CARRIAGE INDUSTRIES
ONCE AT COLDWATER
(from Barrie Examiner, 28 Jan 1971)
(Archives at Midhurst Aug 1998, personal visitation)
COLDWATER (Staff) -- While still only a village of fewer than 800 people, Coldwater has a history which dates back to the pioneer era of Simcoe County and has been a shopping centre which dates back over 100 years.
Coldwater residents who read about local records at the county archives at Midhurst drew attention to old newspaper clippings and materials. These showed the first drug store was opened in this village over 80 years ago by, Henry Carter.
CARRIAGE WORKS
Mr. Carter carried on the shop for about 10 years and he was succeeded by William Williamson for a couple of years. Mr. Williamson carried on the same business at store then owned by John Gray (*probably John married to Sarah Gill).
Charles G. Millard who came to the village from Orillia and started Millard's Drug Store and Stationery later became the first village reeve.
In the early 80's, two lively industries operated in Coldwater were the carriage works of William Robinson and wagon and buggy plant of Hugh McCollough. Born in Newfoundland in 1838, Mr. Robinson came to Simcoe County in 1858 and moved to Coldwater a few years afterward, it was recorded.
In 1882 William John Leatherdale (*my gr. Grandfather) purchased the McCollough interests but before he obtained possession, the place was totally destroyed by fire. The building was subsequently reconstructed with blacksmith department, lumbering and agricultural sections.
Products of the two carriage works were in use in the vicinity for years and carriages were sold as far was as Vancouver.
NOTED ATHLETES
Coldwater also was once famous for its notable athletes of which four were particularly well known. These included the late George R. Gray (*son of John Gray & Sarah Gill) who was champion shot putter in the 80's (1880's); John Gray (* most likely son of John Gray & Sarah Gill), champion sculler of Ontario, Henry Gill (*son of John Gill & Lucinda Fuller, buried at Coldwater), champion all-around athlete of the world, later coach and lecturer on athletics at University of Illinois at Chicago and James Lazonby, a one time sprinter of note.
Among educational advances mentioned in old newspapers were the start of the one-time Continuation School in 1908 in part of then public school. In 1923 the new Continuation School was built and the building is still standing although not used for school purposes any more. For years the village had its own newspaper which was found by James V. Lazonby before the turn of the century. He name the paper "The Coldwater Investigator," a name which was later changed to the Coldwater Planet" and eventually "The Coldwater News." It ceased publication more than a decade ago.
First stationmaster for Coldwater was S.D. Eplett who also was a pioneer postmaster. First brick building in the village was a school erected in 1875.
*Denotes my comments, names in bold are in someway related to me. (Loree)