Walter White - from the Palmerston Observer
A Man who left his home town many serviceable memorials
When Walter White was born in Toronto, on June 4th, 1866, few would have thought that her would have a profound effect on the life-style and heritage of a small Ontario town some ninety miles to the north and west ohis birthplace. But that was the destiny plotted for the infant.
His parents were Alfred and Elizabeth White, who came to Canada from England, and the family breadwinner was a pioneer in Canadian railroading. He held the distinction of being the first baggageman to run between Toronto and Montreal. Entering his teens, and time to find employment and a life’s work, young Walter was first attracted to the graphic arts, and became a “Printer’s Devil.” But within two years he had enough of that and his Dad’s work as a railroader seemed more romantically appealing. So Walter sought employment there, and soon joined the staff of the transportation Department of the Grand Trunk Railway in his home city’s first “Union Station.”
His avid curiosity, and a stupendous drive, saw him quickly absorbing the art of telegraphy, then so vital to railways, and picking up every bit of knowledge he could about the then-glamorous steam transportation systems that were spreading across the land. When he was but 21 years of age, he was transferred to London to become secretary to the assistant superintendent there. Back to Toronto he was mad Chief Clerk, and was in charge of all lines from Belleville to Port Dover and the northern branches. Transferred to Montreal in 1896 he became chief clerk to the superintendent of the eastern division. Two years later he was appointed secretary to the General Superintendent at Montreal. In 1901 he was made terminal superintendent at Toronto, and held that position until 1902, when he made his first trip to Palmerston, and became a resident here.
The Whites liked Palmerston. The only fault they could find was the house they were occupying, and they were so “fed-up” with this house that they were seriously considering seeking a transfer back to Toronto. J.B. Skelton, prominent Palmerstonian at the time, discussed the problem with Mr. White and he pleaded with them to stay. He said that he would build them a house, to their specifications, if they would re-consider their decision to move. Mr. Skelton did just that, and built the home on Inkerman Street that was destroyed by fire in 1939. That home stood on the property that is today occupied by another pioneer Palmerston railroader, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Murdy McLay.
Throughout 1904 and 1905 the Whites were residents here, but then were moved to Black Rock and Fort Erie, where he was station agent for two years. From there it was London again, where he was Chief Dispatcher.
By this time the many moves had really begun to bother the home loving Whites, and he started agitating in railway officialdom for a permanent terminal in order to bring up his family of four. They were one son, and three daughters. The son was the late Howard, of Windsor, and the daughters are Edna, (of Port Elgin, Amy and Ruby of Palmerston. It was in 1912 that they returned to town, with Walter being Trainmaster, and later in 1917, Assistant Superintendent,. Their first Palmerston project, when they realized that at last they could settle in and put down roots, was the construction of their home on Prospect Street, that is in the centennial year, the home of the W. R. Bowey family. And what roots they put down! And what fruits those roots bore! Scant wonder that the Town Council of Palmerston has named a street in his honour. Another unusual incident was when the couple celebrated their Golden WEDDING Anniversary. The Town Brass Band met at their band room the Armouries, at the Post Office, and marched to their own music to the White House, formed up on Prospect Street and serenaded them and their guests with a band concert throughout the evening. There is no record of this honor ever being bestowed upon a Palmerstonian before, nor since.
To write a complete and accurate story of his accomplishments, his interests, his successes, and his failure, would take a large book. One must be selective in this case, so we will abandon his horticulture, his welfare work, and his municipal services as Mayor and respected citizen, and select two items which stand and serve today in most welcome ways. In fact, it would be almost impossible to picture social and recreational life in Palmerston without the building known today as Palmerston Lions Club Community Arena., and the little Main Street Building we call “The Club House”. This latter was originally called the “Recreational Centre” and had as its satellites, the popular lawn bowling greens and the two tennis courts. These are two items that Mr. White worked at, using all of considerable energy and influence to bring them to the point that they enjoy today.
There was need of a skating rink. The young people wanted to skate and the pond at the back of the Carriage Factory was a long way off, and the ice surface there hard to maintain, subject to snow storms, and could not be illuminated. Walter White formed “The Palmerston Skating Rink Company” and became its President. Now they had a group to administer things, but to other ingredients were needed. Real estate to build on, and money to buy the materials.
He went among the hundreds of railway workers, who listened intently to “the boss-man”, and with due respect, did what he wanted. They signed pledges to donate sums of money. Big sums, even on today’s dollar values. Palmerstonians should have had a medal struck for Mr. White. The inscription could well have read “Walter White, Scrounger, First Class.” A man who might not rank above the “poverty level” today would pledge fifty, or even a hundred dollars, at so much a pay-day over so many of such days,. Merchants and professional people were also approached, as were prominent farmers near the town. Slowly the money problem was being solved. There was cash in the bank and “paper collateral” for the bankers in pledges signed by honourable citizens. Now remained the real estate.
Walter circulated among his friends in top Grand Trunk Railway officialdom. “Look what your employees have done in cash money!” he would say. “Now isn’t it time you people did something to help the cause of recreation in this, your most prosperous terminal?” Walter, as he usually did, got what he wanted. A strip of railway land lying between the rails and William Street, near the station. This the Grand Trunk deeded over to the new Palmerston Skating Rink Company, and soon there was a large, wooden, barn-like structure there where many can still remember stirring hockey games, public ceremonies, and many hours of pleasant skating.
This rink served until and during the 1914-1918 war. It was not too well constructed, and was, with successive winters of heavy snow loading, becoming unsafe. Old times today say it was “condemned” but a written record of just who condemned it, and why, has not been located.
The Palmerston Rink Company had to find a new location, and build a new building, and the present concrete and steel framed building on Daly Street came into being. But then came a recession, and the rink company fell upon hard times. Men of the Rink Company had a lot of money invested there, and were mortgaged up to the hilt. Patronage could not keep up to the maintenance of the building and a rink depending on natural ice had a very short season in which to earn there dollars to maintain it for a full year. The company was in dire straits. A panic meeting was reported in a June, 1933 issue of The Observer. Walter White as President, chaired the meeting, and told of the sadness with which he announced the financial predicament in which shareholders found themselves. The had raised $16,ooo and had a mortgage of $4,500 on the twenty thousand dollar building. Two citizens had ‘guaranteed’ the mortgage; Mrs. F. A. Rayner and Dr. H. B. Coleman. Now the rink was being sued by Austin Gallagher, local fuel merchant and there was imminent danger that he would become owner of the building, for an equity of less than a quarter of its value, and Mrs. Rayner and Dr. Coleman would be penalized.
The names of people involved as members and directors of the Palmerston Skating Rink Company who attended the meeting at that time, will be interesting. They where the President, Mr. White, the secretary-treasurer, M. R. Davidson; Directors – H. Jennings, Dr. Coleman, H. Hammond and the Rayner Estate; Shareholders – D. O. MacDonald, E. Gairns, Geo. Howe, K. McLaughlin, P. Fair, W. C. Hawke, Geo. Hamilton, R. A. Treleaven, W. Hart, J. Jackson, H. Cunningham, W. H. Morgan, S. Dopfer, D. A. Coz, Mrs. A. E. Robinson and Mrs. Greenlaw.
It was at this time that a vote was held among Palmerston taxpayers and despite the hard times they were enduring, as a result of the Great Depression, Palmerstonians rallied, and the rink was salvaged from monies allowed to be taken from the general tax rate. Mr. Gallagher got his money for fuel supplied to the Company, and the rink staggered along until the late thirties when the Lions Club lifted the liability from the town, and with the support of all citizens, developed it to what we enjoy today. Here the modern generation continues to build on good foundations laid by their Palmerston predecessors.
But again Walter White’s ability as a “scrounger” stood his town in good stead. The land whre the old rink stood was a liability to the rink company which was now dissolved. It was also an eyesore, described by Walter in a “Letter to the Editor” as a “burdock patch.” Something had to be done, and Walter did it. Whenever there was a “slack day” on the railroad, he would have a yard engine push a couple of cars up the line a mile north of Palmerston, close to Minto’s second concession. Here was a great earthen cut for the right of way, and it was possible for the railway workers, otherwise idle, and citizens who would be pressured to “volunteer” by Walter, to stand up on the bank and shovel earth onto these railway cars. When loaded, a yard engine would be sent out to haul them in and park them close to the land that was once the rink site. This earth was used to level up this tract of land. Then, with cash donations and a lift from G.T.R. funds, Mr. White encouraged the “Horticultural Society” to undertake the planting of grass, flowers and ornamental shrubbery there. An ornament, rather arty, built of field stone and fancy brink was erected. A flag pole was set up. Then a large fountain that exists today was put into operation. Now Palmerston had an attractive park that was maintained by the railway for many years. Mr. White realized that the property was indeed ownerless, and this fact bothered him, so he went into action again. As Mayor of the town he persuaded the Town Council to accept ownership of the park, and the necessary legal action was taken to deed this park-land strip over to the town. In this Centennial year this little park may well become the site of a memorial plaque attesting to the town’s birth and development. It is high in the priority list among committee members charged with making this final decision.
But we must leave “The Palmerston Skating Rink Company” for another recreational centre that is serving townspeople and their guests today – ‘The Club House’ which was until recent years always referred to as “The Canadian National Recreational Centre.” This too exists because of Mr. White’s ability to organize.
During the Great War Mr. White was keenly aware of the necessity for recreational facilities. He employed the same tactics used to have the rinks built. He went out to railway employees, where he commanded respect, and to business and professional people, all of whom would listen to him. Again he collected his “pledges” and cash. Again he parlayed these against his friends in high administrative posts of the Grand Trunk Railway. Again the land was donated by the Railway, but this time they retained title. The land was sufficient for the clubhouse, the bowling greens and the tennis courts, and we need not add much more than that, for these are busy spots with folks enjoying themselves in pleasant pastimes.
Next time you are sauntering up the south side of Main Street, pause a moment and read the brass plaques on the base of the two lighting pedestals that flank the short sidewalk leading into this club house. They read:
East Plaque
In grateful and everlasting memory of those of our number who gave up their lives in the Great War 1914-1918.
They Died for Us
Erected by the 22nd and 23rd district Grand Trunk Ry. Employees, 1920.
West Plaque
This one carried the identical signature as the eastern one, but had a slight variance in text. The author, probably Mr. White himself, may have intended this to be a tribute to the living:
In honour of those of our number who served King and County in the Great War, 1914-1918.
When Walter White was born in Toronto, on June 4th, 1866, few would have thought that her would have a profound effect on the life-style and heritage of a small Ontario town some ninety miles to the north and west ohis birthplace. But that was the destiny plotted for the infant.
His parents were Alfred and Elizabeth White, who came to Canada from England, and the family breadwinner was a pioneer in Canadian railroading. He held the distinction of being the first baggageman to run between Toronto and Montreal. Entering his teens, and time to find employment and a life’s work, young Walter was first attracted to the graphic arts, and became a “Printer’s Devil.” But within two years he had enough of that and his Dad’s work as a railroader seemed more romantically appealing. So Walter sought employment there, and soon joined the staff of the transportation Department of the Grand Trunk Railway in his home city’s first “Union Station.”
His avid curiosity, and a stupendous drive, saw him quickly absorbing the art of telegraphy, then so vital to railways, and picking up every bit of knowledge he could about the then-glamorous steam transportation systems that were spreading across the land. When he was but 21 years of age, he was transferred to London to become secretary to the assistant superintendent there. Back to Toronto he was mad Chief Clerk, and was in charge of all lines from Belleville to Port Dover and the northern branches. Transferred to Montreal in 1896 he became chief clerk to the superintendent of the eastern division. Two years later he was appointed secretary to the General Superintendent at Montreal. In 1901 he was made terminal superintendent at Toronto, and held that position until 1902, when he made his first trip to Palmerston, and became a resident here.
The Whites liked Palmerston. The only fault they could find was the house they were occupying, and they were so “fed-up” with this house that they were seriously considering seeking a transfer back to Toronto. J.B. Skelton, prominent Palmerstonian at the time, discussed the problem with Mr. White and he pleaded with them to stay. He said that he would build them a house, to their specifications, if they would re-consider their decision to move. Mr. Skelton did just that, and built the home on Inkerman Street that was destroyed by fire in 1939. That home stood on the property that is today occupied by another pioneer Palmerston railroader, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Murdy McLay.
Throughout 1904 and 1905 the Whites were residents here, but then were moved to Black Rock and Fort Erie, where he was station agent for two years. From there it was London again, where he was Chief Dispatcher.
By this time the many moves had really begun to bother the home loving Whites, and he started agitating in railway officialdom for a permanent terminal in order to bring up his family of four. They were one son, and three daughters. The son was the late Howard, of Windsor, and the daughters are Edna, (of Port Elgin, Amy and Ruby of Palmerston. It was in 1912 that they returned to town, with Walter being Trainmaster, and later in 1917, Assistant Superintendent,. Their first Palmerston project, when they realized that at last they could settle in and put down roots, was the construction of their home on Prospect Street, that is in the centennial year, the home of the W. R. Bowey family. And what roots they put down! And what fruits those roots bore! Scant wonder that the Town Council of Palmerston has named a street in his honour. Another unusual incident was when the couple celebrated their Golden WEDDING Anniversary. The Town Brass Band met at their band room the Armouries, at the Post Office, and marched to their own music to the White House, formed up on Prospect Street and serenaded them and their guests with a band concert throughout the evening. There is no record of this honor ever being bestowed upon a Palmerstonian before, nor since.
To write a complete and accurate story of his accomplishments, his interests, his successes, and his failure, would take a large book. One must be selective in this case, so we will abandon his horticulture, his welfare work, and his municipal services as Mayor and respected citizen, and select two items which stand and serve today in most welcome ways. In fact, it would be almost impossible to picture social and recreational life in Palmerston without the building known today as Palmerston Lions Club Community Arena., and the little Main Street Building we call “The Club House”. This latter was originally called the “Recreational Centre” and had as its satellites, the popular lawn bowling greens and the two tennis courts. These are two items that Mr. White worked at, using all of considerable energy and influence to bring them to the point that they enjoy today.
There was need of a skating rink. The young people wanted to skate and the pond at the back of the Carriage Factory was a long way off, and the ice surface there hard to maintain, subject to snow storms, and could not be illuminated. Walter White formed “The Palmerston Skating Rink Company” and became its President. Now they had a group to administer things, but to other ingredients were needed. Real estate to build on, and money to buy the materials.
He went among the hundreds of railway workers, who listened intently to “the boss-man”, and with due respect, did what he wanted. They signed pledges to donate sums of money. Big sums, even on today’s dollar values. Palmerstonians should have had a medal struck for Mr. White. The inscription could well have read “Walter White, Scrounger, First Class.” A man who might not rank above the “poverty level” today would pledge fifty, or even a hundred dollars, at so much a pay-day over so many of such days,. Merchants and professional people were also approached, as were prominent farmers near the town. Slowly the money problem was being solved. There was cash in the bank and “paper collateral” for the bankers in pledges signed by honourable citizens. Now remained the real estate.
Walter circulated among his friends in top Grand Trunk Railway officialdom. “Look what your employees have done in cash money!” he would say. “Now isn’t it time you people did something to help the cause of recreation in this, your most prosperous terminal?” Walter, as he usually did, got what he wanted. A strip of railway land lying between the rails and William Street, near the station. This the Grand Trunk deeded over to the new Palmerston Skating Rink Company, and soon there was a large, wooden, barn-like structure there where many can still remember stirring hockey games, public ceremonies, and many hours of pleasant skating.
This rink served until and during the 1914-1918 war. It was not too well constructed, and was, with successive winters of heavy snow loading, becoming unsafe. Old times today say it was “condemned” but a written record of just who condemned it, and why, has not been located.
The Palmerston Rink Company had to find a new location, and build a new building, and the present concrete and steel framed building on Daly Street came into being. But then came a recession, and the rink company fell upon hard times. Men of the Rink Company had a lot of money invested there, and were mortgaged up to the hilt. Patronage could not keep up to the maintenance of the building and a rink depending on natural ice had a very short season in which to earn there dollars to maintain it for a full year. The company was in dire straits. A panic meeting was reported in a June, 1933 issue of The Observer. Walter White as President, chaired the meeting, and told of the sadness with which he announced the financial predicament in which shareholders found themselves. The had raised $16,ooo and had a mortgage of $4,500 on the twenty thousand dollar building. Two citizens had ‘guaranteed’ the mortgage; Mrs. F. A. Rayner and Dr. H. B. Coleman. Now the rink was being sued by Austin Gallagher, local fuel merchant and there was imminent danger that he would become owner of the building, for an equity of less than a quarter of its value, and Mrs. Rayner and Dr. Coleman would be penalized.
The names of people involved as members and directors of the Palmerston Skating Rink Company who attended the meeting at that time, will be interesting. They where the President, Mr. White, the secretary-treasurer, M. R. Davidson; Directors – H. Jennings, Dr. Coleman, H. Hammond and the Rayner Estate; Shareholders – D. O. MacDonald, E. Gairns, Geo. Howe, K. McLaughlin, P. Fair, W. C. Hawke, Geo. Hamilton, R. A. Treleaven, W. Hart, J. Jackson, H. Cunningham, W. H. Morgan, S. Dopfer, D. A. Coz, Mrs. A. E. Robinson and Mrs. Greenlaw.
It was at this time that a vote was held among Palmerston taxpayers and despite the hard times they were enduring, as a result of the Great Depression, Palmerstonians rallied, and the rink was salvaged from monies allowed to be taken from the general tax rate. Mr. Gallagher got his money for fuel supplied to the Company, and the rink staggered along until the late thirties when the Lions Club lifted the liability from the town, and with the support of all citizens, developed it to what we enjoy today. Here the modern generation continues to build on good foundations laid by their Palmerston predecessors.
But again Walter White’s ability as a “scrounger” stood his town in good stead. The land whre the old rink stood was a liability to the rink company which was now dissolved. It was also an eyesore, described by Walter in a “Letter to the Editor” as a “burdock patch.” Something had to be done, and Walter did it. Whenever there was a “slack day” on the railroad, he would have a yard engine push a couple of cars up the line a mile north of Palmerston, close to Minto’s second concession. Here was a great earthen cut for the right of way, and it was possible for the railway workers, otherwise idle, and citizens who would be pressured to “volunteer” by Walter, to stand up on the bank and shovel earth onto these railway cars. When loaded, a yard engine would be sent out to haul them in and park them close to the land that was once the rink site. This earth was used to level up this tract of land. Then, with cash donations and a lift from G.T.R. funds, Mr. White encouraged the “Horticultural Society” to undertake the planting of grass, flowers and ornamental shrubbery there. An ornament, rather arty, built of field stone and fancy brink was erected. A flag pole was set up. Then a large fountain that exists today was put into operation. Now Palmerston had an attractive park that was maintained by the railway for many years. Mr. White realized that the property was indeed ownerless, and this fact bothered him, so he went into action again. As Mayor of the town he persuaded the Town Council to accept ownership of the park, and the necessary legal action was taken to deed this park-land strip over to the town. In this Centennial year this little park may well become the site of a memorial plaque attesting to the town’s birth and development. It is high in the priority list among committee members charged with making this final decision.
But we must leave “The Palmerston Skating Rink Company” for another recreational centre that is serving townspeople and their guests today – ‘The Club House’ which was until recent years always referred to as “The Canadian National Recreational Centre.” This too exists because of Mr. White’s ability to organize.
During the Great War Mr. White was keenly aware of the necessity for recreational facilities. He employed the same tactics used to have the rinks built. He went out to railway employees, where he commanded respect, and to business and professional people, all of whom would listen to him. Again he collected his “pledges” and cash. Again he parlayed these against his friends in high administrative posts of the Grand Trunk Railway. Again the land was donated by the Railway, but this time they retained title. The land was sufficient for the clubhouse, the bowling greens and the tennis courts, and we need not add much more than that, for these are busy spots with folks enjoying themselves in pleasant pastimes.
Next time you are sauntering up the south side of Main Street, pause a moment and read the brass plaques on the base of the two lighting pedestals that flank the short sidewalk leading into this club house. They read:
East Plaque
In grateful and everlasting memory of those of our number who gave up their lives in the Great War 1914-1918.
They Died for Us
Erected by the 22nd and 23rd district Grand Trunk Ry. Employees, 1920.
West Plaque
This one carried the identical signature as the eastern one, but had a slight variance in text. The author, probably Mr. White himself, may have intended this to be a tribute to the living:
In honour of those of our number who served King and County in the Great War, 1914-1918.