Woolvertons part of town fabric

The spirit of Charles Woolverton is surely rejoicing this week!

The Baptist Church which, he was instrumental in establishing in 1883, has its new purpose which benefits the whole community. It is now the Wellness Hub for the Grimsby Benevolent Fund services.

The building is on the site of the Grout Foundry which burned in 1879 and was rebuilt where the TD Bank is today.

Charles Woolverton wanted a Baptist

A Small Drop of Ink

By Dorothy Turcotte

church in Grimsby, and he saw an opportunity to acquire the vacant downtown property for that purpose. He donated $500. There was already a small Baptist congregation meeting in the little Gospel Hall on Adelaide Street which Woolverton had previously built. The worshippers happily moved into the new brick building at the corner of Elm and Mountain Streets. The Gospel Hall was then used as a Sunday School.

Charles Woolverton’s father, Dennis, had come to Grimsby at the age of eight when his parents journeyed from New Jersey to their new home here. Jonathan Woolverton had had glowing reports from his Bell, Moore and Pettit cousins about life at The Forty so in 1799 he came to see for himself. He was so impressed that he bought John

Smith’s farm (390 Main St. W.), and went back to New Jersey to fetch his wife and children. The Woolverertons quickly became an important part of the pioneer community.

Charles’ parents, Dennis and Catharine were an unusual match. Dennis was an ardent Baptist with left-wing leanings, while Catharine was an Anglican of Loyalist background. Nevertheless, the family seemed to respect the differences.

Fireworks highlight West Lincoln’s Canada Day party