Canada's Oldest Drive-In, Since 1927
It all started in 1836, when local Postmaster James Little started construction on a stage-coach inn in Caledonia, which he named Haldimand House after Sir Frederick Haldimand. By 1842 Haldimand House Hotel was booming, the Hamilton-Port Dover Plank Road was constructed and carriages made regular stops at the Inn. James Little sold the Inn to Mr. Bridget Britton, who later sold it to Mr. James Hayes. Hayes rented a small portion of the building to William Lyon MacKenzie, for the Haldimand Bi-Election of 1851, which he won. In 1900 the estate of James Hayes sold the old hotel to Matthew Richardson. Matthew continued to rent out rooms upstairs and continued to serve drinks at the bar, but business was slowing down. In 1927 he called on his son Walter to come down from Toronto to help him with the failing business. Walter opened a pool room in the old hotel, and the Richardsons did not renew the inn liscence. They converted the upper floors of Haldimand House into appartments, in which they lived. To help increase business at the bar, Walter opened a small cone-shaped ice-cream and sandwich parlour, which soon became known as the Cone Cottage. A Bell and line system was constructed from the restaurant into the Haldimand House, where Mrs. Caroline Richardson (Walter's Wife), would cook the hotdogs, 1-ring meant 1 footlong, 2-rings meant 2 footlongs, and so on. As the highway was improved, the restaurant boomed. The death of Walter Richardson in the 1950's resulted in a for-sale sign going up on the Cone Cottage. Louis Leousis and his wife Beatrice (Nee Vlachos), quickly bought the thriving business and added french-fries to the menu. One hot summer day, Louis was looking out to the river and saw families picknicking, and playing in the water. He told his staff it looked like an Oasis, and so it was. The newly re-
named Oasis Drive-In thrived in the coming years. A fire destroyed the building in the 1970's, but Louis quickly re-built to serve his loyal customers. In 1991 Louis' son Chris bought the business and added several low-carb/calorie items to the Oasis' famous menu which consisted of Footlongs, home-made hamburgs and fresh cut fries. Chris Leosis also bought Haldimand House, which he converted into Haldimand House gift & Gourmet Shoppe, now Haldimand House Gift & Antique Shoppe. At the Oasis Drive-In quality is the number one priority, and to this day we still believe The Customer is Always Right. Although the footlongs are now cooked in the Oasis rather than Haldimand House, we still ring our 1927 bell!
"Canada's oldest Drive-In salutes and thanks those who have been our customers
over the years as we still belive: "The Customer is always right."
Content in Red From 'The Tradition' Located At The Oasis