Marshville Heritage Society's Heritage preservation

The Patrons of Industry in Canada were based on the Patrons of Industry of Michigan that had formed in 1889. Their mandate was to uphold and encourage the moral, social, intellectual, political and financial situation of farmers and to preserve the way of life that existed in farming communities in the late nineteenth century against encroaching industrialization. 

This group cooperated with the urban labour movement to address the political frustrations of both groups with big business.

The Patrons' first appearance in Canada was The Grand Association of the Patrons of Industry in Ontario, founded in 1890. It declared itself independent of the U.S. group in 1891.

Comprised of farmers and their wives this group would meet in the hall to discuss the change that was upon them with the industrial revolution and work to protect their families during this inevitable shift. As Ontario began to emerge and an urban industrial province we can only imagine the concern of this group assuming that the life of the farm, and ideas of that life, would be dismissed.

HISTORY

Started in the United States, the Patrons of Industry movement entered Canada through the Sarnia area in 1889 and mushroomed through Ontario. Its purpose was to give members an opportunity to discuss economic and scientific concerns.

During a meeting on December 4th, 1891, the decision was made to form the Sugar Loaf Patrons of Industry of North America, No. 892. This lodge was made-up entirely of farmers and their wives. The Wainfleet building was constructed in 1893. Patrons of Industry stores were associated with the P.I. Lodges, and like a co-operative, business was restricted to its members.

By 1894, the Patrons of Industry movements saw 17 of its members elected to the Ontario Legislature and it came to be recognized as a third political party in this province. By 1902, the Patrons of Industry organization had fallen apart and it is assumed the Sugar Loaf chapter faded into oblivion about the same time.

After the collapse of the Patrons of Industry movement, the hall was operated by the original trustees John Hill, Romain Neff and Edmund Barrick until the 1930s. These trustees were then replaced by Reginald Hill, Ray Davis and Gerald Minor. The hall had many uses over the years, mainly as a community centre and for a brief period as a school. The hall was eventually closed in the early 1970s and sat empty for 20 years.

In 1991 the hall was donated by Bill and Elizabeth (nee Davis) Akey to the Society, and was moved from Ostryhon Corners to the Marshville Heritage Village, where it was restored in 1992.

The P.I. Hall is used as a meeting hall for the Marshville Heritage Society and the Wainfleet Historical Society.

PATRONS OF INDUSTRY (A History, by Jim Gibbs)

INTRODUCTON

The Order of the Patrons of Industry may seem to be somewhat of a misnomer for a movement comprised of farmers and organized to defend the rights of farmers. However, the Patrons saw the farmer as " ... the chief industrial factor in the world, producing. the two great essentials of life -- food and raiment.." They believed that the farmer had been misrepresented by the professional politicians and that each farmer should cooperate with others in manufacturing and commercialism so as to benefit all. The organization was opposed to high tariffs on goods other than luxuries; monopolies; government subsidies to railroads; and government expenditures on things such as Government House in Toronto. They pushed for low interest government loans to farmers and used these ideals as a basis for their endeavours in both business and politics.

The Patrons of Industry was formed in 1887 in Port Huron, Michigan, so that members, mostly farmers, could have the opportunity to discuss economic as well as political concerns. Within a few years, 75,000 Michigan farmers has taken their vows and the movement soon spread to many other U.S. states and even to Canada.

THE PATRONS OF INDUSTRY IN ONTARIO

The Patrons of Industry sent Norman Smith to Canada as an organizer. In 1889 he set up a Lodge in Lambton County, near Sarnia, directly across the St. Clair River from Port Huron. Farmers throughout the county were attracted to the movement by the convincing oratory of Smith. The movement began to grow "like a mushroom" all across the Province and by 1892 there were 30 county associations, 1,400 Lodges and 30,000 members. At the end of 1893 there were 35,000 members, and 50,000 by 1894.

By 1891 the Order had become so popular that a constituent assembly was held in Sarnia to form the Grand Association of the Patrons of Industry of Ontario, with headquarters in Strathroy. A governing body was elected, a motion was passed to secede from the American parent organization, and a political platform was formulated and ratified.

The Order in Ontario, like its American counterpart, was interested in both business and politics. It established Patrons of Industry stores which were connected to most Lodges, and whose business dealings were restricted to its membership. In keeping with its policy concerning monopolies, these stores were unable to realize a mark-up of more than ten percent.

After failing to gain universal support for a proposal to form a joint stock company to operate its own salt wells, the Order contracted with the Kincardine Salt Company to purchase salt at a fixed price.

The Patrons also formed the Farmers' Binder Twine and Agricultural Implement Manufacturing Company of Brantford in order to combat the monopoly that an American firm held on twine. A 25% import tax raised the price Canadians had to pay by at least three cents per pound. Within a short time, the new company was able to affect the price, and supply members of the Order with relatively inexpensive twine. However, lack of foresight and poor planning resulted in financial difficulties and the passing of the company into the hands of liquidators in 1912.

For a time the political endeavours of the organization proved fruitful, as sixteen members were elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1894. It was enough to give the Patrons of Industry a third party status. The Order's M.L.A.'s engaged mainly in "sniping actions" and were even accused of sitting dumb. Their proposals such as abolition of Government House and the prohibition of railways from issuing passes to M.L.A. 's, were basically ignored by the government.

The political tool of the Patrons of Industry, the Weekly Farmers' Sun, was begun in 1891 in London, Ontario by George Wrigley. It was moved to Toronto in 1893 and in 1896 the floundering newspaper of an almost nonexistent organization was purchased by literaturist and publicist Goldwin Smith, who renamed it the Weekly Sun.

A foray into Federal politics in 1896 proved disastrous, with only three members being elected, and their representation in the Ontario Legislature being almost eliminated. At the annual meeting of 1897 a proposal was made which would extend membership to anyone willing to follow the teachings of Patronism. This proposal was met with great hostility, dividing the Order.

Afterwards, the Patrons of Industry suffered from a lack of enthusiasm and by 1902 it had disappeared completely.

THE PATRONS OF INDUSTRY IN WAINFLEET

On December 4, 1891, a meeting was held at the Elephant School House on Burnaby Road in Wainfleet, to organize the Sugarloaf Association of the Patrons of Industry of North America No. 892. Initially, this association met every Saturday night, but later it met every second and fourth Saturday of each month.

On March 11, 1893, a decision was made to build a Patrons of Industry Hall next to the grounds of the Elephant School on the northwest corner of Lot 16, Concession I. The land was donated by Benjamin Davis with the stipulation that it be used exclusively for Patron functions. The foundation of the hall was started in the late summer of 1893. Construction of the building began in November and by Christmas the Patrons of Industry had moved into the hall.

The structure and activities of the Sugarloaf Association closely resembled those in the rest of Ontario. Its membership consisted of farmers and their wives, who paid fees of fifty cents and ten cents respectively. The Association operated a store as so many other Lodges did. This store was located on the north side of the Feeder Canal near where the mill in the village now sits.

Debates were not uncommon and touched on subjects including the importation of corn, liquor concerns, as well as politics.

The Sugarloaf Association constantly ordered and purchased binder twine from Brantford and some members were mentioned in or contributed articles to the Sun.

It seems as though the Patrons of Industry in Wainfleet faded away in the same manner as the rest of the Order, leaving behind a legacy and hopefully helping to change the traditional two-party political system in Ontario.