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The McClymont Bros. Carriage Works was located across the street from the Exchange Hotel at 161 Josephine Street in the 1800s. It was owned and operated by William and Tom McClymont. They were born in Stanley Township, near Varna, Ontario. William McClymont served as a member of the first Wingham town council.

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Refinished Dore carriage.
1900
Southwest corner of Josephine and Victoria, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

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In 1888, the Nichol and Dore Carriage Works moved from their factory on Victoria Street to the former McClymont building on Josephine Street. They made Dore carriages at this location until 1925.

A fire in 1894 burnt the place to the ground. When they rebuilt the factory, they put up a brick building.

In 1926, the Federal Rubber Manufacturing Co. opened their factory in the former carriage works. They manufactured hockey pucks, bathtub stoppers and other small rubber products until they closed in 1928 after complainng about the lack of local investment in their business.

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Holmsdale Creamery, circa 1940's
1940
Southwest corner of Josephine and Victoria, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

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The Federal Rubber Manufacturing Co. was one of the first industries on this lot. When it left town in the 1930s, the Holmsdale Creamery opened its doors to the farmers of the area. In 1939, the Creamery employed 8 to 10 people. It shipped almost 12,000 cases of eggs and produced 300,000 pounds of butter a year.

Jim Henry, a driver for the Creamery, lived with his family lived in an apartment over the Creamery.

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The Holmsdale Creamery once stood on this corner.
2004
Southwest corner of Josephine and Victoria, Wingham, Ontario, Canada

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The creamery continued its operations until the 1950s. At some point, it was sold to the Wingham Coop, because that is who Harry and Jean Merkley bought it from in 1967. The building was torn down to provide more parking for the Red Front Grocery, a new grocery store the Merkley's had built in 1961.

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) bought the Red Front Grocery in the 1980s and converted it into a bank and continued to use the former creamery site as a parking lot. Part of the property that fronted on Josephine Street was made into a parkette complete with plantings and a bench. The CIBC sign was set up by the road for maximum visibility. The Wingham Horticultural Society continue to take care of the plantings in this area.

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Thus ends our tour of Josephine Street East from Scott to Victoria Streets.

But the tour has only begun. Keep walking and find out about the fascinating buildings further up the street, to the north. Cross the street, but watch for traffic - especially if you are visiting on a Friday.

Or you could cross Highway 4 to the west and tour up the west side of Josephine Street.

Whatever way you choose to go, have a good day.