The Mapleton Historical Society recently held its third in a series of historical walking tours in the village of Alma.
Through the tours, the society hopes to bring an awareness of the history in the community to members and residents, past and present.
On Sept. 12, 40 people gathered at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Alma, the first of 40 stops included on the tour. Mapleton Historic Society member Debbie Oxby began the tour with a brief history of the town’s founders. Walkers were encouraged to share any historical facts.
In 1848 Alexander McCrea and family settled the point where Pilkington, Nichol and the newly-surveyed Peel Townships joined. McCrea had plans to succeed in business at this location. He built a log cabin on the Peel side of the boundary for his family but moved them to the Pilkington side shortly after. McCrea’s first business venture was a tavern to serve travelers. The settlement became McCrea’s Corners and the construction of a post office and store followed.
In 1855 McCrea and Thomas Graham owned the entire area and renamed the location Alma after the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War. No buildings were erected on the Nichol Township portion until later.
The original Presbyterian Church, built in 1865 on Church Street, was the only site in Alma used for burials for a brief period of time. Burials were later conducted in nearby Elora. A cairn, in memory of the pioneers buried on the site, was erected by the congregation of the Presbyterian Church in 2004. The cairn contains a time capsule compiled by the Sunday School children and members of the congregation.
The present church, built in 1893, saw the addition of a bell in 1906. The same bell is still rung on Sunday mornings, welcoming congregation members to services. In 1925 the church did not amalgamate with the Methodist church but did lose some members to the United Church.
In 1988, a plaque was dedicated by a Korean delegation commemorating Rev. James Gale, a former congregation member who served as a missionary in Korea. Part of his work in Korea involved the translation of the Bible into Korean.
The Presbyterian Manse built in 1870, was a centre for social functions including lunches, dramas and musicals. These events drew the community together and provided a place for young people to gather. The property is now a private residence.
Near the corner of what is now the junction of Wellington Roads 7 and 17, a blacksmith shop operated for a number of years. In 1948 the Flewwellings bought the shop and opened a grocery market. The market also offered cold storage rentals as home freezers were not common.
Flew-Ettes Restaurant, widely known for its good food, replaced the grocery market. Rumours place Canadian icon Gordon Sinclair, journalist, writer and commentator, enjoying a meal at the restaurant on occasion. After games with local rivals in Drayton, Alma hockey teams were found after hours at Flew-Ettes.
Part of this site today is the Alma Optimist Park.
The current site of the Alma Optimist rink, nicknamed “The Cow Palace,” was a weigh scale from 1930 to 1956. Livestock was driven down the main street from the scale to the railway station located on the outskirts of town.
“The Ice Cow,” the Olympia used to clean the ice surface in winter, shares its name with the location’s historic roots.
The original site of the Mission of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, built in 1888, closed in 1948 and was sold in 1951.
The building was renovated and housed three apartment buildings until 1981, when the Alma Optimists purchased it and turned it into a community centre. With the building of the new Alma Community Centre, the property was sold and is now privately owned. The lots running from this location to Simpson Street were owned by a woman known in the community as a healer. Her expansive gardens contained many herbs and plants used for medicinal purposes.
The Alma Methodist (United) Church opened in 1875. Members of the congregation carried chairs from the original site to the newly-built church on opening day of the new facility. The church manse located directly beside the church sat on large lots. During war time, the minister in residence planted large amounts of potatoes. In 1947 part of the property was sold and a house was moved from Hollen. A residence and heating business was established on the site.
Alma’s first school, located at 28 Peel Street West, was a log building erected in 1854. The school was also used by the Presbyterian Church as a meeting place. A replacement brick school built in 1864 was also used for community dances. Many residents voiced their opinions around the inappropriateness of dancing at the school. The current school accepted its first students in 1960.
Due to a lack of refrigeration, Alma had a beef ring organized by the village’s butcher. Twenty people had membership in the ring. Livestock was slaughtered on a weekly basis with each member receiving 20 pounds of meat.
The railroad came to Alma in 1869 with a station built in 1875. The station contained a ticket office, freight shed and dwelling. Trains brought supplies, mail and passengers to Alma. Cattle and produce were shipped out on the trains. By 1930, five passenger trains ran on a daily basis, with service ending in the 1970s.
Dr. James Wallace, the first doctor in Alma, arrived around 1868. His son Norman took over the practice in 1902 and Dr. George McQuibban in 1926. McQuibban did not drive and was escorted to his appointments by a local driver. He became a member of parliament and paid for the first lights at the Alma ball diamond. His funeral was held in Alma with many dignitaries in attendance. After his death the lights at the diamond were removed.
Over the years the village has been home to various shops and businesses, including a shoemaker, barber, weaver, tailor, blacksmith, harness maker, wagon maker, implement dealership, threshing business, cattle dealer, coal business, garages and gas stations. Saw, steam, shingle, chopping and flax mills came and went. Hotels, libraries and a music teacher made up the remainder of village’s business section.
Oxby ended the tour back at the Presbyterian Church, where participants were able to view a collection of historic photos of the Alma area. In her concluding remarks she said, “The village of Alma has pulled together over time to create an atmosphere of friendliness and community service, improving the lives of village dwellers and the surrounding farm families.
“Alma in 2015 looks different than it did when Alexander McCrea first arrived, but the same optimistic spirit that infused the early pioneers still exists here today. “
