Person Record

Metadata

Name

Brownlee, J.H.

Othernames

James Herbert Brownlee, also known as "Herb"
Lieut. J. H. Brownlee

Born

Sept. 19, 1881

Birthplace

St. Vincent Township, Grey County

Places of residence

Circa 1901 at 90 Bay Street, Owen Sound
Owen Sound (spent some time at Toronto & Detroit)
518 10th St. "A" West, Owen Sound, Grey County (1919-1968)

Father

William Brownlee b. 1842

Mother

Mary Elizabeth Brownlee (nee Dales) b. 1

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Old Stone School (Owen Sound)
Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.)

Notes

The 1932 Vernon's Directory listed Mr. J.H. Brownlee's optical offices at 882 2nd Ave. East Phone 11. His wife's name was Nora and they lived at 518 10th St. "A" West.

He died when he was almost 87 years of age. His obituary mentioned that he was born in St. Vincent Township, and that his family had moved to Owen Sound when the Polson's Shipyard was underway, building for the lake trade. Herb was educated the Old Stone School, and the Collegiate in town. In 1900, he apprenticed with A. W. Manley (a druggist), and he also worked for a while with pharmacists in Toronto and Detroit before returning to Owen Sound, and rejoining Mr. Manley's business. In 1910, Mr. Brownlee purchased Mr. Manley's drugstore. Mr. Brownlee's mother Mary (b. 1844), and his sister Martha (b. 1864), worked as nurses in town, so perhaps that had influenced his choice of profession. His father, William Brownlee, had been born at Streetsville in 1828 [1842?] and moved with his parents to Euphrasia Township, and then St. Vincent Township, before moving to Owen Sound. William Brownlee was prominent in the Orange Order (was a Royal Black Knight). In the 1892 Rutherford's Directory, there were five men with the Brownlee surname working at the Polson's Shipyard.

In 1915, J. H. Brownlee joined the 86th Machine Gun Battalion, that was commanded by Jaffray Eaton of Owen Sound. He later was a gunnery officer in the 5th Division. He was wounded and invalided to England.

He returned to Owen Sound.

A prescription made by Dr. William G. Dow, has a form-printed advertisement on the back of it:
"GET THIS MEDICINE AT / Brownlee's Drug Store / At Your Service All Day and All Night / Phone Night or Day 67 / Night Bell at Door 966 2nd Ave. E. / Excelling in the Proper Compounding of Prescriptions." (This item would date between 1910-1920).

He sold his drugstore to W. H. Urquhart in 1920. He then learned the optometry trade. He had an optical business prior to 1931, but that year had a new "Optical Parlour" built in the city.

In 1924, he had been appointed to the board of examiners of the College of Optometrists, and in 1926 was made chairman of education for the college. Later he held the position of chairman of the All Canada Advisory Council in Optometry and represented Ontario on that body.

In 1920, he was elected to Owen Sound City Council, and he was chairman of the industrial committee when the westside grain elevators building was built in 1925-1926.

Prior to 1922, he and John Parker kept a nurse's registry in their drugstore (Ebel, p. _)

J. Herbert Brownlee owned the former Robert McKnight property from 1919 to 1968. In the 1940s, the Victorian home was turned into a rest home called "The Brownlee". Its address was 518 10th Street "A" West. Mr. Brownlee managed it, while the nursing superintendent there was his sister, Miss M. J. Brownlee. It was described as "a most desirable Rest Home for Invalids, Neurasthenics and Convalescent Patients, where nursing, fresh air, quietude and nature all combine in the patients' speedy restoration to normal health, and vigour.

Archival Items at the Grey County Archives:
1980.141.159 Owen Sound City Council group photo includes J. Herb Brownlee.
1991.036.027 Hunting photograph, 1935, possibly includes Herb Brownlee?
2000.012.002 Photograph of Owen Sound lawnbowling participants in a Sept. 1931 tournament includes Mr. J. H. Brownlee.
Prescription signed by Wm. G. Dow, for Miss Cranston (with Brownlee drugstore advertisement on the other side).

Occupation

Druggist / Drugstore / Pharmacy / Pharmacist
86th Machine Gun Battalion c. 1915
First World War Veteran (Gunnery Officer in 5th Division)
Optician / Optical Parlour
City Councillor (1920)
Rest Home (The Brownlee)
Hockey Player (Druggists' Hockey Team)

Publications

A PORTRAIT OF OWEN SOUND: PHOTOGRAPHS BY J. JAMES 1905-1955, page 76 (image of Herb Brownlee in his office)
"Brownlee's New Optical Parlour About Complete", OWEN SOUND DAILY SUN-TIMES, 1931 article
Croft, Melba Morris, A PORT OF SOME IMPORTANCE, p. 86 includes H. Brownlee and other team members in the Druggists' Hockey Team image (c. 1909)
Ebel, Wilma Andrus, OWEN SOUND HOSPITAL SCHOOLS OF NURSING 1901-1973 (re the nurses' registry at Owen Sound)
THE GREY COUNTY HISTORIAN, Newsletter No. 8, November, 2004 (article re Robert McKnight house, later The Brownlee Rest Home)

Relationships

Siblings: William John, Dorothea (Dorothy), Sarah, Martha Jane, Elizabeth Anne and Hatty/Hattie Florence Brownlee:
William John Brownlee b. 1868 (worked at a builder)
Hattie B. Brownlee (b. 1872)
Dorothy (b. 1875)
Sarah (b. 1878)