Where the Roots Run Deep Beulah Frezell’s roots in By - ron run deep—her great-great- great-grandfather, Jesse Corn - wall (who later changed the family name to Cornell), was one of the early settlers in the area. In 1816, Jesse purchased 200 acres of land located at the corner of what we now know as Southdale Road and Colonel Talbot Road. However, before he could officially receive the deed, he was required to fulfill several conditions: he had to clear a portion of the land, build a log house, and complete nec- essary roadwork to support the growing settlement.
In 1970, Ron and Beulah purchased their own home on Helena Montague, a quiet street still nestled within the community they loved. Beulah continues to live there to this day. She often reflects on how ideal the location was at the time—close to Ron’s place of work and to their children’s schools. Ron was the owner and operator of Paul’s Barbershop, a well-known local spot that once stood where the Shawarma House is located today. All three of their children—Debbie, Donna, and Mark—attended Byron Northview Public School and later continued their education at Saunders Secondary School. It was a close-knit community where neighbours knew each other and families often crossed paths through school events and local businesses. Beulah herself worked just across the street from the barbershop at the Park Shop, a ladies’ and children’s wear store located next to McKelvey’s. The shop, owned by Doris Roger, offered much more than retail—it was a place where clothing was custom- made from patterns. Beulah and Mrs. Roger often worked side by side at the sewing machine, creating dresses for customers. In fact, Mrs. Roger even made Beulah’s wedding dress in that very shop while Beulah made the flower girls’ dresses. She worked at the Park Shop to save money for her studies at London Bible College, where she would later earn a Bachelor of Religious Education. After graduating, she took her knowledge and passion on the road, traveling to rural communities to teach religious education—a testament to her commitment to faith and education. Over the decades, Beulah has witnessed remarkable changes in Byron. From a quiet farming village to a vibrant and growing suburban neighbourhood, she has seen the landscape and community transform before her eyes. Her remarkable memory and deep connection to Byron’s past have made her a valuable resource in piecing together the town’s rich history. She fondly recalls taking her children to the Byron pool to learn to swim and hosting her wedding reception with Ron in the basement of the Cobblestone Inn—now The Hermitage. She also remembers the early days of the Byron Baptist Church, when the congregation held services in the old Byron Schoolhouse. With only a pot-bellied stove to heat the space, those gatherings were humble but full of spirit, until the church building was eventually completed on Glenrose Drive.
That land would go on to sup- port many generations of the Cornell family. It was worked for agriculture, including cattle, sheep, various crops and types of fruit and provided both a livelihood and a legacy. The family farm remained a constant in their lives and stood as a symbol of endurance and hard work through the years. Beulah herself was born on that farm on May 1, 1937, to parents Basil and Mary Cornell. She was raised surrounded by the same fields, pastures and orchards that her ancestors had once tilled and planted and her early years were shaped by the rhythms of farm life. On June 25, 1960, Beulah married Ron Frezell at the Byron Baptist Church. The couple spent their first year of marriage in a small apartment on Boler Road before returning to the Cornell homestead, where they lived for the next nine years. That period was filled with memories of family life on the farm, surrounded by familiar land and family traditions.
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Page 9 Byron Villager May 2025
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