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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-08-03, Page 17Pictures and story by Lynda MacGillivary The statues, which fascinated so many people, took time and patience to accomplish. The artist would start at the base. modelling the wet cement into kegs, and continue upwards to the face. When the cement began to The hillbilly leans on his trusty donkey for support after having gone for a little nip at the local tavern. The donkey seems to be the only one who will associate with him, while he's in this happy state. Clinton tiews-Illimial Moses points towards heaven in a look of stern reproach as Maggie and Jiggs grin happily on their stands and Churchill and Roosevelt smile wisely into the horizon, Jill coyly flutters her lashes at Jack in a demure flirtation. She was once used as the tennis court net holder, which is now replaced by lawn. Jack, once used as the holder for the other end of the net, gives Jill a sly wink across the distance of the yard. istory, life's best in cement The' Laithwaite legacy There is a farm on Highway thatis exceptional from any farm around, It is Clayton Laithwaite's Applie Gate Farm and spread around the property are reminders of his father George. These reminders are cement figares of people who seem alive and breathing, In the quiet sunlight of day, with the shade of the trees and hedge surrounding you, one wonders, if these life- like statues could speak, what they would say? The eerie feeling of some private secret permeates through the stillness of the afternoon, yet the stone faces remain silent. These cement statues were sculpted lovingly by George Laithwaite., Clayton's father, a man with an incredible love for the human race, There is a tombstone in a front flowerbed of the Laithwaite house in memory of Clayton Laithwaite's great-grandfather, who settled at 'Holmesville in 1832, arriving from Lancashire, England, In 1834 he brought his wife out to begin the 1,aithwaite line in Canada. The family has lived on the same road for 140 years. Born in 1870, grandson George Laithwaite, married his wife Mary in 1895 and moved to the property now occupied by their son Clayton, He died at the age of 85, leaving behind a part of himself--a legacy of sculptural art work. Clayton Laithwaite painstakingly takes care of these precious figures. He has painted them in order to help prevent water seepage, but cement chipping caused by the elements is hard to repair. harden, he would use a chisel. pedestal beside the house This was necessary to achieve the overlooking a hedge. _ fine features of a face. To smooth Near a hedge at the front of the the figure he used a rasp or heavy property are figures of John A. file. MacDonald on a plow with Sir One of George Laithwaite's Robert Borden driving the ox on. first attempts as a sculptor was a , George Laithwaite was a man of mammoth statue, "The queen of deep political convictions who Sheba". He made a hollow body made his statement in art form. for her but it filled with water This humorous man not only eventually and cracked open when poked fun at politics, but at the water froze, The head was .. huip4,1") weaknesses as later placed on top of a high stone swell. There is a statue depicting a A trio of young men are loping home from a fishing expedition. The whistling one in the middle is the artist George Laithwaite in his younger days. His friends don't look as happy. Maybe it's because George is holding all the fish. The farm's present apple orchard has 40 acres of new and 30 acres of old trees. There is also a sizeable garden on the' grounds and Laithwaite fruits and vegetables are well known in the district. ► PRESENTS ► OUR REGULAR AUGUST PERM SPECIAL ► 0% OFF ALL PERMS FOR ► WHOLE MONTH OF AUGUST! COME IN NOW AND GET YOUR SUMMER PERM AT REDUCED RATES Corner of Rattenbury and Gibbings Streets CLINTON PHONE 482-7697 "THE SHOP WITH THE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE' EDITH ANNE HAIR FASHIONS 4 I 4 structure were brought from Walt with billiard tables, bowling. and Disney's uncle's home just other games. It was built in the Notice to Contractors and Homebuilders Have your new home or addition Pre-Wired for Cable T.V. No Charge Get your F.V. wires installed the same time as the electrical wiring DIAL 524:-6072 BLUEWATER T.V. CABLE LTD. hillbilly with his donkey returning from a drinking spree. The hillbilly, leaning on his beast of burden for moral support as well as physical stability, seems to have nobody who will associate with him except his donkey friend. A trio of boys returning from a day's fishing portrays the happy- go-lucky artist in the middle. whistling. The expressions on the faces of his friends do not seem as contented. Maybe it's because the whistling one is holding all the fish. There is a stone barbecue on the grounds still functional. At the top of its chimney is chiselled the profiles of two people, facing each other. Underneath them is engraved: "John, Mary and George 1895." George also showed a love for • animals. He sculpted a polar bear with its cub floating on an iceberg. And there is another piece done indicating a religious side as well. It is a lioness with her cubs, and also lying with her is a lamb illustrating a biblical story of the lion lying down with the lamb, An Indian wigwam, built in 1928 to celebrate Goderich's centennial, depicts Adair' and Eve on one side, building a fire. Above is Father Time looking down. On the other side is the head of an Indian, looking on at the settlers putting down stakes in his land. George Laithwaite also had a fancy for nursery rhyme characters. Two little figures, Jack at one end and Jill at the other, still stand where they once held the net over a tennis court now in ruin. Jill is coyly fluttering her eyelashes at Jack from behind a fan, while Jack is throwing her a devilish wink. The impressive stone archway features a central Maple Leaf and the words OUR HOME. This huge structure is made out of stone and cement. A coach house fronting on the highway wasbUilt single-handedly by George Laithwaite in 1945 at the age of 72. The stones for this It is this man who has immortalized himself in cement as the figure of a confident hoy. not quite yet a man. His ghost will remain to watch over that road his family has lived on for 140 years. long after his cement statues`are gone. PIECE GOODS REG. VALUES to $6.91 AS PER YD. Le * 2. 5 YD. outside of Holmesville. Clayton says he has seen as many as 1,000 people arrive on a Sunday to wander around the grounds and be entertained in the coach house by George Laithwaite with songs, organ music. and old stories, But George Laithwaite's statues aren't the only thing unusual about him. They are just a part of his powerful drive and inventiveness. He also pioneered the first modern ideas in farming in this province. For example, he was one of the first farmers in Ontario to have a milking parlor. In 191'7 a milking machine was bought for the farm, and at a time when farmers only had a few of each animal. George had up to 500 pigs at one time. • George Laithwaite's statues aren't the only pieces of work on the farm with an aura of history surrounding them, An old building stands on the farm that is over one hundred years old. It has undergonemany phases. originally being a games room, 1870's for a man named Hully who was a salt baron from Detroit. Clayton's father later had it made into a building for pigs. and then cattle, Now there is a sign over it saying —Apple Park" and it is used for cold storage, Even the house in which the Laithwaites live is a tribute to the days of old. It was built around 1832 by Joe Blake, made with slush brick--a mix with clay and water that has to be left in the sun to dry. The bricks to this day hold the building up as sturdy as the rock of Gibraltar. Charley Blake added to the house later in the 1870's when he had the roof lifted, The beams of the house in tii7ose days were rounded when built but now they are starting to show signs of giving away. Don't give fire a place to start, whether it be at work or in the house, St. John Ambulance advises. If one does start, sound the alarm, spot the type and, if possible extinguish. STYROFOAM PICNIC COOLERS AS (ALL SIZES) 1.OW$ 2 AS is EA STORE HOURS: 0140 iillitiOGIORIDAY. 1 P.61, TO 10 PAL SATURDAY 9 A.M. TO 6 PJA. THE BASE FACTORY OUTLET STORE Old Air Force Base Clinton, Ont. OPEN MON., AUG. 7 CIVIC HOLIDAY 9 AM to 6 PM The Base Factory Outlet would like to celebrate Civic Holiday by giving it s customers a 33% off our Regular, low low prices on many of our summer lines such as children's two-piece sun suits; girls' and boys' shorts; girls' corduroy slacks; girls' scooter skirts and many other items. Remember 33% off. We are still waiting for our sidewalks at Vanastra but we're having a sidewalk sale anyway. Come on out to the Base Factory Outlet Store and see our money saving features.