Poetical Directory of Penetanguishene. Poetical Directory of Penetanguishene by A. G. Churchill. Printed at the “ Expositer “ Book Office, Orillia, 1876.
A.G. Churchill has set to rhyme a local history of the Reformatory For Boys and the Town of Penetanguishene with some interesting character sketches of some of the men who worked there and in town.
Construction of the Reformatory began in 1861 on the first of a complex of buildings, designed by Edward Horsey, architect of the Kingston Penitentiary.
Churchill’s poems describe the old Boys Reformatory in verse. There was a Cigar, Shoe, Cooper, Carpenter and Tailor shops as well as an operating farm, all for the reformation of the boys.
Accompanying this article, one will find a sample of Churchill’s poetic efforts.
It seems Larush was both a photographer and high constable. Well-known Penetang names like Dubeau, Beck and Gendron all have their salutary poems. I attach a few for the reader. Many of the names are with us today.
Copyright René Hackstetter June 8, 2020.
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