Thamesville's Early Cultural Life

The Ferguson Opera House opened  on February 24, 1888 and was an immediate success. The 400 seat theatre would change the community’s social and cultural life for decades to come.

 In Romantic Kent, The Story of a County, 1626-1952, historian Victor Lauriston writes “Thamesville quite early developed a cultural life all its own. As early as 1887 folk flocked to see travelling shows and stock productions at the Ferguson Opera House. Thamesville’s own dramatic group working on Little Theatre lines in an era before the name had been heard of, produced its own plays ..... It was, doubtless, through these activities that Robertson Davies, the newspaper editor’s Thamesville born son, acquired his flair for the drama.....”

The stage must have been impressive when in 1909 the background wall was repainted with a mountain scene and movable screens were added as well; a drawing room scene, a woodland, a street and a kitchen. Curtains on rollers could open with a dramatic flourish.

Moving pictures came as early as 1903. In January patrons were thrilled by silent productions such as The San Francisco Disaster, Buster Brown and his Dog Tige and The Bold Bank Robbery and in 1917 the acclaimed Birth of a Nation. Miss Sarah Ferguson donated a piano to add dramatic background music. By 1920 the House was advertising “High Class Movies” featuring Charlie Chaplin, Superman, Wm. S. Hart, Jack Dempsey, Tom Mix, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford’s Poor Little Rich Girl. Admission: Adults 32 cents, Children 22cents.

Until the 1950’s the opera house continued to hold many community functions- political rallies, school graduations, dances including fancy balls, the welcoming home of war veterans, Christmas concerts, Halloween parties and more.

But things were not to last. Changing times, the arrival of the automobile, the television and a 1955 fire that destroyed the southern portion of the building brought about the end of an era.

In 1965, the Ferguson Block was torn down and the Bank Of Montreal which had operated for forty five years in the brick building across the street moved to its new location. 

Sources: Historical Writings of Shirley Bain, Thamesville Herald, Romantic Kent, The Story of a County 1626-1952 by Victor Lauriston     

Robertson Davies and The Ferguson Opera House

Robertson Davies, internationally acclaimed Canadian author was born in Thamesville and spent his early childhood here. He drew upon the history of Thamesville for the setting and characters of his Deptford Trilogy, especially in the first volume, Fifth Business. The Ferguson Opera House and the Ferguson family feature in both the novel and in Davies’ own life.

His father Rupert Davies, owner of the Thamesville Herald, and his mother were members of the local drama group whose productions were performed at the opera house. Davies himself at the age of 3 or 4 appeared on the opera house stage playing an Israelite child in an opera called Queen Esther. 

In Fifth Business the Fergusons are the inspiration for another family. “The village was dominated by a family called Athelstan, who had done well out of lumber early in the nineteenth century; they owned Deptford’s only three-story house which stood by itself on the way to the cemetery”. Dunstan Ramsay, the main character, a WW1 hero, and other returning soldiers are honoured by the reeve and other dignitaries at the opera house.

In the novel Davies’ remarkable childhood memories of Thamesville helped the author create the fictional village of Deptford, giving us an idea of what small town Ontario life was like in the early 1900’s. 

Source: Robertson Davies, Man of Myth by Judith Skelton Grant

5 FIRE DEPARTMENTS CONFINE FIRE IN FERGUSON BLOCK

At 3:15 am on Thursday May 3, 1955 a passing transport driver noticed flames breaking through the roof of the Ferguson Opera House. The local telephone operator was notified and in turn called Fire Chief Ray Paquette. By the time the fire department arrived the entire interior was ablaze. An appeal for help was sent to Bothwell, Ridgetown, Howard Township and Chatham who responded promptly. The fire was kept confined to the southern half of the block. The building was owned by Mrs. Jack Clancy and jointly occupied by Freedy’s Clothing Store and Tom Miller’s poolroom. Mr. Miller was also the village licence issuer. The northern portion of the block, containing Broughton’s Jewellry, Hardy’s clothing store and the Thamesville Post Office was not damaged. The upper floor was used for storage. Damage was estimated in excess of $50,000. Reeve McBrayne praised the cooperation of the outside fire departments and credits their quick action with saving the entire block from destruction. Almost half the building was destroyed.

Source: Thamesville Herald     

WILLIAM LEES JUDSON (1842 1928)

The portrait of Robert Ferguson that appears on the plaque and is now in the possession of the Thamesville Town Hall Museum was painted by William Lees Judson. Judson was born in England but came with his family to Thamesville. He married a local girl, Maria Bedford and they had seven children. Judson did not spend a lot of time in Thamesville. As an artist his career took him to Paris, London, New York, Chicago and Toronto.

In 1861, during the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army at Xenia Illinois. His company marched under the command of Ulysses S. Grant.

At some time after the war Judson moved his family to London Ontario where he was an art teacher and mentor, one of his students was Paul Peel (1860-1892).

In the summer of 1880, Judson took a trip down the Thames River from London Ont. to the Lighthouse. As a result he wrote and illustrated the light hearted novel “A Tour of the Thames by Professor Blot”.

After his wife died and suffering from ill health himself, he moved his family to California. Here he helped found the College of Fine Art, part of the University of Southern California. In 1897 his sons established the Judson Art Glass Studio, a stained glass company that still exists today.

More information is available at the Thamesville Town Hall Museum
Articles by Jim and Lisa Gilbert and a copy of “A Tour of the Thames”.

JOHN COUTTS

Another prominent Thamesville family was closely connected to the Fergusons. Of Scottish descent the family originally settled in the Tilbury area. In 1891 John Coutts (1855-1938) came to Thamesville for the express purpose of serving as Secretary to the Ferguson Bank. Later he set up his own law practice and became the lawyer for the family, looking after Robert Ferguson’s estate when he died in 1901. His office would have been in the opera house block. McDermot Coutts took over his father’s law practice and looked after the estate of John Ferguson for his descendants. From the 1930’s-1980’s he was Thamesville’s well known lawyer. His law office, originally a doctor’s office and now in 2024 a pain clinic, is located on Victoria St. and as an historic building is marked with a bronze plaque.

Like the Fergusons the Coutts family was very involved in the community. John’s wife Katherine Ballantine was well known as a strong champion of many causes such as women’s right to vote and the work of the Women’s Institute. She was responsible for the first monument, east of the village,  dedicated to the memory of Chief Tecumseh. 

The children and grandchildren of McDermot Coutts continue to have a special fondness for Thamesville. We appreciate their kind donation to this project.

Source: The descendants of John and McDermot Coutts

This photo of the intersection of London, Victoria  and Elizabeth Streets was taken from an upstairs window in the then graves block (northeast corner) on November 11,1918. The citizens of Thamesville are celebrating the end of WWI by hanging the German Kaiser in effigy. Note the Opera House to the left.

1887 was the year the Ferguson block was built. A metal date was positioned above each of the large arched doorways. One of these signs is in the Thamesville Old Town Hall Museum collection.

This photo of the Ferguson block appears to have been taken in the 1950’s or early 1960’s.

During this time the Thamesville Appliance and Automotive Supply was located at the main intersection, after the post office moved. 

The Thamesville flood of 1954.