HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011.Vodden recalls past holidays
Blyth
concert
rich in
tradition
Brock Vodden remembers when
Christmas in Blyth was a far more
intimate affair.
The North Huron Township
Councillor was raised in the small
community where his family ran a
bakery and he remembers Christmas
being all about the downtown core.
“A lot has changed,” he said.
“There were a lot more community
activities around Christmas because
most people shopped locally.”
Vodden stated that there were
many businesses on main street so
people didn’t need to travel far to
find what they need.
“The bakery, for example, made a
lot of bread, buns and pastries for the
holidays, people didn’t need to go
out of town for things like that,” he
said. “My parents were usually
pretty exhausted when Christmas
arrived.”
The reason, however, that many
people stayed local to shop as early
as 70 years ago, was simply that
transportation wasn’t as advanced
and easy then as it is now.
“The amount of snow had a lot to
do with people shopping locally,”
Vodden said. “We had no snow
blowers and concessions weren’t
plowed. Highway 4 between Clinton
and Wingham was basically a one-
car wide tunnel carved out of the
snow.”
The snow and lack of equipment
to manage it inhibited travel and
really encouraged people to stay
close to home according to Vodden.
“I remember visiting and
celebrating Christmas with family
members on what is now Stone
School Road,” Vodden said. “We had
to park on the highway and, soon
after, my uncle came with a horse
and cutter and transported us theseven miles to his home, then at
night we had to make the return trip.
During the winter, it just wasn’t as
simple as it is now to visit people so
people were more apt to stay home.”Vodden said now people tend to
driver further as part of finding the
best deals and dealing with the bad
While the parts of a wiseman, a
star and a goat may not seem like
centre-stage roles to those who
dreaded them as students, the
resurgence of a classic Christmas
tale for Blyth Public School’s last
Christmas concert had students very
excited.
Elizabeth Thorpe-Hearn, a
teacher at the school in charge of
the play this year, said that their
play, composed primarily of
Christmas carols pulled straight
from the King James version of the
Bible, was met with a better
reception than she every expected.
“I’m amazed at how many kids
were excited to be a king, a star, a
shepherd, an angel or a wise man,”
she said. “For older generations, it
used to be those were bit roles but
the kids are excited to be a part of
the play regardless of their
role.
With this being the year the King
James Bible is celebrating its 400th
anniversary, Thorpe-Hearn thought
that it would make good source
material for a return to the roots of
Christmas plays to make the last
The Municipality of Central Huron Council and
Municipal Staff join together to wish you
peace and serenity this holiday season.
COUNCIL
MAYOR
Jim Ginn
DEPUTY MAYOR
Dave Jewitt
COUNCILLORS
Marg Anderson
Brian Barnim
Dan Colquhoun
Alison Lobb
Burk Metzger
Alex Westerhout
ADMINISTRATION
Clerk: Brenda MacIsaac, Director of Finance: Terri Taylor,
Brenda Armstrong, Belinda Axford, Florence Stalenhoef,
Steve Doherty, Judy Dixon, Jane Harris, Sheryl Moran,
Sharon Romphf, Deb Stephenson, Angela Smith.
FACILITIES DEPARTMENT
Facilities Manager: Steve Campbell
Doug Dolmage, Shawn Gautreau, Bev Marriage,
Sabrina Baldwin, Paul Handy, Jean Bernard, Nathaniel Peel.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT - PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Chief Building Official: Lesley Adams, Andy DePutter,
Fire Chief: Steve Cooke, Bylaw Officer: Bruce Brockelbank,
Animal Control Officer: Bob Trick.
ROADS DEPARTMENT
Roads Manager: Tom Sinclair
Jason Cox, Ritchie Cox, Roger Cunningham, Mike Dixon,
Ian Hulley, Jim Johnston, Randy Marriage, Stan McClure,
Rick Pickett, Mark Wallace.
UTILITIES
Utilities Manager: Steve Gibbings
Greg Mayhew, Mark Krahn, Adam Wilson, Ian Koetsier,
Craig Snell, Mike Ladd.
THE MUNICIPALITY
OF CENTRAL HURON
PLEASE NOTE:
THE MUNICIPAL OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011 AT NOON
AND REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012 at 8:30 am
www.centralhuron.com
Dear Residents,
During this Christmas season, take
the time to reflect on the past year
and be thankful for all the
opportunities that have been made
and the ones to look forward to in
the new year. Remember those who
are less fortunate and be grateful for
the friends and family that
surround you.
As the new year makes its entrance,
Central Huron Council will continue
to serve the best interests of our
entire community. In our efforts to
connect and exchange ideas and
perspectives, Council is committed
to providing open communication
lines. Contact any one of us at any
time.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year to you and your family.
Jim Ginn
BLYTH PRINTING INC.
BLYTH
519-523-9211
Wishing all our customers and friends
a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful
New Year!
Wishing all our customers and friends
a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful
New Year!
BLYTH
519-523-9211
Blyth
Decor Shoppe
Have a merry and
safe holiday season
from
Barney (Don) &
Linda Stewart & family
Queen Street,
Blyth 519-523-4840
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Look out Osmonds
Brother Eli and sister Sadie Baxter took to the stage at the
Londesborough United Church for the third annual church
Christmas concert to make their world-wide debut. The
siblings sang their heart out performing “Down by the Bay”
and “Away in a Manger”. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued on page 36
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 38