History of Wingham

Workers stand in front of the Wingham Salt Works in this undated photo. The property is now home to the Wingham Legion. In May 1886, a healthy deposit of salt brine was found on the farm of Thomas Walker, later the William Arbuckle farm, on the 12th Concession of East Wawanosh. A Seaforth-based company known as Grey, Young, and Sparling bought the operation and began the business that became Wingham Salt Works.The business ran steadily until 1914, when it was listed for sale after F. G. Sparling, the only remaining active member of the original ownership group, became ill. (Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol photo)