Hagersville, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Hagersville is a community in Haldimand County, Ontario
which gained international notoriety in 1990 for a gigantic uncontrolled tire fire
which spewed toxic smoke for seventeen days. The fire itself actually occurred in Townsend, a neighbouring community, but media labelled it as Hagersville due to Townsend's relatively unknown status in the area.
Hagersville is the birthplace of Canadian drummer Neil Peart
, of Rush
fame.
Hagersville is home to the Hagersville Hawks
, a junior hockey team that plays in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
.
Hagersville is also the birthplace of Becky Kellar
, who is a 3 time Olympian with 2 gold medals and 1 silver in Women's Hockey.
The building of the Canada Southern Railroad in 1870, and of the Hamilton and Lake Erie Railway three years later helped to make Hagersville a prosperous village in 1879.
Close by the rail crossing was The Junction Hotel later becoming The Lawson Hotel after a change in ownership. It was known as the Hagersville Inn, but has recently been bought again. Perhaps it was best known as Murph's Place when Ron Murphy
, retired NHL player took ownership. Today it is known as The Old Lawson House. In 1852, Charles Hager built a frame hotel at the corner of the Plank Road and Indian Line. Hagersville's first post office was in this hotel and Joseph Seymour suggested the community be called Hagersville to honour the Hager brothers.
During World War II
, Hagersville was the home of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station 16 Service Flying Training School, teaching
trainee pilots how to fly the Harvard and Anson aircraft.
Hagersville is also known for Hewitt's Dairy Bar. The only independent dairy in Ontario.
Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga....
which gained international notoriety in 1990 for a gigantic uncontrolled tire fire
Tire fire
Tire fires, where tires are stored, dumped or processed, exist in two forms: as fast-burning events, leading to almost immediate loss of control, and as slow-burning pyrolysis which can continue for over a decade. They are noted for being difficult to extinguish. Such fires produce a lot of smoke,...
which spewed toxic smoke for seventeen days. The fire itself actually occurred in Townsend, a neighbouring community, but media labelled it as Hagersville due to Townsend's relatively unknown status in the area.
Hagersville is the birthplace of Canadian drummer Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
, of Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
fame.
Hagersville is home to the Hagersville Hawks
Hagersville Hawks
The Hagersville Hawks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Hagersville, Ontario. They play in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League and have been in existence since being granted a franchise in 1992. Hagersville won the league championship in 2005...
, a junior hockey team that plays in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior level ice hockey league sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association based out of Southwestern Ontario....
.
Hagersville is also the birthplace of Becky Kellar
Becky Kellar
Becky Kellar is a women's ice hockey player. She currently plays for Burlington in the Canadian Women's Hockey League....
, who is a 3 time Olympian with 2 gold medals and 1 silver in Women's Hockey.
History
Upon the construction of Higwhay 6, known formerly as the Plank Road, a small village popped up around 1855 when Charles and David Hager bought most of the land in the center of the area. David Almas owned the land on the east side of the road, while John Porter owned the land in the west end.The building of the Canada Southern Railroad in 1870, and of the Hamilton and Lake Erie Railway three years later helped to make Hagersville a prosperous village in 1879.
Close by the rail crossing was The Junction Hotel later becoming The Lawson Hotel after a change in ownership. It was known as the Hagersville Inn, but has recently been bought again. Perhaps it was best known as Murph's Place when Ron Murphy
Ron Murphy
Robert Ronald Murphy is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins over the course of an 889-game NHL career....
, retired NHL player took ownership. Today it is known as The Old Lawson House. In 1852, Charles Hager built a frame hotel at the corner of the Plank Road and Indian Line. Hagersville's first post office was in this hotel and Joseph Seymour suggested the community be called Hagersville to honour the Hager brothers.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hagersville was the home of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan station 16 Service Flying Training School, teaching
trainee pilots how to fly the Harvard and Anson aircraft.
Hagersville is also known for Hewitt's Dairy Bar. The only independent dairy in Ontario.
