Memories of... Kingsville, Leamington and Wheatley
Dusting off the memories Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Southpoint Sun - 23
Photos from Kingsville-Gosfield Heritage Society 1790-2000 A Stroll Through Time
Cedar Beach Drug Store, owned by Red Morris, Photo courtesy of the Kingsville Archives offered drugs, toiletries, china and souvenirs for sale as well as providing a luncheon menu. Speed boat rides were available from the Cedar Beach Drug Store for 50 cents a ride for summer visitors renting a cabin or for cottagers not owning a boat. 1986 The boats could be taken through the placid canal or out into the rougher waters of Lake Erie. This One of the most important thingsphotograph of an unidentified family, standing outside the Cedar Beach Drug Store, was taken in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
Looking back ... By C. Scott Holland Since the late 1920s, Leamington has been known as the Tomato Capitol of Canada and for several decades boasted that it was the Tomato Capitol of the World. Tomatoes had been grown in this area since the 1880s and became a popular crop in 1910 when the H.J. Heinz Co. of Canada began producing ketchup at their nearby, newly formed Canadian factory. By the late 1950s, Leamington sought to have a permanent tourist booth to replace a rather small, portable one. An idea was conceived by the Leamington Chamber of Commerce to create a booth resembling a tomato. Late in 1959, the H.J. Heinz Co and its engineers formally stated that they would support the project and transform the idea into reality by creating the large tourist booth they envisioned. However, full approval and a site for it did not come until a year later. A small, triangular section of property on the west side of, and adjacent to the town’s Federal Building (which had housed Leamington’s original Post Office from 1911 to 1959 and later its Customs Office) was the site chosen. It was a natural spot where a majority of vehicles coming to town along Highway 3 (from Windsor and Detroit) would spot the unique structure. The bright red tomato shaped booth, adorned with a green stem on its top, would become an icon and popular tourist stop for photographs. Upon its completion, it measured 14 feet high and about 20 feet in diameter. Its interior was wood with a fiberglass outside. At its opening in May 1961, Leamington’s own Frank T. Sherk, who was president of the H. J. Heinz Co. and the Canadian Tourist Association, along with Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Joseph Jeffery, cut the ribbon to officially open the information booth. Initially its hours of operation were 9 am to 7 pm but by the 1970s its hours were shortened to 10 am to 4 pm. Since its opening on Monday, May 8, 1961, it has undergone numerous facelifts and repairs. The grounds around it have undergone numerous transformations as well.
done was that town council passed legislation that severed the small triangle Mettawas bathing beach, Doug Clark on right, date unknown. of land (in 1993) from the overall propA Look at Leamington’ s Past courtesy of C. Scott Holland kingsvillearchives@gmail.com erty, which today houses the Leamington Arts Centre. That same year, Tomato Leamington’s Past courtesy of the C. Scott Holland Collection Family figures (four in total) were added. In October 1995, an information kiosk April 1973: was erected to its east. The kiosk would Buckingham Real Estate provide information at all times and edged Gulliver serve the public when the booth was Insurance 2-1 to closed. win the Midget Although figures on the number of hockey trophy. visitors stopping at the booth are not At left is captain available for many of the years, in the Ken Dick who mid and late 1980s, the booth reported scored both nearly 1,000 visitors per week. In 1986 goals with coach the total for the season (Victoria Day Randy Critchlow. weekend to Labour Day weekend) was over 16,689. And in 1987, by late September, the booth had hosted 21,774 visitors. One of the most impressive facts to July 24, 1990 - The local corps of St. John Ambulance Brigade received a new vehicle courtesy consider is that during reconstruction of the Knights of Columbus. St. John Ambulance director John Dorey (left) is presented the vehicle of Talbot St. West in 1988, the booth still by Knights of Columbus representatives John Surowniec (past Grand Knight, centre) and Reg managed to draw nearly 400 visitors per Campbell (Grand Knight, right). week. Clippings from the Wheatley Journal, May 1989 Over the course of its history, the Clippings from the Wheatley Journal booth had served small cans of Heinz tomato juice as part of its welcome, and the tapping of tomato keg became symbolic of its May opening. Volunteers helped operate the booth and for a number of years via government funding helped provide summer jobs for students. It was also the centre of attention in the early 1990s when Leamington District Secondary School had tourism classes make daily visits to learn about the area’s local attractions and how the volunteers helped serve the public. It has remained a national and international symbol of Leamington’s viJuly 1992 - Pictured here are the winners of the Fire Truck Colouring Contest recenlty held at Wheatley brant agricultural Area Public School and Romney Central School. The winners were chosen from hundreds of entrants cycling Ditches foot after foot followingcontest the Thursday evening rainfall whose artwork will -now be sentrose to participate in an international to win a firetruck for the local community for overSubmarine Romney lads Wheatley Fire Department. The Firefighters Association Cartwrights and Fudd’s these young wasted no time inventing a new game,thanks “submarine cycling”. If half a century andand Mersea for supplying prizes. Pictured here are firefighter Shelley Beleutz, Ryan Clarke (Wheatley), Jessica Wiper else, it’s a quick way to wash a ten-speed bicycle! is still a magnet fornothing (Romney) and firefighter Mike Taylor. people from around the world whenMEMORIES OF KINGSVILLE, LEAMINGTON & WHEATLEY PRESENTED COURTESY OF ... MEMORIES OF KINGSVILLE, LEAMINGTON & WHEATLEY PRESENTED COURTESY OF ... they pass through the area, despite the fact it has serious structural damage and needs to be replaced. Leamington’s council has debated about its replace170 OAK ST. W. LEAMINGTON The grand opening of the Big Tomato in 1961, from left, Frank ment or repair. Any T. Sherk, Tomato Queen Carol Penner and Joseph Jeffery from decision is on hold 1-877-511-2927 • 519-326-9052 the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. www.leamingtonchrysler.com as to its future. Photo courtesy of C. Scott Holland