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The Huron Expositor, 1977-04-07, Page 5a hill, on the road from Dublin. On the left, near 'the entre of the picture, is Sadlers Store, one of the few wooden general stores to be seen anywhere. Where the Shell gas station now , stands a chopping mill7 owned by John Sadler's. father, once operated. It was . burned to the ground 53 years ago. (EXpositorPhoto) THE MAIN,STREFT Staffa is.built on the side of c Mrs. Russell Worden and Mrs. Bill Mahon dernonStrated•attrfct- k ways ,of- tying scarves and different ideas on using scarves- as , accessories., They had an interesting •display set •up. Mrs. Charles Douglas had an informa- tion table on the present 4,-H Ijomemaking course "Major in Meat." Guest speaker for the afternoon was Gerald Brickmati, Wartburg, who gave some interesting and informative tips on gardening and demonstrated transplanting 'and propigating, Several draws were" made on plants donated by Mr. Brickman, with Mrs. Calder McCaig, Mrs. - Russell Taylor, Mrs. Bob Parsons, Christopher Scott and Kip Daynard • the .lucky winners. Tea time briiiiiht the afternoon to a close'. Pouring tea were Miss Vera Hambley and Mrs. Carter Kerslake. , Personals Mr. and Mrs. Bob Norris, Jill and Robert visited Saturday with Mrs. Bessia_Meir, Windsor- --- Mrs. Jim Neilson, Owen Sound and Mrs. -John TetriPteman visited 'Friday with. Mrs. Bob McDonald and children, Exeter. Miss Darlene Templeman attended —the -Hartley-Mitrtha .MMAMIAVAUMP KAWASAKI• Sales and Service Parts and . Accessories Factory Trained Mechanips at LL y- G ULL SPORTS & RECREATION LIMITED ,?3 Varna 262-5809 ..w=MMarAig...W.tfee.Mt were Kailey Micheille," daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Dow, and Julie Anne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Martyn. Dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Martyn and girls, „following the baptism were: Mr. and Mrs, Dave O'Donnell and Susan Killough, London; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Martyn and Tracey and Doris Wickie, Russeldale; Darlene Templeman, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs.' Jim Neilson, Owen Sound; I SEAFORTH JEWELLERS for DIAMONDS WA1 CUES ,IFVVF.I.LFRY. FINE' CHINA GIFTS FOR EVERY OCCASION' All pck, ul Rvpirs Phone 527-0270 wedding in Mitchell on Saturday. Mike Parsons.; Mr, and-Mm Rob Rapti-Zed during service by"' Templerrian and MC and Mrs. Rev, Jarvia- on palm Sunday at John Templeman •aud family. --Croinarty Presbyterian Church •• Rotary Tillers John.Deere 31/2 -and 6-hp Tillers prepare deep; fine seedbeds ...save hoe work. Turbo tines mix and mulch thoroughly to 7-inch depth...13- to 24-inch widths. Reverse-gear backs tiller from tight spots. Pressure- 'activated safety clutch—release it and all action_stops:_Exterision--tines-available. FRED McGEE • AUTO ELECTRIC LTD. SALES BACKED BY SERVICE WINGHAM 357-1416 34' )535 3644'121 news from the hamlet and surrounding area every week. If you have news of the Staffa area, call Mrs. TeMpleman at 345-2346. Expositor Photo) Lo-vier Interest' Rates NOW_AVAILABLE ON • 1st and 'fic] Mortgages anywhere in Ontario on . RESIDENTIAL — INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL and FARM PROPERTIES Interim financing on new construction or land development .REPRESENTATIVES IN YOUR AREA PHONE , SAFEWAY INVESTM & CONSULTANTS LT Head Office: 56 Weber Street, Kitchener, 15191 744-_ Branch Office 504 Tenth Street , Hanover 151 WE BUY EXISTING MORTGAGES FOR INSTA sto f ró m th.e 20's the Expositor's Staffa correspondent and reports NEWS FROM STAFFA Mrs. John Templeman Is _ - Correspondent turn Went back to her -a-an-aid, "I St. Columban; Lone hands - Mrs. Vincent Lane guesalou won't have to go to h. . Ronald Murray, Dublin; Men's Since my last week's column, I after all, I have made different high - Dan O'Rourke, Seaforth; have had several telephone calls . ,..arrangenients with your Low.— Clarence. Ryan; St. Columban;, Lone hands - Vinc. Lane. Lucky iplate, Mrs. Richard Downey, St" ,-Columban. Lucky cup, Mrs; Hazel Kirkham, Mitchell. Lucky draw, Mrs'. Joe Shea, Dublin. 44- By the way! Don't forget our "Old Timers" card party in K.,Of C. Hall Thursday, April 12, 2::4 p.m. You will be home in lots of time to take in any eve. appoint- Tents you had planned. All net - proceeds go to "Right to Life".. Personals Mr. and Mrs. Jas. E McQuaid attended the Denorrim e- Garnham wedding in Widen Saturday. Matt Denomme is a grandson, of Mr. and Mrs. McQuaid. Mr. and Mrs. Glen Butters of " Edmonton attended her father's " funeral. last week. Also Mr. and Mrs. Jack Melady, Brighton were n attendance. ad personal contacts with local d distant readers (some as far way as Edmonton) saying they certainly, were not critical, and was not to give up.' " I had thought that I had expressed myself clearly that I had no intentions of doing so, but • if it appeared that way it was only my awkward way of expressing • myself. However, perhaps. I owe you an apology but that may be as awkward as •one I recall -in the early 20's. I believe it was at a dance in • Brodhagen that this guy asked a girl ,for a dance. She said, no thank you - he said go to H. . . She in turn told 'her brother about it who happened 'to , _be a big huskey. So he-went' to the ' guy and said "Listen bud; if you don't go back and 'apologize, I'll • be..4 your brains opt." So he in brother." "" -- This has been a busy, week for us attending hockey games, anniversarys and card parties. So much so that perhaps I have not concentrated on local items- to write about or commenting on anything such as the weather, only to say, I don't think you need worry about that new straw hat for'Easter, and keep those winter clothes handy for some time yet. Promotion is a very important factor in the organization Of anything. A good example of this was displayed on March 31 by Mrs. Ged. Duclivarme's Church card party in Mitchell. The hall was filled to capacity, people from Dublin, St. Columbap, Seaforth and Mitchell areasenjoyed excellent etitertainmint and- lunch, Prize whiners were: Ladies _high - Mrs. ban ,Costelle, Dublin; LOW • marg MeLianghlin, Mervvood says "Sell it - - Don't count it — So We've SLASHED- PRICES on every item in the store .YOU GET ... Selection: over 160 appliances on display'', over 30 Televisions and 15 Stereos in over 5000 sq. ft. of showroom, all brand' names. - 24 years of service and fair irade;we• b‘lieve in repeat customers. Money back guarantree if we can't satisfy you. INSTANT DELIVERY will deli ver your appliance in 24 hours. We know our products because we service them. • Parts: 6 days a week our parts department is open Monday to Saturday. BEST OF ALL OUR LOCATION SAVES YOU MONEY. OUR PRICES.ARE TH.E BEST IN THE BUSINESS!• • gommi moms* alum. &Nods ENTER OUR YEAR END RA For Your Choice of one of theslotems, Modular . STEREO 12' ,'table Power TELEVISION or LAWNMOWER 'Each purchase receipt will be dropped in a box during April. Th I winning receipt will be drawn May 2, 1977. • 1. For Big Appliance Savingt . Ask for Harvey or Merwood • Payment. Plans . can, Be Arranged Merwood Smith lotdi s ill Turn 3,:d toad port •liory 2,3.i • t thr,, mg* OM OW thtOwft Its.2 Lister's), Ontario m, C. Smhh I lr 11 .11 • • • •}: ------- . .• • :s THE HURON exPopfToil, APRIL 71 1077 —6 atteni.-:Staffa Neig hbour pa-rty. Township hall. Theplace has changed over the years. The hotel is gone now, though the building still stands across from the Township hall, and is now an auto body shop. Harvey Hambly, whose father began his apprenticeship-in -the blacksmith shop in 1887, is still the area'Slilieksmith. There are no longer horses to, shoe, but plumbing work -and repairs to machinery keep him busy today. Grace Anglican Church; built in 1887, stands near the top, of, the , hill. It is weathered and grey, no longer a church, but from 1938 to 1950, a chopping mill, and today, a garage. The , public schools which served the area children are closed now. Children from Staffa and neighboring farms are bused to Mitchell: It 'is a quieter place than it once was because of all these changes, but to the people' who live ,. there, Staffa is• still important. The family names .of • many of the people in the community date back to the area's earliest residents. So there is a sense of permanence in the- . place, despite' the changes that have occurred. • Staffa today, is a community about 60 people, both young and' old, the same as it has-been far as: long as anyone in the area can, remember. There are no empty' is Staffa's centre 'Correspondent , • Mrs. John Templeinan 345-2346 Over sixty women and children attended the "Hi Neighbour" party sponsored by the Staffa Women's Institute in the Township Hall on Wednesday, March 30, The afternoon opened with greetings from the presi- dent, Mrs. 'Charles Douglas. Several interesting displays were set up, among them an interest- ing display of the Tweedsmuir boolts and Institute scrap books set up by the 'ctirator Mrs. Ross McPhail. . Mrs. Alvin Barbour and Mrs. Frank Hamilton had a needle- point• display; this course . is presently being'offered by local Women's Institutes. (By Len Pizzey) Editor's Note: This story on fa is, another in a series of reports on the„, communities whose correspondents contribute regularly to the Huron Expositor.) There are hundreds of them scattered I throughout this _ country. To the casual pbserver, the.person passing through on his way to somewhere else, they seem hardly to exist at all - just a few 'houses and-a gas station, and maybe a store* or two. Hamlets, villages, places where you slow down from highway speed for a moment, then push on the accelerator again, anxious to get where. you are going. They seem to make no sense, , and you can't help wondering just who lives in such a place, and how they make a living. If you took -the time to stop and watch and listen, you might find a way•of life that in some respects has changed little from the days when horses were the only, transportation and, the General store was the centre of social life. Staffs; is like that. It stands' on a hill, facing north, on the road from Dublin. It was here, in 1859, that A.mbrOse Tuffin built a frame house and started Springhill, as it was known,for a time. It ,wasn't long before it had grown into a , little community, with a black- sniith shop, a church, a hotel, a shoe shop, and by- 1870, a houses, 'and three young couples have recently Moved into the hamlet.' Mrs. John Templeman: of R.R. 2, Staffa, who writes the local correspondence for. the Expositor, talked of some of the things that people do for recreation in Staffa, arid-how they earn theirtlivipg. Farming "Most people of course; work put, of the hamlet,;' she said. Farming in the surrounding area is the most important single, activity. Some,people also work in Stratford. Seaforth, Mitehell -and other nearby places, Mrs.. Templernan said: • • Several people work 'for the Township, one map has a trucking business, there is ' the body shop and the blacksmith. The Staffa Creamery, which occupied the old hotel building on the corner opposite Sadlers ,General Store, once employed- a' number of areit TaTizTfile and took "milk and cream from local farmers, Mrs: Templeman said, but it closed in '1970. Today, farmers send their milk to larger centres. . There is ayoung peoples' group •at Hibbert United Church , in the hamlet. Mr. Daynard, who is the local minister, supervises tha _organization, which , holds bowling parties. beach parties, hayrides and sleighrides, and takes a bus trip now and then. In the winter, Mrs. Templeman says, Staffa is almost never cut off from other places by the snow, and most people curl or play hockeY, in one of the neighboring towns, There are dances in the Township Hall, sometimes too, though there aren't as many as there used to be, Mrs. Templetnan says. In the summer, it is baseball that keeps people busy. There are teams for children of all ages in the. area. The ball park Staffa once had, has now moved just , down-the-road, to. Cromarty, but that hasn't dampened peoples' enthusiasm for 'the game. There have, been women's slow pitch . teams in the past, and the men's slow pitch team, the Twiii 'City Bombers, draws a lot of interest. • Own Fair Years. ago, Staffa had its own fair Mrs. Templeman say's, bin' there isn't one today. The rural school closings of eight Or nine years ago contributed to some extent to the decline of activities in the community Mrs. Templeman says. Still, there is one place in the hamlet, where everyone goes to .meet, just as they have always done. Sadler's Store, which stands at the crossroads in Staffa, has long been 'the most important place in .1 the hamlet. It was here in earlier' clays that people would gather in the evenings to play cards and talk around the warrnthpf a wood burning stove. Even , today, you will seldom go • in the store without finding two or three people sitting around the desk that stands at the back of the store, close' to the heat of the furnace- They may have come to buy a loaf of bread' of a quart of milk, or to ask for their mail, or just to find a few minutes of companionship. In earlier days, when a ten mile trip was a' long journey, and winter travel was a real hardship. the store was more important to the life of the community than it is. today. John Sadler, who has run the store for 6.0 years, and has now givenit over to his son Bob, says that business has been declining over the years, as people are lured by the variety they find in the towns and cities. Unchanged • • But for now, the store continues to exist, almost • unchanged from the way it was when it was expanded to its present' size in 1893. It is one of the last places of its kind anywhere. On its old wooden shelves lining' both sides;of the room, can be found paint, polish, Dr. Bell's cattle cathartic, locks, furnace filters, rubber boots, tools of many kinds, shirts, sugar, nuts, bolts, candy, canned food, Gilletts.Lye, and dozens of other ttehis people might need in the course of a week. And, as in the old days, you still stand at the counter and ask for the things you want. John Sadler remembers when the store was open at night, and how the people would gather for a social evening. "At one time, in the summer time, the veranda would be lined with people sitting our there," he says., • Today, the -Staffa post, office is located at the rear of the 'store, and people pass in and out to get their mail and the local news.. Mr.. Sadler says there was once a post office in a house in the hamlet, and one in Cromarty as well. Both have been closed "for eight or' nine sears" he says, andthe store now handles the mail. Mr. Sadler says 27 people pick up their mail at the store, and a' rural route delivering to some 180 people is handled from the store by Mrs. Hulley, from. Cromarty. "If' it • weren't for the post office, we'd be cloSed up now" Mr. Sadler says. It brings the revenue and the people needed to -keep the store going, No one can say what the future will hold for 'Staffa, and the hundreds -of places like it that dot the countryside in,rural Canada. Founded by men who could not foresee the future, these Small places , were vital 100 years ago, when the horse was transporta- tion and winter travel was an brdeal.Today,. with roads nearly • alWays clear, and cars bringing -larger places within a feW minutes drive, small communities are„Ipsing their importance. Job opportunities are few, and the incentive for young people to stay -in small communities is declining. No one can know if in 50 years, a place like Staffa will haVe grown, or gotten smaller. For today, it remains a .quiet rural place, a- little closer to the early daya-of Canada than larger places are. As John Templeman put it: if you drive through it on a summer evening, you can still•see , young people sitting on the steps of Sadler's Store, talking, laugh- ing, passing the time as people have in little places for a century. Maybe that's enough. - • lot r, v.•••••• '" 41110.'„:.7r,t'54'.•4...;144;r•i•t"fr. • THE OLD CHURCH — Grace Anglican Church was built in 1887 and cloSed in 1936. The building Was bought in 1938 by Frank and Walter O'Brien, who used it for a chopping mill until 1950. Since that time, it has been used for a garage,. (Expositor Photo) St. Columban -correspondent • :.;•Nor•••••••••••• • • •••• • • ,• • • 'x. t. , •