A Look Back at Tavistock’s Centenary Celebrations

By Liz Dommasch, Archivist

In 1848, Captain Henry Eckstein was the first settler to build a log cabin at the corner of Woodstock and Hope Streets in Tavistock, Ontario. A hundred years later, the village marked this achievement with a large centenary celebration lasting several days and attracting large crowds to the variety of events.

Celebrations kicked off on the evening of July 30^th, 1948 with a large musical parade consisting of six area district bands: Stratford Boys’ Band, Seaforth Highlanders, Milverton Red Seal Band, New Dundee Band, Elmira Veterans Bugle Band, Ingersoll Pipe Band, and Tavistock Citizens Band. Following the parade through the village, the bands played several selections and individual bands played at intervals throughout the evening program held at Queen’s Park. Acts at the park included hand balancing stunts presented by Valee and Doreen (last name/s unknown) and a thrilling slack wire high balancing act by Al Emerson. During the program the park floodlighting system, a project of the Tavistock Men’s Club, was turned on by Reeve Robert Rudy, and Club President Lloyd J. Faber. The program concluded with a colourful march-past of the bands and a spectacular display of flares and other fireworks under the direction of Dick Keutsch. The evening ended with a dance held at the Tavistock Arena to the music of Bob Turner’s orchestra.

Saturday was arranged by the Stratford Committee and began with a motor parade, starting at the Stratford Collegiate Flats and ending at the park in Tavistock. The parade included not only Stratford residents, but former citizens of Tavistock, and was met at the northern limits of the village by the Tavistock Citizens’ Band before continuing on to the park where a number of events were planned for the day. Several sporting events occurred including a football game between the Woodstock Greenshirts and the Stratford C.N.R.A. and a girls’ softball game between the Woodstock Shamrocks and the Stratford Kroehlers. A programme under the leadership of Roy Schmidt, and presented by former Tavistock resident’s living in Stratford, included barbershop quartets, acts of magic, comedy skits, and vocal and instrumental numbers. Following, a supper was made available at the Library Hall, served by the Tavistock Women’s Institute and later an Old Time Dance was held, with music by Fred Funk and his Old Timers.

Sunday saw two important events occurs. First was a rededication of the cairn erected at the corner of Woodstock and Hope Streets, with a new plaque commemorating Captain Henry Eckstein, the founder of Tavistock. The cairn, originally erected in 1930 at the time of the Old Boys’ Reunion was unveiled with the new plaque, by Mrs. Elizabeth Ankerman, the daughter of Henry Eckstein. Following the presentation, a community service was held in the park in the afternoon. The service was arranged by the Tavistock Ministerial Association with Rev. W.F. Krotz acting as Chairman. Adding to the service was a mass choir, directed by Karl Wittig, and consisting of members of the five local churches.

The final day of celebrations was held on Monday, August 2^nd, and began in the morning with Old Boys and Old Girls from places as far as Vancouver, visiting the local school, where J.A. Seltzer, a Tavistock native and teacher, served as host. The afternoon events began with a large Monster Parade consisting of bands, floats, decorated trucks, bicycles and tricycles, and Industrial and Farm Machinery, as well as children community groups such as Brownies and the local Wolf Club Pack. The parade led by Clarence “Hap” Steinman on his ancient high wheeled “bone-shaker” began at the Tavistock Public and Continuation School and ended at Queen’s Park and covered three-quarters of a mile. Reeve Robert Rudy entered a float picturing “Rudyville, a suburb of Tavistock” which consisted of miniature models built and painted by Mrs. Robert Rudy showing the exact location and type of structure found in this little family settlement.

At the park, “What’s Your Beef” radio program was recorded with Don Sims, as Master of Ceremonies. The program was later broadcasted over CBL, Toronto, on Monday, August 9^th and included “beefs” ranging from complaints on the cost of living to the scarcity of Tavistock entrants in the beauty contest which followed. “Miss Tavistock Centenary” was chosen by professional judges from Windsor and Detroit and was awarded to 20 year old, Miss Edith Spice, of Thamesford. Following, a presentation of jackets was made to the Tavistock hockey team, who were finalists in the O.R.H.A. and a men’s softball game was held between the leaders of the Oxford-Waterloo Softball League.

The evening program featured a vaudeville show “Funz A Poppin”, with Hugh W. Simpson acting as Master of Ceremonies. The entertainment included Connelly and Radcliffe, the Musical Chefs; Ethel Hendry, the acrobatic contortionist; Fred Maher, ventriloquist-comedian; Hugo, the Magician; Tom and Jerry, ace roller skaters; Orlando Bracci, the King of Accordion; Valdare, comedy trick-cyclist; and Wally Townsend, accompanist and pianist. The night end with a dance at the Tavistock Arena, with music by Clarence Brodhagen and his 10 piece orchestra.

An Official Historical Programme was printed and provided to the public that provided a history on many of the local businesses, as well as listed the weekend’s itinerary of events. 

Turning on the new floodlights at Queen’s Park, Tavistock. – 30 July 1948. Lloyd J. Faber, President of the Tavistock Men’s Club, and Reeve Robert Rudy.