Tag Archives: Jenner

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Epworth Parsonage (1908)

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Categories: 1900s, Tags: , , ,

62 Division Street South

Designated in 2010

The year after the Epworth Church was built in 1893, the Kingsville Natural Gas and Oil Co. purchased the old Methodist church on Main Street East. The parsonage, also on Main Street East, continued to be used by the Methodist ministers until it was sold to Dr. Jenner in 1907 and plans were made to built a new parsonage just south of the church. The two-storey residence was designed by Thomas Jenner and the Woodiwiss Bros were selected as masons, using brick from the Miner Brickyard. The parsonage was completed in November of 1908 and the first occupant was Rev. Mr. Millson, who had been living in the Wigle flat over the Woodiwiss Bros’ store. In January 1914, “the Methodist congregation placed $1,431 on the plates to complete the payment of all debt on the church property” and “a public meeting was held in the auditorium of the church at which the mortgage was burned.”

At the meeting of the Trustee and Quarterly boards of the Methodist church last week it was decided to erect a new parsonage on the lot just south of the church, to cost in the neighborhood of $3,000. Work will be commenced in the Spring.

The Kingsville Reporter, October 17, 1907 p.5

On Tuesday last, while Messrs Chas. Riddell and John Stoner were slating the new Methodist parsonage, a portion of the scaffolding gave way and they fell to the ground a distance of twenty feet. Mr. Riddell sustained a fractured rib, while Mr. Stoner escaped with a severe shaking up.

The Kingsville Reporter, July 23, 1908 p.1

The silex* walk from Stanley Street to the Methodist parsonage is completed and the walk on Pearl st. west from Queen to Prince Albert was started yesterday morning.

The Kingsville Reporter, September 24, 1908 p.5

Ministerial Association

A meeting of the ministers of Kingsville and neighboring places, was held in the school room of the Methodist church, on Monday last, with a view to the formation of a Ministerial Association. It was unanimously agreed that an association be formed under the name of the “Kingsville Ministerial Association.” That meetings should be held on the first Monday in each month, that the Rev. Mr. Masters be President, and that Rev. Mr. Galt be Sec-Treas. It was also agreed that the next meeting should be held in the Baptist parsonage, and the Rev. Mr. Millson should introduce the subject of “Our duty in regard to the coming Municipal election.”

The Kingsville Reporter, November 8, 1908 p.8

W.C.T.U.**

Dr. Jenner on the Care of Infants

On Friday last a meeting of unusual interest was held under the auspices of W.C.T.U. in the Methodist parsonage, to which the mothers of the community who have small children’s were invited to hear a lecture on the “Care of infants” by Dr. Jenner. There was a very large attendance and from first to last the whole affair was a decided success.

Dr. Jenner was in great form and held the undivided attention of all present for about three quarters of an hour, during which time he advocated the liberal use of common sense, fresh air, cold water, and light, and warned the mothers against the many common and deadly mistakes that are constantly being made.

The Kingsville Reporter, November 25, 1909 p.8

* crushed stone

** Women’s Christian Temperance Union

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Epworth United Church (1893)

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Categories: 1890s, Tags: , , , ,

56 Division Street South

The headline in The Kingsville Reporter on April 4th, 1935 was “Epworth United Church Burned.” As reported the following week: “There seems to be no doubt but that the fire started in or near the organ, and with all the electric current shut off, the origin of the outbreak is a still deeper mystery.” Epworth Methodist Church, designed by Chatham architect James L. Wilson, was built in 1893 with Thomas Jenner as the contractor, Woodiwiss Bros. as the brick and stone masons and H.R. Kratz responsible for the iron and tin work. Memorial Hall, which was built in 1922, was saved from the fire. The new church was designed by Windsor architect J.C. Pennington and built on much of the original stone foundation by the Oxley Bros. The “rebuilt Epworth United Church” was dedicated on April 19th, 1936.

Sunday last was a red letter day in the history of Methodism in Kingsville. On that day the fine new Epworth Church was opened for public worship. . . The church will cost $15,000, of this amount nearly $8,000 was provided for before the building was commenced, which with over $7,000 raised at the opening leaves the church free from debt. This grand result is due to the generosity and large heartedness of the members, adherents and friends of the Methodist denomination in this place.

The Kingsville Reporter, January 12, 1894 p.1

THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

On June 10, 1925, Epworth Methodist Church became a unit in that brotherhood of Christians now known as “The United Church of Canada.” In our present membership of nearly one thousand, are former Presbyterians and Congregationalists. In January, 1935, the congregation unanimously adopted the government of the new church, with the result that Epworth United Church is now completely organized according to the provisions of the basis of Union.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 23, 1936 p.9

CORNERSTONE LAYING

The beautiful and impressive ceremony, the laying of the cornerstone, took place on Saturday afternoon, September 14th. The service was presided over by the pastor, Rev. J. Morley Colling. . . . Following dedication prayers by the pastor, Mr. Robert Healey, secretary of the building committee, gave a description of the contents of the box to be inserted in the stone, after which the cornerstone was officially laid by “Uncle Jack” Miner.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 23, 1936 p.9

Church Dedication

On Sunday afternoon, the dedicatory services were held. A few minutes after three o’clock, the president of the London Conference, Rev. W.A. Walden, B.A., of London, and the ministers assisting him, entered the main door of the church, while the choir and congreation arose and sang the Doxology. . . . So large was the congregation that gathered to praise God after a year’s tireless efforts in rebuilding the church, that Chief of Police J.C. Babcock was called upon to direct traffic at the intersection of Division and Mill Streets, and cars were lined for several blocks on both sides of the two thoroughfares in the four directions.

The Kingsville Reporter, April 23, 1936 p.1

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The Hiawatha (1890)

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Categories: 1890s, Tags: , , , , ,

285 Division Street South

Leroy Case moved from LaGrange, Indiana to Kingsville in the 1883 and bought Simon Wigle’s farm just north of town. In 1889, Case decided to put all his resources into building a hotel on property purchased from John Herrington on Division Street South. Building was completed in the spring of 1890 and the hotel was named “The Hiawatha.” The front of the hotel, with its two-storey balconies, faced Lake Erie and the entrance was off of Park Street. The hotel business must have proved difficult for Case because by January 1893, it was reported that his “liabilities are about $5,000 and normal assets $2,500.” By December that year, The Hiawatha was sold to Detroit businessman Theodore H. Eaton for $1,800 and the contents of the hotel were auctioned off. Eaton hired local contractor Thomas Jenner to convert to the hotel into a ‘summer cottage’ at a cost of $5,000 and ordered furniture from McDonald & Pearsall, of Kingsville. Eaton used this house as a summer residence until his death in 1910 and the home remained in the Eaton family until 1947.

Letter from Mr. Leroy Case.

To Kingsville Reporter.

Dear Sir: In communing with my spirit this evening and musing over the causes directly responsible for my leaving Canada and friends I loved so well, would say, I am forced to come to the conclusion that leaving was the only remedy left. Had I not been so sorely oppressed and so uncharitably dealt with among people who call themselves Christians in my day of adversity, I certainly would never have resorted the the (sic) means I did; but it was done in order to extricate myself from the scathing invectives that were thrown at me from every quarter, even from the people that I have many and many times befriended, and they were the first to deal the knock-out blow. I struggled hard and left no stone unturned to maintain the honest reputation and esteem in which I was once held (just) previous to my failure.

Instead of those that proffered the warmest friendship to me in my prosperity coming to my rescue in time of need, they threw me down and passed judgment on me, without as much as giving me a chance to vindicate myself. I was forced, not only as a duty to my family, but also to myself, to succumb under the powerful pressure of public sentiment, – more properly defined as Hypocrites, or “wolves in sheep’s clothing” – to take advantage of the only avenue left and beat a retreat to a country where, at least, I will get fair play and have a fighting chance to get on my feet again, which, if undertaken in Canada, would have proven a dismal failure. Kick a man when he is down, is your motto, as was so thoroughly demonstrated in my case.

In conclusion would say that I maintain to be an honest man to a marked degree, and if ever I get aide, will be only too proud to pay off any and every claim now standing against me by man, woman or child, in the County of Essex.

Leroy Case.

Chicago, Feb. 5th, 1895.

The Kingsville Reporter, February 15, 1895 p.8

 Theodore Eaton Dead

Theodore Eaton, whose summer home is at this place, died quite unexpectantly in Detroit Sunday afternoon, weakness preventing him from recovering from an operation he underwent a few days ago. Heart failure is given as the direct cause. He was four years old when his father, also of the same name of Theodore H. Eaton, came to Detroit and founded the chemical and dye stuffs house which later took on the firm name of Theodore H. Eaton & Son of this business, Mr. Eaton became sole proprietor in 1888, upon his father’s death. His nephew, Rufus W. Clark, is a partner in the business. He is survived by the widow; a daughter, Margaret Montgomery, 19 years of age, and a son, Barion (sic) Clark, 17 years. Mr. Eaton was active in the patriotic and other societies, belonging to the Society of Colonial Wars, Sons of the American Revolution and Huguenot Society. He was a director in the Detroit Iron & Steel Co., an advisory director in the Security Trust Co., and a member of the Board of Commerce.

The Kingsville Reporter, November 10, 1910 p.1

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Alexander J. Wigle House (1884)

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Categories: 1880s, Tags: , ,

111 Division Street South

Designated in 1987 as the Coda-Leach House

In 1883, after being in Kansas for a year, Alexander J. Wigle and his wife Elizabeth moved back to Canada. Before Kansas, A.J. had been a Gosfield South farmer. But when he moved to Kingsville, A.J. opened up a “mercantile business” on the north side of Main Street West. A.J. and Duchess (as Elizabeth was “affectionately known by the family and close friends”) had Thomas Jenner design this “gothic villa” brick house and it was completed in December 1884. When their daughter Grace was married in this home to Herman Woelz of Colorado, the house was called “Park Place.” Major renovations to this house were completed in 1915 and included an “English stairway” and a “French doorway.” A.J. and Duchess lived in this home together for 34 years. After A.J.’s death in 1918, Duchess moved to Colorado to live with family until her death in 1936.

Petty thieves are again at work in the village. Last Saturday night, the 2nd inst., or early on Sunday morning, Alex. Wigle lost 23 quart cans of fruit out of his cellar at his residence on Division street. An entrance was effected through the cellar window. Mr. W. says he does not mind the thief filling up on the fruit, but he thinks there has plenty of time elapsed in which to return the cans.

Amherstburg Echo, June 15, 1888 p.6

Passing of Alexander J. Wigle

After an illness lasting for over a year, during most of which time he was confined to his home, Alexander J. Wigle passed away on Saturday in the 68th year of his age. Deceased was the eldest son of the late Theodore Wigle and was born on the farm now owned by his younger brother, Nelson, on the lake front. On coming to manhood’s estate, he married in 1874 at Dayton, Ohio, Miss Elizabeth Dunn, of Cincinnati.

[. . .]  Mr. Wigle had been a Methodist for about forty-one years. He was one of the building committee on Epworth Methodist Church when that structure was built in 1893. He was also a member of the Kingsville Council for some nine years, and made an efficient member of the board. He leaves to mourn his demise a widow, one son and two daughters, as follows: Ed C., of Eaton, Colo.; Mrs. R.E. Shultz, of Detroit, and Mrs. Herman Woelz, of Longmont, Colo. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. E.W. Sandison, of Hollywood, Cal.; Mrs. Bisbing, of Detroit, and one brother, Nelson C., Gosfield South.

The Kingsville Reporter, March 21, 1918 p.4

Mrs. Elizabeth Wigle

[Longmont (Colo.) Times-Call, Dec. 5, 1936]

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Wigle, who passed away Wednesday evening in the home of her son, E.C. Wigle, at Windsor (Colo.), were held Saturday afternoon in the home of her daughter, here, Mrs. Herman Woelz.

[ . . .] Mrs. Wigle passed on as the result of a heart attack with which she was stricken Tuesday morning.

[ . . .] Mrs. Wigle was born in Lockland, Ohio, October 5, 1854. Since the death of her husband (Alex. J. Wigle, of Kingsville) in 1918, she had made her home with her children. She loved the West and its people, and for the past 15 years had spent most of her time at Windsor and Longmont.

The Kingsville Reporter, December 17, 1936 p.1