Halfway House once famous meeting place

HALFWAY HOUSE...Photo about 1909...courtesy of Mrs. A. Pare, River Canard. This is the original inn, which once stood on the west side of Malden Road in Sandwich West Township, opposite the end of Canard Drive (Snake Lane). Left to right - in cutter are two Drouillard men; on the porch are two unidentified women, D. Bergeron, Frank Renaud and one unidentified man.

On the night of February 1, 1933, the once-famous hotel known as Halfway House on the Malden Road, Sandwich West township, was gutted by fire, leaving but a heap of crumbling walls and charred debris. One of the landmarks of the county, scene of political battles, and a popular meeting place in bygone days, the hotel stood for years as a link with the past. The building was owned by Leo Bondy, and for many years before him by his father, Laurent Bondy, who died in 1932. The following brief historical sketch was compiled from material preserved in The Echo morgue:

".....The fire was discovered by one of the old-timers of the district, Albert Dufour, who was making his nightly visit to the hotel to meet the boys. He saw smoke when crossing the road, and raised the alarm. A group of men who were playing cards in the sitting room rushed out of the building and saw smoke, but no fire. They entered the building again, and discovered the kitchen in a mass of flames. Leo Dufour was sent to call the Sandwich fire brigade which arrived on the scene about seven minutes after the call. A heroic effort was made by the fire brigade under the leadership of Fire Chief J. B. Seguin, and four wells in the vicinity were pumped dry, but a high wind and the swift progress of the flames rendered their efforts futile. They were successful, however, in saving the nearby buildings, which were endangered because of the showers of sparks which were shooting from the flaming structure. Arsene Bondy, who lives two and a half miles from the scene of the fire, also saw the flames spouting from the roof of the hotel . . . Leo Bondy, owner of the building, was in the bar-room shaving when Dufour raised the alarm. His face was only half shaved when he was compelled to rush from the room and endeavor to save the contents . . . but the dense smoke prevented them from entering the upper stories of the hotel, and they were able to save only part of the furnishings on the main floor, mainly tables and chairs. The main article of value to be brought from the burning building was an electric piano that has chimed out tunes that were sweet to the ears, and to which numbers of gay couples have glided over the floors of the ancient structure . . . Two mirrors which were the pride of the hotel, were prey to the flames. One ran the length of the bar-room and the other was in the dining room . . . Albert Dufour, who has always resided in the district, appeared stunned at the loss . . . "Oh, I am awfully sorry she's gone. You know, I used to come there every night and talk with the boys. We settled all the government affairs there, I can tell you. I have been going there for many years".

THE NAME 'HALFWAY HOUSE' was probably derived from the fact that it was situated half way from Windsor and Amherstburg - nine miles from either place. It was a favorite inn for travelers and here also the old stage stopped at noon on its way to Amherstburg to carry the mail. It was always the meeting place for the men in the neighbourhood who, in the evening, came and sat on the wide verandah, smoked their pipes and talked over the happenings of the day. The old building held many romantic as well as political memories. After Rev. Father Marseilles had tied the marital knot for many happy couples the day would be incomplete if the wedding party did not pay a visit to Halfway. Long rows of buggies would wind their way to the hotel to be greeted by the smiling host and hostess; soon rounds of choice liquors would be passed during the intermission of a few cotillions of square dances. This was before the motor age, when honeymoon trips to distant places were not a common adventure, so that at that time a trip to Halfway House was almost an etiquette".

WHILE THE exact date of the original building is obscure, the architectural style would indicate that it was built in the late 1860's or early 1870's. Louis Drouillard was the owner in 1881, then Joseph E. Drouillard, and after him Pierre Drouillard, father of "Patsy", the boxer. Several had rented the hotel for short periods; among them, Joel Cousineau, Albert Hebert, Daniel Tremblay, and finally, Dolphis Bergeron, who died in 1909. Laurent Bondy purchased the hotel in 1910. In the ensuing years the old frame structure was raised and a brick main floor was built.

The most exciting times were during the election campaigns, as the principal meetings were held at the school house, P.S.S. No. 6, which was a short distance from the hotel. Mr. Pierre Drouillard was a highly respected taxpayer and he always addressed the meetings. After lively discussions by candidates or their representatives were ended, the crowd would walk together to the hotel, where their host, Mr. Drouillard, served all at the expense of the candidates. There were in those days many who carried homo a gallon pail of foamy beer, fresh from the tap, for ten cents.

For several years Mr. Pierre Drouillard had charge of the Canard River Post Office, in connection with the hotel. For fifty cents per year one had a private "pigeon hole" for mail; there were no locks or keys, so Mr. Drouillard handed out the mail. The only convenience was that at a glance one could see through the glass if the stage had brought him any mail. Around 1912 the Post Office was moved to a store near the church.

Article from The Amherstburg Echo, 22 April, 1981

Sixty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Drouillard, Malden Road, are a remarkable old couple. on Wednesday they celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of their wedding at the home of their son, William J. Drouillard, with whom they live on the old homestead. In spite of the number of years which rest upon their shoulders, they are both in excellent state of health and enjoy a game of cards just a little better than anyone else in the neighborhood. Mr. Drouillard will be eighty-eight years of age on the 19th of March next, and Mrs. Drouillard will be eighty-six on the 20th of March. Her maiden name was Millie Lapointe and they were married on the 27th day of January, 1867 (the year of Confederation) at Erie, Mich., as they are both American born and came to Sandwich West eight years later. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom are living, William J. mentioned above and Ernest, of the Huron Line. Mr. Drouillard has one brother, Felix of Detroit, and Mrs. Drouillard has two living brothers, Benson of Deerfield, Mich., and Sam of Erie, Mich. They also have seven grandchildren. Mr. Drouillard is well known among the older residents as he was one of the old time hotel keepers, owner at one time of the hotel at Leslie's Corners, Malden, and later of the Halfway House on the Malden Road. He perhaps is best known by his connection with the racing of horses on the ice of the River Canard. Years ago he got out very humorous hand bills in broken French announcing these races, the results of which were published in The Echo at that time. The late Albert Fox of Amherstburg was one of his chief competitors. They are both devoted members of the Loiselleville R. C. Church and their many friends wish for them further long years of happiness together.

Article from The Amherstburg Echo, 29 January, 1932