Discovering the Village of Sombra

In this blog post, we'll take a quick look at the Village of Sombra and its earliest settlers/growth and take a look at the Sombra ferry's history.

The village wasn't always known as Sombra; in its earliest inception, the village was called "Lewisville." The earliest settler were Abraham Smith and Samuel H. Burnham in 1821. Lela Sutcliff related in an article in the London Free Press on March 11, 1961 that "1835 was the year the nucleus of the present village began and the first few houses to comprise it were erected." Samuel Burnham's son, Morgan Lewis Burnham, did much of the original construction; because of this, Lewis Burnham was considered the "father" of the village and it was dubbed "Lewisville" in his honour. It was some years later that the name should switch to Sombra. The village would blossom as a town hall valued at $1,800.00 was built in 1867.

The ferry has a rich and interesting history. The first ferry in Sombra was The Silent, a sailboat run by Samuel Whiteley. When there wasn't any wind, he would use a rowboat to ferry customers across the river. He charged 10 cents a round trip. An old Irish woman is reported to have gotten on his case for those exorbitant prices, cornering him with this gruff statement: "You just take a stick in your hand and charge 10 cents for that?!" (Gazette, November 18, 1981). A second ferry was opened by William Bell and taken over by the American Joe Miller, causing competition for Whiteley's operation. It is rumoured that during one exceptionally sore argument, each ferry would only go to the middle of the river, where passengers were made to switch boats! The feud would end when Whiteley eventually bought out his American competitor.

To learn about establishments and events in Sombra if you feel like going for a visit, check out the website Discover Sombra Village. Don't miss the Sombra Museum if you go visit!

If you would like some extra details about what the Village of Sombra had to offer in 1856, please look over this excerpt from an article that appeared in the Toronto Leader, April 28, 1856:

Grand land sale by public auction, in the village of Sombra, at the town of Port Sarnia, on Thursday inst., 200 town lots of the above Village...

The local advantage of the Village, in addition to those already mentioned, are great; it being situated half-way between the towns of Port Sarnia and Chatham, the County Towns of Kent and Lambton - and the principal depot for supplying wood to the innumberable fleet of Steamers continually plying the noble river in front...

The Township of Sombra, of which this Village is the first center, is the best Township of land in the County of Lambton and is fast filling up with enterprising and industrious settlers. The Village has only been in existence three years, and already contains four Merchant's Shops and a large Hotel with as good accommodations as any west of London, one Blacksmith Shop, Tin Shop, Tailoring and Shoe Shops, Tannery, School House and Church... and is the principal place of import and export for a considerable portion of the County.

Remembrance Day Reflections, The Petrolia Cenotaph

This Remembrance Day, the Lambton Room has chosen to highlight one of Lambton County's WWI memorials: the cenotaph in Petrolia's Victoria Park.

The cenotaph in Petrolia was unveiled on September 24, 1922. Designed by Toronto sculptor Emmanuel Hahn, it features symbolic detailing like the cross the figure is holding, the flag draped behind him and the poppies and chains at his feet.

Advertiser-Topic, Sept. 28 1922, p. 1

The ceremony to celebrate the unveiling began at 2pm, and the program issued to attendants read on the front cover: "Erected in Memory of the Boys from the Municipalities of Petrolia and Enniskillen Who Laid Down Their Lives in the Great War." Hymns and patriotic songs were played by the Petrolia Citizen's Band; Mayor Preston gave the opening address; and the actual unveiling of the cenotaph (by Major Fairbank) was followed by a general salute. The Advertiser-Topic reported on September 28 that, while the day dawned brightly, "the mercury feel and a strong wind arose, which... did not prevent the gathering of an immense crowd" as citizens attended the important event.

The main address was given by Reverend William Raithby, pastor of Petrolia Baptist church who served for three and a half years during WWI and was a well-respected member of the community. His address included the following:

We are here to unveil and dedicate this memorial to those who, courageously enlisting, turning aside from life's prospects and enjoyments and daring to stem the tide of hate that threatened to engulf the world, passed by the way of death and did not return.

The monument should remind us that the freedom, peace and safety we enjoy have been secured at a price greater than which no man can pay. [Advertiser-Topic, Sep. 28, 1922 p. 1, 3]

In 1916 Petrolia opened a recruiting station for the 70th Battalion. Featured below is a picture of recruits standing in front of the station. From left to right, their names are: Jack C. Reid, Clayton McRitchie, Verne Mandeville, -----, Leo Kelly, Major C.O. Fairbank, Smith (from Buffalo), Lt. Tom Murray, Bloss Scott, -----, Ross McRae, Bill Balls, and Murray McQueen. [the gentleman in the bowler in the background is Mr. Fisher, caretaker of the Masonic Temple]. Two of those names are now listed on the Petrolia Cenotaph: Verne Mandeville and Murray McQueen never returned from the Great War.

This Remembrance Day, take a moment to reflect on the men who were lost in the County of Lambton and across Canada.

 

 

Ontario Genealogical Society's 50th Anniversary

The Ontario Genealogical Society celebrated its 50th birthday on October 15. Here is some background and history on the non-profit corporation that promotes the study of genealogy across Ontario.

Founded in 1961, the Ontario Genealogical Society developed with the sponsorship of the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario at the University of Waterloo. Dr. G.E. Reaman served as the OGS's first president. The society published its first newsletter, Bulletin, in August of 1962; it would continue to be published three times a year until 1968, when it became a quarterly. The mid-1960s were a period of growth, with the OGS's first seminar on April 18, 1964 (with 125 individuals in attendance) and the adoption of a constitution in 1966. Membership broke the 250 barrier by February of 1967.

1871 Census Indexing Announcement

In 1971, the OGS had already established five branches: Toronto, London, Hamilton, Ottawa and Bruce-Grey. New branches would develop across the country over the following years. By the 25th anniversary in 1986, the OGS had 5,000 members in 25 branches; annual seminars with distinguished speakers; quarterly newsletters to keep members informed; and several indexing projects on the go, including work with the 1871 Census of Canada.

The OGS continues to work on interesting and genealogically important projects, including the transcription of cemetery tombstones and inventories of records from places of worship.

Poster from Lambton Branch 10th Anniversary

The Lambton Branch of the OGS was founded in 1984. Branch members are currently involved in a variety of interesting projects, including the indexing of birth, marriage and death notices from local newspaper the Petrolia Advertiser Topic. A recent investment in sophisticated scanning technology shows a determination to preserve the past while maintaining a connection with the new digital age.

The OGS has a proud history and is always happy to welcome new members. As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the OGS is encouraging individuals across Ontario to donate copies of their family histories, to better consolidate and preserve the excellent genealogical research that has been conducted across the province.

Happy Birthday, OGS!

Books on Wheels! History of the Lambton County Library Bookmobile

Lambton County's first bookmobile or "book-van" in Wyoming, c. 1935.

The Lambton County Library Bookmobile has a storied and intriguing past which began in the early 1930s. Sarnia librarian Dorothy Carlisle initiated a book-van ("trailer attached to an auto") to circulate new and interesting books between Lambton's library branches. An article that appeared in the Windsor Daily Star on September 11, 1937 proclaimed, "Circulation of  books in Lambton County and other districts that have adopted the county circulating library system has increased as much as 300 per cent in the last five years... the Lambton County Library Association book-van... has 18 points of call in the county, and makes the rounds four times a year." The article closed by noting, "The book-van, a small, two-wheeled trailer with built-in shelves, pulled by auto, is welcomed by groups of eager readers as it calls at every county unit..." This marks the beginning of the Bookmobile legacy in Lambton County.

County librarian R.M. Donovan, 1949.

In 1949, newly appointed county librarian R.M. Donovan purchased a new bookmobile with expanded capacity that could carry 1,500 to 2,000 books. In his article "Lambton County Centennial, 'Our Bookmobile,'" which apepared in the Ontario Library Review, Donovan gives this colourful description of the new bookmobile: "Compared with the bookmobiles of Kent or Middlesex, the next-door neighbours, Lambton takes a back seat for beauty in the colour scheme. But the lack of beauty is well compensated for by the almost lurid contrast of canary yellow on dark green, which leaves no doubt in the seers mind as to the vehicle's identity even if seen in a mirage."


Promotional material for new bookmobile, 1949.

 On February 8, 1950, the Forest Free Press published an article praising the new bookmobile for increasing reading material to Lambton County's schools. Servives were now available for seventy of Lambton's schools in Bosanquet, Warwick, Brooke, Euphemia, Dawn and Enniskillen. While bookmobile service continued to schools for decades, this would not always be the case. Controversy erupted in the early 1990s when, after Sarnia-Clearwater joined the county system in January 1991, the library systems suggested  service to county schools should be halted for budgetary reasons. A flurry of newspaper articles followed, including an article on February 7, 1991 in the Observer, "School boards continue pressure to keep bookmobile in operation," which said, "Teachers and trustees with both school systems have argued that the regular visits by the bookmobiles to 24 elementary schools are important to the students." Teachers arranged petitions and students wrote letters, but to no avail; bookmobile service to schools was shut down.

Picture submitted by Lambton elementary school student, 1990.

Despite some controversy in its past, the Bookmobile continues to operate in Lambton County today and offer services to residents. Visit the Bookmobile website for a list of FAQs and the Bookmobile's current schedule. The Bookmobile continues to provide new and interesting material to locations across Lambton County.

Lambton County Library Bookmobile, behind Sarnia Library in 2011.

A Foreign Affair: Upcoming Book Launch and Theatre Presentation at the Oil Museum of Canada

Foreign Driller Fever is upon us! One of Lambton County's most interesting chapters will be coming to life at the Oil Museum of Canada at the end of the month.

Author Gary May (who wrote one of the definitive works on foreign drillers, Hard Oiler) is launching his newest book, The Scent of Oil. He chose the Oil Museum of Canada as the location for his book launch, which will occur from 2:00 to 4:00pm on Friday, September 30. The Oil Museum of Canada is proud to sponsor the event with Gary May and is working in conjunction with Culture Days, a celebration of Arts and Culture from coast to coast.

Gary May noted about his new book, "The Scent of Oil is the true-life adventure of how two Petrolia families joined the trek of the Foreign Drillers to Galacia." At the book launch, you will have the opportunity to meet members of the Perkins and Nicklos families whose ancestors played such an interesting role in oil history. Who knows, you may even meet a foreign driller, or his wife! (portrayed by members of the Petrolia Community Theatre). The afternoon will also feature a Q&A session and light refreshments. Enjoy the experience free of charge.


That evening, make sure you have acquired a special passport to see the Petrolia Community Theatre re-enact true stories about Canada's Foreign Drillers. The performance will take place on museum grounds, with a special appearance by "Sisters by Choice" for your musical entertainment. The event goes on rain or shine! The special passports are available by advance purchase only at a cost of $10.00.

So what's the big deal about Foreign Drillers? Well, from 1874 to the 1930s men who had worked and trained in the oil fields of Lambton County traveled the globe to practice their trade. Many of the skills and techniques they had honed in Lambton County were exported to other countries around the world, including but not limited to Germany, Borneo, Venezuela and Egypt. To hear some of their stories, visit the Oil Museum of Canada's website and browse Black Gold: Canada's Oil Heritage.

The History of Lambton's Fall Fairs

Fall Fairs are a time-honoured rural tradition throughout Ontario. The earliest agricultural society was formed at Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1792. Other societies followed, and they would hold fairs with butter, cheese and maple sugar. In 1834, a prize was offered for "Best Servant!"

While there used to be as many as eight fairs active in Lambton County, that number has decreased to the remaining five: Plympton and Wyoming; Petrolia and Enniskillen; Brigden; Forest; and Brooke and Alvinston. Taking place over roughly a month's span from early September to October, fall fairs give local residents an opportunity to celebrate achievements and spend time with neighbours. These activities have been going on in Lambton County for over 150 years. Allow me to provide you with some information about the interesting histories of Lambton's fall fairs!

Credit for the oldest fall fair goes to Plympton and Wyoming, an Agricultural Society who held their first fair in 1846 on John Fisher's farm, at lot 14, concession 8, Plympton Township. In 1907, the fair was moved to Thames Street in Wyoming, and later to Main Street; a hall was erected in 1911. In 1926 additional land was purchased to use as a racetrack, but races were discontinued in 1947 because they were considered a safety hazard.

The Brigden Fair is now a four-day event

The first Brigden Fair was held in 1850 at Riley's Tavern and featured only cattle and horses. For the next four decades, the location would alternate between Mooretown and Corunna, and later between Courtright and Brigden, until settling into the current grounds in 1889. Prior to 1928, only Moore residents could be exhibitors; however, "Open to the World" was declared that year and exhibits were opened to an unlimited area.

Prize List, 1889

The Enniksillen Agricultural Society was organized in 1876. By 1888, the society had acquired three and a half acres of land in the Petrolia village limits, erected buildings, and were conducting an annual fair. Financial records from 1888 show a volume business of $782.1 and a net profit of $5.25!

Forest had its first fair in 1870 at the corner of Broadway and Main Street; it was later moved to a drill shed. In 1874, twelve acres of land were purchased at the south-west corner of the town. This would be named the Forest Pleasure Park and served as fair grounds until the present park was bought in 1909. Early Forest fairs emphasized livestock but had prizes for bread, maple sugar and other culinary arts.

Poster for the Forest Fair

Alvinston's society originated in or about 1867; unfortunately, early records have not been preserved so it is difficult to get a picture of the society's earliest years. We know that a livestock show was held in October, 1875. There was no admission fee to the open grounds, but they did charge ten cents to enter the township hall, where grains, vegetables and ladies' work were being displayed.

Other fairs that are no longer running have equally interesting histories. The Florence agricultural society dates back to 1863. They held their first fair in 1910 after purchasing a white frame barn that was renovated with two wings and an upstairs area to form a Crystal Palace. A driving track was added in 1911, and in 1913 Fansher Church was purchased for $75.00, and the lumber was used to construct a grandstand. Thedford's society was organized even earlier in 1859. Tradition says fairs were held on the ridge road a few miles west of town but no records can confirm. When a fair was held on October 1, 1889, there was more than two feet of snow on the ground!

Fair season is now upon us, so be sure to get out to your fair and support the local community. The season kicks off with the Petrolia and Enniskillen Fall Fair September 9 and 10. The County of Lambton's Cultural Services Division will have a booth at all the upcoming fairs, so visit us to learn all about the county's libraries, museums and galleries! See you there.

New History Website! The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time

In partnership with the Warwick Township History Committee, the Township of Warwick and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture's Museums and Technology Fund, the Lambton Room is proud to present a new history website! The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time is a brand new website that brings together fascinating information about the township's history into one convenient location.

The website has its roots in the publication The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time, which was compiled and released by the Warwick History Township Committee in 2008. That book provides an overview of Warwick Township's history from prehistoric times through the First and Second World Wars. Additionally, the book contained specific information about the families that have shaped and influenced Warwick Township.

The new website features digitized versions of all the content and photographs from the book (see the "History" tab on the website for the book chapters). Additionally, all the information about the various families is indexed and listed ("Families Index").

There was a lot of information, photographs, and history of Warwick Township that did not have the chance to get included in the book. The website has provided us with a platform to make those additional resources from the Lambton Room archives widely available. Browse historic postcards, letters or newspaper clippings! We also have video clips of interviews with local residents and businesses, and audio clips coming soon. You could spend days browsing through the photo albums and still have more pictures to see! The Google Gallery is one of my favourite aspects of the website. It pairs historic photographs with cutting edge technology by putting historic snapshots beside Google Street View. It gives you an opportunity to compare how streetscapes and landscapes have evolved over time.

Most importantly, this website will continue to evolve. The forums encourage users to post their own memories of Warwick Township's history or make additional comments about photographs/documents that are on the wesibte, if they recognize names or faces that aren't already identified. Our Uploading section is an excellent opportunity for individuals with photos or documents to upload digitized copies, which will add to our understanding of the township's history and become integrated into the material already posted on the website. In this way, the website continues to collect Warwick Township's history and spark interest in its stories.

Although there is already amazing material on the website, it will continue to grow and expand as people share their knowledge and passion about Warwick Township's history with us. Visit http://www.warwickhistory.ca today!

Ontario Vital Statistics: New Years Are Here!

This morning the Lambton Room received an exciting package in the mail. It contained the latest round of Ontario Vital Statistics. We now have a new year's worth of records pertaining to births, marriages and deaths in the province of Ontario. We have birth registrations up to and including 1914; marriage registrations up to and including 1929; and death registrations up to and including 1939.

About fifteen minutes before the package arrived, I had just been discussing with one of my co-workers about the status of our vital statistics order, and when I anticipated they would arrive. Avid genealogists are often waiting to swoop in and have a look at the latest year's worth of vital statistics, to flesh out their research.

The Archives of Ontario's Introduction to Vital Statistics asserts, "these records are restricted until they have been made publicly available," but does not offer any additional explanations about the reasons behind these restrictions. Familyhistoryalive.com explains that because of Ontario's privacy laws, records of a private and sensitive nature cannot be released until a specified period of time has elapsed. Birth records are kept secret until 95 years after they occurred; marriages for 80 years; and deaths for 70 years.While it is important to respect these privacy laws, it's annoying for researchers who are aware these statistics are locked up in a vault and being released at a frustratingly slow pace!

For this year, we have received our newest wave of Ontario Vital Statistics, and that is something to celebrate! So come out to the Lambton Room and look up those birth, marriage or death records that have been eluding you.

Keeping Up With The Joneses: The Maxwell Settlement Part 2

I received some great feedback about my last blog, Lambton's Communal Experiment: The Maxwell Settlement. A lot of people are unaware of and fascinated by this pocket of Lambton County's history! I have been working closely with the Jones Diaries over the last few weeks, and I wanted to share some additional information about this amazing collection to flesh out the Maxwell story. So here is Keeping Up With The Joneses: The Maxwell Settlement Part 2!

I mentioned at the end of my last blog that the Lambton Room has some incredible material documenting the Maxwell settlement. I have been dusting off and properly arranging/storing the Jones diaries for several weeks now, and I have developed a much better understanding of the collection.

The collection contains diaries from three different Joneses: two diaries from Henry John Jones Sr., the master-mind and driving force behind Maxwell; a single diary from Julia Maria Jones, Henry John Sr.'s daughter; and a whopping thirty-four diaries from Henry John Jones Jr., Julia's brother.

Henry John Sr., September 28, 1832.

Henry John Jones Sr.'s diaries document between December 11, 1831 and September 22, 1833. His entries can be a bit formulaic; he tends to record weather readings, such as thermometer, barometer and wind speed. He records details about agricultural activities, farm accidents and visitors. For example, September 28, 1832 he noted, "Townsend arrived with workmen to finish bridge. 2 boys stopped in search of horses." (page 123) March 7, 1833 Jones recorded, "Sandy Hamilton came up again, being desirous of returning to the shores of the lake." (page 28) His diaries provide a great snapshot of activity at Maxwell during its heyday.

Henry John Sr., March 7, 1833.

Julia Maria Jones kept a diary from May 20, 1830 to August 28, 1830. It documents the journey from England to Canada, and through to the site for Maxwell. "Our view of Maxwell even at first was favourable..." Julia notes, commenting on the beauty of the landscape and the hard trek she endured to reach her destination.


Henry John Jones Jr. documented an extensive portion of his life with diaries. His first diary was "Remarks on the zoology of the neighbourhood of Maxwell," a summary of the animals around Maxwell without much detail about the activities of the humans. He kept regular diary entries until 1843, when our collection abruptly stops until 1852, when it picks up regularly again. It is possible that he quit writing for that period, or the diaries are in someone else's possession. The last diary we have ends in June, 1883.

Henry John Jones Jr., January 1, 1837.

Jones Jr. writes openly and honestly, for example on January 1, 1837 when he noted, "Looking back on my proceedings during the last year and my prospects at present, I must acknowledge that the view is anything but pleasing... The Land business is in a very unsettled state, indeed the chances are that my present employment cannot last much longer. A devil of an annoyance, after wasting three or four years of my life in it. My consolation is that though poorly, I have managed to maintain myself, and have acquired habits of business and a certain quantity of experience and information which will doubtless under any circumstances be useful to me hereafter."

It is a rare opportunity to have access to this type of material, diaries that document so regularly and carefully a notable period in county history. The Jones Diaries have been cleaned, inventoried, and archival-safe boxes have been individually prepared for each diary to ensure it remains protected under optimal conditions.

While the family's ambitious Maxwell failed, their dreams and experiences are recorded forever in the Jones Diaries.

Lambton’s Communal Experiment: The Maxwell Settlement

One of the most interesting stories of European settlement in Lambton County comes from an ardent believer in socialist theory, a man named Henry Jones. He brought settlers from Scotland to Lambton County to establish a communal settlement in the late 1820s.

Jones was inspired by Robert Owen, a Welsh entrepreneur and social reformer. Owen was disheartened by the wretched working conditions that plagued Britain during the industrial revolution, and introduced socialist reforms in the mill he managed in New Lanark. He provided educational facilities for his workers; started a company store with lower prices and credit; and wrote essays about communes and social living.

 Owen delivered lectures on socialist living, and one of these lectures was heard by our Henry Jones. Jones was inspired to establish an Owenite colony populated with displaced British workers in the New World.  

Jones encountered some snags on his path to a Utopian commune. His initial petition for land was refused because he did not have enough settlers and demanded extensive government funding; his second petition requested to settle fewer families at his own expense. In late 1828, Jones received his grant, and his settlers set sail from Scotland. The party had approximately fifty men, women and children, including Jones.

 

Elizabeth (Jones) Faithorne Pencil Sketch, Maxwell.



The arduous journey across the ocean and through the wilderness took weeks, and the settlers eventually arrived in late April 1829. The settlement was dubbed Maxwell and embodied all the promises of contemporary social reform theory. Their communal home was “a large building of, not logs, but carefully whip-sawed boards. A two-storey central block contained the common dining room, kitchen and living rooms. Two single-storey wings contained private rooms for each family.” [Maxwell – and Henry Jones, Lambton’s Communal Settlement, Helen Burrowes, p. 20]. They had a storehouse for supplies and a blacksmith shop, and the promise of an existence free from the shackles of industrial labour that loomed in their native Scotland.

Unfortunately, Maxwell proved to be unsustainable. The women became disgruntled with the communal kitchen and dining room. There were whispers from some of the men about Jones, who saw himself as the group’s leader. Following the tenants of social theory, Jones believed human beings were inherently selfless, hard-working, and good intentioned. It turned out this was not the case.

Maxwell’s settlers did not live up to Jones’s ideal. The community began to crumble after less than a year with the departure of Henry Baird, the young blacksmith. More and more settlers would peel off, and Jones became distracted with legal troubles back in Britain.

Lambton’s experiment in communal living may have failed, but Jones left a legacy. He is credited with bringing an optimistic spirit of community and freedom to Lambton while the area was still wild and untamed. Additionally, the center street of a lot he owned was subdivided and named Maxwell Street after that fledgling communal settlement.

Henry John Jones (Jr) Journal, December 1860.

The Lambton Room is fortunate to contain some amazing documentation of the Maxwell settlement and the Jones family. We have two pencil sketches done by Elizabeth (Jones) Faithorne of the original communal settlement in the early 1830s. Additionally, we have a collection of nearly 30 volumes of journals kept by Henry Jones’s son, Henry John Jones. His journals begin in 1830 and keep diligent records of almost every day until 1883. The journals provide information about Henry John Jones and insight into what life would have been like in the 1800s. The collection is occasionally mundane (when discussing the weather); often informative (we learn about trips taken by Jones); and even funny (we sometimes hear Jones bemoan a night spent consuming too much gin). While the Maxwell settlement may have failed, it retains a remarkable and interesting foothold in Lambton County’s history, and has left us some fascinating historical documents.

Genealogy Buffs Be Aware! Family History Centers

Early last week, I had the opportunity to tour Sarnia's Family History Center, an office nestled in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 1400 Murphy Road. These institutions are present in LDS churches across the country and across the world, and their mandate is to help individuals research and better understanding their family histories. The Mormon faith believes that ordinances can be performed for individuals after their death, and this connection of ancestors with religion has created one of the most substantial genealogical forces in the world.

While Mormons believe in an intricate connection between genealogy and their faith, the genealogical resources they have compiled are open for the use of anyone regardless of their religion or ideology. The services are all available free of charge, and come without any assumption that you must convert in order to access these resources. While the Lambton Room specializes in genealogical documents and sources for Lambton County specifically, the Family History Center is international in scope. They can help you research and understand documents that are older and from a wealth of different countries.

Family History Centers are the local hubs for the transmission of the church's incredible genealogical holdings. They are the local eyes and ears for the Family History Library Building in Salt Lake City. That 142,00 square foot five storey building is the largest library of its kind in the world. FamilySearch.org asserts, "The collection includes over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records: 727,000 microfiche; 356,000 books, serials, and other formats; over 4,500 periodicals; 3,725 electronic resources." Some pretty impressive numbers, buffered by the 600 million names in their International Genealogical Index. All resources at the Salt Lake City library can be ordered through inter-library loans and accessed at any Family History Center (for a small fee, which covers the shipping).

Not only does the LDS care for records that have already been gathered and indexed, but they are also involved in the indexing and digitizing of additional records. Millions of names are being indexed every day by the LDS's extensive network of volunteers. These volunteers come from across the world, and documents are being indexed in dozens of languages in hundreds of locations. In this type of project, it is essential to ensure that the documents are being indexed accurately, and a control system has been put in place. Multiple individuals index the same document, and their indexes are each submitted to a supervisor, who compares the documents for similarities. This quality control is a strong step towards ensuring the indexing is a close match to the original document.

While the Lambton Room has excellent and extensive genealogical resources (especially for individuals researching in Lambton County), the Family History Center in Sarnia is a great spot for researchers interested in looking for family members who are international in scope. Visit their Family History Center Portal for links to their online database, FamilySearch.org, as well as research tools, online courses, locations of Family History Centers near you, and much more!

Census Excitement and Chagrin

This past week, I had the opportunity to complete my first Canadian Census! In previous years I either lived with my folks or in student residence, but as an independent, rent-paying Canadian, I received a census form for my very own apartment. Both my room-mate and finance were puzzled by my excitement, but as a historian who accesses early census records on a daily basis, it struck me as a right of passage to be finally completing a census form for myself.

Unfortunately, the ten questions did not satiate my desire to provide an excellent resource for genealogists investigating their lineage one hundred years from now (although a voluntary National Household Survey will be circulated approximately four weeks after the census and include questions normally asked on the census long form). Unlike the hand-wringers who are worried about access to their personal information, I believe that the census forms a vital part of the historic record and access to those records in 92 years is my right as a historian and as a Canadian.

The aspect of the census that historians and genealogists are taking aim with is the "Permission Question" featured at the end of the census. The census taker has to tick a box indicating "Yes" to whether they would like their information released when the census becomes publicly available in 92 years. If the census taker ticks "No," their information will never be publicly available; if the census taker does not tick either box, their information remains concealed. I can appreciate the importance of providing Canadians with some say in how their personal information is handled. However, I believe the "Permission Question" should be reworked so those who do not respond to the question have their information automatically released instead of kept secret. The question should be: "Do you refuse to release your information in 92 years?" not "Do you agree to release your information in 92 years?"

Additionally, it should be more immediately relevant why it is important that this information be released in 92 years. The 2011 Census website does have a link explaining the position of the historian/genealogist (Genealogy Corner,) a description of one casual genealogist's use of currently available censuses (1911 Census: A Personal Perspective,) and a page entitled Release of Personal Data after 92 Years, but this is not enough! These links are available but I'm not convinced that every census taker will browse the website and discover them. An encouragement from Library and Archives Canada embedded in the census itself, just before the "Permission Question" would do much to bring this topic to the forefront in many census takers' minds. To the casual person answering a census online, it is a knee-jerk reflex to answer "No" to any questions related to access to your personal information. If Library and Archives Canada had a short blurb indicating how this census information will be used in 92 years, it might go a long way to quelling the insecurities of census takers (and curb the fretting of historians and genealogists.)

The Lambton Room is happy to provide online and microfilm access to Canadian census records, including 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911. We often bemoan the poor hand-writing and spelling ability of early census takers, and wish that those records were not often hard to read and incomplete. Well, the computer age may have solved the hand-writing and spelling problems for the 2011 Census; but future historians will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage because of the privacy restrictions that are currently in vogue.

Complete the 2011 Census online with your 15-digit Secure Access Code, and remember to tick your Permission Box!

Into the Belly of the Beast: Behind the Vault Doors

Behind the Vault Doors

Visitors to the Lambton Room don't often get the opportunity to glimpse behind the vault doors. When they request records to conduct their research, one of our staff members diligently scurries into the back and fetches the necessary files. I want to use this blog post to give people a peek into the vault itself, and an idea of the special or unusual records that are available in its depths.

The Lambton Room's vault is equipped with special equipment to maintain constant humidity and temperature. These environmental conditions are essential to the longtime preservation of our historic materials. I imagine old newspapers heave a sigh of relief as they are unloaded from dusty attics and carefully stored in this special environment!

Inside Photograph Box

Photograph Boxes

We have over 770 boxes full of file folders containing the records and history of Lambton Room. Our photograph collection alone boasts 127 boxes of pictures. On the left is a shot of the photographic collection, and on the right is a sample of the interior of one of the gray boxes. That particular example comes from our Shipping section, and features Captain Peter McKay, who helmed the Noronic from 1931 to 1935.

Our vault also has an excellent collection of over sized pictures, including this shot of the Sarnia Rugby Football Club from 1903!

Sarnia Rugby Football Club, 1903

Van Tuyl and Fairbank, c. 1908.

One of our most imposing collections comes from one of Lambton County's most well-known businesses. The day books (or account ledgers) from Van Tuyl and Fairbank's successful hardware store are hefty volumes that diligently track the business's transactions. This important slice of Petrolia history provides insight into the hardware industry and the manner business was conducted over one hundred years ago.

Jones Diary, 1860.

Our vault preserves not only the records of big businesses, but also the everyday thoughts of ordinary people. We have a variety of diaries, journals and letters, some written by notable citizens and some penned by Average Joe. To the left is an image of two of the Jones diaries, one of our most significant journal collections (over two dozen volumes). Featured here are entries from October 27 and 28 1860, which included details about going to the market, seeing a friend off at the ferry, and suffering from indulging in too much gin and water.

Map Cabinet

Another important section of the vault is our map cabinet. It is organized by region and date and contains maps from diverse time frames spanning across the entire county. Some maps are merely sketches produced by intrepid citizens; others are detailed fire insurance plans that display main thoroughfares and side streets in impressive detail; still others are old publications from the Ministry of Transportation. Featured here is our Point Edward drawer, and the small map at the top of the pile is entitled "Proposed Development of Railway Land" (revised October 1958).

Enniskillen Book A, Land Abstract

Another significant resource housed safely in the vault is land records for the county. Land records beginning as early as 1850 and extending as late as 1950 can be found in our vault. These land records are listed in unwieldy abstract books (see left) that track all transactions performed on a given lot and concession. The abstract pictured here is open to Lot 13, Concession 10 in Enniskillen, and lists a transfer from the Crown to Archibald Grant on August 10, 1835 as the first transaction on that piece of land. Sitting on top of the abstract book are a Deed of Land and Assignment of Mortgage.

Brigden Tweedsmuir, "School Days"

Brigden Tweedsmuir History Book

There is also a growing collection of Tweedsmuir Books, accompanied by other material donated by Lambton County Women's Institutes. The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) had an interest in compiling and preserving local histories, and the Tweedsmuir Books became one of the primary vessels for doing so. Lady Susan Tweedsmuir, wife of the Governor General of Canada, was president of the FWIO from 1936 to 1940, and encouraged fellow members to expend more effort in recording and preserving local history. After 1940, the histories gathered and produced by Women's Institutes were dubbed the Tweedsmuir History Books. The Lambton Room is fortunate to have some of the Tweedsmuir Books from Women's Institutes around Lambton County. They are an invaluable snapshot into local histories.

The Lambton Room is fortunate to have received so many wonderful donations over the years. These donations are the lifeblood of our collection, give us the opportunity to care for and preserve Lambton County's history.

Lambton's Favourite Irish Preacher: Uncle Joe Little

Photograph from Lambton Room collection.

I had the opportunity to learn about one of Lambton County's most interesting and beloved preachers this week. Joseph Russell Little, popularly known as "Uncle Joe Little," roamed and preached in Warwick Township and beyond from 1833 to 1880. His eccentricities have become legendary in Lambton County, and time has mingled together truth and myth to create a fascinating portrait of a lovable preacher.

Little's adventures began April 10, 1833, when he left his native Ireland at the age of 21 to manage the estate of Arthur J. Kingstone, a wealthy man from Mosstown, Ireland. Little managed Kingstone's estate for eleven years, until he was removed from his position because the estate was losing money (some say because Little's kind heart encouraged him to give away food and clothing to the poor; see p. 68, The Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time by the Warwick Township History Committee). In one of the worst career matches ever recorded, Little accepted the position of tax collector for Warwick Township. Again, Little's soft heart was ill-suited for his job demands; Little used his salary to pay the taxes of the poor and eventually lost his farm for back taxes and debt. Annie Ross's piece, Uncle Joe Little, written for the Warwick Women's Institute in September 1954, claimed, "His kindness of heart would not let him collect the taxes from the poor... he was often imposed upon."

Little's loss became Lambton County's gain, as this financial blow left the preacher with little choice but to roam the countryside spreading the gospel. He traveled with his faithful steed Toby (the name given to his horse - or, as some historians maintain, the series of horses he rode around the county). A London Free Press article from April 22, 1939 ("'Bishop of Warwick' Claimed His Horse Knew the Sinners") notes, "[Little] maintained that Toby would stop for every sinner in Lambton County. Toby stopped every time he met anyone. This was widely known and became a cheerful joke with Uncle Joe. 'Ah, another sinner, eh Toby,' he would explain as the horse stopped."

Photograph from Lambton Room collection.

Little's wandering sermons and visits were fondly remembered by the Lambton families he touched during his travels. In her article "Monument Recalls Circuit Rider," Margaret Blais recalled the following story from her great-aunt Susan Howland: "Aunt Susan remembers when she was a little girl that he would often visit their home. Long before he reached their house they could hear his great Irish voice rollicking hymns. He would twirl his hat in the air and then greet them with a good Irish greeting. 'The top of the morning to you!'"

One of the most significant resources we have for learning about the life of Little is Rev. Leonard Bartlett's "Uncle Joe Little:" Life and Memoirs of Joseph Russell Little, published in 1903. Bartlett tells Little's life story with the help of vignettes illustrating how Little interacted with his fellow man. Bartlett relates the following meeting on page 155: "A great temperance meeting was being held in the Methodist church at Sarnia. Early in the meeting the chairman called for Rev. Mr. Little... [Little said,] 'Friends, I am just a fish out of water. Why? Well, up here among all these black coats I feel out of place. My place is away out there among the backwoods of Warwick.' And then he went on and gave them a rousing temperance speech, such a speech as only he could give."

Little was disinclined to write about his wanderings; his friend Mrs. W.H. Shaw asserted, "He was not a man that ever put on paper a mite of either speech or sermon, and when away he was a very poor correspondent." So, having never met the famed preacher and without written testimony from Little himself, Bartlett recreates  words and countenance from stories and memories that reverberated around Lambton County at the turn of the twentieth century. Sometimes there is a tendency to exaggerate characters like Uncle Joe Little, who become larger than life as the years go by, and Bartlett's recreations of Little's life should always be taken with a grain of salt.

What we do know for certain is that Little traveled to Anticosti Island to preach in 1879, and passed away January 6, 1880 from a longtime illness. When the people of Warwick got the news of his death, they instituted a Joseph Little Memorial Fund and raised enough money to purchase a coffin and ship the preacher's body to Montreal by boat and on to Warwick by rail. He was interned in the Warwick Methodist Cemetery (present United Church Cemetery) in November, 1880. His funeral procession stretched seven miles from Watford to Warwick, and over six thousand people came to show their respects. While we may not be able to verify every folk tale told about Uncle Joe's exploits, we can testify to the love and devotion he earned from the people of Lambton County as evident by his grand burial and the way his story has been fondly remembered and retold years later.

Where Did Our Collection Come From?

The Lambton Room had an interesting beginning, and here I will provide you with a brief glimpse into the genesis of our collection.

The idea to begin a "history room" for the county began in 1974, when Mrs. Marion Ellwood (a librarian in Mandaumin ) committed her Tuesday and Thursday mornings to the organization of a "old pictures of buildings, streets and historic events" in a small room in Wyoming. The collection would receive a huge boon in 1975 with the purchase of the George Smith Collection.

The George Smith Collection contained original material significant to the history of the county. When it was purchased in the mid-1970s, county librarian Ron Baker was confronted with a staggeringly large and historically deep collection of material. It contained original correspondence, maps, photographs, government documents, and biographies of significant Lambton County figures.

Paper clipping from the Sarnia Gazette, August 6, 1975.

A gem nestled in the George Smith Collection was over 50,000 negatives from the Observer snapped between 1949 and 1970. Legend has it the Observer threw out the negative collection due to a space shortage, and George Smith bravely fished them out of a dumpster to preserve them for future generations. The Observer negatives have been indexed and are in the process of being cleaned and scanned, so they will be properly preserved and readily available online through the Lambton County Museums Catalogue.

Librarian Ron Baker devised a cataloging system to organize the records and increase accessibility. His index organizes records by category, and remains in use to this day, although some additions have been made to accommodate new topics.

In January 1976, the Ted Phelps Collection was also purchased. It contained 36 boxes of documents, clippings and photographs, and combined with the weight of the George Smith Collection, formed a formidable and impressive record of Lambton County's history. The foundation provided by those two collections has been fleshed out by acquisitions and generous donations over the last three decades.

The Lambton Room has acquired more space and more donations over the years but stays true its original vision of acquiring, organizing, and preserving the history of Lambton County.

Lambton County's Infamous Abduction: The John S. Labatt Kidnapping

Sarnia Observer, August 15, 1934.

John S. Labatt has the unfortunate privilege of going down in history as Canada's first wealthy businessman to be held for ransom. His misadventure exploded into newspapers in August of 1934 after Labatt was snatched off the highway near his summer home on Lake Huron. Here, you will find a description of the kidnapping and trials that followed the event, as well as an exploration of the material related to the kidnapping that can be accessed at the Lambton Room.

In the second week of August 1934, Labatt had been visiting his historic summer home "Faithorne," then owned by Sarnia realtor and broker H.F. Holland. The handsome property was nicknamed "The Lake Shore Gentry" and originally owned by Colonel Faithorne, commandant of the Essex, Kent and Lambton forces during the Fenian Raids. Labatt was heading from his Lambton County summer home to a meeting in London the morning of August 14th. He drove through Camlachie and decided to take a shortcut to Warwick, reportedly because he was running late for his meeting in London. He would never reach that destination.

After spotting a fast-traveling, suspicious vehicle, Labatt was snatched off Egremont Road by four men. They drove Labatt to a cottage hideout in the Muskoka district, where he was reportedly fastened to a bed with a dog chain while the kidnappers sent a ransom note to Labatt's brother Hugh. One of the kidnappers phoned Hugh and told him to go to London's Victoria Hospital, where Hugh found his brother's car with a ransom note pinned to the upholstery. They demanded $150,000.00 for the safe return of the beer tycoon.

Sarnia Observer, August 15, 1934.

Labatt was kept chained up in the kidnapper's cottage for three days. On August 17th, newspapers reported that Labatt "was turned loose from the kidnapper's car in [the early morning] in Northwest Toronto... about three and a half miles from the hotel where he turned up to join his brother Hugh." The episode deeply shook Labatt, who became reclusive and withdrawn after the incident.

Sarnia Observer, August 17, 1934.

 

 

The story does not end with the release of Labatt, and a flurry of media activity surrounded the subsequent criminal trials. In fact, the case culminated in Canada's first incident of mistaken identity. Three men were arrested and charged for the kidnapping (a fourth, the getaway car driver, was never found). One of the arrested men was David Meisner, a small-time gambler from Kentucky who was identified by Labatt from a series of mug shots. At Meisner's trial, Labatt looked him in the eye and asserted, "That's the man, there in the box. He left a picture in my mind I shall never forget." The stirring testimony landed Meisner in jail in spite of his excellent lawyer and alibi. The case was not sorted out until 1936, when "Piccolo Pete" Murray was pinned as Labatt's kidnapper and Meisner was re-tried with a verdict of not guilty. Meisner later sued and settled for $5,500.00 (around $95,000.00 today).

Testimony of Kenneth Richardson, Kerwood.

The Lambton Room has an interesting collection of material relating to Labatt's kidnapping and the trials that followed. There is a series of newspaper clippings from the mid-1930s that lead the reader through the tense days while Labatt was in captivity as well as the media circus that descended upon the criminal trials. John S. Labatt's sworn testimony from the trials can be found in its entirety. Notes from lawyers on both sides of the cases, as well as telegrams and letters from the RCMP and OPP relating to the case, are also available. We have photocopies of warrants from the investigation. A copy of the ransom note can be read, both the note written by kidnapper "Three-Fingered Abe" and the plea from John S. Labatt himself  (the original is part of the University of Western Ontario collection). These primary sources provide vivid and up-close snippets of thekidnapping and subsequen trials. For anyone interested in reading more, Susan Goldenberg's 2004 publication, "Snatched! The Peculiar Kidnapping of Beer Tycoon John Labatt" is available at the Sarnia and Corunna library branches and explores the affair in detail.

So the next time you sip a Labatt Blue or head down Egremont Road, take a minute to recall the extraordinary kidnapping of John S. Labatt and its intimate connection to Lambton County.

Sarnia Observer, August 16, 1934. Lambton County residents involved in kidnapping case.