Warden Henry Griffin

1884 - 1958  (74 years)

• Name	Henry Griffin
  Prefix	Warden
  Born	17 Sep 1884	Burnley, , Lancashire, England   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1905	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Moulder
  		Thomas Watson's Foundry Tweedsmuir Ayr, Volume 5
  Immigration	1907	, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Occupation	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Moulder - Foundry
  Residence	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Methodist
  Residence	1921	Swan St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Elected Office	1930	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Warden for the County of Waterloo
  Elected Office	1951	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Warden for the County of Waterloo
  Military	WW1
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-194898
  Died	25 Sep 1958	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	29 Sep 1958	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I194898	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	John Griffin,   b. CALC 1 Apr 1859, Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom ,   d. 28 Oct 1935, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 76 years)
  Family ID	F186699	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Fawcett,   b. 24 Aug 1882, Blackburn, , Lancashire, England ,   d. 6 Jul 1969, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 86 years)
  Married	1907
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F186698	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Griffin,Henry-001-1927.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Henry Griffin, Ex-Reeve of Ayr, Passes Henry Griffin, a man whose life was closely integrated with Ayr's municipal development over the past 30 years, passed away suddenly at his home early Thursday morning following a lengthy period of indifferent health. Devoted Lifetime to Municipal Government Aged 74 years, Mr. Griffin had devoted much of his lifetime to municipal administration here - some of these years as reeve, and later as an observant ratepayer who exereised his privilege to comment on village affairs, backed by long experience on council. Built Ayr's Paved Roads Mr. Griffin first was elected to Ayr council in the mid 1920's and rose to the reeveship in 1928. A man of keen foresight, he recognized the necessity for cement pavement on Ayr's main thorough-fares as a requisite for the village's development. Although this plan was not without opposition, he was successful in seeing it completed in 1929. During the following three decades Mr. Griffin was often to hear ratepayers comment that it was one of Ayr's best investments and outstanding features. An Adroit Election Campaigner An Adroit Election Campaigner A man of great vitality and drive, Mr. Griffin caught the public fancy and was returned as reeve term after term. In those years Ayr was a hotbed of municipal politics and every election was keenly contested. Mr. Griffin thrived on such election battles and his adroit and able campaigning is still referred to locally as a classic example. Moved to Toronto During this early period he was Customs officer in Ayr, but when the Department decided to close the office here prior to World War II he was transferred to Toronto. He regretfully resigned the reeveship to follow these instructions. Returned as Ayr's Post-war Reeve On his retirement from the service in 1947, the family returned to Ayr and Mr. Griffin once more entered the political arena. He was elected reeve on his first attempt and carried on until defeated at the polls in 1952. Although he was unsuccessful in subsequent efforts to regain office, his keen observations and recom-mendations as a ratepayer commanded considerable attention from those in authority. Only a few years ago his criticism of high hydro Tates here resulted in a reduction at the insistence of the Ontario HEPC. Led Community Centre Campaign In 1948, during his second tenure of office, the campaign for the Community Centre commenced. Mr. Griffin stood solidly behind the and chairman of the building committee saw the plan materialize. His work on this project required, at various times, a high degree of diplomacy and even political skill which he demonstrated most aptly. Twice Warden of County The highlight of his career was the fact that he was twice warden of Waterloo County Council, in 1930 and 1951. This honor has never before or since been. accorded the same man twice. While Ayr's representative on county council, he served on numerous committees, including the county representative on Western University senate. Consideration for the Less Fortunate His colorful and oftimes turbulent reeveship was featured by a forthrightness of action which usually ended with success of the project at hand. When he was convinced of the correctness of his views he was uncompromising in carrying them to conclusion. Opposition, large or small, was met with the same stalwart defence - or aggressiveness. Throughout his career, however, he had utmost consideration for the people of modest means and often squeezed the tax rate down a mill or two to make it more acceptable to these residents. 5-Year War Service Born in Burnley, Lancashire, England, he came to Canada in 1903 and arrived in Ayr shortly after. He worked as a moulder in the Watson foundry until the outbreak of World War I. As a British reservist he answered the call to colors in 1914 and served for five years with a signals unit of the Royal Engineers, seeing action in France and Belgium. On his return here he became librarian and Customs officer. Ex-Zone Commander of Legion His war service left a deep impression on him and interested him in rehabilitation of veterans. He was instrumental in organizing a Canadian Legion branch here and until leaving for Toronto was a devoted worker in solving veterans' problems. He rose to the office of Zone Commander. A Strong Conservative On a national level Mr. Griffin was an old line Conservative who headed the party's local organization for years. Ile was intimate with many of the party's officials who were high in praise of his work. Former Methodist S.S. Superintendent In religion he was a Methodist, and prior to church union was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School here. Mr. Griffin was a long time member of the Canadian Order of Foresters and took an active part in its affairs during the period a lodge existed here. Door Always Open to Aid Seekers As a man who could implement action from many government bodies, he was continuously visited by local residents seeking assistance in pension arrangements, welfare problems and even personal troubles. In all these instances Mr. Griffin did not make a token gesture of assistance - he made a wholehearted effort. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and a son Harry, of Ayr; a brother, William of Port Hope, and a sister, Anne, in Leakburn, England. The Funeral The largely attended funeral service was held at the W. O. Ball Funeral Parlor on Monday, con-ducted by Rev. W. J. V. Buchanan and Rev. J. W. Currie. Ititermeni was made in Ayr Cemetery. The pallbearers, all World War I veterans, were: Albert Upton, James Burton, A. J. Hadfield, Harold Cornford, Lloyd Markle and Dee King. Flower bearers were: Harold L. Charles, G. H. Lawrence, Harry Boulton, Brantford; Jack Swan, Reg. Parker and Floyd Carothers. In attenth,nce were many representatives of organizations with which Mr. Griffin was associated, including William Anderson, M.P.; Ray M. Myers, M.P.P.; James Johannes, Waterloo County warden, and County Clerk Charles Stager, as well as members of Ayr Council. The Ayr News Oct 2 1958 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S1282] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1911, p 2. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Griffin/ In Loving memory of/ Henry Griffin/ Sept. 17, 1884 - Sept. 25, 1958/ his wife/ Elizabeth Fawcett/ Aug. 24, 1882 - July 6, 1969/ Rest In Peace

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 17 Sep 1884 - Burnley, , Lancashire, England Occupation - Moulder - 1905 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Immigration - 1907 - , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Moulder - Foundry - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1921 - Swan St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Warden for the County of Waterloo - 1930 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Warden for the County of Waterloo - 1951 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 25 Sep 1958 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 29 Sep 1958 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth