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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1967-03-16, Page 1THE NEW ERA — 102nd Year The Home Paper With the News Column^ s): cunton, Ontario, Thursday; march io, 1967 THE HURON' RECORD — 86th Year $5.00 Per Ye'er*--*12 Cents per Copy—10 Pages. By S. J. K. J doubt whether a Spring has ever arrived without some words being written about ft, . as you know, this column ’is usually written on Friday, and • this Friday is the 'most bequta- '* f ul Spring-like* dlay anyone could eVer imagine. Here on main street in Clin ton, merchants are taking ad vantage of the sunshine to do those bothersome' chores' that need doing once in a while , ., ■there are show windows to clean, sidewalks to sweep, awn ings to check, bits and pieces ' to adjust, Funny how no one seams to mind doing little jobs like that on a day like today.., any excuse is welcomed to get outdoors. ■ * A few listening souls have heard* crows — a sure sign of spring —- and the very fact that Easter is so- early this year gives everyone pause to hope that the warmer weather is I close at hand. j * Perhaps the most .-noticeable I thing about Spring is the way j the restless kids start pacing the length -and breadth of the street in search of goodness knows what. Maybe exam time at the -local high school has something to do with, the in crease in the number of loojse ’teens, but we’d rather believe it is Spring fever and the irre pressible desire to wander — free and alone. Don’t quite know what it is about Spring — maybe it is the’ smell (things smell so fresh and new at this time of year); may be it is the ’air (it is so .pure and good to -breathe right now); 'or maybe, it is the. expectation of another season beginning, as if the slate is dean and we can write a new script. Whatever ..it is, Spring brings people out — if only for a few seconds — and there is a feel ing of waking, everywhere. • .* * . * Our Auburn correspondent, Mrs. Eleanor Briadmck has in formed -us that last Sund'ay, March 12 was the anniversary of the -horrible d'ay in 1903 that Dr. Frank • Turnbull, beloved physician of Auburn lost his.. life while going by” .canoe to Goderich. . It was at the time of the spring floods, just after -the Doctor had sold his Auburn practice. He had always known a desire to-conquer the waters of the mighty Maitland (as it certainly was . in early spring many years ago.) The good Doctor set out at about 11 a.m. Everything went fine, recalls Mrs. Bradnock, “until he reached the CNR bridge at Goderich. When he. waved' to some workmen, he lost control ofjhis canoe and it up set. He was able to ding to the upturned boat but was sb chilled that he passed away (Continued on page 10) - .1111 F t ■ •K:I I LI’’’ ’ \ * ' -,s B Huronview Chapel Gets New Song Books Mrs. Grant MacLean, centre, president of Kippen East Women’s Institute, was present when Mrs. Harry A. Caldwell, right, public relations officer of the WI, presented 50 new Songs of the Gospel books to the 50 seat chapel at Huron- view. Superintendent Harvey Johnston accepted the gift last week. Mrs. MacLean is a daughter of Mr. .Johnston. The Institute met yesterday (Wednesday) March* 15 at the home of Mrs. Doug McGregor. > (News-Record Photo) Letter To The Editor 1 Sewerage System Paid For . I f Could Extra Money Be Used Jo Local Arena Fund M total of $796 was received earlier this week by canvassers foij’ .Clinton 'and District Com- xriijnity Centre Centennial .Fund. Beginning next week the News-Record will publishtotal of. donations, to date to the. fund as well as names of -all persons donating to... the fund in the previous week, /Most canvassers have started their canvass. individuals and businesses wfSch donated in the past week are-as follows; . Reg. McGee & Sons Ltd., ■ /'Goderich ......... 100.00 Bank of Montreal, Clin- ' . / 'ton ........................ 200.00 Alfred E, Buchanan ........ 10.00 ’ John Plumtree ............... 10.00 , Miss Catherine Plumtree.. 10.00 Gcprge Walker .......... Bob Mann ............... Matt Edgar .......... ......... Cl W- Garnet, Sit. Marys... Mrs. ,C. Garnet, St. Marys Earl Blake ...................... Wm. Vodden .................. , Fried Vodden ....1............. Allan Neal ..................... Mrs; Margaret Ball ....... William R. Jenkins ....... Douglas Hardy ........... . E.'C. Nickle ................. Doug M. Howse....... K.’ F. Crowther .............. Garnet McGee ................ Co-operators Insurance Association .............. Mrs. AdaSchel'leriberger.. sis :> s)s The following -is a message from the funds campaign co ordinator of the Community Centre': ' "The Clinton and District •Community Centre Canvass (Continued on’ page ten) Clinton town council, on Mon day, night .instructed1 the town plerh to request., the town en gineers to supply estimates' on reconstruction of two one- block streets., ,as their read building program for 1967. The streets are Wellington, from King to Isaac, and Mill from Maple to Beech. Council will also grade and gravel Irwin Street and put ii|t in useable con dition. Wellington and King is where the new Federal building is located, and Mill -from Maple to Beech leads to the entrance of the new community centre now being constructed. Irwin Street runs east off East, between Canada Packers former poultry plant and Sherlock-Manning Piano Co. It is on Irwin Street that Wil liam Fleming is building a feed said cori- "We with mill* valued at $50,000. This "Was the only building permit presented and passed, Monday. Earlier in the meeting council proposed a bylaw for $20,000 construction ’and $25,000 main tenance on Clinton Streets, Mayor Don Symons sometime this $20,000 for structjon must be revised, can’t do as much now $20,000 as what we could do four or five years ago.” he said. The figure has been the same for that ■ length of time. "It won’t be a very realistic figure when we get engineer’s figures”, the Mayor added; ' The public works committee headed at the present time by Councillor John McFarlane, had suggested Beech Street be re constructed this year. Beech runs from Mi'll north to White head, along community park arid the drive-jin theatt’e. The mayor estimated that to do ail of Beech .Street would oast over $15,000. > Councillor Norman Lttexmore reminded council that they had reconstructed pant of three1 streets’ in Little England and had not paved them. “I dbn’t agree with your decisions here tonight” he said. "Another year and we’ll have to reconstruct them all over again,” said Liv ermore. Deputy Reeve George Wonoh supported Livermore by saying "We’re always being reminded of this street in Little England.” ■ Councillor McFarlane was in structed by the mayor to get the public works committee to come up with specific needs re garding a tractor' and hackhoe. Councillors McFarlane and (Continued on Page Ten) Township .9. the Weaker 19661967 High iLow High Low March 8'20 -2 28 -11 9 31 0 40 18 10 44 25 48 29 * 11 42 . 34 40 30 12 32-20 41 30 13 37 25 41 32 14 38 30 50 29 Rain:.70” •*• “ The Editor, Ciintori News-Record. Dear* Sir: In all- the; rush, and confusion of- daily life I wonder how many more Clintonians, like myself, .have wondered what relief we will get from taxation from the paying of our 20 year old sew erage system, ’and have not been told or been able to find out in dollars and. cents what this means to each of us? I think it timely to reveal the information a few ' enquiries provided, when I finally asked, since the campaign for funds for the Clinton and. District Community Centre got under way. Monday. . Our . sewerage system has” bgen costing Clinton $21,000 an nually for .20 years. This money was raised by 216 mills of our taxes accounting for $7,000 and the balance of $14,000 being supplied to the town by the P.U.C. who collected it by doub ling our water rate .and,, by adding, in latter years, a flat $1.00 maintenance charge on each billing — now—- -although ithas only been whispered abbut — we don’t need $21,000 per year to' look after sewerage' The town doesn’t need $7,000 for it — and now get .this, the PUC don’t need all of the $14,- 000 from us on oui*. water and sewerage bills, and, what's more, I understand, have a proposed new schedule- - of rates at lower’ levels to reduce their revenue by part of this amount (approximately $10,000) and await council’s approval. They want to send out bills Areiua Cornerstone Laymg Posipwed To April 1 . A cornerstone laying cere mony planned tor Saturday, ■ March 18 at the new Com munity Centre in Clinton Community Park, has been postponed to Saturday, April li Contractors iSihantz & Hicks have run into their first set-back in the construc tion ; the cement block laying < is a little behind schedule. H n i 25.00 25.00 asking for less money’but await a bylaw. S'o — a home owner with a $3,000 assessment will save from his 2% mill reduction $7.50, and if 1,000 householders' are sav ing $10,000/in sewerage 'bills it means ah average of $10 each annually. Now, let's tell the people ^his and tell them* that the $175,000 approved debenture for the Community. Centre will cost them over 20 years $17,500 an nually; or at tire present mill of approximately $3,000, under 6 mills. Our man with the $3,000 as sessment has just been saved $17 on-his paid,up sewerage sys tem and now will pay $18 for the Community Centre. If this man, and all the others in .town, pay now enough cash to reduce this debenture issue to only $125,000 he'will pay only $12' annually. ($125,000 for 20 years —$12,500 par year or 4 mills.) Now we see where the much discussed community centre may be built and paid for cre- (Continued on Page Ten) le purchased Joseph’s Women’s Persons who tickets . for St, Church ’ Catholic League euchre party tomor row night (Friday, March. 17) are invited to come a half hour early (at 8 o’clock) and .participate in an Irish sing song led by Mrs. Alice Stiles of Seaforth. The euchre party gets underway sharp at 8:30. All 200 tickets have been sold on this event on which all. proceeds will be turned over to the Clinton and Dis trict Community Centre Cen tennial- Fund. The door prize is a pass port to Expo and there are six prizes for euchre — high and low for both men and women and lone hand prizes for men and,women. There will be two tables of children playing euchre for which Antoine "Red" Garon has contributed $5.00 prize money. "We hope to blow the town ship wide open,”* were the en thusiastic words used by R. E. Thompson, clerk of Goderich Township, to" describe - the fes tivities now being arranged for Friday, Saturday and1 Sunday, June 16, 17 and 18 in Holmes ville, Another organizational meet ing is-set for tonight, March 16. Township Council and a Citi zen’s Centennial Committee are hoping that all Goderich Town ship residents will make the Centennial Celebrations a re sounding success by extending weekend invitations to former sons, and daughters of Goderich Township.; A complete agenda has been planned for the 10 acre Holmes ville Public School site by of ficials for the enjoyment of all ages: Friday, June 16 — Giant variety show featuring present and former Goderich Township talent in a roundup of numbers from yesterday and today; ■ Saturday, June 17 — The en tire day will be devoted to con tests and games with something fpr everyone, whether competi tor or spectator. In the evening a barbecue is arranged with facilities to handle several thousand people. There will al so be a monster, dance later that evening. Sunday, June 18 — An inter faith church service has been scheduled and it is hoped that all denominations in the town ship will be represented, with the various clergymen. In the afternoon, there will be plenty of opportunity for visiting and reminiscing with former friends and acquaintances. Throughout the entire week end, there will be on display a showing of township .folklore .which it is hoped citizens Will loan to officials for.^he once-in-- a-lifetime occasiori’!^‘Pictui’es, maps, records, articles; etc., are being sought for the display which should attract a good deal of attention and form the basis for many strolls down memory lane. Clerk Thompson notes there is a shortage of pictures of schdols, churches and bridges which were built by the'early settlers in Goderich Township, People who plan to attend the Centennial celebration are in vited to bring anything of in terest with them for display; They have the special assurance df officials that care Will be taken to protect all personal treasures. Committees, have been ap pointed but there is still plenty of room for additional ideas and advice; Co-chairmen are: var- (Continued on page ten) I,s - ‘’Mayor* -Dour Symons - arid “his ■ council were hosts* Tuesday evening in St. Paul’s Parish Hall for their second annua1 dinner and card party. Town employees, representatives ’from the neighbouring community of Adastral Park, press represent atives and wives were invited. Acting base -commander, Wing Commander Brute Refuse of CRB Clinton, took this op-* portunity to thank the Clinton Volunteer Fire Brigade for its help in 'fighting a fire at the Canadian Forces School of In structional Technique on Feb ruary 8. He also* commented on the good relations that have always existed between the base and the town. Flight Sergeant Don Kerr, mayor, of Adastral Park, .spoke of the good coverage given his community by local a.nd district press representatives. Mayor Symons handled the introductions and hoped future councils would continue these social events ’which he started last yter jn his first term as mayor. After dinner, moist of ■ those present stayed to play euchre | • and' Have * a isoriak limtef' ' Those pres’ent included: May or .and Mrs. Symons; Flight Sergeant Don Kerr/' mayor ’of Adastral Park and Mi’s. Kerr; Wing Commander Bruce Ra- fuse, acting base commander at CFB, and Mrs. Refuse; Flight Lieutenant Gerry Smith, Cen tennial Liaison Officer at CFB, and Mrs. Smith; Rev. A. J. Mowatt, D.D.; Reeve Duff Thompson; Deputy Reeve and Mrs. George Wonoh; Town Clerk John Livermore and Mrs. Livermore; Deputy Clerk Orval Engelstad and Mrs. Engelstad; Chief of Police H. Russ Thomp son; Constable and Mrs. Albert Shaddick; Councillor and Mrs. - Pat Noonan; Councillor and Mrs. Cameron Proctor; Coun cillor and Mrs. James Arm strong; ' Councillor and Mrs. Norman Livermore; Councillor .John' McFarlane; Councillor Gordon Lawson; Auxiliary Policeman Eugene McLaren and Mrs. McLaren; Auxiliary Police men Doug Gantelon and Craig Cox; Mrs. Muriel Trott, repre sentative of the daily papers, radio and TV; and A. L. Colqu-, houn, publisher of the News- Record. All five members of the mun icipal council- of the Township of Goderich in the County of I-Iurbn — and three of the town ship’s appointed officers — -are descendants of pioneers who settled in the township over 100 years ago; Members of the 1967 Cen tennial year council are: Reeve Grant H. Stirling, Deputy Reeve Everett V. McIlwain, Councillors R.. Harry Oakes. William R. Jenkins, Gerald G. Ginn. The three officers who are frorii Over century old fam ilies are: Clerk R. E. Thomp* son, Assessor Carman W, Tcb* butt and treasurer H. Ben Whitely. A Challenge The council thinks this is possibly a record for Ontario »r even in Canada. They are ■*haircnging any other munici pality who think they can come ip with a better record during this Centennial year. Township clerk Thompson ias most of the records for totthdils overi the years, but is iCeking more old records of school boards, These will all bo m display during the town* flii/j’S Ceiitorinial celebrations in lune. The clerk has supplied some dates and data on each of he pioneer families now repre sented on council.’ Stirling Family The first mention of a Stir ling in old township records is in 1840, when the name Was recorded as a pathmaster. * The present reeve, Grant H, Stirling has held tile top pos ition since 1964. From 1961 to 1963, ho was deputy reeve and was a councillor from 1955 to 1960. His father, the late James R. Stirling, who was reeve in 1949 and screed -on council from 1940 to 1946/ had tile distinc tion of bedpg the first Liberal reeve ever elected ih the town ship. The present reeve’s grand father, William Stirling and an Alox Stirling arc also mentioned in the old record^ (The township has carried the words "Incorporated 1835”- on its stationery for mamr years). , McTtWatrt Family The first McIlwain on record in the township is also in 1840. The 1967 deputy reeve, Ever ett if. McIlwain (has held that post since 1964 and was on council from 1.959 to 1963. Pre vious to that he-was a school area trustee from 1949 to 1958. His father George McIlwain was also a school trustee for- many ,years. Everett’s grandfather was Johnston McIlwain and his great grandfather Samuel Mc Ilwain was one of the first trustees in the township and also is listed in 1846 as a path master. Another son of Samuel, William was a commissioner in 1851. Ginn Family The newest member of the township council, Gerry Ginn who is serving his first year as a councillor comes from the old est family recorded in muni cipal affairs, The Ginns first came to Goderich Township in 1830, and Gerry’s great grand father Thomas Ginn is listed as a pathmas ier in 18*13, Gerry is not new to municipal work, because he had served for nine years on Goderich Dis trict Collegiate Institute board, and while there was the board’s representative, on the Advisory Vocational Committee to* Clin ton District Collegiate Institute board. The youngest in years and the newest oh council comes from a very civic minded fa mily. fils father, the late George C. Ginn was also a member of gdCi board, as well >as teun* clllor from 1940 to 1944, reeve from 1945 to 1948 and was the fOWhShlp auditor in 19^5. Oswald Ginn,, the present councillor's grand-fattier had a similar record. He was on coun cil from 1916 to 1918, reeve from 1923 to 1925, a bailiff in 1931, a constable in 1921 arid is also listed as a township auditor. Jenkins Family William R. Jenkins who* be came a councillor in 1964 had no- ancestors who were muni cipally inclined except his groat grandfather who is listed' as a pathmaster in 1843. In 1833 William Jenkins camo to Canada from Lang- harme, Carmatherishire, Wales, and settled at Bridgewater, near Holmesville. In 1838 ho pur chased lot 18, Huron Road, known now as "Woodlands” and presently owned by Edward Jenkins who lives in London. William’s seventh child, Ro land, born in 1$44, was a vet eran of the Fenian Raids in 1861; he farmed on the 16th concession on the farm now owned by township assessor Carman Tebbutt, The present councillor’s father, Herbert Jenkins, also farmed on the same farm be fore ho retired to Clinton, Oakes Family Councillor Harry Oakes’ an cestors came to Goderich Town- (Coritinucd oft Page Five) Members of the council which are all descend ants of farinilies which have been in the township over 100 years are? seated^ left to right, Deputy Reeve Everett 'th McIlwain, Reeve Grant Stirling, Counciilor R. Harry Oakes; back row, left* to right, Councillor Gerry G. Ginn and Councillor William R, Fenkins. i } , (^^-Ri&cord Photo)