Thomas Watson Blacksmith
Turnberry Street, Brussels, Ont.
( Built: 1872 )
Thomas Smale bought Lot 312 on the southeast corner of Turnberry Street, by the bridge, in 1860. He took out mortgages in 1860 and 1863 for $1,000. Thomas Watson bought the property in 1871.
Watson built on his property in 1872. “Building operations are going on very lively at present. Mr. T. Watson, blacksmith, is putting up a fine large frame workshop on his new premises, 30x60.” He removed to his new shop by the bridge in June. “[It] which is quite an improvement in that corner of the village.” (Huron Expositor May 10, June 7, 1872)
Thomas Watson sold his north part of the lot to James Watson in 1880. By this time he and James were in business as carriage makers. “Big Sign – Messrs. T & J Watson, carriage makers, have a sign on their shop measuring 8 X 33 feet.” (Brussels Post June 25, 1880) Thomas Watson also sold farm machinery in 1885: “T. Watson received a car load of mowers Wednesday from the well-known Massey Works, Toronto. This indicates a good trade to be done in this line this spring.” (Brussels Post June 5, 1885)
Silas Jackson leased Watson’s blacksmith shop in 1890. “We understand that Silas Jackson has rented the blacksmith business at the bridge and commenced operations on Tuesday of this week. Mr. Jackson is well known in this locality and will no doubt receive a share of the patronage of the public. This fills up the six blacksmith shops in Brussels. They should be able to attend to everything in their line.” (Brussels Post Feb. 21, 1890)
Above Photo: In this early coloured photograph taken looking south toward the main street Brussels, you can see the buildings that once stood near the bridge.
In 1891, Jackson and other blacksmiths in the area were involved in a patent-rights scam. “V. Taylor was arrested at Teeswater this week owing to the passing of notes in which Silas Jackson of Brussels, EJ Williams of Cranbrook and other blacksmiths are interested. This man sold patent rights for iron harrows to Mr. Jackson for Grey and Morris townships and then went to Cranbrook and Belgrave and sold the township rights again. Taylor was committed to Goderich jail.” (Post Aug. 28, 1891)
Silas Jackson purchased the north part of Lot 312 in1892. “Last week Silas Jackson purchased the large blacksmith shop at the bridge from Thomas Watson of Belleville, formerly of Brussels, for the sum of $1,000. We are pleased to note that Mr. Jackson’s business is prospering so well.” Jackson had the office built in the southwest corner of his blacksmith shop taken out in order to increase the room and light to the rest of the shop. (Brussels Post Nov. 4, Oct. 14, 1892)
Early in 1893, Jackson expanded the business to include carriage making. “A new carriage shop has been opened in connection with Silas Jackson’s shop at the bridge, Brussels. Mr. McGuire is the wood worker and is ready to wait on the public.” (Brussels Post Jan. 20, 1893)
In 1896, Jackson had a stone wall built under his blacksmith shop. H Atwood did the work. Messrs Lowry & McKay built a stone wall under the front part of the shop. “A stone wall will be put under the front of SH Jackson’s shop and the space between it and the roadway filled in so as to be ready for the new pavement. This will make a very necessary improvement as the timbers holding up the side of the roadway are about done through decay.” (Brussels Post June 19, 1896; July 7, Sept. 28, 1899)
Jackson was in business here until 1910 when he sold his property to Sarah Holmes. Silas H Jackson died in Vancouver in 1925: “The sad news was received here last Monday of the demise of Silas H Jackson, recently of Moose Jaw, who was a resident of Brussels for a good many years. He was a blacksmith by trade and engaged in business here some time before removing to the West 15 or 20 years ago.” (Brussels Post Jan. 7, 1925)
The south part of Thomas Watson’s lot, plus use of the roadway, was sold to John Curtis in 1873. Curtis took out a $400 mortgage but it is not known what business he was in. He sold his property to Thomas Kerr at the end of 1875.
Advertisement Below: Jackson leased the blacksmith shop formerly leased by Mr. Plum. Brussels Post 1890.
Kerr sold his property to Donald McCormack in 1881. McCormack sold to Alex Bruce in 1882.
There was a shop on the site for years, but no reports of the businesses occupying the building were made in the newspapers. The only mention is of an incident at Bruce’s shop: “Some boys damaged a window in A. Bruce’s shop on Thursday night of last week by throwing snowballs. Their names are known.” (Brussels Post Apr. 3, 1885)
Sarah Holmes, the owner of the north part of the lot, bought the remainder of the lot from Ann Bruce in 1911. John Hy Galbraith purchased the property in 1916. Galbraith had the agency for the Ford automobile and had a garage on this site. He was also a horse buyer and made use of the stables on the property. Galbraith sold his property to JT Wood, the owner of the woollen mill next door, in 1918.
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