HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1954-07-28, Page 14■4
* Page Fourteen The Wingham Advance-Times, Wednesday, July'28, 1954 Crawford Garage, Corner of Edward and John Sts.
Firsf Automobile Owners
Decided to Clear Road
JF*’1'
$
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A. M. Crawford had
of owning the first
Wingham, returning
with a car in 1904,
the distinction
automobile in
from Toronto
op the billiard
agent for the
While still carrying
parlor, he became an
Ford Motor Company and received
his first shipment of cars in 1911. It
was stated at the time that this would
appear to be a big order, but it was
really not a big thing for Wingham.
With customers lined up for the first
cars he was seriously thinking of
ordering a second carload.
By the year 1915 Mr, Crawford was
firmly established as agent for Ford
Co. The Ford Runabout sold for $480,
the Touring car for $530, the Couplet
at $730, the Town Car at $780 and the
Sedan, the highest priced, at $890. All
these cars were completely equipped,
including electric head lights. Speed
ometer was extra.
but Orval was
station to mail some letters. He found
on arrival that the train had pulled
out, so he wheeled about and headed
for Belgrave at top speed.
His letters were on the train when
it left that village,
fined for fast driving, since the speed
limit at that time was ten miles per
hour and eight at intersections with
in town limits.
Cars were driven on the right hand
side of the road but there was con
siderable discussion over the by-law
on turning. It was finally decided
that it was unreasonable to have to
drive a couple of blocks out of the
way to turn around and both cars
and horse-drawn vehicles were al
lowed to turn anywhere in the street.
ft
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Mrs. Wm. Young •
Lived to 100 Years
Mrs, William Young, the former
Catherine Linklater, came from the
Orkney Islands in 1836, and with her
parents, Mr, and Mrs, John Linklater,
settled near Wingham.
In 186? she was married to William
Young, .who was reeve of Colborne
Township for over 30 years.^He died
in 1896 and she moved to Wingham
three years later, remaining here until
her death in 1935, in her 100th year.
Mr. and Mrs. Young had no children*
but they had an adopted son, Dr. W.
J. Young, who practised here for some
time bofore moving west, where ’ he
predeceased Mrs, Young, There was
also an adopted daughter, a niece,
Mrs. Peter Gowans, and daughter of
Peter Linklater, who now resides on
Minnie Street.
L. Kennedy, representing the Over
land Sales Co., had a stylish, comfort
able, completely equipped car, the
bouyant cantilever rear spring, deep,
soft upholstery and large-size tires
providing real riding comfort at $850.
The Chevrolet “Four-Ninety”, a
powerful, quiet running auto, was sold
by R. Beattie. This car had a mohair
tailored top with envelope and side
curtains, electric horn and clear vi
sion. It boasted a ventilating wind
shield, speedometer, electric starting
and lighting system, all for $675.
own-
these
Club,
than
Also available to the motor-minded
public was the Studebaker, a higher
priced car, Orval Taylor being the
first agent. The 40 h.p., seven-passen
ger Studebaker was priced at $1225
but offered such conveniences as the
gas tank removed from the cowl to
the rear of the chassis, Stewart gas’
feed system, over-lapping storm-proof
windshield and instruments arranged
on the dash.
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Auto Club Formed
There were several automobile
ers in Wingham by 1914 and
men decided to form an Auto
The objects of the club, other
social, were for betterment of roads
and to co-operate with councils and
pathmasters.
At the organization meeting A. H.
Musgrove was elected honorary presi
dent; L. Kennedy, president; George
Mason, vice-president; Dr. J. P. Ken
nedy, secretary-treasurer. Dr. Dolittle,
president of the Ontario Motor League
was invited to address the group and
the local club affiliated with the pro
vincial organization.
Wingham and Lucknow enthusiasts
arranged to rake all the loose stones
off the road between here and Luck-,
now, a rather large venture. The local
group also met with council and made
arrangements for- the use of a dray
to smooth certain parts of the streets
to make an attractive drive around
town.
’ Examiner Appointed
i
i Councillor W. A. Currie was
I pointed as technical examiner
I Wingham and district for those
plying for chauffeurs’ licenses,
applicants were examined as to their
character, physical fitness, ability to
drive and knowledge of road rules.
The examiner could not be connected
with the sale of cars and the fee was
drivers to secure a license so that in
case of accident they would have
proof of their ability to drive. Such
was not required to be renewed every
year, as was the chauffeur’s license,
issued to those who drove for hire.
Councillor Young installed a mea
suring gas pump on the street, at his
hardware store in 1914, The tank held
500 gallons of gasoline, which was
filtered.
A. M. Crawford’s first street pump
measured a gallon of gas at a time.
At one time he had a 10,000 gallon
tank at the C.P.R-. station and during
a shortage of gasoline people came
from far and near, practically begging
to buy it. The price at that time was
15c per gallon and it took a lot of
pumping to supply the customers by
one gallon lots.
Previous to the time of the pumps,
gasoline was supplied from drums
the same manner as coal oil.
Jubilee Medal Won by
Curling Club Members
in
ap-
for
ap-
The
Did Dad Own a Car?
Two dollars was the price of a ear
license, a heavy piece of black rubber
with the numbers painted in large
white figures.
Could They Travel I I
One day Orval Taylor, the above-;
mentioned Studebaker representative, j ?L0°-
drove to the Grand Trunk Railway’) It was deemed advisable for all
AN ORCHID
TO WINGHAM
ON THE OCCASION OF
WINGHAM’S 75th
ANNIVERSARY
MAY WE ADD OUR
CONGRA TULA TIONS
TO THOSE OF ITS
OTHER CITIZENS
AND ADMIRERS.
MAY THE TOWN’S NEXT 75
YEARS BE AS PROSPEROUS
AS THE LAST.
LEWIS
FLOWERS
FLORISTS IN WINGHAM
FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS.
I
Automobiles became more and more
popular and as time went on old
“Dobbin” was replaced by the modern
method of travel. It must be said,
however, that Dobbin was quieter on
the take-off than the cars of 1925,
for in files of that year we find the
following:
“At a meeting of council the matter
of parked autos with young couples
in and lights out for the greater part
of the night was discussed. The chief
and night watchman were instructed
to arrest any and all owners of such
cars in an effort to put a stop to this
alarming situation. Presidents of all
parts of the' town are complaining
of autos stopped near their
till 2, 3 and 4 a.m.”
homes
Toboggan Slide
Some people will, and many will not
remember the toboggan slide which
for many years provided residents of
all ages with pleasure during the
winter months. ,
The toboggan slide was first erected
in 1885 on Carling Street, south of
Victoria (Now Hillcrest), which was
a perfect location. The floor of the
slide was 35 feet high at the start
ing point and extended 120 feet be
fore touching the ground, making a
fall of five and a half inches every
foot. It extended to the Bluevale Road,
a distance of 150 to 200 feet. Around
the slide proper was a railing five
feet in height to eliminate accidents.
While there is no tobaggan slide to
day, the same location, now known as
Carling Terrace, and populated by
about fifty families, still provides ex
cellent sleighriding. Just take a trip
to Hillcrest any slippery winter’s day
and you will probably find adults as
well as children making the run from
the top to the bottom- of the hill.
At the time of Queen Victoria’s
Jubilee in 1888, the Royal Caledonian
Curling Club of Scotland sent medals
to the Ontario Branch of the society
to be used for curling club compe
titions in various districts. Each dis
trict competed with each club enter
ing three teams.
The final games for this district
were played at Listowel on February
5th, 1889, on good keen ice. Twenty-
two ends were played, and the umpire
was R. Ferguson. Results of the Wing
ham rinks were as follows:
W. Armour, Andrew Mitchell, G.
McKay, S. Kent, skip—Wingham 15,
Listowel 22; D. Sutherland, G, Mc
Kenzie, W. Scott, J. J. Anderson, skip
—■ Wingham 22, Listowel 13; John
Inglis, John Coad, John Neelands,
John fDinsley, skip—Wingham 23 and
Listowel 11. Final score, Wingham 60,
Listowel 46.
The medal was in the possession of
Mr. Dinsley for several years and then
put up for point competitions among
members of the Wingham club. Frank
Paterson won it several times and
kept it until his death.
One day in 1937, his son. Ken1, was in
Dr. J. R. MaclDonald’s office and the
doctor made inquiries about the Ju
bilee Medal. As a result, Miss L. Pat
erson of Brussels, who had it follow
ing her father’s death, gave it to Dr.
MacDonald, who returned it to the
local club for competition.
The medal was bronze and three
inches in diameter; on one side was
the name “Royal Caledonian Club”,
which is the parent curling club, and
the crest of the club with the date
1888. On the reverse side were Scotch
curlers playing on a lake and the
inscription, “Wingham from Listowel”
appearing below along with two home
made Scottish brooms and two curl
ing stones.
During the past tew years the medal
has been mislaid, and despite all ef-
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SNAP SHOTS OF
BYGONE DAYS
forts to locate it no information
been forthcoming as' to its present
whereabouts.
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He Who Laughs
Last—Laughs Best
Jimmy Louttit was a well-known
Scotsman in town, who was a clerk
in J. A. Cline’s hardware, in the centre
shop in the Stone Block, Barney, a
young man of German descent, was
bartender for Fred Korman in the
National Hotel.
At noon Barney would generally be
seen leaning . against the main en
trance door post. He invariably had a
cigar or two in his top vest pocket?
Jimmy thought it a great joke to grab
a cigar from Barney’s pocket, chuckle
to himself over the performance and
depart with the cigar.
One day he grabbed a cigar and
went merrily on'his way. At the centre
of the street, as he crossed to go to
ward his home on Edward Street, he
put a match to the cigar. A couple of
enjoyable puffs and the cigar explod
ed. It was Barney's turn to have a
hearty laugh.
A sulphur spring has been discover
ed on land on the prairie by Dr, Tam-
lyn. When the doctor has completed
his extensive improvements we have
no doubt this spot will become a pop
ular* resort for our citizens. —News
item 1885.
WELCOME OLD TIMERS’
" A
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Bi $0
to’
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We’ve Come A Long Way
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At the National Hotel one day, a
sign was up at the bar, “Free Drinks
Tomorrow”. Early next morning an
aged man appeared on the scene, with
joy all over his face, in high expec
tancy of the treat to come. To his
chagrin the sign was still there, and
the old man retired quite dejected.
Pettypiece wants it clearlyChief
understood that he will prosecute any
persons found tying a horse to any
shade tree in town. —News item 1887.
■ First Auto in Huron County
A
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lv■ .'Mm
Since..
Alex Crawford is Shown kt the tiller of his first car, arid the first automobile
m the county, The car was a brand new Oldsmobile* Seated beside Alex Is
his nephew, and the picture was taken south of Wingham oh the main road.
A
YOU WERE KIDS . . .
. . For PROOF - Drive the METEOR!
MOTORS
METEOR .MERCURY -
DEALERS
LINCOLN