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Our Jaunt to the North
Peterborough Times, [Saturday, 28 February 1880][by W.H. Robertson]
[Ed note: We thank Gordon Young, who is currently gathering material related to the Midland Railway in the 1880s, for this
very interesting item. We learn about journalism in the Trent Valley; about Millbrook, Lindsay and Fenelon Falls; and about the politics and enjoyments of railways. We
are also struck by the ease with which Mr W.H. Robertson, the owner of the Peterborough Weekly Times, meets people. He seems to be returning to the scene of an earlier
life. His sense of humour helps us to understand some of the people prominent locally in 1880. ]
... In taking a trip to the north, it was not the promptings of selfishness nor of ambition which
we followed – for what has this universe to offer to those who have already gained everything that can be achieved in journalistic life> Rather was it the voice of
nature calling for a brief respite from over-exertion in attempting to bring ourselves down to the level of combatting the evils caused by our local contemporaries.
Consigning ourselves to a seat in a palace (?) car of the Midland Railway, and having bid adieu to Mr Councillor
Menzies, whose smiling countenance so charms and
bewilders the verdant traveller as he hands over the ‘filthy lucre’ in payment for railway tickets, we soon were speeding on our journey, and quickly left behind
the large number of citizens who came to see us off. In due time the train reached Millbrook, at which place its load of precious freight (principally composed of one
editor, fifteen common people and several infants, the latter of whom kicked up a systematic row) we changed cars, each going their own direction....
[We] took our seats in the Lindsay cars, placing ourselves at the tender mercies of Mr Buller, son
of ex-Councillor Buller, of Peterboro who had the train in charge. Beseeching him to exercise caution, and avoid RUNNING US INTO THE DITCH, lest we should soil our
Sunday clothes, we made ourselves as comfortable as circumstances and the crowded state of the car would allow. In justice to Mr Buller and remarkable though the
statement may appear, he did not once, during the entire journey between Millbrook and Lindsay, run his train off the track! This may also be partly due to the fact
that we quietly intimated that we had omitted to place a couple of hundred dollars insurance on our life before imperiling it by travelling on the Midland.
ARRIVING AT LINDSAY, we were met at the station by several hack drivers, who desired to exhibit
the esteem in which we were regarded by them, by offering to carry us, free of charge, to an hotel. After a dinner, eaten with an appetite only to be acquired by not
taking any breakfast, we proceeded to view the lions of the city. We called on our old friend, Mr
F.C. Taylor, now the Mayor of Lindsay, Mr T.E. Bradburn, son of Thos Bradburn, Esq. of this town, and Mr Wm Flavelle of the firm Dundas & Flavelle Bros. These gentlemen are all doing well and rank among the leading businessmen of
Lindsay. We also called on Mr Benson, of the Benson House, and found him flourishing like a green bay tree. We next visited our old friends of the Daley House and found
their hotel crowded to overflowing. The Messrs Daley have become popular as public caterers, a fact well proven by the large business done by them. Their hotel is
commodious, and suited for the large travelling trade which our sister town enjoys. Commodore
Crandell, the popular proprietor of a line of steamers plying on the
northern waters, also gave us a friendly greeting. We wound up by calling on Mr C.D. Barr, the gentlemanly proprietor of the Post – a real live local paper, which
pays great attention to the prosperity of the town and county, and has a large circulation. The Post is the Reform organ of Victoria county, and was one of the few
journals of that party that had the manliness and independence to condemn the action of the Hon S.C. Wood, Member of South Victoria, in his useless waste of public
money on the late vice-regal trip to the North West. Lindsay is well-supplied with railways, having an outlet to the south by means of the Whitby and Port Perry
Railroad, east and west by the Midland, and to the north by the Victoria Railway. In the summer season daily connection is also made with Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon and
other points. Prior to the building of the Whitby road, the Midland monopolized the trade of the town, and in order to open up a competing line to the front, the former
was liberally bonused by the town. But alas the "slipperiness" and dishonesty of railway companies in their dealings plainly apparent here, and should prove a
warning to other places not to pin their faith either to written conditions or fair promises of railway speculators when applying for a bonus! No sooner did the road
which was to have been a competing line with the Midland (and thus reduce ex-orbitant freight charges) become a reality, than it goes into parnership with its rival!
Lindsay is cheated, and just so surely will Peterborough be, if she bonuses a road to compete with the Grand Trunk.
At three o’clock we proceeded to the Victoria Railway station, and were soon making good time to
Fenelon Falls. We were astonished to notice the large number of passengers and the quantity of freight business done by this road. When we consider that only a few
years ago, while the railway was under construction, it was predicted that one or two trains in the month would more than suffice for the demands of trade, it must be
the more gratifying to Mr George Laidlaw, it long-headed President. These false prophets who predicted this did not take into account the vast mineral resources of the
back country, which, when it becomes properly developed, will tax to the utmost the carrying power of this road to accommodate. A pleasant run of fourteen miles brought
us to THE VILLAGE OF FENELON FALLS, where we remained for a couple of days. Fenelon Falls contains a population of about 1,500 souls, and on our arrival presented a
virtuous appearance. Here during the warm weather a large number of men are employed in the manufacture of lumber, a business which gives the village its chief
importance. The buildings, especially in the business portion of the village are mostly of brick, and uniform in appearance. There are two very fine hotels here – the
McArthur House (R. Rutherford, proprietor) and the Mansion House, kept by N. Ingram. Having visited many old familiar spots, scarcely to be recalled after Time’s
great changes, we made a tour of inspection through the village, and recognized many old friends. Mr
A.W. Lasher, who carries on an extensive dry goods and tailoring
business; Messrs Macdougall and Brandon, Who do a large and profitable grocery trade, Mr Noble Ingram of the Mansion House, the possessor of the handsomest pair of side
whiskers in the village; Mr John Nugent, who does a paying business in drugs, and is known as a delineator of Irish prose; Mr E. Fitzgerald, also a druggist, and doing
well; Mr J. Twohey, the wealthy and good-natured blacksmith; and Mr H. Davis, dry goods and clothing merchant. There are here also two great features of modern
civilization, viz: the Church and the printing office. The former are numerously represented, and are warmly aided in their good work by Mr Hand of the Gazette, who is
an ardent advocate of the Trent Valley Canal. the two hotels do a large trade in liquors, although the people cannot complain of the scarcity of water in their
vicinity, but they seem to regard its use as of consequence chiefly in case of fire. As usual, on our route, we found much hospitality extended to us by the good people
here so that our stay was a pleasant one. On Sunday our footsteps were naturally directed to a place of worship, and an excellent discourse by the Rev Mr
Lochead, of
the Presbyterian Church, prepared us for the remainder of the week. This gentleman enjoys a justly earned reputation of being a sincere and earnest minister of the
gospel. Unlike many of the ministers in other places, Mr Lochead preaches to the point and cuts his sermons sufficiently short to allow ample time for indulgence in
that oldest and most delightful of pastimes – courting.
After a stay in Fenelon which we found to be too short, we prepared to return. We vainly sought
for a comparison to which to liken the kindness of the folks toward us, but nothing will place it so vividly before our readers as to compare it to the affability
displayed by certain candidates for municipal honors as they grasp the hand of the intelligent citizens who wield the franchise and make affectionate and minute enquiry
after wife and children. The voice of duty was urging OUR RETURN TO PETERBOROUGH, and although we would gladly have prolonged our stay, we heeded not our private
feelings, and accordingly wended our way to Lindsay. While seated in the hotel in Lindsay, we were agreeably surprised to meet a brother editor and forthwith invited
him to "lubricate" and "take it hot," as he appeared somewhat chilled – but he refused. As this was the first time in our experience of an editor
refusing to "licker up" we were STRUCK DUMB WITH AMAZEMENT, and it was only after recovering from the shock that we were able to take the pen and ink sketch
which we give below, of the editor as he took his departure from our presence:
[see illustration front cover]
Having polished our boots, brushed our coat, and turned our shirt, (which had become the color of
night) inside out, we once more took our seats in a car of the Midland Railway, and in due time reached "Home sweet home."
Gentle Reader, peradventure the cares and perplexities of the world have wearied they brain and
weakened thy strength: if so drop the pursuit of the dross that perchance pack up a dress shirt, a couple of collars and a few copies of the TIMES for Sunday reading,
then borrow ten or fifteen dollars and leave for a sojourn with "mine host" Rutherford or Ingram, of Fenelon. Then if you are a disciple of Izaak Walton, (or
the gentleman whose photo we give below) a better place could not be selected.
[see illustration on front cover]
One word more and we have done. Do not borrow of us, for we are saving all our cash, with the
object of purchasing a controlling interest in the Toronto & Ottawa Railway.
From Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley, Vol 5, no 4, February 2001
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