Portrait of a Businessman - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster
Motorists in Wingham must have heaved a huge sigh of relief in August of 1967 when the newly-built Hanna Bridge over the Maitland River on Josephine Street officially opened. The 260-foot structure, comprised of three concrete and steel spans, was a great improvement over the former McKenzie Bridge, which had been built a half-century before to accommodate horse and buggy traffic. Once motorized cars and trucks took over the roads, it was found that the 15 feet, four inches of clearance on the old bridge was no longer adequate. Wise drivers took turns using the bridge but others, who chose to take their chances, often ended up in a crash. The resulting bottleneck just south of a hill was problematic.
And why was the old crossing called the McKenzie Bridge and the hill above it McKenzie Hill? It all goes back to a man named George McKenzie, an Ontario-born gent of Irish heritage, who moved to Wingham from Goderich. The 1861 census listed George, in Goderich, as a wagon maker and by 10 years later, still there, he was enumerated as a “merchant” where he, his wife Mary Bailie, five sons and a daughter were living. A double tragedy hit the family in 1872, first when 14 year-old William died of typhoid fever and then when George’s wife, Mary Bailie McKenzie, passed away from the same affliction six days later. George was left with boys aged 12, 10, eight and six, as well as a four-year-old daughter so it is not surprising that he was remarried in 1873 to Louisa Holland. To them was born a daughter, Charlotte. Three years later, George moved his family to Wingham where he purchased Lot 1, Plan 426, of the John Gregory Survey. Lot 1 is now known as 11 Bristol Terrace. George must have accumulated some wealth before this time for he was able to build a substantial brick home there that was called “Riverview”. Eventually he would own Lots 1 through to 11 on Bristol Terrace.
By the 1881 census, George was enumerated as a “speculator”. Records show that George was an enterprising fellow. Starting in 1886, George owned some of the lots on the west side of Josephine Street just north of the present (2026) Town Hall. On these lots were several businesses, such as a coal and wood office, a dressmaker, a tailor shop and the “Bee Hive”, which appears to have been an emporium. In 1903, it was reported that George sold the “McKenzie Block” to Dr. A.J. Irwin for the sum of $9,800.
George became the proprietor of a broom factory that had moved from Kincardine in 1889 and was located on Josephine Street north of the Maitland River near his home. Two employees, J.B. McKay and George Swanton, produced first-rate brooms at the rate of 30 dozen a week. This factory was sold in 1894 to Mr. W. Birtch.
There is one report that states that, at one time, George McKenzie had the highest assessment ($8,400 - over $300,000 in 2026 dollars) in all of Wingham. In other words, he owned many properties and therefore paid large property taxes. Other property owners with high assessment rates were Ben Wilson ($6,800), C. Tait Scott ($7,000) and Rockney (Rockhey) and Sons grist mill and property on Cedar Street ($10,000).
George served the municipality in various elected capacities. In politics, he was of the Liberal persuasion.
Wingham was making progress in 1895. W.F. Brockenshire was Wingham’s mayor when the first cement sidewalks were installed. The term used at the time was “granolith” a mixture of cement with crushed or chipped granite. Previous to this, any existing sidewalks were made of wood. The following year, George McKenzie became mayor and it was during his tenure that he became embroiled in controversy. As mayor, he sidestepped usual practices for hiring contractors and did not listen to the opinions of experts on the quality of materials needed for continuing the sidewalk project. J. Golley, a disgruntled member of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), brought up past grievances against George who, as a member of the PUC, authorized work on the water tank and pump, hired himself for the job, kept his own time, fixed his own wages and pocketed the money.
Through his time in Wingham, George McKenzie was involved in many business ventures. Some of them included running a tannery and a hay-pressing enterprise. He placed an advertisement in the Wingham Times in 1901 offering to sell many lots on Bristol Terrace, as well as one on Edward Street and “several others”. In addition, he was a grain buyer and, in 1903, he and Thomas Gregory departed on a business trip to Manitoba, likely in the capacity of grain brokers.
By 1916, George was disposing of some of his possessions in preparation for the McKenzies’ move to Alliston where two of their children resided.
George McKenzie, one of Wingham’s first movers and shakers, died in Alliston in 1920 at the home of his daughter. His family of Robert, a merchant in Belgrave, Alfred, a Supreme Court judge in California, George, a doctor in California, Alexander a doctor in Alliston, Sarah, Mrs. Spedding, of Toronto and Charlotte Beattie were left to mourn his passing. He was interred in Maitland Cemetery in Goderich.
There no longer is a bridge or hill bearing the McKenzie name and no descendants of George live locally, but the beautiful house once called Riverview still stands watching over the Maitland River.