Embro: Our Village | Embro Town Hall | Embro Train Station

Embro: Our Village

King Edward's reign was to draw to a close in less than a year's time, but in 1909 as the pipers played in celebration, his face still looked down benevolently on Embro's main intersection. Only five short years were to pass before another August would bring anguish to a nation and heartbreak to a generation. For now, however, the banner stretched tenaciously across the graveled roadway, and the hardware store stood in its board and batten splendor - a landmark then, as much as now. It was August 1st, 1909, - Embro's Old Boys' Reunion.

Anniversaries are occasions to remember, and Embro and area residents must certainly have done their share of that, on those two hot August days. But no longer was Embro a pioneer community. The log cabins and crude tools had ceased to be items of significance in this setting of confidence and stability. To the residents of those times, such quaint pioneer aspects probably evoked feelings of drudgery rather than fond nostalgia. Theirs was a generation that had fixation with "progress" and their concepts and attitudes were more oriented to the future than to the past. Theirs was a time of challenge and enterprise. The resulting prosperity was reflected in their spacious brick homes surrounded, in their Victorian completeness, by wooden fences and spreading lawns. Their disciplined sense of proportion and balance had not as yet fallen victim to the wider roads and diminished verges that came with motorized vehicles. It was an age still fresh enough to be inspired by soldiers in uniform, and still innocent enough to be thrilled by the sound of a military band. Theirs was a generation simple enough to believe, yet strong enough to endure.

Mr. W. J. Dilane, a well-known local merchant, must have been busy during those summer days. His was the foresight to employ a photographer to produce a series of post cards which he could later sell in his store as a photographic record of the celebration. Only recently, a set of these post cards came to light when a faded green album was forwarded to the Embro and West Zorra Women's Institute to be stored with the Tweedsmuir histories. It was a discovery indeed, and this community is eternally thankful to the donor, Mrs. Catherine (Rowland) Elliott for her generosity. Containing over fifty original post cards of Embro and Area, this album provided the inspiration for this present book of photographic reminiscences. The scope of our present anniversary publication is not limited simply to the Old Boys' Reunion of 1909. We have been fortunate enough to be able to draw on the private collection of Ross and Jean Smith. Many other families have helped with specific individual pictures. We are thankful to all donors who have shared their treasured pictures so that we may appropriately commemorate Embro's 125th Anniversary.

Embro is a village of many variations. We have beautiful parks throughout. The Thames River, which winds around the village, supplies many a picturesque sight. In the past it supplied the water power for the mills which brought the early settlers to the area.

Embro is also a village of reunions. This book is part of the celebration of the fourth. The first was in the 1880's - very little is known of this reunion. The second and perhaps best known was in 1909. Many of the pictures in this book came from the farsightedness of the photographers who recorded so much. Embro's Centennial in 1958 was the third reunion, and now we have the fourth, in 1983. We hope that it my be the best yet!

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Embro Town Hall

The lot for the Town Hall was purchased from Walter Ross of Youngsville in 1892 for the sum of $250. This had been the site of a three story store, which had belonged to George Forrest, but it burned in 1877. The north wall of the Town Hall is on the south foundation of the old store. The architect for the Town hall was Mr. Cuthbertson of Woodstock. The contractors were J.L. Young of Stratford and E.A. Cawsey of St. Marys. The stone mason for the foundation was Andrew Bain. The stone was supplied by Andrew Chapin. Local teamsters who brought in the building material were John E. (Cheeky) McDonald, Malcolm McNeil, Andrew Karn and Thomas Masters.
In 1893, 402 chairs were purchased for $153 from the furniture dealer and undertaker, Hector Sutherland. They were bolted together in 1895 so as to be easier to stack for dances. Six spittoons were purchased in 1897 for the sum of $4.25
A piano was purchased from Mrs. G. W.A. Ross for $40.65 in 1907. For the reunion of 1909, John Willard painted the interior of the Town Hall, with the exception of the library, for $180.
A furnace was installed in 1913 and the Town Hall was wired for electricity in 1915 - cost $117.50. Chairs were purchased for $42.00 in 1920. For $190 a new birch floor was laid in the auditorium in 1933, by James D. Hossack.
In 1940 a curtain track was installed and a stage curtain was purchased by the Women's Institute. Side and back curtains were supplied by the Junior Farmers
Village water was piped into the hall in 190 and in 1957 wash rooms were installed. Also in 1957 the health unit set up a clinic in the Council Chambers and the large east cloak room was redecorated and converted into a new council room.
The hall was painted in 1983. Mrs. Leone Anderson donated the paint. In 1984 new chairs and 3 folding tables were purchased by the hall. New drapes were made by Mrs. Kay Foreman.
In 1991 the latest redecoration of the Town Hall began in anticipation of the centennial celebrations. Lighting in the library was enhanced.
With the 1992 celebrations for the Town Hall Centennial as a focus, the Town Hall is being restored in such a manner as to capture some of its former dignity. Sheila Johnson has re-created the stencilling which originally decorated the upstairs hall. Great care has been taken to duplicate the original colours.
It is fitting that the centenary restorations have been made possible to a great extent by the availability of funds raised through the celebration of Embro's 125th anniversary in 1983. The special appeal of the Embro Town Hall lies in the many ways in which it has supported and strengthened the sense of community in Embro rather than in any special architectural features. The people of Embro, 100 years ago, demonstrated foresight, community commitment and an ability to accomplish tasks of vision when they built the impressive Embro Town Hall. Similarly, the 125th Anniversary Committee established an impressive tradition on which the Embro Town Hall Centennial Committee has been able to build. In both instances, the community came first.

Dedication

This publication is dedicated to the memory of the Embro and Zorra Township pioneers who left families and homes elsewhere. Recognizing the rich farmland that exists in this area, they settled here and cleared land. They developed a lifestyle and love of home and community that still exists.
It is dedicated to the community spirit that existed among these early residents and that inspired them to plan and build a Town Hall that served as meeting place, library, cultural and recreational centre.
It is dedicated to the sense of value that our forefathers displayed in the leadership that they provided within the community and that is still being provided by our present day leaders.
It is dedicated to the realization that a community is not an unchanging part of society, but a vibrant, changing force that is not only influenced by the individuals that make up the community, but also influences and exerts change on those individuals.
This publication is dedicated to the people of the past, the present and the future who make up the community that is Embro!

General Committee

Harold Arbuckle, Jean Blair, Judy Buchan, Ivan Buchan, Beth Campbell, Phoebe Campbell, Nancy Cockle, Keith Garner, Jim Gibb, Linda Heather, Carl Hiuser, Norma Howe, Don Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Ruth Lawson, Ray Lindsay, Lillian & Mac MacKinnon, Scott McLeod, Mary Merry, Richard Moon, Gloria Muir, Symons Muir, Mona Pelton, Cher Sprague, Ron Totten, Bob Wilkes and Shilry Wright. Representing the Recreation Committee are Chris Cockle, Karon Cowan, Gary Hunt, Bob Milne and Ann Parker. Sam Coghlan represents the Oxford County Library.

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Train Station

In travelling under the railway overpass north of Embro, one would never suspect the drama associated with its official opening. We are indebted to Douglas Smith for this account of Embro railway history.

As early as 1902 farmers and businessmen talked of a railroad to serve Zorra and Embro. The famers' produce had to be taken in to market by horse labour to Beachbille, Hickson, St. Mary's. Ingersoll and Woodstock. Cattle had to be driven sometimes twenty miles in order to reach transportation centres; so you can see what an advantage the railroad would be. Besides, people enjoyed a little trip by rail. By July 1, 1906 a bylaw to authorize an issue of debentures of $5,000 was passed. This would provide a $5,000 load to the St. Marys and Western Ontario Railroad. D. R. Ross, Dr. Green and G. M. Ceighton were elected to look after Embro's interest in the railroad. Plans were made to survey the railway.

The St. Mary's and Western Ontario Railway Company was to build the road from St. Mary's to a point a mile west of Embro. The C.P.R. was to build it from this point, through Embro and connect with the main line at Zorra Station between London and Woodstock. This junction was earlier known as Code Junction.

West Zorra's loan and Embro's loan were to be repaid in a period of twenty years. In May 25, 1907 the first sod was turned. By June 1 the work had commenced with scores of scrapers and hundreds of teams of horses. Steam ploughs were also used. These crude machines began the work of construction.

Work continued until the weather stopped it for the winter. In April of the following year work began with full force. The route from Code Junction to Embro was a very winding road to build since it followed the course of the Thames River. Two steel structures were to be built to span the Thames River and Mud Creek. These were built by the Hamilton Bridge Company. In the northwestern stretch they had trouble with the boggy areas.

The Hamilton Bridge Company had the contract to place the bridge across the Embro road, just north of Embro. The huge steam crane had the large steel structure almost in place when something went wrong with the crane. The structure and crane came thundering down, crashing to earth. The crane was totally wrecked.

Since this had occurred just before the official opening, a crude wooden and steel structure had to be built to take the first train across. Not until after the official opening was the permanent bridge raised.

On July, 1908, the official opening was held and a steam locomotive was run from London to Embro and on to St. Marys. This was done under the instruction of Roadmaster Code. Several prominent people boarded the train at Embro and took a ride to St. Marys. On the evening of July 10, a reception was held and gifts presented to the various managers and engineer who had helped build the 20.7 mile stretch of railroad.

At first there were two trains a day-one in the morning and one in the evening. This took high school students to the collegiate in Woodstock. The railroad also started up a dairy which was built just south of the station. This was a branch of the Toronto City Dairy. The train now runs only occasionally and there has not been a passenger car on the route for over twenty years. The station has been torn down and only the track and an occasional train are left to remind us of this ambitious undertaking.

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