Sodom and the Sodomites

We've all heard the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

But did you know that there was a Sodom closer to home?

In 1888, Sodom was booming...

Source: Exeter Advocate, 6 December 1888, page 1.

Sodom, Ontario was located just three miles west of Exeter in Stephen Township, Huron County.

Sodom was formed when a sawmill built in 1873 attracted employees to the small community. Soon, a number of community organizations took shape. They even had their own  Glee Club and a literary society... 

Source: Exeter Advocate, 15 December 1892, page 1.

Sodomites gathered for lively discussions on topics such as capital punishment, and the comparative evils of tobacco and opium versus liquor ...

Source: Exeter Advocate, 12 January 1893, page 1.

The word Sodom denotes vice and corruption so why was the town named for such an image of wickedness? The community is said to have received its name from Chester Prouty, a local school official who frowned upon the excessive consumption of alcohol he witnessed among the Sodomites. To deal with the alcohol problem, the Royal Templars of Temperance Lodge was established...

Source: Exeter Times, 5 April 1894, page 8.

Although no members of the Culbert family lived in Sodom, it's likely that they may have had business in that community. I found an article showing that Jane (Fairhall) Culbert's brother, Charlie Fairhall gave a speech in Sodom at a Royal Templars of Temperance meeting...

Jane (Fairhall) Culbert's brother, Charlie Fairhall delivers speech at Royal Templars of Temperance meeting in Sodom. Source: Exeter Times, 17 May 1895, page 1.

Sodom's population gradually dwindled as timber availability declined. I don't know how long Sodom remained an active community but the Sodom School was still in operation until at least 1937. Sodom is now a ghost town and not a single Sodomite remains.