LOCAL HISTORY

In 1901 the town’s first motion picture (a Jerky Recording of Queen Victoria’s Funeral) was shown in the Assembly Hall “Opera House”. Many movies and live performances were presented at the Opera House throughout the early 1900s. James McKay’s report on the safety of the Town Hall stated in 1908 that the bell tower needed repair. In September that year “The Village Carnival” was held on September 3, 4, and 5 at the Town Hall and $250 was donated to the Sick Kids Foundation. On February 18th & 19th , 1914 the Opera House presented the first “Thomas A. Edison Kinetophone Company Incorporated Talking Pictures”. In 1915 a meeting was held to consider the application of the G.W. McFarlane Engineering Co. for converting the basement of the town hall for the manufacture of artillery shells for the war It was approved, and 35-60 men were employed manufacturing artillery shells to be shipped to France. In 1917 Charles and Chester Wheeler moved the Wheeler Needle Works Factory to the former Town Hall. The company was a specialty needle manufacturer serving the textile industry started by Chester Wheeler’s father. Chester was involved with the Paris Lion’s Club and responsible for the renovation of several downtown properties By 1953 the tower of the former Paris Town Hall had deteriorated so much that the bell had to be removed. In 1954 the building was purchased by Mary Maxim. An addition was added, and the top floor was used for Mary Maxim offices, while the ground floor served as a show room. In 1976 Mary Maxim purchased the former Zamboni factory on Scott Ave. and used the 7,000 square feet for a warehouse space Mary Maxim built a new building at their Scott Ave location and in 1984 left the Old Town Hall, and it became an auction house. In 2016, the Corporation of the County of Brant purchased the building, financial support came from “Degrassi” creator Linda Schuyler when she donated one million dollars. The building was renamed the Bawcutt Centre in honour of Schuyler's parents, Jack and Joyce Bawcutt Jack was the Town of Paris’ last Mayor and had worked as sales manager for Mary Maxim. The Corporation of the County of Brant plans to restore the building, so that it might be used as a community centre with space for theatre and performance arts. It was decided that the new County of Brant main Library branch could be located on the site and combined with the restored Bawcutt Centre in 2022

This photograph depicts an 1879 meeting of the Paris Town Council, which at the time met at the Church Street town hall. Among the figures depicted are mayor A.H. Baird and the police constable, to the right holding a hat.

This image was printed on the tenth page of photographs in At the Forks of the Grand: Volume II by D. A. Smith.