Banda had a bustling agricultural fair

Banda today is a quiet little place with only two houses. As you approach it and pass through it, no signs proclaim its existence. But it is important enough to be marked on modern road maps. If you have lived in this area for a while you probably know where it is. If you don’t, I will tell you. Driving south on Airport Road you will pass through the village of Avening. A few miles further and you are now in Dufferin County. You will come to a four corners with the road to the left going to Glencairn and to the right off into the hills. This is Banda.

Banda was one of those tiny villages that sprang up in the mid 1800s, served its purpose and then disappeared. In the 1860s Banda had an agricultural fair. It was held ‘right on the street’ in October and attracted large crowds of people. There were entries for farm products, horses, cattle, etc. The carriage makers exhibited their wagons, the blacksmiths their handiwork. Perhaps the main purpose of the fair was the market. Buyers, who came from Toronto, followed the same itinerary year after year. Following Banda Fair was Rosemont. The cattle were driven down there to join the ones bought at Rosemont. The next fair was at Primrose. The buyers had other fairs along the way to Toronto. Eventually the cattle which had been purchased at Banda reached Toronto after having been driven all the way there. Benjamin Beatty was the local buyer. The horse show was quite good and there were many interested spectators. There were both trotting horses and heavy teams. Bull fighting was not on the programme but one old timer remembers that when the fair was over the boys were often given a few cents and left in charge of the livestock for a while. Of course accidentally two bulls would be allowed to meet, and then the boys had their fun. Time was not dull, as one might suppose. One who spent his entire boyhood at Banda assured us, “We had lots of fun.” At one time there were eighteen girls living in the village.

Sam Wilcox was the first hotel keeper. The wagon shop had several owners, Mr. Lougheed, Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Banner. The first blacksmith was James Woods. He was followed by Mr. S. Gowan who lived there many years. The harness maker was Sam Sweetman. Jimmie Anderson, who was a very small man, was the shoemaker. Billy Bell, who liked to tell a yarn that included himself, used to tell this one: “He left his heavy boots with Jimmie for repairs. When he called for them, the boots were set on the work bench. There was no one in the room but a continuous tapping could be heard. Presently, Jimmie with hammer in his hand, came out of Mr. Bell’s boot.” (Get it?) Tom Tracey was the travelling tailor. He came to your house, measured you, and made the suit.

John Clemenger was the first postmaster. His son, Bill, was probably the first baby born at Banda. In 1868 Joseph Hood kept the store and post office. He sold his business and came to Creemore where he had a successful business in the store which is now TheRefillery. Rev. Mr. Gallaugher, a Presbyterian minister had the store and post office for a time.

The store had several owners until finally in 1903 the store closed, but from then to 1913 the post office continued.

It’s hard to imagine all that activity at Banda Corners. Next time you drive through Banda you can think of it.

From Mulmur The Story of a Township 1951.

Helen Blackburn is a retired teacher, avid gardener and a long-time contributor to The Creemore Echo. She writes about local history.