About The Dutch Oven

How The Dutch Oven Came To Be!!!

In 1950, Hawley Hoselton, Founder of The Dutch Oven, graduated from Ryerson Institute taking the Food Technology Course.

Hawley and two of his brothers took over a run down-diner on Highway 2 between Cobourg and Port Hope. Hawley's father Charles Hoselton the chef at the British Hotel renamed the restaurant Golden Miller after a famous sweepstakes-winning horse.

The three partners soon realized there was not enough business to support all of them.

Gord remained at the Golden Miller. John found work in Toronto. And Hawley took over an abandoned bakeshop at 247 Division St. The bakeshop was owned by the Wenn family. Mr. Wenn senior retired and the baker who took over the shop soon closed the it. This was 1951.

Hawley expanded by adding a coffee bar and then put in a snack counter serving light lunches, besides a variety of baked goods. He was asked to take over the plant cafeteria at the then C.G.E. plant on Division Street North. The first Vending machine was installed in this cafeteria.

In 1958 Hawley married Lillian Barker who became active in the business.

Because the business had expanded the Division Street location became very crowded. During the 1960's another brother, Carl, purchased 7 King Street West from the Famous Players theatre company. The building had been the Capital movie theatre and was converted to a bowling alley during the 1950's. The bowling alley closed after a few years and the building was empty. Carl had no plans for the property and sold to his brother Hawley.
In 1965 after very extensive renovations the new Dutch Oven opened with much more space. This allowed for a much larger coffee shop, bake production, catering, vending and industrial catering.

In 1987 Hawley's daughter Lauren and her husband Bruce Maclean came from Australia and took over the business. The new owners completed another major renovation in the retail area.

And this is how The Dutch Oven came to be!!!