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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1973-02-01, Page 2Noon fxpositor 1 Since 1860, Serving the Community First Published, at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by MCLEAN BROS., Publishen9 Ltd. ANDREW Y. IVIcLEAN, Editor Member Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation .„ • Newspapers Subscription Rates: • Canada (in advance) $8.00 a Year Outside Canada (in advance) $10.00 a Year SINGLE COPIES — 20 CENTS EACH Second Class Mall- Registration Number 0696 Telephone 527-0240 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, February 1, 1973 . Perseverance (Photo by Haley) To the Editor Help save wall at Goderich jail Sugar and Spice By Bill Smiley 4 Perseverance can pay off. It's more than a year ago that Huron Bruce mpp Murray Gaunt began a campaign in which to draw -- attention to the dangers that existed through the' continued u'se of non re- turnable bottles. He made speeches in the legislature, he com- piled massive statistics in .support of his claim, He urged the government to initiate action. All he received for his trouble were a few favourable press releases and patronizing comments from the Conser- vative powers that be.Very commendable, they said, but these things take time and we are 'now studying. the matter. Wow,, more than a year later, EnvironMent MiniS- ter James Auld has taken one small step for4ard, "Some retailers aren't really giving the.public a free choice between throwaway containers and . reusable containers for their soft drinks, beer, ale, wine and spirits and the only may they are going to get that choice is through .Government ac- tion." • ' This doesn't mean, of course, that the,govern- ment is taking anything as 'drastic. as action.What has happened is that the Recent neisstories about fuel shortages in New York city and a number of north- eastern states must have been a real shock, not only to many Americans, but to every thinking Canadian. I know it '"shook me, when I considered the implications. It was the first strong warning of what's to come - a world-wide shortage of fuel and energy. And that's a frightening pros- pect. Experts have been issuing warnings for years, but these usually consist of an article in the Saturday, supplement, easily forgOtten or ignored. I'm no expert, but any schobl child knows that there is only so much oil and gas in the earth, that there is only so much waterpower to be harnessed, and when' that's gone, it's gone. For good. Already parts of the U.S., especially the heavily industrialized and populated' east, are on the' verge of a crisis in the fields of energy and water. What happens in the States will in- evitably happen in Canada, though it may take a little longer, because of our much smaller population and much greater re- serves. But unless science can come up with some new, cheap means of producing energy and fresh water, things are going to be pretty shaky by the turn of the century. Perhaps, as always, it's "the only way man can learn anything - by having it,shoved down his throat. Perhaps we won't stop wasting energy resources until we're reduced to the point where we're cooking dinner over a fire of buffalo chips, as the pioneers did. Except that there won't be any buffalo to provide the chips. Wouldn't you think that Canada; having witnessed at first hand the ravages the Americans have "made on their own -resources, would have learned a lesson? Wouldn't you thinkthat we'd be hoard- ing carefully, with an eye to five hun- dred years from now, our dwindling re- sources? Wouldn't you think that our so-called leaders could see more than twenty-five years ahead? Many of them seem to be thinking no farther ahead • than the next election. One of these fine years, unless we begin to conserve and preserve, there'll be an Old Mother Hubbard story that will wreak untold misery on millions of humans. But that's an old tale, of cotfrse, in thig country. Through a combination. Of human greed, short-sighted leader- ship and plain Stupidity, Canadians have been content to continue their century- old role as hewers of wood and drawers Environment Ontario's task force on solid waste, has' assigned one of its work groups to study the regu- lations, outlined in a position paper prepared by members of the Ministry Staff. The Minister made it plain there wasn't any particular hurr,y for the task force to file a -re- port until late in the spring. This should make it available probably in May or June in time to be put aside' and pile up with all those other important mat- ters that will await the return of holidaying bureaucrats. In the meantime the manufacturers of throw- away bottles and -of soft drink cans need have no immediate concern. The kids playing in the park, however, had better pay attention. There is a pretty good chance they 'may cut their feet on a rusty can or a piece,of broken•bottles. ss there will be ime to use those again this sum- ay Gaunt. It ook as though and the Tory t h. .:.triti .chr.0An f taking any help n again In the re. of water, and to sell anything they could to foreign investors: British, American and European. There's a great lot of red-hot nation- alism in our country these days. But ninety-five per cent of it is words, words, words. The people who make the real decis- ions are not the writers, prainters, stu- dents, but the cold-eyed, grey-haired Men who sit in the board-rooms, and ' would sell their grandmothers into slavery if the interest rates were right. They're. the bapies who have looted our forests and miners and are currently pawning our energy resources. And they're the birds, with some notable ex- ceptions, who take off for the 'Bahamas or Switzerland when the taxes get rough and they'Ve made their pile. To most of them,,, the unemployed are an unfortunate statistic, the poor a necessary nuisance. They know where every nickel of government handouts is. They know every tax dodge.,They are the real and only second-class citizens of this country. Holy smokes! I'm beginning to sound like a communist agitator. I'm not. I just get sick at heart when I see what's happening to the country I love. Talk about being sold down the river! We're being sold down all our rivers and all our pipelines as well. Canada might be compared to youth. Youth can, and does, burn 'up energy without a thought for ..the morrow. He can dance and drink all night, stand all day in the rain, hitch-hiking, sleep on the floor, ski all day on weekends and sleep all day in school. But Imperceptibly, and then suddenly, the youth is middleaged. The luxuriant hair falls out, the belly thickens, the pace slows, and the joints begin to ache. The energy has been burned up, much of it uselessly, and the cupboard grows pro- gressively bare. Is that what we're doing today in our comparatively youthful country? Are we going to wake up with no hair, arthritis, and a pot belly with nothing to put in it? And while this is taking place before our eyes, the politicians chatters like parrots, jockeying for position, their eyes fixed irremovably on the past. I've no solution. The only thing I might suggest, in view of the energy crisis, 'is that all the politicians in North America be laid end to end: They'd make an adrhirable pipe-line, of just the right girth. And they'd produce enough natural gas in one session to stave off the crisis for years. Sir: This letter is a forerunner to a sample- type petition which will be seen in your community regarding our County's pro- posal to tear down the jail wall adjacent to the Assessment Building in Goderich to make way for an addition .and parking facilities. Why Concern? The fort-like structure, which is situated on valuable land has been con- sidered ((unproductive" in the eyes of our reeves since it lost it's last inmate -a couple of years ago. Therefore it is • now Considered ((feasible" to" eat -tway at the property 'for other County pur- poses. Should the County go ahead with it's plans it will quite effectively deface the building which, while over 130 years old, is 'also architecturally unique, struc- turally sound, and imposing in nature. The Ministry of Colleges and Universi- ties, Historical and Museums Branch, Archives of Ontario is interested in seeing it kept as a museum and feel it could become nationally and internationally noteworthy. Of course, as such, it would J divert tourist interest to the entire area. There are three alternatives open to Council which will leave the jail intact. 1. The acquisition of property to the In the county where I reside there's .a jail. Not too unusual, you say. well wait until you hear the full story. The jail in our county is over 130 years old. It is a unique building, the only one of its kind in North America so we're told. In fact, the provincial government through its historical department, has ex- pressed a great interest in our jail calling it of tremendous historical value. • In my work as a mews reporter, I've had occasion to visit the jail since, it was closed last year. I must say it wasn't, to me, the most pleashnt spot to visit. It is ark, musty, drafty and bare. It is depressing, upsetting and totally un- homelike. But what else would one expect ,,,from a jail, I ask? Have you ever been inside a jail- on business or not? How many have ever toured around contemplating the cells, the bars, the cots, the little windows, the exercise yards? How many, I wonder? Not many, I'd wager, though not many folks can deny they've often wondered what it is like behind the high, stone walls of a jailhouse. I doubt that anybody has viewed any jail anywhere from the outside and not been curious about the inner place and its occupants. , Well, in our county we have a jail. A Ciinique stone building the only one of its kind in North America. It no longer houses prisoners. Its usefulness has ended, say penal people. The jail has been turned back to the residents of the county... and the people of the county now have a voice in the fate of the jail. • What are the people saying? Well, a few of them are ignoring the whole affair. They say they could hardly care less about what happens to the jail WhiCh is located in the county town. They may be packing their bags for a holVay trip to Rome to look at the ancient ruins or for the eastern part Of "Ontario to visit Old Fort Henry . . . but they don't give two hoots about the part of their own history just a few miles up the road. Typical, I guess, because they'll foot the bill if it is maintained. A group of citizens in our county - elected officials all of them called county council want to remove a portion of the West which has not been investigated as of January 26, 2. An addition to the North with park- ing option on Gloucester Terrace. 3. Huron County owns the existing building. There has been considerable comment regarding overcrowded County departments and Court facilities unre- lated to the Assessment function. The County should consider a new site for larger Assessment building and. use the existing site to alleviate crowding in other departments. 'The proposed solution not only destroys the ''very naturt"61 rhisibric Taltitithific — but also creates .additional problem's. No allowance would be made for additional parking and the existing ((cramped and crammed" appearance wouldbecomE even mare so. The Jail, as it now stands, is unique to North America, and • has been publi- cized in both Weekend Magazine and the British PrOSs. Furthermore, the oldest Architects' magazine in Britain has established a fund to preserve this structure. Interested persons in the Seaforth area are asked to contact Mrs. Shirley Dinsmare, 31 West Street. Sincerely, J. Van den Broeck jail Walla. They feel they are being extremely soft-hearted. After all, a goodly number of them would have little concern if the entire building were torn down and the land used to build more modern, up-to- the-minute edifices. Are people disturbed? Some of them are. In fact, a few citizens are circulating petitions right now to save the jail walls. The response, they say, is overwhelmingly in favor of letting the jail walls stand... but the members of county council only smile from their plushseats in the county- chambers as if to say, "Let them petition. I t makes them feel wanted and needed. But we know that some of the jail walls will come down, poor slobs." for the most part, the people in the county where I live are no't worried about our heritage falling under the wreck- er's hammer. They don't know the full story of the old stone jail and they aren't trying to find out. They are probably the best example of today's apathetic populace which is content to let someone else make the decisions - right or wrong- and to complain later if necessary, or to rebuild at even greater expense in another decade or so. Anything's better than stirring out of one's comfortable rut now. That's what county council is depending on, too. They are trusting that people will not rise up against them - on this issue or on any other. They are hoping that the ratepayers of the county where I reside will remain silent and let them get on with the job of making, the mistakes which every council is entitled to make. And so far, the people of the county where I reside are giving county council just that right. they. are so busy earning the money to pay the taxes and keep the wanton wolf away from the door that they've no time to get involved and no inclination to stand up and be counted. Where do I stand on the issue? I hate like hell .to be a partner to des- troying something as historically valuable for generations to come. Not one stone should be touched, I believe, no matter what the cost. Let's have something left to show of our past in the future. FEBRUARY 4, 1898 The Methodists of Londesboro have decided to build a new church. A build- ing committee, Messrs, Moon, McVittie, Lawrence and Stevens was appointed. The cost is not to exceed $5;000." Robert Dunlop, RV Line, near Con- stance, has sold to his neighbor, Wm. Lowery, a 2 year old gelding for $125.00. George Fitzgerald, of town, who has charge of the finishing department in the Broadfoot and sox furniture factory for a number of years, leaves for Liverpool, England, where he has engaged with Fawke & Co. Lewis McDonald, who has carried on an extensive carriage and blacksmith business of the late John Dorsey, has disposed of the, same to Robert Dever- eaux of Chicago, son of John Devereaux. A splendid new furnace has been placed in the Egmondville Church by , D. Johnston of Seaforth. Wm. R. Somerville of town hab •been appointed up town ticket agent for the Grand Trunk Railway. While driving his children to school Charles Routledge of Tuckersmith had his face and ears frozen. William Scott of Brucefield has re- ceived a carload of feed corn for distri- bution among the farmers. John Dig of Tuckersmith has leased the north west corner of the farm owned by wm. McLaren. A bar of soap weighing 99 lbs. was awarded by T.M.Hamilton of Staffa, to the person guessing nearest correct weight, the lucky winner being Samuel Speare of this place. John McKay of Kippen is. no getting the material home for his home andbarns. Mr. Keating of Seaforth, has the con- tract for both. W. Quarrell; who has made his home with John B. Henderson of the Huron Road, left on Monday for England where his relatives reside. FEBRUARY 9, 1923. Mr. Lounsberry of Londesboro has sold the general store there to J. Mc- Cool. He has had it for 15 years. Wm. kinney and David Boyd of Win- throp attended the County Orange meet- ing in Exeter. MesSrs. Collins and Mckenzie of Brucefield, who have- peen keeping store in the Simpson stand' for the past year have sold their stock to Mr.Horney " of Holstein. Mrs. 'Carpenter, the retiring Presi- dent of the C.W.R. at Dublin, was pre- sented • with a handpainted address read by Mrs. Thos. Molyneaux and a cut glass butter dish was .presented by Mrs. James Shea. Messrs. Fred Pepper and Roy Fear of Tuckersmith are drawing gravel to build foundations under their barns next rummer. Harvey Ashton , of Tuckersmith, met with an -accident •which 'keiStfrom school... While climbinv-aroundr•M'llie —"`""--g"hilthirli'aire'eaiitht on a wire hook.,-- when he slipped and his hand was cut from the wrist to the point of his large finger. W. W. Cooper of Kippen had the mis- fortune to have 'a bone broken in his ankle: Fire was discovered by T. W. Parlmer bursting out in the dwelling part of his premises. While driving into town C. Anderson~ who lives near Walton, had a very un- pleasant experience. Passing A. Kennedy's, North Main-St., the horse shied at a wood cutting machine and ran away. It dashed against a pump in front of Archie Barton's blacksmith shop, striking its chest against the handle. In five minutes it bled to death. The weather all this week has been exceptionally Cold, the thermometer drop- ping belOw zero each night. FEBRUARY 6, 1948. Fire completely gutted the Hugh Pear- son Produce depot at Brussels, causing approximately $20,000 damage. It swept through a three room apartment. The fire NyPis discovered in the basement of the building about 6 a.m. Mrs. G. T. Turnbull and Miss Mabel Turnbull received a pleasant surprise when Arnold R. Turnbull phoned them - from 'his residence in England. It was 'learned that they would shortly return to Canada for a visit, having booked pas- sage bn the Empress' of Canada. John Neilson,Seaforth, recently re- ceived from his parents in Denmark, a number of Danish daily newspapers from which he learned the difficult conditions of the people of that country. Applications for the position of road superintendent for Hulled were considered and that of Leonard Caldwell was appointed. Brucefield I.O.O.F. second degree team conferred the second degree 'on a class of nine candidates. in Brucefield Lodge with more than 60 attending the meeting. A reception was held in the Staffa Hall for Mr. and Mrs. John McDougall of Hibbert. An address was read and a purse of money was presented to the couple. Harburn's Orchestra supplied music for dancing. While John Henderson and Jack Cooper were felling. a large tree, Mr. Cooper had the misfortune to lose four teeth which were hit by the handle of his axe. Allan Johnston, of Kippen, with the aid of a carpenter, is at present making some changes in the barn and hen house of his new farm which he purchased from Mr. McMurtrie. A very enjoyable evening was spent at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed. McBride of Kippen, when friends and neighbors met to honor Mrs. Robert Dalrymple (nee Miss Beatrice Cooper, a recent bride). The evening was spent in Court Whist, the winner for high prize being won by Mrs. John Sinclair. The consolation was won by Mrs. Archie Parsons. Mrs.Harry Caldwell read an address and a decorated '''‘vagon was drawn in 'by Sharon McBride and Oran Baird. Adam Kistner, life long resident of Logan Township, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rueben Rapien,Mc- Killop Township. r ti- fi n the Years Agone We gue lots of 't speeches mer,.Murr doesn't 1 lb.'. Auld Gover.nmen tention o ful actio near futu From My Window By Shirley J. Keller