More about Banda

Last month, my local history story was about Banda from the book, Nottawasaga: The Outburst of the Iroquois, written for the township’s centennial in 1934. This month we have more about the Banda area south of Avening. Over the years any evidence of the thriving village of Banda has disappeared but the name sticks. To continue…

Another interesting story told to the writer by Mr. Lott, was the discovery of a bone pit by himself and his neighbour, Thompson, on Lot 3, Concession 4. (Comment by HB: This was a burial site of the Petuns/ Tionontati, who were in this area in the early 1600s. Burying bones of the dead was part of their tradition.) The bodies were buried together with all their worldly possessions. On excavating, besides innumerable skulls and bones, thirteen copper kettles, probably of French origin were found. They varied in size holding from six to 15 pails. Two of these kettles were taken by Rev. Mr. Osler to Toronto museum, and the others were divided among the settlers and were in use on some farms for many years.

Oh, money was scarce in those days, but a little went a long way. The nearest market where wheat could be sold was Bradford. The price was fifty cents per bushel and I paid a teamster half that amount to convey a load from Bradford to market. (Here the story was interrupted while the trusty pipe was relighted.)

“How long have you smoked?” we questioned. Laughingly he answered, “80 years.” O, yes, everybody smoked and drank a little whiskey, too, but it was real stuff, good and pure and cheap. Cost a shilling, 25 cents, a gallon. Much work in the early days was done by ‘bees’ and the man who made the bee supplied the refreshments. The old time logging bee to pile up the timber on a fallow would attract men from great distances, sure of lots to eat and drink.’

Wearing apparel was all homemade. A weaver located on the 4th line was kept busy making homespun and could weave some striking patterns.

Thomas Lounds on Tory Hill was the shoemaker for the young colony. He afterwards moved to the mill, Creemore. At an election for a MP all voters had to go to Duntroon. The voting was open and much squabbling took place just as it does today.

The county advances wonderfully; in 1855 the Northern Railway went to Collingwood. After that Stayner was our market until in 1875 the line was built from Beeton to Glencairn and afterwards to Collingwood.

At Glencairn a turntable was installed and residents had great visions of a great metropolis. “But,” he continued, “the company always intended Collingwood as the destination of the branch and were biding their time while they bluffed the municipality of Nottawasaga for huge concessions.”