Tag Archives: Fox

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Dr. J.P. & Bessie Lee House (1923)

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Categories: 1920s, Tags: ,

3838 Division Street South

Dr. John Percival Lee moved to Kingsville in 1897 and took over the medical practice of Dr. F.A. Wigle. By 1900, J.P. had a thriving business, was married with two sons and had just purchased a beautiful home on Main Street West. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the Lee family in 1921 when younger son, Jack, died of an infected tonsil in January and older brother, Alder, died of pneumonia in September. Shortly after Alder’s death, J.P. and his wife Bessie purchased a lot on Division Street South and began construction on a new home. When this bungalow was completed in the spring of 1923, the Lees sold their Main Street West home to Oliver and Grace Fox.

Dr. F.A. Wigle wished to announce to his many sympathizing friends and patients, that he has leased his home and office outfit to Dr. J. Percival Lee of Toronto, who has recently been practising medicine at Niagara. Dr. Wigle wished to say that he is feeling better and hopes in the future to assist Dr. Lee to carry on his work.

The Kingsville Reporter, January 29, 1897 p.5

Dr. Alder Lee, son of Dr and Mrs J.P. Lee, of Kingsville, died at Chippewa on Sunday morning, from pneumonia after a very brief illness. Deceased was 23 years of age, and was a graduate of Essex High School and Toronto Medical College, graduating from the latter in May. On his graduation he received an appointment on the hospital staff at Chippewa and intended remaining there for a year when he was to join his father in practice at Kingsville. His only brother, John, who was attending Dental College, in Toronto, died last winter. Losing their only two children in such a short space of time, is a severe blow to Dr and Mrs Lee. Alder was buried in Toronto on Tuesday.

Essex Free Press, September 9, 1921 p.5

Dr. I.V. Rumball, Graduate of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto, will open a Dental office, adjoining the office of Dr. Lee, Division Street, on or about June 23rd.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 29, 1924 p.5

Dr. Snider, who purchased the Medical practice of Dr. Lee some time ago, moved into his new home last week. Dr. Lee has moved to the E.A. Brown residence, west side Queen street south.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 9, 1929 p.5

Dr. W.L. Montgomery wishes to announce that he is established in the office formerly occupied by Dr. Rumball, adjoining Dr. Snider, Division street south, and is ready to carry on Dentistry in all its branches.

The Kingsville Reporter, June 19, 1930 p.5

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Billiard By-Law (1922)

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Categories: By-Laws - 1920s, Tags: , , ,

BILLIARD BY-LAW

At a meeting of the council on Monday evening last, the following by-law regulating pool and billiard rooms for Kingsville was passed:

WHEREAS it is deemed expedient in the interest of the municipality to make certain regulations regarding billiard and pool rooms herein after set forth

THEREFORE the Municipal council of the Town of Kingsville enacts as follows:

1. That no license shall be granted for a billiard or pool room in the Town of Kingsville without the approval and sanction of the council having been first obtained.

2. That the fee for such license shall be $40 per annum for each and every billiard and pool table in the premises, payable in equal quarterly instalments in advance.

3. That the number of such licenses for the said town shall be limited to not more than two billiard rooms.

4. That the hours during which such billiard rooms may be kept open shall be from seven o’clock in the morning to eleven o’clock in the evening on week days only, and not otherwise.

5. That no person under the age of eighteen years shall be allowed in any billiard room excepting as providing in the stature of relating thereto.

6. That no billiard room shall be screened in any manner from the public view but shall be open to public view but shall be open to public view from the street and all billiard rooms shall be on the ground floor.

7. That no other business, trade or calling shall be connected with it by any interior or other means of communication but this shall not prevent the sale in the billiard room of cigars or tobacco to adults if otherwise allowed by law or the by-laws of this municipality.

8. That no profane or obscene language shall be allowed in such billiard room.

9. That the said billiard room shall be conducted in a quiet and orderly manner so as not to annoy or disturb any occupant of adjoining premises.

10. That not betting or gambling shall be allowed on such licensed premises.

11. That notice embodying clauses 8,9 and 10 of this by-law shall be posed up and kept posted up in a conspicuous place in said premises.

12. In case a holder of a license under this by-law shall fail to observe the provisions thereof the council may suspend his license for any term they may see fit or cancel such license entirely but this shall not restrict the right of the council at any time to cancel any license for any other reason.

13. The words “Billiard Room” in this by-law shall mean and include a room in which pool and billiards or either are played.

14. That by-law Number 403 is hereby repealed and any other by-law of this municipality inconsistent with the provisions of this by-law shall, so far as inconsistent, be repealed.

15. This by-law shall come into force and take effect on the final passing thereof.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 2, 1922 p.4

Mr. Ira Loop is preparing to put up a twenty foot addition to the rear of the Reporter block, in order to gain the necessity room for his billiard business upstairs.

The Kingsville Reporter, July 26, 1906 p.5

Prideau Fox opened his new billiard hall last Thursday night. An orchestra was in attendance and lunch was served to about 100 men who were present. Mr. John Cooper was caterer.

The Kingsville Reporter, November 22, 1906 p.5

New Billiard Hall

Frank Miller, the barber, has leased the Mrs. A.J. Wigle store, next west of Quick’s store, secured a billiard license and will open a billiard hall there in the near future.

The Kingsville Reporter, August 1, 1918 p.4

BILLIARD LICENSE STANDS

LIVELIEST COUNCIL MEETING IN YEARS

Whether it was the warm weather or the tense feeling over the opening up of a new billiard room in war time that caused members of the council in express themselves in no mistaken terms Tuesday evening [. . .] Miss Ritchie, president of the local W.C.T.U., addressed the council regarding the billiard license issued to Frank Miller, barber. She urged the council to reconsider the matter from all its bearings on the morality of the town, and to cancel the license as it was detrimental not only to the welfare of the town but the surrounding township as well. [. . .] Mr. Pett was in favor of annulling the license and stated that he did not consider Mr. Miller a proper person to conduct a billiard room. This statement brought Councillor Hall to his feet with the question why Mr. Miller was not a proper person to run a billiard business. [. . .] Mr. Pett said well, if you force my hand I will tell you. I found Mr. Miller was operating a push button cigar machine in his barber shop and I told him it was a gambling machine and he would have to remove it. He took it from the front and put it in the back room. I learned he was operating it there [. . .]

The Kingsville Reporter, August 8, 1918 p.1

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Gordon P. & Nellie Fox House (1908)

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Categories: 1900s, Tags: , , ,

176 Division Street South

When Gordon Phillip Fox ran for Kingsville Town Council in 1910, he said “he had come to Kingsville with the intention of becoming a good citizen. He was proud of the town, its walks and shady streets. He was not here to criticize; did not think it took much of a man to do that. He was up for councillor and if elected would do his best in the town’s interest.” Gordon received the second most votes (222) in the election and at the end of his one-year term said he “was proud to say our town was clean and prosperous, and that there were no vacant houses.” At the time,  Gordon, his wife Nellie and their family were living in the house at 164 Division Street South. By 1919, all the Fox children had grown and moved on and Gordon and Nellie exchanged houses with George T. Hardie. It was in this home, which was built by William Fleming in 1908, that Gordon and Nellie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1936.

Mr. George Hardie, of Merlin, has purchased the brick dwelling of Mrs. Fleming, corner Division and McLean streets, and will move here in April. Mrs. Hardie is a daughter of Mrs. J.H. Smart.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 20, 1919 p.5

 W.C.T.U. HEARS KING’S LETTER

A letter received from the prime minster, Rt. Hon. W.L. MacKenzie King, was read at a meeting of the W.C.T.U. [Women’s Christian Temperance Union], held at the home of Mrs. Gordon P. Fox, Division street south, on Friday. In this letter the prime minister stated that the representations from the W.C.T.U. as to forbidding liquor clearance would receive favorable consideration.

Favorable mention was also made in regard to the new mayor of Kingsville, George Hall, and the stand he had taken in working with Chief Philion for the best interests of the town.

The Kingsville Reporter, March 20, 1930 p.1

CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr and Mrs Gordon P. Fox celebrated their golden wedding last Monday. After being at home to their friends in the afternoon, they, with their children and grandchildren (28 in all), had supper at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Homer Arner, No. 18 highway west. Later Mrs. Fox was presented with a Gruen wrist watch, and Mr. Fox with a smoking stand. The family also gave them a basekt (sic) of Ophelia roses. A bouquet of golden narcissus and mignonette was received from Mr and Mrs W.T. Conklin. Callers in the evening were Mr Wm. Conklin, Miss Nora Conklin, Mr and Mrs Manly Miner, and Mr and Mrs Warren Hendershot.

The Kingsville Report, January 2, 1936 p.1

Gordon P. Fox Laid to Rest Here Today

Gordon Philip Fox, a well known citizen of the district passed away at his home on Division Street, on Monday July 3, at the age of 81 years. Deceased had been in failing health for some time but was confined to his bed only a few days prior to his passing. He was the son of Mr and Mrs William Fox, and was born here and spent his entire life in or near Kingsville.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, the former Nellie Clifford, one son, David, of Walkerville, and five daughters, Flossie, of Detroit, Edna, of Hagersville, and Jennie, Mary and Margaret, all of Kingsville, and one sister, Mrs. Jessie Taylor, of Toronto. Mr. Fox was very proud of the fact that he had six grandchildren in the service, Henry Arnold, overseas; Mary Arnold, Ipperwash; James Wigle, overseas; Hazen Malott, Newfoundland; Gordon Fox, Trenton; and Hadley Arner, Ottawa.

Deceased was a member of Concord Lodge, A.F. and A.M., under whose auspices the funeral services are being conducted today at 2:30 p.m., the body lying in state at the United Church, of which Mr. Fox was an esteemed member is conducting the service. The bearers are W.H. Humphreys, Roy Scratch, J.P. Golden, Del. Quick, Kenneth Rae and Edward Lucas. During the service Mr and Mrs Russell Skitch are singing a duet with Mrs Laura Allen Coatsworth at the organ. Interment will be in Greenhill Cemetery.

The Kingsville Reporter, July 6, 1944 p.1

Mrs. Nellie Fox Passes.

Mrs. Nellie Fox, aged 81, of Kingsville, widow of Gordon P. Fox, died Saturday at her residence after one week’s illness.

Mrs. Fox lived in Kingsville 40 years, going there from Union, where she was born. She was a descendant of one of the oldest families of Union and was a member of Epworth United Church, Women’s Missionary Society and Women’s Association.

The Essex Free Press, December 10, 1948 p.3

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William & Kate Fleming House (1902)

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Categories: 1900s, Tags: , ,

172 Division Street South

William Fleming (1864-1916) packed a lot of living in his 52 years. Originally trained as a blacksmith with his brother Robert, William began laying pipe for the Ontario Gas Company and later became manager of the Beaver Oil & Gas Company. It was during his time as manager that William branched out into the real estate business, building this home in 1902 as his primary residence and two rental houses on Division St. S. in 1908. Together with Arthur Brown, William sold Ford automobiles from their garage on Division St. N. and with Oliver Fox, purchased and renovated the Grovedale Hotel. William was married to Kate Cooper and they raised two daughters, Ethel and Nina, one son, Ernest and Kate’s niece Grace Girty. During the building of this home, 17-year-old Ernest went “missing” for a few months and came home a Trooper with the Canadian Mounted Rifles, after stowing away on a ship bound for South Africa.

CAUSED PARENTS MUCH WORRY.

Ernest Fleming Returned Home After Long Absence.

He Shipped to Africa as a Stow-way and Took to Soldiery.

Ernest Fleming, whose prolonged absence had caused his parents no little anxiety, returned to Windsor last night in the uniform of a trooper of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Last May he left home without intimating where he intended to go. He took a trip to the Soo and then departed for Halifax, where he became a stowaway on one of the transport ships leaving for South Africa. After remaining under cover for six days he made his presence known and offered his services. He was given his uniform and accountrements.

After landing in Capetown the Canadian Mounted Rifles were sent to the front. They reached Newcastle before peace terms were signed and the war ended. During all the time he was away Trooper Fleming did not write his parents.

Trooper Fleming was accompanied on the return trip by Charles Chase of Essex and James Gillian of Amherstburg. The latter brought home a South African monkey which he purchased in Durban for three “quid,” or $15.

The Windsor Evening Record, August 2, 1902 p.1

Messrs Wm. Fleming and Arthur Brown are opening a garage on Division st. just north of the post office in the building formerly used by W.E. DeLong as an implement room. They are handling the Ford Auto, an excellent machine which is rapidly advancing in the public favor. The Ford Co. are planning to build fifty thousand machines this year.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 11, 1912 p.4

THE GROVEDALE

This house, which has always had a reputation for its excellent table board, was purchased last spring by Messrs. Fleming & Fox. The transformation these gentlemen have made in the house and grounds is a surprise to all who knew the house of old. To-day it is a modern hotel in every sense of the word; spic and span in every appointment. Cool shady verandahs, something over a hundred feet, for the enjoyment of the guests; good bathing grounds, a well of excellent mineral water, and one of the prettiest maples groves to be found anywhere, combine to make an excellent place for a few days rest, or a permanent boarding place. Since the house opened it has been well filled, every room is at present occupied and applications from others are coming in daily. It is the intention of the proprietors to erect a large addition to the house next season, which will make it still more attractive to summer resorters.

We have no hesitation in saying that Kingsville to-day has the best hotel service of any town of its size in Canada, notwithstanding the calamity howlers, who said our hotels would all close for want of support when we got local option. People flock here to respectable hotels to get away from those places that still run open bars. In this enlightened day it is service the better class of people is after, not booze, and they are willing to pay for it. Every municipality in this fair province, whether wet or dry, will now have to take its hat off to Kingsville when it comes to hotel service.

The Kingsville Reporter, August 20, 1914 p.1

MRS. KATE FLEMING

Mrs. Kate Fleming, widow of the later William Fleming, of this town, died quite suddenly in Windsor on Monday last, aged 70 years. [. . .] Mrs. Fleming is survived by her daughters, the Misses Ethel and Nina, of Windsor, and one son, Ernest, of Stockdale, Calif.; two grandchildren, Mrs. Nuchols and Mrs. H. McCallum, of California.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 21, 1937 p.1

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Conklin Building (1901)

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Categories: 1900s, Tags: , , , , , , ,

Corner of Division St S and Main St E

The lifetime motto of David Conklin (1854-1952) was “Do what you have agreed to do, but be careful what you agree to do.” His father died when David was six years old and he was raised by his uncle Simon Wigle, from whom he “acquired his early knowledge of timbering.” Early days included forest clearing and led David to own a very successful lumber mill. Other investments included farming and commercial properties like the Conklin Building. David purchased the vacant lot on the south-east corner of Division and Main from J.W. King in April 1901 for $1,600, and the brick block was completed by December. The building was designed by architect John A. Maycock and D.H. McCay was the superintendent of construction. Shortly after completion, Molson’s Bank moved into the corner section and “the dry good establishment of C.W. Hendershot” occupied the L-shaped store which had entrances on both Division and Main.

The contracts for the new Conklin block have been let, DH McCay does the carpenter work, Wm Maycock and Wm Davey do the brick and stone work, and Ed Kennedy the plastering.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 23, 1901 p.4

In the year 1922, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Joseph Hibbert, Epworth Memorial Hall was erected for the purpose of accommodating the growing Sunday School and meeting the needs of the increasing social demands made upon the church.

At the same time the Memorial Hall was in course of erection there was installed in the church the splendid Casavant Organ, the gift of Mr. David Conklin and his son, William, in memory of the the late Mrs. Wilhelmina Conklin, wife of Mr. Conklin and mother of William.

The Kingsville Reporter, August 6, 1931 p.1

David Conklin Passes in 98th Year

David Conklin, Kingsville’s Grand Old Man, passed away Wednesday afternoon, May 7th, at the Leamington District Memorial Hospital, in his ninety-eighth year. His life coincided with the life of his native town for almost a century, through pioneer days, forest clearing, lumbering, business expansion and town building, even into our more settled commercial and agricultural era. The residents of Main St. West and Division St. North have commented many times that Mr. Conklin’s car was as reliable a time-piece as an alarm clock. His time never varied as he pursued his regular and methodical routine of farming and operating his saw mill. He executed his business affairs until last autumn with regularity, precision, accuracy and efficiency. An unfortunate accident occurred last October when he was injured by a motorist while crossing Main St. West on foot. Since that event, the late Mr. Conklin was confined to the Leamington Hospital where he passed away.

Mr. David Conklin’s father, Thomas Conklin, was the only son of Jacob Conklin, and died when David was only eight years old. Left alone with four other children, David’s mother, Susanna Wigle Conklin, agreed to let David live with her brother, Simon Wigle. It was from his Uncle Simon that David Conklin acquired his early knowledge of timbering. Except for about three months when he attended school, Mr. Conklin’s education was obtained from practical experience and from his wife, Wilhelmina Fox, who had qualified as a school teacher.

Driving oxen as a boy of 10 or 12 was no easy task. There were few roads, and most bush trails involved negotiating swamps, Essex County then being probably one-third under water. Little David had not been exposed to higher religion and lived in the tough logging camps. He could remember as a little boy getting lost with his oxen in Hog Marsh, north of Kingsville, “I would cry a little, then swear a little. Eventually I got through all right.”

As a boy of 16, his uncle gave him a job of bidding on the timber in Walker’s Marsh, about 12 miles from Kingsville. Mr. Hiram Walker was at first disdainful of the boy but his respect mounted when David’s tender took the timber by one dollar.

At 17 his uncle put David in his first responsible job – foreman of a logging camp of 75 French-Canadians. His duties were varied. Not the least interesting was the Saturday night chore of rounding up the men from the bars in Kingsville, lining them up and marching them out of town, singing, to their camps a few miles distant. If left alone, the men would have wrecked the town. “They respected me,” he would say. “One reason was that I didn’t use liquor or tobacco.”

The international boundary in Mr. Conklin’s early days was ignored. He timbered in Wayne County, Michigan, along with his operations in Essex County. One of his jobs was removing timber from the site of Detroit’s present Willow Run Airport. Included was elevating timber from the near-by valleys, which others could not do, but which Mr. Conklin performed by a clever arrangement of pulleys. At this time he was earning highly skilled wages, amounting to $1.00 per day.

Leaving his uncle’s employ in about 1882 at the age of 28, Mr. Conklin entered a partnership operating a grist mill in Kingsville. The following few years saw him interested in various enterprises including the district’s first gas well. Steam power was coming into popular use by this time, and about the 1885 he returned to his first love, purchasing a sawmill three miles north of Kingsville.

Twice his sawmill burned to the ground, and each time he rebuilt. Even this years, Mr. Conklin still operated a small sawmill on the site of his original mill. Along with this, he operated six farms. Still possessing a car driver’s license despite rigorous yearly examinations, Mr. Conklin supervised these activities in person. He was ever the man who saw at once the trouble and the cure when some piece of machinery was misbehaving.

There were many serious business depressions in his time. Each of them lasted three years or more. The worst of the early ones started in 1873, 1893, and 1901. His solution in 1901 was to expand his activities, rather than to retrench. Labour and material were lower priced and easily available, and much was supplied to him by debtors as a way of paying their accounts. At this time he built two store buildings on Kingsville’s chief business street, providing accommodation for a bank and ten stores, with office and apartments in the second storey. “Be sure you are right, and then go ahead,” was his advice. “A depression time can provide opportunities as well as hardships.” Until this year Mr. Conklin still looked after these store buildings himself, even keeping his own careful accounts of his revenue and expenses without the aid of a book-keeper.

Mr. Conklin was active in the Methodist Church for many years dating back to the first Methodist Church on Main St. East. He was a member of the building committee for the original Methodist Church on the site of the present Epworth United Church, and has been a trustee since 1887. His lifetime motto was “Do what you have agreed to do, but be careful what you agree to do.”

David Conklin was the only remaining one of the eight children born to Thomas and Susanna Conklin. He was born November 4th, 1854, in Kingsville, on the Conklin lot east of his late residence. He married Wilhelmina Fox, daughter of Mr and Mrs William C. Fox, on February 24th, 1875. His wife predeceased him on March 20th, 1922. His survivors are: William Thomas Conklin, his only son; three grandchildren, Mrs. Manly Miner (Lucile) of Kingsville, William David Conklin of Kingsville, Mrs. Russell Skitch (Nora) of Toronto; seven great-grandchildren, namely: Mrs. Robert Stoffes (Wilhelmina Miner) of Detroit, Annetta, David, William, and Janet Conklin, of Kingsville, Russel and William Skitch of Toronto; and one great-great-grandchild, Suzanne Steffes [Stoffes?] of Detroit.

The Kingsville Reporter, May 8, 1952 p.1

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