Body: Heritage Advisory Committee Type: Agenda Meeting: Committee Date: February 6, 2025 Collection: Council Agendas Municipality: South Frontenac
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Document Text
Township of South Frontenac Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda
TIME: DATE: PLACE:
3:00 PM, Thursday, February 6, 2025 Virtual Via Zoom.
Call to Order
a)
Resolution
That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting of February 6, 2025 be called to order at ___ p.m. 2.
Approval of the Agenda
a)
Resolution
That the agenda be approved, as presented. 3.
Confirmation of Minutes
a)
Resolution
3 - 14
That the minutes of the November 14, 2025 Heritage Advisory Committee meeting be approved. 4.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest
Delegations
Briefings
Business
a)
Inventory Project - Progress Update
b)
Verona Walking Tour - proposed draft
c)
Heritage Event Planning
d)
De-designation Process Discussion
Motions
Notices of Motion
Correspondence
Questions of Clarity (from the public on outcome of agenda items)
Date of Next Meeting
a)
The date of the next Heritage Advisory Committee meeting: March 27, 2025
Adjournment
15 - 35
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a)
Resolution
That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting of February 6, 2025 be adjourned at ___ p.m.
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Minutes of Heritage Advisory Committee November, 14, 2024
TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH FRONTENAC Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Meeting # Time: 1:00 PM Location: 4490 Battersea Road Present: Michael Gemmell, Wilma Kenny, John McDougall, Michael Payne, Councillor Scott Trueman Staff: Tom Fehr - Planner, James Thompson - Clerk, Heather Woodland - Deputy Clerk
1
Call to Order
2
Approval of the Agenda
a)
Resolution Resolution No. 02 Moved by John McDougall Seconded by Wilma Kenny That the agenda be approved, as presented. Carried
3
Confirmation of Minutes
a)
Resolution Resolution No. 03 Moved by Councillor Trueman Seconded by John McDougall That the minutes of the July 25, 2024 Heritage Advisory Committee meeting be approved. Carried
4
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest
a)
There were none.
5
Delegations
a)
6 a)
There were none. Briefings There were none.
7
Business
a)
Subsequent Discussion Regarding Built Heritage Program. James Thompson provided information regarding a potential budget for the
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Minutes of Heritage Advisory Committee November, 14, 2024 Committee to pursue work on the built heritage program. The Committee discussed the submission of research regarding the heritage property plaque program provided by Michael Payne and circulated to Committee members on November 13, 2024. A copy of the submission is attached to the minutes. There was a discussion regarding the plaque program and its merits. John McDougall suggested the program would contribute to increasing the heritage profile in the Township. Michael Payne noted that the program would need to be voluntary with clear evaluation criteria, and that the designated sites should be the first properties to receive the option for plaques. Wilma Kenny suggested that the program begin with public buildings such as churches. Upon further discussion, it was determined that tit would be helpful to the Committee to receive an estimate of cost and options for the plaques, and Heather Woodland committed to researching City of Kingston’s information and would bring it to a subsequent meeting. James Thompson suggested that the best approach would be to increase the profile of heritage in the community as a starting point, and that an annual event with heritage expert speakers could be beneficial to achieve this. He confirmed that the Committee would have the Township’s support to organize and advertise the event. He added that the plaque program could then be brought forward at a later date. The Committee had a subsequent discussion regarding the proposed event and shared ideas for speakers and potential themes for discussion, and it was determined that they would bring a list back to the next meeting for consideration. John McDougall commented that the Committee needed to involve Council in these discussions and that the direction for these programs needs to be clear. He added that there needs to be more members of the Committee and suggested further Committee member recruitment efforts. Councillor Trueman agreed with the need for clear and concise information for Council’s consideration. He raised concerns of the perception of forced designations, and the Committee agreed that this was not the intended approach. As a result of the inquiry regarding designations, the Committee discussed the designation requirements in the Ontario Heritage Act and the differences between listed and designated properties, including different municipalities' approaches to designations. Michael Payne added that walking/driving tours was another objective of the Committee, and it was decided that the Committee would review the content of the existing tours and would forward them to staff. There were ideas shared for how the tours could be promoted on the Township’s channels and potential community partners and events. b)
Update regarding inventory project. Michael Payne inquired about the process for sending information to staff regarding the inventory project. The Committee and staff suggested different
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Minutes of Heritage Advisory Committee November, 14, 2024 mechanisms and options for sending information to staff. Tom Fehr suggested that a completed form for each property would be ideal. It decided that it would be more efficient to have a single point of contact to compile the information from other Committee members and submit to staff. Michael Payne volunteered to be the point of contact in this regard. Staff will determine a process for submitting information and will send it to Michael Payne. In response to a concern raised about the frequency of meetings and the length of time between the November meeting and the proposed March, 2025 meeting, it was decided that there will be a meeting scheduled sometime in late January or early February, and that Heather Woodland would reach out to the members closer to the date. Resolution No. 04 Moved by John McDougall Seconded by Michael Gemmill THAT the quarterly meetings of the Heritage Advisory Committee be moved to 3:00 pm. Carried 8 a)
9 a)
10
Motions There were none. Notices of Motion There were none. Correspondence
a) 11 a)
Questions of Clarity (from the public on outcome of agenda items) There were none.
12
Date of Next Meeting
a)
To be determined.
13
Adjournment
a)
Resolution Resolution No. 05 Moved by John McDougall Seconded by Michael Gemmill That the Council meeting of the Heritage Advisory Committee be adjourned at 2:32 p.m. Carried
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Some thoughts on a Heritage Plaque/Marker Program for South Frontenac Township Hello James and Tom: I know Tom was going to work on looking into heritage plaque and marker programs for our next Advisory Committee meeting, but a request was also made that John and some of the other public members of the committee look into what some of our neighbouring townships have done as potential models for us to follow. John did this, and some of the rest of us also looked at what other local municipalities are doing in this area. We have had some preliminary conversations about what aspects of these programs impressed us and what might work in South Frontenac Township moving forward. Based on these conversations, here are some thoughts from Wilma, Michael, Tom and I that Township staff might want to consider in the report that is being prepared. The Ontario townships and some municipalities across Canada that we explored as possible models for a South Frontenac program included Loyalist Township, Leeds & Thousand Islands, Town of Ganonoque, Prince Edward County, Lennox & Addington (actually a county), Russell Township, and Puslinch Township. Links to the websites of these programs are included below, if interested. Links: https://www.loyalist.ca/en/explore-and-play/history-and-heritage.aspx https://www.leeds1000islands.ca/en/playing/heritage-and-culture.aspx https://www.gananoque.ca/town-hall/community-development/our-heritage https://www.thecounty.ca/residents/services/planning/heritage-conservation/ https://lennox-addington.on.ca/about/about-the-county-of-lennox-and-addington/ https://www.russell.ca/en/recreation-and-culture/historical-plaque-program.aspx https://puslinch.ca/culture-recreation/heritage/ and https://engagepuslinch.ca/puslinch-heritage
Summary: There seem to a wide variety of approaches that have been taken across Ontario to municipal heritage plaque and marker programs. These reflect the staff and financial resources of the different municipal governments. In general, the plaque programs undertaken by larger cities are more elaborate and require greater management than would be feasible in South Frontenac. For that reason, we have discounted the programs in place in Ottawa, Toronto, London, Guelph, or outside Ontario: Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg. Similarly federal and provincial programs were not viewed as appropriate models, although all of these programs have interesting features and approaches that could be worth a quick review by Township staff.
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Among the Ontario Townships which we surveyed a major consideration was the number of already existing municipally designated properties and sites. Several Townships have actively pursued designation of heritage properties in the past, and this in turn has lowered resistance to designation. Often these programs are now popular with owners of heritage properties and owners who are prepared to seek designation in the future. In these Townships heritage marker programs tend to focus almost exclusively on properties that are already designated, and new designations are added to the program as they occur. Other townships have far fewer designated properties. Some have no plaque programs or rely on other heritage organizations to take on this responsibility. Several have plaque programs such as Russell but take care to indicate that the erection of a plaque does not mean the site is designated as a municipal historic resource and that therefore the plaque program has no heritage conservation implications. The plaques are purely commemorative and are intended to encourage heritage awareness. If placed on a designated property, it is the designation bylaw that confers protection of the structure or site and not the plaque. This careful decoupling of heritage awareness from heritage conservation might be an approach South Frontenac would wish to follow. Summary of specific program features: Loyalist Township has a very active and sophisticated program that includes not just buildings but a heritage conservation district and designation of a landscape feature in the form of 9 stone fences of historical interest and value. The Township has about 30 municipally designated buildings as well and roughly the same number of sites which have been identified as having historical significance, but which are not already designated. All designated properties are required to have a historic plaque. Some applicants may already have plaques in place, suggesting that the Township’s plaque program is not limited only to designated properties. Leeds and Thousand Islands Township has 17 designated sites and 81 listed properties on its register. There are also a further 8 sites in the Township with provincial, national or international designations. Many of these do have plaques but the Township appears to have no formal plaque program of its own. The Town of Gananoque has 20 designated sites and a further 8 sites are listed on its register. Several of these sites have historical plaques, but the Town has no formal plaque program. Most of the plaques have been erected by other jurisdictions (federal or provincial) or by local heritage organizations such as museums. Prince Edward County has a similarly sophisticated heritage conservation and commemoration program as Loyalist Township. It has two heritage conservation districts and 96 municipally designated sites. All designated sites receive a plaque.
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Russell Township seems to be similar to South Frontenac in that it has few designated sites and does not seem to make much use of a Heritage Register. It does, however, have an interesting plaque program that it makes sure is carefully distanced from designation. It has a total of 16 plaques in place that are also enhanced by an interactive Google map based page on the Township website. The plaques are also enhanced by additional information on that website. The Russell plaques, however, are probably not a good model for South Frontenac. They are rather large and as the Township is bilingual, the text appears in both English and French. Some plaques commemorate events or businesses and are not directly related to specific buildings still in place.
The Russell Township Disclaimer that ensures the plaque program is not assumed to also be a form of designation. Puslinch Township’s program has some interesting parallels with South Frontenac’s situation, although like Prince Edward and Loyalist Township’s it too has many identified sites of historical significance. It has 15 municipally designated sites and currently its register includes a further 97 sites. The Digital Archive feature attached to the interactive Google map on the Township website is an excellent feature.
Puslinch Township is careful to ensure that property owners consent to having their listed properties included on the interactive map and that the public is aware that these are private properties. Puslinch places plaques on all designated properties and, with owner consent, on listed and other significant structures and places. The program as detailed on the engagepuslinchca site has some interesting features. In 2000 as part of the Township’s millennium celebrations 100 small heritage marker plaques were commissioned. Local museums and community groups, along with property owners worked with the Township staff and Heritage Committee to allocate these markers. Priority was given to existing designated sites and to properties listed on the Register but which have no formal legal protection. Within a few years all of the original plaques were mounted on properties, and since then the Township, through its heritage committee, has been allocating additional 3 Page 8 6 of 35 12
plaques on an annual basis for properties nominated by Township residents and individual property owners. Program Considerations: Plaque size, design, and type – Most plaque or heritage marker programs have adopted one of three basic plaque types. Many choose a simple badge or disk that indicates the property has historical significance but without including any details of that significance. In most cases, this additional information is made available through interactive maps, websites, published walking and driving tours or some other means. One advantage of this approach is that these plaques can be made in advance and are not custom designs or require custom fabrication. Examples below:
Other programs include some basic identifying information such as date of construction, name of site, original owners or the like. These can use a standard design template but do require individual fabrication. One variation on this type of plaque is being used in Kingston where there is a slight design difference between plaques placed on designated sites – the plaque specifies this – and sites of historical significance which are not so protected. Examples below:
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Finally many programs produce plaques and markers with images of the property (often archival) and a relatively complete account of the historic significance of the property in question. These plaques emphasis the commemorative/heritage awareness side of historical recognition programs, and provide immediate information on this. They do not require visitors to access a website or publication for more information on the property. But they do require custom design and fabrication, and they cannot be created in advance. Examples below:
One of the first considerations then for any program would be the style of plaque to use. These plaques can be fabricated in a variety of designs and materials ranging from metal to porcelain enamel to less durable materials like wood, plastic, or fibreglass. This would be a design and procurement issue that Township staff would need to consider.
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Criteria for Recognition: Programs also need to establish criteria for what properties and sites should receive plaques. In the case of South Frontenac this would almost certainly include, by definition, any designated properties, but beyond that alternative criteria would need to be established and some process for nomination and evaluation would be required. The Puslinch approach of creating a fixed number of plaques and then distributing them as part of a celebration or to mark an anniversary (perhaps the bicentennial of the first work on the Rideau Canal in 2026 which opened South Frontenac to development) also offers a chance to encourage public involvement in the nomination process. Creation of Supporting Information Sources: Most programs that are based on simple markers with no interpretive text or images rely on interactive maps, websites, on-line or printed walking and driving tours or other similar approaches to make the public aware of why a building or site merited this recognition. This does require on-going program support from Township staff in Planning, Communications, and potentially other areas. Plaque costs: Without a decision on design or materials, any estimate of plaque costs would be premature. However, we did contact a few Townships with programs that South Frontenac might want to emulate. For example, Loyalist Township produces plaques for all of its designated sites. These plaques have a standard design but do include additional information relating to the site in question, including date of construction, name of property, and a brief summary of significant or original owners and builders.
Township staff have told us that the original program budgeted approximately $200 per plaque in 2018. This figure was found to be inadequate, and currently the Township estimates that the cost of individual plaques is about $475. The Puslinch approach with a generic marker that can be produced multiple times would reduce these fabrication costs. Potential Candidates for inclusion in the program: Any plaque program undertaken by South Frontenac Township could probably begin by considering the list of 89 potential sites generated by a previous Advisory Committee in 2022.
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This is that list: Street Name
Address
Name
District
Type
Ownership
Year Built
Amelia Street
4350
Sydenham Holiness Church
L
Church
1899
Amelia Street
4361
Wesleyan Methodist Church
L
Church
1900
Battersea Road
2965
Battersea Road
2989
Battersea Road
3145
Battersea Road
3627
Sunbury United Church
S
Church
Battersea Road
3760
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
S
Church
4448
Sandhill Cemetery Vault
S
Church
Battersea Road
Private
1990 1852
??
Battersea School S.S.6
School
1847
Bear Creek Road
??
Silvertop Cottage
1900
Bedford Mills
??
B
Trappers Cottage Church
Boyce Road
4064
P
Stone House
Boyce Road
4086
P
Stone House
Boyce Road
4106
P
Stone House
Desert Lake Free Methodist Church
L
Church
1846
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church
B
Church
1925
Harrowsmith St. Peter’s Anglican Church
P
Church
1925
Braken Road Canoe Lake Road
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church
2106 ??
Cedar Haven Lane
29
Church Street
3964
Colebrooke Road
1226
Colebrooke Road
4145
Corner of Church and Portland
Farmhouse
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
L
Church
Cross Street
4664
Bethel Penecostal Church
S
Church
1912
First lake Road
6313
The Blue Roof Farm
George Street
4432
Township Offices - Women’s Institute
German Road
4735
Petword Free Methodist Church
P
Church
1891
Green Bay Road
32
United Church of Burridge
B
Church
1891
Green Field Road
3852
Harrowsmith Road
3958
P
Church
1872
Harrowsmith Road
3981
Harrowsmith Presbyterian Methodist Church Brad’s House
P
House
Harrowsmith Road
4358
Old Church
Henderson Road
4115
Henderson Road
4241
Henderson Road
4247
Holleford Road
3849
P
Church
1880
Holleford Road
4428
Holleford Road
4789
Holleford Road
4797 School
1838
Keelerville??
??
1907
Holleford United Episcopal Methodist Church
Kellerville School
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Latimer Road
3877
Latimer Road
4382
Latimer Road
4617
Latimer Road
4642
Latimer Road
4647
Latimer Road
4681
Inverary United Church
Leveque Road
6034
The Bellrock School House
Main Street
6024
Bellrock Mill
Maria Street
3797
Blacksmiths Shop
McFadden Road
5238
Millburn Road
4556
Petworth Road
1273
Petworth Road
4060
Petworth Road
4275
Sigsworth House
Stone House
Petworth Road
5246
Petworth Mill
Mill
Perth Road
4101
Redmond Road
3255
Free Methodist Church
Church
Road 38
3964
Anglican Church
P
Road 38
4941
Abrams Home
P
Road 38
4979
St. Paul’s United Church
P
Church
1919
Road 38
5592
Hartington Methodist Church
P
Church
1873
Road 38
5595
South Frontenac Museum
P
Stone House
Road 38
6652
The Asselstine Hotel
Road 38
6689
Trinity United Church
P
Church
1910
Road 38
6724
The Doctors House
Road 38
6791
P
Church
1940
Road 38
6826
St. Martins in the Fields Anglican Church The Ice House (Asselstine Hardware)
Round Lake Road
3687
Rutledge Road
1423
Rutledge Road
2069
Rutledge Road
2168
Rutledge Road
2279
Rutledge Road
2869
Stage Coach Road
3338
Stage Coach Road
3542
Stage Coach Road
4295
Grace United Church
L
Church
1861
Sumac Road
3119
Sunbury Road
2754
St. John’s Anglican Church
S
Church
1863
Sunbury Road
3105
Sunbury Road
3127
Sunbury Road
3136
Sydenham Road
3977
St. Patricks Roman Catholic Church
L
Church
1858
Verona Street
6037
The Saw Mill
Washburn Road
2448
Washburn Road
2616
S
Church
1877
Wilmer United Church
L
Church
1912
Milburn School
S
School
1860
Quaker Meeting House
Church
Church
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Wellington Street
2219
Wilmer Road
4282
Winding Creek Lane
1014
Yarker Road
4094
Yarker Road
4208
Battersea United Church
S
Church
1858
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A RETROSPECTIVE ANECDOTAL HISTORY OF VERONA IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY
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A RETROSPECTIVE ANECDOTAL HISTORY OF VERONA IN THE MID-20TH CENTURY Verona, located in the central part of the former Portland township, was the commercial hub of the region in the 1950s. Surrounded by primarily farming communities, Verona was where people did their banking, went to church, and bought their groceries, dry goods, hardware and other necessities of life. They came to socialize, too, since not every home had a telephone, or even electricity in the more rural areas. Television was new, and only one or two homes had one. On Saturday nights, people would come from their farms to the village for their weekly supplies, and the stores would stay open until 11 p.m. The main street would be lined with cars, especially in the warm weather. After their shopping was done, people would walk up and down the sidewalk, visiting with people on their porches or in cars parked along the way. In those post-war, pre-television days, most mothers didn’t work outside the home. Children were taught manners and respect for their elders, and went to Sunday School. Meals were eaten at the table, and fast food was unheard of. During this period, Verona was often called Buzztown. Whether this was because of the busy-ness of the village, or the sounds from the sawmill, no one seems to know for sure! Fishing was a popular Verona pastime summer and winter, as the village is surrounded by lakes: Silver (or Hambly) Lake to the south, Rock (Verona) Lake to the east, Mud (VanLuven) Lake to the west and Long (Howes) Lake to the north. Swimming and boating were the main forms of recreation for children and adults alike in the summer, as was skating in the winter, weather permitting. Baseball and softball were popular for men and boys. Most area villages had teams, but Verona’s was the team to beat! In the first half of the century, south of Sand Road to Bellrock Road, were the houses owned by the Hoffords, Bauders and Davys. A few of these remain. The K&P Trailhead parking lot is now located at the corner where Bruce Brown, his wife Eileen and their two daughters, Paula and Diane, used to live on the second floor of their service station. Unfortunately, leakage from the station’s in-ground gas tanks meant that the building had to be torn down, the gas tanks removed and the soil remediated. #6522 On higher ground on the east side of the street was the home of Bert and Nettie Davy, currently the home of Joyce and Doug Casement. Their farm encompassed the area from Hardwood Creek to the shores of Rock Lake. (The Medical Centre and the house north of it were built later.) Maple Drive, now a desirable residential area, was developed on the Davy property. 3
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#6608 The Davys’ son, Gerald, and his wife Nadine built their home on the corner of the main street and Maple Drive in 1955. In 1950, as it was being reconstructed, the portion of Road 38 across from Muddy Waters restaurant collapsed. This tied up the road for several weeks: Traffic had to be rerouted to Bellrock Road, across Cross Road to Sand Road, and back up to the main street. It was a major problem for trucks and buses, especially. Most sites on the west side of the road were prone to flooding, so buildings had to be on higher ground to be sustainable. In the early 1900s, near where Muddy Waters restaurant is today, Thaddaeus Reynolds, his wife and nine children lived in a two-storey frame house with a dug basement. Mr. Reynolds owned and operated a grist mill on Hardwood Creek at Bellrock Road. Descendants remember being told that, in the winter, the swamp water would rise in the cellar and freeze. That’s where the younger children learned to skate! #6775 This building was the home of the Bryants. Mr. Bryant was a candymaker, and started the Bell Candy business in a frame building just below the Kerr sawmill off Verona St. The village children often smelled the sweet scent of melting sugar coming from the coal-fired chimney. We would hang around the door, and were often rewarded with a treat. Once in a while, we would be invited inside to watch his skill with the molten sugar! His candy canes and other candies were the mainstay fillers of Christmas stockings for many years. Humbugs and peanut butter crunch are still year-round favourites. His son Jerry learned the trade from his father, and is still making candy in the area today. #6611 Home of Clarence and Bernice Bauder. Their elder son, Roger, became part-owner of Verona Motors. He was also an avid baseball/softball player and fan who helped to develop the Verona teams that won many local championships during the 50s and 60s. At the southwest corner of Road 38 and Sand Road was the Convery house and gas station. The gas station was later moved west on Sand Road. #6638 Now a derelict house, this was the home of Ed Moore and his family. #4358 Sand Road: The Carpet Store sits on the site of the former Walroth house, initially a boarding house/hotel known as the Geraldo Hotel. It is generally accepted that the name “Verona” came about as a result of the Italian heritage of the owners of the hotel. Later, the Walroths bought it and operated it as a boarding house. The family lived there as well, and Mr. Walroth had a butcher shop. When Mr. Walroth died, the butcher shop was closed, and that part of the building was never used again. #6642 Albert and Annabel Carslake resided here with their two daughters, Joyce and Joan. 4
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#6648 This home was owned by Samuel and Emily Revell, parents of Wesley, who founded Revell Ford. #6652 The Asselstine Hotel Built in 1899/90 by Samuel Asselstine, the hotel accommodated travelling salesmen and American tourists until the late 50s, when it was renovated into apartments. Harry Asselstine (Sam’s son) and his wife Gladys were the proprietors. Harry was a notary public, clerk of the 4th division court, and a Justice of the Peace. Gladys was an excellent cook and did the cooking, baking, laundry and cleaning for the hotel with some hired help. She was also a registered nurse, often rendering first aid and help to local families in emergencies. She and Harry had four children: William, Thomas, Edward and Mary Agnes. Harry looked after the management of the hotel. He had two Jersey cows that he milked morning and night to provide milk and cream for the hotel and his family. The American tourists who came to fish got their fishing licences from Mr. Asselstine and their bait from Fred Trousdale, who lived at #6657. #6649 and #6653 Across the street, these houses have identical roof lines and banks of front windows. Prior to 1940, they were part of one building owned by Joe McMullen. He had a general store and living quarters in the south end, and a hardware store in the north end was run by Steven Merrill. The building was built by Everton Card, who was commissioned to take out the centre section when the McMullens sold, and the building became two separate houses. #6655 Gerald and Nadine Davy lived here prior to building their home on the corner of Maple Drive and Road 38. #6657 Al and Fred Trousdale were the blacksmiths, who also made buggies and sold them from #6659. Between #6655 and #6657, at the back of the houses, is a painted red frame building that was the blacksmith shop. #6656 This frame house was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Curl. Mr. Curl was the cemetery custodian. The adjacent barber shop reopened when Percy Reynolds took over after returning wounded from the Second World War. #6658 This stately red brick home was built in the early part of the century for a doctor Carter who died before he could move in. Over the years, it had several owners and tenants, including Vida and Leslie Clark. They had the first telephone exchange in the village in the late 30s or early 40s, which was operated by Vida. Leslie sold life insurance. Cecil Goodberry bought the house in the late 40s and operated his well-drilling business from there. After his death, it became the home of Verdun and Dorothy Walker and their children, Anne and Chris. After Dorothy’s father died, her mother moved into a renovated space in the house that allowed her a degree of privacy.
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#6659 This building was originally known as the Cooper House, and is where buggies, wagons, cutters and sleighs were sold. It became the Legion Hall in 1946, and in later years a second-hand shop, operated by the Larmons, called “Trash and Treasures.” The second floor had living quarters for many years. One tenant was Bobby Gooderham, who came to Canada as a result of the British Home Children program that ran from the 1860s to the 1940s. Orphaned, unwanted or abandoned boys and girls were sent to farms in Canada and other Commonwealth countries as helping hands in exchange for room and board. They were called home boys and girls. #6663 This home was built and owned by Harold Kerr, son of Orville Kerr, who owned and operated the sawmill off Verona Street. Harold was a renowned builder whose last project was the new post office erected in 1967. Now a convenience store, the original building was a general store owned by the Craigs. BA gas pumps were at the front. In the 30s, the building was bought by Edna and Ray Walker, and Edna’s brother Edgar Genge. Walker and Genge’s store was a thriving business through the years that sold fresh local meats and vegetables, as well as bulk items such as flour, sugar and cookies by the pound from bins. Canned goods and dried fruits and vegetables were available, as were “dry goods”: from shoes and boots to fabric by the yard, and everything in between. Farm supplies – burlap sacks of seed, buckwheat, oats, etc. – were in a building at the back. In order to accommodate local farmers, stores were open until 11 p.m. on Saturday nights (sometimes until midnight). Walker and Genge’s was enlarged in the late 50s and modernized to adapt to the increased availability of fresh and frozen foods. #4340 Walker Street: This large two-storey frame house was the home of Edna and Ray Walker, their sons Verdun and Blake, and Edna’s brother, Edgar Genge, who lived there until he married later in life. #6675 A tidy white bungalow at this corner was the home of Free Methodist minister W. H. Gregory, his wife, and daughter Sarah, also an ordained minister. Rev. Gregory lived until he was 101. After his death, the house was taken down to make a parking lot. On the south side of the Local Family Farms building (formerly Verona Motors) stood a white frame house with two apartments: on the north side lived Ed and Wanda Asselstine, and on the south side Mrs. Damon Pero. The house was demolished in 1978 to make room for a Verona Motors expansion.
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#6670 This building was the site of several auto-related businesses over the years. A car dealership owned by Harry Wilkins operated here in the 40s where he sold DeSotos and Dodge cars and trucks. In the 50s, it became Verona Motors, owned by J.R. Simonett. In 1952, it was sold to Ben Scragg and Ted Lansdell. Later, owners Roger Bauder and Ted Lansdell dealt in General Motors vehicles. From this corner to the corner of Road 38 and Water Street was the central area of the village. On the lot adjacent to Verona Motors stood a large frame house: the south side of the building was the Bright Spot Restaurant, established by Jack and Ruby Bradford, and the north side was the residence. The building was destroyed by fire in 1959. The adjacent house, demolished due to a Verona Motors expansion, was owned by Mrs. Wes Martin. #6680 The site of McKnight’s Funeral Home until the early 50s, when it became a family dwelling. #6679 Across the street was the Lucy Lappen house, home of Louis and Helen Cronk and their sons, Bob and Peter. #6681 The home of Hazel and Tom Tallen had an attractive porch across the front, and shade trees in the yard. Tom was a master carpenter and builder, and Hazel worked for several years as a cook at Brown’s Restaurant. #6682 This long, narrow building was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Bertrim during the 50s. #6687 This house, which was built by George Dixon, is thought to be the oldest frame house in the village. It escaped the fire of the 1910s or 20s that burned most of the other frame buildings in the village. It is said that all the water that was poured on the old United Church to save it, also saved this house, next door. After the first church was destroyed by fire, it was torn down and replaced by the brick building there today. In the early 50s, the house was the home of the VanDyke family, who had emigrated from The Netherlands. Later, it was the home of Carman Harper and his family.
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#6684 Now an apartment building, it was first a family home for George and Maggie Brown and their children, Alfreda and Bruce. The south side of the building was Mr. Brown’s service garage. Brown’s Lunch needs a chapter of its own. It was the social centre of the area for many years. Benson and (Al)Freda Lappen and their family, JoAnn, Donna Gail, Mary Lou and Ben, lived here, as did Freda’s parents, George and Maggie Brown. Ben and Freda opened two rooms at the front, with large windows that had outdoor awnings. Inside, there were two dining tables and two counters, with a jukebox at one end and a pinball machine at the other. Business was steady yearround, but summers were exceptionally busy. Freda’s mother was a wonderful baker, and there were always pies (including the best-seller, butterscotch), cakes and often doughnuts for sale. She also made her own ice cream until it could be bought in large containers. They had 61 different kinds of sundaes (I remember the Dusty Miller: two scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, sprinkled with powdered malt), as well as milkshakes, sodas and ice cream cones. Regular fare was primarily hamburgers (made with loose hamburger that was cooked in big cast iron pans), and homemade French fries made from potatoes peeled and sliced in the kitchen. No frozen fries existed in those days. Hot beef or chicken sandwiches, fish and chips, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and breakfast dishes comprised the menu, with daily specials. No one had heard of pizza or pasta dishes! This was also the time before freezers or dishwashers, so the restaurant was labour-intensive. Locals kept the restaurant busy, especially on Saturday nights. When the weekly shopping was done, families would stop in for a Coke, a milkshake or sundae, and maybe a hotdog or a burger and fries if the budget allowed. It was also the gathering spot for local teenagers: After getting off the bus from Sydenham High School, teens would stop for a Coke and French fries (with or without gravy) that they often shared. During tourist season (Victoria Day to Labour Day), the place would be busy with visitors. American fishermen and their families, as well as people from all around the area, would congregate around Brown’s, waiting for a table or a spot at the counter for a milkshake or a sundae. Often, people from outside the village would find a place to park on the main street, sit in their cars and visit with people passing by. Local girls were hired as waitresses, and loved the Americans because they left tips, which were unusual in Verona in those days. Sundays were always busy in the afternoons, because Verona was a destination for a Sunday drive from Kingston and the area.
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Freda would often make exceptions to the normal closing time, such as during the Jamboree. After the rides and other activities wound up by 11 p.m, the workers would come to Brown’s looking for their main meal of the day, and Freda and her help would accommodate them. One waitress was cleaning up on a Saturday night after the doors had been locked, and someone came knocking. It was a trio of musicians who had just finished playing for a local dance. Freda let them in, and instead of charging them for their meals, she asked them to play the piano in the family living room for their pay! Ben had the driver’s licensing business, and was also the tester for new drivers. On their 16th birthday, the kids from the area would all be waiting outside his office door. Ben’s main business was the pool room at the south end, which was the favourite gathering place for the men of the village: No drinking, no gambling and no swearing were the rules. Most village women never saw the inside of the place, because there were no women allowed! #6689 The United Church is the only one of the four churches in Verona to have a church bell. It is still rung on Sunday mornings. Built in 1910, it was originally a Methodist church. After the original frame church burned, it was rebuilt by George Lakins. The brick was laid by Jim Goodberry. #6694 Truman Ball had a jewellery and watch shop here until the mid-40s, when it was converted into the third grocery store in the village, run by Silas and Doris Reynolds. Later, owners Stan and Amelia Buck took over the store. Mr. Buck was also the rural mail delivery man. #6697 K&G Reynolds Motors. Keith and his brother George owned and operated a GM dealership and sold Shell gasoline in addition to doing repair and maintenance work. Later, Keith sold Dodge and Plymouth automobiles. The garage was also a gathering spot for local men to visit and discuss the news of the day. It had the first Coca Cola dispensing machine, which cost a nickel for a glass bottle of ice-cold Coke! After the garage closed, it was used as an office building for Sears catalogue sales, a real estate office, and Service Ontario.
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#6064 Bank Street: This lovingly maintained brick home was the residence of the CPR manager for the area. The Richardson family lived here in the 50s. After the railway shut down, Leslie Goodberry and his family resided here. Genge Street: The families of Art Bell, Bill Rudsdale, Bill Johnston, Floyd Harper, the McKeevers, and Ron and Peggy Orser all lived here in the 50s. A large frame building at the edge of the lake burned down during that time. #6699 Next to the garage, the first and only duplex built in the village was the home of Keith and Eileen Reynolds and their children, Jim, Tom and Sheri. It was built by George Lakins in the late 40s. The upper level housed Keith’s parents, Margaret and Ira Reynolds, until Ira’s death. Mrs. Reynolds stayed until she moved to a nursing home because she lost her vision. #6698 Opposite the garage was the post office, and the home of Lorne and Grace Genge. In addition to the post office, Lorne had an insurance business and was Verona’s unofficial mayor. As a result of a shingle mill accident when he was 16, he lost his right hand, and for the rest of his life wore a wooden hand. Despite his handicap, throughout his life he was a hunter and fisherman and a master carpenter. He built a dumbwaiter (a box on a pulley inside a cupboard) in the kitchen that was used to lower and raise preserves stored in the basement!
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Looking west from this central point in the village, the CPR railway station was visible just behind the Tallen house (#6681). Verona lost a heritage building when Bell Canada bought the property and tore the station down. A train carrying freight, cattle and passengers ran twice a day between Kingston and Pembroke. Known as the K&P, locals called the train the “Kick and Push.” The station had a telegraph office that was operated by station master William Rudsdale. The telegraph was used by the railway, of course, but villagers also used it to send or receive messages before telephones were in every home. For local delivery, these were sealed with sealing wax. Across the tracks were the original two-room schoolhouse and half a dozen homes. These included the homes of Percy Veley and his family; his parents, Oscar and Emma Veley (farmers whose land lay to the west); and the school principal, Norman Reynolds, and his family. Between the schoolhouse and Percy Veley’s home was a small side street leading to the top of a knoll where Orville Kerr lived beside his sawmill. A thriving local business, the sawmill employed several local men, and the mill was in steady operation. The sound of the saws carried through the village on calm days. Some of us children would occasionally go up to the mill and peer through the slats between the barn boards to watch the men at work. At least on one occasion, Mrs. Kerr called us up to her porch for freshly baked cookies. Below the sawmill was the frame building that was the first location of Bell Candy, operated by Mr. Bryant. When the old school closed, it was bought by the Verona Lions Club. The active membership undertook to bring a summer jamboree to the village. The Verona Lions Jamboree was a much-anticipated event, and operated for several years. The Jamboree, with its rides and games of chance, including bingo, was the social centre of the whole area for the August long weekend. Hundreds would come from miles around, and the grounds would be packed. The Ferris wheel, swings and merry-go-round had lineups, and cotton candy, hotdogs and hamburgers were the treats of choice. The music broadcast from the grounds could be heard throughout the village, and the festivities lasted late into the evening. Socially and economically, it was a wonderful boon for the village. Beyond the farmland were the Veley woods, which ended at Mud (now Vanluven) Lake. Village children played in the woods all year round, climbing trees, searching for gold and native relics, checking the “Indian well” and cave, and fishing for mudcats from the cliff with bamboo poles. In the winter, sledding and skiing were the main forms of recreation if the lakes were covered with too much snow for skating.
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In many ways, the children of the village had great freedom. Outside after breakfast, making our own entertainment, we were almost feral: We were free to roam through the village and woods, because everyone knew everyone, and any parents were all children’s parents. Boys and girls rarely got into any trouble, because they knew that someone would be watching! Of course, mealtimes were never missed. Back then, breakfast was still called breakfast, but lunch was dinner, and dinner was supper. Sitting around the radio in the evenings, we would listen to Jack Benny and Rochester, The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, Fibber McGee and Molly, and others. It was a wonderful place and time to grow up. Times changed forever with the coming of television. Returning to the main street: #6703 The home of Cory and Agnes Clark. The telephone exchange was located here for several years, until Bell took over in the 60s. Mrs. Clark was the primary operator and knew everyone’s number by memory. #6702 This was the location of Gene Martin’s barber shop before it was incorporated into the apartment building next door. #6704 Now converted into apartments, this building became the Pentecostal Church following successful street meetings on Saturday nights in the 50s. A new church was built at the north end of the village in 1955 to accommodate the growing congregation. Glynelda’s Dress Shop, a popular ladies’ wear store that drew customers from all over the area, was adjacent to the apartment building. As demand grew, Glynelda’s moved across the street, to where Nicole’s Gifts is now. #6706 Rufus Grant and his wife lived here. He had a debilitating stutter, but was good-humoured about it. One time, some strangers stopped to ask him how to get to a certain destination. After a couple of attempts to tell them, he waved them on, saying, “Just go on, you could be there before I can tell you!” #6714 In the 50s, the Bank of Montreal divided its time between a Verona branch and a Yarker branch. The bank opened at this location after moving from the south side of K&G Reynolds’s garage on Bank Street. Prior to its construction, a long narrow building, which had been the mica sorting station on the west side of the railway tracks across from the school, was moved to the main street. This was E.L. Amey’s sales and auction house. #6705 Victor and Georgie Merrill’s house. Vic owned and operated the hardware store next door.
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#6707 Merrill’s Hardware was a thriving business in the village. Now Nicole’s Gifts, it is an expansive and successful gift shop. Behind the building is a heritage frame building that originally housed a furniture-making business. It had been on the main street, but was moved to accommodate Revell’s expanding car business. Next to Nicole’s was a red brick home owned by Mr. and Mrs. George Curl. This house was also removed to make room for Revell Ford expansion. The Blue Ribbon Grill, which was beside the Doctor’s house, was an alternative to Brown’s Lunch. The menu was not as extensive, but it served good homemade fare under proprietors Ruby and Ray Brown (not related to the other Browns). Behind the grill was a hall used for occasional dances, Christmas concerts put on by local students, and Saturday night movies featuring Wild Bill Hickok, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and the like. The movies were on reels, and once a reel was finished, it was rushed to Parham and played there while the second reel was shown in Verona. Then the second one would be driven to Parham, too! The building is no longer there. #6715 Revell Ford. Wesley Revell was the founder of Revell Ford and was awarded the Ford dealership in 1936. Car sales took place at the grocery store next door. Revell Ford started as a small car and truck sales room, and a permanent building was built in 1945 with White Rose gas pumps at the front. Owned and operated by Wesley Revell, with the help of his sons Glen and Harry, it eventually became the pre-eminent business in the area. Now the third generation of Revells is operating the business. The success of the family business is apparent throughout the village, from the used car lot at the south end, to the Local Family Farms property body shop, to the new truck site next to the Doctor’s House, and a parking area across from the post office. As a side note, while Harry was still a teenager, he was scouted by the NHL! #6723 Revell’s Grocery and Sundries. REV-ells, as it was called then, was the other main grocery store. In addition to the usual assortment of groceries and dry goods, they also sold ice cream cones and Mello rolls: ice cream rolls that came in cardboard wrappers that were then removed and put into a cone. No tobacco products were sold in the store. The family lived above the store until their new house was built farther up the street.
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#6724 The Doctor’s House. This imposing concrete block house was the home and office of Dr. Goodfellow. The office was on the right-hand side, but his examination room was in a small den off the office area. There was a large fireplace in the room with a spittoon on the hearth. The doctor was a tobacco chewer, and he often missed the spittoon while examining a patient! There was persistent talk in the village that the house was haunted, and a member of the family who lived there after the doctor died confirmed that there were unexplained sounds and cold spots in the house. #6723 Verona Hardware. Formerly Revell’s store, Merril’s Hardware moved up the street under the ownership of Ken Harper who renovated and improved the building to accommodate a wider range of goods. There is still an apartment on the upper level. Water Street: This side street running down to the lake was also the way to Cemetery Road. At the lakeshore was the boat launching area for local fishermen. On the south side are two frame houses, side by side, one of which housed the Free Methodist pastor and his family. The other was for the United Church pastor and his family. Other residents at the time included the Galloway family (small bungalow built by Joseph Genge in the 20s), and on the north side, the Freeman and McMahon families, Mrs. Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Arch Leslie (at the corner of Cemetery Road), and Verdun and Dorothy Walker (in the Cape Cod-style home with the big willow trees along the lake).
MARY AGNES ASSELSTINE AND WANDA MCMAHON 14
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North from Water Street is Cemetery Road, which leads not only to the cemetery, but also to the local swimming area. In the 50s, the Verona Lions Club built a swimming place at the edge of the lake with a cement platform and two change houses for boys and girls. Swimming lessons were provided by the Lions Club as well, and the amenity was well used. As children, we were aware that we were walking a path beside graves to go for a swim, and were always respectful. Orange lilies and wild cucumbers lined the fence between the homes and the graveyard. Homes on Cemetery Road included those of Mr. and Mrs. Benny Green, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Ashley and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Sliter. Mrs. Sliter was an author who wrote poetry and prose, much of which was published, as well as a book about their time in Verona called “The Friendly Village.” A copy is available at the South Frontenac Museum) Returning to the main street: Before the Verona Hardware store was enlarged, there was a home on the north side where the Brady family lived. It was demolished. #6745 The home of Helen Smith and her brother, Jim Botting. Mr. Smith had died some time earlier. Across the street, where the parking lot is now, was the home of E.L. and Jenn Amey, who were the owners of the auction house. A lovely old white Victorian-style home with a wrap-around porch, it unfortunately burned down. #6751 The current post office. Prior to it being built in the 60s, this was an empty lot. #6753 The site of the home of Glen Moore, which burned in the 60s. The house that is there now was built to replace it. #6750 Now a private residence, this was the home and business of Dominic and Ethel Labbe and their daughter Evelyn, who came to the village in 1941. Dom was a cobbler and shoe- and boot-maker. The Labbes also operated a small convenience shop with cigarettes, chocolate bars and such. #6752 Lorne and Isabel Gonu lived here with their son Douglas. Mr. Gonu drove school buses all his working life. #6753 The home of Gordon and Mildred Moir. Gordon was a barber who was also the Cockshut Farm Equipment dealer until the early 50s. #6757 Rebuilt after a fire, this was the home of George and Henrietta Harper. George worked for the Department of Highways, and Henrietta was a well-known quilter. One of her quilts was displayed by the Heritage Society at what is now the South Frontenac Museum.
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#6758 This was the home of Gordon and Gertie Hughes and their son Ron. In the 30s, this was a bakeshop. Ron was the local paper boy and had a bicycle that he rode through the village delivering the Kingston Whig-Standard. #6759 Across the street from the Hugheses lived Mrs. Hughes’ mother and father, Johnny Green, who was one of the “home children” who emigrated from England. He was the truant officer. Mrs. Green made popcorn balls that she passed out on Halloween. As children, we hurried to get to her place before they ran out! #6767 Next door was the red brick home of William Davy, Sr., and his wife Della. Mr. Davy had a well-drilling business that he operated with his son, Bill Jr. The business is still operating today under the third generation. #6764 During the 40s and 50s, this building was the Anglican Church in the village. In the late 50s, it reverted to a house, and the congregation of the church moved farther up the street. #6766 Mr. and Mrs. Fred Aylen lived here. Fred was also one of the “home boys.” Their children were grown and gone by this time. Mrs. Aylen made the most delicious peanut butter cookies, and if you were lucky enough, you might be offered one with a glass of milk on your way home from school! #6769 Across the street from the Aylens, during the 50s, lived the Morels from Ile Perot, Quebec. Mr. Morel worked as a carpenter for a city contractor. They had four children, three of whom were born in Verona, delivered by Dr. Goodfellow. The children had an easy time learning English, but it was very hard for Mrs. Morel. Mrs. Aylen befriended her and helped where she could, as did some other local women. As with some other houses of modest means in the village, this house had no indoor plumbing or electricity. #6775 Next door, where Mom’s Restaurant is today, was a Fina gas station that closed because of competition with other services in the village. A laundromat replaced it, but unfortunately, because of poor water access and drainage, it didn’t flourish and also closed. Mom’s Restaurant replaced it. #6772 Mr. and Mrs. Stan Switzer lived in the house that is now the computer shop. Mr. Switzer was confined to a wheelchair. #6774 Georgina (Georgie) Jeffrey’s house. A lady who never married, but worked for many years at Revell’s grocery store, she was known for always having a clothespin at her shoulder and a pencil behind her ear. In those days, cash registers weren’t like they are today, and a lot of figuring had to be done with pencil and paper. Unfortunately, after working all her life at the store, Georgie was hit by a car on the main street and died.
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#6780 Mr. and Mrs. Herb Buck lived in this small bungalow. Mr. Buck was a carpenter who worked in his shop making doors and window frames, as well as other woodworking projects. #6781 This yellow brick ranch-style home was built for Harry Revell and his family. At that time, it was the only ranch house in the village. Across the street was the McMullen property. A large red brick two-storey home that had been the McMullen farm stood here for many years. Brother Jim and sister Ethel lived in the house until they died. The house was then moved to a property in Westbrook, where it later burned. The farmland extended behind the home to the lake, where some lots were sold, and summer cottages were built. The rest of the property was undeveloped until the early 50s, when a sandpit was opened and a side street constructed. Lakeview ran parallel to the main street where several homes were built. The sandpit was where the soccer pitch now stands. The original Free Methodist church was moved to the side street and redeveloped into a four-unit apartment building. In the 70s, a seniors’ apartment building was constructed near the main street and was a desirable place to live until it burned to the ground in 2022. Now the property is a park with a veterans’ memorial, benches and newly constructed tennis and pickleball courts. #6787 This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Martin. Mr. Martin built the house in the mid-50s. #6791 Originally a portable classroom, this building was donated by the Kingston Anglican Diocese to the Verona Anglican church members in the late 50s. It was brought through the village on a flatbed truck, and as it came along the main street, it took down all the hydro poles along the way! As a result of the damage, new hydro lines and poles had to be installed, with the unfortunate side effect of requiring several full-grown trees on the west side of the street to be cut down, which changed the feeling of the tree-lined street forever. The new church was built primarily by the church members, and the original cross on top remains. As the congregation declined, the church was sold and acquired a new life as a residence. Several items belonging to the church were donated to the South Frontenac Museum. #6802 This red brick house was the home of Wesley and Ruby Revell and their children Ruth, Gwen and Lynn. It was built in the same style as the home of Bill Davy, Sr. #6797 Sandy Storms and his wife lived here. Sandy was a retired farmer. #6799 For several years, this house was a rental and housed various tenants. 17
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#6804 The Free Methodist church was built in the early 50s to replace the old church that had been moved to the side street. Originally, the front door was at the top of the stairs that rise from street level. As the congregation aged, the entrance was moved to the side to allow for easier access. #6803 For a time in this period, the family of Brent MacDonald lived here. They had two children: Jim and Brenda. Mrs. MacDonald was the sister of Mrs. Cecil (Jeanette) Goodberry. #6805 One of the older houses in the north end, this red brick two-storey home with a second-storey balcony was built and owned by Harry Snider and his wife. Mr. Snider had been a farmer in the Oak Flats area. He and his wife had four children, one of whom was Ken Snider, who opened a motel and gas bar up the street. #6806 Next to the church was the home of Dorval and Martha Babcock, and their children Wilfred, Helen and Doreen. Martha had a reputation for making the best Christmas cake in the village, and freely passed her recipe on to anyone who asked. It is still made today by some of those who were fortunate enough to get the recipe! Their daughter Doreen and her husband were missionaries in Africa. #6808 This white frame house was the home of May Snider. She may have been a teacher at one time. An unmarried lady, she often entertained her nephew and nieces, who were her brother Wes’s children. #6816 Beautifully maintained, this was the home of the Stewart family: Jay, his wife, Mary, and their children. Their son Herbert became a lawyer in Kingston. During this time, they had a small black terrier who chased every bicycle that rode by. Children learned to walk their bikes past if he was out. #6822 Frank and Geraldine Badour and their six children lived in this well-kept home, which is nicely set back from the busy street. #6826 A new innovative business called Frosty Lockers was built on this site. For an annual fee, you could rent a locker to freeze and keep quantities of meat, such as a side of beef or pork, or wild game like deer and moose. Mr. and Mrs. Lee owned the business and would cut the fresh meat into portions determined by the owners, wrap it and place it in their lockers. Business flourished until smaller home freezers became available. The building also had living quarters for the Lee family. Over time, the building had several iterations. It was a Stedman’s store, and later a store that sold antiques and collectibles. It is currently a successful hardware store. #6817 Built for Wellie Vannest, who lived here with his wife and his son Earl. In earlier times, he owned the farm where the Rivendell golf course is now located.
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#6829 This is the new Pentecostal church, built when the congregation grew too big for the old church in the 50s. The new location also provided more parking than was available in the middle of the village. Ken and Ailene Snider’s motel (Wayside Motel), snack bar and service garage. This was a favourite place for school children to spend their allowance at lunchtime, and the motel was often full of American tourists here for the fishing. In later years, it was repurposed as small apartments. Unfortunately, Ken died an untimely death, and the business was sold to the Preston family. For the last several years, it has been maintained as a convenience store, Topper’s, which was rebuilt after burning in 2023. #6846 Bill Davy, Jr. and his wife Ruth, lived here with their family until they built a new ranch-style home across the street in the 60s. #6850 This was the home of George Babcock, a retired farmer, and his wife. #6858 Mr. and Mrs. Howard “Hub” Revell lived here with their daughters Margaret, Diane and Bette Ann. #6859 The second single-storey building in the village at the time was built by Ralph and Nellie Botting. A retired farmer, Mr. Botting became the caretaker of the new public school and remained so until his retirement, when Gerald Vannest took over the position. #6868 Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kirkham’s home. Mr. Kirkham was a skilled carpenter. #6862 This tidy bungalow was the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Clow and their daughter, Leta. #6866 The home of Cecil and Jean Freeman. Jean was a teacher at the school across the street for many years. Prince Charles Public School opened in January, 1950. The principal was Norman O. Reynolds, who had previously been the principal of the two-room school in the village. For the first time, students were bussed in from Bellrock, Holleford, High Falls and Snider Road, and the two-room Verona school was closed. As the area population grew, it became necessary to add two more school rooms, and later a gymnasium. Mr. Reynolds remained as principal until his premature death from heart disease at the age of 58. He died in his office. Unfortunately, there were no counsellors to help the students deal with the trauma, and some students who had been there at the time still remember the shock. He had been the only principal in the village since 1930. Many stories are repeated to this day of his legendary tenure.
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#6872 This was the first new home of Glyn and Elda Revell and their children, Glenda, Dale and Sandra. #6876 On the corner of the main street and Pine Ridge Drive was the home of Gerald and Luella Vannest and their daughter, Sheila. The road up the hill beside their house leads to an area known as “The Pines.” On the shore of Rock Lake was a large stand of pine trees, with easy access to the lake for swimming. The ground was covered with pine needles, which made footing tricky because they were slippery. When the weather got hot, senior school kids would go to The Pines with their lunch pails for a cool-down from the classroom in the clear cool water, and because of the privacy of the location, it was also known as a lovers’ lane! Today it is a rather exclusive residential area. #6890 Willard and Evelyn Peters built this house with a large south-facing bay window. They moved here from Miller Road with their sons, Eldon and Dwayne. At the top of the hill, across from the schoolyard, was the home of Tom and Blanche Cox and their youngest daughter, Shirley. They moved to Verona from their farm on Snider Road. Both lived long lives, and Tom was still felling trees and selling firewood well into his 80s. When asked what he attributed his long life to, he answered, “I have a tablespoon of honey with every meal.” He later sold the property to the Stinson family, and built a small house just up the street. #6910 Easy Street was developed about this time, with six homes built. Original owners were the Code family, Blake Cox’s family, Ed and Wanda Asselstine, (the only original owners still there), the Casement family, and Elwood and Shirley Beemer and their children, Nancy and Glenn. #6939 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grant built this home and owned one of the first television sets in the village. The day of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, they invited a group of school children to come and watch this marvel in their small living room! #6930 The new township firehall, built much later.
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#6943 In 1954, this house on the hill was built by and for the school principal, Norman Reynolds, and his family: his wife, Miriam, the Grade 1 teacher, and children Vaughan, Enid and Thad. Unfortunately, he died before it was complete, but it has now been creatively finished by Ron and Beverley Harper. Behind the house was a horseshoe-shaped rock outcrop that had been used in earlier times by Sid Lee as a slaughter area where local livestock were brought to be butchered. From the highest point on the property, at certain times of year, three of the four lakes that surround the village – Mud Lake, Long Lake and Rock Lake - can be seen. On the same parcel of land, three bungalows were built for the Parks family, the McLeans, and George and Pearl Snyder.
This concludes the tour of the village, from Hardwood Creek in the south to Desert Lake Road in the north. We hope you have enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Information from many people over the years forms the content and publication of this document. Those people are mentioned and thanked, as their background knowledge was essential to this narrative: Bill Asselstine. Ola Bauder, Jane Bailey, Ruth (Wattam) Brown, Floyd Deyo, Bessie Meeks, John McDougall, JoAnn (Lappen) Middleton, Glen Revell, Harry Revell , Charlie Stewart and Barbara Stewart. Thank you to the South Frontenac Museum Society for publishing this document. AUTHORS: Ed Asselstine and Enid (Reynolds) Bailey January 5, 2025
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