The Huron Expositor, 1978-05-11, Page 2BehinclIthe scenes
ay Keith Roul;tri
My red neck is showing
, .
0.11% fiurn
Published
xpo,pitor
Sine 1860, Serving the,Community First
at EAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by . McLEAN BROS.
ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Publisher
SUSAN WHITE. Editor
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SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, MAY 11, 1978
Council is careful
P 77777711-77 ,771.
showdOwn of wills with a seven year old if the
new law comes in? If two adults come to such
an impasse they can call in the cops to charge
the other one with breaking some law, or they
can call in the lawyers and sue each other, or
they can move out of the same neigh,,eurhood
and never have, to deal with the other person
again, , If it happens to he a husband and
wife , the lawyers get rich again fighting the
divorce case.
But what, pray tell, do you do in the ease of
a seven-year old? 1 mean there is no law on the
statute books that says a Icid has to remove the
frog he just put in the kitchen sink while his
sister was doing the dishes. The cops can't ,
come to your assistance and besides they're
too busy chasing murderers, rapists and
people-without-their seat.belts done up to have
time for such little things. I don't think there's
a case for a law suit unless it was the frog who
wanted to sue for being stuck in soap suds
thus ruining • his environment and perhaps... • .....
effecting his health (might be a settlement for.
$150,000 the way things are going these
days), The law says, you have to care for your
children so you can't move out and leave him
and there's no case on record of divorce from
father to 4n.
So what do you do? Well I guess the kid just
walks all over you. Unless, unless...maybe if'
you yell and scream and stamp your feet the
kid . might get mad enough and haul off an
smack you one, at which time you could
, charge him with assault 'and the cops could
_.came.to youn rescue afterall...
No I hate to make light of a problem as
serious ..as. child beating, '1 know that raelly
people skx_go_too_far-iti„physcallun s h men t. -1-
remember friends of mine when I was growing
up who lived in terror of their father's leather
belt with metal studs on it which. would come
in sharp contact with their bare skin when
• they displeased him. They had nightmares
about it, but. I think they grew up pretty
normal for all that.
PeoPerlalk so--much about the trauma of
physical punishment but what about the
trauma 'of psychological punishment. Didn'
we learn during the Korean War and since that •
psycological warfare such as brainwashing
was every bit as bad as physical torture? Why
then do we now feel that a good slap on the
rear which the, child will recover from in two
minutes, is more traumatic than spending a
couple of hours in his room shut off from
friends and family? I just can't see the logic in,
it, but then I guess that shows I'M just a
Huron county redneck who doesn't know any
better.
Despite visits by various dele-
gations (Huron's warden, clerk and
executive Committee chairman made
up ':the most ,recent u onesSeaforth
council remains wary of county wide
residency rules for OHC apartments.
Council's reluctance is under-
standable. It agreed in principle with
the proposal, Which could save
Seaforth money, Monday night but
with a lot of , reservations, and a
suggestion that the change could still
be vetoed-before it gioes into effect.
• With -reported` 55 peoPre on a
waiting list for ,senior citizen
'ate • mo0 tit) n here and-la-tifilit-tote-
buileftWs summer that will house only
15, council fears that local people
could be "bumped" in favour of more
needy seniors from elsewhere in the,
county.. •
Warden Gerry 'Ginn assured'
Seaforth that the Huron Housing
Authority. would give preference to
local people whose needs, and
therefore points towards admission
were close to those .of someone from
mitSideTtYwn,„„He's probably right and
.also, as the ,delegation pointed out,
few seniors from other parts of. Huron
would want to five in OHC apartments •
here, They'd 'wait fOr vacancies in ;
their own communities:
Unfortunately 'the county can't
speak for , the Huron Housing
Authority. NO, elected level of
,government can. It's for 'that reason
that we share COuncil's wariness of
the county wide residency seheme.
The Huron Housing • Authority is
appointed, by the province the federal
government, and one..member of the
A lot of people have complemented me by
phone or on the street meeting them; and
telling me. that my letters in the Huron
Expositor were very interesting,-'and agreed
with 100 percent. That gave me courage to
write another one.
Some have even asked me to be a regular'
writer for the' Huron...Exppsitor, but I have
said, no. First of all I haven't got time and
secondly, I haven't 'been asked by the big
chief Editor to do this. Anyway thanks .for
being se open and honest and telling me, you
were interested.
Now it's back' to school, teachers are :back
behind their desks again. Everything seems to
be normal again, even the drug and beer
pedlars are back again. It has been quiet
around the school for the past six weeks, but
, now we are back in the'rat race too. It starts at
about 11:30 'till about 4 o'clock, chasing each
other at 80 miles per hour.
Do you know, those drug and liquor
pe dlers? Well, they come• with long hair, a
dirty cape over that, long beards and dirty
clothes, pretending they are working.
Nonsense. You will say "I don't bel ieve it!"
Well you better come out and see for yourself.
A few years ago, I went to see the principal
to talk about it. He gave me the-answer, that
he has no authority outside the schoolyard,
Old Boy
Last week I had the pleasure of being at the
showing of photography by a Seaforth Old
Boy Clare Westeott, The Photo Exhibit took
place in the American consulate in Toronto
and was under the auspices of the Consulate
General of the International Communication
Agency of the United States.
Many dignitaries were there incluiding the
Consulate General, ,Premier Davis. Larry
Henderson and a host of others. In all, about
200 people attended and joined in a tribute to
the unusual talent of Clare.' To Clare this it a
hobby and a very enjoyable one too that he is
able to carry out along, with his duties as
Executive Assistant to the Premier. His duties
have carried him to many interesting places
would like to take this opportunity to'thank
the people who took the time to reply to the
survey which we conducted regarding the
hours of Lock Box Service at the Seaforth Post
Office.
Of the 962 questionnaires sent out. 208
were returned. Of these 107 showed outright
support; the rest expressed dissatisfaction, or
suggested longer hours for Saturday after-
noon,for the most part. (Even those .who had
checked that they agreed were included in the
against if they suggested longer hour's in the
addir lona' comments section.)
01' the actual returns 48„5 indicated that
the only . thing he can 'do, is, if he smells
'someone has .been drinking 'or acts funny
during school hours, he will send them home.
Does he? Does he let the parents know about
it? He said, he had no authority outside the
schoolyard, and that it is up to the police to
catch those peddlers. Now we have a police
force, five men strong. Do -they know this is
going on for years and years? Or do they
pretend they are busy somewhere else! I doo't
want to alarm their parents, their teenagers
getting involved in this kind of business.
There are parents and I know them, they are
alcoh'aiFctliemsefV-Fs-,TFeYTEiiiTdi'r t care less,
... what's happening to their teenager, but there
are a lot of good 'parents, who do care, and I
hate to see an innocent teenager gel involved
and trapped by those wolves, because it leads
from one thing to another. You know as well
as I do that when one is caught, they find all
kinds of excuses to blame somebody else.
Do you think employers who have
employees. who are supposed to be on the job
eight hours; to' earn their money, give time
off, to their employees, to go for a ride with
their girl friend at 3 p.m.' wasting their time
and money. Why are these buses running for
our children, and why are there so many
coming to school by car?
• John Van Geffen
a success
and he has recorded them on him so that we
too can have pleasure from them.
It is always doubly pleasant to have one of
our own Seaforth Old Boys become a success
and rise to prominence. Mer the years Clare
has been very loyal to his hometown and has
always tried to help anyone who sought his
aid. The gala group that showed up for this
exhibit attests to his pop ularity and I was very
pleased to be a part of it and represent all his
friends here in Seaforth. I know that your
paper has always been appreciative of Clare's
many alents and will be glad to hear that the
showing was a great success. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Frank Sills
results
they would prefer extended hours. Of the total
'sent out (962) this would indicate that slightly ,
in excess of 10 " would prefer longer hours fo
the Box ',ebbs?. ""
Although This is not a large percentage, it is
significant enough that we have again taken
the matter under centideratiam We: hope to
conic up with a compromise within the next
two • weeks or so, which will provide for
sufficient access for the Box Holders. yet still
ensure the safety of the mail.
We appreciate your interest in this matter.
W. C. Wigelsworth
Postmaster, Clinton
I guess my red neck is sticking out again,
but the latest proposal for law reform has me
a little upset.
There's a good deal of concern today about
child beating and Ern the first to admit that 'it
is a terrible problem. I've known some parents
with vicious tempers who take out their own
frustrations on their kids. •
However• there are those who feel the.
answer is to change the law so that any parent
who so much as slapped a child across the
bottom could be charged -with assault and
that, in my' humble opinion, is going a little
too far.
I couldn't believe the proposal when I first
heard it a few months.-ago. Apparently there
are already some countries in the world that
have such a law. Sweden-1 think is one.
Recently a coroner in Toronto has been
pushing for such a law to be brought in in
Canada. Frankly, I wonder if the man has -
children.
Now spankings are something that are fairly
tare around our family. There tends to be a lot
more yelling, screaming • and pleading than
there are spankings, We seem .,to have
youngsters with particularly tender feelings
who can break into•tears at a mere cross look
(frankly I think they'll all someday get into
acting and win- Academy Awards). Still, I
reserve the right to give a kid 2 swat across
the seat of the pants when all else fails. •
Now I know that makes me anything but an
enlightened parent . And enlightened parent
is.supposed to. b_e Aheve phy.sical _punishment
in the 1970's. We're supposed to reason with
our children, explain :_to_ then) why they
shouldn't do this _or th t if _atelse fails Ive
should administer a mild punishment such' as
sending the kid to his room.
But what does the enlightened parent do if
the child refuses to see the logic in the
argument but simply stands there •stamping
his feet and screaming that he'll, do whatever '
he wants and -nobody- can stop him. So yeti
ever so enlightenedly ask the child to go to his
mom and he tells you where to-go -You make
the command a little stiffer, without, of
course, raising your voice too high because an
enlightened parent doesn't do that. The kid
graphically tells you what you can do with
sour order. '
So where does the enlightened parent go
from here? Well, he can either give up, or he,
can throw away his Dr. Spock and fetch the
surprised kid a slap on the bottom: Redneck
that I am, take the latter Course.
But what happens when you reach` such a
I have written your Chamber of Commerce,
Department of Immigr a tion and Historical
Branch for some information concerning my
family. The Chamber of Commerce suggested
your paper may help me find the information
I'm looking for.
My family migrated to Seaforth from
Scotland:Probably the-early to middle 1800's.
I am trying to trace my4family to learn the lives
and history of my family. It's important to me
that my children knOw their heritage and the
struggles of the people to make their lives a
Would you have any information in your
newspaper dating back to the 1890's. I am
searching for information on my great
grandparents - Thomas Grieve and his 'wife
Mary Ann Shaw - I believe they had 8 or 9
children - the oldest being my grandmother,
Elizabeth Olive Grieve: I understand they had
a farm near. Seaforth and all the children were
born there - They le,ft_Seafaorth in the 1890's
(my guess .would be around 1895 - or 96) for
Park River, N. Dakota -. I understand my great
grandparents lived there most of their lives -
I was wondering if I might have some help
in tracing our family background., One,of our
aunts has told us that our grandparents came
front Seaforth these names were Ellen Teresa
Cronin and Jafnes BarthelmeW Gatzemeyer.
J'ame's parents were Johana h and Louis
Gatzemeyer.. If 'anyone could help me' in
finding any information on any of these people
or' any other Gatzemeyers. I would greatly
appreciate it. When they left Seaforth, they
The assistance of your subscribers and/or
readers is urgently needed. I am trying to find
the Maritime birthplace of seven
Prendergasts who moved to the Seaforth-
Dublin-Egmondville area in 1848. My grand-
th'', William Prendergast (1861-1935)
stated in a 1932 letter that his father, John
Prendergast (1835-1920), was born in the
I'vlaritinres and died in -November 1920 at
Egmondville. Ontario. John was the second-
born of seven children. The other six were:
James....born in 1829: died at Avoca. Iowa, in
1893. Mary....birth date unknown. Died • at ,
Omaha. Nebraska, in 1912. Cornelius....birth
date unknown. Died at Buffalo, "New York.
Catherine....born May 10. 1842. Died at
—Died at Dublin in 1848 of smallpcic.
Ontario, in 1893. Michael....born in r845.
Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913. ,Thomas '
Deligney....born in 1844. Died at Dublin.
According to' the 1.932 letter 'my great
grandfather James Prendergast was a black-
smith and a farmer in Hibbert township of
Etrth County. Is there a census of the' 1800's
or a county atlas or a Land Registry office
which has recorded the taxpayers? Another
better one today.
Donald McKay born December 27th, 1868
at Seaforth. His parents were William and
Effie -McKay, William's father was John
McKay, his mother was Mary McKay and so
far this is • the only information I have
concerning their lives in Ontario. 'Any help
will be' mbst appreciated!! I anxiously await .
your reply. Virginia Canfield,
121 South Court Street,
Howell, Michigan,
48843, U.S.A.
in Seaforth.
I would be most grateful for any information
which you could send to me and would be
happy to pay you for services. A self-
addressed, envelope' is enclosed for your
convenience.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
-Mrs: Dayton Hughes,
204 Garden Park Drive,
Orem, Utah, 84057 U.S.A.
came to Nebraska, where we w ere born and
'raised.
We may possibly-visit Seiforth this summer
to see if we can locate any intersting family
facts. Is there a historical sociely or museum
in your city?
Thank you for any help you may be able to
give us.
Beth Gatzemeyer
5206 W. Craw
Lincoln, No. 68524
township mentioned in the . 1932 letter is
Tuckersmith of Huron County.
John Prendergast married, twice. His first
wife was Bridget Casey. She was born in
Ireland and died in 1872 at Egmondville or
Dublin, Ontario. His second wife was
Margaret Finn. She was born in • 11347 at
Ireland and died in Decernlier 1920 at
Egmondville.
Catherine Prendergast married Michael
McGrath of Dublin, Ontario. He was born
November 10, 1837 and died 'March 'a 1904
at Omaha, Nebraska.
I am assuming that an official record of
marriage, of birth, of baptism,•of death or of
tax payment will also include place and date
cf birth of the parents or of the landholder.
Mr. Editor, is it also possible that the Huron
Expositor has maintained files of its earliest
publications; that mention of James Prend-
ergast and/or of his children had been made?
William Prendergast
Box 223
Cremona, Alberta
.TOM ORO
In the yrart ag rte... •
AY 17, 1878
The recent wet sp 11 seems to have wound up with tt
severe frost. On Mendity morning, water which had
been standing over night became thickly coated with
tee. In some places the advance clover was scorched
and grape and other vines were considerably hurt,
We learn that Father McGrath of Irish Town has-
been appointed to the charge of the important parish in
Bothwell. We understand' that his friends in Dublin,
(Carron) and Irish Town presented him with an address
,and also a purse containing a good sum of money.
The track on the driving park is now ready for driving
on. It is excellent in condition,. being as hard and level
as Ma efils(L°s,r' Charlesworth and setts of Egmondville are
having a new corliss engine of immense power placed
in their mill. •
Building is. pretty lively in Zurich and a new wagon
shop is being, erected by the Schnell brothers and
several liaises are rapidly being completed.
John Fortune was returning home from Seaforth
after having delivered a load of milk at. the Che ,ese
Factory when he fell from his wagon, breaking his leg.
Messrs. Petty'of Hensall shipped a large quantity of
cured meat direct tothe 1E57191it Market.
MAY •
The passenger train going north on the London, .
Huron, and Bruce branch of the Grand Trunk Railway
met Serious accident at Kippen station. The train
was running on' time when it approached the switch at
the south side of Kippen staion, the engine left the
track f011Owed by the baggage and mail car and the
smoking car- The' engine ran along the ties for about
'200 feet when it sheared to the east side of the track and
becoming deeptyimbedded in the roadbed, came to.,a,
standstill almost on the brink of the embankment. The .
engine and..tender were badly broken and it took some
time and good deal of herd work to get them pried: Paul
Doig was working near the track and immediately
opposite the accident, when it occurred.
Messrs: Henderson and Delacey of the COMmercial -
Mel have been having a thorough spring renovating, at
----the-hotel--and-every •room now.looks bright-and -fresh.-
George -Murray has Left for-Brandon, Manitoba. He
took with' him a complete outfit for the manufacture of
,cement brick and intends engaging in that business in
the Prairie city.
The bowlers have purchased from Messrs. Reid and- "
Wilson a new and improved lawn mower for use on
their greens. They have also engaged Jqhn Henderson
as their caretaker.
The furniture factory in this town shipped out
furniture to the value of $10,500 in the month of March'
and a few days ago they received an Order from the
Northwest for ten carloads.
Dennis Andrews, an employee of the Stewart'Milling
Company met with apainful accident when a sieve fell
striking him on the 'hand severing an artery and
inflicting a very severe wound.
The members of the Egmondville Presbyterian
Church, drove up to their pastor, Rev. Neil Shaw and
left him about 120 bushels of oats.
Mr. F. S. Garden who has been employed as, fitter in
the Canada furniture Company for years has gone 'to
Cleveland where he has secured a responsible position
at a good salary..
Charles Aberhart has purchased a soda fountain for
his drug store and will be able to furnish and patron
nice cooling drinks when the warm, weather comes.
Monday last was a field day for cattle dealers and
Mr. Lusby, weigh master had his hands full. He
weighed out 236 head during the forenoon on the sales'
. at the railway yard. The cattle' had been purchased from
neighbouring farmers by Messrs. Robert Winter and.
John O'Keife.
The Hay Township Council are getting a lot of '
oement tile made for use.in the township works.
MAY 11, 1928
Most of the farmers at.Winthrop will' finish seeding
this week.
During his recent visit, Irving V. Trombley sold his
newly erected garage to John Henry Querengesser,
local contractor of Brodhagen, who intends to run an
up-to-date garage.
Mrs. Robertson, Post Mistress of Cromarty, disposed
of her property to Joseph. SPeare. Andrew McCullan
will occupy the residence in the near future.
E. F. Clopp of Zurich has purchased the insurance
and •Lightning Rod business from G. Holtzman. .4,„
H. Flacksbard of Zurich has started on the
construction of the Talbot .drain in the village.
Farmers in the Zurich area have completed seedide
under ideal conditions. The weather was all that could
be. desired and the soil was in fine condition.
The fireman at Hensall are making great prepara-
tions for the celebration on May 24.
R. ' J. Paterson has accepted the position as
bookkeeper with Orval Twitchell.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Huisser and family have moved into
town. frOm the farm, Occupying the house owned by
Mine Rennie.
The Hensall baseball club have engaged the famous
Seaforth Minstrels to give an entertainment in the
opera House, Hensall.
The annual inspection of the Collegiate Cadet Corps
will be hel on the campus next week. The inspecting
officer will be Colonel Gillespie from London.
James Leeper of Hullett, a well known horseman of
the township, has purchased an imported Clydesdale
stallion from William Jacob from Stratford. He weighs
about 1,850 lbs. and has the best of feet, legs, and
posterns.
MAY 15, 1953
Following a 'two car crash Monday night and
admission to Scott Memorial Hospital, here, Mrs.
Peter McLaughlin, McKillop, and her daughter Joan
were reported by Dr. P. L. 'Brady to be recovering
slowly and out of danger. The cars, both late models
were total wrecks.
About 65 neighbours and friends gathered recently at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Taylor, Morris
Township, to honour Mr: •and Mrs. Arie Berohoef
before their departure to the new home they have
bought in Stanley Township.
- Scott Memorial. Hospital's nurses residence which
was recently r edeeorated, was the setting for the
National Hospital Day Tea on Tuesday. Mrs. Ada Raid,
Mrs. Frank, -S. Bragger, "and Mrs. Ir.-GlenCampbelf
poured tea. Numerous gifts of soap, facecloths, towels,
tumblers, dusters and cash donations amounting to $40
were received.
Joseph A. Laubenbach, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Laubenback of town, graduated in civil engineering
from Queens University in Kingston, obtaining a
Bachelor of Science degree. Mr. Laubenbach plans to
commence work with the CNR in- Montreal.
Resignations of three Seaforth Public School staff
members were accepted at a lengthy session- of the
school board. They were Principal D. N. Eastman,
Winnifred Savauge and Margaret E. Willis.
Mrs. Taylor who lives with her son Percy Taylor in
McKillop celebrated her 92nd birthday on Monday.
She's quite active and in good health.
Sunday morning a telephone message was received
by Mrs. T. Laing, Cromarty, from her daughter, Mrs,
Howard Eves who reported 4 inches Of snow anil still
snowing.
county. The first municipal people
--knew otits formation ._a few years ago
was what they read in the papers.
. We're not saying the authority
doesn't do an excellent job of
administering hundreds of. OHC
apartments in,Huron, not an easy, job.
But the body isn't answerable to any
one level of government and that
seems to cause difficulties in getting
information. •
Seaforth has repeatedly asked to be
informed monthly of how many local
people are on- waiting lists .... not tfie
'names of .applicants" bur enough
Information so that .1 oca Lemma' Elora
can advise local seniors. The housing
authority has said that ,could be
arranged but no information has come
to council.'
Even county council doesn't get a
regular report Of OHC vacancies,
waiting lists and such Monday night's
delegation said.
The lack 'of information and the
sense that we have a bit of '
bureaucracy. here , that's responsible
to no one can only get worse with -
county wide el'egibility for OHC,.
housing. Towns could lose all contact
with local OHCbuildings once they do
not pay their share of the buildings'
deficits. —
County._wide residency rules make
a lot of sense on compassionate and
economic grounds. They are a means
of equalizing opportunity for all
Huron citizens. But first we need the
assurance that they'll be
administered by a housing authority
that's. reeponsible and responsive to
local elected .government.
To the editor:
Reader says liquor at school
The questionnaire
To the editor:
Writers seek ancestors
•