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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1969-06-19, Page 8BEAUTIFUL BREEZY .. , By BELLCHAMBER. BAYFIEL.D PERSONAL ITEMS 0 CHURCH NEWS fa CLUE AC iVOTIES fa VILLAGE HAPPENING/4 Correspondent; AUDREY BELLCHAMBER - Phone 565-2864, Bayfield Subscriptions, Classified Advs. and Diiplary Advs. all accepted by the Bayfield correspondent. The Gordon House was second in 'beautiful downtown Bayfield" The gracious old home on Lot 215 was the meeting place and the ' focal point for the Huron Historical Society, Bayfield branch, June meeting on Monday. Mrs. Elva Metcalf, present owner, read a paper, giving the results of her research to trace the 113 year history of the property. The "Gordon House," as it was formerly known, is situated at the corner of Louise Street and Clan Gregor Square, On March 20, 1856, Baron de Tuyll granted land in the area to the Hon. Malcolm Cameron. In ' July 1858, Malcolm Cameron granted this portion and about that time, it is presumed, he built the present house. It thus became the second house to be built in what was then known as downtown Bayfield (the first was the present Bert Eckert home, one block east of Sarnia Street). Donald Gordon built his home of locally fired red brick, of a type known as slop brick due to its tendency to crumble. An unusual feature is the foundation which uses the same type of brick, although stone was more commonly used at that time (the house is now painted a cream colour). The cedar beams are hand hewn, showing the marks of the adze. Some are unpeeled, and all are still solid. They are fitted into two large timbers running the width of the house. These timbers are 20 feet long and support what was originally a centre hall, as well as the rest of that part of the house which is 35 feet long. The only supporting posts are two small ones .under the front entrance, but the floors do not sag. This part of the house has a full basement. Old-fashionedhandmade nails canattill be�.seer and all ornate and; unique' 'coat -hook en' the basement is still in use. Some of THE GORDON HOUSE the original glass can be seen in the front doorway, and in an old cupboard in the dining room. The back part of the house is constructed in the same way but has craw1 space instead of a basement. When the house was recently rewired it was found that differences in construction under the slanting roof of the dining room indicated that the basement door, which now opens into the dining room, once opened outside. The seven original rooms included a pantry, and a woodshed lean-to. There was a hallway through the main part of the house (the frame of the doorway between front and rear indicates that the wall separating the two portions is a foot thick, and the plastic was directly applied to all brick wall presents a heating problem, traces of at least seven chimney holes can still be seen, indicating that several woodstoves were used to heat the home. The original floors were pine. Many boards still seer ygn„ the eeilipgof ,the basement - are as, much as 18 inches in width. Jlmmnlnumm11luuuuuumnumluuuumumiiulunuglumuinlluinuulinunninuiunmuuwun1111E ,o Rambling with Lucy re - BY= LUCY R. WOODS Lucy was posed with a question one evening recently: "Does a Great Blue Heron perch in trees?" She had to confess ignorance, so she turned to Carl. First he answered in the negative, and then decided that while it was a wader, it did perch in trees. He told Lucy that one almost perched on him once. He was taking his annual bath at the river (which flowed back of their farm on the 5th Concession Stanley Township (that was long years ago before pollution or algae entered the Bayfield river.) Sitting on a stone about a foot below the surface, in water up to his waist, he was enjoying a good soaking, when he saw this great bird slowly move toward him. The idea of :;s claws on his head and bare shoulders did not appeal to Carl, so just as it was about to alight, he stood up to beat a hasty retreat. The great Blue Heron flapped its wings more quickly than usual and made off to land at a safe distance. One evening last week Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hutchings watched such a bird from their house on Bayfield Terrace overlooking the Bayfield River Valley. A guest suggested that with its long stilt -like legs, it looked like a stork. They were almost certain it was a Great Blue Heron owing to its size and colouring. They watched it go fishing in the river where it stood motionless and then suddenly its long neck and beak dipped into the water as it caught tid-bits. After feeding it flew to the top of a high tree over on the Thomson property and perched there. Its food consists of fish, frogs, salamanders, water snakes, large insects including grasshoppers, and mice and other small rodents. The feeding ground is in and about open shallow water either fresh or salt; edges of bays, streams, river margins, sloughs, lakes, ponds, ditches, mud flats and marshes. The Great Blue Heron (incorrectly called a crane). is 43 to 52 inches in length with a wing span of almost six feet. The bill about five inches, rather stout at the base, tapers to a sharp tip. Head is white with a broad black stripe on either side, extending from above the eye'to the nape and projecting behind the head in a slender black crest. Neck is greyish brown with a double row of black down the foreneck, lower neck and back with long slender plumes. Upper parts mainly greyish blue and under parts variously streaked and marked with black and white. Its tail is short. This is the largest and most widely distributed heron in Canada — nesting grounds in Islands off west coast of southern B.C., southern Alberta through across Saskatchewan,. Manitoba to top of Great Lakes, Southern and central Ontario to southern Quebec and Maritimes. In the West the Sandbill Crane is of similar size but its plumage is plain grey with streaks. And while it flies with head and neck outstretched, the Great Blue Heron is distinguishable in flight as herons carry the neck back with head against the shoulders. Whether standing motionless waiting for its prey with great patience, occasionally stalking it very slowly or in Slow measured flight, it is amongst the most picturesque Of birds, It nests in various sized colonies, building a flattish structure of sticks, lined with rushes or grass, in the upper strata of tall trees — deciduous, coniferous and mixed woodlands - sometimes in Shrubs or ground if none is ai+ailable. Often it is far from their feeding grounds-- which they frequent morning and evening. Nests are repaired and used in succession years if the herbny is not disturbed, Three to five (usually four) greenish -blue eggs ate incubated by both male and female in about 28 days. The life span of the Great Blue Heron it about 15 years. Evidently the Hayfield rivet area has been both feeding and nesting ground for many years. A few years ago Tony Verhoeff spotted one building in shrubbety on the flats on the 5th Concession of Stanley Township. About fifty years ago, Carl came down to Bayfield to fish oil Thomson's flats. He was sitting on a log in the river with an unlighted lantern and spear betide him waiting for darkness to fall, when a Great Blue Heron landed on the iog beside hint. Slowly it turned its head And looked at him Realizing Catl Was not a stump he slowly took his departure after hit bill had been tilted in disdain. Its cry under areas; various squawks of cloaks, also 'a slightly gciose-like "ahk," but harsher and more drawn out, Under the gable laws of Canada the Great Blue Heron is pfdtected. Donald Gordon and his wife occupied the home from 1858 'til 1884 and subsequent owners were: 1885-1890, John Eason; 1890-1893, Dr. Walter Wright; 1893-1911, George Erwin; 1911-1943, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Foster and in 1943 the property was sold by auction, to Robert Penhale, In 1945 it was owned by Mrs, Margaret Rynas and was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. J. Richardson. On the . death of Mrs. Richardson in 1964 the property became vacant and the present owner, Mrs. Elva Metcalf took possession in March 1965. It is known that Mrs. Rynas made changes, removed partitions, installed electricity and Mrs. Richardson continued to make improvements. The present owner has endeavoured to make further improvements to increase its value and improve the appearance of the building but •has ,been careful ,to„ preserve its original character where possible. Between 1920 and 1964 there are records of visits to Bayfield by decendants of Donald Gordon and Mrs. Metcalf ended her paper with the thought that as long as the house remains it is possible that descendants of the Gordons will continue to return to the village to see , "Gordon House," the project of an ancestor." Heards married 54 ears Mr. and Mrs. Enlerson Heard of Bayfield, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Monday. Last Saturday Mr. and Mrs. Heard were guests at .a family dinner held at Trinity Church Parish Hall. Sunday afternoon and evening the couple held open house and received ' the congratulations of many friends who called. The bride of 50 years ago is the former Annie • Hewitt, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William George Hewitt of Flint, North Wales. Mr. Heard was born in Stanley Township and has lived in this area all his life. Married at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Clinton by the late Rev. S. E. McKegrey, the couple lived LIONS INSTALLATION 1969.70 officers of the Bayfield Lions Club are: Dan Weston, president; Harry Baker, past president; Eric Earl, 1st vice president; Joe Mayman, 2nd vice president; Bev McClinchey, 3rd vice president; Jack Merner, secretary; Charles Scotchmer, assistant secretary; and Les Elliott, treasurer. Directors are J. E. Hovey, F. E. McFadden, Elwood Mitchell and Ross Merrill. Tail Twister is Paul West and Lion Tamer, George Clark. At the meeting, Pat Graham and Clare Merrier were installed as new members. International Counsellor, Vic Dinin of Zurich officiated at the installation of officers. THIRTEEN CONFIRMED At the morning service at St. Andrew's United Church Sunday, the following candidates presented themselves for confirmation: Richard Westlake, Debra Turner, Brad ."Turner,'Sandra''Telfor 1; `Clayton Stirling, Brian Semple, Esther Merrill, Brian Merrill, Lorilee McClinchey, Brenda Makins, Margaret Campbell, Michael Beck and Brian Beck. Members of other congregations who were welcomed into full membership in St. Andrew's congregation are Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Sturgeon, Mr. and Mrs. Clare Merner, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mayman and Mrs. Donald Beck. New Heavy -Duty Baler COCKSHUTT 720 The new smoothie Here's a heavy-duty, custom- size baler thstipicks up extra profiu in every field. Now wide pickup has 98:cloeely-spaced teeth. Exclusive Roto -Flo feed system create, evenly -packed bales with minimum leaf lou. New four-notYh.twine disc and Monet brake" all but eliminate misses, Built-in twine box holds four bales of twine. Long, 28" plunger stroke (81 per min.) pecks in uniform bales fast. Sets a new standard in Smooth, quiet operation. New 19 9e1e Thrower Conveyor belt system throws biles smoothly . easily, Handles bales up to 70 lbs. or 36" long. Mechanical drive or optional engine drive. HAYING SPECIAL If you buy a Cockshutt Bailer for cash, ah additonal 10% will be deducted, by Cockshutt, from the deal you make with us. As an additional bonus you can buy either a Cockshutt mower or Cockshutt Rake for only $130.00. H. LOBB SONS 482.9431 LIMITED Clinton and farmed in Stanley Township until Mr. Heard's retirement in 1951. They are both members of Trinity Anglican Church, Mrs, Heard was a member of the Women's Auxiliary for 47 years and is a former president. She was also a member of the choir for 40 years. She is an active Member and a. past mistress of the L.O.B,A., Clinton. Mr. Heard has been a member of the L.O.L. No. 24, Bayfield, for the past 59 years and is now secretary. He is also Master of the Royal Black Knights. The couple has two sons, Gordon of Seaforth and George of Stanley Township and a daughter, Mrs. Herbert (Betty) Kirkham of London. There are three grandchildren, Donald, Linda and Larry. Mr. and Mrs. Heard received many congratulatory messages including ones from • the Hon. John Robarts, the Hon. Charles McNaughton' and Mrs. McNaughton, Robert McKinley MP for Huron, and Hon. Robert Stanfield. Personals Mrs. John Pearson returned home on Saturday after spending the last nine days in Brampton with her son and family. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson returned with her for the weekend. Personals Miss Rgth May and Miss Heather Ferguson of'London aro vacationing at their cottage for two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. John} Pearson and Doug were at their cottage for the weekend. Mr, and Mrs. P. Manny and Grandson, Timmy, Toronto, vent the last week in the village. Jahn Keinert of Bluebird Cottage entertained 17 colleagues of Pontiac Northern High School at the weekend — Herman Kurth who acted as chef, proved to be no "Galloping Gourmet" so we understand. Mr, and Mrs. Hugh Gregory have recently returned from a vacation on the Italian Riviera and spent last weekend at their cottage. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have moved into the Featherston home on Lorisa Street, Mr. and Mrs. Don Lance closed their antique shop on Main Street last week in order to drive to Cambridge, Mass. where their second son, William, was graduated cum laude, from the Harvard Law School. Clinton NeWs-Record, Thursday, June 19, 1969 7 ItisTime to Go With GFO On June 24 Vote GFO I YES I X Sponsored by Hallett Township GFO Campaign Committee Almost everyone else has a good organization working for them. ' Farmers need a better one. Vote for a better General Farm Organization On June 24 Vote GFOI YES I X Sponsored by Huron County Campaign Committee ' McGEE'S 'DON'T BE LEFT OUT" BAR SALE. MUST HAVE USDON 1' SE LEpD CAR SF «e 1969 PONTIAC HARDTOP DEMONSTRATOR 250 six -cylinder engine, three -speed turbo-hydromatic, radio and rear seat• speaker, chrome moulding package, white walls, wheel discs, deluxe vinyl interior, 5400 miles. Lic. 82377. SPECIAL SALE McGEE'S-�gGODERICH 1'ONTIAC == $UICK ?ay 1 rd' CADILLAC ,4?