Located just west of Hanover along the Brant Township line in South Bruce was Eberth Farmer’s Hotel that began operation in the 1850s. John Eberth and his wife immigrated from Germany in 1854 and would open Bruce County’s first brewery a year later. Eberth was the supplier to many taverns in the area and would eventually build his own tavern near his brewery calling it the Farmer’s Hotel. The original log building was replaced with a brick structure and became a popular pit stop for the mail coach that travelled between Durham and Walkerton. It was a place for rest and a chance to eat and drink. The Eberth’s had plentiful game in their backyard with rabbits, deer and bears and a stocked river of fish and wild ducks. There is a tale of the Eberth’s trapping snapping turtles for a stew that was enjoyed by loggers looking for a hearty meal.
The Bar Room was situated perfectly in the centre of the hotel and was a favourite place for men to sit and drink amongst their fellow neighbours. The hotel’s upstairs housed the rooms for guests. The cellar housed the liquors and wine. The kitchen was a combination of living space and a washroom for the Eberth family. The public dining room housed a long harvest table to accommodate the large numbers of travelers. The hotel had their own smoke house for cured meats, along with a milk house where fresh milk and cream were stored.
The hotel was located perfectly on the Saugeen River which allowed for recreational fun. John Eberth saw an opportunity to gain more business when he purchased his boat “The Lady Eberth”. From 1882-1885 it was used to carry groups of people up and down the Saugeen River to areas that allowed for picnic parties. For 10 cents a ride, patrons of the hotel could plan a day trip for some relaxation. The boat was stored in a man-made canal (dug by John Eberth himself) that joined the river to the hotel. Lady Eberth was anchored amongst trees for protection.
John Eberth was often seen with a large pipe from his mouth. It was noted that there was more smoke coming from his pipe than his boat!
The Lady Eberth was built by Mr. Alex Bowers in 1881 in Hanover. It was a steam engine propeller boat that was about 36 feet long and had a canvas top shelter. The boat was later sold to a Wiarton man named Captain Alfred Hackett who used Lady Eberth for the same purpose. The Lady Eberth was not with Hackett for long before being sold to William Vance of Oliphant who used the steam boat for excursions around 1897. The Lady Eberth would come to an end in 1904 when the boat was dismantled, and her parts used in another boat.
The Farmer’s Hotel continued operating until John Eberth’s death in 1895. The property was passed to his son, Christian, who was a farmer and had no desire to keep the hotel. Christian rented the hotel as a private dwelling for many years.
Eventually the building became vacant and was abandoned and vandalized. There were attempts to save the original building from concerned citizens who thought the building was a great example of early settlers to Bruce County. Unfortunately, due to the location of a high-risk flood zone, the building was dismantled in 1963.
