HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-07-24, Page 51The Kincardine News 'Ripley Reunion '85' Page 31
Best Wishes
to
Ripley -Huron
on your
Reunion
May your celebration be long lasting and enjoyable
LUCKNOW
HELM WELDING
549JbR7
i
1
Congratulations
1
'Dark day' in Ripley 1881
September, 5,1881 has always be known as
The Dark Day, when the sky was blackened
with the smoke carried by the wind from, a
great forest fire in the pine woods of
Michigan. At the time, people did not know
the cause of. the. darkness. The following ac-
count is by Mrs. Thomas (Mary Ann
Pollock) Farrell, who died in 1968.
The Dark Day in 1881 was a memorable
one. I was 7 years of age at school No. 3.' At
noon the sky became dull and gradually°
became darker and' darker.. Teacher,
dismissed school telling us to hurry home,ap"
something was wrong. We thought that was
fine to get home early. Before' we got very
far we met parents coming to meet us. It
got so dark that Jas Fisher, who was driving
a team on a wagon, said he could not see, so
he gave the horses the loose line and they
brought him home. Peopleappeared ner-
vous. Threshing was going on at my
father's barn. They had a steam engine for
power and were afraid of fire breaking out
in the loose straw. Some thought the world
was coming to an end. People were more or
less excited. Coal oil was used for lamp
lighting and even it gave a peculiar light.
The, ows were brought" home to be milked.
We/children were put to bed,J, guess for safe
keeping. Someone went out regularly to see
no fire broke out in the straw: As the night
was passing Mother said there was a
change. It was getting brighter. The next
morning the sun carne up as usual.
Beef rings meant fresh meat
In the early 1900's there was no way to zip
to the store for -fresh meat, nor could you
stock your freezer. Being the resourceful.
people they. were, area residents set up beef
rings throughout most of. the township
whereby a farmer could. obtain fresh meat
each week.
Farmers 'formed 16 -share- rings, usually
three or four families depending, on size:
Each 'ring hired a butcher, inspectors, and.
set the prices for that year. The beef rings
. ran from the -spring to fall because during
the winter months the cold would enable
farmers to store their meat.
Each share took turns providing' the beef
which was usually , around . 450 pounds.
' ( dressed weight) ' for a 16 -share ring. The
butcher rotated cuts 'of meat so that 'each
family had received a whole beef by the end
of the season. Shareholders took turns
delivering the meat to the other farmers in
the ring:
Farmers kept their meat cool in a
milkhouse or basement or in a screened box
in the orchard. •
Beef Rings began to disband in the 1930's
'with the arrival of freezer systems, elec-
tricity, and cars.
The late Mrs. Sam Geddes, of Ripley, told
Gladys Arnold about one of the township's
beef rings. "The Lurgan Beef Ring was first
operated by John Walden, then Alf Walden,
BertWalden, and then Sam. Geddes. For the
last year or two, Robert Wilson suppliedall
the beef.. ' Sam butchered it once a' month
and each person got about 40 pounds. This
was put in 'a freezer, in Ripley and each.
shareholder took turns bringing it to us."
Larry Stanley
wishes to
Congratulate
the Reunion Committee
and to
Welcome Back
friends &
relatives
Ripley -Huron
on your
Corrie Alive In '85"' Celebration
vitr
LUC
PURINA
CHOWS
FROM
FROM YOU RALSTON PURINA DEALER
Luckn�wFarm Supply
NOW 528-2331
SUTTON PARK MALL
KINCARDINE'
OPEN.
Monday & Tuesday 8:30-6:00
Wed., Thurs. & Fri.' 8:30.9:00'
Saturdays 8:30-6:00
CLOSED SUNDAYS
zehrs
fine markets;.. of fine foods
Wingham
OUR BEST TO YOU,
ti2 fE
from '
MAIT.LAND
REDI-MIX •
CONCRETE •
Qacziify &)SgWLc
.:..:.'
' .�'357=2721
Ripley -Huron
on your
Corrie Alive In '85"' Celebration
vitr
LUC
PURINA
CHOWS
FROM
FROM YOU RALSTON PURINA DEALER
Luckn�wFarm Supply
NOW 528-2331
SUTTON PARK MALL
KINCARDINE'
OPEN.
Monday & Tuesday 8:30-6:00
Wed., Thurs. & Fri.' 8:30.9:00'
Saturdays 8:30-6:00
CLOSED SUNDAYS
zehrs
fine markets;.. of fine foods