Young Street East Side Narrative
The following report is a continuation of the “Around Town” project for documenting all the properties in Brighton. Two important parts have been completed including Main Street and Prince Edward Street, and now we deal with Young Street. This report provides the details for all the properties on the east side of Young Street, from the corner of Dundas St. to George Street. The following image shows the full scope of this report, with the aerial picture of the same properties for reference.
The Young and Dundas Corner
The geography at the main intersection in Brighton may seem odd to the modern traveler, but we can trace its origins back to the fact that the Danforth Road was built through here in 1799. It came along the concession line from the west and continued on Dundas Street to the east, over the high ground. This image highlights the presence of that original road angling from the concession line, which we call Main Street, onto Dundas Street. Long before village lots were created, the south-east corner of what would become lot 25 west of Young was cut off to accommodate the road.
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In 1818 the York Road was built as an upgrade to the Danforth Road and the route changed at this place. The new road went straight east to the intersection, then jogged south and then east onto what we call Elizabeth Street, heading straight to Trent Port and the ferry over the Trent River. This change left Dundas Street off the primary east-west road but still serving as a local road east from the growing village.
When Brighton village was established in 1831, village lots were created along the main streets in order to meet the growing demand for small lots to support commercial enterprise or for homes of tradesmen, professionals and retirees. At the corner of Dundas and Young Streets, the lot numbering system focused more on Dundas Street than on Young Street. As a result, this segment of the Brighton Plan for 1866 shows the lots numbered from the corner at #1, to the east along the north side of Dundas Street. This means that the extra large lot at the corner of Young and Dundas, lot 1, is included in the land registry records for Dundas Street north and not Young Street east.
When Brighton village was established in 1831, village lots were created along the main streets in order to meet the growing demand for small lots to support commercial enterprise or for homes of tradesmen, professionals and retirees. At the corner of Dundas and Young Streets, the lot numbering system focused more on Dundas Street than on Young Street. As a result, this segment of the Brighton Plan for 1866 shows the lots numbered from the corner at #1, to the east along the north side of Dundas Street. This means that the extra large lot at the corner of Young and Dundas, lot 1, is included in the land registry records for Dundas Street north and not Young Street east.
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However, the Belden County Atlas map of 1878, only twelve years later, does not show lot 1, but documents its sub-division into small commercial spaces. From the 1840s, this corner at Dundas Street was considered an excellent location for business. While it was not on the primary east-west road, it was close enough to see travellers come off the road to do business here. In addition, the growing population in the rural areas to the north and east brought lots of farmers to this convenient spot. It was a good place to do business.
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In 1868, Plan 50 was implemented in this area to create identifiable sub-divisions. This segment of the larger map from the OnLand.ca system shows the old lot 1 at the corner of Dundas and Young. It identifies the properties fronting onto Young Street in two sections, starting at the corner, labelled sub-division lots 24, 25 and then north of there, 26, 27. Lots 28 and 29 are in the lot B to the north. These lots are all west of St. James Street, the small laneway off Dundas Street which also has properties on its east side.
For the purposes of this report, we are dealing only with Young Street properties, so the properties east of St. James St. will be addressed in the Dundas Street segment of “Around Town” at a later date. |
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Another important context for the Young Street properties is the fact that Young Street was the boarder between the original Murray and Cramahe Townships. The east side of Young was therefore Murray Township. The creation of Brighton Township took place on January 1, 1852, with the result that the early land records for properties on the east side of Young are organized under Concession A, Lot 35. This lot had its western boundary on Young Street north to the next concession line at Spring Valley. The eastern boundary was what we call Terry Fox Drive and Pinnacle Street North. The southern boundary was what we call Elizabeth Street today.
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The Patent from the Crown for all lot 35 was granted to Ann Marsh in 1825. This was Ann (Nancy) McArthur (1771-c1862) whose first husband had been George Singleton (c1750-1789), an active participant for the British in the American Revolution. When George died in 1789, Ann accumulated a lot of land grants due to his service. Then she married an associate of her husband, Alexander Chisholm, by which she acquired even more land. Her third husband, Cyrus Marsh, was part of the large Marsh clan, although a distant cousin of Col. William Marsh.
Ann outlived them all. After Brighton village was created in 1831, she and her son, John Singleton, were well positioned to generate revenue from the sale of small properties severed from their large township lot. Margaret Canniff was John Singleton’s wife and we see her name on many land transactions in the 1860s and 1870s, including some of the early records for the village lots along the east side of Young Street.
Ann outlived them all. After Brighton village was created in 1831, she and her son, John Singleton, were well positioned to generate revenue from the sale of small properties severed from their large township lot. Margaret Canniff was John Singleton’s wife and we see her name on many land transactions in the 1860s and 1870s, including some of the early records for the village lots along the east side of Young Street.
1 Young St. – At the Corner (Sub Lots 24 & 25)
In 1835, John Singleton sold half an acre of lot 35, concession A, Murray Township to James Taylor (1795-1863), a son of Nathaniel Taylor and Anna Osborne. He married Content Harris in 1817 and in 1826 bought land in Murray Township at Conc A, Lot 19, which is a bit east of Smithfield, straddle the York Road. After James Taylor died in 1863, this land in Brighton ended up in a Sheriff’s sale, which sold the Taylor interest in the land to Ephraim Doolittle (1787-1882), a resident of Haldimand Township. The property turned around in a few days to Joseph W. Cryderman. This was also an investment opportunity that turned around quickly.
A year later, Cryderman sold it to Matthew Ferris (1832-1893). In 1864, Matthew Ferris acquired property on both sides of Dundas Street on the east side of Young and Prince Edward Streets. As a young man from Ireland, Ferris showed his aggressive nature very early by marrying Sarah Elizabeth Proctor, a daughter of Isaac Chamberlain Proctor, and also a sister of John Edward Proctor, another very aggressive businessman in Brighton.
Matthew Ferris built a large commercial building on the south corner of Dundas and established a thriving dry goods store. On the north side of Dundas, he built another commercial building, but this one was designed to provide small commercial spaces to retailers, professionals and tradesmen. This was a very busy place over the next three decades, with many different tenants coming and going in a dynamic and growing town.
In 1875, Matthew Ferris sold lot 24 & 25 to his brother, James M. Ferris, who carried on the role of landlord. Then, in January of 1891, a serious fire destroyed the Ferris dry goods store on the south side of Dundas Street. Matthew Ferris was 58 at this time and decided not to carry on with the business, selling to the Proctors who built the Proctor Hotel on the property. On the north side of Dundas, Matthew Ferris sold the properties on the east side of St. James Street to his brother, but James M. Ferris died in 1893.
The estate of James M. Ferris granted subdivided lots 24 and 25, at the corner, in 1895 to Mary Eakin, along with the lots east of St. James Street. Mary was Mary Ferris (1862-1941), a daughter of James M. Ferris, so a niece of Matthew. Then, in 1899, Mary and her husband, George Eakin, sold lots 24 and 25 as well as the lots east of St. James Street to Charles M. Sanford. This fellow was Charles Marcus Sanford (1862-1916), a son of Thomas Dorman Sanford and Harriet Butler. This family were very early settlers in Brighton, along with the Proctors, with the Sanfords controlling more of the land north of Main Street, west of Young Street.
A year later, Cryderman sold it to Matthew Ferris (1832-1893). In 1864, Matthew Ferris acquired property on both sides of Dundas Street on the east side of Young and Prince Edward Streets. As a young man from Ireland, Ferris showed his aggressive nature very early by marrying Sarah Elizabeth Proctor, a daughter of Isaac Chamberlain Proctor, and also a sister of John Edward Proctor, another very aggressive businessman in Brighton.
Matthew Ferris built a large commercial building on the south corner of Dundas and established a thriving dry goods store. On the north side of Dundas, he built another commercial building, but this one was designed to provide small commercial spaces to retailers, professionals and tradesmen. This was a very busy place over the next three decades, with many different tenants coming and going in a dynamic and growing town.
In 1875, Matthew Ferris sold lot 24 & 25 to his brother, James M. Ferris, who carried on the role of landlord. Then, in January of 1891, a serious fire destroyed the Ferris dry goods store on the south side of Dundas Street. Matthew Ferris was 58 at this time and decided not to carry on with the business, selling to the Proctors who built the Proctor Hotel on the property. On the north side of Dundas, Matthew Ferris sold the properties on the east side of St. James Street to his brother, but James M. Ferris died in 1893.
The estate of James M. Ferris granted subdivided lots 24 and 25, at the corner, in 1895 to Mary Eakin, along with the lots east of St. James Street. Mary was Mary Ferris (1862-1941), a daughter of James M. Ferris, so a niece of Matthew. Then, in 1899, Mary and her husband, George Eakin, sold lots 24 and 25 as well as the lots east of St. James Street to Charles M. Sanford. This fellow was Charles Marcus Sanford (1862-1916), a son of Thomas Dorman Sanford and Harriet Butler. This family were very early settlers in Brighton, along with the Proctors, with the Sanfords controlling more of the land north of Main Street, west of Young Street.
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Charles M. Sanford was thirty-six in 1899, and was established as a respected doctor in Brighton. He had married Mary Ellen Ferris (1865-1931) in 1887, a daughter of Matthew Ferris. He had purchased a large house at the corner of Sanford and Platt Streets and was upgrading it to his tastes. The acquisition of the properties at Dundas and Young Streets would have been a business investment for the prosperous Dr. Sanford.
The decision was made quickly to build a new commercial building at the north corner of Dundas Street to replace the old Ferris Block which had burned down a few years before. This unique south-facing picture of the Proctor Block on Prince Edward Street in the later 1890s shows clearly that there was no building on the north corner of Dundas Street at this time. |
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Charles M. Sanford built a two-story frame building on this corner in 1900 and that is the structure we see there today, although modified and much renovated over the years. In 1931 there was a variety of vendors occupying this building, although bakeries seemed to locate here consistently.
Charles M. Sanford died in 1916, but there were protracted court battles over his estate. It was not until 1949 that lots 24 and 25 at the corner of Dundas and Young Streets were granted by the estate of Margaret Irene Ferris, a sister of Charles, to trustees of the Church of the Nazarene.
The building at 1 Young Street was occupied by this institution for a decade when it was sold to Arthur and Grace McConkey. They owned it until 1968 when it was sold to William and Harold Alton. In 1972, it was sold to Samuel & Mary McFadden who sold in 1975 to Simon and Stasha Conolly, the owners of Conolly Publishing. The Brighton Ensign was published from this location until about 2007.
Today, Sunny Days Group Program occupies the main part of 1 Young Street, with another tenant in the north side of the building, through the door onto the street at 1a Young Street.
Charles M. Sanford died in 1916, but there were protracted court battles over his estate. It was not until 1949 that lots 24 and 25 at the corner of Dundas and Young Streets were granted by the estate of Margaret Irene Ferris, a sister of Charles, to trustees of the Church of the Nazarene.
The building at 1 Young Street was occupied by this institution for a decade when it was sold to Arthur and Grace McConkey. They owned it until 1968 when it was sold to William and Harold Alton. In 1972, it was sold to Samuel & Mary McFadden who sold in 1975 to Simon and Stasha Conolly, the owners of Conolly Publishing. The Brighton Ensign was published from this location until about 2007.
Today, Sunny Days Group Program occupies the main part of 1 Young Street, with another tenant in the north side of the building, through the door onto the street at 1a Young Street.
3 Young Street – North side of building
The north side of the building on the corner of Dundas and Young provided separate spaces that have been called 3 and 5 Young Street. During the 1870s, records suggest that several doctors had offices here, including Dr. Charles Rolls and Dr. Daniel Dulmage.
5 Young Street – North side of building – Through Gate
The entrance to 5 Young Street is through a gate and walkway to the door toward the east end of the building. From the 1960s through the 1980s there were several medical practitioners at this location, as well as a hair dresser and a health food store.
7 Young Street – North building – Playground Now
Number 7 Young Street and Number 9 Young Street do not exist today, but were small buildings well back from Young Street, with access to St. James Street. The Brighton Fire Map of 1911 shows the location of the structures which would later be removed and not replace. Records show that there was a succession of laundry businesses here, as well as a general repair shop.
9, 11 & 13 Young Street
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Today, a multi-unit structure contains Tailoring & Alterations Brighton in the south side, at #11, and the law firm of Mann, McCraken & Associates on the north side, #13. Number 9 Young has been lost with alterations to the building over the years.
The land was part of the Ferris property but parts were sold to different people. A large three-story brick building was built here in the 1880s and the south and north parts of the building would have different owners and tenants. The south part was occupied for many years by tinsmiths and plumbers. These two trades seem to go together. David J. Nesbitt sold the south part of the building to Charles C. Harris in 1905 and he continued the same work. In 1921, Harris sold to Robert James Taylor who kept the business going strong. |
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The north part of the large original building hosted the furniture and undertaking business of Burton Elwood Brintnell (1880-1958) from 1910 to 1929. There was a major fire in this building in 1930, which damaged equipment, furniture and product for several vendors as well as doing major damage to the large upstairs hall which hosted the armories. Brintnell moved his undertaking business to 130 Main Street, beginning the presence of funeral services at that location which continues to this day.
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In 1943, the plumbing business was taken over by Herbert Bangay who had been Mr. Taylor’s assistant for several years. The enterprise evolved into the more familiar “Plumbing and Heating” business. This is how Ralph Bangay, Herbert’s son, grew up in the world of plumbing and became an avid collector. As Ralph often told us, he had been in every business and home in the town at some point or other through many decades, and often found things he thought interesting. Rather than see them go into the garbage, Ralph took them home. Much later his collections would lead to the creation Memory Junction Museum.
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In 1955, soon after the Herbert Bangay left this location, Doug Haig began his Plumbing and Heating business at this location, utilizing the full space of 11 and 13 Young Street. As to ownership, William J. Nesbitt sold sub-division lots 26 and 27 to Lola E. Thomson in 1957. This was Lola Elizabeth Thomson (1912-2010) who was a daughter of Harry Bedal and Genevieve Wade. She was married to George Russell Thomson and they had been farming near Hilton when they moved to Brighton where George became a merchant at 11 Young Street.
In 1977, Lola Thomson sold the property to Doug Haig. This business was a fixture in Brighton until the later 1990s when the Haig/Macklam Plumbing and Heating move to Meade Street.
In 1998, Doug Haig sold to Leo Raymond Kelly and Benjamin Albert Ring in partnership and in 2007 Benjamin Ring, a lawyer, transferred sub-lot 26 to Benjamin and Carole Ring.
In 1977, Lola Thomson sold the property to Doug Haig. This business was a fixture in Brighton until the later 1990s when the Haig/Macklam Plumbing and Heating move to Meade Street.
In 1998, Doug Haig sold to Leo Raymond Kelly and Benjamin Albert Ring in partnership and in 2007 Benjamin Ring, a lawyer, transferred sub-lot 26 to Benjamin and Carole Ring.
15 and 17 Young Street – Village Lot B
North of lot 1 on the corner of Young and Dundas is lot B. The land records are confusing for this lot but we can generally say that lot B holds the properties of 15 and 17 Young Street. In fact, the actual properties do not follow the borders of lot B, so we have to guess a bit. Today, there is a two-story building here, which houses apartments, labeled on the two front doors as “15” and “17”. But a lot has happened to come to this point.
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In 1877, Leonora E. Singleton sold lot B to Isaac B. Cornwall and he sold to Leander Roblin. Within two years, lot B came into the possession of James Nesbitt. At this time, James Nesbitt was very active around Brighton with a store and home at the corner of Ontario and Main Streets and lots of plans for more.
It is very likely that James Nesbitt had the commercial building constructed on lot B in order to provide more space for merchants and tradesmen. In 1900, his estate passed the property on to is son, David John Nesbitt (1862-1943) and he continued as commercial landlord at this location.
A notable occupant of the commercial space in this area was Frank Atkinson, the jeweller. In 1912, the estate of David John Nesbitt sold property in lot B to Frank Lawlor Atkinson (1890-1944). It appears as if this was the south part of lot B, meaning 15 Young Street, although street numbers were probably not in use at that time. He was the son of Bill Atkinson who was the prolific builder in Brighton, known for building many of the cottages at Presqu’ile Point. Frank had married Rhea Bessie Smith in 1911 and he was planning to open a jewellery store where he could sell and repair watches.
One ad in the newspaper in 1922 said “Mr. F. L. Atkinson, Watch, Clock and Jewellery Repairing located at his home on Young Street, north of Brintnell Furniture Store, after April 15 will be located in the store now occupied by Mr. R. B. Scripture, one door north of Brintnell.” This means that he was moving from 15 to 13 Young Street.
In 1935, Frank sold his part of lot B to his sister, Mary Agnes Atkinson, who was also known as Mayme. She was well known as the proprietor of the store at Presqu’ile Point, which would later be taken over by Clare Atkinson, Frank’s son.
Another change happened in 1946 when Mayme sold the property in lot B to Joseph Boffrey who was a barber. He had operated his barber shop at 8 Young Street, across the street, and would be a fixture at 15 Young Street until 1968.
It is very likely that James Nesbitt had the commercial building constructed on lot B in order to provide more space for merchants and tradesmen. In 1900, his estate passed the property on to is son, David John Nesbitt (1862-1943) and he continued as commercial landlord at this location.
A notable occupant of the commercial space in this area was Frank Atkinson, the jeweller. In 1912, the estate of David John Nesbitt sold property in lot B to Frank Lawlor Atkinson (1890-1944). It appears as if this was the south part of lot B, meaning 15 Young Street, although street numbers were probably not in use at that time. He was the son of Bill Atkinson who was the prolific builder in Brighton, known for building many of the cottages at Presqu’ile Point. Frank had married Rhea Bessie Smith in 1911 and he was planning to open a jewellery store where he could sell and repair watches.
One ad in the newspaper in 1922 said “Mr. F. L. Atkinson, Watch, Clock and Jewellery Repairing located at his home on Young Street, north of Brintnell Furniture Store, after April 15 will be located in the store now occupied by Mr. R. B. Scripture, one door north of Brintnell.” This means that he was moving from 15 to 13 Young Street.
In 1935, Frank sold his part of lot B to his sister, Mary Agnes Atkinson, who was also known as Mayme. She was well known as the proprietor of the store at Presqu’ile Point, which would later be taken over by Clare Atkinson, Frank’s son.
Another change happened in 1946 when Mayme sold the property in lot B to Joseph Boffrey who was a barber. He had operated his barber shop at 8 Young Street, across the street, and would be a fixture at 15 Young Street until 1968.
19 and 21 Young – Village Lot B - Apartments
The next building to the north hosts apartments and we can see on the two doors that here are 19 and 21 Young Street. While the two sets of front doors here look similar, the buildings behind them are very different. The northern building is a two-and-a-half story brick building with four windows across on the second floor and two on the third floor. The first floor has obviously been made to look similar to the building to the south in order to maintain order in the streetscape. Both buildings provide rental accommodations.
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For the most part, land records for the 19/21 building are in lot B, but not entirely. The border between lot B and lot 1 to the north side of lot B appears to run down the middle of the 19/21 building. This makes deciphering the records very difficult.
This property was owned by the Singleton family from the Patent in 1825 and then there was a series of transactions that led to 1879 when James Nesbitt acquired Lot B. He owned it until 1900 then passed to his son David John Nesbitt. It is likely that the current building was constructed by Davis John Nesbitt in the later 1890s.
In 1940, part of lot B was passed to Helen E. Nesbitt. This refers to Helen Eleanor Nesbitt (1924-2023) who was a daughter of William John “Bill” Nesbitt and Emma Lee. Bill Nesbitt was the one who served in the trenches of World War I and managed to come back home in more-or-less one piece. His father was Robert James Nesbitt, a brother of David John Nesbitt. So, the inheritance of lot B on Young East went to a niece.
The inheritance occurred when Helen was sixteen, but Helen Nesbitt was a very active lady, as indicated by this description in her obituary in 2023. “Eleanor was a graduate of University of Toronto with a business degree. She then carried on in the Navy and as WREN, a Bell Canada employee, working with the Brighton Skating Club, her many years working actively with St. Paul's Anglican Church in Brighton.”
In the later 1950s, Helen Nesbitt married George Philip Dewey and they would be married more than five decades. Then, in 1965, with the distribution of the estate of her father, she obtained more of the land at Lot B. She would finally sell her land on lot B in 1987.
In the meantime, many tenants came and went. The Voters Lists of 1965 show that the owners, George and Eleanor Dewey are living at 21 Young Street. Also at the same address, were Gerald Hetherington and his wife, he shown as a carpenter. The 1968 lists show that George and Eleanor Dewey are still at 21 Young Street and he is described as a maintenance contractor. In that same year, Walter, Ron and Ralph Smith are shown to be living at 19 Young Street. In the 1972 list, a tenant of 19 Young Street was Fred Thorne, a pensioner, with his wife Ruth.
This property was owned by the Singleton family from the Patent in 1825 and then there was a series of transactions that led to 1879 when James Nesbitt acquired Lot B. He owned it until 1900 then passed to his son David John Nesbitt. It is likely that the current building was constructed by Davis John Nesbitt in the later 1890s.
In 1940, part of lot B was passed to Helen E. Nesbitt. This refers to Helen Eleanor Nesbitt (1924-2023) who was a daughter of William John “Bill” Nesbitt and Emma Lee. Bill Nesbitt was the one who served in the trenches of World War I and managed to come back home in more-or-less one piece. His father was Robert James Nesbitt, a brother of David John Nesbitt. So, the inheritance of lot B on Young East went to a niece.
The inheritance occurred when Helen was sixteen, but Helen Nesbitt was a very active lady, as indicated by this description in her obituary in 2023. “Eleanor was a graduate of University of Toronto with a business degree. She then carried on in the Navy and as WREN, a Bell Canada employee, working with the Brighton Skating Club, her many years working actively with St. Paul's Anglican Church in Brighton.”
In the later 1950s, Helen Nesbitt married George Philip Dewey and they would be married more than five decades. Then, in 1965, with the distribution of the estate of her father, she obtained more of the land at Lot B. She would finally sell her land on lot B in 1987.
In the meantime, many tenants came and went. The Voters Lists of 1965 show that the owners, George and Eleanor Dewey are living at 21 Young Street. Also at the same address, were Gerald Hetherington and his wife, he shown as a carpenter. The 1968 lists show that George and Eleanor Dewey are still at 21 Young Street and he is described as a maintenance contractor. In that same year, Walter, Ron and Ralph Smith are shown to be living at 19 Young Street. In the 1972 list, a tenant of 19 Young Street was Fred Thorne, a pensioner, with his wife Ruth.
23 Young Street – Village Lot 1
Today, there is no 23 Young Street, so why do we mention it? Well, because at one time, there was small building there at the north-west corner of the large brick building that hosts 19 and 21 Young Street. It was well forward, on the sidewalk, and was primarily a commercial building.
The two map segments at right come from the Brighton Fire Maps. The item to the left is from the 1911 Fire Map and the one to the right is from the 1926 Fire Map. This shows that, in 1911, there was a house near the street, #25 Young St., with no small building up against 19/21. Then, in the 1926 map, that old house at #25 is gone and a new house has been built back away from the street and a bit south from the old one. We can also clearly see that there is a small structure up against 19/21 and at the street. This was the barber shop of Joseph Boffrey and we see that the only reference in voters lists to 23 Young Street is in 1968 when Joseph Boffrey is shown to be living there. Obviously, the small building was removed at some point after that and we now see a grassy lawn in front of #25 and beside the apartments.
The two map segments at right come from the Brighton Fire Maps. The item to the left is from the 1911 Fire Map and the one to the right is from the 1926 Fire Map. This shows that, in 1911, there was a house near the street, #25 Young St., with no small building up against 19/21. Then, in the 1926 map, that old house at #25 is gone and a new house has been built back away from the street and a bit south from the old one. We can also clearly see that there is a small structure up against 19/21 and at the street. This was the barber shop of Joseph Boffrey and we see that the only reference in voters lists to 23 Young Street is in 1968 when Joseph Boffrey is shown to be living there. Obviously, the small building was removed at some point after that and we now see a grassy lawn in front of #25 and beside the apartments.
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25 Young St. – Village Lot 1
Today’s Young Street shows two modest houses north of the apartments, #25 and #27, which occupy the bulk of the northern part of the old lot 1. The fire maps show that the house at #27 was there before 1911 but the house at #25 was new between 1911 and 1926.
The history of these two properties is the same in that both are included in the sale of land in lot 1 by Leonora Singleton to Thomas Hewitt in 1862. He had recently brought his family from Ireland and worked as a mail agent at the railway station. We can expect that Mr. Hewitt built a house on this lot, but he died at age 39 in 1868, resulting in the property being passed to his son Robert James Hewitt.
In 1884, Robert granted the property to his mother, Matilda, who was a widow again. She had married Thomas Moffet in 1875, but he died in 1883. Then, in 1901, Matilda granted the property to Minnie, Robert’s wife, and after that to Robert. In 1911, Minnie Hewitt sold the property to Flora A. Lawson, who was Flora Ann Buck (1869-1930), wife of Charles A. Lawson.
It was at this point that we see a split in the property. In 1920, Charles and Flora Lawson sold part of the property to Albert H. Smith and in 1921, part was sold to John W. Kemp. It appears as if the sale to Albert Smith was what became 25 Young Street and the sale to John W. Kemp was #27. Let’s remember that street numbers were not implemented by the post office until the 1930s. Before that, your address was your name and your street name.
In any case, #25 was quickly turned over to Albert Smith’s son-in-law, Frank Atkinson, the jeweller down a few doors on Young Street. We might expect that the Atkinson family had something to do with the removal of the old house and the building of the new house, since Frank’s father was William Atkinson, the prolific builder in Brighton.
Over several years, there was a series of land transactions between Adam H. Smith and Frank Atkinson, including a house lease. However, by 1935, one transaction was a foreclosure and the property was taken over by Douglas McColl, a mortgage holder. He owned #25 until 1946 when it was sold to Allan and Dorothy Duffy. Allan Duffy (1910-1982) was born in Toronto but married Dorothy Blyth in Cramahe Township in 1938, she of the large Blyth family well known in the aera of Colborne and Salem. Allan was a baker and he was involved in more than one bakery in Brighton. There was one at 28 Main Street in 1934 but the most well known was at 1 Young Street, lasting until 1942.
By the mid-1960s, Allan and Dorothy Duffy had moved to St. Catharines and there were tenants living at 25 Young St., including Hugh Smith, a veterinarian in 1965 and, in 1972, Carl and Rosa Van Shaik. In 1973, the property was sold to the Van Shaik’s. It is interesting to note that both Allan and his wife, Dorothy, as well as his brother, Claud Duffy, are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Brighton.
The history of these two properties is the same in that both are included in the sale of land in lot 1 by Leonora Singleton to Thomas Hewitt in 1862. He had recently brought his family from Ireland and worked as a mail agent at the railway station. We can expect that Mr. Hewitt built a house on this lot, but he died at age 39 in 1868, resulting in the property being passed to his son Robert James Hewitt.
In 1884, Robert granted the property to his mother, Matilda, who was a widow again. She had married Thomas Moffet in 1875, but he died in 1883. Then, in 1901, Matilda granted the property to Minnie, Robert’s wife, and after that to Robert. In 1911, Minnie Hewitt sold the property to Flora A. Lawson, who was Flora Ann Buck (1869-1930), wife of Charles A. Lawson.
It was at this point that we see a split in the property. In 1920, Charles and Flora Lawson sold part of the property to Albert H. Smith and in 1921, part was sold to John W. Kemp. It appears as if the sale to Albert Smith was what became 25 Young Street and the sale to John W. Kemp was #27. Let’s remember that street numbers were not implemented by the post office until the 1930s. Before that, your address was your name and your street name.
In any case, #25 was quickly turned over to Albert Smith’s son-in-law, Frank Atkinson, the jeweller down a few doors on Young Street. We might expect that the Atkinson family had something to do with the removal of the old house and the building of the new house, since Frank’s father was William Atkinson, the prolific builder in Brighton.
Over several years, there was a series of land transactions between Adam H. Smith and Frank Atkinson, including a house lease. However, by 1935, one transaction was a foreclosure and the property was taken over by Douglas McColl, a mortgage holder. He owned #25 until 1946 when it was sold to Allan and Dorothy Duffy. Allan Duffy (1910-1982) was born in Toronto but married Dorothy Blyth in Cramahe Township in 1938, she of the large Blyth family well known in the aera of Colborne and Salem. Allan was a baker and he was involved in more than one bakery in Brighton. There was one at 28 Main Street in 1934 but the most well known was at 1 Young Street, lasting until 1942.
By the mid-1960s, Allan and Dorothy Duffy had moved to St. Catharines and there were tenants living at 25 Young St., including Hugh Smith, a veterinarian in 1965 and, in 1972, Carl and Rosa Van Shaik. In 1973, the property was sold to the Van Shaik’s. It is interesting to note that both Allan and his wife, Dorothy, as well as his brother, Claud Duffy, are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Brighton.
27 Young St. – Village Lot 1
In 1921, Charles and Flora Lawson sold the property that would be #27 Young Street to John W. Kemp and he turned it around quickly to Blanch Harvie. The first sale in May of 1921 was a family affair and a quick investment. John Wesley Kemp was a 56-year-old farmer near Orland and he was married to Alice Anne Lawson, a niece of Charles and Flora Lawson. The second sale, in September 1921, generated a profit of $250.
Blanche Town (1868-1943) was a daughter of Harvie Town and Fanny Rose, farmers near Orland. She married John Russell Vansicklen in 1895 but he died in 1912, so she married Thomas Harvie in 1919. She purchased the home at 27 Young Street and lived there until her death in 1943. Her estate sold the property to William and Edith Carter, an English couple who were recent immigrants.
They sold in 1949 to Reginald Atkinson, who was married to Ted Hennesey’s sister, Dorothy. Reginald Atkinson sold #27 in 1952 to Adella Clara Blodgett (1889-1959), a spinster lady from Alnwick Township. Her estate sold it to Ted Hennessey who was from a farm north of Orland and became very active in Brighton Business. He had a garage at 20 Young Street called Hennessey’s Body and Paint Shop where folks went to see what new-fangled equipment he had for auto body work. He also started the Brighton Sports and Hobby Shop just south of the body shop.
In 1962, Ted Hennessey sold #27 to Lorne Lockwood and he turned it around quickly to Hugh Martin. Charles Hugh Martin (1933-2011) was married to Ida Lillian Loveless in 1955. The Voters Lists for 1965 and 1968 show this family living at 27 Young St., Hugh working as a truck driver. The house was in the family until Ida sold it in 1991.
Blanche Town (1868-1943) was a daughter of Harvie Town and Fanny Rose, farmers near Orland. She married John Russell Vansicklen in 1895 but he died in 1912, so she married Thomas Harvie in 1919. She purchased the home at 27 Young Street and lived there until her death in 1943. Her estate sold the property to William and Edith Carter, an English couple who were recent immigrants.
They sold in 1949 to Reginald Atkinson, who was married to Ted Hennesey’s sister, Dorothy. Reginald Atkinson sold #27 in 1952 to Adella Clara Blodgett (1889-1959), a spinster lady from Alnwick Township. Her estate sold it to Ted Hennessey who was from a farm north of Orland and became very active in Brighton Business. He had a garage at 20 Young Street called Hennessey’s Body and Paint Shop where folks went to see what new-fangled equipment he had for auto body work. He also started the Brighton Sports and Hobby Shop just south of the body shop.
In 1962, Ted Hennessey sold #27 to Lorne Lockwood and he turned it around quickly to Hugh Martin. Charles Hugh Martin (1933-2011) was married to Ida Lillian Loveless in 1955. The Voters Lists for 1965 and 1968 show this family living at 27 Young St., Hugh working as a truck driver. The house was in the family until Ida sold it in 1991.
31 Young Street – Village Lot 2
This segment from the Belden County Atlas Map of 1878 shows the lots along the east side of Young from Dundas to George Street. It can be a reference to orient ourselves when discussing individual properties on the street.
Today, there is a house at #31 Young Street, set back from street, a driveway on the north side, and a garage behind to the east. A welcoming veranda looks out onto the street. In terms of land records, this house is in lot 2, Young Street East.
The history of this lot, like the others east of Young Street, starts with the Singleton family. Lot 2 begins a separate life in 1868 when Leonora Singleton sold it to James Nesbitt, the merchant at Main and Ontario Streets who was being very active in real estate investment around this time.
He sold lot 2 two years later to Maria I. Cook, the wife of Herman Levi Cook (1828-1905) who was a doctor in Napanee. Herman was connected to Brighton through two of his siblings being married to children of Bidald Franklin, the fellow who owned a large tannery on the north side of Main Street, just east of the Hodges Inn, where the multi-unit housing development is today. Although the family came from eastern Ontario - Osnabruck Township, Stormont County to be exact - they lived mostly in Napanee. However, the 1871 Census shows the family in Brighton, but then back to Napanee and later moving to Toronto. The question of whether Herman Cook practiced medicine in Brighton, or for how long, are unclear based on the records available at this time.
There does appear to have been a mortgage involved, with Elizabeth J. Ferris, a daughter of Matthew Ferris and soon to be the wife of Harry Clifford Webb. He was part of the Webb family who built the Webb Block at the corner of Main and Prince Edward Streets. The mortgage was paid up and in 1902, Maria I. Cook sold lot 2 to Henry Meade. The Cook family was living in Toronto by this time and Herman L Cook died there in 1905.
Henry Meade (1851-1925) was the son of Dr. Henry Meade and Eliza Ann Singleton. He remained single and was described as a druggist or chemist, which today means a pharmacist. Since his father died young in 1858, Harry, as he was often called, along with his mother, carried on real estate deals in Brighton that were initiated by his father. One project resulted in the sub-division on Meade Street. Harry Meade did a lot of travelling as well, and it appears that he moved to Toronto at some point. He died in Homewood Sanitorium in Guelph in 1925.
In 1920, Harry Meade sold lot 2 to Charles Curtis Harris (1875-1941) who was from Alton, in Peel County. We was a tinsmith and had connections to Brighton because his mother was Elda Bull, a daughter of George Bull and Charlotte Potts. She later married James Alfred Robson, and one of their children, Percy C. Robson, married Jennie Viva Wade whose family moved to Saskatchewan.
Curtis Harris had a tinsmith and plumbing business at 9 Young Street, even investing in property just north of the Dundas and Young Street corner. By 1921, Mr. Harris sold this land and would be described in the 1921 Census as a mechanic in a factory. He sold lot 2 in 1923 to Robert J. Taylor and soon after that, the Harris family move to Kingsville in Essex County where he worked as a merchant in sheet metal.
Robert James Taylor and his wife Essie Madgley were from Reach Township, near Port Perry. He was another tinsmith and plumber and he took over Curtis Harris’s business and home. The Taylors were fixtures in Brighton for a long time. Robert J. Taylor is mentioned several times in Susan Brose’s book History of Brighton Business, such as this item in 1930.
“The West End Canning Co., are busily engaged erecting a 40-foot x 40-foot two storey addition to their already large plant. They have also put a new foundation under the old main building and enlarged the size of the business office. The main building and the 40-foot addition will provide the storage room that has been found necessary, owing to the growth of their business. A new large cooling tank has been added and the receiving platform has been doubled in size. Three new cappers have been added to the equipment and a new three stall garage occupies the rear of the premises. The premises at present are a busy scene and everything is being pushed forward to be ready for this season. Mr. R. J. Taylor is doing the plumbing work. Messrs. Maybee and Brown are looking forward to the biggest year’s business in the history of the firm.”
Robert retired in the 1940s, but it was not until 1973 that Essie, his widow, finally sold 31 Young Street to Raymond Covert who sold quickly to Gerald and Marjorie Langdon. Frank “Gerald” Langdon (1908-2006) was a son of Goldwin Smith Langdon and Maggie Smith. He and his wife, Marjorie Stiles, operated a grocery store and gas station just west of Railroad Street (now Maplewood), on the south side of Main Street. We can expect that the purchase of 31 Young Street in 1973 was to provide a retirement home. Gerald Langdon passed away in 2006 and Marjorie transferred the property to their daughter, Beth Langdon, in 2008.
The Basil McMaster Recordings
Gerald Langdon was one of the speakers in a series of audio recordings that have been preserved in the hands of the Brighton Digital Archives. Basil McMaster went around town talking to residents who spoke of their lives on the street. Reference will be made to these recordings in this document because Gerald Langdon lived here at 31 Young Street and recalled people and events in the area.
Today, there is a house at #31 Young Street, set back from street, a driveway on the north side, and a garage behind to the east. A welcoming veranda looks out onto the street. In terms of land records, this house is in lot 2, Young Street East.
The history of this lot, like the others east of Young Street, starts with the Singleton family. Lot 2 begins a separate life in 1868 when Leonora Singleton sold it to James Nesbitt, the merchant at Main and Ontario Streets who was being very active in real estate investment around this time.
He sold lot 2 two years later to Maria I. Cook, the wife of Herman Levi Cook (1828-1905) who was a doctor in Napanee. Herman was connected to Brighton through two of his siblings being married to children of Bidald Franklin, the fellow who owned a large tannery on the north side of Main Street, just east of the Hodges Inn, where the multi-unit housing development is today. Although the family came from eastern Ontario - Osnabruck Township, Stormont County to be exact - they lived mostly in Napanee. However, the 1871 Census shows the family in Brighton, but then back to Napanee and later moving to Toronto. The question of whether Herman Cook practiced medicine in Brighton, or for how long, are unclear based on the records available at this time.
There does appear to have been a mortgage involved, with Elizabeth J. Ferris, a daughter of Matthew Ferris and soon to be the wife of Harry Clifford Webb. He was part of the Webb family who built the Webb Block at the corner of Main and Prince Edward Streets. The mortgage was paid up and in 1902, Maria I. Cook sold lot 2 to Henry Meade. The Cook family was living in Toronto by this time and Herman L Cook died there in 1905.
Henry Meade (1851-1925) was the son of Dr. Henry Meade and Eliza Ann Singleton. He remained single and was described as a druggist or chemist, which today means a pharmacist. Since his father died young in 1858, Harry, as he was often called, along with his mother, carried on real estate deals in Brighton that were initiated by his father. One project resulted in the sub-division on Meade Street. Harry Meade did a lot of travelling as well, and it appears that he moved to Toronto at some point. He died in Homewood Sanitorium in Guelph in 1925.
In 1920, Harry Meade sold lot 2 to Charles Curtis Harris (1875-1941) who was from Alton, in Peel County. We was a tinsmith and had connections to Brighton because his mother was Elda Bull, a daughter of George Bull and Charlotte Potts. She later married James Alfred Robson, and one of their children, Percy C. Robson, married Jennie Viva Wade whose family moved to Saskatchewan.
Curtis Harris had a tinsmith and plumbing business at 9 Young Street, even investing in property just north of the Dundas and Young Street corner. By 1921, Mr. Harris sold this land and would be described in the 1921 Census as a mechanic in a factory. He sold lot 2 in 1923 to Robert J. Taylor and soon after that, the Harris family move to Kingsville in Essex County where he worked as a merchant in sheet metal.
Robert James Taylor and his wife Essie Madgley were from Reach Township, near Port Perry. He was another tinsmith and plumber and he took over Curtis Harris’s business and home. The Taylors were fixtures in Brighton for a long time. Robert J. Taylor is mentioned several times in Susan Brose’s book History of Brighton Business, such as this item in 1930.
“The West End Canning Co., are busily engaged erecting a 40-foot x 40-foot two storey addition to their already large plant. They have also put a new foundation under the old main building and enlarged the size of the business office. The main building and the 40-foot addition will provide the storage room that has been found necessary, owing to the growth of their business. A new large cooling tank has been added and the receiving platform has been doubled in size. Three new cappers have been added to the equipment and a new three stall garage occupies the rear of the premises. The premises at present are a busy scene and everything is being pushed forward to be ready for this season. Mr. R. J. Taylor is doing the plumbing work. Messrs. Maybee and Brown are looking forward to the biggest year’s business in the history of the firm.”
Robert retired in the 1940s, but it was not until 1973 that Essie, his widow, finally sold 31 Young Street to Raymond Covert who sold quickly to Gerald and Marjorie Langdon. Frank “Gerald” Langdon (1908-2006) was a son of Goldwin Smith Langdon and Maggie Smith. He and his wife, Marjorie Stiles, operated a grocery store and gas station just west of Railroad Street (now Maplewood), on the south side of Main Street. We can expect that the purchase of 31 Young Street in 1973 was to provide a retirement home. Gerald Langdon passed away in 2006 and Marjorie transferred the property to their daughter, Beth Langdon, in 2008.
The Basil McMaster Recordings
Gerald Langdon was one of the speakers in a series of audio recordings that have been preserved in the hands of the Brighton Digital Archives. Basil McMaster went around town talking to residents who spoke of their lives on the street. Reference will be made to these recordings in this document because Gerald Langdon lived here at 31 Young Street and recalled people and events in the area.
Lot 23 – the Old Church and School
Gerald Langdon said in an audio recording in the 1970s that “This house of mine was built by Kurt Harris who came here I would say 50 years ago, perhaps more. He came here and started a plumbing business which is now owned by Doug Haig on Yonge Street. He started the business and built this house out of the Presbyterian Church which was at the back and later turned into a grammar school.”
This reference to a church on Young Street helps us understand a little-known fact of local history.
Here is another mention of the church in the Tobey Book “The first church was erected on Young Street, south of Dr. Dean's residence. It was used by all denominations although camp meetings were held in the summer. Later, Presbyterians engaged Mr. Duncan to preach every Sunday afternoon in this building. He preached in Colborne in the morning."
Also, in the book “That’s Just the Way They Were”, we see this. “A log church was built on Young Street in 1834 in Brighton with classes conducted during the week. J. B. Dixon was hired as the schoolmaster.”
The Brighton Business book says “The old white church on Young, which was used for storage, was demolished and replaced by two houses.”
We can learn more about this by comparing two map segments, as shown on the right. The top map is from the Brighton Plan of 1866 and the bottom one is from the Belden County Atlas Map of 1878.
Looking closely, it is clear that there was a lot 23 in between lots 2 and 3 in the 1866 map, but lot 23 is not there in the 1878 map. This suggests that the old church building referred to in our history books was located in this lot 23. In 1868 a major new plan was put in place and some lots were merged if there was no practical reason to keep them separate.
The 1878 map shows that lot 23 was removed and the space given over to lots 2 and 3, and maybe 4 as well. We can assume that the old church and school was too run-down to use for anything except a tool shed, but nobody wanted to remove it.
In any case, it seems that the old church which had been used as the first school in the village as well, remained in place until 1920 when Curtis Harris acquired lot 2. Gerald Langdon tells us that the old building was back off the street and Harris used material from it to build his new house. That is 31 Young Street described above.
This reference to a church on Young Street helps us understand a little-known fact of local history.
Here is another mention of the church in the Tobey Book “The first church was erected on Young Street, south of Dr. Dean's residence. It was used by all denominations although camp meetings were held in the summer. Later, Presbyterians engaged Mr. Duncan to preach every Sunday afternoon in this building. He preached in Colborne in the morning."
Also, in the book “That’s Just the Way They Were”, we see this. “A log church was built on Young Street in 1834 in Brighton with classes conducted during the week. J. B. Dixon was hired as the schoolmaster.”
The Brighton Business book says “The old white church on Young, which was used for storage, was demolished and replaced by two houses.”
We can learn more about this by comparing two map segments, as shown on the right. The top map is from the Brighton Plan of 1866 and the bottom one is from the Belden County Atlas Map of 1878.
Looking closely, it is clear that there was a lot 23 in between lots 2 and 3 in the 1866 map, but lot 23 is not there in the 1878 map. This suggests that the old church building referred to in our history books was located in this lot 23. In 1868 a major new plan was put in place and some lots were merged if there was no practical reason to keep them separate.
The 1878 map shows that lot 23 was removed and the space given over to lots 2 and 3, and maybe 4 as well. We can assume that the old church and school was too run-down to use for anything except a tool shed, but nobody wanted to remove it.
In any case, it seems that the old church which had been used as the first school in the village as well, remained in place until 1920 when Curtis Harris acquired lot 2. Gerald Langdon tells us that the old building was back off the street and Harris used material from it to build his new house. That is 31 Young Street described above.
33 & 35 & 37 Young Street – Village Lot 3 & 4
The Dean House
The house at 33 Young Street is bordered very closely on its north side by the Brighton Mews Condominiums which have the addresses 35 and 37 Young Street. These two buildings occupy both lot 3 and lot 4, although the Mews edges over into lot 3 a good deal.
In the land registry records, the details for lot 3 and lot 4 are virtually identical and are dominated by the Dean family.
In 1869, Leonora Singleton sold lot 3 and lot 4 to Mary A. Dean. This was Mary Ann Ferris (1836-1883) who was a daughter of Matthew Ferris and Jennie Marshall. Just the year before, Mary Ann had married Noble Dean, a doctor who had already been practicing a few years when he came to Brighton in the mid-1860s. We are told that he had his office over the village Council Chamber in 1866. His origins go back to Joel Dean (1731-1815) who came to the lakeshore of Hamilton Township in the first few years of the 1800s and established farms east of Port Hope and over into Hamilton township, west of Cobourg. The Dean family tree is extensive.
In the land registry records, the details for lot 3 and lot 4 are virtually identical and are dominated by the Dean family.
In 1869, Leonora Singleton sold lot 3 and lot 4 to Mary A. Dean. This was Mary Ann Ferris (1836-1883) who was a daughter of Matthew Ferris and Jennie Marshall. Just the year before, Mary Ann had married Noble Dean, a doctor who had already been practicing a few years when he came to Brighton in the mid-1860s. We are told that he had his office over the village Council Chamber in 1866. His origins go back to Joel Dean (1731-1815) who came to the lakeshore of Hamilton Township in the first few years of the 1800s and established farms east of Port Hope and over into Hamilton township, west of Cobourg. The Dean family tree is extensive.
By 1869, Dr. Dean was well established in Brighton and wanted to demonstrate as much by building a large home. Gerald Langdon suggests in his recording for Basi McMaster that “somewhere in his travels he saw a house that he liked and he got the blueprints. He came back here and built it.” Be that as it may, Dr. Dean built a very impressive house.
Here is the best picture we have of the Dean House. It was built of brick with three full storeys and a glassed-in sunroom on the south side.
Here is the best picture we have of the Dean House. It was built of brick with three full storeys and a glassed-in sunroom on the south side.
If we look at the aerial photograph of Brighton in the 1960s, we can see that the Dean House at #37 Young, was considerably larger than the other houses in the area. It was built toward the north side of lot 4, leaving a large yard to the south, including part of lot 3. It was only much later that the house at 33 Young was built in lot 3, well to the south of the Dean House. Even here in the 1960s, we can see that there was a large yard between the two houses.
Mary Ann Dean died in 1883 and Noble Dean married Theresa Montgomery in 1884. She was a daughter of Cornelius Montgomery and Elizabeth Lawson, farmers from east of Hilton. Theresa’s brother was Wesley Montgomery who would be MPP in the early 1920s.
Interestingly, no land records represent these changes and the next record of note is dated 1899 when both lots 3 and 4 were sold by Marshall Dean (1871-1926), the first child of Noble and Mary Ann Dean, to Theresa (Montgomery) Dean, Noble Dean’s second wife.
Gerald Langdon’s recording includes this “I know her granddaughter Elizabeth Dean was in my aunt’s final year, what we call fifth form in those years up to 1936. She had come to stay with her grandmother because the lady was getting very old. Then the property went right back straight to Alice Street. There was this big open field or I should call it the big tennis court, which was a gathering place for teenagers of my age in our high school years. The widow Dean died and it became an apartment.”
There are a few interesting points here. The Dean property went all the way east to Alice Street and there was a big open field east of the house. Maybe there had been tennis courts there or maybe this was just a euphemism by Mr. Langdon.
Mary Ann Dean died in 1883 and Noble Dean married Theresa Montgomery in 1884. She was a daughter of Cornelius Montgomery and Elizabeth Lawson, farmers from east of Hilton. Theresa’s brother was Wesley Montgomery who would be MPP in the early 1920s.
Interestingly, no land records represent these changes and the next record of note is dated 1899 when both lots 3 and 4 were sold by Marshall Dean (1871-1926), the first child of Noble and Mary Ann Dean, to Theresa (Montgomery) Dean, Noble Dean’s second wife.
Gerald Langdon’s recording includes this “I know her granddaughter Elizabeth Dean was in my aunt’s final year, what we call fifth form in those years up to 1936. She had come to stay with her grandmother because the lady was getting very old. Then the property went right back straight to Alice Street. There was this big open field or I should call it the big tennis court, which was a gathering place for teenagers of my age in our high school years. The widow Dean died and it became an apartment.”
There are a few interesting points here. The Dean property went all the way east to Alice Street and there was a big open field east of the house. Maybe there had been tennis courts there or maybe this was just a euphemism by Mr. Langdon.
A snip of the map in OnLand.ca shows how the land for the condo development is highlighted as a large space between Alice and Young Streets. To a large degree, this reflects the Dean property in lots 3 and 4.
Noble Dean died in 1912, and after that his widow, Theresa, lived there with grandchildren coming to stay but she was largely alone. Certainly, by the time Theresa passed away in 1942, the house was very much run down and the grounds in poor shape. This would have been a perfect place for teenagers to gather and do what teenagers do.
In 1943, the estate of Theresa Dean passed the property to Olive Idella Dean, who was the wife of her son, Kieth Dean. Only three years later, in 1946, the property was sold to Hilda Montgomery (1901-1985), a niece and daughter of Wesley Montgomery. The Montgomery family had lots of land holdings, some in Brighton and some in the Cankerville area between Brighton and Hilton. At this point, the old Dean House became an apartment building.
According to the 1965 Canada Voters Lists, tenants at 37 Young Street were Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. James Loveless, both men working as laborers. Also included were Mr. and Mrs. Roger Rallison, he working as a salesman. Edward Henry Rogal was also there, described as a gentleman, which means retired. The 1968 lists show Mr. and Mrs. Donald Moynes, another labourer, as well as Clinton Pickle, a gentleman and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patterson, he working as a civil servant. In the 1972 list, Viva Schwab, a merchant, is the only tenant in an incomplete list.
Hilda Montgomery owned this property until 1970 and Gerald Langdon recalls that the building deteriorated a good deal over these years. One might imagine the cost of repair and maintenance for a large and elaborate building like this, and it is no wonder it became worse for wear.
Hilda Montgomery was age 50 in 1951 when she married Scott Hutcheson. She continued to live on Prince Edward Street, across Chapel Street from the United Church. Scott Hutcheson died in 1953.
In 1970, Hilda Montgomery sold lot 3 and lot 4 and the development of the Brighton Mews Condominiums began. The facility opened in 1983.
All of this leaves one nagging question. When was the house at 33 Young Street constructed? Frankly, this researcher has seen little to suggest a date for this house.
However, the Canada Voters Lists show that in both 1965 and 1968, Mrs. Rose Brintnell was living at 33 Young Street. This seems to suggest the house was built before that. If anyone has further information on this point, please pass it along.
Noble Dean died in 1912, and after that his widow, Theresa, lived there with grandchildren coming to stay but she was largely alone. Certainly, by the time Theresa passed away in 1942, the house was very much run down and the grounds in poor shape. This would have been a perfect place for teenagers to gather and do what teenagers do.
In 1943, the estate of Theresa Dean passed the property to Olive Idella Dean, who was the wife of her son, Kieth Dean. Only three years later, in 1946, the property was sold to Hilda Montgomery (1901-1985), a niece and daughter of Wesley Montgomery. The Montgomery family had lots of land holdings, some in Brighton and some in the Cankerville area between Brighton and Hilton. At this point, the old Dean House became an apartment building.
According to the 1965 Canada Voters Lists, tenants at 37 Young Street were Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. James Loveless, both men working as laborers. Also included were Mr. and Mrs. Roger Rallison, he working as a salesman. Edward Henry Rogal was also there, described as a gentleman, which means retired. The 1968 lists show Mr. and Mrs. Donald Moynes, another labourer, as well as Clinton Pickle, a gentleman and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patterson, he working as a civil servant. In the 1972 list, Viva Schwab, a merchant, is the only tenant in an incomplete list.
Hilda Montgomery owned this property until 1970 and Gerald Langdon recalls that the building deteriorated a good deal over these years. One might imagine the cost of repair and maintenance for a large and elaborate building like this, and it is no wonder it became worse for wear.
Hilda Montgomery was age 50 in 1951 when she married Scott Hutcheson. She continued to live on Prince Edward Street, across Chapel Street from the United Church. Scott Hutcheson died in 1953.
In 1970, Hilda Montgomery sold lot 3 and lot 4 and the development of the Brighton Mews Condominiums began. The facility opened in 1983.
All of this leaves one nagging question. When was the house at 33 Young Street constructed? Frankly, this researcher has seen little to suggest a date for this house.
However, the Canada Voters Lists show that in both 1965 and 1968, Mrs. Rose Brintnell was living at 33 Young Street. This seems to suggest the house was built before that. If anyone has further information on this point, please pass it along.
41 Young Street – Village Lots 22 & 5
Immediately north of lot 4 is lot 22, which is out of step in terms of numbering and is unusually narrow compared with the others along the street. We might guess why lot 22 exists if we step back and look at the wider map of Young Street.
The 1878 Belden County Atlas Maps shows that Dorman Street is in its infancy, going west off Young Street. Lot 22 is across Young Street from Dorman Street and it could be that the original plan was to have Dorman Street go all the way across to Alice St. For some reason, that never happened, leaving a narrow strip of land high and dry, which they numbered as a separate lot. At least that is one theory.
In any case, we can see that the land transactions are identical for lot 22 and lot 5, meaning the two pieces of land were bought and sold together. In modern terms, we can say that lot 22 became the driveway and parking space for the folks who live at 41 Young Street. The house itself is in lot 5.
These two lots took a very different path than the others. In 1864, Leonora Singleton sold both lots to George Dowler. This was George Quaile Dowler (1836-1907) who was born in Ireland but came to Brighton in the 1850s. He married Agnes Euphemia Squier (1851-1911) who was one of the two daughters of Abijah Squier, owner of a large section of land that would become south-west Brighton, including the train station. Abijah had no sons, so he passed large land holdings to his daughters just before the time that demand for small village lots grew and subdivisions were created south of Main Street and west of Centre Street. Second-generation families became wealthy from selling small village lots where homes were built over the next few decades. As a result, George Dowler and his wife Agnes were very active in real estate investment around Brighton well into the 1890s, even after they had moved to Toronto.
In any case, we can see that the land transactions are identical for lot 22 and lot 5, meaning the two pieces of land were bought and sold together. In modern terms, we can say that lot 22 became the driveway and parking space for the folks who live at 41 Young Street. The house itself is in lot 5.
These two lots took a very different path than the others. In 1864, Leonora Singleton sold both lots to George Dowler. This was George Quaile Dowler (1836-1907) who was born in Ireland but came to Brighton in the 1850s. He married Agnes Euphemia Squier (1851-1911) who was one of the two daughters of Abijah Squier, owner of a large section of land that would become south-west Brighton, including the train station. Abijah had no sons, so he passed large land holdings to his daughters just before the time that demand for small village lots grew and subdivisions were created south of Main Street and west of Centre Street. Second-generation families became wealthy from selling small village lots where homes were built over the next few decades. As a result, George Dowler and his wife Agnes were very active in real estate investment around Brighton well into the 1890s, even after they had moved to Toronto.
In 1872, George Dowler sold the lots to James Field Rolls (1839-1904) who was a physician and pharmacist, often called a chemist in those days. His father, Charles Philip Rolls, had been a doctor in St. Thomas, Ontario and his brother, Charles Phillips Rolls is indicated in Brighton in the 1880s. James F. Rolls married Alberta A. Meade, a daughter of Henry Meade, a doctor and real estate speculator in Brighton.
We might speculate about the eight years Dowler owned lot 5. It could be that he had a house built at that time, which is what he did with several other properties in town. Since he sold to a professional, it is fair to assume that there was a decent house on the property already. This kind of modest brick house speaks to the 1860s and 1870s timeframe in terms of design and demand for modest family homes on streets by tradesmen and professionals who could afford the price.
After ten years, lots 22 and 5 were sold to Rev. Peter Duncan (1836-1913) who had come to Brighton as a Presbyterian minister in the early 1860s, sometimes preaching in the old church that still stood at lot 23, Young Street East. He married Leonora Helen Meade, another daughter of Henry Meade, so Duncan and Rolls were brothers-in-law. The two lots were turned around quickly to Alberta A. Rolls, wife of James F. Rolls, and soon that couple sold it to Harry Meade.
Harry Meade was in charge of family land deals, along with his mother, Eliza Ann (Singleton) Meade, since Dr. Henry Meade had died in 1858. There are a lot of land transactions related to these folks. Meade Street in Brighton represents one of the subdivisions they created.
Harry Meade held the lots on Young Street from 1883 to 1910 when they were sold to Marshal Oregon Smith (1848-1930), a farmer from west of Cankerville. By 1911 he was living on Young Street in Brighton and by 1920 he sold some land to the Soldiers Land Board with significant returns. Marshall Smith sold lot 22 and 5 to David and Fred Sprung, a father and son duo from Ameliasburgh Twp. They had the property for a decade and sold in 1931 to Laura B. Bate, who was Marshall Smith’s daughter and wife of Edward Henry Bate, a farmer in Brighton Township.
In 1941, Laura B. Bate’s estate sold 41 Young Street to Flora C. Montgomery (1882-1966) who was the widow of Keith Montgomery which made her a sister-in-law of Theresa Montgomery, the wife of Dr. Noble Dean. This is very typical of how real estate deals were done routinely between members of the prosperous families in town.
In 1948, Flora Montgomery sold to Arthur & Hazel Boyce who would live at 41 Young Street until 1970. Arthur Cyril Boyce (1916-1976), most often known as Cy Boyce, operated a radio and TV shop on Prince Edward Street at the Main Street intersection. This historian went to high school at E.N.S.S. with Jeanie Boyce, their daughter.
In 1970, Cy Boyce sold the property to Ivan Branscombe and his wife Beryl George. Ivan served with the CAF. After eleven years, they sold to Richard and Laurie Hill, who still had it in 1997.
We might speculate about the eight years Dowler owned lot 5. It could be that he had a house built at that time, which is what he did with several other properties in town. Since he sold to a professional, it is fair to assume that there was a decent house on the property already. This kind of modest brick house speaks to the 1860s and 1870s timeframe in terms of design and demand for modest family homes on streets by tradesmen and professionals who could afford the price.
After ten years, lots 22 and 5 were sold to Rev. Peter Duncan (1836-1913) who had come to Brighton as a Presbyterian minister in the early 1860s, sometimes preaching in the old church that still stood at lot 23, Young Street East. He married Leonora Helen Meade, another daughter of Henry Meade, so Duncan and Rolls were brothers-in-law. The two lots were turned around quickly to Alberta A. Rolls, wife of James F. Rolls, and soon that couple sold it to Harry Meade.
Harry Meade was in charge of family land deals, along with his mother, Eliza Ann (Singleton) Meade, since Dr. Henry Meade had died in 1858. There are a lot of land transactions related to these folks. Meade Street in Brighton represents one of the subdivisions they created.
Harry Meade held the lots on Young Street from 1883 to 1910 when they were sold to Marshal Oregon Smith (1848-1930), a farmer from west of Cankerville. By 1911 he was living on Young Street in Brighton and by 1920 he sold some land to the Soldiers Land Board with significant returns. Marshall Smith sold lot 22 and 5 to David and Fred Sprung, a father and son duo from Ameliasburgh Twp. They had the property for a decade and sold in 1931 to Laura B. Bate, who was Marshall Smith’s daughter and wife of Edward Henry Bate, a farmer in Brighton Township.
In 1941, Laura B. Bate’s estate sold 41 Young Street to Flora C. Montgomery (1882-1966) who was the widow of Keith Montgomery which made her a sister-in-law of Theresa Montgomery, the wife of Dr. Noble Dean. This is very typical of how real estate deals were done routinely between members of the prosperous families in town.
In 1948, Flora Montgomery sold to Arthur & Hazel Boyce who would live at 41 Young Street until 1970. Arthur Cyril Boyce (1916-1976), most often known as Cy Boyce, operated a radio and TV shop on Prince Edward Street at the Main Street intersection. This historian went to high school at E.N.S.S. with Jeanie Boyce, their daughter.
In 1970, Cy Boyce sold the property to Ivan Branscombe and his wife Beryl George. Ivan served with the CAF. After eleven years, they sold to Richard and Laurie Hill, who still had it in 1997.
45 Young St. – Village Lot 6
The house at #45 Young Street is in lot 6, which can be seen on the map here. Lot 6 has a different history because Leonora Singleton sold it to Thomas P. Gross in 1864. Thomas Pitkin Gross (1831-1909) was a son of Dr. Pitkin Gross of Brighton and he married a French girl in 1862. They had seven children before leaving for North Dakota in 1879. In the meantime, he owned Lot 6 for a decade before selling in 1873 to Owen Davies. Yes, Davies is the correct spelling, not Davis.
Owen Davies was a farmer in Brighton Township and only held the property for three years, selling in 1876 to Pitkin Gross Kemp (1839-1907), a farmer who came from near Codrington. Here is one more example of the influence of Dr. Pitkin Gross in the Brighton area. People named their children after him.
Owen Davies was a farmer in Brighton Township and only held the property for three years, selling in 1876 to Pitkin Gross Kemp (1839-1907), a farmer who came from near Codrington. Here is one more example of the influence of Dr. Pitkin Gross in the Brighton area. People named their children after him.
Kemp held lot 6 only until 1884 when it was sold to George Stacey Miller (1832-1905) who was a major player in real estate speculation in Brighton. He started with a farm east of Hilton, almost at the Brighton and Murray border, and later engaged in buying and selling of village lots in Brighton. He held Lot 6 only six years before selling to Elizabeth Gordon.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Newcomb (1853-1929) was a daughter of Stephen Bletcher Newcomb, one of the principals who built the first grist mill on the Brighton and Seymour Gravel Road at Cole Creek. The creek would later be called Cold Creek and the village that grew up around the mill was Newcomb’s Mill, later called Orland. Lizzie married James Wilmot Gordon (1852-1941) who grew up in Colborne where his father was a tinsmith. He became a barrister and married Lizzie Newcomb in 1878, settling in Brighton. He was involved in building “the Gordon Block” at 28 Main Street in 1897, one of the buildings burned in the big fire in 1922.
In 1913, James and Elizabeth Gordon sold lot 6 to Isaac Oscar Proctor (1836-1916) who was a son of Isaac Chamberlain Proctor. Isaac O. never married but was heavily involved in real estate speculation and development around Brighton village. His estate sold lot 6 in 1919 to John and Mary Philp who turned it around quickly to Margaret J. Hinds. Margaret Jane Hinds (1875-1948) was a daughter of Joseph Hinds and Emma Winter and was unmarried at this time. She sold lot 6 in 1929 and married Wesley Bellamy in 1932, as his second wife. He was the High School Master at Brighton.
The lot was sold to James Henry Squires who lived in Cobourg but appears to have owned the lot from 1929 to 1948 when his estate sold it to Frank and Helen Pearsall. Frank Pearsall (1911-1977) was from Hallowell Township and was married in 1933 in Picton to Helen Elizabeth Greatrix. In 1948, he purchased land at the south-east corner of Prince Edward and Elizabeth Streets and started a garage and gas station business. He was also involved in creating and managing Pearsall’s Marina at Harbour Street. We can see that Frank and Helen lived at 45 Young Street in 1965, but they sold lot 6 in December to Irene L. Nesbitt. In 1970 she sold to Doris Rowe, who sold in 1973 to William and Alice Bain, who resold quickly to the Veterans Land Act.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Newcomb (1853-1929) was a daughter of Stephen Bletcher Newcomb, one of the principals who built the first grist mill on the Brighton and Seymour Gravel Road at Cole Creek. The creek would later be called Cold Creek and the village that grew up around the mill was Newcomb’s Mill, later called Orland. Lizzie married James Wilmot Gordon (1852-1941) who grew up in Colborne where his father was a tinsmith. He became a barrister and married Lizzie Newcomb in 1878, settling in Brighton. He was involved in building “the Gordon Block” at 28 Main Street in 1897, one of the buildings burned in the big fire in 1922.
In 1913, James and Elizabeth Gordon sold lot 6 to Isaac Oscar Proctor (1836-1916) who was a son of Isaac Chamberlain Proctor. Isaac O. never married but was heavily involved in real estate speculation and development around Brighton village. His estate sold lot 6 in 1919 to John and Mary Philp who turned it around quickly to Margaret J. Hinds. Margaret Jane Hinds (1875-1948) was a daughter of Joseph Hinds and Emma Winter and was unmarried at this time. She sold lot 6 in 1929 and married Wesley Bellamy in 1932, as his second wife. He was the High School Master at Brighton.
The lot was sold to James Henry Squires who lived in Cobourg but appears to have owned the lot from 1929 to 1948 when his estate sold it to Frank and Helen Pearsall. Frank Pearsall (1911-1977) was from Hallowell Township and was married in 1933 in Picton to Helen Elizabeth Greatrix. In 1948, he purchased land at the south-east corner of Prince Edward and Elizabeth Streets and started a garage and gas station business. He was also involved in creating and managing Pearsall’s Marina at Harbour Street. We can see that Frank and Helen lived at 45 Young Street in 1965, but they sold lot 6 in December to Irene L. Nesbitt. In 1970 she sold to Doris Rowe, who sold in 1973 to William and Alice Bain, who resold quickly to the Veterans Land Act.
47 Young Street – Village Lot 7
Lot 7 includes a strip on the south side that is part of the property for 45 Young Street. We have to be careful to pick only the records for #47. This begins with Abraham C. Singleton selling land to James H. Jacobs, who does not appear to be someone who lived in Brighton. It then went to Marie E. Gross, who was Elizabeth M. Wannamaker (1854-1937), married to Albert Gross (1841-1912), his second marriage. Lot 7 was sold to Elizabeth Purdy in 1887 and the Albert Gross family left Brighton, moving to Baltimore, Maryland.
Elizabeth Purdy was Elizabeth Ann Gifford (1833-1900) who was the wife of Hiram Purdy (1822-1890), his second marriage. He was a farmer in Cramahe Twp. who came to Brighton and worked as a book keeper.
Lena M. Davidson was Lena May Purdy (1878-1955) a daughter of Hiram & Elizabeth Purdy. She married Wellington Richmond Davidson (1876-1917) who was a miller in Brighton. He died in 1917, and Lena was a widow in 1919 when she sold Lot 7 to Mary A. & John B. Philp, who were also engaged with lot 6.
Elizabeth Purdy was Elizabeth Ann Gifford (1833-1900) who was the wife of Hiram Purdy (1822-1890), his second marriage. He was a farmer in Cramahe Twp. who came to Brighton and worked as a book keeper.
Lena M. Davidson was Lena May Purdy (1878-1955) a daughter of Hiram & Elizabeth Purdy. She married Wellington Richmond Davidson (1876-1917) who was a miller in Brighton. He died in 1917, and Lena was a widow in 1919 when she sold Lot 7 to Mary A. & John B. Philp, who were also engaged with lot 6.
In 1945, Mary A. Philp sold Lot 7 to Edward Maurice Herrington (1897-1975), a son of Lewis Finlay Herrington and Elnora Tompkins. At this time, Maurice was married to Ida M. Fiddick, his second wife, farming near Orland. In 1956, lot 7 then went to Maurice’s brother, Lloyd Herrington and his wife Addie Russell, where they are shown per the 1965 Canada Voters Lists. The lot passed on to their son, Russell Cobourn Herrington and wife Lois A. Stewart. Sadly, both Russell and Lois passed away in 1994 and the estate of Lois Aileen Herrington sold Lot 7 to Renata Annastaysa Long & Stasha Stanislova Conolly, the folks involved in Conolly Publishing at 1 Young St.
49 Young Street – Village Lot 8
Margaret Singleton sold lot 8 in 1858 to Samuel Brooks (1795-1866) who was born in Ireland. He married Margaret Asselstine around 1829, settling in Murray Township. The timing of this acquisition in his sixties suggests that it was for a retirement residence. We might infer that there was some kind of house on lot 8 at this time, although not the brick house we see today.
Please note that land records indicate a small strip on the south side of lot 8 which belongs to 47 Young. We see in several transactions “except south 4 ½ feet from front to rear with right of way”.
In 1864, Samuel Brooks sold lot 8 to Matthew Ferris who had the large dry goods store on the south-east corner of Prince Edward and Dundas Streets. It seems that Lot 8 was where the Ferris family lived, although we see various investments around the town over several decades. The main reason for suggesting this is that subsequent records show that Mr. Ferris did the same procedure with lot 8 that he did with his commercial properties. He sold to William C. Proctor in 1875, who immediately sold to Sarah E. Ferris who was Mr. Ferris’s wife and also a sister of William C. Proctor. Then, in 1882, when Sarah Ferris died, her estate granted the properties back to Matthew Ferris. Unless a date of construction for the brick house comes up, we might speculate that the substantial brick house we see at 49 Young Street today could have been built during the period that lot 8 was under Ferris ownership. He had significant means to build what, at the time, would have been a fairly large and elaborate home.
It was not until 1890 that Mr. Ferris sold lot 8 to William W. Porte, the jeweller and real estate speculator who we have seen in many other parts of Brighton. It is thought that Mr. Porte lived on Main Street west of Platt St., so lot 8 may have been a rental property for him until 1919 when he sold it to John B. and Mary A. Philp. These folks are shown to be owners of lots 6, 7 and 8, Young Street East at this time, but several things indicate they lived on lot 8. First, they purchased lot 8 for $1,550 in 1919 suggesting that the brick house we see there today was in existence already. Second, the Philp couple owned lot 8 for 27 years which may be the best indicator that they lived in the house built by Mr. Ferris.
In 1946, they sold lot 8 to Marjorie M. Wehrley for $3,800. These numbers, from $1,550 in 1919 to $3,800 in 1946, represent the natural increase in property values on a primary street in Brighton over those twenty-seven years.
The name Wehrley is problematic, but it could refer to Ruby Cheer who at this time was married to Andrew Wylie. She would marry Maurice Herrington soon after buying lot 8 from the Philps. Then she sold it to John G. and Mary McCormack. In 1965, Graham and Mary McCormack are the occupants of 49 Young Street, along with Brian who may be a teacher at the high school.
In 1966, lot 8 was sold to Josephine Sharp who was the wife of Howard Sharp, the fellow who had a grocery store on Main Street and was responsible for the development of the IGA store on the east side of Prince Edward Street, south of Elizabeth Street.
On 1970, lot 8 was sold to Stanley Greetham who had lived near Codrington for a time but was developing various businesses on Prince Edward Street and would be involved in manufacturing in the industrial area. He was also involved in buying and selling cottage properties on Presqu’ile Point.
Please note that land records indicate a small strip on the south side of lot 8 which belongs to 47 Young. We see in several transactions “except south 4 ½ feet from front to rear with right of way”.
In 1864, Samuel Brooks sold lot 8 to Matthew Ferris who had the large dry goods store on the south-east corner of Prince Edward and Dundas Streets. It seems that Lot 8 was where the Ferris family lived, although we see various investments around the town over several decades. The main reason for suggesting this is that subsequent records show that Mr. Ferris did the same procedure with lot 8 that he did with his commercial properties. He sold to William C. Proctor in 1875, who immediately sold to Sarah E. Ferris who was Mr. Ferris’s wife and also a sister of William C. Proctor. Then, in 1882, when Sarah Ferris died, her estate granted the properties back to Matthew Ferris. Unless a date of construction for the brick house comes up, we might speculate that the substantial brick house we see at 49 Young Street today could have been built during the period that lot 8 was under Ferris ownership. He had significant means to build what, at the time, would have been a fairly large and elaborate home.
It was not until 1890 that Mr. Ferris sold lot 8 to William W. Porte, the jeweller and real estate speculator who we have seen in many other parts of Brighton. It is thought that Mr. Porte lived on Main Street west of Platt St., so lot 8 may have been a rental property for him until 1919 when he sold it to John B. and Mary A. Philp. These folks are shown to be owners of lots 6, 7 and 8, Young Street East at this time, but several things indicate they lived on lot 8. First, they purchased lot 8 for $1,550 in 1919 suggesting that the brick house we see there today was in existence already. Second, the Philp couple owned lot 8 for 27 years which may be the best indicator that they lived in the house built by Mr. Ferris.
In 1946, they sold lot 8 to Marjorie M. Wehrley for $3,800. These numbers, from $1,550 in 1919 to $3,800 in 1946, represent the natural increase in property values on a primary street in Brighton over those twenty-seven years.
The name Wehrley is problematic, but it could refer to Ruby Cheer who at this time was married to Andrew Wylie. She would marry Maurice Herrington soon after buying lot 8 from the Philps. Then she sold it to John G. and Mary McCormack. In 1965, Graham and Mary McCormack are the occupants of 49 Young Street, along with Brian who may be a teacher at the high school.
In 1966, lot 8 was sold to Josephine Sharp who was the wife of Howard Sharp, the fellow who had a grocery store on Main Street and was responsible for the development of the IGA store on the east side of Prince Edward Street, south of Elizabeth Street.
On 1970, lot 8 was sold to Stanley Greetham who had lived near Codrington for a time but was developing various businesses on Prince Edward Street and would be involved in manufacturing in the industrial area. He was also involved in buying and selling cottage properties on Presqu’ile Point.
53 Young Street – Village Lot 9
The land records for lot 9 appear to be related to only this lot with no overlaps with lot 8. In 1858, Margaret Singleton sold lot 9 to Samuel Brooks, but, in contrast to lot 8, his estate granted lot 9 to Sarah Jane Brooks, his daughter. A decade later, Sarah sold lot 9 to Mary and William Rogers.
Family trees are unclear this far back for the very numerous Brooks families, but it appears as if Mary was a Brooks, and the fact that she did real estate deals with Sarah means they were related. Family trees show that Mary Brooks was a daughter of John Brooks, so John and Samuel may have been brothers.
Family trees are unclear this far back for the very numerous Brooks families, but it appears as if Mary was a Brooks, and the fact that she did real estate deals with Sarah means they were related. Family trees show that Mary Brooks was a daughter of John Brooks, so John and Samuel may have been brothers.
In any case, William and Mary Brooks sold lot 9 in 1880 to Sarah M. (Munn) Clark who was the wife of Robert Gunyo Clark. In 1913, Sarah passed the lot along to her daughter, Annette Clark who sold it in 1921 to Alice E. (Wade) Thorne, who was a daughter of John Wade and Ann Simpson, and wife of Alonzo Thorne of Hilton. This was probably a retirement home for the Thornes, and it was passed to their son Gordon H. Thorne in 1943. Gordon passed it to his son, Fred Thorne, in 1955.
In 1960, Fred and Ruth Throne sold lot 9 to R.M. & Flora Doherty. These folks were likely absentee landlords since the 1965 Voters Lists show Mr. and Mrs. Donald Swain living at 53 Young Street. In 1966, the Doherty couple sold lot 9 to Charles and Susan McGregor and we see them in the 1968 voters list at 53 Young St.
In 1968 Fred and Ruth Thorne are tenants at 19 Young Street and later they moved to Toronto and are buried in Norway Cemetery, The Beaches.
In 1972, Charles and Susan McGregor sold lot 9 to Eugene and Else Dobie. At the same time, a tenant of 53 Young Street is John Ward, a teacher, and his wife Marie Anne. The Dobie’s sold to Arnold and Helen Bloomfield in 1980 and they sold in 1987 to Patrick Donovan and Sylvia Roy.
In 1960, Fred and Ruth Throne sold lot 9 to R.M. & Flora Doherty. These folks were likely absentee landlords since the 1965 Voters Lists show Mr. and Mrs. Donald Swain living at 53 Young Street. In 1966, the Doherty couple sold lot 9 to Charles and Susan McGregor and we see them in the 1968 voters list at 53 Young St.
In 1968 Fred and Ruth Thorne are tenants at 19 Young Street and later they moved to Toronto and are buried in Norway Cemetery, The Beaches.
In 1972, Charles and Susan McGregor sold lot 9 to Eugene and Else Dobie. At the same time, a tenant of 53 Young Street is John Ward, a teacher, and his wife Marie Anne. The Dobie’s sold to Arnold and Helen Bloomfield in 1980 and they sold in 1987 to Patrick Donovan and Sylvia Roy.
55 Young Street – Village Lot 10
The Singleton family held onto lot 10 a good deal longer than most of the other lots on the east side of Young Street. It was not until 1875 that Abraham C. Singleton (1817-1903) sold lot 10 to Wilson C. Stapleton. Abraham was a son of John Singleton and Margaret Canniff. He remained single but was very active in the family real estate business, to some degree taking over from his mother.
Wilson Conger Stapleton (1830-1913) was born in Hillier Twp. and came to Brighton in the early 1870s. He married Almira J. Hodges in 1876, she a daughter of Ira Hodges who ran the Hodges Inn on Main St. at Ontario St.
Almira died in 1877 and then Wilson married Marion Sutherland (1840-1928), a daughter of Alexander Sutherland and a brother of James Sutherland (1842-1824) who ran a store at Codrington. He also purchased land there from the King family to build the large 2-story brick house for his daughter who married Stephen Babbit. The house was called the Babbit House.
Wilson Conger Stapleton (1830-1913) was born in Hillier Twp. and came to Brighton in the early 1870s. He married Almira J. Hodges in 1876, she a daughter of Ira Hodges who ran the Hodges Inn on Main St. at Ontario St.
Almira died in 1877 and then Wilson married Marion Sutherland (1840-1928), a daughter of Alexander Sutherland and a brother of James Sutherland (1842-1824) who ran a store at Codrington. He also purchased land there from the King family to build the large 2-story brick house for his daughter who married Stephen Babbit. The house was called the Babbit House.
Wilson C. Stapleton is shown as a stone mason in the 1881 Census in Brighton Township, then spent a few years in Manitoba with his sister, Margaret who had married James Pettit. Wilson’s daughter, Margaret, was born in Brighton, likely at the 55 Young Street home. The Stapleton family was very large and several families of cousins appear to have been close. In 1912, there is a life lease on lot 10 which applies to John Wesley Stapleton, a cousin of Wilson’s. It was not until 1935 that the widow of John Wesley Stapleton sold Lot 10 to Alfreda Siefert, who was Alfreda Elizabeth Alexander (1860-1941) who married 1st, Richard Esley Chatterson, then John Seifert, and later, Stephen Adam McKersie.
In 1947 there is a Treasurers Consent regarding Harry J. McQuilkin and then a sale for $300 to Fred Thorne who sells to John and Elizabeth Chambers in 1952. This Chambers family were occupants of 55 Young per the 1965 and 1968 Voters Lists. Deborah Haig acquired Lot 10 in 1988 and held it until 2003 when it was sold to Kimberley Ann Fildebant.
In 1947 there is a Treasurers Consent regarding Harry J. McQuilkin and then a sale for $300 to Fred Thorne who sells to John and Elizabeth Chambers in 1952. This Chambers family were occupants of 55 Young per the 1965 and 1968 Voters Lists. Deborah Haig acquired Lot 10 in 1988 and held it until 2003 when it was sold to Kimberley Ann Fildebant.
57 Young Street – Village Lot 11
The land records for lot 11 contain similar records to lot 10 from the 1870s with Stapleton and to the 1950s with McQuilkin.
Margaret Singleton sold lot 11 to James Nesbitt in 1874. This was an investment like many others he was making around this time, and he turned it around quickly by selling in 1876 to Wilson C. Stapleton, who had purchased lot 10 the previous year. Lot 11 went through to John Wesley Stapleton with his estate selling to Alfreda Siefert in 1935. Harry J. McQuilkin acquired lot 11 in 1947 and sold to Claude Smith who sold to John & Minnie Ferguson in 1959.
Margaret Singleton sold lot 11 to James Nesbitt in 1874. This was an investment like many others he was making around this time, and he turned it around quickly by selling in 1876 to Wilson C. Stapleton, who had purchased lot 10 the previous year. Lot 11 went through to John Wesley Stapleton with his estate selling to Alfreda Siefert in 1935. Harry J. McQuilkin acquired lot 11 in 1947 and sold to Claude Smith who sold to John & Minnie Ferguson in 1959.
The Voters Lists for 1865, 1968 show Maurice and Laura Coe as tenants in 57 Young St., and in 1974 they purchased the property from John & Minnie Ferguson. The Coe family owned lot 11 from 1974 to 2004 for the longest tenure at this place. They then sold to Jeffrey and Lisa Fanjoy.
61 Young Street – Village Lot 12
The house at #61 Young Street (there is no #59!) appears to be a modest one-and-a-half story brick house that has been seriously renovated with modern siding, etc. There is a large yard to the immediate north which is lot 13, an open yard where a house is being built during 2025.
Lot 12 was sold by Margaret Singleton in 1874 to James Nesbitt, similar to the process with lot 11. He sold in 1878 to John Lear (1819-1889) a farmer from the Picton area who moved to Brighton in the 1870s and invested in several properties, including 144 Main Street. This was the time period when many brick houses were built in Brighton and the house on lot 12 may have been one.
Mr. Lear sold lot 12 in 1882 to Ann Moffit who was Ann Molloy (1836-1915), born in Ireland and married to William Moffit (1831-1904). They lived in Brighton Township where William was a farm labourer. By the early 1880s, there were in Brighton and lived at 61 Young Street until their son Oscar sold the property to Lewis F. Pierson. More correctly, the name is Louis Franklin Pierson (1865-1939) who was born in Ameliasburgh Twp., and married Grace LaTour in 1887. The Pierson family was at lot 12 for some time, until Mr. Pierson’s estate sold the lot to Archibald J.H. Edwards in 1940.
This was Archie Edwards (1901-1994), a fellow who would be a popular fixture in Brighton for many years. He was born in England and his father, Archibald Edwards Sr., brought the family to Canada in 1906, settling in Brighton. Edwards Sr. was a tinsmith and plumber who may have worked at Robert Taylor’s shop at 9 Young Street which was later taken over by Herbert Bangay.
Archie Edwards Jr., however, became a barber and operated a barber shop at various locations, mostly at 24 Prince Edwards Street and then across the street at 27 Prince Edward. He was also very active in municipal government, being the town clerk from 1946 to 1972. He even found time to play in the citizens band which started up with his support. Archie married Margaret Edna MacKinnon about 1940 but there do not appear to have been any children. We can see that Archie lived at 61 Young Street per the 1965 and 1968 Canada Voters Lists. There are also many references to him in the History of Brighton Businesses.
In 1974, Archie Edwards sold lot 12 to John Bate which began a series of quick turnarounds over the next few decades. Albert & Wilemmina Visser appear to have owned lot 12 from 1984 to 2007 when it went to Frank Curran.
Lot 12 was sold by Margaret Singleton in 1874 to James Nesbitt, similar to the process with lot 11. He sold in 1878 to John Lear (1819-1889) a farmer from the Picton area who moved to Brighton in the 1870s and invested in several properties, including 144 Main Street. This was the time period when many brick houses were built in Brighton and the house on lot 12 may have been one.
Mr. Lear sold lot 12 in 1882 to Ann Moffit who was Ann Molloy (1836-1915), born in Ireland and married to William Moffit (1831-1904). They lived in Brighton Township where William was a farm labourer. By the early 1880s, there were in Brighton and lived at 61 Young Street until their son Oscar sold the property to Lewis F. Pierson. More correctly, the name is Louis Franklin Pierson (1865-1939) who was born in Ameliasburgh Twp., and married Grace LaTour in 1887. The Pierson family was at lot 12 for some time, until Mr. Pierson’s estate sold the lot to Archibald J.H. Edwards in 1940.
This was Archie Edwards (1901-1994), a fellow who would be a popular fixture in Brighton for many years. He was born in England and his father, Archibald Edwards Sr., brought the family to Canada in 1906, settling in Brighton. Edwards Sr. was a tinsmith and plumber who may have worked at Robert Taylor’s shop at 9 Young Street which was later taken over by Herbert Bangay.
Archie Edwards Jr., however, became a barber and operated a barber shop at various locations, mostly at 24 Prince Edwards Street and then across the street at 27 Prince Edward. He was also very active in municipal government, being the town clerk from 1946 to 1972. He even found time to play in the citizens band which started up with his support. Archie married Margaret Edna MacKinnon about 1940 but there do not appear to have been any children. We can see that Archie lived at 61 Young Street per the 1965 and 1968 Canada Voters Lists. There are also many references to him in the History of Brighton Businesses.
In 1974, Archie Edwards sold lot 12 to John Bate which began a series of quick turnarounds over the next few decades. Albert & Wilemmina Visser appear to have owned lot 12 from 1984 to 2007 when it went to Frank Curran.
65 Young Street – Village Lots 13 & 14
Village Lots 13 and 14 on the east side of Young Street, up to Singleton, were part of the Singleton family land holdings. Their big brick house still stands up the hill north of Singleton Street. There appears to have been some mortgage issues in the early 1860s and the land reverted back to Margaret Singleton, the matriarch of the family at that time.
Margaret sold lots 13 and 14 in 1862 to William C. Bowles (1800-1879) who had a boot and shoe shop on the west side of Young Street. Let’s remember that, in the 1860s, this was a manufacturing business. William Bowles was a shoe maker, not just a salesman. This family had come from Ireland in the 1840s, and his brother, John Bowles, lived nearby on the west side of Young Street.
Margaret sold lots 13 and 14 in 1862 to William C. Bowles (1800-1879) who had a boot and shoe shop on the west side of Young Street. Let’s remember that, in the 1860s, this was a manufacturing business. William Bowles was a shoe maker, not just a salesman. This family had come from Ireland in the 1840s, and his brother, John Bowles, lived nearby on the west side of Young Street.
William Bowles was married to Laura (Waldron) Proctor who had been the first wife of Josiah Proctor, (1796-1839), son of the immigrant Josiah Proctor (1757-1850). That means Laura was a sister-in-law to Isaac Chamberlain Proctor, the father of John Edward Proctor, who would become the best known member of the Proctor family in Brighton.
There appears to have been mortgage issues with some reassignments, resulting in a treasures deed for both lot 13 and 14 which was awarded to Adam Dickson in 1907 in exchange for $46.62 in back taxes. This was a wealthy fellow in Cobourg who was plugged into the court system, so knew an opportunity when he saw one. He quickly sold this property to his nephew, Frank J. Dickson for $600.
In 1910, Frank sold both lots to William D. Caldwell (1840-1924), a prosperous farmer who had come to Brighton and was able to invest in real estate. It could be that he lived here at 65 Young Street until he sold the two lots in 1918 to Queenie D. D. Bowler, a person that is unknown in the records.
There appears to have been mortgage issues with some reassignments, resulting in a treasures deed for both lot 13 and 14 which was awarded to Adam Dickson in 1907 in exchange for $46.62 in back taxes. This was a wealthy fellow in Cobourg who was plugged into the court system, so knew an opportunity when he saw one. He quickly sold this property to his nephew, Frank J. Dickson for $600.
In 1910, Frank sold both lots to William D. Caldwell (1840-1924), a prosperous farmer who had come to Brighton and was able to invest in real estate. It could be that he lived here at 65 Young Street until he sold the two lots in 1918 to Queenie D. D. Bowler, a person that is unknown in the records.
The next owner, in 1947, was Wade Harcla Morrow (1894-1978) who was a son of James Harcla Morrow and Irene Alzina Wade. James H. Morrow had been the one who acquired the Morrow Block on Prince Edward Street and began the first Ford dealership in the area. His sons, Wade and Oscar, were heavily involved in the operation of the business.
We are lucky to have the picture on the right from 1915 which shows the rear of the Morrow Block car dealership. Oscar is at the far right, just inside the door and Wade H. Morrow is driving the car with the dog on the fender.
We are lucky to have the picture on the right from 1915 which shows the rear of the Morrow Block car dealership. Oscar is at the far right, just inside the door and Wade H. Morrow is driving the car with the dog on the fender.
Wade H. Morrow married Evelyn Mae Vincent in 1921 and he became manger of the Rex Spray company which had its office at the Morrow Block. In the picture at left, we can see the “Canada Rex Spray Co” sign on the front of the Morrow Block. The factory was on the west side of Ontario Street, just north of the railway tracks. Wade Morrow was also much involved in municipal affairs, acting as clerk for a time. He was also the first president of the Brighton Legion in 1927.
Lots 13 and 14 were quickly passed on to young James Harcla Morrow who was a nephew of Wade Morrow, son of his brother Oscar. These properties would be in the Morrow family until 1972 when James and Marjorie Morrow sold to James and Shirley Ness. In 2006, they sold to Edith Goldstein.
The house that is 65 Young Street is a modern structure, which suggests that it may have been built by the Morrow family, probably early in their tenure at this place. Specific information re this would be useful.
During 2025, there is clear evidence that a new house is being built on lot 13, in the yard south of 65 Young Street. We might guess that, when it is complete, this new home will be 63 Young Street.
Lots 13 and 14 were quickly passed on to young James Harcla Morrow who was a nephew of Wade Morrow, son of his brother Oscar. These properties would be in the Morrow family until 1972 when James and Marjorie Morrow sold to James and Shirley Ness. In 2006, they sold to Edith Goldstein.
The house that is 65 Young Street is a modern structure, which suggests that it may have been built by the Morrow family, probably early in their tenure at this place. Specific information re this would be useful.
During 2025, there is clear evidence that a new house is being built on lot 13, in the yard south of 65 Young Street. We might guess that, when it is complete, this new home will be 63 Young Street.
73 Young Street – Village lot 15
Village Lot 15 on the east side of Young Street is at the intersection of Young and George Streets, north of Singleton Street. The big brick house up the hill on the north side of Singleton is 2 Singleton Street, so not a Young Street property. The next property north of 65 Young is 73 Young, which is just north of the big brick house. It is a modern home with driveway onto Young Street. There are two modern houses north of #73 but they are 1 and 3 George Street, so not included in this project.
Margaret Singleton sold lot 15 to Rev. Peter Duncan in 1863 and he held it more than two decades, until 1886. We see Rev. Peter Duncan mentioned in land records for other lots on the east side of Young, but most are quick buy-and-sell events within his family, often with his brother-in-law James Roll. Census records show that he lived in Colborne during this period, so it may be that he was providing a home for other members of the family from 1863 to 1886.
Rev. Duncan sold lot 15 in 1886 to Thomas Vansicklen (1831-1917) who was born in Cobourg but his family were early settlers near the south end of Murray Township. He married Ann Thorne of Hilton but she died in 1864 and then he married Hannah Maria Flindall, a member of the Flindall family who settled just west of the Carrying Place after the War of 1812. Thomas and Hannah Vansicklen farmed near Hilton for a time, where he was also a shoemaker. They came to Brighton and acquired a retirement home at 73 Young Street in 1886, where they lived for ten years.
Margaret Singleton sold lot 15 to Rev. Peter Duncan in 1863 and he held it more than two decades, until 1886. We see Rev. Peter Duncan mentioned in land records for other lots on the east side of Young, but most are quick buy-and-sell events within his family, often with his brother-in-law James Roll. Census records show that he lived in Colborne during this period, so it may be that he was providing a home for other members of the family from 1863 to 1886.
Rev. Duncan sold lot 15 in 1886 to Thomas Vansicklen (1831-1917) who was born in Cobourg but his family were early settlers near the south end of Murray Township. He married Ann Thorne of Hilton but she died in 1864 and then he married Hannah Maria Flindall, a member of the Flindall family who settled just west of the Carrying Place after the War of 1812. Thomas and Hannah Vansicklen farmed near Hilton for a time, where he was also a shoemaker. They came to Brighton and acquired a retirement home at 73 Young Street in 1886, where they lived for ten years.
Then, in 1921, Hannah sold lot 15 to Charles A. Reddick who was married to her sister Emily. Emily Reddick sold in 1928 to Harry and Rose McQuilkin. They were farmers on the third concession of Murray Township and came to Brighton to buy a home.
In 1959, the Estate of Harry McQuilkin sold lot 15 to Gladys A. Miller, who was a daughter of Harry and Rose McQuilkin, married to Harry Lorne Miller. Gladys Alberta McQuilkin (1906-1986) worked as a telephone operator in Millbrook when she married Morris W. Gray in 1931, and then again in 1937 when she married Harry Lorne Miller. Harry was a mariner living in Trenton and after he died in 1969, Gladys sold lot 15 in 1971 to Aubrey H. Waycott.
We see Aubrey and Delores Waycott living at 73 Young Street in the 1972 Canada Voters Lists. Aubrey Waycott sold to Bruce and Catherine Johnson in 1983 and then they sold to Patrick & Helen Ryan in 1986. They owned it until 1999 when it was sold to Paul & Monika Drysdale who were still there in 2007.
In 1959, the Estate of Harry McQuilkin sold lot 15 to Gladys A. Miller, who was a daughter of Harry and Rose McQuilkin, married to Harry Lorne Miller. Gladys Alberta McQuilkin (1906-1986) worked as a telephone operator in Millbrook when she married Morris W. Gray in 1931, and then again in 1937 when she married Harry Lorne Miller. Harry was a mariner living in Trenton and after he died in 1969, Gladys sold lot 15 in 1971 to Aubrey H. Waycott.
We see Aubrey and Delores Waycott living at 73 Young Street in the 1972 Canada Voters Lists. Aubrey Waycott sold to Bruce and Catherine Johnson in 1983 and then they sold to Patrick & Helen Ryan in 1986. They owned it until 1999 when it was sold to Paul & Monika Drysdale who were still there in 2007.