Donnybrook

History

Donnybrook, located in Huron County, was a wild and crazy place during the 1860s and 70s. The infamous annual fair – one of the first of its kind in the area – put Donnybrook on the map throughout the entire district.

Settlers began arriving in Donnybrook in the 1850s. In the early 1860s, Charles Campbell opened a lime kiln on his farm. A general store owned by John Armstrong quickly followed. Simon Dow, a blacksmith operated the woodworking shop on behalf of John Jefferson. The woodworking shop offered a full range of services including tools, buggies, wagons, sleighs and general blacksmithing. Jerry McBrien, a shoemaker, owned a small cobbler’s shanty. There was also a hotel and adjacent stable, owned by Tom McLaughlin, a former blacksmith.

The fairs which began in the 1860s quickly became huge events. They offered the usual farm exhibits, horse races, square dances and even a Ferris wheel for the kiddies. But the big attractions were the fights and brawls. Fuelled by dozens of rounds of whiskey, priced at 25 cents at gallon, the men stripped to their waists and engaged in murderous hand-to-hand combat all for the honour of winning the coveted Donnybrook Fair championship.

The fair building stood on the southeast corner. A number of fair activities also took place on the top floor of McLaughlin’s stable. 

The fairs lasted until the early 1870s. The fights and activities grew so fierce, it became impossible to contain them. Once the authorities shut them down, Donnyville settled down into a a sleepy little crossroads hamlet. The fair then moved over to Belgrave, which was a larger centre and presumably had more manpower.

Donnybrook’s first settlers worshipped in John Craig’s log home. A small log Methodist Church, built on land owned by John Brooks, became home to Donnybrook’s early worshippers in 1860. The congregation finally purchased the quarter acre of land in 1866 for $14. A frame church, named the Donnybrook Methodist Church, replaced the log building in 1880. There was a cemetery next to the church.

Other changes that took place in the 1880s included a new school in 1884 and an Orange Hall. The new school was also a union school, USS No.15 East and West Wawanosh. Prior to that students attended U.S.S. 7 in East Wawanosh. In 1996, Sam Thompson donated a piece of property on Lot 28, Concession 7 for the first Orange Hall. Fire destroyed the second hall, built on Lot 31, several years later.

The store changed hands several times. Other store owners were Neil McPhedran, followed by John Jefferson. Jefferson’s son, John Junior, who had married one of the teachers, Christina Cameron, took over the woodwork shop. Donnybrook never had its own post office. Most residents used the post office in nearby Westfield.

Major renovations to the church took place in 1910. The most important involved raising the building and placing it on top of a new cement and concrete block foundation. Other changed included a narthex, two chimneys, a choir loft and three stained glass windows.

Like most small crossroads hamlets, Donnybrook slowly began to trickle away during the 20th century. The school closed briefly in 1936 due to low attendance, but continued on until centralization of the school system. The church, demolished in 1999, didn’t quite make it to the 21st century. Minister Geraldine Preston conducted the final service in June of that same year. An attractive cairn, commemorating the church’s history, now sits on the site of the former church, adjacent to the well-maintained cemetery.