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Doors Open: Ethel Introduction WHEN THE POST OFFICE was created here in April 1863, what had been known as Carter's Mills, Carter's Corners, or simply, Carter's, was renamed Ethel. Jonathon Carter in 1862 had a established a sawmill on the main branch of the Maitland River at the intersection of Concession Road 7-8 Grey Township and County Road 19. He was appointed the first postmaster of Ethel in 1863. It was not until 1873, when the Grey, Bruce & Wellington Railway came through about one kilometre to the south and named their station Ethel, that the name finally stuck. In 1860, Lots 22, 23 and 24 Concession 8 Grey Township were purchased from the Crown by Jacob Storm, Alex Hutch-inson, and Robert Ross. Jonathon Carter had acquired Lots 22 to 24 of Concession 7, north and south of the river, in 1862. People used the Mill Road between Lots 22 and 23 and it became the main thoroughfare for Ethel. By the mid-1870s, Carter had sold to Milne who also had a grist mill built in 1877, more east and north of the river. Various surveys were made laying out village lots-the Storm Survey in the 1860s, the Dunbar Survey in 1874, the Fisher Survey in 1877 and the Cober Survey in 1896. James Spence, a Scot, came from the Paris area to Ethel in 1867-1868. He built a general store at the corner of Main and Mill streets. Will-iam, his son, had a pottery in about 1870 on lot 10 next door on Main Street. William got the clay from a lot near Brussels, drawing by horse and wagon back to Ethel in large chunks. Flower pots, milkpans, fruit jars, crocks of all sizes, dash churns, and many other household articles were made. Wares were also taken to Seaforth and the railway for distribution. William Simpson obtained the land in 1885 and in 1887 built the Simpson Block, with room for two or three stores. A grocery was carried on in one part, while the other housed the Krauter & Ritchie hardware store with a tinware department employing a fulltime tinsmith. S.S. Cole rebuilt this block in 1906 after the original burnt. Another store block at the corner of King and Main called the Corner Block, was rebuilt in 1909 with four stores and apartments. In 1881, Robert McAllister, a doctor, built a general store, and later, a dry-goods store. Miss Lowery ran a millinery store here in 1894. Over the store Misses Patterson and King opened a dress and mantle store. In the 1890s Ethel had a butcher shop, blacksmith, general store, dry-goods store, millinery store, dress and mantle shop, and a jewellery store. Site Submissions Ethel Community Centre Location: Ethel Year built: 1892 The Township of Grey had this Township Hall built in 1892. All municipal meetings were held here until 1925 when the Hall became Ethel Community Centre. The building has raised decorative brickwork. more... Ethel Hotel Location: Ethel Year built: 1890 The first hotel in Ethel was built on this site in 1872 by William Patton. In 1890 fire destroyed the frame building. That same year the present two-storey brick hotel, the Royal Hotel, was built. The hotel was sold in 1912 and has been a private residence since then. more... Brubacher's Restaurant & Bakery Location: Ethel Year built: 1906 Baked goods and wholesome cooking now entice visitors to Brubacher's. In the 1890s you could buy John Cober's "common-sense" clothes dryer here. In 1906 George Krauter sold hardware and tinware downstairs and made brooms upstairs. The Dunbars ran a grocery store and post office here in the 1920s. more... St. Matthew Presbyterian Church Location: Ethel Year built: 1875 Church trustees bought land for a church in 1870, but it was not unitl 1875 that the frame church was built. In 1927 the building was given a brick veneer and the tower-like front entrance was added. Its beauty was enhanced by the stained glass windows. more... Mount Pleasant Cemetery Location: Mount Pleasant and Brandon Rd Year begun: 1911 The first burial, that of Gordon McKee, took place here on September 11, 1911. Until a steady caretaker was hired in 1927, men were hired as needed to dig graves at $5 a grave. A chapel was built in the 1940s and the cemetery gates were donated in 1980. more...
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