Memories of the Bethel Orange Lodge in Huron Township

Memories:
 

• The Orange Lodge Hall was a two-storey building across the Saugeen Road (Highway 21) from Bethel Church. The Lodge met upstairs. Dances, box socials and other meetings and social events, such as Farrell Gatherings, were held downstairs. In winter, the kitchen was “so cold.” It was directly inside the door to the right. Public school children went there for vaccinations. - memories of Doris Pollock Hollands

 

• When renovations were under way in the church, services were held in the Orange Hall. One Sunday morning in spring, Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Jack ushered three or four little girls into seats near the front only to discover that the service was about to conclude. They had forgotten to turn their clock ahead! - memories of Evelyn Pollock Elliott

 

• S.H. Farrell – Mum does not remember ever seeing him without his dark wig. Hilda Nesbitt remembered the first time he appeared in church wearing his wig. A hush fell over the congregation followed by a collective gasp of astonishment. -memories of Doris

 

• Steve Tout had a high-stepping sorrel driver with fancy harness, a long whip and a rubber-tired buggy. He was, obviously, very proud of his stylish outfit and did not deign to acknowledge the school children walking home from school. On the other hand, Bob Chaplin, who lived back the baseline at the 6th, had a thin old mare and a decrepit buggy but he always stopped and loaded all the children into the buggy. As many as need be were on his knee and the rest settled wherever they could find room and down the road they went delivering each one home. Licorice all-sorts or some hard candy was distributed to each hand when descending.- memories of Doris

Bethel Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1226 – Huron Township, Bruce County

The Warrant for the Bethel Chapel of the Orange Lodge No. 1226 was issued to Thomas Wilson Oct. 30, 1866.

Front row: Richard Graham 1880-1966, son of Frank; Geordie Snowdon, Billie Wilson 1870 - son of Tommy; Secord Graham 1879-1955, son of Alex; Tommy Wilson 1829-1909, said to be brother-in-law of Jimmie Graham and uncle of wife of S.H. Farrell
Second Row: Jack Mills, S.H. Farrell 1856-1946, son-in-law of Jimmy Graham; John Pollock 1862-1939, Pollocks all brothers; Joseph Doupe
Third row: Ed Snowdon (standing), Alex Graham 1848-1942, brother of Frank; Frank Graham 1840-1930, brother of Alex; Matthew McCreight, Steve Tout (on stool), Jimmie Graham 1826-1920, 1st cousin of Frank and Alex Graham, father-in-law of S.H. Farrell; Sam Doupe
Fourth row: Bob Lowry, George Ruttle, Alf Pollock 1884-1958, Jimmie Mills, Robert Tout, Charles Wesley Pollock 1882-1956,
Wes Potter, Tommy Thompson, ca.1844 - brother of Andrew, uncle of Pollock brothers; Andrew Thompson 1848-1925, brother of Tommy
Fifth row: Tommy Farrell 1860-1934, brother of SH Farrell; Robert Hamilton, William Snowdon, Willie Huston 1868-1944, brother of J.G.; Jim Pollock 1876-1945, Robert Andrew Pollock 1871-1953, Jack Wright, Jimmie Gordon Huston 1866/7-1927/37, brother of Willie

Names au verso of photo, provided by son or daughter of S.H. Farrell, presumably Helen Farrell McMurchy; reorganized by RAR for clarity (at least 18 names on my Family Tree).

Thoughts – re: date: - before 1909 - death of Tommy Wilson; John Pollock Sr was likely a member, not in group - died in 1902

** For further interesting information refer to:

1. Bruce County Archives - Bethel Loyal Orange Lodge, Minute Book 1897-1913, eg. – 1906 Nov 26 Moved by Bro R Pollock, 2^nd by S Graham that we get a lantern. Amendment – that we do without and use the church lantern. Motion carried.

- Membership and Minute Book 1937-1955 (membership 1901….)

- Pine River Reform Temple No. 72 IOGT -Independent Order of Good Templars, Secretary’s Book - local names, types of entertainment

2. Record of Orange Lodges in Bruce County - BGOGS Volume 41, No. 3, August, 2011

Ruth Anne Hollands Robinson
July, 2021
 

• relationship to me in bold

Front row: Richard Graham 1880-1966, son of Frank, 2^nd cousin 3x removed
Geordie Snowdon
Billie Wilson 1870- son of Tommy, 1^st cousin 3x removed
Secord Graham 1879-1955, son of Alex, 2^nd cousin 3x removed
Tommy Wilson 1829-1909, said to be brother-in-law of Jimmie Graham & uncle of wife of S.H. Farrell, 1^st cousin 4x removed
Second Row: Jack Mills
S.H. Farrell 1856-1946, son-in-law of Jimmy Graham, great-grandfather
John Pollock 1862-1939, Pollocks all brothers, great-uncle
Joseph Doupe
Third row: Ed Snowdon (standing)
Alex Graham 1848-1942, brother of Frank, 1^st cousin 4x removed
Frank Graham 1840-1930, brother of Alex
Matthew McCreight
Steve Tout (on stool)
Jimmie Graham 1826-1920, 1^st cousin of Frank and Alex Graham, father-in-law of S.H. Farrell, 2x great-grandfather
Sam Doupe
Fourth row: Bob Lowry
George Ruttle
Alf Pollock 1884-1958, grandfather
Jimmie Mills
Robert Tout
Charles Wesley Pollock 1882-1956, great-uncle
Wes Potter
Tommy Thompson ca1844-, brother of Andrew, uncle of Pollock brothers, 2x great-uncle
Andrew Thompson 1848-1925, brother of Tommy
Fifth row: Tommy Farrell 1860-1934, brother of SH Farrell, 2x great-uncle
Robert Hamilton
William Snowdon
Willie Huston 1868-1944, brother of JG, married to 2^nd cousin 3x removed
Jim Pollock 1876-1945, great-uncle
Robert Andrew Pollock 1871-1953, great-uncle
Jack Wright
Jimmie Gordon Huston 1866/7-1927/37, brother of Willie, married to 2^nd cousin 3x removed

• Note longevity of the Graham men (true for Graham women too, I think)

Updated, January, 2022