Person Record

Metadata

Name

Holmes, George

Othernames

Geo. Holmes

Born

July 26, 1860

Birthplace

Owen Sound, Grey County, Canada West

Places of residence

Owen Sound, Grey County
30 Speers Street, Owen Sound (1892 Rutherford's Directory)
895 4th Ave. East (c. 1911)

Father

Robert Holmes

Mother

Jane Holmes (nee Steadman) d. Jan.,1865

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Taught by George Geddes at a school in Owen Sound
c. 1870 attended the United Grammar & Common School at Owen Sound (teacher was James Boddy)

Notes

George Holmes was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Jane Holmes of "Holmes Rock". His parents were both English-born. His father had emigrated from England in 1816. The Holmes family had a log cabin somewhere in the area of what is now the top of 6th St. East, Owen Sound, Grey County, and at the time of George's birth (July 26, 1860), it was described as near the "Garafraxa Road" on Garafraxa St., and in Canada West. Unfortunately, when he was five years of age, in January of 1865, George lost his mother when she died of smallpox.

George became a photographer when he was a teenager.

He established his own photography business in Owen Sound in the late 1880s (one source says 1888, another says 1886). George had initially thought to join the watchmaking / jewellery trade, but in 1876 he joined Mr. Hugh Jackman, a photographer. Circa 1877, George Holmes had a photography wagon with a canopy on it. In 1879, George started a portable photographic gallery (car on trucks), so that he could operate a photo studio at Chatsworth and also at the Sauble. He returned to Owen Sound and had a studio which was wrecked by a fire in 1883. In 1885, George Holmes hired W. F. Black as a Retoucher, and also offered tintype photographs. He eventually re-established himself after the fire and was an Owen Sound photographer for many years. One photo mount from his studio has "Owen Sound and Thornbury" on it. How long did he take pictures at Thornbury?

Melba Croft mentions that in 1883, George Holmes and William Craig were in competition for photography customers, and that Cabinet Photographs then cost three dollars each, and ambrotypes cost 50 cents.

In October, 1888, there was a newspaper advertisement for "Holmes' New Studio" at Owen Sound. He was doing tintypes around then. In 1894, his business was at 116 Poulett Street. He was still doing photography c. 1902.

When he was a photographer, he reportedly used his bicycle to travel to locations to take pictures. Melba Croft mentioned that he had purchased a Cleveland bicycle in 1875 for a hundred dollars.

In 18--, he married Miss Mary Mackey of Holland Township (b. 1856). She was a sister of John George Mackey. Mr. Aubrey E. Holmes (d. 1965) was their son, and he lived at Owen Sound. Their daughter Ethel Mary Holmes married A. M. McGill of Toronto.

There are a number of George Holmes mounted photographs in the Grey County Archives collection. There is also an image of his father's cabin at Owen Sound. There are a couple images of George posed with his beloved bicycles. He had an "ordinary" bicycle that he used for racing, and is shown in one image with it, wearing his bicycling outfit. He also had a safety bicycle. There is a tintype that shows him and his wife Mary when they were a young couple.

It was a popular sport for agile young men in the 1890s to race Ordinary bicycles. One had to vault onto them and the direct drive and lack of brakes made them somewhat dangerous to ride. Robert McDowall was another avid bicyclist in town. There was even a club in town, as there was enough interest in the sport.

There is a photograph of George Holmes and James Rinn in a studio, wearing Derby hats (see 962.16.33N) at the Grey County Archives.

In the 1892 Rutherford's Directory of Owen Sound, George Holmes, Photographer, had his business at 116 Poulett, and his residence was at 30 Speers Street.

In 1896 and 1897, George Holmes served on Owen Sound's Town Council.

In the 1902-1904 Vernon's Directory, the business was at 116 Poulett, flanked with S. Ankcorn's barbershop and a Baker and Grocery business.

In 1909 the street names changed to a numerical system. and Poulett Street then became 2nd Avenue East.

George Holmes served as an Elder at the Knox Presbyterian Church at Owen Sound. His friend W. R. McColl also served as Elder. Mr. McColl made metal tokens and there is an example of one that he made for George Holmes shown in the book W. R. McCOLL REMEMBERED. No examples of the George Holmes token have been collected at Grey Roots yet.

In the 1911 census of Owen Sound, Ontario, George Holmes was then 50 years old. He and his wife Mary were residing at 895 4th Ave. East at that time.

George enjoyed lawnbowling in his later years.

He passed away at the Owen Sound General & Marine Hospital on May 9, 1932, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery.

Archival Items:
-1979.022.001 Photograph of the Rockside Sunday School (c. 1910 or earlier) by Geo. Holmes
-Collection of archival items pertaining to Robert Holmes
-Photographs from Aubrey Holmes

Occupation

Commerical Photographer / Photography
Avid Bicyclist
Served on Owen Sound Town Council (Councillor / Alderman, 1896-1897)
Lawn Bowler
Collector of First Nations items
Curler

Publications

-Armitage, Andrew, ____________ (re the Ordinary bicycle racing in Owen Sound)
-Croft, Melba Morris, FOURTH ENTRANCE TO HURONIA, p. 308 (also see pp. 87, 116, 137, 140, 172, 182, 191, 235, 256, and 262)
-Page 621 of the UNION PUBLISHING COMPANY (OF INGERSOLL) FARMERS AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR THE COUNTIES OF BRUCE, GREY AND SIMCOE, 1903, Vol. X111. lists George Holmes as a photographer at Owen Sound.
-Ontario Death Record 016233

Relationships

-Holmes previously worked for another photographer, Hugh Jackman, and purchased his business.
-George Holmes was the 2nd son of Robert Holmes, who operated a lime kiln operation at Holme's Rock (6th St. East hill area of Owen Sound).
-George belonged to Knox United Church (formerly Knox Presbyterian)
-William Robert McColl was a friend of his