AN INTRIGUING CHARACTER; 1ST COUNTY CLERK

[Welland Tribune March 29, 1947]

Dexter D’Everardo has his eccentricities but he left his mark

Dexter D’Everardo, first clerk of the county of Welland.  Mystery man and eccentric, was the subject of an after dinner speech given by Louis Blake Duff at the luncheon of the Welland County Municipal Association in the Hotel Reeta yesterday.

“We had clerks at one time in Welland,” said Mr. Duff in opening his address.

Born in Paris in 1918, D’Everardo had much to do with the founding of Welland county. Together with a delegation of reeves he went to Quebec City, at that time the seat of government, and “came back with the bacon.” The county of Welland was carved out of Lincoln, and D’Everardo became the first clerk.

The first issue faced by the county was the location of the county seat. Port Robinson had a claim, so did Cook’s Mills. D’Everardo wanted Fonthill. “The wise guys in Welland grabbed the bacon while the others were arguing.” said Mr. Duff.

The decision did not, faze Mr. D’Everardo. He conducted his office in Fonthill and later when he became registrar, and then clerk of the surrogate court he continued to carry out the duties of his offices in Fonthill, on the site of what is now the Imperial Bank corner.

Document Proves Hoax
Mr. Duff commented a sensation was created when the building was torn down many years later, a sealed box being found adjacent to the chimney which contained a document purporting to be the early history of Fonthill, which spoke slightingly of some of the early residents. It was later discovered the document was a hoax.

D’Everardo first taught school at the foot of Patterson’s Hill, and later became superintendent of schools in Welland county, actually an inspector, in days when school hours were 8 to 5, and Saturday was just another day.

Later he organized the first nursery in Fonthill, and was responsible for the planting of many of the tree-lined avenues of the Fonthill today.

He built himself a beautiful residence which was remarkable for one feature-it had a gymnasium. Mr D’Everardo was a fanatic on physical culture. His bedroom had no windows because he believed the night air to be injurious. He  carried his own bread to dinners, no one, he maintained, knew how to bake healthful bread except his wife.

He went to St. John’s church in Thorold and was in his pew on the dot every Sunday, but as soon as the services began he walked out.

Every year he had a New Year’s party to which he elite of the county were invited, and which was the social event of the year. Each year, exactly on the stroke of 12, he would announce that the hour of his retirement had come and that he was going to bed, but invited his guests to continue to enjoy themselves.

He died in Welland in 1891, according to Mr. Duff, “one of the oddest, most colorful men ever to appear on the scene in this county.”

Founded Fonthill
D’Everardo was the founder pf the village of Fonthill, naming it after a town in Wiltshire, England, built by another eccentric.

Straying from his subject somewhat, Mr. Duff made a reference to the eminence of land that is part of the Lookout Point Golf and Country Club which, he said, offers “one of the most charming views in all Canada.” He recalled that it was the scene at one time of a meteorological station, and that following the Napoleonic wars, was picked as the site for a fort by a commission appointed by the Duke of Wellington to make a study of the military defences of Canada. The fort, however was never built.

The reason, stated Mr. Duff, was the Rush-Bagot Treaty, under which it was agreed that Canada and the United States would have a de-militarized border, without forts and without gunboats on the Great Lakes. Good will replaced force in the relationship of the two countries.

County Treasurer, R.P. Barrick introduced the speaker, and County Warden George F. Broadley moved vote of thanks.

At the afternoon session of the association, the county officials passed a resolution appointing Mr. Duff an associate member in appreciation for his services as speaker at luncheons for a  number of years.