Hespeler General Stores

Hespeler General Stores

Hespeler General Stores Hespeler General Stores by Lary Turner When the first settlers ventured into this area in the early 1800s, the area was known as the “Queen’s Bush”. The earliest were Mennonite farmers from Pennsylvania who came by way of a small number of...
Saint Luke’s Place Part II

Saint Luke’s Place Part II

Saint Luke’s Place Part II St. Luke’s Place – Part II by Lary Turner As covered in Part 1, St. Like’s Place was unique and one of the first facilities of its kind in Canada. The new concept was a combination of living, recreational, health care and...
Saint Luke’s Place Part II

The Hall Foundry Company

The Hall Foundry Company by Lary Turner Note: This is another in a series on old Hespeler industries. The Hall Foundry Company was founded as the Hall, Zryd Foundry Co. Ltd. in 1907. Zachariah Adam Hall in partnership with Oscar Jacob Zryd bought the Parker Steele...
Forgotten Families

Forgotten Families

Forgotten Families by Lary Turner I would submit that every community has individuals or families that have been prominent and important in their history, but are not widely remembered due either to moving away or simply through the passage of time. This tale is meant...
Saint Luke’s Place Part II

Hespeler’s Last Mayor

Hespeler’s Last Mayor by Lary Turner An important anniversary will occur in approximately three weeks! January 1, 2023 will mark fifty years since the Town of Hespeler ceased to exist and our community was amalgamated into the new City of Cambridge. I felt this would...
Saint Luke’s Place Part II

Hespeler’s First NHL Player

Hespeler’s First NHL Player by Lary Turner For this “tale”, I would like to flashback to Hespeler’s first NHL player (one of the first professional players from this area). Clarence “Dolly” Dolson was born May 23, 1897 in Hespeler, the son of Mr. and Mrs....