he was born as Martha Jane Cannary in Missouri, circa 1852. Orphaned at age 15 she roamed the West, frequenting bars and dance halls.

Attired in buckskin suit and wide-brimmed hat, she was fearless as a dead shot and expert rider. She spent time as a U.S. Army scout and carried mail for the Pony Express. In Deadwood S. Dakota, she became a friend of Wild Bill Hickok and eventually joined Buffalo Bill Cody in is Wild West Show and performed with sharpshooter Annie Oakley.    It is thought she came by her nickname upon entering a saloon and on demanding a drink that it would be a 'calamity' if she were refused. ..... an American Frontier Adventuress.

    he Old Addison General Store is pictured before the turn of the century and is now the home of Calamity Jane's Dining Lounge. Built circa 1850, the building has had a long history serving the public.

Originally, the property was part of a two hundred acre parcel patented to Alexander Barnett, a United Empire Loyalist, by the government of Upper Canada, in 1802. it has changed hands many times in nearly one hundred and forty years.

   One of the most important pioneer families in the area in the early to mid 1800's were the Lewis'. They began with Ira Lewis Sr., one of the Leeds and Grenville militiamen of the War of 1812, and continued with his children and grandchildren.

   It was son Coleman who operated the premises as a general store, while other family members owned the shoe shop, blacksmith shop, hotel and ashery. The two homes immediately opposite the present-day restraint were originally Lewis homes. Is it any wonder Addison's early name was Lewis' Corners? Today, many descendants of the Addison's early families still reside in the area.

   The Addison Rural Telephone Company was established here, in 1904, and was located in the small dining area, to the rear of the restaurant. The local post office was housed near the window, by the end of the bar.

   In its transition from general store to restaurant in 1980, the building exterior remained much the same; while inside the warm ambience of wood was added to set the mood. The original carved support posts were refurbished as were the deep-welled windows. The solid pine store counter with its sprinkling of old squared nail heads was salvaged for the present day bar.

   We at Calamity Jane's enjoy the heritage of out establishment and continue the tradition of service, with quality and friendliness as important today as they were yesterday.