Mount Horeb

History

Mount Horeb, located in Ops Township, got its beginnings as a small farming settlement in the 1820s and 30s. The original settlers included William and Robert Reynolds from Tipperary Ireland, Duncan Fisher and the Skuce Brothers. They established a small community by 1840 and by the 1860s, it grew into a sizeable hamlet with a population of about 50. They built the first school around 1850.

Mr. and Mrs. James Southam donated land for the construction of a Methodist Church (later United) and cemetery in 1861. Likely both Wesleyan and New Connexion Methodists, both of whom established congregations in the area shared the church. Reverend N. Burns was the Wesleyan minister and Reverend S. Gundy, the New Connexion minister. The Methodist Church congregations merged under the Methodist Church of Canada in 1884.

By 1863, William Smith had opened the first post office. They replaced the original school in 1884. In 1863, William Smith opened the first post office. By 1865 there was a blacksmith, Adam Kennedy and a hotel, operated by William Ray. William Reynolds took over the post office in 1867. Although records show he was postmaster until 1914, this is simply not possible, considering he was born in 1811. Likely his son, William Reynolds Jr. took over the post office at some point. James Lindsay, also a mason and plasterer, took over the hotel in 1869. Thomas Lee, a long-time mainstay of the village, became the blacksmith.

Alexander Feir was an experienced millwright who had immigrated to Canada from Ireland in the mid 1830s, while still in his teens. Feir lived just east of the village where he had a farm on Lot 2, Concession 10. In the early 1870s, he constructed a large grist mill in what later became the small mill site of Feir Mills. Once the mill became established, the Feirs worked continuously at expanding the operation. What started out as a small flour mill grew to include a saw and shingle mill, operated by Alexander and his son Isaiah. During the 1880s, Alexander and his wife Jane moved from their nearby farm to Mount Horeb, from where he continued his milling operations.

By the mid 1880s, Mount Horeb had grown to about 100 people. It didn’t take long for the village to outgrow the second school. A much larger structure, U.S.S. #12 replaced it in 1875. New residents included a George Caldwell, a blacksmith, Richard Lees, who operated a tannery and Ham Magahey, who sold insurance. Long-time resident, James Skuce worked as a fur dealer. According to several sources, William Elliott took over the post office around 1884, operating it from his general store. Another congregation built a second church in the area in 1884, known as the Hebron Church, It lasted until 1902 when it joined with the Mount Horeb Church. The latter church saw a complete renovation in 1895.

As with most small farming hamlets, Mount Horeb slipped back during the 20th century. Feir’s Mills continued to operate for a lengthy period until 1965. They sold the entire area to a bible camp. Fire destroyed the third school in 1921. A new school, which lasted until 1965, replaced it the following year. The school still stands and is now a private residence. The United Church remains active and still holds regular services. Mount Horeb still stands as a proud, tiny hamlet and continues to support a small farm-based population.