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Reflections: A 'most successful and agreeable' warden's dinner

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Betty Jo Belton

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Stratford-Perth Archives

When John A. Hacking was elected warden of Perth County by his fellow county councillors, he held a supper to celebrate – as is customary – on Jan.24, 1894.

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The venue was the Royal Hotel in Stratford. The Listowel Banner reported that “it was acknowledged on all sides to have been one of the most successful and agreeable for years.” A copy of the menu for the lavish meal is preserved at the Stratford-Perth Archives. Guests were served hearty fare, suitable for a cold winter’s night. Along with the soups, roasts, boiled meats, entrees, vegetables, sauces and relishes, puddings and pastry, as well as fruits and nuts for dessert, they got to hear an impressive number of toasts. Glasses were raised for the Queen and Royal Family; the governor-general and the lieutenant governor of Ontario; the army, navy and volunteers; the House of Commons and the legislature; Perth County council; the learned professions; the agricultural interests; the manufacturing interests; the educational interests; the press; the ladies; and the host and hostess. The program, which lasted until nearly midnight, also included a song performed by Sandy Ballantyne and a speech from Dr. Ellis.

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Stratford-Perth Archives
Stratford-Perth Archives jpg, SF

J.P. Mabee was chairman for the evening and gave the toast to the new warden. The Stratford Evening Herald described it as “proposed in graceful terms by the chairman” who “knew Mr. Hacking to be well fitted from his municipal experience to occupy the chief office in the county. Moreover, he is endowed with many fine qualities of mind and heart and ever willing to lend a hand to those in distress and need.”

Warden Hacking was born near Newmarket, Ont., in 1848. His family moved to the area that is now Listowel when he was four years old. His father, William Hacking, established a drug store there that John Hacking purchased in 1867 and operated until his death in 1930. His service in municipal politics included many years on town council, starting in 1874. He was reeve several times and county warden twice. According to his obituary in the Listowel Banner, all of the businesses in town closed for two hours on the afternoon of his funeral “to pay tribute to a departed citizen who had done so much for the community in which he had resided for so many years.”

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To learn more about the history of Perth County, its wardens and the Perth County Courthouse, please visit the new Perth County History+ exhibit now available on the archives website – www.perthcounty.ca/en/living-here/perth-county-history.aspx. It was launched in honour of the 2021 warden’s election on Dec. 2.

The Stratford-Perth Archives is open for in-person research by appointment. Service by phone and email remains an option. Please contact us to set up appointments to use the collections or to meet with the archivist to discuss possible donations of archival material. We can be reached at 519-271-0531 ext. 259 or archives@perthcounty.ca.

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