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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-11-16, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 16, 2016 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com lion Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor E POSTMEDIA F4 NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca SHAUN GREGORY Multimedia Journalist shaun.gregory@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca NANCY DEGANS Media Sales Consultant ndegans@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to set and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada 'Victory—and Peace' November 11, 1918 The official notice that hostilities had ceased between Germany and the British Empire was tele- graphed to Huron County at about 4:00 am on Monday, November 11, 1918. The Great War was finally over and a cause for jubilation in Huron County. Exeter was, perhaps, the first Huron County town to get word of the war's end. In antic- ipation of the news, a certain Miss Sanders, the local tele- graph operator, stayed at her post all night awaiting the bul- letin. When the telegraph arrived, Miss Sanders had little difficulty getting the news out because by daybreak all of Exeter was rejoicing. The ring- ing of the town's bell announced the news to the countryside. The Reeve declared a public holiday. The town's people were called to an open air meeting in front of the library for an afternoon service of Thanksgiving. The town, however, did not wait until the afternoon. A pro- cession of 'gaily decorated automobiles' drove up and down the main street. Horns, tin whistles, band music and the 'rattling of pans and kettles' kept up a discordant but joyful noise throughout the day and far into the night. Exeter's cele- brations ended with a giant bonfire at the town hall. In Wingham, the town's bells began pealing about 4:30 am. The 'Wingham Advance' reported 'rejoicing people, blowing horns, beating tin pans and singing' throughout the day followed by a civic cer- emony, parades a concert and bonfire at the town park About 7:00 am in Goderich, the town 'went wild with enthusiasm' as people took to the streets. An civic and religious Thanksgiving ser- vice was held at Courthouse Park followed by 'an endless parade' of automobiles and wagons. A bonfire on the Huron History David Yates Square at night drew a crowd estimated at 5 000 people who cheered when the Kai- ser's effigy went up in flames In Clinton, at 8:00 am, the town's bell began ringing. They did not stop until past 10:30 at night. The streets took on a 'lively appearance: The 'Clin- ton News -Record' reported that 'women dropped their washing' and workers took to the streets as 'people laughed and cheered, stores and dwell- ings were quicky decorated and everyone who could get one carried a flag: When he donned his tophat and best coat, Clinton Mayor Charles Thompson had ample reason to be thankful as he prepared to address his town at the afternoon's 'Peace Dem- onstration.' Both his sons whom he had sent to war in October 1916 would be return- ing home alive. Private Ernie Walton, who happened to arrive home on leave on the morning train found himself the object of the town's adulation. He was paraded on horseback through the town's streets by a thou- sand people who dropped him off at the bandstand for the civic ceremony. Crowds thronged into Clinton from the countryside to take part in the celebrations. A torch light parade and sky rockets ended Clinton's day of jubilation. The 'Seaforth News' pro- claimed that 'never did the word Victory sound so good to the world: All morning, Seaforth's Main Street was crowded with people. Flags and bunting sprouted from nearly every shop and home. Father Goetz of St. James Church delivered a homily at Victoria Park 'on the years of agony' that the country had borne. Out of respect for the fallen, a dance at Cardo Hall was postponed. Celebrations in Hensall and Bayfield involved gunfire as shot gun blasts rent the air throughout the day. The Bay- field correspondent expressed relief that the high price of ammunition limited the gun- fire. In Bayfield, the Orangemen led the parade while the St. Andrew's 'church bell rope was tested to its limits: It rang until after a bonfire on ClanGregor Square burned itself out. Trag- edy marred Blyth's victory cele- bration when Reeve Neil Taylor was killed in a car accident when he lost control of his auto- mobile on the way home. The Kaiser had a particu- larly hard day in Huron. Every town's celebration ended with his burning in effigy. In Wingham, the Kai- ser was given the added indignity of being dragged from the rear of the Mayor's car before he was burned. Celebrations were damp- ened by the knowledge that the war might be over but the dying was not. The same papers that carried such vivid descriptions of the joyous Armistice day events contin- ued to bring news of the war's dead and wounded. Wmgham High School graduate, Private Dan O'Toole was killed in action on October 28, 1918 as was Private Charles Coultes of Cranbrook. Private Harold Bis- sett of Exeter was reported killed on November 1, 1918. Corporal W. E. Hicks of Goder- ich died of wounds on Novem- ber 3. Private Herbert Bond of Wingham died of gunshot wounds to the head on November 6. Lieutenant DeLemme Millyard, the son of the minister of Exeter's Main Street Methodist Church, was reported missing on Septem- ber 30 and confirmed dead in the first week of November. Private Russel Woods parents in Blyth received a telegraph informing them that their son was killed the same day as they learned of the Armistice. For these families, the war's end brought little comfort. News of the Armistice extended a three week holiday for children whose schools had been dosed since mid-October closed because the Spanish Influenza was ravaging the area. Students at the Clinton Colle- giate and public schools were instructed to be 'in their places so that lost time maybe gained' due to the flu. It was not until mid-November that church ser- vices resumed. In Wmgham, 14 'serious cases' of the'floo' were reported in the' Advance: The names of flu's victims were listed in the local papers along side the names of the war's casualties. In a reversal of fortune, Private J. Gorbutt of Clinton survived the war but his nineteen year old wife, Irene Gorbutt, died of the influenza on November 6. Despite the pestilence, Huron County gathered in large crowds to celebrate the Armi- stice. The 1918-1919 influenza outbreak killed nearly as many Canadians as the Great War. Never again would Novem- ber 11, 1918 be a day for cele- bration. As soon as the war ended, every town, hamlet and village paused to reflect on how best the living can honour the memory of the War Dead. War memo Her younger brother died just three days before rials and cenotaphs were not enough. In 1919, by command of King George V, November 11 was set aside as Remembrance Day. It has become Canada's most hallowed observance and a time to mourn the nation's dead and be eternally grateful for their sacrifice. SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR — HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY: 9:00 - 5:00 • TUESDAY: - CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • THURSDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • FRIDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: - CLOSED ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com