Waun

(submitted by Doug Aitken)

William Riley Waun (1890–1966) was born in Warwick Twp. to William Riley and Annie Elizabeth (Tanton) Waun. In 1912, he married Ida Kilmer (1888–1964) and started farming on the home farm at part of Lot 18, Con. 1 NER. They had one daughter, Alverna (Verna Isabelle, 1908–1977), who married Harold Cooper.

Around 1918, William was stricken with polio. He walked with crutches the rest of his life. In 1920, the Wauns sold the home farm and moved to either Lot 19 or 20, Con.1 NER on Hwy 7/22, four miles east of Warwick. About 1924, they opened a gas station and campground there called the Willows. It was much used by the travelling public during the summer months. In 1930 parts of Hwy 7/22 were paved and traffic patterns turned into Watford and then towards Strathroy along what is now Confederation Line, no longer past the Willows.

In the spring of 1931, the Wauns moved the building and cabins to the southwest corner of Hwy 7 and 79. They first sold Imperial Oil, then Reliance gasoline. There was a tea-room, ice cream and pop for sale. It was a fun place to go. In the mid 1950s it was sold to a niece, Vera (daughter of William’s sister Lovisa and John Edward Aitken ), and her husband Cameron McKenzie.

William and Ida (Kilmer) Waun. Courtesy D Aitken.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Waun Family

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