A LITTLE ABOUT NAPIER
(from www.ghosttownpix.com)
Napier was first established around 1830. by a disbanded group of British military officers, veterans of the Napoleonic Wars & Highland Scots. By 1838 they had already established a school, church and military academy, which proved to be a major attraction. Early settlers included a Captain Beear, Edward Blake, Samuel Preston and Sergeant Major John Arthurs.
The British military frequently awarded loyal and retired officers with land grants. Sergeant Major Arthurs, who had received a medical discharge in 1833, was one of those fortunate recipients. After arriving in Napier, Major Arthurs joined up with the Middlesex County militia and became a colonel. He also went on to become active in a variety of business ventures.
By the early 1850s, a second round wave of settlers had arrived. Col. Arthurs, along with James Keefer, established grist and sawmills. The mills were later sold to John Sutherland who expanded the operation by adding a woollen mill. In 1851, Keefer opened the village's first post office. Col. Arthurs, at the age of 66, took over the post office which he ran for the next 20 years until his death in 1882. His son Alex, who was also the township clerk, continued running it for a few years afterwards.
By the late 1880s Napier was a busy and prosperous community. In addition to the mills, it had grown to accomodate at least half a dozen small factories, two hotels, several shops, a Masonic Hall and the usual schools and churches. It seemed impossible to believe that in a few short years everything would come crashing to an end.
Napier, like many other similar communities, was another casualty of the rapid progression of rail transit. After being ignored by the railways, its industries were unable to compete and gradually shut down. The post office closed in 1915 and Napier was relegated to the status of a quiet backwater community.
Napier is not totally abandoned and its small group of residents are working hard to restore the few remaining buildings from Napier's boom days. The school house has now been put to other uses. By the late 1990s, the general store was standing on blocks, waiting to be moved and restored. Sadly the Arthurs cottage, built by John Arthurs' grandson, was beyond saving. The property has since been sold and the building demolished. |