Alan Brown
The 3rd-great grandchildren of John and Magdalena Brown, Alan Brown and his younger sister Mary Elizabeth grew up in a mid-19th century house in Fonthill built by John Brown III. At 80 years old, Alan is full of stories about his childhood, the Brown family, and his experiences growing up on a declining fruit farm. The life lived by Alan and the Fonthill branch of the Brown family has had a different trajectory, compared to his distant cousins Lanny, Liz, and the South Pelham branch of the Browns. Alan’s grandfather George Brown was a wealthy, influential member of the Fonthill community, but ended up losing much of the family fortune. Alan grew up watching his father dealing with the fallout.
This interview was conducted at The Brown Homestead in St. Catharines, ON, on April 15, 2025
The Brown Family, c. 1915. L to R: Clifford Randall Brown (Alan’s father), Ella Kate Brown, Marjorie Eva Kate Brown, Edith Scurrah Brown, Helen Beall Brown, and George Collins Brown.
Memories of Fonthill
Alan had a close relationship with his aunts, and spent his earliest years packing peaches and cherries and playing in the barn. He would walk to school, and his chores included helping his parents mow the lawn, and washing the car from time to time. Being in town, he didn’t need to walk far, and spent a lot of time playing with friends, and going hiking and camping around Effingham. As he got older, Alan spoke about high school dances, his first job bagging groceries, and some of his international travels as a university student. Alan studied chemical engineering at McMaster University and spent his career as a teacher near Guelph, ON.
Clifford Randall Brown
Alan reminisces about taking his young family on a biking trip in Europe, and speaks proudly of his two sons. Alan currently lives in Quebec where he enjoys skiing and exploring the outdoors.
The house built by John Brown III on Elizabeth Dr. in Fonthill, c. 1890. This is the house that Alan grew up in, and remains there today.
Alan’s great-grandparents John Brown III (1821-1901) and Elizabeth Randall Brown (1833-1896).
It is interesting to see how settlement location, career, and financial choices impacted the trajectory of various Brown descendants. Growing up, Alan remembers how the land around them was slowly sold off, piece by piece, until his father Clifford Randall Brown eventually entered the coal and oil business.
While taking care of his family and adjusting to a career change, Clifford R. Brown was also a dedicated family historian and compiled much of the family history throughout his lifetime. It is because of his work that Alan has gathered so much Brown family knowledge.
In this interview, Alan tells stories of his Brown ancestors in Fonthill — tales passed down to him by his father.