Day Trips: Kintore

Yes, I went to Kintore. On purpose. 

Why, you ask, would anyone go to Kintore? Well, I usually pass through this Oxford County community of about 150 people on my way to Stratford. Last time, I noticed a few things I wanted a closer look at but I didn't have time to stop. It occurred to me that one day I should actually go to Kintore and look around. 

This little place at the intersection of Oxford roads 16 and 119 was originally in a township called East Nissouri which in 1975 amalgamated with West Zorra and North Oxford townships to become Zorra Township.  Early pioneers such as the first postmaster, William Murray, were from Kintore, near Aberdeen, Scotland. Hence, the new community took on the name of the old. While the first post office is said to have been in a hotel half a mile north of the intersection, it moved into a store on the northeast corner in 1870. This is what's on the northeast corner now but I have no idea of it's that building.

Kintore was a typical nineteenth-century village with the usual assortment of services. Aside from the general store and post office, it had a blacksmith, shoemaker, flour mill, saw mill, and, according to an 1888 directory, Kintore Cheese Company. It's now typical of our former bustling villages, with numerous homes but few businesses left. 

First I visited the pioneers. They're to be found in two cemeteries on the west edge of "town," right across the road from one another. The Methodist Cemetery was founded on the south side of the road on land donated by Benjamin Swayze in 1861. Not surprisingly, there was once a Methodist church just to the east of the cemetery. 

Visitors must climb up a hill to see the graves of most individuals buried here:

One area, surrounded by trees, has a gate standing on its own, with no fence or hedge surrounding it. I assume the rest was damaged or fell down.

From the top, one can see Kintore Presbyterian Cemetery across the road:

The Presbyterian side of the road is larger, a bit better kept, and has its own website, complete with a short history, here. According to the story, the Bain family owned a farm here before the graveyard was founded. Mr. Bain was putting up the rafters in his log house when one of the timbers fell on him, breaking his neck. The poor fellow was buried here and that's how the spot became a cemetery. (One wonders how many pioneers met their ends in such a manner. In my own family, we have a story about an inept young Irishman who died when the tree he was chopping down fell on him.)

The highlight of Kintore Presbyterian Cemetery is undoubtedly this dignified war memorial:

In November 1920, East Nissouri Township Council (as it then was) met at their hall in Kintore and decided to raise a war memorial dedicated to local men who died in World War I. The statue, carved of Italian marble and mounted on Canadian granite, cost $1,200. Erected by Hayes Brothers of St. Marys, it was unveiled in October 1921. According to the London Free Press on October 29 of that year: "For the first time in the history of the Township of East Nissouri, the whole countryside turned out en masse to attend the unique and impressive celebration of the unveiling of the soldiers' monument at Kintore." The story records that four wounded soldiers stood, one at each corner, and were assisted by the township reeve in removing a flag to unveil the statue. A poignant occasion. 

I never list the names on war memorials, since Tim Laye's wonderful blog records the names from war memorials all across the province and I see no reason to duplicate. Tim's Kintore post includes pictures of every side of this monument, including one featuring the additional names from World War II. 

Kintore Presbyterian Cemetery, its gates, and war memorial, as seen from the road.

Not surprisingly, there was also a Presbyterian congregation in the Kintore neighbourhood. The history of the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations and their various buildings may be found on the website of Kintore Chalmers United Church which is east of the intersection on the north side (the church, I mean, not the website!) In case you think church history is invariably dull, think again. Trinity Methodist Church, built in 1862, came to a dramatic end in 1904 when Sunday School Superintendent W. J. Dunster stood at the front to speak to the children ... and the arch above his head came crashing down, covering the pulpit and platform with plaster, lath and dust. Fortunately, Mr. Dunster was uninjured but the congregation decided to build a new church. But the replacement Trinity, finished in 1906, is gone now too, its bricks used to build a home on a country road nearby.

Kintore Chalmers United Church (below) was built in 1914 as Chalmers Presbyterian. After United Church union Chalmers and Trinity combined to form this congregation, still in existence today. 

Oddly, a piece of the demolished Trinity Methodist is resting against Chalmers' west wall:

If ordinary churches aren't your cup of tea, you may find this intriguing little chapel east of Kintore more to your liking. Local resident Ross Calder built it in 1989 as a spot for quiet reflection. So small that it can only seat a few people at once, it does contain a pulpit, Bible, and several visitors books signed by folks from all over the continent. And yes, it's open.

And now for la pièce de résistance. Back at Kintore's main intersection, on the southeast corner, is McRatterson's Antiques & Oddities, a creepy collection of taxidermy, skulls, vintage medical instruments, ventriloquist dolls, and, um, whatever this is:

Some unusual individuals guard the door:

It just goes to show what you can do with an old variety store:

Now that I know what I was missing on those trips to Stratford, I'll likely stop at Kintore again.

Thanks to Rev. Pirie Mitchell and congregation member Barb Irvine of Chalmers Church.