HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 1SENATOR RETURNS - Exeter's Centennial celebrations will officially
get underway Saturday afternoon with Senator Richard Stanbury do-
ing the honours. Above, Senator Stanbury is shown with Barbara Atkin-
son in 1935.
HONOR LIFETIME BUSINESSMAN — About 75 people gathered Monday to honor Earl R. Guenther,
third from left, for his many years of service to the community and to the school in particular. Standing with
Mr. Guenther from the left are R. L. Cunningham, from the Huron County Board of Education, Morley
Sanders, retiring vice-principal of SHDHS; Joe Wooden, principal of SHDHS; Mery [Davies, manager of the
Sarnia branch of Charterways, and Pat Strain, vice-president of Charterways.
UNVEIL PLAQUE Four descendants of early Exeter families were given the honor of unveiling a plaque
commemorating the community's founding. From the left are: John Willis, Miss Marion Bissett, Mrs. Louise
Craig cmcl cY,,,Pickard..In the, ;round is .Joe Wooden, who arranged 'the dedication ceremony.
Historic plaque unveiled
at site 'where it began'
BEEF DISAPPEARS QUICKLY - More than 1,600 persons attended the annual beef barbecue at the rieW.
Kirkton-Woodham hall Saturday, Above, Bill Waghorn tuts off some of the delectable beef for Mr. and Mrs,
Harry Strang of Usborne township. T.A photo
Outstanding Student
Karen L. Russell, daughter of Roy
Russell, Russeldale, and the late
Mrs. Audrey Russell, graduated
from St. Mary's School of Nursing
in Kitchener recently, Karen
received the award for an
"Outstanding Student" presented
by the faculty of St. Marys. She
received her earlier education at
Mt. Pleasant Public School and
Mitchell District High School.
Karen is a granddaughter of Mr.
and Mrs, Albert Scott, Exeter.
Interior Designer
Debbie Etherington, daughter of
Mr, and Mrs. R.D, Etherington,
Hensall, was presented with a
liripipe (a longer version of a un-
iversity hood in the school colors
with tassles on the end) and
diploma in Art and Interior
Design at convocation of
Georgian College of Applied
Arts, Barrie. Debbie has accepted
a position in the Department of
Research and Development, Glen-
dale Corporation, Strathroy.
(photo by Doerr)
Registered Nurse
Jacqueline Ann Lewis, eldest
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Douglas Lewis, RR 2, Ailsa Craig
graduated recently from St.
Joseph's Regional School of Nur-
sing, London as a registered
nurse.
Receives Proficiency Award
Pamela May Carter, daughter of
Mr, and Mrs. Joseph Carter, RR 2,
Denfield, graduated recently from
the Atkinson School of Nursing at
Toronto Western Hospital. Pam
received an award for general
proficiency in nursing. She is a
graduate of Medway High School
and a former student of Prince
Andrew Public School, London
township.
To Work at SHDHS
Richard Daniel Graham, son of
Mr. and Mrs. D.W: Shaw,
Lakewood Gardens, RR 1,
Dashwood, has recently
graduated from Althouse College
of Education in London, He has a
B.A. in Sociology from the Univer-
sity of Western Ontario. Richard
has accepted a position at South
Huron District High School. His
wife, Wanda, has also graduated
from Althouse College and has a
B.A. in Mathematics from
Western,
Althouse Grad
Douglas Glenn Wolper recently
graduated from Althouse College
of Education in London, He
previously obtained his Honors
Bachelor of Arts degree in
Psychology at the University of
Waterloo. He has accepted a
teaching position with the
Waterloo County Board of
Education, Doug is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Glen Walper, Cam-
bridge (Preston).
Receives BA
Lois Wright, daughter of Mrs.
Esther Wright and the late Frank
Wright, Kippen, received her
Bachelor of Arts degree in English
from the University of Western
Ontario at the spring convocation
recently.
Pair fined $50
in carwash theft
Two area youths made their
seventh appearance on the same
charge when they appeared
before Judge Glenn Hays,
Tuesday.
Kenneth Jones, Huron Park
and Steven Dale Smith, RR 3,
Exeter had previously pleaded
guilty and were in court this week
for sentencing on a charge of
theft.
They had been involved in
having taken money from the
local car wash, owned by David
Corrie, Clinton,
At the last court appearance,
they had been told to make
restitution but they told Judge
Hays this week they had been
unable to contact the owner.
A police officer indicated he
had been speaking to Mr. Corrie
earlier in the day and the two
were advised to leave the court
and find the car wash owner,
They returned to report they
had made restitution and Judge
Flays levied fines of $50 to each of
the accused.
"Earl R. Guenther, after 33
years of an exceedingly active
life, has decided to take things
easier".
This statement was written in
1952 by J.M, Southcott when the
Guenther and Tuckey Transport
Lines came together. And
Monday night, more than 20
years later, E.R, Guenther
retired for the second time.
About 75 people gathered at a
retirement dinner at SHDHS to
honor Mr. Guenther's many
years of service, especially to the
hand. Several talented young
people will also be performing.
A giant fireworks display will
be put on after the final ball
game.
Tuesday's program includes
the Sorority tour of homes and
tea. Five homes are included on
the tour.
In the evening, the Huronia
Singers and the London Men of
Accord will perform in the arena.
The Barbershoppers list one local
member, Bob Russell. They have
won several Canadian cham-
pionships and have earned in-
ternational honors as well.
Horse races will be the main
attraction Wednesday afternoon,
There will be eight races in all.
Major Hoople and His Boarding
House, a popular rock band, will
perform at the arena in the
evening.
In a spot along Highway 4 at
Riverview Park — not far from
where it all began — an historical
plaque was unveiled Sunday to
commemorate the founding of
Exeter.
While James Willis, the first
settler, chose to make his home
about one mile south of the river,
several speakers on the program
noted that the early community
grew most rapidly in the vicinity
of the river flats as it was the site
of several mills and allied in-
dustries and trades.
"Where we are sitting was the
site of the woollen, grist and saw
mills," stated Joe Wooden, local
historian who reviewed some of
the highlights of the early growth
in the community.
The SHDHS principal has
school. Guests included
representatives of Charterways
Ltd., who took over Exeter Coach
Lines several years ago, the
Huron County Board of
Education, South Huron District
High School and almost 100
percent of the men and women
who have driven school buses
over the years under Mr.
Guenther.
Mr, Guenther first started
busing students to Exeter in 1944
but his career started much
earlier than that,
Before the days of the motor
vehicle, Guenthers operated a
stage business and particularly
in summer did a thriving
business between Exeter and
Grand Bend.
They also ran a stage line from
Dashwood to Parkhill which Mr.
Guenther himself drove from
1912 to 1918 when rural mail
delivery began.
When he was just about 14
years old, in 1910, Mr. Guenther
carried his first bag of mail and
he carried steadily until he was
16.
In April, 1823,"Guenther'
became postmaster at Dashwood
and served in this capacity until
1966, just two months short of 43
years.
He served overseas iii World
War I and arrived home March
81, 1919, On April 14 of the same
A sidewalk sale is scheduled for
Thursday. The Main St. will be
closed off and there will be
considerable entertainment. This
will include a puppet show, the
Heywood Brothers and the Jesus
People, The Lions will also stage
a log-sawing contest on John St.
during the afternoon and the
hospital will he open for tours
from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Another giant parade gets
underway at 6:30 p.m. with the
Lions organizing. It will feature
an agriculture theme and Gerry
Prout indicates service club have
lined up some outstanding
machines for the parade.
A bingo and variety program
will follow in the arena. A total of
$750 will be given away in the
bingo, including a $500 jackpot,
The Heywood Brothers and
Gerry Smith and the Ranch Gang
written a book on Exeter's
history and it is hoped it will be
available for distribution during
centennial week which gets
underway Friday,
He reviewed the early history
of the first two settlers, Willis and
James McConnell. The latter
built the first inn and mill in
Exeter as a representative of the
Canada Company.
He told the audience of around
100 that it was good to remember
history, because people without
history are like those without a
memory,
Wooden explained that the
history of small towns was im-
portant in Ontario, and indeed
Canada, because the nation until
three decades ago was a nation of
small towns.
year, he took over the transport
business from his mother, who
had been operating it while he
was away.
The business continued to
grow, until Mr. Guenther sold the
Transport Ltd, in 1952, resulting
in the formation of Guenther-
Tuckey Transport Ltd. At that
time, Guenther Transport Ltd,
had 20 motor units comprised of
trucks and traitors and the
Tuckey Transport had nine.
A building to house the firm
was erected at the north end of
town and Exeter Coach Lines,
Ltd., under Mr. Guenther took
over the adjoining buildings,
formerly used by the Guenther
Transport Ltd.
When Mr. Guenther started
busing in 1944 he had only one
bus, Now the firm has 21 buses
and runs 17 routes.
At that time, in addition to
being postmaster, Mr. Guenther
operated the mail and passenger
bus from Exeter to Grand Bend
and carried the mail to and from
the Exeter post office to the
railway depot,
In 1965 the mail started caning
up from London by truck, and a
couple of years later, the mail
and passenger services were
stopped.
Mr. Guenther sold Exeter
Coach Lines in 1968 to Char.
—Please turn to Page 3
will entertain.
Friday's program includes the
centennial ball with Lionel
Thornton and a Little Britches
Wild West show at the com-
munity park. Included on that
program will be the exciting
chariot races.
A full line of activities will also
be held at the Exeter Legion Hall
and Woody and the Main St. Jug
Band will be performing every
day at noon on Main St.
The newly renovated fire hall
will be open for inspection and
the police office will also be open.
The police have also arranged an
historical display in the town
hall.
Antiques will also be on display
in the town hall.
The centennial office will be
open for the week and all visitors
are invited to sign the guest book.
Several speakers on the
program commended Wooden for
arranging the plaque unveiling
and also for his effort to record
the history of the community.
Chairman Bruce Shaw referred
to him as "our resident
historian" and said that he was
responsible, more than anyone
else, for the dedication taking
place.
The plaque was unveiled by
four descendants of early
families in Exeter, These in-
cluded Miss Marion Bissett, Mrs.
Louise Craig, C.V. Pickard and
John Willis.
Mayor J.H. Delbridge extended
greetings to the guests, noting he
was pleased to have the honor
and privilege of serving as head
of council during centennial year.
Huron MP Bob McKinley paid
tribute to the early settlers and
noted that while Exeter had not
developed as soon as some other
Huron communities, it had
surpassed most of them.
"In the future, we will be
remembered by the things we do
today, and it behooves us all to
— Please turn to page 3
BLAST OFF!
Centennial excitement mounts
All systems are go for the
biggest week in Exeter's 100-year
history.
Excitement continues to mount
as centennial week approaches.
Several local stores have added
historical displays in their
windows and the centennial office
is a hive of activity as residents
secure tickets for the various
events.
"All we need now is good
weather," suggested Reeve
'Derry Boyle, chairman of the
centennial committee.
The event gets underway
Friday night with the opening
dance at the arena with Joe
Overholt providing the music,
Saturday is one of the biggest
days on the agenda with ac-
tivities getting underway at 2:00
p,m, with the giant parade being
oraganized by the Exeter Kins-
men.
Five bands will be in at-
tendance, including two of the
best in Ontario, the Midlanders
Drum and Bugle Corps of Lon-
don, and the Sarnia Lionaires.
They'll be joined by the Exeter
Legion Pipe Band, the Seaforth
District High School Girls'
Trumpet Band and the St. Marys
Starlet Strutters,
Dozens of antique cars will be
on hand and 10 horse-drawn
vehicles have already been en-
tered.
The parade starts at the high
school and will proceed down
Gidley to Main and south to
Huron. It then goes west to
Carling and will turn at Victoria
and pass by the grandstand at the
community park.
The official opening will
feature two former Exeterites,
Senator Richard Stanbury and
the Hon. Robert Stanbury.
A massed choir from Exeter
Public School and Precious Blood
Separate School will sing four
numbers with a centennial
theme.
Sky-divers will descend upon
the grounds and other activities
include a beard judging contest,
centennial queen contest and a
chicken barbecue.
In the evening, the popular
recording stars, the Mercy
Brothers, will perform in the
arena.
Sunday's program includes a
Legion Drumhead with a service
at the cenotaph at 2:00 p.m. and
the drumhead at the grandstand
at 2:30. Three bands will be in
attendance and will provide a
concert following the service.
In the evening, a song-fest will
be staged at the SHDHS
auditorium under the auspices of
the Ministerial Association.
Leading the singing will be
the Huronia Singers; the St.
Andrews choir and Jericho Road.
Monday is another full day,
including a ball tournament and
minor soccer tournament run-
ning throughout the day.
A synchronized swim team and
diving team from Toronto will
put on a demonstration at the
swimming pool and there will be
free swimming and a swim meet
for local youngsters as well.
An amateur show will be
staged in the arena starting at
2:00 p.m. Put in as a "late at-
traction" it could turn out to be
one of the most interesting
programs of the week.
Headlining the show are former
area natives, Earl and Martha
Heywood, along with the
Heywood Brothers.
Peter Snell, who is organizing
the program hopes to get one of
Ontario's top fiddlers to perform
as well and Woody and the Main
St. Jug Band may also be on
E.R. Guenther honored
Retires for second time
Pays $400 in fines
on two driving counts
A London man was fined a total
of $400 or 40 days in jail when he
appeared before Judge Glenn
Hays on two charges, Tuesday.
Lawrence Luke Trojek was
charged with careless driving
and with driving while under
suspension. He pleaded guilty to
both charges, which were laid by
Exeter Constable John Goarley
on May 5.
The court learned that Trojek
was driving at speeds up to 60 in
Exeter on that date and went
through a red light and ignored
police attention,
He continued south and turned
into Usborne township, going off
the road into a field, He was going
90 at times and the officer
reported the accused had been
drinking.
A "formidable"- record was
presented in court.
A fine was $250 for careless
driving and $150 for driving while
under suspension.
A Huron Park man, Albert J.
Rilett, was fined $125 and his
license suspended for six months
after pleading guilty to a charge
of careless driving,
He was charged on June 4 in the
vicinity of Morrison Dam where
he was driving back and forth
over the bridge, making U-turns
and power turns.
Evidence revealed people
fishing in the aeea were
distressed over the antics and the
court also learned that Rilett had
been warned previously on
another occasion.
Rilett told the court he had left
his licence at home and Judge
Hays ordered that they be
brought to court.
In other charges under the
Highway Traffic Act, Judge Hays
and Justice of the Peace Douglas
Wedlake handed out the following
fines:
R.J. Schwartzentruber,
Exeter, $23 for creating un-
necessary noise with his vehicle
by squealing the tires.
Clayton E. Laithwaite,
Goderich, $23 for passing another
vehicle to the left where the high-
way was marked with two solid
white lines.
Murray D. Glanville, Hensall,
$50 for following another vehicle
too closely in Exeter on April 28.
He was involved in an accident on
that date.
Store closing
up in the air
A suggestion that Exeter stores
close following Saturday's
parade still hasn't met with the
reaction hoped for by Ben
Hoogenboom.
He urged council last week to
declare the afternoon a holiday so
everyone in the community could
\ attend the official opening of the
centennial celebrations at the
park after the parade.
Council decided to stay clear of
the issue, and the Exeter Board
of Trade executive did about the
same at their meeting, Thursday.
Hoogenboom again presented
the suggestion, but the executive,
noting problems with store hour
debates in the past, decided to
take no action.
However, president, Norm
Whiting said he would definitely
be closing at 2:00 p.m. "because I
won't be around to enjoy the next
centennial".
He urged other merchants to do
the same so they and their em-
ployees could attend the event.
Some merchants contacted by
the T-A indicated they would play
the situation "by ear."
Clarence A. Riehl, London, $100
and a licence suspension of three
months for impaired driving. A
breathalizer test showed a
reading of 240 mgs.
Speeding fines were paid by the
following: Donna Joan Dickey,
Exeter, $18; David Bruce
Schilbe, Zurich, $73; Terry Hyde,
Kincardine, $30; Albert Hovius,
Dashwood, $15; Ronald Elroy
Graham, Goderich, $13; James
M, Donnelly, Goderich, $13; John
B. MacCallum, London, $13;
Andrew J. Arbour, Exeter, $18;
Ronald E. Harvey, Goderich, $23.
Fines levied under the Liquor
Control Act were: Steven D.
Smith, Exeter, $60 for having
liquor while under the age of 18.
He had a previous conviction,
resulting in the stiffer fine.
William H. Taylor, Woodham,
was fined $35 for consuming
liquor while under age.
One 'Hundred and First Year EXETER, ONTARIO, JUNE 28, 1973
Price Per Copy 35 Cents