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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-12-23, Page 35di Rememberin4 . rc • • • s the holiday nears, we wish you the most treasured gifts of all... peace and love. For your loyalty,and friendship, our sincere,thanks. • SEAMEN ELECTRONICS LES °C., SERVICE • T V • p/4Np }'Hi-Ft. STEREO P6'6527-1150 a. 17. .5 OA re1.1,NG S+REET 11111111111.15/MIZIONINMEIM • 1\\ n The True ICA5-9 We- IN is 11.YQ1.1• NThe Very Best... `AlOng With Our Thanks. SCHOONDERWOERD BRDS• LTD. Storage Tanks. Silos and Elevators R.R. 1 MITCHELL • • HE HURON EXPOSITOR, D . M R 2, 1. Winters Winters of a hundred and fifty years ago presented 'quite a different view to Travellers. White expanses were unbroken. There' were no paved roads, no snow- ploughed routes to intersect the fields and farms. Until the'middle of the last century„ winter travel in rural areas 'sUffered under the onslaughts of wind and weather. Despite limitations, country dwellers did• not cling to their homes and firesides once winter set in, On the critrary, they developed a variety of vehicles best Suited, to their needs and travelled often if not eittensively. "With wcoollen muffler to his nose And toque pulled to his eyes, Snug in fur robes, a lad surveys The mystery of the skies.' The cutter skims its homeward way To music of its bells ; The magic of the fairy scene Around him casts its spell. Clear winter night "so calm. so crisp, Pale moon. a sail so high. Myriad stars wink merrily Across the frost-clean sky. The !is anish moon delights to slip Behind a woolly cloud, • Transform it to a silver mist, Or filthy elfin shroud. The milky.wary entrances him. And flickering northern light; Such wonders of the heavens flash Across the silent night." (IL Tennant) The evolution of our modern modes of transportation has, had an interesting, and varied career. Let's begin sometime back. Primitive sledges drawn by dogs, oxen and horses have been used for many years in many primitive cultures faced with snowy terrain. Local craftsmen in Eastern Canada -ea by W.G. Strang In due time, modifications gave rise to more elegant forms. A wind and snow-breaker some three feet high was placed in front of the sleigh to protect the driver from snow thrown up by the horses' hooves and the cold winds. Later four poles at the corners bolstered the heavy load. Sehool children balanced themselves on the runners as they hung on to the poles; the first school "buses." Other changes oicurred to alter the profile of the original design,.Another panel was added in the rear, sides were added and 'a Seat fixed in position. Doubtless this was a more comfortable vehicle than the low, open sleigh„ but .new innovations in the mid-eighties gave the sleigh its graceful lines and increasedour winter heritage, The "carriole" with its scooped-up front and a curl to its runners remained popular until the beginning of this century when cutters began to dominate the country lanes. Cutters were carefully crafted sleighs on high, metal runners. At times there would be two seats upholstered in velvet. They were light but sturdy, swift and efficient. Sleighs of all varieties were familiar sights in town and country. Every busineSs. in most instances, operated sleighs. Remember the bread and milk vehicTil? The ftuit peddler navigated the town streets with an enclosed sleigh heated with one or more lanterns to protect the fruit from freeiing under heavy woollen covers, not infrequently, the horse-blanket. Mail was delivered from the station to the post office in sleighs carrying the proper logo. Baggage was transferred oil flat-bed sleighs. Coal and grocery delivery as well as • know removal were by sleigh. Even fire equipment travelled to the scene of the blaze in specially constructed sleighs. In Quebec. the priests and the nuns visited their parishes in shiny, black, enclosed vehicles. • Sleigh travel was governed by its own code of rules and regulations. Often a driver having seen or heard the approach of another by its bells, he would sit by the roadside where the snow was not deep or at the entrance to a farmer's land to wait for its passing. Sleighs and cutters and horses were vital to transportation because trains did not stop at many country outposts. Livery stables were common in every town of any size. Townsfolk and commercial-travellers rented appropriate accommodation to meet their needs. When snow removal opened. the toads eftient4fe the last .sleighs were retited, Farmers put -their .sleighs - ont.10-PPtnre, few.sOtett'tbili Ann* convenience *.the — drive shod where it became a favourite Perch for chicken; and Pigeons. City and town 'dwellers disposed of their cutters make Morn for the year's newest model of automobile. How many remember the sleigh-rides of yesteryears? They were popular winter events. The driver would doh his bogy/ raccoon coat, peissengetS would' sit snugly wrapped tinder buffalo re**, 'beapskip 'blankets or layers of lap rugs• Here and there today 'such events are sponsored in rural areas but .the distances traversed are quite restricted., Baked beau suppers — sponsored by the local churches' usually followed4he Do you pity the people of an earlier era for the long winter? Sleighs -gave them an enjoyable opportunity to visit. Winter was by far the best time of the year for such an occasion. Spring was too muddy; summer was too busy but in winter there was time for relaxation. Those leisurely journeys reflected a quality of life we may envy today. Future generations will never know the charm and excitement of the old night-time sleigh-ride. -"And here behind me come the woodmen's sleighs' With shouts and squeakings, might and main Up the steep slope ,the horses stamp and strain, Iced bear& and frozen eyelids-team by team, With frost-fringed flanks and nostrils jetting steam" attained new refinements in the cond.- *Unction of sleighs, combining the best factors and features of utility and beauty. The simplest enuveyance was the low- slung "putig." For -its conStruction, two hardwood runners curved slightly in front were covered with short planks or thick. sturdy boards for easy movement over the snow. These pangs were used for daily chores - transport of fire-wood, firm supplies and, at times, for people. These primitive sleighs were important- in the woods where they could navigate the winding paths with ease. The "bob - sleigh or sled was widely used by wood-cutters to transport countless cords of wood or saw-logs during- its career. Ben Terpstra Happy Holidays Santa's hem to gift all with 1h-' wiliest of Chridmas wishes! EAST HURON PRODUCE Dublin A Christmastime greeting to ali mar goad friends! Je 11 4 f Badley The real' meaning of Christmas Decorated trees, caroll- ing, Santa Claus. stockings and presents are not the real meaning of Christmas. The' real meaning goes back two thousand years ago when ,baby Jesus was bOrn. Mary and Joseph had to go to pay for their taxes. They went to every inn to find a place to Stay but no luck and finally one inn keeper was kind enough to let them stay in his stable. -And there Mary gave birth to a son whom she called Jesus. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. That's the .,-sreal meaning of Christmas. Lee Ann Dow St. Patrick's School • Dublin ••• • S