Historic Shakespeare building continues to bring community together

The former Union Hotel in Shakespeare. This photograph from the collections at the Stratford-Perth Archives was taken around 1940

By Diane Danen

The Village of Shakespeare was first known as Bell’s Corners, named after Scottish settler David Bell, who arrived in the area in 1832. In 1852, the name was changed to avoid confusion with another settlement also called Bell’s Corners.

One of the oldest buildings in Shakespeare stands at the southwest corner of the main intersection. Now more than 175 years old, the two-storey yellow brick building was originally constructed around 1850 as a hotel called The Union Hotel. At the time, it was one of three hotels on the main street since Shakespeare served as a stopover for travellers.

By 1870, the hotel was owned by Dr. John Irwin Flynn. His son, Sebastian Flynn, ran the hotel until it was sold in 1889. Dr. Flynn was the first doctor in the area and operated his medical practice out of his home on Concession 1, Lot 15, in South Easthope Township. He claimed to be both a medical doctor and a veterinarian.

Thomas Weiss became the owner of the property in 1889. Weiss was also a horse trader and had previously operated another hotel in western Canada before purchasing The Union Hotel. The building was sold to Vinzens Weiss in 1891 and then to James D. Weiss in 1903.

Around this time, the building underwent significant renovations. The original structure had been a simple frame building with a pitched roof. In the basement, ceiling beams were made from tree trunks, some still with bark on them.

During the renovations, the tops of the windows were rounded, the exterior was refaced with soft-yellow brick, an ornate cornice was added and the roof was flattened. The front façade featured three large windows and two doors on the ground level, while the second level had five windows and two small balconies. An addition was also built onto the back of the structure.

A barn was constructed on the property and used as an ice house. Ice was cut at Little Lakes near Stratford and hauled to Shakespeare, where it was packed in sawdust to last through the summer months.

The property was sold to Jacob V. Weiss in 1906. Before purchasing the hotel, Jacob had farmed for several years and also worked on the Grand Trunk Railway. He operated The Union Hotel until he sold it to John Sippel in 1921.

John Sippel and his wife, Anne Maria “Mary” Krantz, moved to Shakespeare from East Zorra Township in Oxford County to operate the hotel. During prohibition, The Union Hotel was allegedly a bootleg operation supplying alcohol to local citizens. Sippel also owned the Shakespeare Feed Mill from 1920-1929. Sippel rented space on the first floor of the hotel to Preston Holmes, who opened a barber shop there.

In 1935, the hotel was purchased by William Burgess and later sold to Arthur R. McKone and Isabel McKone in 1945. At the time, the couple was working at the Kroehler Furniture Factory in Montreal when they received word from Isabel’s mother that The Union Hotel was for sale. They moved back to the area and purchased the property.

Art McKone was known for keeping a bench outside at the front of the hotel, where retired men would gather to chew tobacco, watch traffic pass by and share the day’s gossip. In the early 1960s, the hotel closed due to Art’s poor health, but Art, Isabel and Judy continued to live there until 1971.

Mae Constable purchased the hotel in 1972 and opened an antiques business. She renovated the building and rented out rooms upstairs. On the main floor, she operated a cheese and bake shop as well as a doughnut shop. In 1976, Constable sold the business and moved to Muskoka.

The new owners, Michael and Roxanne Jervis, renamed the building “The Townsend” following the British tradition of naming a building rather than assigning it a number. They made their home on the second floor and, in 1977, opened the Harry Ten Shilling Tea Room and Gift Shop on the main floor. The name Harry Ten Shilling comes from Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare.

In 1997, the family celebrated 20 years in business and were busier than ever. Though they were open only from March through December and closed one day a week during the summer months, they served approximately 33,684 people in 1990.

The business was purchased in 1998 by Lynn Barber, who remains the current owner. The tea room continues to operate under the Harry Ten Shilling name. Today, Barber's daughter, Mikaela, oversees the day-to-day operations of the tea room.

Guests are invited to enjoy afternoon tea served in the back of the tea house. The experience includes a selection of finger sandwiches, house-made desserts and a large scone served with jam and Devonshire double cream. Each tiered tray is accompanied by unlimited tea from an extensive selection. A light lunch menu is also available, though visitors are encouraged to take in the full afternoon tea experience.

Special themed experiences, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and even Harry Potter-inspired teas, are offered throughout the year.

Also located within the building is The Kin Cabin, a multi-purpose studio space created by Samantha Weber. The studio functions as a photo and branding space, while also hosting creative workshops, small-business education sessions and social gatherings.

Much like the character, Harry Ten Shilling in Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare, a symbol of resilience, perseverance and strength found in kinship, the historic building shares that same spirit. Built more than 175 years ago, it stands in the heart of Shakespeare, serving as a welcoming place where the community can come together.

Much of the information contained in this article was borrowed with gratitude from an article written by Jennifer Georgiou, and updated as necessary.