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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-04-17, Page 44Floats and a parade from the 1914 Old Boy's Reunion. 15,000 at Seaforth's 14 reunion 1 THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 274 1975 —29 "Centennial? WhAit Centen- nial? It seems like we just had one." This was the puzzled reaction by many people when Seaforth's 1975 Centennial was first being planned. The reason for Seaforth's many birthday parties are varied. Seaforth has always been a hospitable town, 'ready to cele- ' brate at the drop of, a hat. An then too, Seaforth has had a lot to celebrate. The party this summer marks 100 years since Seaforth became a town. Another Centennial in 1968 marked 100 years ..since Seaforth was incorporated as a village. In 1955 a bang up Old Boys Reunion celebrated the beginning of settlement in the town. Old; Boys Reunions were also held in 1924 and 1914 as homecoming events and grand excuses for people to get together and see each other again. From reports of all these reunions in the pages of old Huron Expositors it is obvious that while society and Seaforth has changed a great deal since 1914, a common thread of pride and enthusiasm for thuold town and for the homecoming fes- tivities runs through the more than fifty years of reunion stories, In 1914 the Old Boys and Girls Reunion was combined with a fireman's tournament. . Every week the Expositor printed lists of the 'names of those who were coming home. The Seaforth Old Boys Association in Detroit brought a special train to the reunion with over 500 . native Seaforthites. People came from what were huge distances in those days, California, Alberta, North Dakota, to see the illumin- ated Main Street (8,000 coloured electric lights, including 22 arches on the streets) and their old friends About 15,000 people attended, the Expositor reports, "the most brilliant, entertaining and suc- cessful reunion that has ever taken place in Western Ontario." "Old boys and girls were here almost from the ends of the earth, many having been away for 15, 20, 30 and even 40 years, "the Expositor said, adding that 10,000 people were at the race track watching 25 fire depart- ments compete in hook and ladder and hose reel races, ladder climbing and coupling contests, fancy drills and tugs of war. 2 Hospitals A mobile hospital with atten- dants to treat casulties of the festivities was set up at the Recreation grounds and the race track. Seaforth people did everything they could to make the town presentable for the home comers. Main and Goderich Streets were oiled to keep the dust down -- the oil • cost, wait for it, 7 cents a gallon. Crowds met the trains every morning at the Seaforth station and escorted new arrivals down- town where• they found, among other things, a monster merry ground, billed the biggest in North America. In 1914 reunion events included special services in all churches, a lacrosse ^match - Old Boys East vs. Old Boys West, a baseball tournament, a monster garden party and a fireworks display. Before the event an ad in the Expositor warned "Notalcum powder, flour or lamp black throwing—will be allowed." The highlight of the 1924 Centennial was the arrival. of a "Motor car cavalcade" of old boys from Detroit. For weeks before the event the planned route of the cavalcade and estimated time of arrival was chronicled in the newspaper. The group were to leave Detroit early in the morning, arrive in Sarnia at 1 p.m. and in Brucefield at S. Seventy-five cars, probably ,more than there were in Seaforth at the time, arrived, their occu- pants "tired and dusty after their long drive but mighty glad to be home and looking it," the Exposi- tor says. Two full cars were added to the Toronto train to bring celebrants from there. Before the reunion letters full of memories appeared in the paper from people who hoped to attend. "There will be some crowd. If you can stow a few away, kindly hand your name to the chairman, J. D. Hinchley", was how the request for accommodation for visitors was phrased. Biggest Frog The Expositor noted that a telegram had been received from Chummie Cresswell and Dan McLeod, offering $10, for the biggest bull frog caught in the Egmondville Mill Pond during the reunion. The biggest one caught, according to a later issue. measured 19-7/8" long.' D.D. Wilson, who was 85 in 1924 and the only survivor of -Seaforth's first town council was introduced at a reunion program and said "Seaforth was -a mud puddle in the early days through (Continued on Page 33) ( BRAND NEW TRUCK — David Davis, left, 'and W.A.Crich in his baker's apron admire the truck which was purchased for the 161st. (Huron) Baffaribn, with the proceeds of a "big clay" held in Seaforth in 1916 or 1917. The new truck was parked outside J. F. Dalyfs Jewellery Store and Ford dealership on Main Street.