Wardell family, Huntsville, Ontario before 1911.

Description

Mystery Question

Who is the littel girl in the centre of the picture?

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Photographs

Description

Wardell family, Huntsville, Ontario before 1911.
Left to right: St. Clair Wardell, Grenville Nickalls (baby), Maude Wardell Nickalls, Matthew Wardell, little girl ?, Mary Grace Smale Wardell, Claude Wardell, Daisy Wardell Mawhinney. Taken in the living room of the Wardell home above their dry goods store at 77 Main Street East, Huntsville, Ontario.

Notes

Matthew Wardell (1842-1934) was born in Canada. In his early years he lived in Toronto with his wife Mary Grace Smale (18451937) where he was listed in the Toronto City Directory as an autioneer, jobber and dry goods merchant. In 1895 the family moved to Huntsville. Matthew rented a store at 77 Main Street East and in 1902 bought the building. The store is described in a 1906 issue of The Forester as follows: "The building is 40 x 62 feet in size...The very large stock of goods carried might very well fill a store much larger. Every foot of space obtainable is crowded with goods. There is a well-stocked dry goods department which contains practically everything usually comprised in the term 'dry goods'. There are ladies' ready-to-put-on skirts and blouses and white wear; men's clothing and furnishings; boots and shoes for both men and women, house furnishings in carpets, oil cloths, curtains, etc. All kinds of produce is bought from farmers, and considerable quantities of butter are shipped. Many tourists and campers are supplied from this store, for a gasoline launch is owned and used to deliver goods to Fairy Lake and Peninsula Lake resorts. It is a steady satisfactory business that is being done at the store and the years have brought a good measure of prosperity to its proprietor." During the summer the family lived above the store, but in the summer they lived at their cottage called Bide-A-Wee on Fairy Lake.
December 28, 1911, tragedy struck when a fire caused by an overheated box stove destroyed the building. The family rented the building across the street at 86 Main Street East, which had been occupied by Hanna and Hutcheson Brothers, and resumed their business. After paying rent of $600 per year and installing hydro the Wardell's bought the building in 1920 for $6000.

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