Person Record

Metadata

Name

Sargent, Roma

Othernames

née Roma Jeanette Billings McClean
Mrs. E. C. Sargent

Born

1919

Birthplace

Likely Owen Sound, Grey County

Places of residence

680 4th Ave. East, Owen Sound
2546 4th Avenue West, Owen Sound c. 1970 (later renamed in the early 1980s when the property was subdivided and 5th Ave W. put through as
2545 5th Ave. West, Owen Sound), residence called "Green Gables" (located in the Brooke area of Owen Sound.

Father

Ryerson McClean

Nationality

Canadian

Notes

Roma Jeanette Billings McClean was born in Owen Sound, Ontario on ________, 19_. She was the only daughter of Ryerson and ____ McClean, and a grand-daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Arnott McClean. Her father, David Ryerson McClean, and grandfather were in the grocery business in Owen Sound.
David Ryerson McClean had a main street grocery store, McClean Marketeria, at 827 2nd Ave. East, and lived at 680 4th Ave. East circa 1926. The grocery business was sold in April 1943 because of David Ryerson's poor health (second heart attack).
In 1917, the McClean household was recorded at 788 4th Ave. East. Roma's parents divorced in 19__. Many details of her early life are recorded in the book ROSES IN DECEMBER. Roma worked in her father's store.

In 1940, Roma married Edward C. Sargent (Eddie Sargent). He served in the R.C.A.F. They had three daughters, Penny, Pamela, and Patti Belle Sargent.

In 1945, they purchased a Victorian house at 2546 4th Ave W. (now 2545 5th Ave. W.) in Brookeholm that required a lot of repair. Roma referred to it as "Green Gables". It is a large 1886 home, formerly known as "Maplewood", that had been first owned by John Scagel and his wife Annie in the 1870s. The former Scagel property was purchased by Benjamin and Elizabeth Squire in 1881, and they completed the construction of the house. Mrs. Squire died in 1903, and the Reverend George Mark Franklin family lived there briefly between 1899-1903 (likely rented). In 1903, the house was purchased by Henry and Catherine Abell, and the Abells owned it until 1917. There were a couple more owners and for a time it was a summer residence and unlived in.
By 1945 it was largely derelict. In 1945, Edward C. (Eddie) Sargent and his wife Roma purchased the property, installed hot water radiators, restored it, and resided at the house for 44 years.
Eddie was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assemby of Ontario representing Grey North (from 1963-1967) and the riding of Grey-Bruce (1967-1987). The Sargents often used the property for hosting parties for business and political associates. Sargents sold the property in 1989 and held a large auction to disperse the furnishings.

Roma Sargent was Chairman of the Arthritis Society in Owen Sound, and also was well-remembered for her many volunteer endeavours. She died on March 12, 1981, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery.

Her grandmother McClean's sewing machine is in the Grey Roots Museum collection. See 1957.019.001.

Items in the Grey County Archives:
There is a photograph portrait of Eddie Sargent
1970.093.001 Interior photograph showing the Ryerson McClean grocery store at Christmas time
1970.093.002 Interior photograph of the Ryerson McClean grocery store
1970.093.003 Photograph of Owen Sound's main street in winter
1990.051.011 is a printing block with a 1952 image of Eddie Sargent on it
1994.059.014 Photograph of a new orthopedic table at the General and Marine Hospital includes Mrs. E. C. Sargent (Roma Sargent), who was then Vice-President of the Women's Hospital Aid group.
AS2010.001.300 Photographic scan shows Mayor Eddie Sargent 1948-1949 with CFOS radio personality Mac McKenzie

Occupation

McClean's Marketeria (Grocery Store)
Politician's wife
Mayor's wife
Sargent's Nursing Home
Member of Provincial Parliament's wife
Volunteer
Chairman of the Arthritis Society at Owen Sound
Owen Sound General & Marine Hospital Women's Hospital Aid Group (Vice-President)

Publications

-Sargent, Patti Belle, ROSES IN DECEMBER, (is a biography of Eddie Sargent but also has a lot of information pertaining to Roma)
-Cathcart, Ruth, HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION (describes the history of Green Gables)