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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 48LAWN BOWLERS IN THIRTIES — C. P. Sills, Walter Willis and John Beattie are in the foreground of this photo of a men's tournament. Note the women on the porch of the club house who were probably catering for the event. ••••••0••••000.•0•••**•50•0000• 000000000000 ••*50000••°0*•0•500 0 • Congratulations Seaforth • from the folks • • • HULLY a a Bike rentals a with Hydro, W ter, Sewolge• -Hookup and um ping Station o Complete Shower and Washroom facilities Your recreation centre -Can e rentais CAMPING GULLY • a 0 • 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 00 o. 41.00000000000000000000000cia00009 0000000000000.000000000 0 0 00006 6—THE HURON EXPOSIITO-Ri JUNE 26, 0 0 0 0. 0 a.• 0 Base Ball Diamor d Saturday Dancing SATURDAY JUN E-29 Dancing to MOZART'S MELODY MAKERS E H GULLY VARNA Kawasaki 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0, 0 0 0 Arctic Cal 0 0 lifitviers have been?, Rolling balls on the grOeo since 1911 (By Ida Close) Roll, roll, roll your bowl smoothly down the green. Could well be the theme song of the Seaforth Lawn Bowlers, for that has been a favorite pastime of the men bowlers since 1911. James McMichael made it possible for the men to have their first greens at the East portion of. the new site of the Canadian Tire Corporation Association ..store • parking lot. While those greens were quite small and few in number, reports I are there were many intersting and competitive games played. In 1927 the men started looking fora suitable site for new larger greens. The large: area north of the former C.N.R. was chosen. The land when purchased was in an untidy mess. After many months of hard work and the overcoming of great difficulties, the new eighteen greens were opened and ready for play. On August 14th, , 1929 the opening tournament of the new greens was reported to be the largest and most successful ever held in Western Ontario. Since the Clubhouse had not been built the ladies of the club served dinner and supper in the skating rink. The bowlers were most appreciative of the service received. It was a big undertaking. Ladies Start With the moral support • and suggestions from the men the Ladies Lawn 'Bowling Club was formed April 15, 1929. There were thirty-five who joined the Club that year. , Mrs. R. J. Sproat was the first president, then called Captain, . while her husband Ross was President of the Mens' Club., ' The only active charter . members of the two clubs today are Lorne Dale and Ida Close. Sorry to report there are only three ladies living of the Orsf club. Mrs. R.J.Sproat, Miss Belle Campbell and Mrs. P. J. tiechely., Money raising activities throughout the years have changed very little, Card parties and catering for the men's tournaments . plus - the tournaments, are still the popular fund raising events. • The only difference now is the price. In 1933 there was a motion that the ladies serve supper for the men's tournament — the price 35c. That was a full course meal with' homemade pie for 'dessert. That same year the men's rinks tournament, the fee was $2.00 per rink. Rink games were very prevalent in the early years, whereas today the 'popular games are doubles or triples. Mclean Trophy One of the ladies' tournaments that has been indelibly imprinted on the minds of the ladies was the day we played for the McLean Trophy. The weather turned so very cold that second and third sweaters, of many 'colors, were worn by some. Even gloves were. worn to complete the game. One of our out of town bOwlers, I am sure, has related one of his embarrassing moments which he experienced while on the Seaforth greens. While delivering a bowl he heard- a rip, his trousers. gave way. He draped his shammy down his back until Jim Stewart came to his rescue, selling him a new pair of trousers. f reported the Presidents of 1929 and as far as I know, there was never a time in the past sixty-four years, that there has net been an active Lawn Bowling Club. • . 1975 has several w members who are trying the s ort and we hope liking it: There i a welcome mat out to others to try the game. The Presidents this year are Eric Mafzold and Helen Connell. Good Greens Besides good greens of which we are justly proud and a nice Club House with a fireplace and equipment to serve many patrons, we had a very impressive elm tree on the grounds. It was much admired but elm tree disease made it necessary to/have it levelled. Under a lovely photo of that tree inour Club House t here is a splendid poem written by the late John Beattie. Tribute to a Tree To-day I pay fond tribute to a tree I've watched it grow, and just twixt you and me I counted up the years, and do you know I spared it almost sixty years ago? With axe in hand I went to cut it down Fate intervened, how fortunate the town Why was I turned aside — Yes, now I see God made and had a purpose fOr that tree. Live on and grow and shed your cooling shade, On bowling men, on matron and on maid; Live in the breeze, the sunshine and the rain, Your bowling friends, will soon be back again. You have a wondrous beauty all your own, You're growing on a sheltered spot - alone And soon you will put on your summer dress We welcome you, in all your loveli ness. To see you in full dress is such a treat Tree lovers stop to "snap" you from the street- And tell the friends, they ought to come and see The Seaforth Bowlers' lovely Elm tree. '30 OR '31 CHAMPS The famous Seaforth Beavers won the Western Ontario Hockey Association Junior championship both those years. In this old team photo are players and officials, front, left, A. Hildebrand, G. Buckman, G. Stade, E. Yungblut,A. Cullitbn, cebtre, nRennie, T. Sills, L. Leppert, I. willed,. H. Post er, rear, Geo. Lilly, O. Flannery, , V. Allen, Jack Dunlop, A.W.Dick andSam Rennie. Mr, Rennie says the players camefrom;M- itchell, Zurich, Seaforth and Hensel!. bJ 43 cr.