by Marty Lachance

Wayne Collens from British Columbia recently wrote us and filled us in on his mother’s life story in Hespeler and her time working at the R.Forbes Co. on Queen Street.

First a bit of Mill history:

After buying out his partner, Jonathan Schofield in 1880, Robert Forbes officially became the sole owner of the mill on the Speed River. He continued to build up his small textile mill, the R. Forbes Co, Ltd. In 1888, the company incorporated and his son George became the President. George and his brother James ran operations, however James died only 2 years into the venture. His father Robert, passed away in 1895.

George ran the company until 1928 when it was sold to Dominion Woollens and Worsteds.

One of George’s employees was Magdalene “Mag” Lerch.

From her son, Wayne Collens:

“Mag was born March 21, 1903 on a farm in Mildmay, Ontario, a second generation Canadian of German grandparents. In 1912 the family moved to a new farm at 1066 Lerch Road, Breslau, Ontario.”

The Lerch family home at 1066 Lerch Road. Google 2023.

Mag would go on to have 3 boys (Bernie, b. 1930, d. 1989, Wayne, b. 1944, and Richard, b. 1945). After the Mill, she would live in Preston, Guelph, Aylmer and finally Calgary with her two remaining sons. She would pass in 1996 at the age of 93.

Thanks, Mag, for your time spent with the community in Hespeler!

A big thanks to her son, Wayne, for bringing back her story and photos for all of us to enjoy.