HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1959-04-02, Page 2Noe _2
The. Titres -Advocate, April , 1959
Editorials.
This ntwspeper believers the
right to express n opinion in
public .contributes to the pro-
gress of the notion end thea it
must be exercised freely to ore-
serve and improve •democratic
government,
Many happy returns
011 behalf of all of the neighbors of RCAF
Station Centralia, The Times -Advocate extends con-
gratulations and best wishes to Group Captain A.
G. Yenyon, CD, commanding officer, and his pet: -
amine' on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary
of the formation of the RCAF.
Many happy returns.
Since the Centralia station opened in 1942, this
district has enjoyed an enviable association with an
adventuresome, spirited military service which has
established a truly remarkable record of achievement
n Canada's name,
We, as an area, are extremely proud of the
important role Centralia has played in the develop-
ment and expansion of the RCAF since 1942. The
RCAF's standard of -flying training, to which Cen-
tralia
tralia has contributed inlmeasureably, was recognized
significantly by the establishment of the British
Commonwealth Air Training Plan. het'e during the
war and more recently by the NATO training pro-
gram which has contributed to the preservation of
the free world in a hazardous cold war.
But we, as civilians, have been more conscious
of an intimate and friendly personal relationship with
Canadans from all walks of life and from all areas
of the nation who move to and from the station in
a never-ending stream which, somehow, retains its
fundamental character despite the myriad changes in
its components.
We've enjoyed having RCAF personnel in our
midst these 16 years; many of us have formed last-
ing friendships with airmen and their familiea and
established many brief acquaintanceships which have
been pleasant and stimulating. It's been a pleasure
to mingle through sporting, recreational and social
activities as well as day-to-day business transactions.
We have appreciated your company, RCAF
Station Centralia, and we regret whatever shortcom-
ings we may have had as hosts in this area. We've
nlisunderstodd you, at times, as yott no doubt have
misinterpreted us and yet such differences, if such
they were, are quickly forgotten in the consideration
or the general cordial relationships which have always
prevailed and which we hope will continue for many
more years.
A very happy anniversary to you, Centralia,
and to the outstanding organization you represent so
well.
Peaceful co=existence
A professor at the University of Toronto
School of Architecture recently decried that the
Queen city, once known as a "city of trees" is now
known as the "city of wires." He was critical of the
ugly overhead wiring which has replaced rows of
trees which once graced city streets.
Toronto isn't the only municipality •which is
experiencing this most unfortunate conflict between
trees and wire. The battle rages here in Exeter and
there's not much doubt as to which side is winning.
Constant pruning by hydro and telephone
crews hasdeformed our boulevard trees to pathetic
shapes. We appreciate it is necessary to prevent the
limbs from interfering with the wires; yet it is dis-
turbing to see the heart ripped out of the maples
and elms.
This winter some 25 trees were taken down
by the PUC and the town, Not all, of course, were
felled because of wiring but certainly many were.
The town can't afford to lose 25 trees a year;
its roads will soon be denuded at that pace. No
policy for replacing these losses has yet been an-
nounced although it has been stated on several oc-
casions that something will be done.
Frankly, we'd like to see council, PUC and
the telephone company draft some type of program
which would provide for a "peaceful co -existence"
of wires and limbs, Let us plan tc move wires under-
ground or start growing trees where they won't fight
with wires. And let's plant a new one for every tree,
that is removed.
Above all, we urge the utilities and the towns
to :make plans in the proposed new subdivision to
keep the combatants far apart.
only God can .make a tree."
Vie Exeter MtrnesilbDncat¢
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,i Y, YOU , a .l"
I got a nasty .colt the other day.
i was skimming Through the
newspaper, when a familiar
name jumped out at me. I
stopped to read the story. Sure
•enough, it was M. T. Backhouse,
IPSO, DFC, and bar, two tour of
operations, f o r m er Squadron
Leader. He's' just been appointed
a director of some company in
Montreal, the story said.
' At * a 4
Old "Empty," as we used to
call him, had a bad time of it in
the war. He was utterly fearless.
He would fly through flak as ca-
sually as though he was strolling
to the pub, He was less afraid
of German fighters than he was
of his bicycle, But he had that
name, ane it was quite a cross
to bear.. Imagine being know to
everyone from barmaids to bri-
gadiers, ' as Empty Backhouse.
a
He was flight -lieutenant when
I knew him, and a good one.
Quiet, keen, respected and ad-
mired by all, he was a born
leader. He'd have risen to high
rank in the service, had it not
been for two things, his name
and a quick temper.
• •*
He could take any amount of
razzing, as long as it had nothing
to do with his name. But every
so often some wit, who didn't
know the background, would be
introduced to him, and inspired
' by a few drinks, would suggest
that he change his name from
M. T. Backhouse to Unoccupied
Closet, qr something of the sort."
t,< 4 y
The sequel never. varied. The
stranger would wind up on . his
back, with a fat lip,and Empty
would wind up with a couple of
types holding his arms, while he
stuttered: "I'd rather be a Back -
house than a bl----basket." Only
he didn't say basket. Next clay,
he'd be on the mat, get a rocket
from the C.O., and have another
black mark against his promo-
tion.
* * • s
But all this has nothing to do
with what I started to say. What
rocked me, when I read the
newspaper account of his new
job, was this: "Mr. Backhouse,
.50, has been engaged in ..." I
looked again. Yes, it said 50.
Must be a typographical error.
Old Empty was in the Second
World War, not the Firs t.
Couldn't he a day over 40.
• • * *
Slowly, it seeped in. BY George
old Empty WAS quite a bit older
then the reet of us. But he
couldn't be 50, Wait a minute,
now,. A Mlle simple arithme'ic.
That was in '43. This is '59.
That's . , . uh . , . holy smokes,
16 years ago. He was only 34
then. And he seemed so old. It's
true, then.
•
The line of thought didn't flow
in smoothly. It came in short,
chilling bursts. If Ern-pty is 50,
he's middle-aged. Eleven =years
from this June I'll be 50. Young
Hugh is eleven, arid it seems as
though he was born only last
month,
• • * t.
When the bitter reality finally
got through, and I'd checked the
figures twice, I just sat there,
feeling every one of my praeti-
calty 50 years. It's an awful belt
ID the teeth to a man who has
been merrily pounding on the
portals of life to have ;that hell -
century door suddenly" yawning
in his face.
w
* s A'
Of course, the signs have been
Sugar
AND
Spice
Dispensed by BILL. SMILEY
there, but 1've been too blind,
too engrossed in my picture of
myself as a young blade, to ad-
mit their presence. But now that
I've seen the writing nn the Back -
house wall, l'll admit frankly
that I'm no flaming youth any
more. There's more smoke than
fire in the old chap, nowadays.
*
For example, I can't sit up and
play poker all night and be on
the job next day, the way I used
to. 1 find that i have to quit
about 4 a.m. if I'm losing, or 5
a.m., if I'm winning, nowadays,
I can't dance the way .I used to,
either. Why, I used uta be able
to wring a quart of perspiration
our of my long underwear after
a good evening's dancing. I can
barely squeeze a cupful, now-
adays.
* * * •
And as for the girls, there's
where your age really shows. 1
used to make a round trip of 330
Miles, on a 48-hour pass, hitch
hiking, to see a girl, when I was
a young dog of an airman, The
only girl I'd go more than 350
yards to see nowadays would be
my daughter, if site were getting
married,,And by ginger, that re--
minds
e-minds me. she's 8 now, and •in
only 10 or 11 years I'll be a
grandfather, the way these young-
'uns carry on nowadays,
It's cruel, but I've faced up to
it. I've made my peace with old
age and the simpler things of
lite. But don't be surprised to
read ,seine pretty strong, edito-
rials, in the near future, on the
advisability 'of lowering the age
limit, and increasing the amount
of the old -age pension.
, .I.,nip,t. Mnt„intt ym,nm,utpn,n,tunm,n nutq,
News Of' Your
LIBRARY
By MRS. J. M. S. •
NOR SCRIP NOR SHOES'
In this book is the true and
candid story of a priest written
by himsetf: of how and -why he
entered thepreisthood, of his
missionary work in China, and of
the sudden succession of physical_
disabilities which struck at his
life.
Even as a child growing up in
a large, warm and happy family
in Toronto, Father McGoey had
a sense of vocation for the priest-
hood. At the time he was 17 he
entered the seminary of the.Sear-
boro Foreign Missions Society, of
Canada and, in reliving the six
years he spent there, he gives
the reader a vivid picture of the
young theology student's life.
Father McGoey tells of his call
as a missionary to' China arriv-
ing just when World War II had
begun. For four years the town
he lived in . was used by the
Japanese bombers for target
practice, When the Japanese
army invaded the town Father
McGoey was :forced to begin in
the long terrible march into
West China which permanently
undermined his health.
Since his early thirties he has
suffered a series of illnesses, in-
cluding cancer, any of which
would overwhelm most people.
As a result he found himself
restricted to limited service. He
is flow in charge of a small par-
ish in the Bahamas, living from
day to day always with the t
knowledge that his next attack
Please Turn To Page 4 z
Jottings By J.M,$.
HosteIry south of fqwn
one of disfrict's finest
'l'he following account of .one After remaining therea year
of the first hosteleries. that was Mr. Quick sent remaining
to his wife
built on the London Road, about to pack up their belongings and
bri
ng the amily to tate new email.try. This Mrs. Quick did and
after a tedious journey which
took several .months, coined her
husband, who had been snaking
his headquarters with a family
named Rowcliffe.
At that time the .eountry :here-
abouts was not like it is new,
one of the best agricultural sec,
dens in. Canada, but was a dense
forest. What is now know as the
London road, and by tourists
pronounced. the best graded and
.kept road in the province, was
nothing but an Indian trail only
a few feet wide and impossible
for teaming, and during the wet
season was almost unpassable,
Not being daunted by the ,pri•.
vations of pioneer life and the
care of a large family of chit-
ciren, Mr, and Mrs. Quick im-
mediately set about hewing out
a house for themselves in the
wilderness, and in a short time
.erected a log house almost in
the same spot where the build,
ins to be torn down, is located.
in this home two children were
born to bless the union of the
determined pioneer couple, The
eldest of the two died in infancy
and the remains were interred
in' the cemetery a mile and a
quarter south of Exeter, and MI-
titrecently was fenced off in
sacred remembrance- of those
whityears ago were laid to rest,
'The other child is our vener•
able and much respected towns-
woman, Mrs, .Hyndman, mother
of Dr. I-f,I{. Hyndman, and to
Mrs, Hyndman we are greatly
indebted for the history of the
old homestead.
In the early years those who
were looking for a location in
this section were compelled to
follow the. trail, which gradually
became wider ,for constant travel,
and footsore and weary, would
stop at the Quick homestead for
meals or lodging. Mr. and Mrs.
Quick would never horn any per-
son away hungry tirr tired, often
giving up theirbed to their
guests, although' no charge was
—Please Turn To Page 4
two miles south of Exeter, .ae
peared in The Exeter Times,
April 26, 1000, and no doubt will
be read with interest to many
of our readers:
OLD I.ANDMARIC TO Bid
DESTROY 60
One of the oldest hostelries on
the .London Road to he replaced
by a modern building. •
About two miles south of Exe.
ter, on the farm of James Walk-
er, nue of the oldest buildings
between London and Gncler'ich
will soon be razed, and in its
place will be erected a dwelling
of more modern architecture,
This old structure is over 60
years old and has far genera-
tions been a familiar landmark,
and to see it now, one would
hardly 'believe that in its time
was considered one of the best
hostelries in Western Ontario
and that many men of promi-
nence of Upper Canada, as our
Province was then called, made
it a stopping place in their jour-
neys from London to Godoricb.
The old house, at the present.
time, while not in accord with
many of the palatial farm resi-
dences of - the present time, is
still as comfortable as when
f'ir'st erected; being cool in the .
summer, and characteristic of
log structures, is easy to keep
heated in the winter.
In the early thirties Mr. Jo-
seph Quick, a resident of Devon-_
shire, England, like a great
many of his countrymen, con -
eluded that prospects were great.
er in. Canada than at home, and
took passage for this country,
leaving his wife and eight chile
dren behind him,
He came direct to this section
and purchased 100 acres of land
from the Canada Company, This
Company had some years be-
fore purchased from the Indians
the Huron Tract. which com-
prised many thousands of acres
of land,' in this county., The prop-
erty was divided into sections,
the same as had been clone in
the great North-west, and offer-
ed for sale.
•,nA.t r A4.7
As the
11TES"
Go by
50 YEARS AGO -
Fred Here, Zion; left on. Tues-
day for the great wast where he
intends to make his future home:
Tiernan and, Edighoffer, Dash-
wood,. are making extensive pre-
parations for their millinery
openings on March. 26 and • 27'
with Miss Dunn as milliner.
Crediton butchers, M e s s r s,
Lawson, and Nicholson, have pur-
chased a gasoline 'engine to use
in their shop for the cutting of
sausages and other uses.
The managers of Caven Pres.
hyter•ian church are installing
the Reliable Light system in the
church this week.
Mr. W. Melville, a former Exe-
ter boy,: has been engaged as
tinsmith with W. J. Heenan.
Cpt: W. J. Hearn an and Lieut. '
J, G. Stanbury attended' a ban-
quet given at Clinton by the of-
ficers of the 33rd Huron regi-
ment.
25 YEARS, AGO
Mr. and Mrs. John Cornish on
Monday celebrated the 65th' an-
niversaryof their marriage.Rev. Canon D; W. Collins of
Sarnia and a former rector of
Trivia Memorial' church, Exeter
has been given temporary super-
annuation due to iii -health.
A quiet wedding tools place at
the Woodham parsonage whee
Laura Blanche Clarke, &lush- $
ter of Mr. and Mrs, Nelson
Clarke; Was married to William
Walters: •
A three -act comedy drama will o
be presented in the Opera House
April 5 under the auspices of
James Street Young People's
League with Clarence Down, 1
Sylvester Taylor, Silas Reed,
Garnet Hicks,, Mabel Nay, Lula t
Lindenfield, Mrs, H. C. Carey, t
Isobel Turnbull, Pearl Wood and a
J. M, Seutheott in the caste.
Taster this year falls on All t
Fool's Bay, a very rare occur- e
once, t
'rhe heaviest fall of snow that
Lias visited this section at one j
ime all winter fell Monday and 1.
early ,Tuesday Morning: Citi• •C
ens ewoke to find a foot of snow s
and roads ,were blocked. Pre-
vious to this storm the snow and
ice had practically disappeared,
15 YEARS AGO
Mr. Thomas Appleton of town
celebrated his '89th birthday on
Friday, March 24.'
Sgt. Clarence McDonald, is
now in England where his
younger brother Ted has been
for over two years.
The Hurondale Federation of
Agriculture held a social eve.
Hing at the school Friday, March
24.
During the week the women
of the Soldier's Welfare 'Sub-
committee packed ancl shipped
124 parcels of hearty seven
pounds each to the boys of the
district who are overseas.
Pte Mayine Pridham of Kirk -
tan spent the weekend with her
sister, Mrs. Cr, Burgin.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Routly 'and
daughters of. Elimville attended
a reception on the occasion of
.he silver wedding of Mr. andCromer-
teeMrs. Ken McKellar at Cromer -
tee
Corporal Gordon May of Camp
1pperwash was recently promo-
ted to Sergeant,
10 YEARS AGO
Two elderly farmers in Ste-
phen Township about six miles
West of Exeter were robbed of
550 after the men had been
bound and the house ransacked,
Tuesday evening.
Mr. Mose Hecklerhas disposed
f 'his 150 acre farm to William
Rowcliffe. •
The Royal Canadian Air Force
on April 1 notes -°its silver jubi-
ee:
The death of Miss Evelyn. Hers-.
on was the last of three sisters
0 pass away within the past ten
nd a half months.
The I•luronio choir was placed
hird in competition with four
hoirs at Stratford elusicai Fes-
fval Thursday evening,
Twenty nmenthers of the Kcmc-
&nus Class of Main Street
loiters church motored to the
ounty Home, Clinton, to pre-
eraa concert for the inmates
'K - r .61
NWOW. Id+,-NBr:a.410 i,4 .
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OCTOR
0 rt0,1iidtl Pasturt!t gyadacate, )ac.,.
11'ei9d r isri'fs a'e9e'rvelf.
akorog
4*z
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ahe'teat'► E etrilighteli her feirlgers, Dotteit,t{ f
e,
• MEN
WHOTHINK
QF TOMORROW
PRACTICE
MODERATION
TODAY
MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR
TRAFFIC FETY
During April, religious leaders of all.
faiths throughout Ontario will stress the
moral aspects of the traffic accident
problem. They will he asking you, as a
motorist or pedestrian, to accept indi-
vidual responsibility for obeying the
trafljp laws and the rules of the road.
Thins personal appeal to the users of our
streets andhighways is the basis of the
Moral Responsibility Campaign spon-
sored by the Ontario Department of
Transport.' It is receiving enthusiastic
endorsement and active support frorn
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
and from local safety councils, police
departments, service, clubs, women's
groups and other. community or.ganiza-
tions.
You can help t'he Moral Responsibility
Campaign achieve success by -practising
the Golden Rule of train safety—drive
and walk as you would have others
drive and walk.
ONTARIO
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
HIGHWAY SAFETY BRANCH
9014
• Business
Directory
BELL & LAUGHTON
BARRISTERS, SO',ICITORS &
NOTARIES PUBLIC
ELMER D. BELL, Q.C.
C. V. LAUGHTON,
Zurich Offic 'Tuesday
After bon
EXETER PHONE 4
USBORNE & HIBBERT
MUTUAL FII:L
INSURANCE COMPANY
Head Office — Exeter, Ontario
. President
Alex X. Rohde R.R. 3 Mitchell
Vice. President
Milton McCurdy R.1t, 1 Kirklon
Directors
E. Clayton Colqulmoun 11.11, t
Science Hill
Martin Feeney R,Pt. 2 Dublin
Robert G. Gardiner R.R.. 1
Cromarty
Timothy B. Toohey Jt,R. 3 Lucen
Agents
Harry Coates R.R, 1 Centralia
Clayton Martis Mitehoil
Stanley Hocking '• Mitchell
• Solicitor
W G. Cochrane Exeter
Secretary -Treasurer
Arthur Fraser Deter
ALAN F'OWRIE
AUCtIONrER
Fergus, R,R, 1, Ontario
Phone 201+x2, Fergus
' A CcMPLETE AUCTION
tlradt,ate of the Reisch School of
Auctioneering, Macon City, Iowa,.
U.S.A.
W. 5. O'NEIL & SON
AVCTIONEER,S
LIVESTOCK
GENERAL FARM SALES
AND REAL ESTATE
For sale dates
PHONE 287 G1tANTQN
COLLECT
W. G. COCHRANE
BARRISTER & SOLICITOR
NOTARY PUBLIC
Hensall Office Open Wednesday
and Friday Afternoons
1:30 to 5:30
EXETER PHONE 14
DR. H. H. OWEN
DENTAL SURGEON
L.D.S., D.D.S.
Main Street
Closed Wadnescl.iy
Exeter
Afternoons
PHONE 36
N.. L. M.ARTiN
OPTOMETRIST
Main Street, Exeter
Open .Lvery Weekday
Except Wednesday
for Appoiintment Phone :355
ARTHUR FRASER
INCOME TAX REPORTS
BOOKKEEPING SFRVICE
ETC.
Anne St., Exeter Phone SO4
ALVIN WALPER
LICENSED AUCTIONEER
l or your sale, large or small,
courteous and efficient service
at all times.
"Service That Jaf sfies"
Pt•trNE 119
bASf•IWO�Di
bee t W, cdReitr�r „ .
6,9.s,
G. A. WEBS, 'b.C,
DENTAL SURGEON
00dTbtt t5P tillitdrilttAt1`id
Phene 213 Et6fat' ORiGLLESS TH5AAPY
Closed Wednesday ACtetjtttis Per Appointment itrie
saE
514 Main Street Soul