Dresden: Father and son turn back the clock

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

WHAT YOU WILL FIND ON THIS SITE:

1) How it all began: My Heritage

2) "The Dresden I Remember" by Ken Wright

3) Forty Years Later: The Town I Grew Up In

4) Wid Bedell: Master Skate Sharpener

5) The Dresden Meteorite, July 11, 1939

6) Dresden's Greatest Foul Ball Chaser

7) Good Advice from Herald Hedden

8) The Church Ladies

9) About "Two" Front Doors

10) Encounter With Gramma Carr's Porch

11) A Tribute To George Brooker

12) A Kid Never Forgets...

13) Remembering Rutherford's Pat Johnston

14) Growing Up With The Martins

15) ...and lots of priceless old photographs

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ABOUT KEN

Kenneth A. Wright, better known as "Ken", was the only son of Wesley and Louise (nee Reddick) Wright of Dresden. Ken was born in the house on Sydenham Street that Wes built in 1879.
After graduation from Dresden Continuation School, Ken went to work as an apprentice for town barber Faye Craig in 1917. He would remain in the "hair" business for the rest of his life, leaving Dresden 1n 1921 to barber in Detroit. He returned to Dresden in 1936 and resumed residency in the family home on Sydenham Street.

He married the former Grace Perry, also of Dresden, in 1932.
A son, Richard Kenneth (Dick) was born in 1938. As young Dick grew up, Ken realized a need for organized activities for the town's young people. He became involved in Boy Scouts, started an inter-faith youth choir, was implemental in the formation of a town minor baseball league, coached and managed a hockey team, mentored several local boxers and taught Sunday School at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

So much for him to do, and so little time in which to do it.

THE LIGHT OF DAY

When I was born my folks were living in a second-storey apartment adjacent to their business on King Street in Chatham. Ken called the place "Shit Terrace" because every pigeon in the City of Chatham left droppings on the roof in front of the only window in the apartment. This photo shows my dad holding me in front of that very window. It wasn't long before the Wrights moved back to Dresden and reclaimed the family homestead on Sydenham Street that had temporarily been rented to my mother's parents. No more pigeon poop! --Dick

Gone fishin'

I was very lucky when I was growing up to have parents who guided my growth and development. In everything he did, my father Ken led by example and in him I witnessed kindness, giving and forgiving in action. He gave himself totally to me in the brief 14 years before he died.

I think that the most rewarding hours that I spent with him, however, were sitting beside him on the bank of the Sydenham River with a fishing pole in my hand, and in the quiet of our home as he listened to me with grave indulgence as I discussed the relative merits of the sports heroes of the day. The little things in life mean the most!
--Dick

NOTEABLE QUOTES FROM KEN

Dont' be a weak link: "Every boy hopes some day to be a great pitcher. However, baseball is like a chain that is no stronger than its weakest link. Every position on the team is very important. Baseball is just like anything else in life that is worth doing. You should practice hard to do your very best in order to avoid being that weak link." --Advice to Dick, 1947.

On the human soul: "We know we have a soul because God says he gave man one when He created him. This soul has come down to each one of us from the first man and first woman created. The human soul is that immortal substance within us which is the origin of our thoughts, desires and reasoning, sub-mircroscopic though it might be. The soul reveals itself when exposed to the words of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ." --Letter to the Editor, Chatham News, 1948.

The Bread of life: "To have that sense of spiritual well-being that all mankind hungers and thirsts for, one must embrace Christianity in a serious, personal way. Food for the body alone to sustain life does not suffice. To satiate the instinctive human longing for spiritual well being, one must turn to Jesus Christ who said: 'I am the bread of life'." -- Letter to the Editor, Chatham News, 1949.

On playing the position: "I bet you are thinking about baseball, Dick. Have fun, but take care and play your position right so that you don't get spiked. Leave the runner lots of room, but play the game aggressively. You have done well at first base and also at pitching and in the outfield, but do not play second or third if you can get out of it. They are just not positions suited for lefthanders." Letter to Dick, April 1952 three weeks before passing away.

On joining the church: "Those of you who have not yet joined the church should think seriously about doing so. People often think that they are not 'good enough' or 'fit enough', but this is a sad misconception. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of sins. It is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices or burnt offerings in order to join a church. That was only in Old Testament times. With the New Testament and the crucifiction, you only have to believe in Jesus and you are 'fit'. You will never be more fit than you are now. So simply and openly confess your sinfulness, state your belief in the Apostle's Creed and take your place at the Lord's table." --Speaking to his senior Sunday School class, May 1951. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

KEN'S WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON "THE WAY TO LIVE"

Above are pages from a letter that my father wrote to my mother three days before their 10th wedding anniversary, May 6, 1942. World War Two was underway at the time and due to the rationing of gasoline he was only able to save up enough "coupons" to make the 18-mile trip from Chatham to our home in Dresden once a week, on weekends. He would sleep each night on the couch in his shop and he was understandibly lonely much of the time. While this extremely personal nine-page letter helped Ken vent some of his loneliness and love for my mother and I, and enabled him to "count his blessings", I believe the main purpose was to express his deep conviction in the power of prayer and to leave something for me in later years. "...teach Dick to pray for us both and himself as he goes through life. This letter, when he reaches an age to understand, shall serve as my testimony that that is the way to live..." It was as if he knew that he would not be around to see me grow up and this was just one of a number of nuggets that he left behind for me. I revisit them often and continue to be influenced by them. --Dick

WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED KID WOULD WEAR BACK THEN

"...A tree whose hungry mouth is prest against the sweet earth's flowing breast..."

As best as can be determined, the the old Maple Tree that shaded the "Wright lot" on Sydenham Street in Dresden for more than 100 years, was planted by Wesley Wright in the spring of 1878, the same year that he began construction on the property of a home for his soon-to-be family. Due to severe rot, the aging Maple was cut down by the town in the fall of 1995. A sad loss of an old friend for my mother and I, not to mention a wide variety of birds and squirrels. It was symbolic, however, that most of the massive century-old root system was left untouched because of its depth and strength. I managed to salvage several pieces from one of the tree's huge branches as a lasting reminder of my own "roots" on Sydenham Street in Dresden. --Dick

MANY HOURS OF FAMILY LISTENING

When supper dishes were washed and homework completed, it was "radio time" in households during the 30s and 40s. Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis heavyweight boxing championship fights, Harry Heilman's broadcasts of Detroit Tigers games from Briggs Stadium, newscasts by Lowell Thomas from the front lines overseas during World War Two, Jack Benny and Amos n' Andy on Sunday evenings, Lux Radio Theatre, Arthur Godfrey, The Lone Ranger, Superman and The Happy Gang all provided family entertainment for young and old alike. Pictured above is the old "Radiotrope" that faithfully brought in crystal-clear signals from the airwaves for the Wright family (circa 1930-50) for many years. Remarkably, it still plays.

Original chair from the choir loft of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Dresden, circa 1870. Another prized possesion. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Dresden began in 1872 as a Mission Station under the charge of Mr. G.G. McRobbie, a student minister and Gilbert Tweedie, M.D. a medical doctor and lay preacher. In 1876 the congregation erected a church building in North Dresden. In 1879 the Dresden church was united with Knox, Chatham Township as a two point charge. The first ordained minister was the Rev. Thomas Tallach, inducted in 1881 who served until his death in 1890. In winter of 1895 several years of planning culminated with the church building being moved across the river ice to a new location "next to the Fire Hall" in Dresden. In 1925 the congregation voted unanimously to remain with the Presbyterian Church in Canada. A church hall was completed in 1927. The congregation changed its name from Knox to St. Andrew's in 1963. The church hall/Sunday School was expanded and modernized some time later.

BEN MADDEN, A STERN MR. TRUANT OFFICER

For kids growing up in Dresden in the 1930s and 40s, the gray figure of Ben Madden could be quite intimidating. Ben, you see, was the truant officer of record in town for a number of years and if he ever caught you playing "hookey" from school his lecture could be quite stern. Edward Benjamin Madden (1865-1947) was also mayor of Dresden for several terms and a former owner of Madden General Store on the town's four corners. Below is a photo post card showing a young-looking Ben (wearing his trademark white apron) standing in front of his store in approximately 1910. He retired from the general store business in 1939 but retained a small office at the rear of the premises from which he sold insurance and dispensed justice to the odd wayward young lad who dared skip a day at school. Read on for more details on one of the more colourful figures from Dresden's past.

BEN'S GENERAL STORE AT HISTORIC CORNER, CIRA 1910

Ben Madden's General Store was no doubt the busiest retail location in downtown Dresden in the early 1900s. In this priceless photo post card made available by master collector Peter Cox of Esponola, Ontario, Ben joined local gentry for a customary chat. The store was located at the corner of St. George and Brown streets. The team of horses and wagon shown in the photo were used to make local merchandise pickups and deliveries. The corner was originally part of British American Institute property in the heart of the former Dawn Settlement. The Institute was founded by Josiah Henson in partnership with noted abolitionist Rev. Hiram Wilson. The BAI established an all ages manual school on the site in 1842 to train teachers and provide general education primarily for immigrant slaves from the United States and other parts of Ontario. The school closed in 1868 and Institute lands were sold several years later. Records show that a Nevil Smith was the first to operate a store at the corner in 1872 and in 1878, R. P. Wright moved his business from across the river to the downtown store. The building at that time was a small, frame structure and the brick building that exists to this day was no doubt contracted by Wright himself. Madden was believed to have operated a restaurant at the corner of Main and Tecumseh streets at the time of his marriage to Janet Carscallen and prior to taking over the historic corner location to establish his general store enterprise. A youthful Russel Dynes was hired as Madden's apprentice assistant. It could be said that Ben was an early-day Honest Ed Mirvish. The word "honest" showed up freqently in his outdoor signage (i.e. Honest Boots & Shoes). He billed himself as "The Reliable Grocer" and a sign painted on the south wall of the building declared "Highest prices paid 4 produce". A dry sense of humor was evident when he wrote out the advertisement heading "Ben Madden's Pants are down". Ben opted for semi-retirement in 1939 when the M & P food chain took over the operation with a very genial Orin Simpson becoming the owner operator.

LEST WE FORGET

Neighbor Roy Dusten, then about 18, is shown here holding me a few months after I was born. Several years later Roy joined the RCAF and was killed over Germany in World War Two. In the photo to the right are crosses at the entrance to Dresden Cemetery commemorating those who lost their lives in World War One. The plot was provided by the Dresden Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE). The photo is taken from a post card, circa 1930. Note the Union Jack flag in front of the crosses (Canada was still considered part of the British Commonwealth in those days). At the close of the Second World War the IODE ladies decided to extend the project by erecting crosses to honor the names of the fallen in this terrible conflict, as well. The Cemetery Board was consulted and a plot near the original "Flanders Field" site was approved and granted. The locally made crosses were fronted by a larger cross bearing the inscription "For Freedom" 1939-1945. One of the new crosses was in remembrance of Flt. Sgt. Roy Dusten, RCAF, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russel Dusten of Dresden. Typical of so many Canadian families those days, two other Dusten sons also served their country in the armed forces, Don in the Air Force and Jim, the Navy (a daughter, Verna, may also have served). -- Dick

A FAMILY OF GARDENERS

I was introduced to a lifetime of gardening by my grandfather Nelson Perry at a very early age. The two of us became partners in a virtual market garden at the back of our Sydenham Street property in the 1940s. Grandpa Nelson is shown in this 1945 photo standing in the middle of a potato patch. I sold potatoes, corn and carrots door-to-door and did pretty well at it. Regular customers were: Bessie Dusten, Mrs. Harvey Holmes, Norma French, Rena Craven, Helen Wilson, Mrs. Stewart Tassie, Mrs. Harvey Myers, Mrs. Billy Campbell, Mrs. Houston, Jessie McVean, Mrs. Bateman, Father Page, Charlie Aiken, Mrs. Tedford, Mrs. Harry Hooper, Nina Wells, Mae Sharpe, Hattie Sharpe, Mary Laird, Jean Hoyles, Dorothy Rigsby and Jim Anderson, to name a few(?).

Ken found beauty in everything, even weeds

My dad Ken was a sentimental "softy". He could not bring himself to discard or destroy anything. Things that should have been dispensed with he instead kept and nurtured. It was even extremely painful for him to cut down weeds in our yard and garden. In fact he didn't -- if he could help it. He thought weeds were every bit as beautiful as flowers and that they deserved to grow and flourish. Thistles, ragweed, burdock -- he actually cultivated them, much to the disdain of his green thumb father-in-law...and the neighbors.

POSTSCRIPT: KEYS TO OLD BETSY

Ken held on to everything, even our old 1932 Ford. We never had any other car. Ken wouldn't get rid of it even if he could have afforded to. "Old Betsy" was totalled in an accident that would eventually lead to the heart attack that took Ken's life a month later. The insurance company offered him $190.00 for the wreckage or the option of trying to patch it up with used parts and some paint. He weighed his decision for more than two weeks before opting for the fix up option. He reasoned that he could not get another decent car "with good tires" for $190.00, but truth be known he just could not see old Betsy go to the scrap yard. "If nothing else, we can have it towed home and parked in the driveway, all clean and polished, to serve as a monumental testimony of well-being for passersby," he would rationalize. The repair shop towed a fixed up old Betsy home five days after his funeral. We didn't park it in the driveway however. We put it away in the garage. Neither my mother nor I could bring ourselves to look at it. Three months later a man driving a tow truck came to our door. He gave my mother a $50.00 bill and hauled old Betsy off into the sunset. Ontario license plate 97T 2 cancelled...The final hurt. I still have a set of keys to old Betsy in my dad's worn key case (see above photo). I tend to keep things like that. I wonder where I get it?

ROOTS OF A FAMILY BUSINESS

William Leonard Phillmore Bedell is shown at the anvil in his blacksmith shop around the turn of the last century. The shop was located on the northwest corner of Lindsley Street West and St. George Street South and William could well be the blacksmith mentioned in Ken's word picture of downtown Dresden in 1910. William, who passed away in 1938, is the great great grandfather of Ada Strong who kindly supplied this photo. Ada's grandfather, Wid Bedell (referenced in our skate sharpening story) carried on the family tradition in the time honored trade when he returned home after World War Two. Ada well remembers as a little girl spending many hours in the blacksmith shop "helping" her grandfather at the forge and sharpening skates. She is currently conducting an extensive genealogical search of the Bedell family.