This is the third article in a series on the Mapleton Historical Society’s annual Cemetery Walk on Sept. 9 at Bethesda Cemetery. Located on Wellington Road 8 near Moorefield, the cemetery is rich with history about the property and those buried within it.
The first doctor to practice medicine in Moorefield was Dr. Henry Maudsley, who moved his practice from Hollen to Moorefield. Maudsley was the village’s doctor until his death in 1884.
In 1858, 1867, 1872 and 1877-78, he served as the Reeve of Maryborough Township. The first post office located on land Maudsley owned, opened for business in 1872, with Maudsley as its postmaster.
In 1881, Maudsley built a home at 14 McGivern Street, that remained a doctor’s residence and medical practice until 1966, when James and Joanne Murray purchased the property. The doctor’s that followed Maudsley in practice included Dr. James Cassidy, Dr. Arthur Munns, Dr. Thomas G. Wilson and Dr. Earle Wildfang.
Dr Maudsley’s wife, Alice, remained in the community after her husband’s death and ran the post office until 1905. The couple had two adopted children. Maudsley Street in Moorefield is named after Dr. Maudsley.
Dr. Earle Wildfang was born in Elmwood, where his parents operated a general store. Following in his older brother Harvey’s footsteps, Wildfang also pursued his interest in medicine. At the age of 16, Wildfang travelled to the west to teach school in order to finance his schooling. His plans were interrupted when Wildfang signed up to serve in World War 1. Through Wildfang’s sister, a nursing student in Chicago, Wildfang was introduced to his future wife, Viola. The two corresponded during the war and were engaged when they met for the first time in Canada.
After the war, Wildfang attended the University of Toronto for five years but continued to suffer the effects of gassing experienced while serving his country. As his mother was born on the 6th of Wallace and the area was familiar to Wildfang, the couple purchased the doctor’s house and practice on McGivern Street in Moorefield.
A medical practice was established by Wildfang with Viola as his nurse. In addition to her nursing duties, Viola also kept the books and ran the household. After surgery, patients would remain in the house under the care of the medical team.
A horse and buggy and horse and cutter were the doctor’s mode of transportation. In order to get to patients in a timely matter, Wildfang hired local mechanics to build a snow machine. The practice had no set hours and patients were seen on an as needed basis. Reports indicate that 3,000 babies were delivered by Wildfang.
Well respected in the community, Wildfang was involved in teaching Sunday School and coaching Sports teams from men’s soccer to ladies baseball. He also served as team physician for a men’s hockey team. As a violinist, Wildfang organized an orchestra in Moorefield with his wife, Viola, on the piano.
The Wildfang’s had three children Barbara, Douglas and Virginia. Wildfang’s mother Catherine came to live with the family for the last 15 years of her life. After 35 years as the community’s physician, the residents of Moorefield held an appreciation night honouring the doctor. Enough funds were raised to equip a room at the Palmerston hospital. The doctor practiced medicine at the Palmerston Hospital and worked as an anesthetist at the Listowel Hospital. After surgery to remove a brain tumour, Wildfang died on March 7, 1962 at Toronto General Hospital. Viola predeceased him in 1961.
Levi Wildfang, the older brother of Dr. Earle Wildfang, was the first of the Wildfang family to move to Moorefield from Amberly. Along with his wife Sarah and their children, Wildfang was a merchant that established a store in a vacant house at 12 McGivern Street. The shop was later moved to the Malcolmson Block, where Gourlay’s store is situated today. In 1918, Wildfang contracted the Spanish Flu during an outbreak and died leaving Sarah with five small children.
A native of England, Leonard Shore immigrated to Canada with his parents at the age of three. The family settled in Georgetown, then moved to a farm near Listowel, finally settling in Moorefield. Shore’s father, John, ran a shoe repair and harness equipment shop in the Malcolmson Block. After his father’s death, Shore’s mother was employed as a housekeeper by Dr. Earle Wildfang. Shore apprenticed as a baker in Walkerton where he met his wife Dolly. The couple married in 1933 and raised three children.
In 1953, the Shores bought the bakeshop at 49 McGivern Street from Roy Wildfang. The bakery became known for its cream puffs, fruit bread, cherry bread and cherry rolls.
Shore was also known for his purchase of an 18mm movie from a young entrepreneur in the village. The movie is an informative look at the history of the village, that was not available in any other form.
Born on Aug. 20, 1927 in Westlock Alberta, Beatrice Forsyth Houston, attended The University of British Columbia, specializing in psychology and pre-medicine. As veterans returning from Second World War were given first choice to enter medical programs, Houston was refused admittance to the medical program. Houston met her husband Wayne, a veteran, in Vancouver after his return from war. The pair married and moved to a farm on the 6th Concession of Maryborough, where they raised a family of three sons. At the age of 39, Houston began teaching at Milverton High School and in 1970 she accepted employment at Listowel District High School. Upgrading during the summer months, allowed Houston to expand the subjects she taught to include science and mathematics. In 1986, Houston retired from teaching.
Community minded, Houston assumed the role of secretary with the Moorefield Women’s Institute and in the 1960’s was the first female member of the Wellington County School Board. Houston passed away on June 15, 2017 and was buried with her husband in Bethesda Cemetery.
Veterinarian Dr. William Martin of Wroxeter purchased the practice of Dr S. S. Smiley located in Drayton in 1950, after serving overseas in World War II. The practice operated out of a residence on Wood Street for 12 years. In 1962, the Martin’s constructed a new home and veterinarian practice on Wellington Street North, Drayton.
