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The block of Josephine Street East has suffered much destruction by fire. The heat and ferocity of the flames has devoured many buildings on the street. One of the most attractive buildings on Wingham's main street was located on this block. It succumbed to fire in the 1960s. Its replacement sticks out in the landscape of the street like a sore thumb historically.But it is the mixture of decades past that make our streets unique and their stories interesting.
This block starts on the northwest corner of Josephine and Victoria Streets. Dr. Tamlyn's doctor office was located here from 1874 to 1916. Dr. Tamlyn sold the property in 1916 to Ezra Merkley.
He moved his machine shop to this location and developed it into a gas station and car dealership from which his son sold Grey Dort cars.
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Brunswick Hotel 19541954
205 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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A display of Dort cars at the Wingham Fair, 1900s1900
5 Victoria Street East
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Dr. J.E. Tamlyn came to Wingham in 1868. By 1874, he had established his office and practice on the south-east corner of Josephine and Victoria streets. Tamlyn was one of the first councillors of the village of Wingham.In 1916, he sold his office to Ezra Merkley, who opened up a machine shop on the corner. As cars became more popular, the machine shop turned into a garage. Ezra's son, Cecil, liked cars and worked with his father to create Merkley Motors. They sold Grey Dorts at this location.
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Merkley's Shell gas station, 19281928
5 Victoria Street East, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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In 1928, the first storey of the Merkley Motors building was cut out at the corner to allow cars drive through from Victoria to Josephine Street. This allowed the service station to move the pumps far enough from the street to satisfy a new gas pump law.R. A. Currie, local funeral home owner and ambulance service provider, bought a Hudson Terraplane from Cecil Merkley. Currie worked with Cecil's mechanics and together they created a sedan ambulance with a centre post that could be taken out or locked into position. They never got a patent on it.
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Merkley's Shell gas station, circa 1930s1930
5 Victoria Street East, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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Cecil's wife ran the snack booth and confectionary counter of the gas station. Being right next door to the Wingham Arena (north on Victoria Street) gave them a steady clientele especially after hockey games and public skating.Cecil Merkley not only ran his gas station. He performed musically on CKNX radio and later television. In a scrapbook of the places he travelled to with CKNX, that is at the North Huron Museum, there are many of his funny rhymes and postcards.
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A service station has been on this corner since the early 1920s.2004
5 Victoria Street East, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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The Merkley's sold their gas station to Texaco in 1960. Louis Readman ran the station in the 1960s & 70s. It is now Barry's Service Station.Renovations in 2004 increased the size of the office area and the repair bays of Barry's Service Station.
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Howson and Howson Mill, prior to the 1950 fire.1920
185 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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The building to the north of the corner served many purposes over the years. Unfortunately no early photos of it were available to the museum at the time this project was put together.In the early years of Wingham, the building served as the newspaper office of the Vidette for the few years it was produced in Wingham (1883 - 85).
It was later the site of the City Bakery.
In 1919, John S. Hawk had a garage at this location.
And in 1950, after a fire leveled the Howson and Howson flour mill on Wingham's Maitland River, Howson's continued their presence in Wingham by opening a retail store at this location.
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Flood of Maitland River in 1947.1947
185 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario, Canada
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The fire was not the only damage the mill suffered in its history. In 1947, when ice blocked the dam and the river swelled with ice floes, the river jumped the banks and flooded the land on both sides. Water smashed through a wall in the Howson & Howson mill.Howson and Howson had bought a mill in Blyth prior to the flood and fire, so they moved the centre of their operations.
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