HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-04-17, Page 47P.
CONGRATULATION SEAFORTH .
ON. YOUR FIRST 100 YEARS
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT
WE FEATURE IMPORTED GOODS SUCH AS . . . -SLIPPERS
-BLANKETS -TAPESTRIES -TABLECLOTHES
-GREAT CHOICE OF UNDERWEAR
-COMPLETE SELECTION OF`SCHEEPjES' WOOL &
SPINRITE YARNS
-IMPORTED TOBACCO -AND MANY MORE ITEMS
FULL SELECTION OF DELICATESSEN FOODS
SEAFORTH IMPORTS
"THE LARGEST SELtCTION OF IMPORTED GOODS IN HURON COUNTY"
SEAFORTH ONTARIO
CongrqtulatiQns.
to the
People of Seaforth
on the Occasion of the
100th anniversary of the Founding
of the Town. We look forward to
continuing to co-operate with our many
friends in the community.
41111114. PEPSI Turkey Beverages
"Eiceter Ontario
M ere4::&n,....: •
!?;
We Congratulate
The Town of Seaforth
on its 100th Birthday
ETER DAIRY
LIMITED
SEALTEST DISTRIBUTOR
", "
5*
Not oil, but salt
started Seaforth's
business boom
Salt in Seaforth
The above cry heralded the
beginning of Seaforth's first
' primary industry. A salt
company,.formed by Drs. Cole-
man and Gouinlock started
drilling in the vicinity of the
railroad tracks in March of 1870
and salt was struck in June of the
same year.
The Expositor reports the
discovery aof salt "About 10 a.m.
Wednesday last, our village went
into exstacies by the report 'Salt
Struck in the Seaforth Well'. The
proprietors contemplate erecting
salt blocks, immediately and if all
goes well, the Seaforth Salt
Works will be in full blast by the
1st. of September next. Amen
Amen!"
In the next issue, July 1, 1870
the discovery is heralded as "The
Greatest Salt Discovery in North
America."
The Expositor continues with a
great deal of optimism.
"The salt strike in the Seaforth
well is unparalleled on the North
American Continent. At the time
of going to press, the tools are
working in solid salt, to a depth of
over 100 feet, and no signs of
being nearly through the stratum.
We understand that it is the
intention of the proprietors to drill
through it, if they can do so
without letting in the Indian
Ocean. We are looking forward to
the time when Seaforth will be the
great salt centre of the World."
Alas, the salt mine did not
quite live up to the editor's
expectations!
In the late 1872 a second block
was set up south of the railway
tracks on the east side of Main
Street. It was described in the
December 27 issue of the
Expositor.
In May, 1874, bulk shipment
began from the Seaforth station.
The Expositor said;
Understand that the salt
manufacturers of this village have
made arrangements with the
authorities of the Grand Trunk for
the conveyance of salt in bulk
from Seaforth to Chicago. These
arrangements are so favourable
that our manufacturers can sell
their salt in the American market
upon as advantageous terms as in
the Canadian market. A few days
ago. Mr. Armitage, Manager of
the lvfachant's Salt Company
here,effected.a sale of 150 tons of
coarse salt, to an extensive
Chicago packinghouse, at $9. per
ton, delivered. This is the highest
price ever realized for Canadian
salt in Chicago market, and
speaks well for the superior
quality of Seaforth salt."
But the next year the market
slowed. The February 5, 1875
Expositor says:
"Owing to the extreme dullness of the salt market and the low
price of the article, the several
works in town have beep closed
for some time. This has -been an
unfortunate occurrence for the
town, as a large number of men
have been out of employment,
and the effect on the mercantile
(Continued on Page 45)
"The new salt block erected by \
the Merchants Salt Company, of
this village, is now, in successful
operation. This block has been
constructed on an entirely new
and improved plan, under the
immediate supervision of Mr.
M.P. Hayes, to whom is due the
credit of inventing and
introducing these new
improvements."
In May 1873 the Carter salt
block was begun. The industry
flourished for some time in the
town. In September 1874 there
was a boiler explosion at the
Gray, Young and Sparling block.
Much damage was done but no
one was hurt, and the operation
carried on.
32-THE HURON EXPOSITOR, APRIL 17, 1975