Hubert Proctor

Other Events:

• Name: Herbert Proctor
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-173145
• House of Industry and Refuge: 1913, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1913, 468 King St. W., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

The House of Industry and Refuge in Kitchener, known as the Poorhouse which later became Sunnyside Home, buried their own deceased residents who had no one to claim their bodies. The first cemetery lay close to the railway tracks going up the hill between the Polish Legion and Christie Digital on Wellington Street North in Kitchener.

This first cemetery started in 1869 and was in operation until 1884. The second cemetery located along Dunham and Indiana Streets in Kitchener across from Weston Bakery on Victoria Street, which was closer to the home and on somewhat flatter land. Burials continued in the new cemetery until 1907 when the law was changed and unclaimed bodies were to be sent away for medical study.

A number of people were sent away to Toronto and London for this purpose. The new cemetery site was sold and the bodies unmarked were later forgotten and the bodies remain to this day. The old cemetery also neglected and the graves unmarked, remained, still owned by the County.

The residents of the House of Industry and Refuge were appalled with the idea of being sent away for medical study, but that didn't prevent it from happening. There was one single known exception.

Hubert Proctor was born 28 March 1914 at 468 King St. North, Kitchener. His parents were unmarried and the father not in the picture. The mother sick and falling on hard times entered into the House soon after the birth of Hubert. Hubert also was unwell, being born with a disease contracted from his mother. After two months of life Hubert died from then incurable Infantile Syphilis.

The law was clear, Hubert's body was to be sent away for medical study, but this was a baby. The thought of this little babe being sent away, probably was too much for Hubert's sick mother and the staff of the House. It was decided to circumvent the law and bury the child locally.

The main cemetery across from Weston's Bakery was closed, the law changed in 1907 making it no longer needed and the land being considered for sale into private hands. The old cemetery not used in nearly 30 years was prepared to receive one last burial. It was here down by railroad tracks the little Hubert was the last burial in the original cemetery of the House of Industry and Refuge

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-179582

— Annie Clayton. Annie was born Abt 1893, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Annie Proctor
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-173643