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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 24We just opened our Exeter office in 1972, but Morgan's have been selling insurance to area residents for the past 10 years. BICYCLE TRADEMARK - This bicycle became more or who was principal of Exeter High School from 1919 to school from 1929 to 1963. less the trademark of its owner, E.J. Wethey, right, 1942. On the left is G:C. Koch, who taught at the For Complete Insurance Coverage • Life Section 2, Page 4 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973 Library service came early to MRS. JOHN SCHROEDER Exeter was an infant of only five years when library service was established here. The forerunner of the present library was the Mechanics' Institute. On March 17, 1878 the M.I. opened a branch in Taman's Store, now occupied by George Vriese Men's Shoppe on Main Street. The purpose of the Institute was to develop prac- tical, vocational education for the mechanics, artisans and manufacturers generally." Today we know it as Adult Education. A special report of the Ontario Minister of Education on the Mechanics' Institutes for 1880 contains the following in- formation; "Number of Mem- bers, 116; Annual Subscription, $1. Subscriptions are taken in books instead of cash. The books are kept in a photographer's store. For rent and attendances, $110 is paid per annum and the Institute is open twice a week. There are 590 volumes in the reading room and circulation the previous year was 2340. In 1882 the Free Libraries Act was passed by which M. Institutes was transformed into Public libraries and a system of grants established. Meanwhile, Exeter's new town hall had been built and in 1888 the library moved to the two lower rooms. These rooms are now the Council Chambers and police office. In the early "town hall" library, the reading room was separated from the book room by a metal grille. The borrower was handed the desired book through the "wicket", there was no browsing among the books as we do today. Library records show that in 1898 members of the Exeter Free Library Board were Messrs. J.B. Carling, Dr. Amos, Dr, Lutz, N.D. Hurdon, H. Bishop and W.D. Weekes. The librarian was a Mr. Kemp, with a salary of $100 per annum. His daughter Mabel, assisted him. She became librarian in 1898 and resigned in 1907. Mr. James Connor held the position from 1907 to 1923. Grace Connor, his daughter succeeded him in 1923. She resigned in 1925. During the late 19th and early 20th century, Mr. Andrew Car- neigie, an American philan- thropist (born in Scotland) amassed a fortune in the manufacture of steel. He built and equipped nearly 3,000 MARION FRAYNE The Exeter Legion Auxiliary was formed in October 25, 1951 with 47 charter members at- tending. Zone Commander, Dorothy Hayle and Mrs. Margaret Richardson from Provincial Command read the qualifications and By-Laws of an Auxiliary. Comrade Fred Darling of the Exeter Legion welcomed the girls and gave them the use of the Hall. Officers for 1951-52 were: president, Louise Heywood; first vice, Elsie Hookey; second vice, Ruth Cole; secretary, Dorothy Pfaff; treasurer, Ruth Durand; Sgt. of Arms, Caroline Norry; executive, Verna Wurm, Hazel Snider, Olive Ostland; pianist, Edna Snell. Our Zone Commanders through the years have been Miss Dorothy Hayle, Mrs. Luella Hall, Mrs. Mary McCann, Mrs. Evelyn Carroll and Mrs. Margaret Thorndyke. From the 47 members in 1951 we now have 91. Our Past libraries throughout the world. Far-sighted Exeter Library Board members purchased the Bawden property in January, 1914 for $1,100 (the buildings were to be removed) and applied for a grant from the Carnegie Cor- poration. They received $8,000 and the present library was built - at a cost of just $8,000. The library moved to its new building in 1915. An interesting item appears in the board minutes: "Messrs. Taylor and Carling to proceed at once to erect a fence between the library building and town hall." When Miss Grace Connor resigned in 1925, the application of Mrs. Mary E. Howard was accepted. She remarried and became Mrs. Gidley. She served faithfully for 21 years, resigning in 1946. Mrs. James Smith held the position from 1946 to 1952, followed by Mrs. Hilton Laing. Mrs. Laing resigned in 1966 and Mrs. Sam Hendrick succeeded her. Mrs. 'Hendrick resigned in 1968 and Mrs. John Schroeder was hired. The children's department was moved to the lower room in 1964 with Mrs. John Schroeder in charge. Mrs. Warren Sanders was librarian from 1968 until her departure in 1971. Mrs. Rosemary Jacobs of Huron Park was next and now Mrs. Lorne Porter. Exeter has always been for- tunate that our board members have been far-sighted, ambitious men and women. Mr. & Mrs. R.N. Creech, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Pryde, Mr. & Mrs. Melt'. Southcott, Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Koch, Mr, Cecil Wilson, Mr. Howard Ince, Mr. Arthur Idle, to name only a few. We pay tribute to them all. We have members today who as children, borrowed books from the "town hall" library. Reading has been a life-long pleasure to them. We are proud of the many senior citizens who frequent our library. In 1964 a survey was made of Ontario libraries. It was deter- mined that a co-operative effort by the Dept. of Education, schools and library boards would result in better library service. Small libraries were encouraged to join regional and county systems. The Exeter Library joined the Huron County Library system in 1967. Our board members at the time were Mr. Arthur Idle, chairman, Mr. Roy Stover, Mr. George Vriese, Mr. Harold Skinner, Mr. Jim Glaab and Mr. Officers Club is responsible for visiting new members and ex- plaining the aims, objectives and commitments to each member. Our main responsibility is to Westminster Hospital where we supply necessary TV's, radios, curtains, Birthday boxes and play Bingo twice yearly with the P.I. boys, We donate to the Legion Bursary Fund and give two yearly Bursaries to our local High School. We also run a twice monthly Bingo in the Legion Hall and hold a yearly Bowling Tournament and occasional informal card and dart parties. Our 1973 executive is: president, Barbara Hearn; first vice, Betty Wedlake; second vice, Irene Jackson; secretary, Marion Frayne; treasurer, Dorothy Pfaff; Sgt, at Arms, Norma Jones; executive, Noel Westlake, Elsie Jory, Eleanor Blommaert, Joan Smith, Pauline Dyck. S. Qrenczuk. Miss Carolyn Croke was county librarian. Today our small library is in a stronger position because we share resources with larger libraries, We are under the direction of the County Library Board and our very capable librarian, Miss Ethel Dewar. Mrs. Helen Jermyn, the deputy- reeve, is a member of the county Library Board. We would like to pay tribute to Exeter town Council and the Exeter property committee, Mr, Bruce Shaw, Mr. Harold Patterson and Mrs. Jermyn. Through their ef- forts the library has been at- tractively re-decorated for the town's centennial and our 95th year. Jir Legion Aux iliary .• established in 51