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HISTORICAL SOCIETY
[DATE UNKNOWN]
At the recent meeting of Welland Historical Society, the origin of the name of Hagar Street was given by Wes Laing. He received information on the Hagar family from *Alice Hagar, a descendent of the family and a retired librarian of the University of Wisconsin.
Jonathan Hagar II and Azubah (Hopkins) Hagar, his wife, settled near Beaverdams between 1792 and 1800. Jonathan died from wounds in the war of 1812-14. They had 13 children, one of whom was Jonathon Hagar III, born 1809 and died 1879. He married Jemina Carpenter and they are listed in the history of Central United Church, Welland as early pioneer members when it was a Methodist church. They had six children, the eldest son Franklin Metcalf Hagar, was an early Welland businessman who owned a lumber business and is believed to have run an ice and coal business as well. His first wife, Clara Evelyn Fell, was the mother of his three children, she died at the age of thirty. He then married Anna Brooks. Franklin died in 1905 (14 September) and Miss Hagar believes Hagar Street was named after him as many Welland streets bear the name of early businessmen.
She is a descendant of Ward Hagar IV, Franklin’s brother, who farmed family lands at the north end of “the Island” near Quaker Road. The families that farmed on the Island were removed to the mainland to make way for the Welland Canal.
George Chipman introduced the guest speaker Dennis Teakle a graduate in advertising of the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. He was freelance illustrator before accepting a teaching position in Prescott where he taught art for four years. During this period he and his wife became interested in auctions and in due time he left his teaching profession for his increasing interest in antiques and opened a business on Lake-of-Bays, Muskoka. That was 16 years ago. Now a very accomplished antique dealer, he and his wife own and operate a shop in the centre of Fonthill dealing in country furniture and accessories. He brought with him many interesting and unusual items, stoneware, a glass fly catcher, three canes (one of amber glass by the Port Colborne Glass Factory, one with a snake coiled around it from the Welland County and a Prince Edward Island cane with an ivory eternal knot for a handle), a Redware Dog Bank made in Paris, hand forged iron trivet and meat cork from Ridgeway made from about 1830, Tiger Maple and Rosewood picture frames from the 1840 era and 1804 children’s books.
The audience participation in identifying some of the exhibits was enjoyed by all. Dr. al Purdon thanked Mr. Teakle for his splendid presentation.
President Shirley Jones chaired the business meeting. Cecil Dyson gave a report of the Regional Historical Society meeting. Mac Swackhammer, Curator of the Museum, announced that “Christmas with Culture” will be held Sunday, December 7th from 1-5 p.m. at the Museum, and members were reminded of the Christmas Dinner to be held Tuesday, December 9th at Wesley United Church.
*Alice Hagar was the daughter of Joseph Ward and Flossie Hagar (6 June 1917-10 April 2002).She graduated from Welland High School and was employed by the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.