HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 95-there is no dam and very little
water. The retreats and hiding
place of birds.and animals have
been fouled up and the modern
boy would not relish the scum and
filth that nurtures on the decay.
• The dam which was' so
important in early times has
suffered the ravages of erosion.
• FlOodfide waters have
undermined the rotting timbers
and there is not much left to show
the strength it possessed in the
last century. It is a skeleton that is
gradually disintegrating. Once a
vital organ in the life of _the
cOrnmunity, to-day its heart
gone and its body decayed.
Historians may write long and
glowing accounts of the dam and
the glorious events that were held
there but it will never be restored,
except in the memories of the
people who played there. They
will remember it as a wonderful
landmark, pulsating, full of life,
fond memories and the centre of
their dreams. To them it will
always remain a hallowed spot
where pleasant days were spent
and enjoyed. The romance of the
dam picnics is long since past and
there is little or no hope for their
return.
See you at
Centennial!
SEAFORT PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
RODGER WHITMAN E. DALY
B. CARONO
WALTER SCOT MRS. AMY HORNE
Chairman Commissioner Mayor Manager Secretary
'At the Egmemdville dam, . _
Remember Gypsies and skinny dipping?
(Continued from Page 3)
readily available. They did not
dwell on the subject but no one
was left in doubt for any length of
time. Sex was no more important
than gathering pussywillows for
their mothers, collecting birds
eggs, blowing up fro gs or
chasing hatterflies.
Full of Trout
From earliest 'times the
Egmondville bridge was the fqcal
point of yesteryear. It was a
gathering place in the evenings
and a spot to walk to on Sundays.
Boys fished from the.bridge, little
girls skipped on it. Lovers met,
caressed, and oftimes took the
footpath from there to the altar.
The river -Under the bridge was
radiant and clean in those days.
The water was clear, cold,
sparkling and full of pink-fleshed
trout. Progress and time have
reduced it to a trickle;‘ a sickly
trickle in summer, due to the
draining of the land by farmers
-.."'''''ST4=CiaNAMEMMAZMWOMMW
being thrown into the water and
told to swim back. It was
unethical but effective. Bathing
suits were never worn and up 'till
this period never thought of. The
hindrance of clothing was shed
whilst running down the
embankment towards the
swimming „hole. Last in 'was a
rotten egg. That was an
inducement to tear off blouses
and pants. The thrill of swimming
and the excitement around
swimming hole held precedence
over alt other training.
River Rat Gang
The River Rat Gang was as
much a part of the dam
surroundings as the birds, the
animals and the fish.
Enchantment, magic, fascination
and freedom filled every minute
of the day. Merely watching a
blue heron float into the distance
or a helldiverdisaPpearing below
the surface was picturesque. All
of that is behind us. To-day.
.igieMOMMOZIMagaWAMMEMW.,Ms::
and the Town ofh Seaforth
disgorging its cesspools into the
spring-fed waters of Silver Creek.
was an . Egmondville River
Rat, sunburned, freckle-faced,
and barefooted. I swam, naked,
below the slides of the dam, dug
turtle eggs along the high bank
and carved my initials on the
shells of big ole snappers. It was a
carefree era and to-morrow didn't
matter. Nature supplied an
abundance of wildlife to keep
boys happy. Snappers were half
the size., of washtubs and the
booming voices of bullfrogs loud
as great big drums. We played,
we ran, we fought, we built
castles in the air and allowed our
imaginations to get out of bounds.
The blue of the sky was an ocean
and the soft fleecy clouds were
puffs from the guns of pirates .
The river was the centre of our
dreams and the dam was the
headquarters. Every boy learned
to swim and by the same method;
'4
Edward Mold, Frank Sills, Sr., and Jerry Case man the
Hydro Booth, promoting_the use of electrical appliances.
The picture was taken at the Recreation Park '(Now. the
Optimist Park) about 1912. Note the kids on the fence
avoiding admission fees. Who says things have changed?
29
ROVIDING THE BEST IN SERVICE
OVER THE YEARS
Seaforth's 1st Electric Dynamo was bought by the
town in 1889. The Scott brothers formed the Seaforth
Electric Light Company in 1894 and by January 1895
Seforth had its first renal- power Source.
Incandescent lights numbering b00 and 75 arc lights
turned night into. day.
In August 1910 the town citizens voted 370 to 42
for. Public Hydro which was turned on December 1,
1911. Seaforth's P.U.C. was famed later in the same
year with D. J. McCallum as chairman. The P.U.C.
has taken pride for 64 years in providing Seaforth
with the best service available.
•
POW 'zMN'V./"-efff.00W,Mr.A.WAMMEW.‘e,MW,WS NOMMIMS"
22—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 26, 1975