for more Sparta History visit http://www.thevillagecollective.com/sparta-village.html

Everything you’ve heard is true. Now

start heading this way. Our welcome mat

is out for you. The stories you’ve heard

about our legendary hospitality and

graciousness are true. We invite you to

come explore the sights, sounds and

flavours only found in one place:

SPARTA...where history lives.

Our village is a colourful patchwork of

the most beautiful village offerings.

And just as no two people are exactly

alike, every studio, shop & stop in this

quiet county corner has its own distinct

character, charisma & charm!

Not many realize that at one time Sparta

was quite large. There were 3 churches,

a stage coach, telephone service, daily

mail, 2 doctors, wagon maker, painter,

shoemaker, druggist, 5 shoe stores,

banker, 2 fruit stores, 3 general stores,

3 blacksmiths,2 broom maker shops,

basket shop, butcher, tanner, sawmill,

3 cheese manufacturers, 2 justice of the

peace, 2 harness makers, 2 carpenters,

chair manufacturer, cabinet maker,

undertaker, carriage maker, and a stove

and tin ware shop.

So grab some comfy shoes & fun friends

and enjoy our walking tour!

Welcome to Sparta!!

1 THE SPARTA HOUSE

1840’s

46342 Sparta Line

The LIBRARY

1888

Built by David Mills, as a hotel. It has housed the

1st library, Millman’s General Store, a furniture

shop, a funeral parlour, a hardware, barbershop,

a trophy shop and now a tearoom. In the day,

“old George Grasshopper,” a very popular town

barber, was held in awe by the children as he

seemed to be the only black man around. He

would tell stories to many a child in his soft-tone

southern accent.

A public library, or Mechanics Institute, as it was

called in the early days, was formed in 1888. At

first it was in the far west corner of what is now

the Sparta Tea House. Which at that time was

the Moedinger Hardware Store. In 1924 the

library, was moved to the OLLIE house when

Mrs. Ollie was appointed the librarian.

2 THE ABBEY 1840’s

46324 Sparta Line

Originally built as an Inn, The True Teller, a Sparta

newspaper was printed here for a brief period.

In 1859 Louis Moedinger started his undertaking

and furniture business in the Abbey prior to

operating it out of the Sparta House.

Mr. R. Stratton turned ‘The Old Abbey’ into a

shop where he made furniture and coffins.

3 YE OLDE FORGE

& ANVIL 1824

46316 Sparta Line

BLACKSMITH SHOP

Built of clay and straw, Ye Olde Forge & Anvil was

named by the Sparta Institute, a building believed

to have been put up in 1824. Built of adobe walls,

it remains in much the same state as when was

erected. It has been extensively repaired from

time to time, new roof or two, and its interior

entirely modernized since Womens’ Institute

took it over. It remains with its original dung

coloured clay and straw walls as a relic of the

earliest days of this Old Elgin County Settlement. During the MacKenzie Rebellion of 1837, militia

horses were stabled here. Early settlers’ oxen

were ‘slung up’ and fitted with shoes and later

horses were shod. In this building all kinds of

wagon wheels were repaired.

4 BAPTIST CHURCH

1869

46170 Sparta Line

Opening for worship in 1869, the basement was

first hand dug, 2 yrs. later the church was bricked.

The Baptist Church was built as a mission of the

First Yarmouth Baptist Church in 1869. Their first

minister was the Rev. Alexander MacDonald who

later became the first missionary to Western

Canada. In 1896, Rev. J. Baker became pastor of

the church and he, along with Rev. W. Graham of

the then Methodist Church were leaders in the

temperance movement which resulted in the

closing of the hotel in Sparta. Coincidently Rev

Baker resigned shortly after.

5 CHEESE FACTORY 1870’s

46062 Sparta LIne

Also known as the

‘Mill-Spring

Cheese Company’

Amos Canby built the cheese factory on his farm east of the

Doan’s Tannery. In 1911, the McCullough brothers sold the

cheese factor to the Donnelly’s . The first cheese factory

burned down and the Donnelly’s rebuilt it around 1911 and

ran it for over 40 years. The Donnelly’s made the first

cheese that was ever made in Sparta on Saturday nights

and was the last to in 1915. In 1948, Wallace Little

purchased the farm and factory and engaged in gardening

and general farming.

In 1955, the old factory was converted to a vegetable

cannery by the Little family .

6 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY of

FRIENDS CEMETARY

(Quaker) 1820

45870 Sparta Line

This was the original site of the first Quaker Meeting house.

Jonathan Doan purchased 200 acres and set it up as a

Tannery. His son, Joshua Doan was hung in 1839, 28 yrs old

for treason and he is buried here. Read up all about Joshua

Doan’s story in Issue 6 on the Village Collective’s web page:

www.thevillagecollective.com/sparta-village.htm

A TOMBSTONE –

which has caused mystery in the village in the Friends’

cemetery has an inscription of “Johnni-Rorsrr-Abcdefg”

and on the other side “Johni-Hijklm-Nopqrs”.

7 HAIGHT—ZAVITZ

HOUSE 1837

45358 Sparta Line

"Pioneer Centre - This handsome house, located on the

Union-Sparta Road, west of the village, was the hub of

activity during pioneer days. Its owner at the time, Samuel

Haight, was one of the most popular persons of the era.

The home is one of the earliest in the Sparta area, and was

sold to the Zavitz family. It is a typical early Quaker house

built in the 1820's.

James Haight founded several industries in & about Sparta

including a hat shop in a log cabin on his property. Due to

its proximity in the wilderness, it was moved to St Thomas

where the business flourished.

8 JOHN ZIPP—

SANDERSON HOUSE

1859

This is the pioneer home of John Kipp, and later the

Sanderson family. The first Quaker group in Sparta was

organized at the home of John Kipp in 1819.

The farm was sold to George Z. Minor in 1866, grandfather

of Lila B. Sanderson, the owner in 1948 , and remains in the

Sanderson Family today, 2016.

9 MUD COTTAGE

1830

46173 Sparta Line

Crafted of adobe, the mud cottage had walls originally 1½

to 2 feet thick. It is likely the handy work of Mr. Keller as

he came from England where he learned the art of

making mud-walled houses. They dug a pit in a clay bank,

poured in buckets of water, scattered straw upon the

soaked clay and set a yoke of oxen tramping back and forth

upon the mud and straw. The wooden forms into which

the clay and straw were pounded and packed were

chopped from the virgin forest.

10 BAPTIST

PARSONAGE 1855

The Sherman house was built in 1855 and purchased for a

Baptist parsonage in 1886. Previous to this, ministers lived

in rented houses, or stayed with various families. It has not

been a parsonage since the 1960’s, and is now a private

home.

‘We have two village blacksmiths

The one is tall and slight

The other is a little chunky chap

A man of average height.

Now if you want your horse shod

Just call the day before

Or else you’ll need a boarding house

Say the boys in Millman’s store.

“THE BOYS IN MILLMAN’S STORE’ written in 1906, we think by Rev. S. McVitty.

Portrait of a Village: Historic Sparta

46249

Sparta

Line

1 2 35

6 4 7

8

12 19 18 17 16 22

20

13 9 15

14

11 10

20

20

20

21

25

24

23

26

NORTH ST

SPARTA LINE

JAMES ST

CHURCH ST

SOUTH ST

SM

ITH

ST

QU

AK

ER

RD

S P A R T A

Village of

20 SPARTA UNITED

CHURCH & MANSE

1886

6073 Quaker Road

This was the site of an earlier Methodist Chapel.

Lightening destroyed the steeple in the early 1900’s

and the church closed in 2012 when it was purchased

by the Sparta & District Historical Society to preserve

the building and create a museum. The old framed

church that was there prior was used as a church

shed then grist mill. The front part of the old church

became the front of a local house and the back part

was later converted to present day garage.

21 HOSINGER 1851

Church St &

Quaker Rd

It is believed that this home was built as an early

Methodist Chapel, then moved to this site in 1880’s

and converted into this corner house.

22 EAKIN’S GENERAL

STORE 1846

46361 Sparta Line

The Eakins built the front brick section as a general

store. The age of the present building is recorded on a

stone marker under the front fan window; “John A.

Eakins, July 1846”. The Post Office had been in that

building since 1851 - and John Eakins and son, Edwy

served as Postmasters for 70 years. Groceries and dry

goods are still sold over the original walnut counters.

23 VARY HOUSE

1834

6201 Quaker Rd.

William Vary enlisted in the Continental Army and

was a Lt. Col. and Commander of the Genesee Militia

from 1813 to Sept. of 1814. His oldest son, William T.

Jr., when a lad of 15, carried dispatches for his father

on horseback between Batavia and Black Rock to the

forces while the Village of Buffalo was on fire, an act

of the British. William and family moved c. 1824 to

Sparta and built the home. In 1834, ‘Sparta’ was

named in this house, chosen to replace the common

name of ‘The Corners.’

24 THE FRIENDS’

MEETING HOUSE

1865

6387 Quaker Road

The Sparta Friends is part of the larger Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Sparta Friends Meetings for Worship are non programed, meaning that they gather together in silence without the leadership of a pastor or priest. They are their own clergy and all members or attenders contribute with whatever spiritual or other gifts they have. The Meeting House was built in 1865 and is surrounded by peaceful scenery. Featuring separate entrances for men and women and a counter-balanced partition to allow separate business meetings. It remains an active meeting house.

25 COBBLESTONE

HOUSE

1871

6738 Quaker Road

Started in 1871 for Anasa Chase by his Uncle Isaac, an

early Quaker and was completed in 1872. They used

the technique of laying stones in a herringbone

pattern, and of interest is they built a frame that each

stone would have to pass through just right if it be

used on the house. It took Isaac Chase 2 years to

collect all the stones while he cleared the land.

The walls are 2 feet thick with facing of stones, the

size of a hen’s eggs.

26 JOHN MOORE

HOUSE 1825

6545 Quaker Road

It is documented that John Moore, though a United

Empire Loyalist and a Quaker, became a leading

advocate of reform in the turbulent 1830s, and was

charged with treason in the aftermath of the failed

rebellion. John’s son, Joseph, was also arrested and

died in prison from an infection related to the squalid

living conditions. John was released and continued on

as a prominent farmer in the Yarmouth Township

area. One brother Elias Moore was the area MPP in

the 12th and 13th Parliament of Upper Canada. A

third brother, Enoch, was also sentenced to hang for

his part in the rebellions. This house had chimneys

built into each end wall for fireplaces and bake ovens.

11 MOORES’ HOTEL

1853

DOMINION HOTEL

1872

Having disposed of the ‘Elgin House’, Isaac Moore built a

large tavern, known as Moores’ Hotel, in 1853. In 1872,

Cyrus Thayer purchased this property and named it the

‘Dominion Hotel.’ Later, George Moore came to Sparta

and rented the Dominion Hotel, and having strong

temperance views, discontinued it’s license and made it

his home and office for a few years. Then, Israel Doan’s

son-in-law rented it to keep a private school—after several

years of use and idleness it was bought by a Fred Garner,

who divided it and made two houses.

12 A

LUNDY HOUSE

1842

46277 Sparta Line

This home served as an early home of Hiram Smith whose

store was next door. Later owned by his son, Hiram Jr.. And

then by the Crocker Family for over 70 years.

13 HIRAM SMITH

STORE 1846

46211 Sparta Line

Everything that came into this store was packed in wooden

boxes or pails. Money was very scarce, business being

done by barter or trade: 20 bushels of wheat and 15 of

corn for a cow, 4 bushels of wheat for 6 or 8 yards of

cotton. Inside, the main salesroom still contains the

original pressed-metal ceiling, as well as the original

shelving and floors. The original sales counters are still pre-

sent, including a cash drawer, and an embedded brass

yardstick for measuring cloth and other goods.

14 HIRAM SMITH

HOUSE 1865

6137 Hiram Smith

Homestead of Hiram Burley Smith, born in 1811, he left his

home in Quinte at 11 years of age, coming to Sparta with

nothing but his tailor’s kit. The brick building outback was

a smokehouse, bake oven and toilet, standing to west of

house. This was the pioneer property of John Mills, who,

upon his death in 1852, willed the farm to his two

daughters, and in time the house passed through hands

until it was sold to Hiram Burley Smith in 1859, and in 1865

he built the brick house.

15 OILLIE HOUSE 1838

46329 Sparta Line

The home of John Oillie, who was the owner and smith of

the blacksmith and carriage house across the street.

When John Oillie purchased the blacksmith shop in 1839,

he had the slab roof replaced by the first machine made

cedar shingles. In 1924 the Library was moved to the OLLIE

house- Mrs. Ollie was appointed the librarian.

16 TINSMITH SHOP

1840

46341 Sparta Line

Built in 1840, this little frame shed on the main street of

Sparta has housed a tinsmith shop, a tailor shop, a butcher

shop, with an ice-house added on the back, storage shed,

of large antique collection. In more modern history, it has

been a bakery, and now an artist studio.

17 ISRAEL DOAN

HOUSE 1845

46341 Sparta Line

Israel, a brother of Joshua and a son of Jonathan Doan, was

the long time constable of the village and caretaker of the

Friends Meeting House and sexton of its burying ground.

He weighed 230 lbs and at cradling wheat he could beat

any man in the township. He frequently spoke of his

brother, Joshua Doan’s execution and was always bitter

towards those responsible for it. He and his family lie

together in the grave-yard he used to tend.

18 THE TEMPERANCE

House 1840’s

46349 Sparta Line

The Elgin Hotel, was built because of the demise of the

Sparta Hotel / Mills Hotel. In 1851 it was known as the

Elgin House. In 1872, it was purchased by Freeborn Taylor

and named the Ontario House.

In 1901, the religious groups in Sparta, led by Rev. J. J.

Baker, Rev. W. H. Graham and Dr. G. A. Shannon organized

a successful temperance drive. Eventually the Ontario

house was bought out and it became the Temperance

House. It later served as an ice cream parlour, dance hall,

apartment house, factory, artist sanctuary.

19 THE BANK

BATES HOUSE

1875

46355 Sparta Line

Built around 1875, as the A.D. Wood Store, in which Mr.

Wood carried out a thriving Dry Goods & Millinery business

Later it was used as a grocery store, a drug store, and then

a branch of Sterling Bank. After closing out, it was torn

down and a modern brick building was erected by the

Imperial Bank. Later it was converted into a residence for

the Bates Family. The south half of this property was the

residence and blacksmith shop of

Andrew Murray. In those days, Sparta

could boast of no less than 5 blacksmith

shops. Today Anything Used / Sparta

Candles owns this building.

Interesting note: Sparta had for many years and years,

rows of beautiful trees lining each side of the street, but

along with progress and widening the street - they were all

cut down in 1972 and have been missed ever since.

QUICK OVERVIEW OF SPARTA’S HISTORY from www.villageofsparta.com

The village of Sparta began in 1813 when Jonathan Doan, a Quaker, traveled

down Lake Erie by flat bottomed barge to Kettle Creek seeking a safer place for

a Quaker settlement. He had fled the United States after the American Revolution and

settled in the Niagara region. When attacks began in the Niagara Region during 1812,

he feared losing his property again. He purchased 100 acres at what is now the present

site of the Quaker Cemetery and stayed the winter. He was accompanied by his nine

year old grandson, Jonathan Steele. The following spring he returned to the Niagara

Region and encouraged other Quakers to move to the Sparta area. He and his family

set up a grist mill, a saw mill and a tannery in the community as well as giving land for

the Quaker Cemetery and the first Meeting House. Many Quakers followed and by

1820 others were also attracted to this rich farming area. a In 1837, the community became involved in the Rebellion of 1837 and many fled to

the USA after the aborted attack in the Duncombe Uprising. Joshua Doan, son of

Jonathan was one of these rebels and was captured at the attack on Windsor in 1838

and hung for treason in London in 1839. Most of the others gradually returned from

the USA and took up their lives in the area once more. theVillageCollecitve.com