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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-05-20, Page 23A sketch of a section of Seaforth's Main St. is fea- tured on the cover of a new book, Historic Streetscapes of Huron County, written and illustrated by Nicholas Hill of Goderich. It is the third book for Mr: Hill, an architect and plan- ner. Mr. Hill worked on the book' for over four ars to provide more than „, )00 sketches- and 40 maps illu- strating the architecture of 19th century Huron •County buildings. The book devotes several pages to Seaforth architec- ture and has a section on each county town. His two earlier books are Historic' Buildings of Huron County and Historic Build- ings of Goderich and Col- bourne Townships. and he is planning a fourth book fea- turing guidelines for conser- vation of historic homes. Mr. Hill's interest in Huron County architecture blossomed when he joined the _Huron County planning R. K. 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We'll welcome the opportunity to help. At the Commerce, we treat personal loans personally' We offer a range of ' loans with features to suit your financial situation: competitive interest rates, convenient repayment Schedules, life insurance on most loans (at no additional cost) and a disability insurance pptiori. And you don't have to be a Commeite customer to apply. Drop in to any of our branches today. You can count on the Commerce for the things you need in a bank. And more. A PERSONAL LOAN THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, WILL PROBABLY MAKE SENSE 10 US. CANADIAN INIMICAL RANK OF COMMERCE CbUNTONTHECOMMERCE st • THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MAY 2€, 1981 43 11 • Fri= Nick Hitt's book, counter-clockwise from Upper left, Seaforth's Main St.; The McIver house on John St.; St. Thomas Anglican Church; the Commercial' Hotel. Seaforth's main street featured in new book department in '1972. Born in England. he came to Toronto in 1965 and received a masters degree in architect. ure from the 11,niversity of , 55, is avail xposito the in• and ' Store in • The at The Hur Blyth Saga AndertOn's Goderich. Book Custom threshing with . the .pioneers Editotes Note: The history submitted by Audrey (Dalrymple) Westlake, is about her Great Grandfather 'Robert and Grandfather George Dalrymple,. ' Robert Dalrymple was born on the seventh day of March 1831. at Black Ness, Scotland on the Banks'of the Firth of Forth. Linlithgoshire Scotland. For some years, he oper- ated a hoisting engine at the coal pit near Edinburgh. In the spring of 1851. this Scottish lad embarked for Canada on board a sailing vessel which was six weeks crossing the Atlantic'. arriv- ing here about „the latter part of June. In Canada: Robert found work in Peterboro where he remained for a few years. From here he followed the 'newly broken trail westward. across the Southern Ontario peninsula into Perth County. where he settled in Hibbert Township. In 1859, Robert Dalrymple was married to Mary Bell of Falkirk Stirlingshire Scot- land. This sturdy Scottish couple took up residence in a log house on Lot 7 concession 13 Hibbert Township, Perth county. In that neighbour- hetbd Robert chopped an '80 acres of virgin bush. Later he took up land of Lot 23, concession -•12, Hibbert Township which was partly cleared. He .and his family farmed, this land for some years. and in 1869 moved to Lot 1.-concession 14. Tucker- smith Township, ., Huron county, where he farmed and carried on threshing opera- tionsirrthe-conummity for a• number of years. During this time he threshed for Wm. Sinclair for 20 years, using the horse-power at first and later the portable steam engine. In 1877 Mary Bell (Dal- rytnple) was laid to rest in McTaggart's cemetery. In 1883 Robert Dalrymple was married to Mary Grace Brown (nee Tremeer) and in 1903, they retired` to Hensall, where they resided until the death of Robert on October 10, 191.0. In 1916, Mrs. Dalrymple was laid to -rest in McTag- gart's Cemetery. TO the first union were born six sons' and two daugh- ters. To the second union were born two daughters. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF CUSTOM THRESHING In pioneer, -days' the crops. which covered only a few acres, were, threshed with flail. This implement looked like two sticks fasten- ed end to end with a wooden swivel. To use it the man graiped the handle with both hands and, a swinging, motion brought The loose end down on the pile of grains lying on the floor. This performance was repeated until the ker- nals of grain were beaten out of the straw which was then thrown to one side. The chaff and grain were swept up and cleaned. • As the settlers cleared their land, more grain was grown, and threshing , with the flail became a •long and tedious winter jab.• With the I advent of the separator. custom threshing was intro- duced into the various com- munities. About 1874. Rob- ert Dalrymple. James Bell and-Robert-McTaggart_fohn- ing a syndicate, bought a horse-power and what was called the canvass separator which in place of the modern slatted decks, had a canvass roller working on the same principle at-the canvass tin - our modern grain binders. As there was no-feeders on the machine,- in those days. a, farm hand was required to m stand-beside the an who, fed machine, cutting the bands on the sheaves as they were slid down from the mow. The who fed the machine and the man who did the oiling worked in half hour shifts. The straw dropped from the rear of the machine onto a long slatted carrier which delivered it onto a long and empty mow where there- were five or six ' men to handle it.'The grain was carried by hand in bushel boxes 'to the bins. Two men were often required for this job. In all there were from. 15 to 18 men in the gang. The horse-power was a long rectangular frame, hav- ing. gears to'increase the speed with a large gear on top with fixed arms project- ing beyond the rim,, The teams of horses or oxen, were hitched to the 'outer' end of each of the, five arms, travelled in circle around the frame. The man who drove them, stood in the centre of the frame and wielded the whip. The horses could nbt getaway. as they were tiettto the arm in front hitched to the- -arm behind them. The power was transmitted to the separator through what was called a tumbling rod, which was about twelve feet long by one quarter inches in diameter, fastened together by, a uni- versal coupling. The machine night the boiler was empttea. The next morning, when the fire was built in the engine, the flues were burned and a man was brought from Lon- don to make the necessary repairs. During these years there were incidents which have been recounted by the fire- side causing many a hearty laugh. In 1880. the portable steamer was brought home. The first time that the engine was steamed up. the men leaving everything in order when went to haul the wheat, while Robert Jr. and George played near the barn. Robert in an adventurous mood pull- ed the whistle string on the engine, and the tag wire. slipping down held the valve open and there was one continuous screech.. Bob dis- appeared but Georgie stood spellbound, staring at the white steam from the whist. His sister Mag who was terrified at the sound. shouted at him to run; but the boy unaware Of her cries. continued to watch the steam going up until the Whistle finally stopped. Then Mag appeared on the scene with a club and proceeded to teach Georgie to run when she told him-to. In the early days the low 'frame barns sat on the ground. James Stewart's team took the separator into Duncan McLean's ban, crossing the floor, ran out through the open doors on the opposite side and before Arch Dalrymple could ha-ult. their pace upset the machine against the pig pen. Only the elevators on the separator were broken. At one barn somebody shoved a shingle into a bunch of clover: When it entered the machine there was an awful clatter. The man feed- ing the machine. jumped backwards off the footboard and running into the mow jammed his head into the sheaves, ostrick-fashion. into the sheaves. At another barn the drain tap on-the tallow Please turn to page 8 • was stopped by a hand brake and by stopping the horses. When moving from farm to farm, both the horse-power ' and the threshing machine kwere loaded on wagons and 'Aauled by horses. For five or six years the syndicate did custom thresh- ing with this out-fit. In those days the threshing canvassed his men for work and would receive the promise of eighty to ninety barns. This meant that the operations were continued long into the wint- er. In 1879 the Members of the syndicate dissolved partner- ship. Robert Dalrymple with son William, bought. the Leondard steam engine and the Climax Separator. the ' total cost for the outfit being eleven hundred and seventy- five dollars. In 1880 the two 'owners with Archibald Dalrymple as third man began custom threshing with the steam outfit. Robert•Dalrymple was engineer while Archibald and Bill worked on half hour shifts oiling and feeding the separator. On Hallowe'en s,-110./ 1:1-1-;q4n l'• 'V • Safety around electricity is no shock to you. Anstett Jewellers invites you toview a magnificent presentation of outstanding jewellery, xCI.Ui'aite gem stones and one-of-a-kind designs .. . a breathtaking, out-of-this-world collection. 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