With the upcoming Cricket Tournament to be held on June 14th in Port Elgin and the renewed interest in the sport, we look back at cricket in Canada and the local community.
The earliest documented evidence of cricket in Canada is from 1785, with a match played on Île-Sainte-Hélène (Saint Helen’s Island) in Montreal. Cricket was introduced to Canada by British soldiers, particularly those stationed at British garrisons in the late 18th century.
Canada played its first international cricket match against the United States in 1844, in New York City and, in 1867, it was declared Canada’s first official sport by then Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald. Today, the City of Brampton leads as the Cricket Capital of Canada.
With the help of local historian, Bill Streeter, we have delved into the past and discovered that Cricket in Port Elgin actually dates back to the 1800s.
The first cricket pitch was located where Maple Square Mall (formerly the local high school) stands today and the Club was extremely organized.
Cricket Rivalry between Port Elgin and Walkerton
The Port Elgin Times 1886-08-05
The following item from the Walkerton Herald is very misleading to the senior cricket club of Port Elgin. The Hearld says “The Walkerton and Port Elgin Cricket Clubs played a match in Port Elgin on Tuesday last. Port Elgin was beaten by six wickets, the score being Port Elgin 20 to 50. Walkerton being 57 to 14 for 4 wickets. This is the fifth occasion on which these clubs have met. It is also the fifth defeat for Port Elgin”.
The Hearld could have at least said that the team referred to are the Juniors or more correctly, that the Walkerton Club defeated the Port Elgin Junior Club. Walkerton, we understand, has no Junior Club, and the 5 matches stated were every one played with our Junior Club, and if they sustained defeat at the hands of the Walkerton best team it may not be any discredit to them, nor anything terribly big for Walkerton to boast over. The big fellows of Walkerton have so far been content with tackling our little chaps, but now that they have won five victories over the boys they might perhaps screw up courage enough to try a game with our senior club.”
In Port Elgin, 1887 and 1888 were significant years when it came to Cricket.
1887/09/08 – Tuesday of last week being Civic Holiday, a large number of citizens left town for that day, most of them going to Owen Sound to witness the sports there, including the game of cricket between Port Elgin and Owen Sound clubs, which was so handsomely won by our boys, the Port Elgin team taking the win by six wickets, and bringing home the costly bats and stumps presented as the prize by the O. S. celebration committee.
The cricket club have decided to hold a concert in the town hall on the last night of the fall show, Sept. 28. Watch for particulars.
1887/10/06 – THE CRICKET CLUB CONCERT – The entertainment given by our cricket club in the town hall on Wednesday of last week was attended with good success. The ball was comfortably filled, netting the club with very handsome receipts. Mr. A. Moffat, President of the club, occupied the chair, and after politely opening the entertainment introduced the splendid program which had been prepared for the occasion and which was carried out in a pleasing manner by those who took part. The efforts of the club to provide a pleasant entertainment were fully appreciated and a general desire was felt by all present to aid the club in their laudable efforts to beautify and improve their grounds and provide accommodation for spectators at games in the creation of a grandstand on the grounds, to aid in paying for which the concert was gotten up. The club feel greatly indebted to the following who took part; Miss. K. Robinson; Miss Brown; the Misses Paterson; the Misses Thomson; Mrs. Gwyn; Mrs. Oelschlager; Mrs. Holmes; and Messrs. A. Laidlaw and A. Oelschlager and the Port Elgin Orchestra. R. George, Jos. Thomson, and T. I. Thomson, members of the club also took part. The club feel especially grateful to Mrs. Gwyn, who is visiting in Port Elgin, and whose talented efforts on the platform elicited so much praise; to Mr. Laidlaw, who came up from Harriston, and nobly assisted the boys; and to Miss Brown who kindly gave the use of her piano. The club also desires to tender their most hearty thanks to the members of the orchestra who have generously refunded their fee to for playing at the entertainment to the club in aid of the building fund.
1888/03/23 – The committee which is making arrangements for the cricket concert to be held in the Town Hall, Friday March 2nd is meeting with every encouragement and can now promise to those who may favour the boys with their presence a very enjoyable evening.
1888/04/12 – The Port Elgin Cricket Club has organized for the upcoming season with the following officers: – Hon. President Alex Miller; President Dr. Geo. Wyld; Vice President W. J. Craig; Capt. Jos. A. Thomson; Secretary R. S. Muir: Treasurer A. B. Stennett. Messrs. D. Barclay, T. Rankin, H. Hilker, A. Moffat, and John Thomson were appointed a managing committee, and Messrs. Hilker, Muir, and Rankin, collectors, Adam Hilker scorer, and J. W. Stafford and Wm. George umpires. The secretary was instructed to correspond with Mr. J. H. Scott concerning county matches and a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring President Mr. A. Moffat for his efficiency during the past year. The club have excellent prospects for the season and wish to arrange for games with clubs from other places.
The Juvenile Cricket Club of Port Elgin at its annual meeting on the 3rd inst. Elected the following officers for 1888: President A. Dalrymple, Captain Neil Cameron, Secretary Geo. A. Ray, Treasurer H. Reed. Committee H. Heller, A. Ruby, B. Miller.
1888/08/18 The Port Elgin Times – The members of the cricket club have sunk a drive well in the ground at Victoria Square, and have it fitted with a splendid force pump for convenience in watering the crease.
The club deserves credit for the interest they are taking in keeping their grounds in order.”
Now, the sport is seeing a revival in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores), as residents look forward to the upcoming Cricket Tournament.
