Camden East
It's believed the first settler in Camden East was a trapper who built a log cabin in the late eighteenth century. In 1818, Abel Scott settled along the Napanee River approximately two miles upstream from Newburgh. Like many Loyalist entrepreneurs, Scott planned to harness the power of the Napanee River to build his fortunes. He built a dam and a mill upstream of the village's current site and was responsible for much flooding and damage in the area.
In 1821, Scott sold his interest to Samuel Clark, grandson of Robert Clark, the Loyalist tradesman responsible for building the mills at Napanee in 1786. Clark moved the dam and mill downstream and quickly became successful through his milling enterprises which included a saw mill, grist mill and carding mill. He also served as the Post Master and Justice of the Peace for the settlement. A small village sprang up to accommodate Clark’s employees and the settlement adopted the name of Clark's Mills.
Clark died in 1866 and the village took on the name of Camden East in honour of its position as township seat for Camden Township. The town's population rose steadily from 350 in the 1850's to 700 in 1899. There were five hotels at the main crossroads.
The hotels are long gone; however the general store still remains. Situated prominently at the intersection of County Roads 1 and 4, the former Haydon General Store has stood for over 140 years. Today it houses the Bookstore Café.
A History of the Bookstore Café Site
It is possible the Haydon General Store was built around 1851. A village directory from that year lists James Haydon as operating a general store at that time. The name James Haydon can still be seen scratched on one of the basement doors of the building.
On the main floor of the café, one can see four depressions, each about four feet long and one foot wide, where the hardwood floor has been noticeably worn down. These are the areas on either side of the former post office counter and a second sales counter, likely where the cash register stood, worn down over the years by the comings and goings of customers.
It was under Haydon's ownership that Camden East's most 'famous son', Gilbert Parker, worked for a short time as a clerk. Haydon was said to have been unimpressed with his employee, however Gilbert would go on to do great things.
Educated at the University of Toronto, Parker became a journalist and later a non-fiction writer. He moved to England and achieved great success as a novelist and also become a Member of Parliament. He was knighted in 1902.
Haydon's name continues to appear in village directories until 1899, when it seems he became a loan agent and ran the Farmers' Bank of Canada from 1899 to 1910, when it collapsed. The store was taken over by N. Steadman. Although the transfer date is not clear, Steadman is listed as a general store merchant in the 1906 Directory. Steadman operated the store until the 1940's, when Fred and Hope Hartman took over. They ran the business until the 1980's, when the building's most famous tenant took over.
Harrowsmith Magazine used the building for its retails and distribution outlets during the 1980's. Magazine founder, James Lawrence, had established the magazine in 1976, catering to readers interested in homesteading and organic gardening. The magazine was sold in 1987 and the building was vacated in the early 1990's when the company's owner moved operations to Toronto.
Today the building is home to the Bookstore Café.
Heritage Significance
Built of limestone, the general store features such Classic Revival design elements as the cornice return and lunette type window on a Georgian-styled structure. The general store was often the centre of the community and this building is one of the few that remain in Camden East to confirm the main commercial district which at one time featured five hotels, a harness shop, a granary, a bank and a post office.
Come Back for a Visit!
Visitors are welcome at the Café for meals, antiques, used books and special music events.
Junction of County Roads 1 & 4, Camden East, Ontario, K0K 1J0