Four desperados create a hot time in Avening
Avening has become just a quiet little place and often gets no more than a nod by the busy weekend traffic. There was a time when things were different. At one time it almost rivalled Creemore for size and activity. There were various mills, a cheese factory, a population of 300 and stores and shops of many kinds. And like all places of population at that time there was a hotel. This place of business was at the northeast corner of what is now Carruthers Memorial Park and was adjacent to Norris Street which does not have a marker at the present time.It was at this local hotel, the Feltis House, that a robbery occurred on June 20, 1899.
The peaceful quietness of our little sister village of Avening was ruthlessly invaded on Tuesday last, and for a time the wildest kind of entertainment reigned. As near as we can learn just before going to press, the four men passed through Creemore on Monday afternoon and purchased a number of articles from several of our merchants. They reached Avening in the evening and spent the night in Davis’ barn and on Tuesday hung around the Feltis House all day.
About six o’clock in the evening they showed their real character by deliberately taking possession of the house, and with drawn revolvers went through it from cellar to garret, ransacking every room and appropriating to themselves everything of value they could lay their hands on and could be carried away.
John and Herb Duff arrived on the scene and attempted to stop their operations when they were set upon by the four robbers and rather roughly handled.
About this time a telephone message was sent to Creemore for Constable Turner and assistance. He at once got a team and accompanied by J. Shields, W. J. Adams, Ab Adams, Jack McLean, Vet Bailey and T. Madill proceeded to the scene of the disturbance.
Just as they drove up to the hotel the gang came out on the platform each armed with a revolver which they charged into the middle of the crowd.
At once taking in the situation the Creemore boys showed their mettle by immediately engaging with the ruffians, and as Dr. Bailey grabbed one of them by the throat a bullet whizzed past his face, grazing his cheek. The fight now became hot and the burglars, seeing that they were likely to be overpowered, attempted to make off. One of them was knocked down and secured and the other three took to their heels – two of them escaping and the third being caught hiding along the bank of the river.
The two captured were securely handcuffed and brought to the Creemore cooler for safekeeping. One of the pair received a number of cuts on the face which were dressed by Dr. Niddrie and Bradley in the cells. They appeared before magistrates Hood, Kitson and Mackay for a preliminary hearing yesterday and were committed to Barrie for trial.
Seeking memories of Avening
As a reader of The Creemore Echo you may have been reading my monthly columns, at the present, about the history of Avening. I have plenty of information about its very early days but I am looking for what people remember about forty, fifty, sixty and more years about the place. Was there a dam and a mill? I seem to remember a centennial parade. Where did the community gather before the hall was built? Do you have school memories?
If you can help me please send an email to The Creemore Echo, editor@creemore.com, to say you have some information and the kind people there will pass it on to me. And we can be in touch.
Helen Blackburn,
Websterville.
