Tuesday, 12 August 2025

The palace at Exhibition Park

The turnout surely gratified the organizers of the 38th Provincial Exhibition, not to mention many of the local townsfolk. On September 28, 1883, the Toronto Globe reported that at least 25,000 people attended Farmers' Day at the show. The venue was the Exhibition Grounds, now Exhibition Park, in Guelph. Attracted by the exhibits and events provided, and facilitated by special railway fares, crowds thronged the streets and jammed the local hotels. Given that Guelph's own population was around 11,000 at the time, it is easy to imagine how the Royal City, and its biggest park, must have seemed packed to the rafters.
("Guelph, Ont. - The Central Exhibition, View of the Grounds," reproduced in the Canadian Illustrated News v. 10, n. 14, p. 216; 8 October 1874. Besides the Palace, the horse-judging ring and stand can be seen at the left, with tents pitched in behind, while a band stand is on the right. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums 1974.33.4.)

It being Farmers' Day at the Exhibition, the main events concerned agriculture. Judges examined specimens from across the province in several categories, including breeds of cattle, sheep, and pigs. Also scrutinized were varieties of honey, sugar, bacon, apples, plums, peaches, grapes and other fruit, not to mention domestic wines and numerous dairy products. A contest among agricultural implements of all descriptions was also held. Besides these events, there was an essay contest and what might now be called a battle of the bands.

("Bird's eye view of the Guelph Exhibition Buildings and Grounds," ca. 1875. Kathleen Street is in the foreground. A legend enumerates many other buildings and features. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums.)

One feature of holding the show in Guelph was that farmers could make a short trip and inspect the Ontario Agricultural College on the hill south of town, where their sons might go to learn the latest in the agricultural arts.

("Detail of aerial plan of Guelph by H. Brosius, 1872." Rows of pens and stables can be seen right (north) of the Palace and along Exhibition Street (bottom) and Kathleen Street (top). The gatehouse at the corner of London Road and Exhibition Street can be seen near the left edge, with the horse-judging ring and stand just above. Courtesy of Wellington County Museum and Archives, A1985.110.)

Although every corner of the Exhibition grounds was full and the space contained many buildings and structures, arguably the most remarkable one there was the rotunda, sometimes referred to as "the Palace." It was a large, two-storey, octagonal wooden structure featuring four wings (later reduced to two). It had several functions during events like the Provincial Exhibition, such as to hold exhibits of items including stuffed birds, clothing, crockery, butter, and whatever else the occasion demanded. In addition, it could provide office space for event organizers, and the open central area could be used as a dance floor!

(The Main Building (Palace), stalls, and wicket of the old Exhibition Park. From Allan, D. (1939) "About Guelph: It's early days and later." Notice how drawings of the Palace tend to squash its central section; compare with photographs below.)

To understand the Palace, it helps to go back to the beginning of Exhibition Park itself. The initial layout of Guelph included a large Market Square in the middle of town. Its founder, John Galt, expected that Guelph would be the central point of an agricultural region and thus made this provision for market space. The Market Square, where the VIA station, City Hall, and Armory now stand, fulfilled that function but became too constrained by construction and the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway right through the middle of the area to meet expanding demands for more exhibition space.

(Map of the Exhibition Grounds from the Illustrated Atlas of the County of Wellington, 1878, superimposed on a Google Maps image of the area as it is currently laid out. The Palace stood astride what is now the footpath across the park at Mont Street, roughly where the lavatories are today.)

As a result, exhibition organizers looked at properties outside of the central city for more room, and their eyes settled on the Catholic Glebe north of London Road. The glebe was a plot of land that was granted to the Catholic Church in Guelph in order to support it through development, leasing, sale and so on. In 1870, the committee for the Central Exhibition negotiated the purchase of this property from the church for $5000. Funding was supplied by the Town of Guelph, the South Wellington Agricultural Society, and a loan from the Imperial Loan Society of Toronto. Guelph now had its own Exhibition Grounds.

The question then was how to develop it. Of course, organizers needed structures and facilities to hold regional exhibitions. However, organizers also had their eye on hosting the Provincial Exhibition, a grand affair organized annually by the Agricultural Association of Ontario. The Association had a policy of limiting this Exhibition to big centres—Toronto, Kingston, London, Hamilton, and Ottawa—where facilities and population would (hopefully) support a big show and a good turnout.

To join this club, Guelph's organizers would need some substantial buildings. These would include plentiful stables, pens, and sheds, as well as halls able to house big exhibitions and office spaces. Primary among these would be main building capacious enough for multiple uses as well as tasteful enough to impress officials with the provincial organization. Construction, if not design, of the main building was entrusted to local builder Bernard McTague.

("Crystal Palace (Provincial Exhibition Building), London, Ontario," from the Canadian Illustrated News, 30 October 1875. Courtesy of Ivey Family London Room, London Public Library, London, Ontario, Canada; PG F70.)

There is no record explaining the reasoning behind the Palace's octagonal plan. Octagonal buildings were unusual (and remain so), the main example in the neighbourhood being the Speedside Church. In all likelihood, the organizers simply instructed McTague to imitate the Palace in the Exhibition grounds in London, Ontario, which had been built on an octagonal plan for London's Provincial Exhibition in 1861.

("Exterior view of the Crystal Palace after the building was relocated to Sydenham, South London, following the exhibition of 1851." Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)

The reason that the building was called "the Palace" is not hard to guess. The Great Exhibition of London in 1851 featured a main building known as "the Crystal Palace" because it was essentially a giant greenhouse with an all-glass exterior. This structure set the precedent for subsequent exhibitions across the British empire, so that exhibition buildings in Toronto, Hamilton, London (Ontario) and so on were all referred to in this way. No exhibition worth its salt could be without one.

(This association also suggests that perhaps, like the Crystal Palace in London, the Palace in Exhibition Park had no foundation. Instead, it may simply have rested on a board pad, though no record I have makes any mention of this aspect of its design.)

("Guelph, Ont.—The Central Exhibition: Interior of the Rotunda.—By P.W. Canning." From the Canadian Illustrated News v. 10, n. 4, p. 213; 3 October 1874.)

The central portion of the Palace was 84 feet (25.6m) across while the four wings were each 40 by 60 feet (12 x 18m). The upper storey in the main portion provided an interior gallery, where people could walk around the inside of the building and take in some more refined exhibits, such as arts and Ladies' work. The City Directory for 1873 mentions that this building cost a substantial $9000 to put up!

Naturally, many other structures were required to house such large exhibitions. The Palace was initially accompanied by three smaller ones, one for agricultural implements, one for grains and roots, and a third for poultry. Besides these, a row of horse stables (600 feet/183m), a row of cattle pens (900 feet/275m), and a row of sheep and pig pens (500 feet/152m) were laid out. In addition, a fenced ring about 400 feet (122m) in diameter was constructed in front of the horse stalls, complete with a central judges stand, for exhibiting draft and carriage horses.

Other buildings were added (or repaired) over the years as required, including many for the Provincial Exhibition of 1883.

The entire park was enclosed in a board fence and an entrance built at the corner of London Road and Exhibition Street, where admission could be charged.

("Guelph.—Agricultural machinery at the Central Exhibition.—From a sketch by F.M. Bell Smith. Canadian Illustrated News, v. 6, n. 18, p. 285; 2 November 1872.

Exhibitions were held in the fall of 1871 and 1872. In his "Annals of the Town of Guelph," Burrows (1877) notes that both were a big success. The 1871 edition was held on October 10 through 12 and attracted 7000 entries from across Ontario. About 15,000 people attended each day and $8000 in prizes awarded altogether. The 1872 edition was held on October 1 through 4, and was a "magnificent success." Lt.-Governor Sir William Pearce Howland attended and gave an address that was received with enthusiasm.

Once the success of these home-grown exhibitions established the exhibition grounds in the local culture, serious thought was given to formalizing additional uses. In 1873, the Town Council adopted a bylaw setting out the rules. First, the name "the Central Exhibition Park" was adopted as the official moniker for the property. After some warm debate, the Council adopted a rule that the Park could be rented out for other uses, such as festivals, bazaars, or picnics, at their discretion. Fees were set at $20/day for the park plus buildings or $10/day for the buildings alone. Lessees were limited to charging 25 cents admission for events when the whole grounds were let. The grounds would remain open the general public as usual when only the buildings were let. Open hours for public use were set at 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from 1 May to 30 September, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 15 October to 30 April. Provision was made for a caretaker to police these regulations.

A motion was made to forbid the selling of alcohol on premises. However, the motion was voted down. Temperance would not be the rule at Guelph's Exhibition grounds.

("Postcard, William A. Mahoney with Guelph Ball Club, 1912-1913." Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums, 2014.84.351.)

It took little time for community organizations to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the new park. On 24 June 1874, for example, the St. Joseph's Hospital held a "Grand Charity pic-nic" on behalf of the Aged and Orphans in their care. Many games were on tap, including ten-pin bowling, foot ball, croquet, quoits, swings, merry-go-rounds, and many more. Naturally, the sporting centrepiece was a base ball game between the "world-champion" Maple Leafs and some selected locals. In the Palace, there would be a Grand Bazaar and an exciting Wheel of Fortune, where valuable prizes would be given to lucky winners.

("Exhibition Park, Guelph, Can." ca. 1910, featuring the park's bandstand. Postcard published by the International Stationary Company; from the author's collection.)

Musical entertainment would be provided by Lawrence’s Silver Cornet Band starting at noon.

("Horse racing in exhibition Park. There are two jockeys in buggies being pulled around a track. In the background are the large playing fields of Exhibition Park. There are some kids playing baseball on the field." ca. 1903. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums 2007.21.1, p. 11).

Perhaps the most interesting affair (after baseball) would be the horse races. It appears that a half-mile track had just been built around the central area of the park, permitting races to be held. On tap were (1) running, single dash, for horses that have never won public money, (2) trotting to harness, best two out of three heats, open to all horses, and (3) running, single dash, consolation stakes, $5, for horses beaten in first race. The entry fee was one dollar for each horse, with prizes of $10 for a first place finish, $7 for second, and $3 for third. For reasons of propriety, no betting was allowed.

("Exhibition grounds, Guelph, Can." Postcard published by the International Stationary Company, probably on the occasion of Old Home Week, 1913. Note the grandstand and race track on the right, parallel to Kathleen Street, the Poultry Building in the middle background, and the Palace to the left. From the author's collection.)

Countless other events were organized by community organizations. To mention just one more, an association of ex-Guelphites from Toronto visited their old haunts on 28 August 1893, foreshadowing the Old Home Week celebrations of the twentieth century. A train laden with eight cars of former residents arrived in the city, where they related tales of the good old days when wolves howled outside of people's doors and the like. After a warm reception at the C.P.R. station, the group made their way to Exhibition Park to celebrate in style. The weather turned rainy, so games were cancelled and the multitude made for the Palace. There a concert was given by the 30th Batallion Band until the time came for supper. At that point, 500 people were seated around seven large tables set out on the ground floor. A meal was served and devoured, toasts and speeches made, and then the visitors made their way back to the station to return to the Big Smoke.

("Artillery camp at Exhibition Grounds, fifty years ago," ca. 1875. Tents appear to be pitched inside the horse-judging ring. From the Guelph Evening Mercury Centennial Edition, 20 July 1927.)

Mention of the 30th Battalion band also points to the frequent use of the Park by local military units. In October 1873, for example, the 30th Battalion camped in the Park to hold its annual inspection there, under the watchful gaze of Col. French. On the first of October, they showed their stuff to the Colonel, performing artillery maneuvers in the horse ring. Their movements were disciplined and precise: Each gun was drawn by six horses and and followed by an ammunition wagon drawn by four more, so it would have been easy to get fowled up.

In the following year, the Battalion camped in the park once again and was joined by Battalions from Bruce and Perth Counties. Altogether, there were about 1200 personnel camped in the Park, along with all their artillery, gear and animals! Their disposition is described as follows (Mercury, 30 June 1874):

At the extreme north-west corner the tents of the 30th Battalion have been pitched. South of them the Bruce Battalion is located, on the same ridge. On the level ground east, and fronting the cattle sheds are the Waterloo and Perth Battalions. Between the main Exhibition Building and the horse stables are pitched the tents of the Wellington Field Battery, and here also their guns are placed. Towards the south end of the horse ring are the tents of the Brigade staff. Attached to each Battalion is a large tent for the officers’ mess: also a canteen, where no liquor stronger than beer is allowed to be sold. Eight men are allotted for each tent. The cooking arrangements are of the simplest and most primitive description. A square hole is dug in the ground, where the fire is placed, and pots, pans, &c., are suspended from a temporary fixture above in true gipsy fashion. The rations which are ample, are all supplied by requisition sent to the Supply Officer, and these again are re-divided among the companies and messes. The wells on the ground supply sufficient water for the whole camp. The tents belonging to each Battalion are generally laid out with great regularity, and look like a small town under canvass while the cooking and other domestic operations—the rushing to and fro of orderlies, the knots of men which here and there are seen eagerly discussing some question pertaining to the camp—make up a scene at once novel and full of interest.
This was likely the largest military encampment in the history of the park.
("Wellington Rifles" (30th Battalion), ca. 1885. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums, Grundy 154.)

So far as I am aware, the period of semi-regular military encampments in the park concluded with the celebration of the Queen's birthday (24 May, in case you've forgotten!) in 1888. On that occasion, the Artillery brigade was joined by the Royal Grenadiers of Toronto, by special invitation of Mayor A.H. Macdonald, then in command of the Guelph Artillery battalion. The Grenadiers were well-known for their particiation in the North-west Resistance (or North-west Rebellion), particularly at the Battle of Batoche in 1885. Eight companies of the Grenadiers were in town to participate in parades, maneuvers, and athletic events over a three-day period.

Interestingly, although provision was made for at least some soldiers to sleep in the "horticultural hall," many chose to room in local hotels instead. In any event, the officers of the Grenadiers were entertained with a special dinner laid on by the city in the wings of the Palace.

("34th [Infantry Battalion] in the Exhibition Grounds in Guelph," 19 May 1915. Courtesy of the Library and Archives Canada, 3403547.)

Military events continued to be held in the Park. During the Great War, for example, the 34th Battalion and 16th Field Artillery were given a send-off in the Park in May 1915. The band of the 153rd Battalion camped in the Park in July 1916 to receive well wishers and perform concerts. On 17 April 1917, the 64th Battery performed maneuvers in the Park that were recorded for movie men from Toronto. Alas, this footage seems not to have survived.

("Colours presentation to 153rd Battalion Wellington militia, Guelph, 1916." Dignitaries including local MP Hugh Guthrie and later-mayor Harry Westoby take in the proceedings. Courtesy of Wellington County Museum and Archives, A1955.19.16.)

Perhaps the most surprising events were re-enactments by veterans of prominent battles of the Great War, organized by the Great War Veterans Association (GWVA). For Dominion Day 1918, after a band concert and a display of Scotch and Irish dancing by four little girls, a number of veterans staged a re-enactment of the battle of Vimy Ridge, with fireworks supplying appropriate sound effects.

The next year, the GWVA organized a similar event, featuring musical and dance performances, a baseball game, a baby contest, etc., as well as a re-enactment of the storming of the Hindenburg Line. This, it seems, was an elaborate affair (Mercury, 2 July 1919):

It was a very realistic bombing attack, the men in khaki going over in two waves, and the bombs and artillery crawling in a way that gave the spectators a fair idea of what an attack meant in a small sector of the front.
There were casualties and prisoners, and Sergt. Dan Anderson led his troops with much dash. Sport Pearce, in complete Hun uniform, helmet, covercoat, even long top boots, was captured and taken back to the barb wire cage. Even the rum ration was in evidence for, after the objective was reached, the "tots" were dished out from the orthodox S.R.D. jar, the wounded receiving first attention, and though, of course, it was only "two percent," the boys seemed to relish it.
To add to the versimilitude of the occasion, plans were made to include a tank, although obstacles were encountered in the execution of this plan:
The tank arrived on the scene, according to schedule, but it was found impossible to get it into the grounds except by allowing it to use its natural method of smashing its way through all obstructions. The committee did not feel justified in allowing it to crash through the fences, as the Parks Committee might have considered that a little too realistic.
Battle re-enactments were not unheard of in celebrations of this sort but participation of a tank is, as far as I can tell, unique.
("Exhibition building, Guelph, Ont." Postcard published ca. 1910 for A.B. Petrie. Courtesy of the Keleher Collection.)

One thing that was different for the 1919 show than the year before was the absence of the Palace. At the outset of 1919, the City Council decided to demolish the main buildings in the Park and revise the fence arrangement. The wood and windows of the Palace were to be piled up in the park and sold off (Mercury, 13 March 1919). In the new arrangement, the southern section of the Park, next to London Road, would no longer be fenced in, so that public access was made much easier.

No reasons for this decision are noted in the Mercury. However, there were several reasons to do away with the Palace. First, it had been some time since it served its original purpose as a venue for indoor displays during exhibitions. The Provincial Exhibition, held in Guelph in 1883 and 1886, had been discontinued after its final hurrah in London, Ontario, in 1889. Simply put, it was a money loser and could not compete with profitable and annual events, especially the Toronto Industrial Exhibition (predecessor of the Canadian National Exhibition). Guelphites were happy to take the train to Toronto to see the "Ex" rather than try to host a periodic rival in town.

("Winter Fair Building, Guelph," postcard published for Henry Garner Living Picture Postcard Co., Leister England, ca. 1910. From the author's collection.)

Second, Guelph started its own, annual Provincial Winter Fair, starting in the year of the earlier fair's demise, 1889. A special Winter Fair building was constructed in the Market Square to accommodate this event. This arrangement was much more convenient, was focussed on agriculture, and made money.

("Exhibition Park," real photo postcard, possibly the 1916 visit of the 153rd Battalion. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums, 2014.84.476.)

So, the Palace had become something of a white elephant for the city and it was dismantled and removed in 1919, apparently with little fanfare. Today, as we look back, its presence is recalled only in old maps, drawings, and postcards.

Of course, there is lots more to say about the early days of Exhibition Park. Hopefully, future blog posts will explore this interesting topic.

("Guelph Maple Leaf ball player with 2 police officers, ?, Fred and Agnes McTague," ca. 1915. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums, 2017.1.36.)
Sources consulted include:

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

Guelph Stereoview display: until June 16!

Greetings, Guelph in postcards readers!
("Facade of St. Mark's, Venice Italy," ca. 1905. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums 1983.96.32.)

Stereoviews (or stereocards, stereographs, etc.) were a popular way of virtually travelling to exotic places. Seen through a stereoscope, stereocards simulated the experience of seeing something in 3D! Stereoviews featured paired images that were slightly offset from each other. A stereoscope presented each of the viewer's eyes with just one of the images, prompting a sense of depth perception.

("Stereoscope," ca. 1940. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)

Several kinds of stereoscopes were developed to help people enjoy stereoviews but the simple Holmes design created by Oliver Wendel Holmes was inexpensive and widespread. (For those too impecunious or cheap to spring for a stereoscope, the 3D effect can be had by holding a stereoview before the eyes and crossing them until a single image forms.)

("Upper Wyndham Street, Guelph," ca. 1900. Published by Nerlich & Co.)

Combined with the development of inexpensive photo printing of stereocards, the stereoscope become a popular amusement in Victorian parlors.

("Model Farm, Ontario Agricultural College," ca. 1902. Photographed and Published by B.W. Kilburn, - Littleton, N.H. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums 2002.18.1.)

Many Guelphites accumulated veritable libraries of exotic stereoviews. Also, Guelph scenes were captured and presented for 3D thrills around the globe.

("Eramosa Road from the corner of Woolwich and Wellington Streets," ca. 1910. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Musems 1986.18.30.)

When view postcards came on the scene around the turn of the 20th century, some postcards were printed as stereoviews, typically with the same image repeated on either side of the front of a standard-sized card. These "poor man's" stereoviews were not as effective as the real ones but seemed to amuse some postcard customers.

Though the stereoview remained popular into the early 20th century (and was carried on in the form of the Viewmaster), the pastime has faded from memory. However, a selection of Guelph stereocards is now on display in the cabinet on the ground floor of the Guelph Public Library main branch.

Unfortunately, the display will remain in place only until June 16, so head down to the library soon to get a sense of how Guelph looked in former years in the virtual reality technology of the day.

Thanks to Roger Miller for leading the effort to create this display!


For those looking for more dope on the stereoscope, have a look at:

Monday, 19 May 2025

Mildred Fry, an excellent nurse

The letter, typed on Homewood Sanitarium letterhead, dated 13 October 1913, praises Mildred Fry as follows:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
This is to certify that Miss Fry is a graduate of the Homewood, having taken a high standing in her class. She is an excellent nurse, and I can recommend her very highly to your good services. You will make no mistake in employing Miss Fry on any case that needs professional nursing.
A.T. Hobbs
Medical Superintendent
In addition, the letter came into my keeping with a set of real photo postcards, providing us with a portrait of Mildred and some of her family members.

Perhaps the most notable postcard is presumably of Mildred herself.

The picture shows Mildred in a crisp, white uniform, emphasizing her professional status. The open book on the table beside denotes the learning she has acquired in nursing school. It seems likely that this image was taken on (or near) her graduation in 1913. There is no caption or writing on the back but it seems safe to assume that this is Mildred herself.

Mildred Fry was born on 11 July 1892 in Dunnville, Ontario. Both the 1901 and 1911 Ontario censuses show the Fry family resident on a farm near Dawn, in west Lambton County. She was from a large family. Between them, the two censuses list the following children of Mildred's parents, Malcolm and Jessie: Della, Mildred, Ina, Francis, Ada, Burton, Dwight, Morley, and Jessie. A large family but not an uncommonly large one for the era.

Another real photo postcard in the set shows Mildred in a lovely, formal Edwardian dress, along with accessories including a nice hat, a pearl necklace, and a wristwatch. Very timely!

Next is a postcard with a message written on the back that identifies the woman in the image: "Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas // Della." So, the picture likely features Mildred's older sister Della with her husband Perry Sanderson, along with their two boys Nelson and Burton, as listed in the 1911 Census, which locates them on a farm near Dawn.

With this identification in mind, it is straightforward to identify the women in the postcard above as Mildred (seated) and Della. The ladies are dressed in very elegant later Edwardian summer attire. In particular, Mildred has full-length gloves and a generous hat pin. It is not unlikely that this attire belonged to the photographer, as they often had a closet of special clothing on hand for dressed-up photos.

Another photo shows a couple of young women dressed in nice, cool-weather clothing and photographed outdoors, seated on a log. The postcard is not labelled but the context suggests that they may be Mildred's younger sisters Ina and Ada.

There are a few more images in the set but the last one I will include here is one of a young man in military uniform. There is no notation on the back of the postcard to say who this is. However, a reasonable guess would be that it is Clark Francis Fry, one of Mildred's younger brothers. Records of the Canadian Expeditionary Force show that Francis signed up in January 1916 and shipped out overseas the following year. So, this image might date from some time in that interval. He served in the 18th Canadian Battalion, and was active with it during the climactic Hundred Days Offensive in 1918. Just after the Armistice, he caught the Spanish Flu and was sent to recover in hospital in England. He returned to Canada the following year and later moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, to start a new life in the textile industry there.

Mildred leaves a light imprint in historical records. The most substantial record that I have found is a description of graduation ceremony of the Homewood nursing students, class of 1913 (Mercury, 14 May). The ceremony took place at the Sanitarium on the evening of May 13. Dr. Hobbs praised the excellence of the graduates, followed by Dr. MacKinnon, who administered the Florence Nightengale vow, and Rev. H.E. Abraham, who presented the diplomas. The roll of graduates illustrates the kind and number of students in the program at the time:

Miss Fanel Claus, St. Thomas, Ont.
Miss Hannah McCann, Lucan, Ont.
Miss Myrtle Davison, Shelburne, Ont.
Miss Estelle E. Fuhr, Wyecombe, Ont.
Miss Margaret T. Bates, St. Ann’s, Ont.
Miss Blanch A. Smith, Iona, Ont.
Miss Mildred D. Fry, Petrolia, Ont.
Miss Josephine E. McGuire, Guysboro, N.S.
Each graduate was also presented with a bouquet of pink carnations and roses. The evening concluded with dancing.

In November, 1914, Mildred is mentioned in the London Advertiser as a delegate to the Women's Institute convention in that city, and is specifically identified as a delegate from Tupperville, a community in Chatham-Kent, where she resided on a farm on R.R. 2. So, it appears that Mildred did not pursue a career in nursing.

On 30 August 1919, Mildred married Fred Groombridge in Sarnia. The 1921 Census places the Groombridge family back in Mildred's old stomping grounds of Dawn. The family remained in this vicinity and Mildred died in 1958 and is buried in Petrolia.

Young women like Mildred were increasingly engaged with professional education and skills in the early 20th century. Jobs as shop clerks, stenographers, bookeepers, telephone operators, and more opened up opportunties for them in Canadian cities. Nursing was once such occupation.

In 19th century Anglo-American world, nursing was popularized by the famous Florence Nightengale, who treated soldiers injured in the conduct of the Crimean War. Efforts to professionalize nursing resulted in the establishment of nursing schools, starting in Toronto (1881) and Montreal (1890) in Canada.

In the realm of psychiatric care, the Rockwood Asylum in Kingston, Ontartio, was the first to establish a training school (1888) for what would be known as psychiatric nursing today. Professionalization of psychiatric nursing lagged behind that of medical nursing, perhaps due the subject's lower status. In this respect, Homewood was early to develop professional standards and schooling of psychiatric nurses. It adopted uniforms for its nurses in 1902, a signal of their distinction from simple, hired help. In 1906, Homewood opened its school.

("Main Drive, showing Manor and Colonial Building, Homewood Sanitarium, Guelph, Ont." ca. 1905. The message on the back reads, in part: "The picture is a lunatic asylum probably your future home. I’ll meet you there maybe." Publisher unknown.)

In a letter to Provincial Inspector Bruce Smith in 1913, the year of Mildred Fry's graduation, Superintendant Hobbs described the schooling at Homewood in this way (Warsh 1989, p. 115):

My graduate nurses ... undergo a training of two years and three months, undergo a strict course of lectures, and pass a very strict severe standard for their examinations.
Homewood offered a variety of treatment methods in that era, including occupational therapy (as it would be called today), amusements (such as sporting events offered on its extensive grounds), tonics, withdrawal therapy, gynaecological surgery, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, the rest cure, the gold cure (a treatment for alcoholism), and a kind of chemotherapy. Nursing training would have involved learning and assisting in all of these theraputic regimes.

Nonetheless, graduates were not seen as equal to nurses with medical backgrounds and experienced difficulties in getting good jobs and professional status. (The Province of Ontario finally established professional accredidation for psychiatric nurses in 1922.)

As such, students like Mildred Fry provided inexpensive labour during their training but faced significant challenges in finding work in the profession upon graduation. Perhaps these challenges help to explain why Mildred returned to farm life shortly after her graduation from Homewood.


Works consulted for this post include:

Sunday, 30 March 2025

Happy Easter 1912 from Rev. W.H. Douglas!


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Postcards in the heyday of the medium were used for many purposes. Today, we tend to associate them with travel; people send postcards to their friends and relations from places they have been. This use has always been common. As Gifford (2013) points out, postcards were commonly used to mark holidays as well. Easter was one such holiday.

Easter postcards often feature generic drawings of bunnies, churches, eggs, chicks and other familiar icons of the season. One such card is shown below.

("Easter greetings" published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, GEM Photochrome Series 3274, ca. 1915. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums 1967.1.294.)

However, for various reasons, people sometimes took it on themselves to make personalized holiday postcards. One such card is shown below:

In brief, the view is a family portrait in a classy, simulated oval frame. The figures are (from left to right) Mrs. Douglas (née Martha Torrance), Lennox Herbert Douglas, Wesley Ryerson Scott Douglas, and the Rev. William Herbert Douglas.

The back of the card provides an Easter greeting along with a seasonal message and identifies the addressee:

The addressees are Mr. & Mrs. McCarter & Myrtle.

Happily, the message identifies the date and place of the postcard's use: Rockwood, Ontario, 7 April 1912. It's interesting to note that, although the postcard was addressed, it was not sent through the mail. Instead, it was likely delivered by hand. Looking at the persons identified on the card helps to explain why.

So, the puzzle now becomes genealogical: Who were these people and how were they connected such that this postcard was prompted? Investigation yields some interesting answers.

The obvious place to start is with the good Reverend William Herbert Douglas. He was born on 8 March 1873 in Reach Township, Ontario (now part of Scugog Township), to Samuel and Jane Douglas, immigrants from Ireland. The 1891 census reveals that they were farmers and that, while Samuel was a follower of the Church of England, Jane was a Methodist, along with all the couple's children. The family had an academic bent: William's siblings John and Annie were occupied as teachers and his brother Thomas was a Methodist minister. So, it is not surprising that William followed a similar path.

A fulsome obituary in the Georgetown Herald (29 December 1937) provides more details:

Mr. Douglas commenced his ministry as a missionary to the Canadian West, subsequently returning to Ontario and offering himself as a candidate for the ministry at Jarvis, Ont. During his career he has ministered to the following congregations in Ontario: Jarvis, Trafalgar, Rockwood, Port Elgin, Canfield, Norval, Lynden, Port Robinson and finally Mount Pleasant.
The Minutes of the Toronto Methodist church (1900) note that William Douglas was ordained that year. The Acton Free Press (22 July 1909) reported that his first sermon in connection with the Rockwood circuit would be delivered at Siloam church shortly. Later reports suggest that it was warmly recieved.
("Churches of Rockwood, Ont., Canada." Published by the Valentine & Son Publishing Co., ca. 1915. Courtesy of Wellington County Museum A2009.135, ph. 31402. The Methodist church is in the upper right corner.)

Reports suggest that Rev. Douglas performed his duties ably, preaching sermons, conducting weddings and funerals, and, of course, celebrating Easter appropriately. On 23 November 1909, he preached a special sermon to the Christians while addressing the unconverted the next day. It is not reported how many non-believers were in attendance.

(Wedding photo of the Rev. W.H. Douglas and Martha Torrance, courtesy of Janice Masson. The couple was married on 6 June 1900 in Wentworth, Ontario.)

An article in 6 June 1912 Acton Free Press notes that the Reverend was on his way to a new parish on Port Elgin, so, not long after he sent out the Easter card above. He retired from the ministry in 1935 due to failing health and settled in Toronto, where he passed on in 1937.

("Lennox Herbert Douglas," no date. Courtesy of Janice Masson.)

The couple's first son, Lennox Herbert, was born on 6 April 1901 and grew up to become a doctor. He practiced in a number of Ontario communities, winding up in Galt (now part of Cambridge) Ontario, where he passed away in 1966. He married Margaret Vicars Kent of Truro, Nova Scotia, whose father Hedley practiced medicine there for nearly 50 years.

The couple second son (and only other child) Wesley Ryerson Scott was born on 4 February 1904. He married Mary Aileen Moore of Georgetown in 1932. A fulsome obituary in the Georgetown Herald supplies some details (23 September 1959):

Mr. Douglas was born in Kemble in the Bruce Peninsula where his father had a charge, his parents were Rev. and Mrs. W.H. Douglas. When Mr. Douglas served his charge in Norval his son attended Georgetown high school, later going to Victoria College, University of Toronto, graduating in 1929. While at college he played both rugby and hockey on the Victoria and Varsity teams.
For some time after his marriage in 1932, he taught in Northern Vocational School until he suffered a heart attack and was advised to leave the teaching profession. He later formed his own brokerage firm, Ryerson Douglas Securities on Bay Street. He and his family were members of the United Church.
So, he followed the family tradition of teaching, a profession that can be quite rigorous.

The attention paid to the Douglas family in the pages of the Georgetown Herald is partly explained by the fact that Wesley's wife Mary was a daughter of J.M. Moore, publisher and editor of that newspaper for more than 30 years. Both were buried in at the Greenwood Cemetery in Georgetown.

It seems appropriate to finish with a few words about the recipients of the postcard. Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Mary McCarter were Methodists and residents of Rockwood, where Thomas worked as a bailiff. Myrtle was born on 16 September 1898, and so was 14 years old when the McCarters received the postcard. In 1923, she married Harold Douglas Treleaven of Rockwood, who was a salesman. Eventually, the couple relocated to the Big Smoke.

So, we come back to the matter of why the postcard was addressed to the McCarters by the Douglas's. The McCarters likely belonged to the Methodist church in Rockwood. The purpose of the postcard was to reaffirm the place of both families in the local Methodist community. Holiday postcards were often used for this sort of thing.

Thanks again for being a part of the internet postcard community and, of course, Happy Easter!

("Loving Easter greetings" published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, GEM Photochrome Series 3274, ca. 1915.)
Sources used for this post include:

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Bear hug: Guelph embraces its Begging Bear

("Begging bear" dressed for Canada Day, 2009. Photo by Allan MacKeeman. Courtesy of Guelph Public Library, F70-0-2-0-0-16.)

The body was found lying on the ground in front of the Macdonald Stewart Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Guelph) shortly before midnight on the night of Friday, 18 March 2011. Not long before, a gang of ruffians had descendend on the victim, knocking him down from his pedestal, taking pictures of themselves standing over him, and then fleeing the scene.

("The Begging Bear, uprooted and temporarily relocated inside the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre," 21 March 2011. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)

The victim was a character widely known and admired in the city of Guelph, the Begging Bear.

Eyewitnesses testified that a group of men had been seen jumping on the bear, causing the bronze animal to sway back and forth until the concrete pins that connected him to his footing shattered, thus toppling him over (Mercury, 22 March 2011). Besides taking pictures of themselves in the act, mud found on the side of the bear suggested that the perpetrators had tried to drag the body away though, weighing in at more than 300 pounds, their attempts were stymied.

Characterizing the deed as a "senseless act of vandalism," Guelph police questioned witnesses and scoured social media for clues. The townsfolk were scandalized. Shocked citizens wrote to the Gallery to find out what had happened and where the bear had gone. Happily, Aiden Ware, then co-ordinator of education and development at the art centre, could tell them that the bear had been retrieved by the Gallery and was awaiting rehabilitation.

("Begging bear," ca. 2010. Courtesy of Guelph Civic Museums, 2013.51.145.)

As an anonymous letter to the Mercury (22 March 2011) noted, reaction to his toppling revealed the Bear's significance to the community:

The extent of the upset over this marring of this public artwork is quite incredible. Perhaps, however, for the thousands who typically pass by it and note its latest look, the extent of the attachment for the bear comes as no surprise. Hundreds of people have interacted with the bear: dressed it; adorned it; photographed it. It has become part of many community statements, causes and celebrations. It has been a sort of mascot in the battle against the spread of AIDS-HIV, a statement of boosterism for various teams, a kiddie art camp canvass - among many other things.

It's just a sculpture and not. In many ways, this bear has become an honorary citizen, an ambassador, a vestige of Guelph and even beyond that—something that comforts the city, adds to its character and provides it creative oxygen.
Others wrote in to suggest ironically that the men who did the deed were heroes who had saved the city from an importunate artwork, or that the Bear had attacked them first so that they merely acted in self-defence.

The Begging Bear was sent to the Artcast foundry in Georgetown, where his wounds would be healed, some dings and scratches repaired, a nice black patina applied. Given his importance to the populace, it was decided that the Bear would be returned to his spot in front of the art centre but fitted with a new and more resiliant base to ensure that the Bear would not have to endure another toppling.

("Raise the bear" flyer for the "Share your care for our bear!" campaign. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

The bill for the work was in excess of $11,000, of which only $4,500 was covered by insurance (Mercury, 11 July 2011). So, the Centre held a fundraising campaign entitled "Share Your Care for Our Bear." Donations were generous and the full amount, plus a little to help out other deserving artworks, was raised.

(The Begging Bear is placed on his new plinth ahead of its re-unveiling. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

The Begging Bear was back in place in time for a re-introduction cermemony on 1 October 2011, in front of an appreciative crowd. And there he remains to this day.

The full name of this sculpture is the Canadiana/Begging Bear, created by artist Carl Skelton. In 1995, Skelton created the first iteration of the bear for an exhibition entitled "Wild Life" curated by John Massler of the Koffler Gallery, Toronto. This Bear was made of urethane foam, autobody filler, and aluminum and stood 77 inches (195 cm) tall. In keeping with the exhibition theme, the Bear was intended to reflect one of the original and wild denizens of the Toronto region. (Thus the "Canadiana" in the name.) It was duly exhibited in the Toronto Sculpture Garden.

("Canadiana/Begging Bear" exhibited at the Toronto Sculpture Garden, ca. 1998. Photo by W.N. Greer.)

However, the form of Bear was modeled not on any natural pose but on a posture a taxidermist would choose. Even so, the smooth face and upturned paw depart from the bared teeth and claws one might expect from a stuffed bruin. Instead of making viewers feel like they should prepare to flee from an attack, the begging posture invites them to approach.

("Macdonald Stewart Art Centre," ca. 2000 by Fred Dahms. Courtesy of the Guelph Civic Museums, 2013.51.105.)

Perhaps it was this quality that attracted the interest of the Art Centre. There, the Donald Foster Sculpture Park had been instituted in 1983 on the grounds of the Centre as a place for artistic activities and public artworks. The Begging Bear seemed like a good fit, so a bronze version was cast and installed in a particularly public location, near a busy Gordon street sidewalk and a well-used bus stop. It was almost as if the new denizen was begging for attention.

(Carl Skelton poses with his Canadian/Begging Bear sculpture at its official unveiling, 1999. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

The Begging Bear was officially unveiled at 7:30pm on 23 September 1999, with Carl Skelton in attendance.

It took little time for the citizenry to relate to the Bear. Less than a year later, the Mercury showed a picture of the Bear wearing a nice necktie, with the comment (16 June 2000):

The Begging Bear statue outside the MacDonald Stewart Art Gallery was spiffed up on Thursday with a necktie. The bear, with outstretched hand, has been spotted variously holding everything from snowballs to loose change since it was installed last fall.
As many Guelphites know from personal experience, the Bear has been dressed in many ways for many occasions since that time. It would be quite a daunting task to catalogue them.
("Carl Skelton: Canadiana/Begging Bear. 1995—1999, bronze, 6.4' x 3.3' x 2.0'." Postcard produced 2004.)

Happily, the Centre chose to spread the fame of the Bear through the medium of postcards. A set of cards was ordered late in 2003 and, no doubt, made their way into the gift shop early in 2004. The image shows the bear leaning forward as if to reach outside the frame of the postcard, making a request of some unseen passer by.

(Begging bear in a crate, 2021. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

After its toppling in 2011, perhaps the most noted public intervention with the Begging Bear was the time it was crated. In July 2021, the Bear was found to be encased in a wooden crate, with only his begging arm sticking out (Mercury, 24 August 2021). Stapled to the crate were what appeared to be police citations for "solicitation in aggressive manner." An "eviction notice" and a "notice to vacate" were also attached, stating that the "homeless" bear was no longer permitted to occupy the sculpture park.

The crating was part of an artist's protest against the criminalization of homelessness. Happily, the Bear was not actually evicted and the crating was later removed.

(Guerilla postcard of the Begging Bear in a crate, 2021. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

However, the artist also took a photo of the crated Bear, printed postcards of it, and snuck them into the Art Gallery's gift shop, placing them there as if they were part of the regular merchandise. Once the ruse was discovered, it was decided to let people take them at no charge if they wished, while a copy was kept for the Gallery's collection.

(Picasso bear, no date. Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Guelph.)

It's interesting to pause and consider the Bear's place in the history of Guelph's public art. In 1999, he joined a group of statuary including the Blacksmith Fountain, Old Jeremiah, and the Fountain Family. Later members include the Guelph Gryphon and the John McCrae statue at the Civic Museum. So, the Begging Bear is in good company but he remains, arguably, pre-eminent among them. He's just so approachable in so many ways.

("He?" you may ask? Many mentions of the Begging Bear in print use the masculine gender. I have yet to see anyone use "she" or "her." Perhaps it's the dad bod?)

The Begging Bear has endured its many "interventions," including his 2011 toppling, with panache and good grace. With luck, he will continue to grace his central place in the land and minds of Guelphites for years to come.


(Courtesy of Google Street View.)

On the fifth anniversary of the toppling of the Bear, Bill Bean asked creator Carl Skelton what he thought of the Guelph public's relationship with the bear, as revealed by his many costume changes and their response to his toppling. Skelton made some interesting observations, which I will quote here (Mercury, 28 January 2016):

The creator of the Begging Bear, Toronto-born artist Carl Skelton, is "thrilled" that this love affair has happened, although perhaps, he is not that surprised.
Skelton is industry professor and the founding director of the Brooklyn Experimental Media Center and the academic programs in integrated digital media at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University.
Skelton saw the potential for "playful relationships" with the sculpture when the bear was first installed briefly in the Toronto Sculpture Garden, that happened to include a pathway commonly used by homeless people. Skelton says he wasn't sure then what the response would be from the panhandling public to a panhandling bear. But they embraced Bear as one of their own.
Public art has its pitfalls, says Skelton: "Public art can be alienating." When the Macdonald Stewart gallery sought to acquire the Begging Bear, he suspected that a university city like Guelph might result in "grass skirts and coconut bras" for the bear. And, he wondered about the "awkward relationship" with a panhandling bear outside a public institution. But Skelton says the Begging Bear is a Guelph success story.
"Ultimately, the bear succeeds or fails as a personification of the public-ness of the people. The things that people do to, with, or around the bear is a public gesture. Investing in it, to begin with, is a public gesture; taking a picture with it is a public gesture."
Skelton says the real story of the Begging Bear is how the incident united citizens in Guelph. "The whole town got together - you respected yourselves. The public art wasn't the bear - it was the story you built when something bad happened to it.
"The bear has done a better-than-average job of representing you folks (of Guelph) to each other. It represents Guelph to Guelph."

("Stuffed grizzly bear," courtesy of Cristie Guevara.)

Among other things, the Begging Bear is meant to remind us that bears were once denizens of the land where we live now. When thinking of this, I am reminded of a local bear story related by Charles McTague, scion of the McTague family after whom McTague street was named. He was born in Guelpn in 1837 and lived in town his whole life. The Mercury (2 March 1916) asked him for some reminiscences of the town's early days, and the following bear story was among them:

“Don’t put this down,” said Mr. McTague, “because no one will believe it, but it is true. In those days there were a lot of rough-cast houses at the corner of Norfolk and Cork streets, where Maurice O’Connor afterwards built his terrace, and Jack Henry kept a boot and shoe store there. On the opposite side of Norfolk street, on the Convent grounds, there was a rail fence enclosing a field of grain. While the shoemakers were working at Henry’s one day a friend came around and stood in the doorway and engaged in the conversation. His eyes were red, and I guess he had been boozing the night before. This man looked across the street and saw something in the grain field. He asked, “What is that, in the grain?” and then said, “I’m going over to see.” He went over to the field, and came running back with eyes sticking out of his head, and said, “It’s a bear.” Well, one picked up a boot, another a “tree,” someone else a hammer, and they went off after the bear. George Perkins was the only man in the party who had a shot gun. They chased the bear down toward Presant’s mill, up toward the Eramosa bridge, and out to the bush at St. Joseph’s hospital. And do you know, Perkins stepped on the bear. Well, he got so excited that he kicked it and threw down the shot gun.”
“Did they get the bear?” asked the reporter.
“No,” said Mr. McTague, laughing, “it got away.”
“Years afterwards, I asked Perkins if it was true that he threw away the gun and kicked the bear. He laughed and said, “Yes, as true as it is that I am standing here.”
The next time you see the Begging Bear, bear this little story in mind.