Day: March 17, 2016

Witness to History

Sarah Ann Santry was born in August 1862 and eventually moved to location 10 Aurora Street, now Ford Street, and one block east of Liberty. As a young girl, she remembered the day that first train traveled to Port Dover. The locomotive was called the Lucy Turner, however, I have never been able to find any records of this train, nor the exact date of the first trip: my best guess is 1878

Hamilton to Port Dover Railway Line

This road is the former route of the Hamilton to Port Dover Railway Line. Plans for the railway were developed in 1835, but construction never began because of an economic recession that occurred in the late 1830s.

Allan MacNab revived the project in 1853 and construction began in 1855. The costs of scaling the escapement bankrupted the company and all work had to come to a stop.

In 1869, the company was re-organized and re-named the Hamilton to Lake Erie Railway Company. After merger with another railway company in 1873, the finally reached Port Dover in 1878.

54 Liberty Street

Around 1885, the four old wood frame homes at the south end of Liberty Street were torn down. The whole west side of Liberty Street got new brick housing. On the previously undeveloped land to the north, 2 story, semi-detached, brick homes were built. At the south end, by the former Hamilton to Port Dover Railway line, smaller brick cottages were erected. Unfortunately, for shoe-maker and his family, the rent was too much and they moved across the street 59 Liberty Street. This older, wood frame, house was something they could still afford. Peter’s wife would continue to live at this simply house even after his death in the 1890s. She would be surrounded by other widowers who had lived on the south end since the 1870s. Mrs. William Anderson at 47 Liberty and Mrs. Mellon at 51 Liberty.

62 Liberty Street

By the late 1860s or early 1870s, there were four wooden frame homes at the south end of Liberty Street. All the residents had sold working class jobs: Laborer, cooper, shoemaker, and cigar-maker.

The Rastrick House

The architect, who designed the Castle, built his own home on Forest Avenue in the 1840s.

Irish workers would have been used in its construction.

Like all the great houses, the daughters of Irish families would be employed as maids. These young girls incomes would have helped support their families who lived in modest wooden fame homes only a few blocks away.