Huron-Perth Boomers Winter 2023-24

y Kevin Den Dunnen
HISTORY
The Egg King of Seaforth, David Douglas Wilson,
circa 1891. (2006.0040.018)
Wooden egg crate (M976.0084.007a)
Wilson’s Egg Emporium was more than an egg redistributor.
Much of the need for egg emporiums was prolonging the
edible life of eggs. Wilson mentioned in an 1881 report
to the Agricultural Commission of Ontario that the most
important factor for shelf life was keeping them in a
stable, cool, and dark environment. He would also apply
preservatives to the eggs so they could last longer in storage
and transit. Wilson was quite protective of the exact
solution, though he did disclose that “the main ingredient
is lime.”
The Huron Egg Emporium, as Wilson first
named it, opened in 1869 after he purchased
a general store owned by John Hickson. The
two years prior, Wilson collected eggs for
his business at a wooden stand. His business
would feature prominently on Seaforth’s
Main Street at the corner with Goderich
Street. In 1878, Wilson constructed a larger
white brick building. This facility featured a
large basement with storage tubs for the eggs.
Various expansions added to the size of this
already prominent Seaforth business, and he
further expanded his business in 1887 with
the purchase of J.D. Wilson’s egg emporium
in Fergus. By 1892, this site processed 25,000
eggs per week during the busiest month of
May. Wilson sold this location in 1893.
D.D. Wilson was a renowned person in
Canada’s poultry industry. The Ontario
Agricultural Commission interviewed him in
1881 for his opinion on various topics related
to poultry such as the New York market,
which he claimed had “practically unlimited”
demand for eggs, different species of chicken,
and various other aspects involving his
business. Wilson also featured in the first of
four volumes of an 1891 book titled The
Canadian Album: Men of Canada: or,
Success by example in religion, patriotism,
business, law, medicine, education, and
agriculture.
Wilson’s Egg Emporium closed by 1907.
British and American tariffs on eggs around
this period closed off most of the Egg
Emporium’s export markets.
Building ships and harvesting flax
The National Shipbuilding Company
Limited started its Goderich operations with
WINTER 2023/24 • 19