George Cornfoot 1872-1952

People often ask me how I choose my subjects: amongst the answers (interesting headstone inscription, familiar name, family suggestion etc) is the one that applies to George Cornfoot – he was chosen quite by chance, or mischance in this case.

A few weeks ago, Perry Rice published on the History Page a photo of the Frankton water tower with JW Ellis’s large villa ‘in front’. I wrote to Perry disputing the identification of Ellis’ house as I believed it was behind the tower, the house that became Braemar. The Braemar website was consulted, Susy Thomas of the library’s Heritage Team looked at street directories and Electoral Rolls – and I was wrong! The house on the corner of Tainui Street and Lake Road and once belonged to George Cornfoot, and the (much larger) Ellis house was indeed the one on the Frankton side of the water tower.

That led to my researching just who George Cornfoot was, and visiting his grave in Hamilton East Cemetery. Also, what his contribution was to the history of Hamilton – apart from owning the villa that became Braemar Hospital.

George Cornfoot came to Hamilton in 1905-1906 at the same time as Arthur Tompkins. Both were from Manawatu families involved in the timber industry; Tompkins was the managing director for Bartholomew’s Land and Timber Company, and Cornfoot was on its board of directors.

By August 1906 Cornfoot and Tompkins had a farm on Ohaupo Road, between Saxby and Collins Roads. They had a clearing sale in February 1910.

Before he shifted north, Cornfoot married Margaret (‘Sarah’) Bell, the daughter of another wealthy Manawatu

LYN WILLIAMS