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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1961-12-07, Page 1414—M Hunt 'OS1TOR, SEAFORTH, ONT., DEC. 7, 1861 WHEN HYDRO came to Seaforth in 1911, an entire new standard of living was made available to' the com- munity. As a means of in- dicating the many time -sav- ing electrical appliances which had become avail- able, a demonstration booth was operated at the recrea- tion grounds on several oc- casions during the summer of 1912. Arranged jointly by the PUC and G. A. Sills Hardware, the booth was staffed by (left to right), Ed. Mole, PUC superintend- ent; Frank Sills, of Sills' Hardware, and Gerald Case, of the PUC. On the left is the build- ing that housed the Sea - forth Light & Power Com- pany, as it appeared in 1911. Churchill Scored On Adam Beck Sir Adam Beck, father of On- tario Hydro, was known even to his closest friends as an auto- crat who could be rude and ar- rogant. Accustomed to having his own way in all things, he was convinced he was infallible. Beck seldom admitted defeat. But in 1902, as mayor of Lon- don, Ontario, he was host one night to Winston Churchill. After Churchill had left Beck bluntly remarked: "I was be- ginning to wonder who the hell owned this house." — (Toronto Globe and Mail). KIPPEN Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hub- bard and Melville McClymont, of Detroit, called on Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Mellis on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Wahl, of Listowel, and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Murray, Kitchener, were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Dieckert. A fellow we know works for a big cosmetic firm and travels to every province selling his firm's products. All his clients are women and he carries an address book con- taining the names and address- es of women in nearly every major town and city. Recently, he left his address book on an airliner, and a stewardess found it. She posted it to him, together with a note that said simply: "Wow!" Sell that unnecessary- piece of furniture through a Huron Ex- positor Classified Ad. Phone 141 On behalf of the residents of Seaforth, Seaforth Town Council and Town Employees, we extend sincere CONGRATULATIONS to the Management, Staff and Commission Mem- bers of the SEAFORTH PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION as they celebrate THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF HYDRO IN SEAFORTH • Seaforth was among the first municipality to sign a contract for Ontario -owned Niagara Power as conceived by Sir Adam Beck, and on December 1, 1911, Hydro power became a reality in this community. The past 50 years has seen a healthy growth that has offered increasing oppor- tunities and improved standards to the residents of this community. As we pause to salute Hydro, we also salute the men that 50 years ago made this possible, and the people at our Public Utility Commission, who continue to bring this unequalled service to us. The Town of Seaforth EDMUND DALY, Mayor WILLIAM M. BALL, Reeve COUNCILLORS -- Dr. J. 0. Turnbull, N. C. Cardno, Thorpe Rivers, John Flannery, C. Dalton, N. C. Bell LYLE HAMMOND, Clerk THROUGH the years in which the Public Utility Commission has served the Seaforth public, the com- mission staff has included many faithful employees. Above in a picture taken in 1957, is shown a group of PUC employees, includ- ing (from the left), Gordon Pullman, Charles Reeves, Ray Boussey, the late R. B. Holmes, J. O. Scott and Ronald Drager. At the right is Edward Mole, who served the sys- tem as superintendent from 1911, when Hydro came to Seaforth, until his retire- ment in 1937. Diary Reveals Story of Hydro The benefits which Hydro has brought to Seaforth didn't just happen. They came about because a number of Seaforth businessmen of fifty years ago spent untold hours in laying the groundwork and obtaining the necessary public support to make possible the introduc- tion of Hydro. Just how much work was involved is indicated by the following excerpts taken from a diary which the late J. F. Daly kept for many years. Mr. Daly was a member of the original Public Utility Com- mission. The diary was made avail- able by his son, George Daly, of Toronto. Monday, April 11, 1910—Coun- cil meeting, Hydro Elec- tric power being discussed. Monday, April 25—Special council meeting regarding elec- tric power. Thursday, May 2—Went to Mitchell to hear Adam Beck speak on Hydro power. Monday, July 11—Meeting of Council; Hydro Electric By - Law given two readings. Council all in favor of doing utmost to pass by-law. Tuesday, July 12 --Special meeting of Board of Trade, Coun- cil and businessmen to discuss the by-law. Saturday, July 23—Meeting with Seaforth Electric Co. to buy plant. Price agreed $6,000. Council ratified agree- ment at evening meeting. Monday, July 25—Hydro Electric By -Law being discussed on every corner in town. Committee meeting at night. Tuesday, July 26—Council backed out of Seaforth Electric arrangements because Company trying to buck by-law. Saturday, August 6—Never in the history of Seaforth has there been such excitement over anything as there is over Hydro By -Law. Monday, August 8—Voting on Hydro Electric By -Law passes with big majority—the biggest vote out in years. Tuesday, October 11—Official opening of Hydro Electric at Berlin (now Kitchener, Editor). Whitney and Beck were speakers. McCallum, Watson, Greig, Mackay and my- self represented Seaforth Council. Tuesday, November 15 --Mitchell voted on Hydro Electric By -Law. Carried with 196 majority. Friday, December 2—Yates* here about Hydro citizens meet- ing. Thursday, December 15—Special council meeting; Hydro Electric contract signed. Saturday, December 17–Special council meeting; Seaforth Electric Co. notice of cutting off lights. Monday, December 19—Yates" here; Seaforth Electric Co. threatened to cut off lights. Tuesday, December 20—Special council meeting 4 p.m., re Seaforth Electric Co. Special council meeting 8 p.m., Light Company trouble settled. Wednesday, February 1, 1911—Taking inventory of electric wire and poles. Thursday, April 27—Meeting with Seaforth Electric Co, to arrange buying poles, etc. Saturday, May 6—Hydro Electric Co. poles nearing Seaforth. Wednesday, May 10—Hydro poles reach Seaforth. Tuesday, May 30—Leacock* here making plan for electric lines. Tuesday, June 27—Special council meeting. Let contract for power house to H. Edge. Friday, July 21—Leacock here in regards to Hy$ro. Tuesday, August 15—Hydro construction work progressing slowly. Thursday, August 17—Edge has three bricklayers at Hydro station. Friday, August 18—Hydro started trimming trees; public raising Cain. Monday, August 21—Hydro building going up; poles and lines getting into good shape. Friday, September 1—Hydro gang putting crossarms up. Saturday, September 30—Main Street lit up with incandescent lights. Friday, October 13—Hydro gang about through with their work. Friday December 1—Hydro turned on for first time. Every- thing O.K. Sunday, December 3 --Electric lights on all night for first time. Everyone pleased. Tuesday, December 5—Hydro on for full 24 hours. Thursday, December 7 --Little Scotland lighted for first time tonight. Friday, December—Having house wired for electricity. Saturday, December 9—House wiring finished. Fixtures, bulbs and switches, _$6. 75. Tuesday December 16-' ydro lline being built to lrgraondviile. (* Hydro engineers in charge of project) TENDER ! DELICIOUS ! TURKEYS FOR CHRISTMAS Or Any Occasion ,KEN BEATTIE R.R. 4 - Walton PHONE — SEAFORTH 834 R 6 NEED RUBBER STAMPS? THE HURON EXPOSITOR PHONE 141 - SEAFORTH 'r, e.4) ;wrwr;r�r ;r• r x+' r y� , ;' r ;'.1» r ;rir k`1r e' r ;ems w r ;w Sw1i w1� i MAKE STAFFEN'S YOUR CENTRE FOR NOVELTY Christmas DECORATIONS GIFT CHINA WE HAVE A HOST OF DISTINCTIVE GIFT IDEAS I Table Centres Xmas Novelties Tree Decorations • Electric Lighting • Decorative Bulbs • Room Decorations • Yule Table Pieces Tinsel - Roping - Snow The perfect decorations to brighten up your Christmas tree with beautiful FRESH FLOWERS and POTTED PLANTS Plumbing - Heating STAFFEN'S Plumbing -Heating Electrical Appliances -- Sales and Service PHONE 49 SEAFORTH r,; r;3fr"fr"f A • • • • • 1 M 1 0 •