Husband Thomas Beecroft [16063]
Born: 8 Sep 1865 - Wingham, Huron, Ontario, Canada
Christened:
Died: 30 Jan 1930 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Cause of Death: Heart failure
Buried: - Barrie Union Cemetery, Barrie, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada 1
FamilySearch ID: LZYJ-G4V
Find A Grave ID: 116569652
Father: John Lewis Beecroft [8902] (1820-1899)
Mother: Ann Jane Golley [8901] (1831-1911) 2
Marriage: 10 Jul 1889 - Wingham, Huron, Ontario, Canada
Events
• Biography: 34 Ross Street. 34 Ross St.
Thomas Beecroft once lived at 34 Ross St. He was born near Wingham, Ont., to John Beecroft of Nottingham, England, and Ann Jane Goley, of Belfast, Ireland. Growing up, Thomas was considered quite athletic, particularly in shot put, football and cycling.
As a young man, Thomas started his career in banking at McKeggie and Co. bankers in Stayner, transferring to their Barrie branch in 1889. The McKeggies had opened their private bank, located on the south side of Dunlop Street at Memorial Square, in 1881.
The summer of his move to Barrie, he married Mary Sutherland MacKay, in Wingham. Mary's grandparents, from Kildonan, Sutherland, Scotland, were part of the Selkirk Settlement on the Red River, Manitoba, later moving east to West Gwillimbury, where Mary was born.
The Beecrofts settled in to their new life in Barrie. In 1891, daughter Irene arrived, and in 1896, daughter Ethel. Irene would grow up to marry shoe factory owner, Stanley Underhill.
In 1900, the McKeggie bank was taken over by T. Beecroft and Company. The successor to J.C. McKeggie offered to transact general banking business, cash notes or collect them at the most favourable rates, and cash cheques drawn on any bank in Canada or the U.S. Beecroft's bought and sold sterling exchange, collected accounts, loaned money for mortgages and gave special accommodation to local farmers.
In addition, T. Beecroft and Co. was an agent for the Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada. All this during banking hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thomas continued to manage his bank, while developing an interest in civic activities, and becoming a keen golfer and curler. He spent seven years as a commissioner of the Water and Lights Department and as auditor for many years. During his tenure, he brought the plants up to a level of high efficiency, recorded a profit in the water department while reducing rates by 25 per cent, and managed some reductions in electricity rates as well.
Beecroft was trusted in his position and was never refused an ask of the ratepayers when it was needed to update the plants, valued at over $200,000. Thomas Beecroft's civic duty would include time as president of the RVH board for many years, as a member of the Patriotic Committee during the war, and as past master of the Kerr Lodge.
The year 1910 was one of feverish highs and unspeakable lows for Thomas Beecroft.
On Jan. 3, Beecroft was elected mayor of Barrie. On April 29, his beloved Mary passed away. Despite the rain on the day of her funeral, hundreds of friends, citizens and town council members formed the long cortege to the cemetery. Mary Beecroft, only 45, left a husband, two daughters, 10 brothers and one sister in Manitoba and B.C., to grieve.
Just days after his wife's passing, news of the death of King Edward the VII reached Barrie on the evening of May 6. In accordance with a proclamation issued by Mayor Beecroft, May 20, the day of the king's funeral, would be a day of mourning in Barrie. Beecroft asked businesses to close. A memorial service at St. Andrew's Church was packed with citizens wishing to pay their respects.
In the fall of 1910, Mayor Beecroft welcomed a group from the Royal Commission on Industrial Training and Technical Education, established that same year. The commission supported vocational education and the output of this initiative would result in the Technical Education Act of 1919. Provinces applied for grants under this act, setting a precedent for federal funding of education in the future.
The morning of this visit was spent touring local industries and included a stop at the Barrie Collegiate Institute. The afternoon session focusing on promoting the benefits of industrial and technical education to manufacturing in Barrie, as well as gathering input from key local representatives.
The mayor went first, stating he favoured establishing a technical school where boys could get a good start towards becoming mechanics. Some were learning by correspondence, but practical, manual training and night courses would produce good results. At the moment, a full one-third of Barrie's taxes were levied towards education.
H.G. Robertson, chairman of the Board of Education, suggested that skilled mechanics from factories could be hired to teach night classes, but he believed attendance would be low. T.H. Redditt, principal of the Barrie Collegiate Institute thought that a reduction in the number of subjects might be advantageous.
Two years at BCI would give the student a pretty fair English education (which every boy should have). In his opinion, not a very large portion of parents wanted a higher education for their children. The trend in education seemed to be away from the classics and more on training that would directly impact the business of life.
Daniel Quinlan, speaking as a farmer, said young people are interested in farming as a business and in improving the industry. He believed a model farm would be ideal and that Simcoe County would be a good location for it. He also stressed there is no organized effort directed at weeds. A.F. Hunter stated that evening classes held at the library 20 years ago were a failure and that a tuition day school was the correct approach.
The current curriculum could be supplemented with manual training, and that this may appeal to those not interested in continuing to high school. J.J. Brown of the Board of Trade, finished off the round table by adding that farmers had increased their profits by doing their own studies and observations within the industry.
The year 1910 ended well for Thomas Beecroft when he was returned as mayor for 1911, by acclamation.
Thomas Beecroft was rooming at 119 Collier St. and still managing his bank when a heart attack took his life in 1930. His funeral was held at daughter Irene's High Street home.
Beecroft lived in one half of this lovely semi-detached home at 34 Ross St. for many years. While the design and architectural features of this building can be seen in several houses around Barrie, the impressive semi-circular verandah and gallery that give this home a splendidly grand and imposing look, is unique.
Wife Mary Sutherland McKay [16064]
Born: 4 May 1863 - West Gwillimbury, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Christened:
Died: 29 Apr 1910 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Buried: - Barrie Union Cemetery, Barrie, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada 1
Find A Grave ID: 116569679
Children
1 F Irene Gladys Beecroft [16067]
Born: 12 Jul 1890 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Christened:
Died: 23 Dec 1980 - Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
Buried: - Barrie Union Cemetery, Barrie, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada 1
FamilySearch ID: MWLL-RNH
Find A Grave ID: 149053806
Spouse: Stanley Gordon Underhill [16068] (1889-1975)
Marr: 10 Jul 1917 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
2 F Ethel Marie "Masie" Beecroft [16065]
Born: 31 Dec 1896 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Christened:
Died: 1986 - Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
Buried: - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada
FamilySearch ID: 9J81-XTL
Find A Grave ID: 229182961
Spouse: Arthur Robert Sproule [16066] (1895-1990)
Marr: 25 Jun 1927 - Barrie, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada