Dixon Introduction

Chapter 1

The BBC Dialogue

Chapter 2

More Dixon Notables

CHAPTER 3

THE JOHN DIXON FAMILY IN CANADA

CHAPTER 4

Names & Nicknames

CHAPTER 5

MEMORIES IN MARBLE

Chapter 6

William A. Dixon

CHAPTER 6

The life story of William Dixon is worth review. Although there are now few who remember him his contributions still shape his community. To those like him we owe many of the comforts and pleasures we continue to enjoy. Their enthusiasm for public service adds more to our life style than we often realize.

My sister Doris contributed much to the following biographical sketch of our father William.

The preacher named me William,

My sisters called me Will,

My mother calls me Willy,

But the boys, they call me Bill.

Although born in Toronto, most of his youth was spent in Ottawa in a family accustomed to a life of poverty. Little William helped out as best he could by selling produce at the train station. He long remembered seeing the funeral procession of Sir John A. MacDonald at that station. When he was twelve he quit school and learned the bakery business, specializing in confectioneries. During his apprenticeship he would dutifully take his wages home each week to his mother – a dollar for the family and fifty cents for himself.

As part of learning the trade he worked for several different bakery businesses – even as far away as Chicago. He felt the association with a number of manufacturers would give him a diverse range of experience. He carefully kept a written record of his many employers and the numerous recipes he picked up along the way. He also became a better than average athlete, particularly in lacrosse and hockey. He was a skillful player and later a promoter of sports in his community.

In 1905 and for the next eight years he made St. Thomas, Ontario his home. One event made news headlines when he gave a blood transfusion – a rare operation in those days. A close friend and athletic companion accidentally inhaled a lethal amount of coal gas. The two men were laid side-by-side in the hospital and arteries in their wrists cut to channel the blood from one to the other. Unfortunately, but as expected, Bill’s friend did not survive.

St. Thomas saw the first of his many business ownership ventures. He purchased a solid square building and established the W. A. Dixon Palace Bakery. He worked hard at all the jobs, baking at night and assisting with deliveries through the day, until he could afford to hire more help.

   In 1913 Bill moved to Galt where he bought Hunter’s Bakery on Dickson Street, re-naming it The Model Bakery. He took time to help manage the Galt Terriers, a baseball team that was then struggling to win just a few games and please the sparse attendance. One of the salesmen who regularly visited the bakery suggested he go to Toronto to sign up a fireball coach named "Bush McWhirter" who was sure to turn things around. A deal was struck and almost at once the crowds became larger, partly because of winning more games but mostly because of the volatile nature of this new coach and his explosive outbursts.

Within ten years Bill had purchased property on Hobson Street, just above the dam on the Grand River. There he constructed a modern red-brick building. It was a model of its kind that he named simply, The Dixon Bakery.

Some unusual things happened. An exciting safe-cracking robbery was one of the highlights. There were traces of explosives, footprints and tools and eventually some of the bills were found but the thieves never were arrested. They took over three thousand dollars and left a penny in a box on top of the safe.

Dixon Family History Continued…… >

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