Handwritten transcript of letter dated 1 July 1879, taken from page 124 of Scrapbook 7. The original letter can be seen at https://archive.org/details/intelligencer-july-1879/page/n62/mode/1up
The letter reads as follows:
50 Years Ago.
for the Intelligencer.
MR. EDITOR.-Fifty years, ago this evening I arrived in Belleville by the steamer Sir James Kempt, H. Gildersleeve, Captain, and with Mrs. Flint and Miss Clement, late Mrs. Dr. Holden, put up at the house kept by the late Royal Munro, where the Anglo American now stands.
Fifty years ago there was not one foot of sidewalk in town, not a drain to carry off the surplus water, and but one bridge, and that a poor one, over the river on Bridge Street.
Fifty years ago there were but two brick two story houses, both burnt long ago. One brick and stone on Meyers Hill, since taken down. One brick church on the site of the present stone structure called St Thomas' Church, Rev. Thos. Campbell, rector. One frame building used by the Methodists on the site near the now Grand Junction Station on Pinnacle Street
Fifty years ago there were but one dilapidated old school house with a large mud hole in front all through the rainy season ; it stood on Pinnacle street near where the new brick school house now stands. Building not fit for a decant pig stye.
Fifty years ago there was but one Sunday school, which was held in the Methodist chapel, some fifty scholars, all told. Fifty years ago there were no brick buildings on Front street, and of the wooden ones only three showed signs of white, and one of yellow paint.
Fifty years ago there was not over 700 inhabitants in the town, and the town only comprised 200 acres short measurement. Fifty years ago this harvest, wheat brought 80cts., rye 32c to 40c:, peas 40c, oats 20c, potatoes 15c to 20c, hay $6 per 2,240lbs., wood 80cts to $1 per cord, butter 10cts. per lb., eggs 7½cts per dozen. Poultry was cheap ; I bought a fat turkey already dressed weighing 16lbs for 60cts., and chickens from 15 to 25c per pair ; while the season before I came, wheat was 50cts. per bushel, flour $2.50 per bbl, and not cash at that, only trade. It took 2 bbls of flour and $1 in cash to buy one barrel of salt, as the price of salt was "only" $6 per barrel, while at Brockville, we sold it to Capt. Gildersleeve for $2.50 per barrel, and paid him from $4 to $4.24 per barrel for floor.
Fifty years ago these were facts well known to those who sold their wheat and flour in Belleville.
Of the male inhabitant householders of 50 years ago there is not one left in the place, the late James Willson being the last. There are only 6 females (all widows) left of those that were keeping house when I came here, and of the younger people, the larger portion are dead or have moved away.
The site of the town has grown from 200 acres to near 1,300. The town has become a city with about 12,000 inhabitants, and might to-day have had a population of 25,000, had the men who owned the property outside the original town plot have used energy and enterprise instead of remaining quiet and with¬holding encouragement to others to build up a city for their benefit. I find that on Front Street, from Bridge Street northward, there is not an original building standing, up as far as the forks of the road leading to the Grand Trunk Station, except it may be an old frame above Burrell's axe factory, which has been built over, and from Bridge Street southward, there is the stone building put up by the late Dr. Cooper, 1½-story frame formerly occupied by Mr. Selden as a Hat store, a 1½-story frame building by a Mr. Lauder, and an old store house built by Mr. Turnbull ; these are on the west side of the street. On the east side there is a wooden building formerly occupied by C. J. Metz. The yellow building, formerly the residence of the late John Turnbull, a 2-story frame occupied by the late Robert Smith. Mr. Petrie’s house,
Mrs. Dr. Ridley’s house, the house formerly occupied by the late Henry Baldwin, a part of the house of the Covert property and a frame now occupied by Mr. Sidley. I have not gone over other parts, of the town, but may at some other time, and report on other buddings of 50 years ago.
I cannot expect to remain here to write an article on 60 years ago, but I may predict a glorious future for our Dominion of Canada (in which I trust our city and county will largely share), in the rise and progress of her arts, her manufactures, her minerals, her agricultural and other industrial pursuits, which no doubt will prosper under the fostering care of good Government, and combined with economy become one of the finest if not the best country on the face of the globe.
Having led an active life both in business and as a public man, since I came to Belleville (in which I do not expect I have pleased every one), yet at the age of 74 years 5 months and 10 days, notwithstanding all the changes and trials in my business, as well as public life, I can truly say I feel cheerful and contented.
Yours, &c., &c.
BILLA FLINT
Belleville, 19th July, 1879
