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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Item ID# |
A2022.053.001 |
Title |
The Elbow |
Object Name |
|
Dates of Creation |
2022 |
Creator |
Paddon, James D. |
Description |
A limited edition reproduction print, #11/330, of an original pencil drawing by artist James Paddon. The print image is black and white and depicts a village scene. Two Esso gas station pumps are in the foreground. A two-door car, possibly an SS Jaguar, is parked at the pumps. The car's license plate reads "Ontario 1933 JP-2022." There are two buildings in the middle ground. On the left is the two-storey building with a sign reading "the Rob Roy HOTEL," as well as a smaller hanging sign. There is a balcony on the second storey and then three people standing outside of the main door on the ground level. A truck and driver are parked in front. A livery is attached to the hotel. On the right is another two-storey building that has lighter shading than the hotel. The hanging signs on this building read "General Store" and "Imperial Dealer." There is also a "DRINK Coca-Cola" advertisement on the side of the building. Two people appear to be walking into this building, albeit using different entrances. Meanwhile, one person is using an air compressor on their bicycle tires in front of the Coca-Cola advertisement. In the background there are trees, a horse and buggy, hydro lines and poles, and a farm with a field of livestock. The artist marked the original sketch in the bottom left corner border with "© J. Paddon." This print is 11/330 and is indicated on the bottom left white border of the paper. The lower centre border bears the title "THE ELBOW." The artist signed the print in the bottom right border corner "J. Paddon." Technique: Realism The print is accompanied by an information sheet created by the artist including this description: "'The ELBOW' By James Paddon © 2022. A reproduction of an original pencil drawing depicting the village of North Bruce Ontario, circa early 1930s. Boyhood home of the Artist. Straddling the town line of Saugeen and Bruce Townships in the County of Bruce, this hamlet and surrounding farmland began settlement in the latter 1850s. The offer of free land with provisions of clearing, cropping and road building was primarily taken up by Scottish immigrants looking for a new life in the Canadian wilderness. The Dominion placed a postal station in the village circle 1860 and officially named it North Bruce. Located on The Goderich Road, later Kings Highway#21, it was first a stagecoach stop and other enterprises were built including a general store, livery stable, blacksmith, cooper, sawmill and a very infamous hotel which rounded out what the village would become for the next century. Like most early villages, the general store became the heartbeat of the community as a daily gathering place for locals picking up their mail and lingering to catch up on what was going on in the area. Before, and since the village got its official name, it has been called Devil's Elbow or more commonly just referred to as "The Elbow." Perhaps due to its elbow in the road necessitated by a swamp in its intended path, or after the location in Scotland where the rogue Rob Roy McGregor once roamed. Nevertheless, the village hotel was name after such beloved scoundrel and the Devil part in the name may have been attributed to the misery occurring from such an establishment. Although the artist spent his boyhood days with his family operating the general store, post office and gas station from the late 1940s to the latter 60s, he chose to depict the village during those transitioning days between the horse and buggy and the early days of the automobile. The hotel and livery were torn down circa 1953 to make room for the widening of the highway. The post office ceased operation after a hundred plus years in 1968 and the general store building stands to this day. The Elbow remains a small village with a much bigger history of a pioneering settlement when Bruce County was still in its infancy." |
Provenance |
The limited edition reproduction print is from the original pencil drawing titled "The Elbow" by artist James Paddon. James Paddons' drawings have a connection to Bruce County through personal stories and recognizable landmarks. He likes to reminisce and tell stories people can relate to. |
Level of Description |
Item |
Physical Description |
35 x 48 cm |
Restrictions on Use |
The artist James Paddon retains all copyright and related interests. The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre will NOT be providing reproductions of the artwork. All artwork purchase inquires can be made by contacting the artist, jdpaddon@bell.net. |
Places |
North Bruce |
People |
Paddon family Paddon, James |
Search Terms & Subjects |
Architecture Art Automobiles Farms Gas stations General stores Horse & buggy Hotels & motels Livery stables Livestock Rural life Towns & villages |