portrait of a village: historic spartashop, a funeral parlour, a hardware, barbershop, a trophy shop...
TRANSCRIPT
for more Sparta History visit http://www.thevillagecollective.com/sparta-village.html
Everything you’ve heard is true. Now
start heading this way. Our welcome mat
is out for you. The stories you’ve heard
about our legendary hospitality and
graciousness are true. We invite you to
come explore the sights, sounds and
flavours only found in one place:
SPARTA...where history lives.
Our village is a colourful patchwork of
the most beautiful village offerings.
And just as no two people are exactly
alike, every studio, shop & stop in this
quiet county corner has its own distinct
character, charisma & charm!
Not many realize that at one time Sparta
was quite large. There were 3 churches,
a stage coach, telephone service, daily
mail, 2 doctors, wagon maker, painter,
shoemaker, druggist, 5 shoe stores,
banker, 2 fruit stores, 3 general stores,
3 blacksmiths,2 broom maker shops,
basket shop, butcher, tanner, sawmill,
3 cheese manufacturers, 2 justice of the
peace, 2 harness makers, 2 carpenters,
chair manufacturer, cabinet maker,
undertaker, carriage maker, and a stove
and tin ware shop.
So grab some comfy shoes & fun friends
and enjoy our walking tour!
Welcome to Sparta!!
1 THE SPARTA HOUSE
1840’s
46342 Sparta Line
The LIBRARY
1888
Built by David Mills, as a hotel. It has housed the
1st library, Millman’s General Store, a furniture
shop, a funeral parlour, a hardware, barbershop,
a trophy shop and now a tearoom. In the day,
“old George Grasshopper,” a very popular town
barber, was held in awe by the children as he
seemed to be the only black man around. He
would tell stories to many a child in his soft-tone
southern accent.
A public library, or Mechanics Institute, as it was
called in the early days, was formed in 1888. At
first it was in the far west corner of what is now
the Sparta Tea House. Which at that time was
the Moedinger Hardware Store. In 1924 the
library, was moved to the OLLIE house when
Mrs. Ollie was appointed the librarian.
2 THE ABBEY 1840’s
46324 Sparta Line
Originally built as an Inn, The True Teller, a Sparta
newspaper was printed here for a brief period.
In 1859 Louis Moedinger started his undertaking
and furniture business in the Abbey prior to
operating it out of the Sparta House.
Mr. R. Stratton turned ‘The Old Abbey’ into a
shop where he made furniture and coffins.
3 YE OLDE FORGE
& ANVIL 1824
46316 Sparta Line
BLACKSMITH SHOP
Built of clay and straw, Ye Olde Forge & Anvil was
named by the Sparta Institute, a building believed
to have been put up in 1824. Built of adobe walls,
it remains in much the same state as when was
erected. It has been extensively repaired from
time to time, new roof or two, and its interior
entirely modernized since Womens’ Institute
took it over. It remains with its original dung
coloured clay and straw walls as a relic of the
earliest days of this Old Elgin County Settlement. During the MacKenzie Rebellion of 1837, militia
horses were stabled here. Early settlers’ oxen
were ‘slung up’ and fitted with shoes and later
horses were shod. In this building all kinds of
wagon wheels were repaired.
4 BAPTIST CHURCH
1869
46170 Sparta Line
Opening for worship in 1869, the basement was
first hand dug, 2 yrs. later the church was bricked.
The Baptist Church was built as a mission of the
First Yarmouth Baptist Church in 1869. Their first
minister was the Rev. Alexander MacDonald who
later became the first missionary to Western
Canada. In 1896, Rev. J. Baker became pastor of
the church and he, along with Rev. W. Graham of
the then Methodist Church were leaders in the
temperance movement which resulted in the
closing of the hotel in Sparta. Coincidently Rev
Baker resigned shortly after.
5 CHEESE FACTORY 1870’s
46062 Sparta LIne
Also known as the
‘Mill-Spring
Cheese Company’
Amos Canby built the cheese factory on his farm east of the
Doan’s Tannery. In 1911, the McCullough brothers sold the
cheese factor to the Donnelly’s . The first cheese factory
burned down and the Donnelly’s rebuilt it around 1911 and
ran it for over 40 years. The Donnelly’s made the first
cheese that was ever made in Sparta on Saturday nights
and was the last to in 1915. In 1948, Wallace Little
purchased the farm and factory and engaged in gardening
and general farming.
In 1955, the old factory was converted to a vegetable
cannery by the Little family .
6 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY of
FRIENDS CEMETARY
(Quaker) 1820
45870 Sparta Line
This was the original site of the first Quaker Meeting house.
Jonathan Doan purchased 200 acres and set it up as a
Tannery. His son, Joshua Doan was hung in 1839, 28 yrs old
for treason and he is buried here. Read up all about Joshua
Doan’s story in Issue 6 on the Village Collective’s web page:
www.thevillagecollective.com/sparta-village.htm
A TOMBSTONE –
which has caused mystery in the village in the Friends’
cemetery has an inscription of “Johnni-Rorsrr-Abcdefg”
and on the other side “Johni-Hijklm-Nopqrs”.
7 HAIGHT—ZAVITZ
HOUSE 1837
45358 Sparta Line
"Pioneer Centre - This handsome house, located on the
Union-Sparta Road, west of the village, was the hub of
activity during pioneer days. Its owner at the time, Samuel
Haight, was one of the most popular persons of the era.
The home is one of the earliest in the Sparta area, and was
sold to the Zavitz family. It is a typical early Quaker house
built in the 1820's.
James Haight founded several industries in & about Sparta
including a hat shop in a log cabin on his property. Due to
its proximity in the wilderness, it was moved to St Thomas
where the business flourished.
8 JOHN ZIPP—
SANDERSON HOUSE
1859
This is the pioneer home of John Kipp, and later the
Sanderson family. The first Quaker group in Sparta was
organized at the home of John Kipp in 1819.
The farm was sold to George Z. Minor in 1866, grandfather
of Lila B. Sanderson, the owner in 1948 , and remains in the
Sanderson Family today, 2016.
9 MUD COTTAGE
1830
46173 Sparta Line
Crafted of adobe, the mud cottage had walls originally 1½
to 2 feet thick. It is likely the handy work of Mr. Keller as
he came from England where he learned the art of
making mud-walled houses. They dug a pit in a clay bank,
poured in buckets of water, scattered straw upon the
soaked clay and set a yoke of oxen tramping back and forth
upon the mud and straw. The wooden forms into which
the clay and straw were pounded and packed were
chopped from the virgin forest.
10 BAPTIST
PARSONAGE 1855
The Sherman house was built in 1855 and purchased for a
Baptist parsonage in 1886. Previous to this, ministers lived
in rented houses, or stayed with various families. It has not
been a parsonage since the 1960’s, and is now a private
home.
‘We have two village blacksmiths
The one is tall and slight
The other is a little chunky chap
A man of average height.
Now if you want your horse shod
Just call the day before
Or else you’ll need a boarding house
Say the boys in Millman’s store.
“THE BOYS IN MILLMAN’S STORE’ written in 1906, we think by Rev. S. McVitty.
Portrait of a Village: Historic Sparta
46249
Sparta
Line
1 2 35
6 4 7
8
12 19 18 17 16 22
20
13 9 15
14
11 10
20
20
20
21
25
24
23
26
NORTH ST
SPARTA LINE
JAMES ST
CHURCH ST
SOUTH ST
SM
ITH
ST
QU
AK
ER
RD
S P A R T A
Village of
20 SPARTA UNITED
CHURCH & MANSE
1886
6073 Quaker Road
This was the site of an earlier Methodist Chapel.
Lightening destroyed the steeple in the early 1900’s
and the church closed in 2012 when it was purchased
by the Sparta & District Historical Society to preserve
the building and create a museum. The old framed
church that was there prior was used as a church
shed then grist mill. The front part of the old church
became the front of a local house and the back part
was later converted to present day garage.
21 HOSINGER 1851
Church St &
Quaker Rd
It is believed that this home was built as an early
Methodist Chapel, then moved to this site in 1880’s
and converted into this corner house.
22 EAKIN’S GENERAL
STORE 1846
46361 Sparta Line
The Eakins built the front brick section as a general
store. The age of the present building is recorded on a
stone marker under the front fan window; “John A.
Eakins, July 1846”. The Post Office had been in that
building since 1851 - and John Eakins and son, Edwy
served as Postmasters for 70 years. Groceries and dry
goods are still sold over the original walnut counters.
23 VARY HOUSE
1834
6201 Quaker Rd.
William Vary enlisted in the Continental Army and
was a Lt. Col. and Commander of the Genesee Militia
from 1813 to Sept. of 1814. His oldest son, William T.
Jr., when a lad of 15, carried dispatches for his father
on horseback between Batavia and Black Rock to the
forces while the Village of Buffalo was on fire, an act
of the British. William and family moved c. 1824 to
Sparta and built the home. In 1834, ‘Sparta’ was
named in this house, chosen to replace the common
name of ‘The Corners.’
24 THE FRIENDS’
MEETING HOUSE
1865
6387 Quaker Road
The Sparta Friends is part of the larger Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Sparta Friends Meetings for Worship are non programed, meaning that they gather together in silence without the leadership of a pastor or priest. They are their own clergy and all members or attenders contribute with whatever spiritual or other gifts they have. The Meeting House was built in 1865 and is surrounded by peaceful scenery. Featuring separate entrances for men and women and a counter-balanced partition to allow separate business meetings. It remains an active meeting house.
25 COBBLESTONE
HOUSE
1871
6738 Quaker Road
Started in 1871 for Anasa Chase by his Uncle Isaac, an
early Quaker and was completed in 1872. They used
the technique of laying stones in a herringbone
pattern, and of interest is they built a frame that each
stone would have to pass through just right if it be
used on the house. It took Isaac Chase 2 years to
collect all the stones while he cleared the land.
The walls are 2 feet thick with facing of stones, the
size of a hen’s eggs.
26 JOHN MOORE
HOUSE 1825
6545 Quaker Road
It is documented that John Moore, though a United
Empire Loyalist and a Quaker, became a leading
advocate of reform in the turbulent 1830s, and was
charged with treason in the aftermath of the failed
rebellion. John’s son, Joseph, was also arrested and
died in prison from an infection related to the squalid
living conditions. John was released and continued on
as a prominent farmer in the Yarmouth Township
area. One brother Elias Moore was the area MPP in
the 12th and 13th Parliament of Upper Canada. A
third brother, Enoch, was also sentenced to hang for
his part in the rebellions. This house had chimneys
built into each end wall for fireplaces and bake ovens.
11 MOORES’ HOTEL
1853
DOMINION HOTEL
1872
Having disposed of the ‘Elgin House’, Isaac Moore built a
large tavern, known as Moores’ Hotel, in 1853. In 1872,
Cyrus Thayer purchased this property and named it the
‘Dominion Hotel.’ Later, George Moore came to Sparta
and rented the Dominion Hotel, and having strong
temperance views, discontinued it’s license and made it
his home and office for a few years. Then, Israel Doan’s
son-in-law rented it to keep a private school—after several
years of use and idleness it was bought by a Fred Garner,
who divided it and made two houses.
12 A
LUNDY HOUSE
1842
46277 Sparta Line
This home served as an early home of Hiram Smith whose
store was next door. Later owned by his son, Hiram Jr.. And
then by the Crocker Family for over 70 years.
13 HIRAM SMITH
STORE 1846
46211 Sparta Line
Everything that came into this store was packed in wooden
boxes or pails. Money was very scarce, business being
done by barter or trade: 20 bushels of wheat and 15 of
corn for a cow, 4 bushels of wheat for 6 or 8 yards of
cotton. Inside, the main salesroom still contains the
original pressed-metal ceiling, as well as the original
shelving and floors. The original sales counters are still pre-
sent, including a cash drawer, and an embedded brass
yardstick for measuring cloth and other goods.
14 HIRAM SMITH
HOUSE 1865
6137 Hiram Smith
Homestead of Hiram Burley Smith, born in 1811, he left his
home in Quinte at 11 years of age, coming to Sparta with
nothing but his tailor’s kit. The brick building outback was
a smokehouse, bake oven and toilet, standing to west of
house. This was the pioneer property of John Mills, who,
upon his death in 1852, willed the farm to his two
daughters, and in time the house passed through hands
until it was sold to Hiram Burley Smith in 1859, and in 1865
he built the brick house.
15 OILLIE HOUSE 1838
46329 Sparta Line
The home of John Oillie, who was the owner and smith of
the blacksmith and carriage house across the street.
When John Oillie purchased the blacksmith shop in 1839,
he had the slab roof replaced by the first machine made
cedar shingles. In 1924 the Library was moved to the OLLIE
house- Mrs. Ollie was appointed the librarian.
16 TINSMITH SHOP
1840
46341 Sparta Line
Built in 1840, this little frame shed on the main street of
Sparta has housed a tinsmith shop, a tailor shop, a butcher
shop, with an ice-house added on the back, storage shed,
of large antique collection. In more modern history, it has
been a bakery, and now an artist studio.
17 ISRAEL DOAN
HOUSE 1845
46341 Sparta Line
Israel, a brother of Joshua and a son of Jonathan Doan, was
the long time constable of the village and caretaker of the
Friends Meeting House and sexton of its burying ground.
He weighed 230 lbs and at cradling wheat he could beat
any man in the township. He frequently spoke of his
brother, Joshua Doan’s execution and was always bitter
towards those responsible for it. He and his family lie
together in the grave-yard he used to tend.
18 THE TEMPERANCE
House 1840’s
46349 Sparta Line
The Elgin Hotel, was built because of the demise of the
Sparta Hotel / Mills Hotel. In 1851 it was known as the
Elgin House. In 1872, it was purchased by Freeborn Taylor
and named the Ontario House.
In 1901, the religious groups in Sparta, led by Rev. J. J.
Baker, Rev. W. H. Graham and Dr. G. A. Shannon organized
a successful temperance drive. Eventually the Ontario
house was bought out and it became the Temperance
House. It later served as an ice cream parlour, dance hall,
apartment house, factory, artist sanctuary.
19 THE BANK
BATES HOUSE
1875
46355 Sparta Line
Built around 1875, as the A.D. Wood Store, in which Mr.
Wood carried out a thriving Dry Goods & Millinery business
Later it was used as a grocery store, a drug store, and then
a branch of Sterling Bank. After closing out, it was torn
down and a modern brick building was erected by the
Imperial Bank. Later it was converted into a residence for
the Bates Family. The south half of this property was the
residence and blacksmith shop of
Andrew Murray. In those days, Sparta
could boast of no less than 5 blacksmith
shops. Today Anything Used / Sparta
Candles owns this building.
Interesting note: Sparta had for many years and years,
rows of beautiful trees lining each side of the street, but
along with progress and widening the street - they were all
cut down in 1972 and have been missed ever since.
QUICK OVERVIEW OF SPARTA’S HISTORY from www.villageofsparta.com
The village of Sparta began in 1813 when Jonathan Doan, a Quaker, traveled
down Lake Erie by flat bottomed barge to Kettle Creek seeking a safer place for
a Quaker settlement. He had fled the United States after the American Revolution and
settled in the Niagara region. When attacks began in the Niagara Region during 1812,
he feared losing his property again. He purchased 100 acres at what is now the present
site of the Quaker Cemetery and stayed the winter. He was accompanied by his nine
year old grandson, Jonathan Steele. The following spring he returned to the Niagara
Region and encouraged other Quakers to move to the Sparta area. He and his family
set up a grist mill, a saw mill and a tannery in the community as well as giving land for
the Quaker Cemetery and the first Meeting House. Many Quakers followed and by
1820 others were also attracted to this rich farming area. a In 1837, the community became involved in the Rebellion of 1837 and many fled to
the USA after the aborted attack in the Duncombe Uprising. Joshua Doan, son of
Jonathan was one of these rebels and was captured at the attack on Windsor in 1838
and hung for treason in London in 1839. Most of the others gradually returned from
the USA and took up their lives in the area once more. theVillageCollecitve.com