the Sunshine Gals - Clue #1

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Photographs

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Activity #1:
Photo:
The Sunshine Gals are a 4 member team filled with lots energy and smiles. It’s exciting just to be out and about with others and having fun together even though we continue to live in this COVID environment. To add a little mystery to our WISH, we will continue to shine brightly with each clue and reveal our faces to you in November. This photo was taken on a cold winter Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 11 am under the horse chestnut tree in the metropolis of Youngsville, Oxford County, Ontario. The endless chattering and crunching snow was so exhilarating. Happy 125th Anniversary WI.

Our story:
The Sunshine Gals’ first found treasure is the historical bronze plaque which marks the one-time thriving hamlet of Youngsville, located at the crossroads of Oxford County Rd. 88 and Oxford County Rd. 6 where the name ‘Youngs’ appeared on many of the surrounding land purchases in the early 1800’s.

Gabriel Youngs, a United Empire Loyalist, fled the United States to come to Canada in order to maintain his loyalty to Britain. Leaving New York State and then Grimsby, Ontario, he and his wife Amelia (Fielder) arrived at Lot 21W Concession 4 West Zorra Township with six children. Gabriel and his two oldest sons, Joshua and Lanty set about clearing the land.

The Great Western Hotel was erected on the southeast corner, Lot 20 Concession 5, prior to 1850. It was a large frame two-storey building close to the intersection. A barn and weigh scales were located to the south. The hotel served travelers going from Beachville to Stratford, a distance of 23 miles. Here they could leave their horses for feed and water while they stopped at the hotel.

Youngsville was deemed to be the centre of West Zorra Township, and from 1850 to 1911 the township councilors met in a room in the hotel.

The last innkeeper of the hotel was Robert Evans. In 1909, he sold the property to Charles Youngs who made changes to the back of the hotel, making it a family dwelling. In time William Youngs helped the current owner tear down a section of the hotel and remodel the rear of it. A horrific accident at the corner involving three trucks resulted in a fire which damaged the home. The hotel/home was demolished in the 1960’s.

In 1866, when a school was built on the southeast corner of Lot 21, Concession4, the land on which it sat came from John and Amelia Youngs. West Zorra School No. 6 was called Youngsville.

A Post Office was located in the hotel from 1874 until 1902 when rural delivery mail took over. The first postmaster was Edward Youngs.

In addition to the hotel, school and post office, by 1881, Youngsville also had a wagon-carriage shop and a blacksmith shop. There were some houses with the population being listed as “about 25”. A sawmill was located a half mile east of the hotel.

The hamlet of Youngsville was marked on road maps until the 1960’s. But from that time until today, all that remains of the settlement is a large chestnut tree which serves as a reminder of gala days gone by. This is where we found the treasure.

This plaque was erected by the Brooksdale Women’s Institute in 1984 as part of the Ontario Bicentennial Project acknowledging the crossroads called ‘Youngsville’.

Further information was located in the Brooksdale Women’s Institute Virtual Tweedsmuir Community History Books as well as ‘Historically Bound’ Embro and West Zorra History Book Vol 1.

Walking the paths of our early ancestors make us appreciate our neighbouring communities.

Our adventure of locating an extraordinary WI treasure was so different from the adventure of the early settlers. And yet, it was important to share time together. In typical fashion, the Sunshine Gals concluded their adventure over lunch and a cup o’ tea.

Happy 125th Anniversary WI
The Sunshine Gals

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