Studio portrait of a bearded man, Elvin Hanmer, standing in a dark wool coat. The following description was provided by Bill Warnica: The town of Bell Ewart was laid out by James Bell Ewart, on the shores of Lake Simcoe, about 1850 to accommodate the lumber industry around the lake. The Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway found it necessary to control navigation on Lake Simcoe and purchased the steamer 'Morning', and the wharves at Orillia and Bradford to supplement Bell Ewart's economy. By 1854 they had constructed a branch rail line from Lefroy to Bell Ewart, which enhanced the growth of the town. Sadly James Bell Ewart did not live to see the rapid growth of his town, dying at his home in Dundas on 17 December 1853 at only 52 years of age. It has been erroneously reported that Bell Ewart was named by the joining of his and his wife's last names but his wife was Mary Margaret Crooks, daughter of James Crooks and Jane Cummings of Dundas Ontario with no 'Bell' ancestry. A more likely explanation would be the joining of his parent's last names, John Ewart (1767-1821) and Janet Bell (1771-1848). With the growing lumber industry, Bell Ewart expanded very quickly with many industries, stores, and three hotels as people flocked to Bell Ewart to make their fortune. One of these entrepreneurs was Elvin VanBurden Hanmer who immigrated to the growing town in 1854 with his wife Sarah Barbara Martin as young newlyweds. In Bell Ewart they raised their six children. One daughter, Anna, married George Blackmore of Coxmill Road in Painswick and another daughter, Etta, married a lawyer, Thomas Roberts Ferguson KC, of the renowned Cookstown Ferguson family. Elvin bought the Bell Ewart Hotel (previously called the Railroad Hotel) from Alva Doolittle. Alva then moved to Orillia and operated the Orillia Hotel until his death in 1874. Elvin was born in Utica New York on 22 November 1831, son of Episcopalian Minister Calvin Hanmer and was a direct descendant of Thomas Hanmer who was Knighted by King Henry VIII. Probably due to the failing lumber industry, Elvin sold the hotel and moved to Barrie in 1881. On 23 December 1899 Sarah decided to go to Toronto to spend Christmas with her daughter, Anna Blackmore. Elvin took her to the train in Barrie and made sure she was comfortably aboard. When she was settled in Elvin went to get off the train only to find it was pulling out of the station. He grabbed the door to swing out but seeing his feet never touched the platform, he swung back in under the train with several train wheels passing over his legs, severing his feet from his body. Mrs. Hanmer heard of the tragedy, got off the train in Allandale and rushed back to her unfortunate husband. Even though he was in good spirits over the next few years, the accident, tetanus and a stroke took its toll and Elvin succumbed to his injuries on 11 March 1904. Mrs. Hanmer followed him in Jan 1915 and both were interred in their family plot in Barrie Union Cemetery. Elvin had the distinction of being the very first 'Mason' made in the Bell Ewart Kerr Lodge. Elvin and Sarah's grandson, Ernest Hanmer, lost his life in action during WWI in France. Hanmer Street in Barrie is named in his honour.
