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Home My WebLink AboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-08-10, Page 6HAYWARb'S Discount -Variety Cosmetics Tobacco Patent Medicines' Groceries and Stationery Weekdays 9-9 Holidayi& Sundays 12-6 :Be as wise as an-owl - be on Tim,* with new clock WE HAVE ELECTRIC WALL CHIME. PENDULUM Or COO-LOO CLOCKS • MeniberAtty Mayer s Lloyd Jewellery & Gifts Where Perkinal Service Is still 4trpi:"...:±141/314114.4440401S ,),iImportant 54z. 881,.9600 01111111iminft.... irl Home Hardware--- Home Hardware t00% Cation TeiShirits • .G•SiV.V.' 7 ..,...$te.p.on Can $1 $7 98 98 ins 887,e525' Member AAA, BRUSSELS • 6—THE BRUSSELS' POST, AUGUST 10, 1977 Unveil plaque of T. M. Jones forbidden. By 1850 Jo clearly subordinate to F Widder, who had been a a commissioner in, 18 Goderich became a Mere of the Toronto office, • Following the develop Stratford as An important town, Goderich began to status as the major comm the area, and the inter Jones and the Colb( ironically became comple in their efforts to re-es Goderich's prominence, became a major advoc Goderich's interests and i became an active propon the Buffalo, Brantford, Goderich Railway, which meant to funnel trade fro Great. Lakes to Buffalo t the port of Goderich, The C Company, however, favou rival plan extending from T to Sarnia and was shock learn that not only did faVour the Gaderich-13 route, but that he also proda that the Canada Com favoured it as well and that' prepared to support the prop A provincial historical plaque commemorating Thomas Mercer Jones, one of Goderich's most famous early residents, was unveiled by theHonourable Pauline M. McGibbon, Lieutenant - Governor of Ontario, at Harbour Park in. Goderich on Sunday afternoon. This ceremony is one of a series of activities undertaken in 1977 to celebrate Goderich's Sesquicentennial. Sunday's activities in which the Lieutenant-Governor was an active participant included an ecumenical church service in S. George's Anglican Church, followed by a lawn reception and presentation; the unveiling of a plaque in Court House Square commemorating the Queen's Silver Jubilee and. Goderich's Sesquicentennial.; and, the provincial plaque ceremony at Harbour Park, followed by a reception and presentation in the Park. The provincial historical plaque was erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency within the Ministry'of Culture and Recreation. The unveiling ceremony was sponsored by the Architectural Conservancy of The ' Honourable Pauline McGibbon, Honorary President of the Senior Citizens of Ontario was a surprise visitor ,to the Zone 8 (Huron County) picnic held at St. Christopher's Beach in Goderich on Sunday finalizing a day full of surprises. In the first placeI-harbour Park was booked -for the event, but at th6 last minute this had to be changed to St. Christopher's Beach. Secondly, Zone President, Mrs. Mary Greg, was prevented from attending by illness and Vice- President, Harry Baker of Bayfield ably took her place as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Members were uncertain whether to hold the picnic inside or outside due to the unsettled weather. • During the business session, it was decided that Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baker be the delegates to the Convention at McMaster University on August 15 - 17 and a get - well card was signed by all present to send to Mrs Greg in the Clinton Hospital. Mrs. Zerback, Stratford, Secretary for Ontario, spoke and offered to help any clubs needing assistance; any executive member. can be invited to help , clubs out but they will not go to dubs unless invited. Prizes were given to the oldest lady present, Mrs. Edith Logan of Blyth (94) and the oldest man present, Norman Ball of Clinton (93); the longest married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Snyder. Goderich (62 years) and the • J.E. LONGSTAFP - OPTOMETRIST - sEAPORTit 5274240 TtieSday, Thursday, Friday 900 - 5:30 -Wednesday, Saturday 9:00 - 12:00 .61VON 482,7010 Monday 9:00 - 5:30 By AppoIntifient • Ontario, Huron Branch, in association with Goderich's "Jubilee 3 Committee". Among those participating in the plaque ceremony were: Judge F.G.Carter, who was chairman of the proceedings; R. E. McKinley, M.P. (Huron); Jack Riddell., M.P.P. (Huron= Middlesex); Nick Hill, who delivered the historical address; and Professor Kenneth Dawson, who represented the Ontario Heritage Foundation. The plaque was unveiled by Her Honour Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant- Governor of Ontario, and dedicated by the Reverened G. Lockhart Royal of Knox Presbyterian Church. At Harbour Park the proceedings were enlivened by the Goderich-Laketown Band and the Colour Guard of the ,Royal Canadian Legion, 109th Branch. Following the unveiling there was a presentation and reception in the park \sponsored by. the Maple Leaf Chapter of the I.O.D.E. The inscription on the plaque reads:' THOMAS MERCER JONES 1795-1868 A powerful Canada Company newest married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Godkin, Clinton (10 months); the longest' distance travelled, Mr. andMrs. Grant Howe from Arizona, also mystery box, Mrs. Howse of Clinton who guessed Talcum Powder. Happy Birthday was sung to Ed. Johns who had a birthday that day. The program consisted of violin, guitar and mouth organ numbers by two Goderich members, a reading from a Clinton member, humorous stories by a member from Dashwood and a reading from a Bayfield member. The picnic supper was served smorgasbord style and a bountiful meal was enjoyed by all. The weather co-operated beautifully and all should have been home before the rain, fell once again. land Magnate, Jones was born in England and acquired business training there. By virtue of his London connections he obtained an appointment as a Company Commissioner and moved to York (Toronto) in 1829. He administered a large portion of this Company's lands, the one million acre Huron Tract, and by 1839 wielded unrivalled authority in the area. At the height of his influence he moved his headquarters to a newly -constructed, lavishly furnished Goderich mansion, later known as •, Park House. A controversial figure, he was dismissed in 1852 for executing his authority. He remained in Goderich as the Bank of Montreal agent until 1857 when he moved to Toronto where he died. , HISTORICALBACKGROUND Born in England in 1795, Thomas Mercer-Jones became an apprentice with the mercantile firm of Ellice, Kinnear and Company in 1815. Under the guidance of one of the firm's principals, Edward, Ellice, Jones advanced to a responsible position in the business and' acquired a reputation for being "steady to a proverb"., Ellice was also deputy governor 'of the Canada Company, the huge Upper Canadian land company, and when the directors decided to- replace the Superintendent, John Galt, with two commissioners in 1829, he convinced the directors, to appoint JoneS as one of the co-commissioners'. The older commissioner . selected was William Allan, a prominent Upper Canadian businessman. Jones arrived in York (Toronto) in '1829 and within a 'short time had' joined the social and economic elite which had developed in the community. In 1832 he married Elizabeth Mary .Strachan, daughter of the powerful John Strachan, and in the year following was declaimed by William Lyon Mackenzie as a member of the "Family Compact". His 'Career as commissioner, primarily responsible for administering the settlement of the Huron Tract, was fraught with controversy. During the. first years of his administration the Company directors were impressed by his administrative ability indicated by regular accounts and increased land sales and were only occasionally disturbed by some of the' expenditures for improvements in the area. In this early settlement period nearly all local expenditures • were control- led by Company officials, and government clearly meant Company goVernment. One student of Jones' career. commented: "By the late 1830's1 Jones was effectively lord and master of the Huron Tract". It is not surprising then that at the height of his influence he moved his headqiiarters to' a newly constructed, lavishly` furnished Goderich mansion about .1839. (The once lavish Park House, as it later became known, has been considerably altered in recent years). During the 1830's and 1840'S , howeVer, Jones became 'plagued by constant, severe criticism from a group of well-off and articulate, landowners who had purchased large plots of Company land ill Colborne Township north of Goderich. This group, known as the "Colborne Clique", resented the Company's power over local affairs and accused the Company of not living up to its charter obligations concerning public works. Following the introduction of the municipal reforms of 1841, however f this discontent declined as elected district councils replaced veritable rule by Company officials in the Tract. Also,' during the 1840's Jones' favour with the directors began to decli ne when he dabbled openly in local politics, a policy the directors - had expressly t• Pauline McGibbon pays surprise visit to Zone 8 icnic Aminimmr as Jones was dismissed exceeding his authority. He nevertheless, given a substa pension of t400 per year by Company for services 'rende Having gained much sympat Goderich during his last fewy as commissioner, he rem there as an agent for the Ban Montreal until his wife's deal 1857. Jones then moved. Toronto where he lived 'retirement until his death' o October, 1868. - Vinyl & Aluminum Siding Aluminum Windows & Doors ' Aluminum seamless evestrough. For your'Free estimate call Wroxe.ter 335-6341 "Be an early bird! Then you will enjoy the beauty of a lovely home all . summer =111.11111111W r