History of Everton

Everton had its early start as Evert’s Town, then Stewart’s Town

By Deb Quaile

Everton originally consisted of lots 11 and 12, concessions 6 and 7, about not five kilometres upstream from Rockwood on the Eramosa River. Because it had been bypassed by the Grand Trunk Railway and Highway 7 to the south and Highway 24 in the north, the community was never in the running to be a vital village or to grow into the large town that some predicted. But its pretty situation, a waterfall that provided power, businesses and services allowed its residents employment and the necessities of life.

William Everts, a United Empire Loyalist from Pennsylvania, received a grant of 1,000 acres of land sometime after 1815, and in 1821 he deeded part of the property to Irene Everts, who was presumed to be his wife. Rufus Everts, recognizing the potential of his father’s land, also purchased property from the Crown to start a business that would be in great demand in the deep woods of Eramosa: A sawmill.

The first grist mill was also built by Rufus Everts about 1846, but one early historian, WF MacKenzie, who used to supply anecdotes to newspapers such as The Mercury in Guelph, noted that it was not in operation until about 1851 when William and Simon Plewis put in machinery on condition of getting the mill free of rent for several years.

The first store and post office was kept by George McDonald, who started about 1846, and was situated at the gate leading to Henry Hortop’s residence. Ever the businessman, Rufus Everts bought the store and became the general storekeeper and postmaster in 1852, continuing until 1857 when he disposed of both to Alexander and Lachlan Kennedy.

“…The village first started on Rufus Evert’s property and was known as Evert’s Town, but at a later date Mr. Peter Stewart had a village site surveyed on his property north of the River, where he erected the present commodious stone store, for many years occupied by Mr. John McKinnon, but now by Mr. John Marshall, as a general store and post office. This newer portion soon took the lead and was known as Stewart’s Town. At a later date the name Everton was adopted,” MacKenzie added.

About 1860 Stewart thought there should be a market square in Everton and he employed a surveyor to set out a plot of land for such purpose. A park now takes up a portion of that reserve.

A few years before in 1856 the first Methodist church was constructed by Peter Stewart and William Plewis to the southeast of the cemetery, on Oliphant Street. A new brick building had been created in 1900, but changes to the congregation soon left the building vacant. Two years later it housed the Everton Literary Society which continued for about 25 years, a community hall and then a blacksmith shop.

The nearest school was north of the village on the Eramosa Gravel Road, now Highway 124. Previous to 1871, a log schoolhouse on the south half of lot 12, concession 4 Eramosa and another at lot 12, concession 1 Erin township accommodated the pupils of S.S.#7 section. When it was time to expand, the trustees purchased one-half an acre of land in the northern half of lot 13, concession 6 Eramosa for $150 so that they could erect a new stone building. Since the township was growing, the school roster sometimes expanded to 100 pupils. In 1876 Donald McCaig, who had left the Academy, a private boys’ school in Rockwood, was reported to be principal. The large attendance by 1880 forced the trustees to add a red brick section at one side for the primary grades, while the main section was used for the rest of the classes.

In 1861 the Disciples of Christ erected their beautiful stone church and the building is still in operation today as the non-denominational Everton Community Church.

Through its glory years Everton boomed with a carding factory, hotel, stave factory, tannery, potash works, blacksmiths, general stores, post office, Foresters’ Lodge and Lodge Hall, and a Templars’ Lodge named the Blooming Rose and two physicians, Dr. McCullough and Dr. Abbott. As businesses prospered and more people moved to town, by the late 1870s there was daily mail delivery which continued until 1960 when the post office branch was closed and all mail was routed from Rockwood.

After nine years of operation, Rufus Everts sold his two mills to Henry Hortop. Henry married Fanny Duffield and the couple had three sons, William, Charles, and James. Henry’s father had been mill operator in Eden Mills from 1850, and his son, Charles, purchased the Rockwood Grist Mill that had been owned by Henry Strange, also on the Eramosa River. Charles’s nephew, Clarence, followed in his uncle’s footsteps and operated the Rockwood mill for many years.

The three-storey Hortop Mill in Everton ground both flour and grist, supplied Lily White Pastry flour to bakeries across Ontario, as well as local grocery stores and the Ontario Reformatory at Guelph.

William carried on the family business in Everton after his father’s death. He married Emma Benham, and the couple had three children: Clarence, Harry and Muriel. In 1952 after William’s death, Harry took over as the third generation miller.

When Hurricane Hazel blasted through in October 1954, the mill race was damaged, but repaired again until an accident in 1966 took the side out of the flume. The mill now stands silent, a testimony to the busy days of over a century of operations.

Photo at left: ORSA Semi Finalists, 1939 - Courtesy of the Township of Guelph/Eramosa archives

The Everton Millers were as proud of their prowess on the ballfield as they were of their milled flour. From left to right, back:

Harry Hortop Capt., Colin Parker C., Max Forsythe OF, George Jackson OF, Bill Jackson 1stB., Bert Robertson OF, Gordon Aitkens P. Second row: Percy Peavoy Mgr., T.D. McCutcheon Scorer, Ray West OF, Chuck Stewart SS, Kitchener Head P, Chuck Mitchell 3rdB., W.H. Hortop Pres. Front: unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

Written and compiled by Deb Quaile of Wordbird Press.
Reproduced with permission of the author.