This is the final installment in a series on information shared at the Cemetery Walk in Drayton hosted by the Mapleton Historical Society on Sept. 10. The article is based on research by society members Debbie Oxby and Marilyn Streeter and presented by speaker and society president Floyd Schieck.
Farmer Martin Schneider (1829-1896) built the Royal Hotel on the corner of Main and Wellington Streets. Schneider dealt in horses, grain and dressed hogs.
Martin Fox (1832-1914) was proprietor of the Dominion Hotel located at the bottom of the hillside property now under the ownership of St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church. Fox’s daughter Lena (1878-1979) took over as proprietress of the hotel from her father. Lena was also active on the school board and lived to be 101 years of age.
Stonemason Henry Schieck (1858-1931) built the town hall, along with the United and Catholic Churches.
“Rumours going around the area said Schieck walked to and from a job site in Elora on a daily basis as transportation was unavailable. With the length of the journey it seems an impossible feat,” Schieck commented.
Henry Irvine (1859-1933) ran a store in Drayton over a 20-year period. Irvine always requested that the store advertisements in the local Newspaper were placed sideways. He was the only merchant to offer valet parking to his customers. Two generations of the Irvine family resided at the store. Outside of the store, Irvine was a master of ceremonies for church and music functions. After 20 years as a shopkeeper, he closed the store and moved to Arthur.
“Irvine’s son studied medicine and started a medical practice in Toronto. He made frequent trips to Arthur to visit his mother. Their visits usually involved a trip to Drayton as his mother was fond of the Drayton area,” Schieck said.
George Awde’s (1871-1957) business interests included Henry’s Hardware, Union Telephone and the Drayton Creamery. Awde’s wife Mary, was the first burial to take place in the Drayton cemetery. Mary passed away in November of 1897 at 61 years of age.
A war veteran who returned to Drayton after serving overseas, Fred Lorch (1884-1978 ) was the town barber. At 90 years of age, Lorch was the oldest man on skates at the Drayton skating carnival.
“Shoemaker John Hefkey lived from 1885-1969,” Schieck said. “When making or repairing shoes, he filled his mouth full of shoe tacks, spitting a tack out every time it was needed in the shoe making process. Hefky also sold ready-made shoes.”
Bert Andrews (1896-1970) earned a living by selling candy and ice cream. From time to time he dabbled in race horses. Andrews held the position of reeve of Drayton. On Halloween night goats would be found tied to the door of his shop.
The garage located on the corner of Main and Wellington Streets was once the Royal Hotel under the ownership of Percy Trussler (1906-1988). Over the years the building housed an Allis Chalmers dealership and a garage.
“In 1954, Trussler created a showroom with large glass windows. The first car to be on display in the garage was a Dodge. The garage is now the Alva Cherry garage,” Schieck said.
Edward Alton Noecker (1909-1959) erected the Noecker Feed Mill on the current site of Nieuwland Feed and Supply. The mill remained in the Noecker family for 100 years.
Electrician Oscar Bauman (1926-1963) died at a young age after being electrocuted while on the job.
Bauman left behind a widow and a large family.
“The men and boys of Drayton were in awe when Roy Lambert (1953-1972), owner of Lambert’s Garage purchased an army truck,” Schieck said. “When the truck got caught in an ice jam, Lambert hooked the truck’s winch up and pulled the truck out. It was an exciting day in the village.”
