McNeill Harasymchuk McConnell

Predecessor to McNeill Harasymchuk McConnell - Our Story

"H.H. Goulter, born in England, had settled in Portage La Prairie before coming to Virden where he was joined by his parents. They lived in the house on the south corner of 9th Avenue and Queen Street. Mr. Goulter was a leader in all cultural matters, also he was a charter member of the Virden Hospital Board and continued to give his services to that institution for many years. From a small office building on Nelson Street, he moved into commodious quarters in the block occupied by the Bank of Ottawa. Early partners were Jos. Singer and Hart McHarg. The former transferred his practice to Vancouver. The latter was among the first to enlist in the army in World War I and lost his life in an early engagement. J.H. Chalmers then became a partner and upon Mr. Goulter's retirement the firm became known as Chalmers and Brayfield. Mr. Chalmers was interested in town matters, served on the council for four years and was mayor in 1922. He took over the Land Titles Office until it was closed. When the Quick-Freeze Centre acquired the former bank block, Mr. Brayfield had his office for a time in the former Union Bank building on the corner of 7th Avenue and Nelson Street but moved to the original post-office building which he had purchased.

The discovery of oil brought up many additional legal problems of rights and titles so Mr. Brayfield took as partner J.C. Doak and when the former retired through ill health, taking up residence in Victoria, B.C., a new partner was accepted so that the firm" was then "known as Brayfield, Doak and Buckingham." - The Virden Story By Ida Clingan 1957