Categotry Archives: 2010s

244 Division Street South

When the Oxley Bros. built a house for Detroit doctor Edgar Van Syckle and his wife in 1921, not everyone in Kingsville approved. As printed in the Reporter, “Division Street is one of the most attractive streets one could wish to see, and it seems a pity that small summer residences should be erected thereon, but that is what is taking place. The writer was informed that there were restrictions on Division Street, but a summer cottage is, at present, being erected on one of our most attractive lots.” It may have taken 92 years, but this proper home finally replaced that summer cottage in 2013.

Oxley Bros. will shortly erect a summer home at Union for D. Vansickle of Detroit.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 5, 1921 p.5

The Future of Kingsville

. . . Division Street is one of the most attractive streets one could wish to see, and it seems a pity that small summer residences should be erected thereon, but that is what is taking place. The writer was informed that there were restrictions on Division Street, but a summer cottage is, at present, being erected on one of our most attractive lots . . .

The Kingsville Reporter, June 9, 1921 p.1

161 Division Street South

The home torn down to make room for this house stood on this property since 1922, but it wasn’t built there. William Pearce, a newly retired farmer, hired N.J. Stephens to move the house over three miles from his farm to this lot on Division Street South. Pearce was born in Newfoundland and moved to Kingsville with his parents when he was just a boy. As an adult, William acquired a farm on the 4th Concession and “followed farming all his life.” After retiring at age 70, William and his third wife Esther moved from the farm to Division Street South. Two months later, while visiting his son Albert on the farm, William died of a heart attack. The house that replaces William and Esther’s was built in 2013.

 Mrs. Wm. Pearce, An Old Resident, Is Laid At Rest

The funeral of Hannah Catherine Blair, wife of Wm. Pearce took place Monday from the family residence Division Road, Rev. J.E.J. Millyard officiating, interment being made in Greenhill Cemetery. Mrs. Pearce has been a resident of Essex County for fifty years. She was born Feb. 26^th, 1817, in Boltin, York County where she spent her girlhood days and later came to Cottom (sic) and settled on a bush farm which is now known as the J. Helkie farm. Mrs. Pearse was seventy-two years of age, Methodist in religion and had a kindly home like nature. She had been a long and patient sufferer till she passed peacefully away Saturday Nov. 15^th. She leaves to mourn her demise a husband, one daughter, Mrs. E. Taylor, and one son Lewis, at home, Mrs. Jas. Carder, West Lorne, Mrs. J. Bennett, Kingsville, Arthur and Albert, 4^th concession.

 The Kingsville Reporter, November 27, 1919 p.1

Mr. Wm. Pearse is moving his residence from Division Road north to town and placing it upon a lot on the east side of Division St. just south of the P.M. track. When it is put in condition he will make it his home. N.J. Stephens is doing the moving bringing the house a distance of over 3 miles.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 9, 1922 p.5

Wm. Peace (sic), an old resident of Gosfield South, died suddenly at the home of his son, Albert Pearce, of the 4^th concession in that township, April 7^th, in the 70^th year of his age. Mr. Pearce was born in Newfoundland, but came to this county early in life with his parents. Mr. Pearce was married three times, and his last wife survives him, together with three sons, Arthur, Albert and Lewis, of Gosfield South, and two daughters, Mrs. James Bennett, of Kingsville, and Mrs. Eldy Taylor of 4^th Con., Gosfield South. He also leaves one brother, John Pearce and one sister, Elizabeth, both of Gosfield South. The funeal took place Monday last, from the home of his son Albert, to Greenhill Cemetery.

Essex Free Press, April 21, 1922 p.3

19 Division Street South

For 57 years (from 1868 to 1925) the northeast corner of Division and Pearl was owned by the Cooper family. George Cooper was born in London, England in 1832 and emigrated, with his family, to Canada when he was 13 years old. By way of Quebec City and Oswego, New York, George finally settled in Kingsville in 1851 and remained here until his death in 1914. Cooper was a tailor by trade, and conducted his business out of his home on this lot. The Cox Bros. garage replaced the Cooper house in 1929, and Ernie Cox built a two-storey addition for his bicycle shop in the 1930s. Over the years, the one-storey garage was home to a laundromat, Box Office Video, a sports equipment store and youth centre. This two-storey brick building, which features a dance studio, was built on the former site of the garage and was completed in 2012.

Exchange Property

George Hall has exchanged his residence on Maple St for the Clay Cooper property, corner Division and Pearl Sts. This is a fine corner for business purposes. Mr. Hall has not decided yet what he will do with the property, but it will probably mean a business block there some day in the future.

The Kingsville Reporter, July 9, 1925 p.1

Will Build New Garage

Cox Bros. have purchased from Geo. Hall the Cooper property, corner of Pearl and Division Streets, and will erect a large garage upon it which they will occupy when it is completed.

The building will have 66 feet frontage and a depth of 74 feet. The dwelling now on the property will be moved back and faced on Pearl St and used as a dwelling.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 31, 1928 p.1

A Kingsville young man “chartered” a car one night last week without telling the owner of his intention. He had no driver’s license, but did not think that formality worth while. He drove about town and got along nicely until he turned the corner at Cox’s garage at too fast a clip, ran over the kerb, missing a large telephone post by a few inches, ran over Mr. Pickard’s lawn and on until he landed into the side of the house opposite the dairy, occupied by Mr. Kissner. That ended the jaunt. When he appeared before Magistrate Smart be disqualified from driving for one year.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 10, 1930 p.5