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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-03-08, Page 2• Page 2--Lueknow Sentinel, Wednesday, Mareb 8, a 1978 Do you Remember..... An article entitled, ""Do Your Remember", was published in the February 4th edition of the Sentinel. in 1953. It is reprinted here for the interest of our readers. DO YOU REMEMBER... At the January meeting of'the Kairshea Women's Institute, Mrs. Walter MacKenzie, covener of the Historical Research com- mittee, gave a most interesting and memory -arousing paper on the subject, "Do You Remem- ber?" The paper follows: ° Our meeting today comes'' under the heading of Historical Research. The dictionary defines "History" as a narrative of past events, so historical research is a careful search of events contain- ing history. When "we think of. history we look back and recall past events from memory . or written records. In other words "we remember". Reminiscing is said to be. a sure sign that we are • growing old. We all are whether we wish it or not, so for the next twenty minutes "let us remem- ber". Some of our members can remember many events of their early youth, dating -back to early days in this community. Others of us remember them only by hearing our parents or grandpar- ents speak of them. Today I am going to recall to your minds past events and customs, mostly those of this community, many of which a goodly number of us can recall from early childhood. Do you remember - the parent or grandparent, who every morn- ing conducted family worship .at which all members of the family were present. The anxiety of the school age groupif prayers were a bit long and left them so little time. they had to run the two miles or less to 'school to avoid being tardy and having to stay after four. Do you remember - how everyone had his or her tasks to perform night , and ' morning, before being permitted to play or do as one wished to - wash dishes, fill 'the woodbox, carry in numer- ous pails of water, gather eggs, feed_ehickens and rock the cradle (How I hated rocking the cradle). As one became older and tasks became more heavy and more numerous. Do you remember 'trudging, from October to April from' one to two and a half miles through snow packed roads with seldom a sleigh coming to pick us up. Do you remember - the Norman MacLeod family of 16 children raised on 50 acres - well fed and well clothed and- the harmony which prevailed in that family was something beautiful. The author- ity of the one immediately older, was never questioned and the authority of the parents was never doubted. How eight of those children trooped out the gate to school every day. Do .you remember - the discipline in the old red school house, where one teacher taught fifty or more pupils of all grades, ages and behavour, for the huge salary of from $200 to $300 per year. Where Harry Hudson, a very capable teacher, crippled since he was four years old, and ,--having to use crutches, wielded a yard long oak ' pointer' over the heads and backs of the boy pupils until in less than a year it was approximat ly foot— nl� gth. His fain s a disciplinarian won him the distinction of being traded. to " .Lucknow school to subdue a roomful of third class boys who had developed the gang spirit to such ., an extent they considered themselves infallable. 1 can remember hearing of them hitching a ride on a farmer's sleigh, and boasting to the farrier what they were going to do to this lame teacher. A week later when they boarded ' this same sleigh, upon inquiry as to how they were getting on cleaning up on the new teacher they replied, "He darn near killed us". Such discipline although very effective if used in this day and age would insure the teacher a nice long term in the penintentary. Do you remember - Billy Davison's father driving the big black hearse, with black and white feathered plumes on each of the four corners and matching tasselled curtains inside; the hearse drawn by two beautiful shiny jet black horses, with tasseled black nets on them and followed by a line of democrats, and buggies a mile or more in length, in their slow procession to the cemetery and with long streamers of black, crepe flying from the hats and armbands of all the relatives down to second and third cousins. Do you remember - Rev. Findlay MacLennan, who for twenty-five years was the honour- ed pastor of South Kinloss Church, and whose long and no double deeply thought-out serm- ons were delivered under "eigit headings namely, "firstly", "secondly", "thirdly", "fourth- ly", and "lastly", and "once more".and "yet again" and "in conclusion". And how young the old were always present and attentive and the majority re- mained to listen to the discourse in Gaelic immediately following. Do you remember - John "Sandy" MacDonald, who for 61 years through fair weather an or foul, rode or walked to South Kinloss to two services every Sunday to lead the Service of Praise in a strong, trite voice. No organ in those days. He would no more think of missing a service than he would dream of being on time. Do you remember - Old Jock Adams, a stypical old Scot ' who lived in this locality for years and years. He lived in `a room somewhere in town, where he kept dozens and dozens of canaries, which flew about at will in this room in which there was never a speck of heat. He would explain '.that "canaries could stand inOre cold nor some people -were aware off". And he went about the country with an old cart and a neglected horse named "Barney". I can't remember Whether he sold tinware or notions,.or just arrived in time for a meal and a bed for himself and Barney. Our home- was one of his overnight places 'and I can rem- ember by Dad saying - "Jock, did you give Barney a drink ,.; this morning?" and Jock would reply "Oh, he doesna need one. There was , a heavy 'dew last night". Money for a fine headstone was 'subscribed after his death by friends who admired him and now marks his grave in South Kinloss Cemetery. t, Do you remember - when children • were seen and not heard? . Do you remember - yote first sight of Lake Huron and the Point Clark lighthouse. The Tower of Babel would not seem as wonder- ful to the children of today as that was to us whose contacts with the outside world consisted of going church and .. Sunday . School every Sunday and to the Pall. Pair once a year. Do .you leinember = the prepar- ations for the Fall Fair to which the whole family went for their yearly holiday. The preparations for days before = grorsming the horses, cattle or sheep, whichever • your father specialized 'in; select- ing and cleaning the largest and. best formed rootsand vegetables from' the garden; the reddest apples; the plumpest grain and the snow white feather light loaves of bread and layer cakes, and lovely jars of fruit and lovely crocks of butter. The whole family was on the job at daybreak, the middle sized children going on the wagon with Dad at 8 a.m. - the wagon loaded with exhibits - the . prize team with gay ribbons braided into their manes and tails; the colts of various ages tied to the team's bridles or to some part of the wagon box. The mother and babe and the next in line came around noon in the buggy, to which was hitched the old brood mare of from fifteen to sixteen summers, whose well developed maternal instinct de- manded that she would much - prefer to be home with her offspring. If you had reached the ripe old age of ten years, you were elected to drive this orney creature. Do you remember - the Old Caledonian Games, which were really something out of this world. The thousands of persons seated on the hills of Caledonian Park -'there was over 12,000 one year; the pipers dressed in the grandest of clan tartans; the boys and girls and. teen age lads and lasses who danced the Scottish dances in competition all after- noon. The beautiful tartans the rows of medals onheir tunics and the graceful, dancing, were mem- ories for many months. The ,handsome young pipers in their clan tartans marching to the skirl of their pipes and being awarded.'. medals or prizes. Dave MacKay was one of these. Then the tug of war - where 12 strong men each, from Huron and Bruce Counties pulled to a tie forone hour and twenty minutes one year, with neither side gaining an inch. Do you remember - when an unmarried girl of 25 year was considered a hopeless old maid and was doomed to a life of single blessedness unless some kind hearted widower with six children offered her the care of himself and brood and all the hardships that entailed. Do you remember - when a woman, widowed at perhaps 30 years of age, donned her,widow's bonnet, made of layers of black crepe, with a long pleated section of crepe falling down the back for two or three feet, and a black dress, and wore that drab outfit the rest of her life, be it 30 years or sixty. Our good Queen Victoria was one of these widows. Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Lees were others. Do you remember - the barn raisings, where the whole male .comunity were invited ,oto help raise the huge bents'sand put the rafters in place. Captains were •d" 1 named and two teams chosen and ' a contest followed to see which team could raise its side- of the •frame and put the rafters in place in the least time. Do 'you remember the long tables made with planks and covered with snowy . linen tablecloths which were set up in the orchard and contained every delicacy a man could wish for: The.women of the community helped the farmer's wife cater to this crowd and the dance which followed. Do you remember Kennie MacKenzie and Ben Hughes ,and "Curly" Billy MacKenzie and others, who played the violin from 8.30 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. and all for free. No $55.Q0 orchestra for three hours' music ins those days. Do you remember - when the taxes on almost +a any hundred acres were less than $45, as late as 1913. In 1952 they were over $200 ,..and -this year - just forty years later, they will be very much more. Do you,retnember - when there was no rural mail delivery, no telephone; no. movies, no radio, no television, no motor cars, no aeroplanes, no mechanized farm machinery, no hydro and no electrical appliances. When world events took so long to reach the rural areas they had almost become history. Some of you will remember the "Dark Day" of September 1881. How the sky became completely darkened at noonday, and those. God-fearing Scottish ancestors were sure the end of the world had come. How when asfies began to fall in late afternoon they weren't so sure and it was days before they learned that this dread occurr- ence was caused by a huge forest ,fire in the State of Michigan. Do you remember - the first motor cars around 1912 or 1913. The high narrow wheels, splashy brass trim, .acetylene lamps and open top and unheard of speed of fifteen miles pen hour. The men motorists wore long linen dusters and peak caps, the women long dusters and long flowing scarves to hold their hats on. And how 'those cars and scarves caused any horse with a spark of self-respect to rise repeatedly on his hind legs while the car went by. I've been pulled off my feet many times while I frantically hung onto the horse's bridle to keep it from running away. Do you remember - the weddings these rural people gave their girls. Our hostess today was the sixth bride to be given a huge wedding from the farm, all with 150 or more guests. Imagine the number of turkeys, geese and ducks required td serve all these people to unlimited quantities of food at 7.00 o'clock dinner and midnight lunch. And the wedding cake of five or six tiers. - (imagine stoning all those raisins as seedless raisins weren't even heard of in those days). And the preparation of all the -other ingredients. The pies, cakes, , cookies • and bread required. Everything was made by the mother and daughters. And the bride's trousseau - a wonderful dress and veil . a lovely silk dress and a suitor other good dresses. Besides that the bride would carry away from that home trunks and ' chests' full of homemade blankets - the preparation of the wool, carding, spinning and often • the weaving done at home. . Dozens of quilts, sheets, pillow cases and towels, all the work of the bride. The dance would start around 8.30 and continue till dawn - with the bridal couple and numerous others dancing the Highland fling, Scotch reel and numerous other .Scotch numbers which required both skill and endurance. A wedding in those days was surely something. Do you remember - the contribution the young men and.. young women of this Kairshea district - an area of 6% miles on each side of two concessions and 71/2 miles on another - twenty miles of rural homes in all - have made 'to their country and this community, Many of the young men of the earlier generation assisted in the building of the 'C.P.R. - that "Giant of the North", without...which all terri- tory west of the Great Lake's would long ago have ceded to the United States, instead of beoming the largest tract of land owned and governed by free 'people; with its untold mineral wealth, huge oil fields, rich grain and cattle raising areas and immense for- ests. Other young men and4oung women from this area helped to colonize ` the vast areas of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia - much as their parents did in Ontario. This Kairshea area gave to the world -. Nearly fifty young men and one young woman who answered their country's call in World War I and World War II. Many paid the supreme sacrifice. One from this area became Lieut. -Gov. of B.C. for a number of years. I refer to Hon. Tom Patterson. Three became members of the Federal Government. Seven became prominent doc- tors: One clever medical student is at present completing his second year of a five-year scholar- ship at Oxford University in England. Two became ministers. One young couple dedicated their lives to the Mission Field where they have served twenty-seven . years. Three became successful dent- ists. One became a music supervis- or, one an accomplished violinist. Twenty-seven young women CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 The Lucknow Sentinel LUCKNOW, ONTARIO "The Sepoy Town On the Huron -Bruce Boundary , Established 1873 - Published Wednesday Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. Robt. G. Shrier - president and publisher - Sharon J. Dietz - editor Anthony N. Johnstone - general manager ' Subscription rate, $10 per year in advance Senior Citizens rate, $8.00 per year. in advance U.S.A. and Foreign, $14 per year in advance Business and Editorial Office Telephone 528-2822 Mailing Address P.O. Box 400, Lucknow NOG 2110 Secondclass mail registration number - 0847.