 and 2.
Grade 4 –
Betty Appleton, Brian Brooks, Patricia Brown, Ronald Coles, Debbie Fisher, David Henning,
Roy Hooker, Larry Morden, Carol Scriver, Susan Shewan, Janis Skinner, Billy Thompson.
Grade 3 –
Rosemary Brooks, W. David Clark, Janet Clarke, Clarence Cole, William DeGeer, Leta
Fisher, Carol Goodwin, Deborah Guest, George Hill, Ralph Hoar, Gail Hobden, Judith Lee,
Katherine Lloyd, Howard Middleton, Lloyd Moore, Paul Shewan, Eric Slater, Wayne Stevens,
Dawn Weatherston.
Grade 2 –
Brenda Brown, David Clarke, Terry Gardiner, Gordon Griffin, Gordon Hooker, Jeremy Jones,
John McFayden, George Shirton, Marilyn Stell, Gary Stevens, Jack Thompson, Susan
Wagg, Ronald Westgate.
Grade 1 –
Judy Appleton, Randy Brooks, Cathanne Byberg, Suzanne Clark, Neal DeGeer, Helen
Disney, Debra Lee, Nancy Lee, William Outhouse. Karen Slater, Darrell Staley, David
Weatherston
The New School
In April 1963 four rooms of the new five-room School at Greenwood were occupied. The
new School is known as "Township School Area No.3',, being an amalgamation of the
former Greenwood School Section and the Pickering Township portion of the former Union
School which is situated east of Kinsale.
The century-old Greenwood School Bell has been re-located in a specially built tower on the
new School building. (Refer to page 6 of this book.) The weight of the steel chime was
estimated at 175 pounds. In 1860 the bell was transported from Frenchman's Bay to
Greenwood by ox team, having come from Toronto by boat. During the more than 100 years,
many children have been called to classes by the, clear ring that can be heard over a wide
area. The "Centennial Committee" have donated a set of electric chimes for inside use in
the new School.
The new School, which will be formally opened in June 1963, is built immediately to the
south of the century old building on the extended school grounds.
ADDITIONAL GREENWOOD RESIDENTS (1963 Reprint)
1960- BROWN, Ronald; CHANNEL, Mrs.; CROWHURST, Graham; DeGEER, Leonard;
GRIFFIN, William; LEDER, E.; LOEFFLER, John; NICHOLSON, Stanley; PERKIN, Irwin;
SKELTON, Mrs. E.; VICKERS, John.
1961 - BARRON, Peter; BRYANT, John; COLES, William; COOK, Glen; CRAWFORD, Hugh;
FINDLAY, Frank; GOODWIN, Don; HARILAND, Bruno; LLOYD, John; MALCOLM, Howard;
SHEWAN, George; SHIRTON, George; SLATER, Ivor; THOMPSON, Arthur; WARHURST,
Pat; WEDIG, Peter.
1962- BROCKBANK, H.; CHERRY, J.; FOY,
Woodrow; HILL, Roy; HORNOV, Gerald; HUGHES, Sydney; JACOBS, John; KIERS, W.;
LISHMAN, William; McKENZIE, Brian; OUTHOUSE, Mr.; PASCOE, Grant; REA, Felix;
WESTGATE, Cliff.
1963 - BLEASDALE, Ben; FOX, F. H.; GLAZIER, Howard; SMALL, R.; TOOLE, M.;
WATERS, C.