Margaret Mason
“The Oldest Lady in Dundas”
MARGARET RIMMER MASON (1837-1937)
Margaret Rimmer was born in England in 1837. Husband and children in tow, she arrived in Canada in 1867, and settled in Dundas in 1868. She and her husband, Walter Mason, resided on Governor’s Road by Sulphur Springs, but eventually moved into town. Walter was employed at McKechnie and Bertram so perhaps being closer to the shop was a consideration in their move. The Masons had eight children which would have kept Margaret very busy. The 1871 census record suggests a hectic family life: six children between the ages of 13 and 1 (two more were born after that).
Walter Mason died in 1896 and Margaret for a time lived with her son Alfred and his family. Eventually, she came to reside at the Ellen Osler Memorial Home which opened in 1909 as a home for elderly Protestant men and women.
It was necessary to apply to become a resident of the Ellen Osler Memorial Home, so Mrs. Mason would have had to complete a form like this before she could be admitted.
She died there in June 1937 after celebrating her 100th birthday in January of that year. She and her husband are both buried in Grove Cemetery.
