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The White Bean Capital of Canada
Founded in 1870 by the Petty brothers, the village of Hensall rapidly took shape. By mid-1876, the air - it is said - was filled with the sound of hammers: no fewer than 40 residence and businesses were under construction. The view of the village's main street displays some of the fine architecture of the community.
The district's first train ran from London to Wingham on Jan. 10, 1876, Bringing four passengers and two freight trains daily pass the Hensall station, the 'London Huron & Bruce' line was also known as 'The Butter & Egg Express', for the farm wives who transported produce to Covent Garden Market each morning on the 8:22 a. m. train. A new railway station was built in 1912, after a fire destroyed the original building.
Village founders George & James Petty emigrated from Hensall in Yorkshire, England, in 1851. With their elder brother John, they introduced Shorthorn cattle & Leicester sheep in Huron County; the two operated the largest packing plant in Ontario in the late 1870s. Hensall was incorporated as a village in 1889 and George C. Petty, nephew of the brothers, was its first Reeve.
In the 30s, local baseball teams brought out the crowds in Hensall; a grandstand was soon built to accommodate the many spectators. Hensall's team rose to the top in 1840, winning the Intermediate Provincial Championship finals.
The oldest moving business in Ontario was founded in 1878 by Joseph Wedge. In 1928, hos son James, designed the unique pullman that accommodated families as well as their furniture. In 1968, Joseph's grandson, Robert, took over the business. The family firm was the first in Canada to offer coast-to -coast service.
Agriculture formed a firm economic base for the new community of Hensall. Beans, corn, flax & other grains were grown in nearby fields. A thriving onion business provided employment for both women & men. The establishment of rail service in Hensall in 1876 delivered local crops to distant markets.
Hensall's first planing mill was erected in the 1870's by Robert Paterson, supplying building materials & contracting services to the village's early settlers. The mill burned in the 1890's; its location - on Highway 4 between King & Queen Streets - today is the site of Erb's garage.
Ford dealership was established in 1911 under the name of Cook Brothers' Garage. Hupmobiles were sold here, followed by Hudson-Essex cars. In 1927, new car sales topped 100.
The lack of catalogue shopping & city access helped Hensall's businesses to flourish, thanks also to healthy competition among fellow shopkeeper. The price of bread was 5 cents a loaf; roasted coffee 15 cents a pound; butter & steak both 20 cents a pound. In the late 1890s, Hensall boasted six groceries & general stores.
This bakery/ice cream parlour was one of many enterprises that made Hensall a bustling community at the turn of the century. Drygoods, shoes, fine silverwear, hardware & furniture could be purchased here; there was a foundry, cider mill tannery, florist, corset factory & drug store, among others, Before the first barber shop opened, gentlemen paid ten cents to have their hair cut with horse clippers at Murdock's Livery Stable.
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