The Huron Expositor, 1977-02-17, Page 3Our street OM
Dear Editor:
ljest thought I'd drop you a line and let you
' knew, how we're standing the Winter over here
"1 on our street. You know;'--iteiieign 'all my
born days heard such a ruckus over. a little
skiff of snow. Just goes to show how little
there islor-folks to.talk about, 'eh; they 'talk
about either the neighbours or the weather
and neither ever suits them. Well, as Mabel
next-door says to me, .she says,. "NeVer you
mind, juSt you wait'll it "starts to melt and.
floats yer pickleS around the cellar, then yer
misery'll be cpmpldte." 'Oh, that Mabel
she's'tpthe the one!
What I meant to say is, I guess she has a
point, like that saying about being thankful. for
. small miseries. If We can't handle a little
'snow, we're sure living in the wrong spot.
What the dickens do- we, expect this time of
year leathers? I tell you, if one of these
times we look out the windoW and see that
white stuff coming down, and its rnot snow, '
it'll be a great look-out, now won't it? Or like
this one exchange .1 overheard, this woman,
she 'says, "Tch! Look at that ,snow coming
down!" and this old guy says tight back to
-her, "Look. like-hell going up!" Now, I
thought that was a good one, what you'd call.
"thinking on your feet, eh?
Mabel was. just reminding me yesterday
that we haven't even had a decent ice:storni
yet this winter; I t sell you, if there' ,a•silVer .;.
in every cloud, that woman can find the:
means to tarnish it..
(Editor's, Note: "The view from our street" is
just • that, an occasional letter from 'an
anonymons correspondent who has an eye and
an ear for the things that happen •on "our
street". Watch for "The view from' our
street"-; -once -'in ; awhile, in The Huron
Expositor)
She was going on about these• people that
like to be out in the storms. • ""They're just
dang idiots, the lot,o'them.. All think they
gotta-be-outrippinan! earin'., can't stay lent,
gptab.! irTt.there gettinLStuek-ip,the-rOadand
blotkin' the plows. Just make a regular •
nuisance of themselves, Best thing, is getoffa,
the road entirely", shesaysv •'.!just entirely".
I guesS agree' withher, but she goes .and
ets herself-all worked up about' it. She gave
• • young Betty across the way. an earful too,. so l
• • heard. Wouldn't come right out and say who
she„Meant,' but she dropped some pretty
hdaVybints--see, Betty's husband tried to get .
out to work there one day when they said-the
highWay was closed; sordettoclOold him you
could' get through. So of course he got
storm-stayed half-way; as Mabel says. "can't
Conte and can't go, and . what good'll it a().
'int?"
ThatNabel, she's . a Tartar.
She had that• poor man lives on , the ether
side of them terrified, there one day last week.
He was, out shovelling (as George -- that's
Mabel's husband -- says, minding hiS own
'business, but then it's 'pretty hard to-do
anything else in six feet Of snow) and Mabel,
'she decided to go for a stroll and stir up the
world, so' she wanders over and starts talking
about all this snow, isn't it heavy, and how
these three men' in London had heart attacks
shovelling, and how you never know when it's
'going to be Our Time, and she's going on like "
this, and the •Tpoorinatt starts getting grey;
naturally, and seeing she's making headway. •
she says is he sure he's not overdoingit -- well
of course, by this time-he isn't sure he's not,
so do you know what she did?
She helps him (picturethis) sit down in the
snoWbank, then up she, marches to the doer
• and.hatrimerslit to break it down. So his wife
comes, and Mabel says her husband's flaying
,
ry• •
ed .:$pecial dare
• - •
:
THE HURON, EXPOSITOR, FEBRUAlpit, 1917..
to live with winter
a row could make annWful Chtlno
in our livels.„ Already.yoo find that
people aren't going out of town on
weekends or even to the other'end
' of the county for a dance • on
Saturday night the way they used
to, They're 'afraid thq won't get
home again and a pleasure trip
just. doesn't seem worth taking a
chance at getting stortn stayed, or
worse,, an aceitlent.
_So perhaps we'll have to go
back to the simple stay at home
pleasures that our' ancestors
developed to ,get them sanely
through winters 'when illey
couldn't get out of town or off the
farm for. Weeks, at a time.
Why not make -a short list of all
• the things you can, do without
%getting in •the 'car and driving
somewhere and' post. it -near your
_back door for„,those days when
you're stuck• at Wale and
desperate? .
;.101.1.14.411.61.10106.r.h11.11.1
added on.
Yon can ,erdis country ski over
to your neithbours along the tops
of sneWba ks. that cover What
once' was a . road (and will be
again, come June, or July, we.
premise): You can take a walk
around town, enjoy the absence of ,
motor vehicular traffic and" see
how lovely Seaforth's buildings
look with a heavy dressing of •
snow.
- You Can': gather, lip ,.sornte .
neighbeurs' kjds and your own w.
and take • then' skating on a _
nearby pond or river. If you don't
haVe one of those .nearby,.
consider flooding part oi your.._
yard and making .,your own
outdoor rink.
' YOu can get tout that strange
game your kids got for Christmas
1974 and finally have time to -
figure out how to play it, You can
teach your kids how to playthe
piano if you haVe one or practise-
yourself ifyour•own musical skills
have been getting rusty.
'You can walk to a nursing. home
and visit' a friend or relative or
4
SKATERS HONOURED — LlOyd and his Partner Lori Baler shoWn with
the gifts Mayor Betty Cardno preseniedio them qn behalf of the town at a receptiOn
held in the council chamber of the Seaforth Town Hall laSt - Thursday evening.
Between 60 and, '70 well wishers turned out. ,to honour the pair, who won the
'Canadian' Novice pairs championship. in Calgary recently: .- (Expositor Photo)
•
Are we going to have one lane
roads for the-rest of the winter?
The answer is • probably yes,
judging by the speed with which
all roads in the Seafo4h_area
filled iri• on' Stmday after ,fairly
light snow and 'high winds.'
I've been driving to London
-'once a Week lately: and have been
having :trouble making it through
king, heart stopping single lane
tunnels on Highway ,231South of
Mitchell. And I understand that'
-highway crews were just Starting
on 'Saturday, to wing back the
snow that covered one lane on
much of Highway 8 from Sedforth
to Mitchell, I can imagine what
Sunday's ,- storm did to , that
attempt.
I've also heard terrible
rumblings -that we're going ti
have a spell of fierce winters for
the next several years. -Maybe
that means that• we'd better get
used to one, lane driving on our
main roads and a lot, of trips in
and out by snowniobile i ff we live
on back roads. '
Several winters like, this:one in'
•
•
You can make bread, like did
for the first time on' the weekend,
and then you can build an igloo in
the backyard . Idivork off all the
pounds that the home made bread-
drop in on amelderly-neighbour
and see if he or she needs
anything. '
Oh there gre lots of simple
things that'll make the,',old
fashioned long hard winter We've .
been graced• with go by a little
more easily and a' lot faster.
•o. • You can tae your, snowmobile
for a run, delivering groceries to
people. who've' . 'run out and,
providing other errands of mercy •
..like the lad we ran into who was,
sent from McKillop to pick up a
Case of beer 'on his snowmobile.
You can' knit and sew and use 'up
those piles of material and, yarn
...that have been sitting around
your house since 1969.
• You Can organize card parties, •
lunches orjust good old conversa.-„,..
tional evenings . with the. neigh-
bours .who are just as sofotwed in
and suffering front lack of new „
faces as you are. You could have
. an amateur talent night, invite
the neighbours and have. every-
' body perform what they' do best. .
.even if it's just lighting a perfect
'fire in your, fireplace.
Maybe we'llget to like the stay at
hpme life so turn
into home "bodies, . even in the
summer time when'we can-
physically gertethose greener far
fields. .Hal - can just heat all
those people out there saying
Ta ll • • . ' • * *
There was a lot. of talk about,
changing our life styles around
the Expositor office last week
when many 'staff Members 'got
„,their monthly •. gas bills. For
awhile there was almost a contest
-on to see whose bill was the most
outrageous.
The Shock of those high bills
has lead to a lot of discussion
about alternative • sources of
energy and I won't be surprised
to see solar -collectors,, heat
pumps, wind 'Mills and fireplaces
and wood 'stove chimneys sprout-
ing on the properties of some of
my colleagues4in the near futdre.'
Come td..think of it, the
'combination of high energy prices
and bur fierce winter 'is likely to
'send a lot of us scurrying for . a
- cheaper, simpler way, to beat..Of ,
course if we could count on being"
storm stayed at home for a goodly
portion oVevety 'winter, splitting
wood could become -a new
national winter sport. ,
•
•
saying anything, just shuffling along,-
watching his feet. The door shuts.' .
- Well, in about ten secoqi-iit_epens.„ and
--Mabel-comes out; shutting. it hehind her.
Nobody 'see-s her, 'oft. She stands there a
second, then wheelsdod down_ the walk' and
-over home. •And do you' know what Geroge
told me she said to him, first thing she got in
the house? She said, "It's a good thing I went
, over there, that inight have been serious."
• George was telling me all this, and he said •
"She didn't say too much else about it, except •a
half-hour later she happened to look over that
way out the kitchen window,-and she says, "1
wouldn't wanta be her whedhesees that strip:.
' she tore off the garage!"
Well, i'mean, that's just Mabel. Addle-was.
telling' me another of her escapades the other
week, and she said it's a wonder somebody
hasn't killed that woman with 'a. stick a leng
• time before this. Then I said, "NoW;•Ad ie,
you know as well as I do if she died to ow
we wouldn't know what to do without her."
Well', you know that Addle. she's sharp. She
/said,' Yes, but nearly every day of my life I
wonder what'we're going to do with her!".
I thought I'd have a bit of-ffreelf-Mabel
about it, so yesterday I just mentioned 'the
snow, and then I said George had mentioned
something about her "excitement" last week.
Well, you can't get one up on her. I said,
"George was a tittle putrout;---he•-says _you
- never try to gethim to take it easy ; he figures
maybe you're after his money." And she says
never, batted an eye .-"Huh.' Well I guess
that settles that...if:the old bugger thinks- I'm
after his money hell• never die too
miserable."
I tell you, they're a pair Well met.
So that's how things are over on our street,
about as usual. I think maybe we'll all be glad
enough to see spring.
a slight "attack"; maybe they shptild call the
doctor. Well! Here's the poor wife. shouting at
hint (in the snowbank)---is'he all--right-,---stay--
there, she'sealling help,ansLraces.hackiinto
--the—beti-Se...4meanWhile; good , neighbour
Mabel walks-back out to him and says it'll be
all right;--chest - pains.. aren't necessarily
serious; "• lot- of •p ople live. through heart
attacks, only of e rse they have to take it _
. easy afterward, i s never ,quite the same
Well; in a mine his wife comes out on the
run, half into her coat, yelling "We're to go to
the-hospital; they're expecting us!" like he's
suddenly gone deaf, Then she yells at Mabel,
•"'Keep him beze!"-arn1 tears back into the
honse_again• and7back out waving her purse,
.shouting '"Keys!" Jest tramps,,the, car and •
comes charging out of the garage -- only in"
reverse, of, course -- down the wee bit of a'
grade in her driveway, jerk-,stop.,She cut the
Wheels a little on the way out and took a piece
off the garage post, .but,, it wasn't a very big.
piece. Good thing he had the driveway
..cleaned out already. '
SO they lead him in the back seat, and she's
saying,."Oh my. God, are ail 'right" and
when he goes to answer she says ."No, no„
'don't try to talk." .
So back out onto the street they go; and roar •
away, and . Mabel's shouting, "I'll look after
thelionse!" She'S--very good'in emergencies,
Mabel. . '
Well, I guess, oh,•rabout- an -hour- passed-;-
and -back they come, she's driving.- I Timm"
the wife. Into the drifeWay, into the garage,
park.' Therget out (he's in the front) arid.-come
out. ,Ire's walking slow, like he had a bum •
.knee, and she's looking intently at him and
Calking a streak but just her ling moving at this
distance. Nobody shuts the.-garage door.. They
"' walk across the little walk and up and into the
house,. and her lips are still moving; he, isn't
I I'
odll never have to worry about yOur' fine
-fabrics and delicate garrnents,...6ecause we
extra'time .anti effort to tend to-them
individually! You'll 'be pleased every. time!.
'KANNER.
CLEANERS
.81 Main St:,: Seaforth "
George Coldweli
Kiriburn native valued in Manitoba
[By Harry Hinchley) all his classes11,3 was also the best In January 1924, following an
A sentence in the Expositor hit boxer in, the college and a good operatien, Coldwell died at
fail. that "A son; George football player. Brandon. He was survived by his
Coldwell, became rather Returning to --Seaforth he wife and a familyOf font sons en8
prominent in Manitoba peltics." entered '• the law office of one 'daughter lie was buried in
led to a desire to know more about .Holmsted-& McGaughey:Francis - Brandon cemetery. '-
this man who had grown up on a - Holtristed was an Old, Country
Hullett. Township farm near lawyer who lived in a big frame
Niribtirn.• S8 a letter was sent- te house on the corner• in Harpitrhey
the Provincial Secretary at the from which he drove back.,and
Parliament Buildings in forth to his office by hoise. fter
- Winnipeg. a year in Seaforth the young man
About two weeks later - under went to the office of Foy & Tapper,
date of 76 11 30 - a reply came in Toronto. In 1882 he moved to
hack .` from the Reference Winnipeg and fmisbed his legal
Librarian at the Legislative apprenticeship with kennedy and
Library to whelp the letter had Striherland."
been feletied. With the reply, ' He was tailed to the Bar in 1882
therewereenough photocopies of
records' to show that,„to say that
----"George Coldwell was rather.
prominent in Manitoba politics
was in noway an understatement. ,
With the 'help , of the
information -given from the
Parliamentary Guide and from
Clippings from the Winnipeg
Telegram .and Winnipeg Free
Press the following story of the
life of George Coldwell was put
..;together.
George Robson. Coldwell was
born in '1858 in , township of
Darli ngtoilihrthintY of Durham,
the • son of Mr, 'and Mrs,
W.H.COldwell. In the fainit there
- was at • least dee-ttner-7§oit
William, and one slaughter. In
1860 they moved to Hullett
Township grid settled on a farm.
halft"Tfifierelst of kinlittin.
'George ColdWell received his
early eduation at the Kinburn
public school, S..87No. 3, Hullett.
Latet he went to grattimatachtiel
itiClintoti, then to
Selyierrn Pert Ropieand finally to
Trinity College TorOtit6 from
which he eaduated with degree
• of B.A. He had it brilliant
" t etir m , niy , sitcoilege *heretic took, 's in-.
and for a short time he practised
law in Winnipeg., Thep in
February, 1883 he moved to •
Brandon, a city which was to be
his future home. He went, into
partnership with Hon. T.M.Daly.
The-arrangement lasted for 12
years at the end of which time
Coldwell left to set .up another
Aim of Coldwell, Colernand and
Curran.
Coldwell fooklin active part in
municipal, politics and for 20
years he was a- member of city
council. In 1907 when The
Member--rif the Legislature - for
Brandon, Hon.S.V1/0 Melnitis died
lie was. elected' ai .Suecessot by
...acelaination,Mcintila had "'Wen
ProVirielif Seitetary and Minister
of Mimicipal Affairs andlhe neW
Mentbet took over, both Of these
portfolios.
The next year ,Coldwell was
• appointed as Mari itolpfS, first
Minister of HdUcationi and during
his term of -office he started a
„
system Of COnsolidated schools,
',Ile was re-elected to the ,togi0a'
tore' itt 1910'and again in 1914. In
1015 lie' retired With other
indiribers of 'the... loltlri
oVerti etif
How about you :2_
blues. •
That's whlrour local radio station, CICIOt
in Wingham thought too, and borrowing the
headline on a redent Huron Expositor column,
they asked listeners to phone in or send their
verse contributions to the Snow Bound Storm
Stayed Blues. CKNX got a healthy. respoghe
from listeners holed up• at home during the
recent storm; and gave the Huron Expositor a
-healthy 4 plug, each time the title of the
work-inprogress-was mentioned.
Expositor editor Susan White called' Jim
Swan of CKNX to ask if the Expositor could
print some of the Storm Stayed" Blues verses.
Sure, Mr. Swan said and he sent along a
.samples Which are reprinted below. "les. a
peartitle," he told her. `L 'And,rtext time you
see StoMpin' Tom, sell it to him!"
Seeing as we're 4,11 e0eits, if.you think you
`tan do yottroWtr verse. otthe Steint Stayed
send it Otrifi the. tn(011.,E)tPositoi. If .
the Winter stays at ifs present-interisity, the
' Huron' Ekpositor Can print sdveral verses a
week ,utitil . ,
I've 4ot the storm-stayed snowed in Blues
111 don't get, to work my job I'll lose •
if there is any one subject that every single found my homemade -bar.
person in..Westem Ontario- now-feels "Me got-the storm'stayeesnoWed'in' blues.
qualified to write about, it's the stores stayed .Lynn Hunter
Teeswater
• , .
I've got the storm stayed snowed in blues ,
I've got the blues I just can't lose
C cigahnt't4dsrwiveellMbye car rth
shin °char
ve got the storm stayed snowed in blues.
„ „ ,Elenor Lafrenere
HarrisftSn
I've got the stortrayed showed Ili tares.,
It's got me doWri in the nionth•A
It'll soon be made alright
With a one way ticket South. .
'Ilmswan
CKNX, Wingham
X listeners add
storm stayed blues wnr
George Robsendoldwell is one
of the many men who by 'their
great contributions to their
adopted home in• the West' have
made the-name -of "Huta' County
'known and respected all across
I got the storin stayed.:snowed in blues.
For survival VII give you the' clues;
Stay inside till the storm blows.its,,fuSe,
- And you'll still have a-car.you can use.
I got the storm stayed snowed -in blueS,
Anti' l-foei it right dowt to my shoe% ,,
To atiird to work on the roads I refuse,
VII stay home by the tire and UMW.. •fr
Brenda Lee Christie
.teeStAtatet"
But
I • \
the Prairie Provinces. He will be
still remembered in Manitoba"
where he did so much but in
Ontario, the land of his birth, how
often - -"is his name ever.
mentioned? '
1 -111tr'''
. Smoked
Beef and. Pork'
'l Ith.LSAU$AGE
139 (pICHICKEN
„1 LEGS
l r k .
I Medium
41:GB: ER EOF U b
C EESE
- FREEZER SPECIALS
„ , Fully Processed
Homemade' -
HEAD