Harry Pierce an interesting character living in the Hespeler, Puslinch Lake area. Puslinch Lake Items 9 Sep 1895 A few days ago, Mr. Harry Pierce lost a gun that he has had in his possession for a great many years. He felt very bad over his loss, but was pleased to hear the other day that it was found in the possession of Silas Dolson, of Hespeler. He has proved his property and Dolson was sent to Berlin for trial. clarksoftomfad.ca/PuslinchLakecommunitynews.htm __________________________ Use of Puslinch Lake as a recreational site does not become evident until 1840. At this time, Harry Pierce opened a tavern on the second concession road at what is now the entrance to Butlers Beach. Coach travel along the first con-cession road would have provided a route between Preston and the smaller communities of Puslinch and Aberfoyle. Pierces Tavern could have been built as a stopover point enroute. The tavern also began the trend of local people coming to the lake area. Their recreational purpose was not so much that of relaxing along the lakeshore as we consider recreation to be today, but rather to get away from the farm and socialize with neighbours in a definitely relaxing manner. The following year, 1841, a hotel was erected by Thomas Frame on the land strip between the two lakes. Its original purpose was probably to service the coach travelers on stopover. The records of this first hotel are now lost, but it would be possible to assume that some of the customers were from either Hespeler or Guelph. clarksoftomfad.ca/EarlyDevelopmentofRecreationatPuslinchLake.htm _________________________ Vast numbers of wild duck, and often wild geese, used to rest on the lake during their migration, especially on the return journey, and they were assiduously hunted. While the timber remained about its shores, there was also other game, some of which still remain. The most prominent hunter was Harry Pierce. Stories of his prowess still linger. Ten wild ducks with one shot was his record. He also preferred to bring down his game when it was on the wing. clarksoftomfad.ca/PuslinchLakebyJohnWGilchrist.htm _______________________________ One fine crisp Sunday afternoon in an Autumn long ago, three of us out for a walk around the Lake, called in at the log cabin which stood at the end of the lane, just to pay our respects to Harry Pierce, an old man who lived there alone, but for his memories, almost in poverty. Sitting there chatting, one of the boys noticed a pair of old rusted spurs hanging on a wall. Pierce, those spurs; they came from another day? The old man acted as if struck with an open hand. Became excited and almost shouted: Those were the days! And then in a quiet voice he told us. In the part of England where our people always lived, they ran each year one of the very old horse races, which we used to attend. Always on horseback. Those were my spurs. After we had looked over the horses and picked one I would ride up to the stand, raise my riding crop to attract the attention of the bookmaker and ask his prices on the horse I had selected, and he would call his odds. I then gave him my name and address and placed my bet; say, two to win; three for second; five for third. This he marked down in his book and read back to me. Two on so and so to win; three to place; five to show. In Pounds. And I would answer back, right; in pounds. And then would ride away to see them run. If my horse failed I mailed him next morning an order on my banker for the ten pounds I had lost. If my horse won, he remitted my winnings through the mail. That is the way we did it in my day. For Pierce was a well-bred Englishman, you know. Just down on his luck, a bit. Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:14:33 +0000
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