John Dormer LaCourse

Other Events:

• Occupation: Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA; railway mail clerk
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-132308
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1887, , Douglas, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1896, Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA

Notes:

LaCourse is Handling Letters.

John D. LaCourse took charge as assistant postmaster here yesterday. No other changes are booked for the present.

Mr. Rosecrans, the retiring assistant, has several offers of positions already, and will probably accept a good one in Omaha, which was made yesterday. He is considered one of the best bookkeepers in the country.

The Omaha Daily Bee 2 Dec 1894

Other Events:

• Interesting: law
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-132055
• Residence: 1871, Lindsay, Ops Twp., Victoria Co., Ontario, Canada
• Historic Building: 1874, 108 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Sonneck House
• Occupation: 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Junior Judge
• Residence: 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Historic Building: 1879, 55 Margaret Avenue, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; County Judge
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Occupation: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; County Judge
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Notes:

ANTHONY LACOURSE Judge of the County Court of the County of Waterloo, was born in September, 1830, at Berthier, Province of Quebec. He commenced his education at the Grammar School, Picton, Ont., and continued and completed it at Regiopolis College, Kingston. After finishing his education he began the study of law with the late Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., Queen's Counsel, Kingston. He was called to the Bar in the Easter Term in the year 1855, and commenced to practice at Lindsay, where he remained for some years in possession of a large and profitable clientage. While residing in Lindsay, he was elected mayor for three years in succession. He also held the office of Clerk of the Peace and County Crown Attorney until he received the appointment of Junior Judge of the County of Waterloo. In March, 1888, on the death of the late judge, he was appointed to the vacant office, which he has since filled with the dignity and ability appropriate to the high position. Mr. Lacourse was married to Mary, daughter of the late J. Dormer, M.D., Kingston. She died, and he married Frances, daughter of the late Col. Baldwin, of Toronto.

The Canadian Album, Men of Canada Vol. 1, 1891, pg 323

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Judge Lacourse

On Tuesday morning, shortly after 8am, the senior judge of the county, Anthony Lacourse, passed away after a lengthy illness; he had been ill for a lengthy period of time and had admitted himself in July to a clinic in Dansville N.Y. close to the Kneipp Institute there. However, his condition did not improve, and soon after he returned home, he became so seriously ill that little hope for his recovery remained.

Judge Lacourse was born in Berthier, Province of Quebec, on December 22nd, 1830; his father came from France and his mother was from the Dame family of Montreal. He attended a college in Kingston and studied law there, where he was called to the bar in 1855. He practised for a year in Picton and then moved to Lindsay where, for several years, he held several prominent positions, among them, that of mayor. In 1873, he was named the Judge for Waterloo County by the Macdonald administration, and since then, he has graced this position with enthusiasm and a love of justice.

Judge Lacourse was married twice. Five children were born from his first marriage to Mary Dormer, of whom the daughters, Mrs., G. Lang of Berlin and Mrs. A. Foerster of Doon are already deceased. The sons, John of Omaha, Nebraska, George of Berlin, and Anthony of Wallaceburg are still living. In 1878, the judge was married for the 2nd time to Fannie Baldwin of Toronto, who survives him. The burial will take place on Friday, after a funeral mass at 10.00am in St. Mary's church, at the Catholic cemetery^.

Berliner Journal 10 Sep 1896 pg 4 Col 2 Translated by: Patricia J. Kauk

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Queen Street North, West Side

Gaukel's well at the corner of the hotel shed, the corner being later built up as the Bowman Block, now the Bank of Montreal.

A brick warehouse belonging to the corner store of the Bowman Block. First occupants of this store were Bowman and Heins, later H. S, Huber and then by Huber and Roy.

Opposite the Breithaupt leather store stood a one-story brick building, Dr. Pipe's surgery and later Dr. Wright's.

A two-storey brick house lengthwise with Queen Street and with veranda on two sides, the veranda a few steps above the ground, occupied by Henry Schaefer. In 1871 Dr. Pipe lived in this house. Among other things Dr. Pipe kept bees, although he was quite afraid of them. Dr. Pipe and Henry Stroh succeeded in bringing the first Italian queen bee to this part of the country.

A lane.

A handsome brick house, gable roof, lengthwise with the street, the corners faced with limestone from Guelph, erected by Joseph Hobson, the surveyer, in 1860. Hobson eventually was Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway and when that was merged with the Grand Trunk he became Chief Engineer of the latter Company and was among other things Chief Engineer of the Sarnia tunnel. Alexander MacPherson, editor and publisher of the Berlin Telegraph, later lived in the house. The site is now occupied by the head office of the Economical Fire Insurance Company.

A two-story red frame building well back from the street built probably before 1850 by Peter Eby, identified with the "Deutsche Canadier" and with the early days of the "Telegraph". Dr. Eggert, homeopath, lived in the house 1859-1860 and later John Klippert, high constable and county bailiff.

One and a half story brick building at the corner of Duke and Queen Streets occupied by a Mr. Von Ebenau and wife and later for a number of years by Michael Jaehle, a blacksmith. The site is now occupied by the Daily Record building.

Duke Street.

A large handsome building trimmed with cut stone built in 1860 by David S. Shoemaker of Bridgeport who was county registrar, The building was intended for a bank and agent's residence and so used first by the Commercial Bank which failed and later by the Merchants Bank of which R. N, Rogers was agent for a number of years. Some time later Dr. H. S. Lackner acquired the property and used it as residence and surgery. After Dr. Lackner's death the property was sold to the present occupants, the Langleys of Toronto.


building, colonial style, with large posts at the front carrying the projecting roof, erected in 1848-49, the Waterloo Township Hall, the land for which was donated by Frederick Gaukel. General public meetings were held in this hall, among others meetings purposing to have Berlin named as county town. After consummation of this a banquet was held in the hall, which was occasionally used for such purpose. The occasion of this particular banquet was the laying of the corner stone of the new county buildings in 1852. 100 guests were present and there were a number of patriotic toasts. Later the building was used as a printing office, the "Deutsche Canadier" and the "Telegraph" being printed there for a time. Eventually the building was remodelled and enlarged and became the Methodist Church. In 1904 the St. Matthews Lutheran congregation purchased the property and later the First English Lutheran Church, which still continues in the building.

Behind the present Kitchener Public Library, occupying the site of his ornamental garden, and still standing is Dr. Scott's residence, built in 1855. Henry Rothaermel was the contractor. Dr. Scott was the first warden of the county and first reeve of Berlin. After his death the house was occupied by M. C. Schofield who married Dr. Scott's widow. Later Israel Bowman, for many years county clerk and town clerk of Berlin, acquired the property and lived there.

Weber Street.

On the corner the Presbyterian Church first built 1860-61 at a size of 36 ft. by 50 ft., cost $4,500 and seating 175 persons. Rev. John McMeekin was an early minister.

A two-story red brick building lengthwise with Queen Street, built 1855-56, the house of H. S. Huber.

Simon Roy's house, also red brick, one and one-half story high, both of these houses were set back from the street. Mr. Roy was nurseryman and florist.

A one-story double house lengthwise with Queen Street.

Before Ahrens Street was continued westerly across Queen Street there was on the site a two-story unpainted weather-boarded building, the house of John Dopp.

frame building, similar to Dopp's, the house of Christina Bloch, a widow who lived there for many years.

A frame building, similar to Dopp's, but with gable facing Queen Street, the house of August Vetter, painter and paper-hanger.

A vacant lot later owned by Louis Breithaupt who built, on the corner of Margaret Avenue, a residence for Judge Lacourse.

Margaret Avenue.

On Margaret Avenue a short distance westerly from Queen Street was the Moxley farm with house and barn. The barn was later moved to Lexington by Henry Stroh who bought it to replace one that had been struck by lightning. On the corner of Ellen Street a brick house occupied in the early days by Rev. Mr. Savage, Methodist minister, and later by John Hoffman, Jr., a druggist.

Ellen Street.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

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LACOURSE.

His Honor Judge LaCourse died on Tuesday morning after an illness of several months, Anthony LaCourse, senior Judge of Waterloo County, was born at Berthier, Province of Quebec, Sept. 22nd, 1830. He was educated at Picton Grammar School and Kingston College, Kingston. He took up the study of law and was called to the bar in 1855 and practised one year at Picton and then removed to Lindsay where he practised seventeen years. He held the office of Superintendent of Schools. Mayor of the Town for three years, and County Crown Attorney and Clerk of the Peace from 1863 to 1873. In October 1873 he was appointed Judge of the County of Waterloo by Sir John A. MacDonald's Administration, the duties of which position he faithfully discharged.

He was first married in 1853 to Mary, daughter of John Darmer, M. D., late of Kingston, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. He was married a second time December 28th, 1878, to Fanny, fourth daughter of the late Col. J. C. Baldwin, Toronto, who survives him.

The funeral will take place on Friday, Sept. 11th, at 10a.m., from the family residence on Margaret avenue, Berlin.

Waterloo Chronicle , 10 Sep 1896, p. 4


Historic Building:
Named "Sonneck" this house was built in 1874 as a leased residence by Louis Brethaupt. Two stories and made of brick it is one of the last homes in Kitchener, owned by Louis Breithaupt's eldest son, Louis Jacob and was purchased upon his marriage. Strong Italianate features reflect Breihaupt's American architectural background. It contained some of best stained glass in the city. In 1978 it was recorded as being in very condition.

Historic Building:
Built by Louis Breihaupt in 1879-1881 for Judge Lacourse, later owners included Dilman Shantz & Judge Herne. In 1978 is was listed in very good condition built of brick it is in the Renaissance Revival style.

Anthony — Mary Dormer. Mary was born 1836, Kingston, Frontenac Co., Ontario, Canada; died 8 May 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount Hope Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary LaCourse
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-366471
• Residence: 1871, Lindsay, Ops Twp., Victoria Co., Ontario, Canada