#124 GRANDPA FRED'S PHOTO ALBUM

                                                    

                                             FREDERICK FERDINAND HOMUTH

“A life is well lived when a man leaves the world a little kinder, his family a little stronger, and his days marked by work he was proud to call his own.”

“A good man builds his life the way he builds his character—slowly, honestly, and with both hands.”

my favourite photo --Fred and his 1914 Model T

My paternal grandfather was born in 1889 on a farm outside Wingham, Huron. He left the farm, graduated high school and became a telegraph operator in Wingham, Hamilton and Elora. He then apprenticed in Elora for four years as a pharmacist, then studied for one year at the Ontario College of Pharmacy, Toronto. He graduated from the University of  Toronto in 1915. Meanwhile, he took correspondence courses to become an optometrist. In 1916, he married Jean Werth. He moved to Harriston in 1917 to manage McKibbon's Drug Store--the building and business he later purchased. 

Grandpa was a self-made man. From 1917 until his retirement in the 1970s, he was always busy--working as an optometrist, pharmacist, retail businessman; he was a travel agent, ran a photofinishing business, sold Edison radios and phonographs and liquor licenses and wickerware. He designed, made and sold children's furniture. In Homuth's store, one could buy anything from patent medicines to household supplies to musical instruments, electrical appliances, paper products, confections, veterinary supplies, cameras, sporting goods, comic books, giftwares. While shopping one could enjoy a treat from the store's soda fountain.

Fred was a life-time member of the Presbyterian Church, and became a thirty-third degree Mason, the highest level of that fraternal organization. He built five cottages, including his beloved Cedar Circle at Gobles Grove. He enjoyed Muskoka cruising and Florida vacations. He loved his automobiles and traded up often. He was proud of his family, his hometown and his country.

In 2022, I wrote and self-published his biography. 

I was lucky to have many personal papers and documents, access to digitized local newspapers, his diaries written every day from 1908 to 1975, and many, many photos. These are some of my favourite photos.

THE CHILD

The Homuth family (likely abt 1896)

back: Ida, John, Elizabeth;  front: August, Fred, Adelaide 

Fred --9 months

                                                                        about age 12




THE YOUNG MAN

The horse was called Polly. Fred's first job in Wingham was delivering telegrams on horseback.

THE GRADUATE

                                                        graduated as a pharmacist in 1915

VERY DAPPER

   

                                                                always a stylish dresser

MARRIED MAN

married Grandma Jean in Elora on August 31, 1916

August Homuth, Adelaide (Netterfield) Homuth, Fred, Jean, Ann (Harper) Werth, Edward Werth

    FRED AND JEAN

MUSIC MAN

   The Harriston Peerless Six...Fred on trombone...abt 1921-1923

                                                                                   August, Fred, Carol, Adelaide Homuth

                                                              Harriston Kiltie Band (late 1920s)

PHARMACIST-BUSINESSMAN

                                                                    in his office 1932

Homuth store--corner of Elora & Arthur Streets, Harriston

drug & retail store on bottom floor, optometry office second floor

Jean, Fred and Carol lived in the apartment 

Fred in his store 1917

Homuth Store at grand reopening in 1956

Fred with wife Winnie receiving 50 year Certificate from Ontario College of Pharmacy, 1965

OPTOMETRIST

A FATHER 

                                                            son Carol born March 27, 1924

                

CEDAR CIRCLE COTTAGE

                                         construction of cottage on Saugeen Beach 1938

                            double exposure...Fred pushing himself in the wheelbarrow at cottage

FLORIDA

                              Fred & Winnie vacationing in Florida. They were married Jan 28, 1960

CARPENTER

Children's furniture designed and patented by Fred. He designed children's chairs shaped like cats, elephants and bunnies, a goose-shaped cradle, a duck rocker, bunny wheelbarrow, a Butler-shaped smoking stand.

                                                Grandpa built me this wooden chess table

           

ARTHUR STREET HOUSE

                                                95 Arthur Street, Harriston, 1950

    GRANDFATHER

                                                                  Grandpa and me

                                                            Grandpa and Vicky

                                                Dad, me, Vicky, Mom, Grandpa

        

                                 Dad, me, Grandpa, Vicky, John, Mom, Jessica, Steve. Oct.1981

GREAT GRANDFATHER

                                               Jessica & Beverly with their Great-Grandpa

                                            Jessica shows her toolbox to her Great-Grandpa

A LIFE WELL AND FULLY LIVED

“Ninety-three years is a long road, but a man’s greatness is found in the footsteps he leaves behind for                                                                         others to follow.”

“The measure of a man is not in the years he lives, but in the courage, generosity, and grit he brings to each one of them.”

“A self-made life is stitched from perseverance—quiet mornings, hard lessons, and the steadfast belief that tomorrow can always be better.”

FREDERICK FERDINAND HOMUTH                                                                                                           b. Sept, 23, 1889 in Turnberry Township, Huron Co., Ont                                                                           m. Jean Olive Werth (1892-1959) on Aug. 31, 1916 in Elora, Ont                                                               m. Ida Winnifred (Lyons) Britton (1888-1976) on Jan. 28 in Guelph, Ont                                                   d. Jan 26, 1983 in Palmerston, Ont