Dresden: Father and son turn back the clock

YOURS FOR THE CLICKING

OTHER DRESDEN RELATED BLOG SITES: YOURS FOR THE CLICKING

*DRESDEN: A PERSPECTIVE ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN MY HOME TOWN

https://dicktheblogsterremembers.blogspot.ca

*THE WRIGHT STORY": IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS HENRY AND MARY WRIGHT

https://mywrightstory.blogspot.ca/

*WRIGHTS LANE

http://dicktheblogster.blogspot.com

*THE GAME I GREW UP WITH

http://baseballnme.blogspot.ca/

*DRESDEN JUVENILES ONTARIO CHAMPS 1953

http://dicktheblogster5.blogspot.ca

*THE PERRYS: MY OTHER HALF

http://dicktheblogster7.blogspot.ca

*TRIBUTE TO DOC RUTTLE

http://atributetodocruttle.blogspot.ca/

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

DEAR VISITOR:

Thanks for dropping in for a peek at the Town of Dresden as I (and my father) remember it, primarily from 1910 to 1955!

After you have had an opportunity to view the entire site I would really appreciate your feedback in the form of any reactions you might have: i.e. your memories from a specific time period, special thoughts, elaboration on details. Email responses can be forwarded to me at wrightwords@eastlink.ca

Sincerely,

Dick

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"INSTITUTION SPIRITS"

A GHOSTLY DRESDEN STORY: I enjoy reading James Soutar’s writings in his annual Chatham Kent Almanacs for the 1800s, especially when he inserted his Scottish tongue-in-cheek humour and imagination. A perfect example from his 1883 edition of the Almanac was a story about ghostly “Institution Spirits” in the Village of Dresden. To retain the unspoiled flavor of his work, I quote directly from his words penned in the vernacular of the day.

“That Dresden should have a ghost story is probably and generally known. And why not? Baldoon (Wallaceburg) had its “Sny Spirits”, then why not Dresden its “Institution Spirits? Nore must it be supposed that they were necessarily dark farther than the word would mean in action. (The “Institution” referred to was The British American Institute.)

“The Institution Spirits (circa 1850s) unlike their Baldoon brethren, seemed to have more of a material world about them if we are to judge by their more sensible and crafty manifestations. They appeared suddenly and, as suddenly, made their exist.

“The peaceful villagers had retired to rest with the old historic “Institution Grist Mill” looming through the dusk secure on its foundations at the old site. The peaceful villagers arose next morning, when lo, the mill was not there – it was resting secure on the lot of Mr. (William) Wright, on the site of the new elevator (old) mill of Powell Bros., nearly three-quarters of a mile from its old location.

“The spirits had boldly removed the structure in the dark hours of the night. We cannot account for the strange behavior of the spirits, but it is surmised that if the Rev. Josiah Henson and Mr. Wright were employed as mediums, the spirits would be apt to speak upon the dark project.”

*Notes: 1) The new location of the Grist Mill was on the Sydenham River side of Water Street, between Sydenham and Brock streets. When I was a young lad in the 1940s the mill was still standing along the old railroad tracks, although I cannot remember if it was still being used. I had no idea then of this interesting history. 2) The old grist mill site is Stop 38 on the Trillium Trail walk. 3) Rev Josiah Henson, of course, was most closely associated with the British American Institute and its properties while William Wright is credited with being the founder of the Fairport settlement that was eventually incorporated into the village/town.

ABOUT "THE FAIR": AGRICULTURE SOCIETY HAS A LONG HISTORY

Written by Helen Watson Burns in 1975 to mark the centennial year of the Annual Dresden Exhibition.

The Kent County Almanac of 1883 supplies us with a description of the first County Fair. “It was held on a common, now the site of the Rankin House, with the blue sky overhead and the frozen ground under foot. No board fence separated it from the outer world; free to all! The cattle and swine, of lanky and angular lines, stood round in isolated groups of two or three, moored to a convenient stump, rail fence or cartwheel. Interspersed with these, the more attractive sheep were penned against the carts and fences; while tied to vehicles or held by attendants, were fair-looking horses, many showing the blood of Indian ponies. Surrounding the whole and lining the streets stood ox-sleds, French carts and other vehicles, with saddled horses more numerous. In the palace (a shanty), or on the ground, stumps or boxes, stood a few bags of grain, a butchered hog, a few samples of cheese and butter, and the inevitable web of home-made flannel.” Patchwork quilts, implements or vegetables were not yet present. The prizes were furnished by donations previously secured, with no grants yet given and the total prize list for 1843 was 21 pounds, 10 shillings, about $86, with 45 prize winners named.

A Camden Fair was held at Dawn Mills in the Kent militia drill shed, which was moved to Dresden and set at the middle of the street along the west side of Market Square. The Camden Agricultural Society was organized on April 26th, 1876 and was incorporated in 1891. This became The Camden-Dresden Agricultural Society in 1934, and finally the Dresden Agricultural Society in 1946. The fair was known as the Dresden Fair until March of 1960 when it officially became the Dresden Exhibition.

The first land transaction involving the fairgrounds took place in 1827. The grounds changed hands over the years, passing through one Josiah Henson in 1845. The Agricultural Society took ownership in 1891. In 1911 the buildings on the fairgrounds consisted of a main hall, grand stand and a ticket office. The present grandstand was constructed in 1976. The Agricultural Society also played a part in the building of the Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Arena, which sits on the Society’s property as well as the OLG Slots building. The Track Kitchen and horse barns have all been added over the years. Behind the Slots building is the horse ring which the Dresden Saddle Club has full access to.

The first meeting on record of the Camen Agricultural Society was Saturday, July 11th, 1891. The fair was held in early October with gate receipts of under $200 and the amount paid out for prizes alone nearly $500. Expenses for the fair included $15 for the Dresden Band, $12.50 for the Tupperville Bannd, with the added expense of $5 for their railroad fare and $6.25 for their dinners at the Clifford House, as well as “telephoning, 50 cents”. Sources of income included renting the grounds and the track to the Dresden Driving Club for races, $40 for the Bicycle Club and renting the grounds for pasture.

The first ”merry-go-round” at the Fair was in 1923, with midways showing up in later years. Entertainment consisted of donkey baseball, chariot races, horseracing, pulling matches and music. In 1913 the racetrack was surveyed and made into a regulation track. Lights were installed all around the track to accommodate night racing. Horse racing has always been a part of the Dresden Fair as well as the horse show. In 1932 the “Foal Club” had 21 entrants; Arabians were added to the classes in 1966.

Cattle were a large part of the fair also, dating back to 1933 with the Calf Club which had 17 members. Yokes of oxen were added in 1936 and records from 1953 show the Dover & Chatham 4-H Club’s involvement. The Fair Princess and the Miss Dresden Exhibition began in 1974 with 11 contestants. It was 1911 that penmanship was first put on the prize list because of a recommendation from the Central Business College, Toronto. The first mention of a baby show was in 1915. Garden displays was a new class in 1922, as well as corn.

Many things have changed over the years with the exception of many dedicated people working tirelessly to keep the legacy of the Dresden Agricultural Society and its’ mission alive and prospering for the benefit of the agricultural community.

A HISTORICAL FLASHBACK:

It is interesting to note that one of the early ministers in Dresden, Rev. Thomas Tallach, had a high profile in the community in the late 1880's. He was a Presbyterian minister, a Mason and chaplain to Sydenham Lodge 255. More importantly, he was involved in political questions which reflected traditional Free Church interest in matters of public morality as well as private spirituality.

For example, in 1889, during the debate over the proposed repeal of the Scott Act (Canada Temperance Act), Rev. Tallach joined the temperance campaign. He spoke outside of the Presbyterian pulpit, joining Methodist brothers and sisters in rallying local temperance forces. At one such meeting in nearby Croton he spoke optimistically of his conviction that the Scott Act would be supported by the people of Kent County.

It was obviously a great disappointment (but perhaps no surprise -- there were six hotels in Dresden at that time) when the Spring election results indicated that the people of Kent had made a substantial contribution to the repeal of the Temperance Act.

Dresden: Father and son turn back the clock

*READ ABOUT THE COURT CASE BEHIND THE WRIGHT HOUSE STORY

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YOURS FOR THE CLICKING

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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