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John Rhodes

John Rhodes

Sarnia Observer

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RHODES: Garner Hotel offered prime retail space at street level

When John and Isobel Garner built the Garner Hotel (in stages) they allowed for prime retail rental space at the King Street front.   This was a...

19.04.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Chatham had an abundance of neighbourhood grocers

One hundred or so years ago neighborhood grocery stores were common.   Chatham, in fact, had 55 of them circa 1900.   They were easy to...

12.04.2024 9

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: J.W. Peet founded the Marquis Hotel in Merlin

I have been, of late, exchanging emails with a woman named Heidi Lanford of San Marcos, Texas.   She has a connection to our Chatham-Kent’s...

05.04.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: How Lawrence Kerr expanded the Harwich Twsp. family farm

The best asparagus?   Kerr Farms of Chatham!   I have a strong bias but I think a lot of people would readily agree with me on that issue....

28.03.2024 3

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Belgian immigrant Victor Lanckriet became a grocery store entrepreneur

The Belgian and Dutch population of Chatham Kent is a substantial one and has had a presence since the earliest days.   One of the more...

22.03.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: How an archdeacon's estate led to the development of Sparks Drive

There is a short street “over the creek” which is known as Sparks Drive.   I have always referred to it as Sparks Court, my title for it...

15.03.2024 7

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Charles Green entered the hotel business in Chatham

Recently my friend Francis Peter Vink sent me a copy of a photo that recently emerged from a storage period of more than one hundred years; it was a...

08.03.2024 2

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: What caused the demise of the Gray Dort?

Recently I was asked on the Chatham History Facebook group what caused the demise of Chatham’s Gray Dort automobile manufacturing concern.   To...

01.03.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Gordon’s dry goods once occupied Chatham’s Central Block

In his Gazetteer of May 1885, historian James Soutar devotes considerable space to recording, not only who had business concerns within the town, but...

22.02.2024 7

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: An underpass at Cedar Springs

I operate a Facebook site known as Chatham History; we have close to 9,000 members. Participants often submit historic photos and information for...

16.02.2024 7

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Chatham’s Park Theatre went by many names

My friend Pete Dyer recently sent me a photo of the ancient Park Theatre and it has an excellent story to tell.   Date of the photo?   That...

09.02.2024 4

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: J.L. Campbell’s Boston Shoe Store

I host a Facebook site known as Chatham History where members submit photos and offer opinions as to content, dates, etc.   I never know quite...

02.02.2024 6

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Royal Exchange was a popular early Chatham hotel

I am currently completing my twelfth book.   It will be titled Boards & Bricks and will detail the history of significant Chatham buildings,...

26.01.2024 3

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Gord Caplan and the Grand Opera House building

In the July 19, 2022 issue of Chatham This Week I told you about Charlie Edelstein and his rescue of the ancient Grand Opera House.   In this...

19.01.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Four generations of the McKeough family

Darcy McKeough passed away recently.

11.01.2024 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: The original proprietors of McNaughton’s Hotel

Recently, my friend and colleague Kyle Reid sent me two perfect photographs of Dugald McNaughton and his wife Margaret McKerrall McNaughton and I...

05.01.2024 8

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Noble Duff called Chatham’s ‘best car salesman’

When I first started to write about local history in the 1980s, I was fortunate in that there were still people alive with vivid memories pre-dating...

29.12.2023 9

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Drader Box Factory survived nearby fire and still stands today

21.12.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: A pencil drawing of an old streetcar in Charing Cross

A short time ago my friend, Murray Jinks, sent me a copy of a black and white drawing done by his mother-in-law several years ago.   I looked at...

15.12.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: What a simple 1930s photo can reveal

I am always amazed at how a great story can be told by a simple photograph.

05.12.2023 8

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Chatham was home to an army basic training camp

The recent observation of Halloween brought back some ancient memories.   I recall my first venture into the event where small kids get to...

01.12.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Taft Block was used as a boarding house

One hundred and twenty-three years ago boarding houses were still common.   They, generally, offered rooms by the day, week and month.   ...

23.11.2023 3

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Lacroix Street and the milk wagons

In the Oct. 13, 2022 issue of Chatham This Week I told you about the life of Chatham businessperson and public sector employee Peter Paul Lacroix.   ...

17.11.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Finally, a portrait of Lt. Col. Bainbrigge

Recently, I was able to obtain a head and shoulders photo of Lt. Col Philip John Bainbrigge, Royal Engineers, which I have, for several years,...

03.11.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Sword of Chatham’s first mayor finds home with municipality

Sometimes things happen quickly.   Sometimes they don’t.   In 1992, I released a book titled “The Jack Ketch” in which there was a...

20.10.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: The summer of 1865 in Tecumseh Park

The included photo, though faded, is an interesting one with a unique story to tell.   The photo dates from the summer of 1865 when Chatham was...

13.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Chatham’s Andrew Block had many tenants

A short time ago I showed you the included photo and I have decided to take another look at the picture to examine what else in the depiction might be...

06.10.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: A walk down Victoria Avenue

In desire of a stroll down a pleasant street, I can’t think of a better venue than Victoria Avenue, particularly in the section between Forest...

29.09.2023 2

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Robert O Smith block was home to grocery emporium

I have always been intrigued by the ability of retailors to adjust to changes in the marketplace, but sometimes those alterations are so profound that...

14.09.2023 5

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

RHODES: Chatham’s Rice Block has had several occupants

There is an ancient building at 147 King St. W. (117 in the old numbering system). It is located to the immediate west of the present-day Satellite...

07.09.2023 6

Sarnia Observer

John Rhodes

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