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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Illustrated Signal-Star, 1889-03-25, Page 44 GODERICH ILL USTRA TED SIGNAL -STAR. and family. They had driven through from Hamilton. The next year the Cana- da Company built the steamer Menese- 'tung—whose name was changed a year later to the Goderich—at this point, and Capt. R. G. Dunlop, who arrived the same year, was given command of the craft. During the balance of that season and the next she plied between Goderich and the ports of Lakes Erie and Ontario ; but dur- ing the season of 1835 she was imprisoned in the harbor, being unable to pass out over the bar at the mouth of the river. The first sermon preached in Goderich was by a Methodist preach- er, whose name we could not learn, but he had been sent from Goderich as a missionary to the Indians at the Saugeen as early as 1832, in which year another Methodist min- ister, Rev. Mr. Whitehead, arrived, and preached his first sermon in the dwelling house of Jacob Coomer— and the fall of that year was marked by the arrival of the first Roman Catholic priest, Father Dempsey. It was in this year also, as near;y as we could learn, that the first school -house in the settlement, or indeed in the whole Huron Tract, was built, its location being where Knox Church now stands ; and here Dr. Scott taught the young idea how to shoot, having Feen engaged by the Company to fill the com- bined offices of pedagogue and "medicine man" to the settlement. Goderich Post Office was estab- lished about 1833, with Edwin Grif- fin as Postmaster, the location be- ing in a store kept by E. C. Taylor, on West Street, near the octagon. The couple who first contracted matri- mony—being residents of the settle- ment—were W. F. Gooding and a Miss Goode. The event occurred during 1829 ; but as there was no parson in the place, they went to Detroit to have the ceremony performed. It is a coincidence worthy of remark that the three brothers Gooding married three sisters Goode. The first child born in Goderich was John, of Samuel Gibson, and he received a office, while Robert Gibbons and •P. A. McDougall were elected Reeve° and Deputy Reeve respectively. Mr. Cameron was re- elected Mayor in each of the years 1861, 1862 and 1863. In 1864 James Watson was elected, and was succeeded in 1865 by John V. Detlor, who held the office during the two succeeding years. Hugh John- ston was elected in 1868, Chris. Crabb in 1869, and W. T. hays in 1870 and 1871. Mr. Horace Horton occupied the civic chair during the next three years ; John Davison in 1875, James 11. Finlay in 1876 and tery, Thos. Hood ; Engineer, John Mc- Callum ; Town Constable, John Yule; High Constable, D. C. McKay. During the troublous times of 1861-62, when the Slidel and Mason affair gave rise to grave fears regarding international re- lations between Great Britain and the United States, Goderich exhibited its loy- alty, by at once organizing two volunteer companies --the Huron Rifles and the Goderich Artillery. Both of these com- panies obtained celebrity for the accuracy of their movements and precision in drill, and even when in competition with THE NEW POST OFFICE —IN COURSE OF ERECTION. grant of one hundred acres of land from the Canada Company. The following gentlemen com- posed the first Town Council, viz : Messrs. Benjamin Parsons, Daniel Henley, Chris. Crabb, Horace Hor- ton, Wm. Wallace, James Bissett, James Watson, Dixie Watson, Mor- gan Hamilton, Wm. B. Rich and James Gentles. At that time may- ors were elected by the Cnunciis ; and at the first meeting of the Goderich Council, Mr. Benj. Par- sons was unanimously elected Mayor. The following were the other civic officers for that year, viz. : Thos. Kydd, Clerk ; R. G. Cunningham and George Fraser, Auditors ; Rev. Charles Fletcher, Superintendent of Schools ; P. A. McDougall, M.D., Coroner ; Angus McKay, Collector ; .Henry Reid, Wm. Reid, Duncan Lambert and John McLean, Con- stables. In 1860 the first Mayor was elected by popular vote, Mr. Malcolm Colin Cameron being honored by his selection to fill that son. 1877, Samuel Pollock in 1878, B. L. Doyle, in 1879 and 1880, H. Horton from 1881 to 1887, and C. Seager in 1887 and 1888. The present Council consists of : Mayor, John Butler ; Reeve, William Proudfoot ; Deputy Reeve, Abraham Smith. Coun- cillors.—St. David's Ward—J. W. Smith, Robert Thompson, C. A. Humber. St. Patrick's Ward—J. K. Colborne, Philip Holt, F. J. Pridham. St. George's Ward— Alex. Morton, Malcolm Nicholson, Hugh regular troops succeeded on more than one occasion in carrying off the laurels for military proficiency. Capt. John William Seymour was the first commander of the Huron Rifles, and he was succeeded by the late W. T. Hays, at one time M.PP., for West Huron. The present Treasurer of Ontario, Hon. A. M. Ross, was the first captain of the Goderich Artillery Company. During the Fenian excitement in 1866, Goderich was the naval sta- tion on Lake Huron for the lake squadron, comprising th e Cherub, Prince Alfred and other gunboats. On a number of occasions the bri- gade camp for the western district has been located here, the heights on the north side of the river offer- ing a magnificent camping ground, and the "Flats" providing an excel- lent drill ground. In 1872 the Dominion Govern- ment declared Goderich a Harbor of Refuge, and public works were gone on with towards making the harbor a safe retreat for disabled vessels in foul weather. A life saving station is also located here, under command of Cap- tain Babb, and the crew- on a number of oc- casions has done good service, and earned well merited testimonials for rescuing crews in distress. The town possesses a well -organized and efficient fire company of ten paid inen and a fireman, under command of Fire Warden William Byers. Up to the present year, the fire protection consisted of VIEW OF DOCKS—FROM HARBOR. Dunlop. St. Andrew's Ward—Jas. A. Reid, Thos. C. Naftel, David Cante]on. Clerk, Wm. Campbell ; Treasurer, W. L. Horton ; Auditors, 11. W. Ball and W. R. Robertson Assessor, Tax Collector and Street Inspec- tor, James Gordon ; Sexton Maitland Ceme- this company and a Silsby engine, but on the first of May next, the waterworks system, recently con- structed, will come into operation. Full particulars concerning the waterworks will be found else- where in THE ILLUSTRATED SIG- NAL -STAR. An energetic and efficient Sani- tary Board attends to the health requirements of the town. It consists of J. M. Sheppard, Chair- man ; Wm. Acheson, Sam. Weller, F. Jordan, Jos. Williams, Thos. Weatherald, Robert McLean, J. G. Stiven and Mayor Butler, with Dr. Taylor, Medical Health Offi- cer, and Jas. Gordon, Inspector. Goderich is also a Canadian Port of Entry, and has an office of Customs, where is " rendered unto Caesar that which is Caesar's " so far as tariff revenues are concerned. The pre- sent incumbent is Mr. Asher Farrow. The Inland Revenue Department is re- presented here by Mr. J. Brown, under di- rection of Inspector Cavan, of Stratford.