The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-07-26, Page 5BY D. A. CAMPBELL
The "Junction of the sixth concession and the tenth
sideroad of Redtrees was, (and maybe still is), haunted
by the ghost of Annie Mathieson. On winters' nights
she appeared, or so they said, a young woman with a
tartan plaid wrapped around her head, and long skirts,
white with brushing through the deep snow. She
carried a carpet bag and gazed up the sideroad, as if
expecting to see something emerging through the
curtain of snowflakes. There would be a jingle of sleigh
bells, the whinnie of frightened horses and the sounds
of a .passing sled. The woman would cry out, imploring
the driver to stop and help her. Rejected, she would
utter anguished and pitiful moanings - unearthly
sounds, which struck terror into the hearts of those who
claimed they had seen her. They called the place
"Annie's Corners!"
Annie Robertson came to Redtree5 in the spring of .
1862 to marry Colin Mathieson, farmer, with a cabin
and ° fifteen acres of cleared land on the sixth.
concession. She left her native Scotland more from
necessity than choice!,
It had all started from a small advertisement in the
Glasgow Herald. "Scottish farmer in Upper Canada
wishes to "correspond with young lady. Object
matrimony". This was Annie's key for her escape from
the rowed hovels of a mining village. It was also the
relief from the lashing female tongues, which branded
her a "wild lass", who attracted men like salmon to the
spawning grounds!
With a fresh start, full of brave resolutions, and a
husband for whom she had a genuine love and respect,
Annie"was determined to make a success of her new
life. She helped with the chores, learned how to harness
-the horses and worked with her man on the land.
Colin Mathieson was happy at first with his new
bride but he eventually wished that the long
honeymoon was over: He was a man of the soil and
content with the humble things of life. An over
abundance of love such as Annie had to give, was not in
his nature to understand, -nor was he capable of
returning it. On the days. when the people of the
community gathered together for social activities, he
resented the way his wife's eyes roved across the
menfolk. In jealousy, he watched Annie's lingering
handshakes and the way she danced with other men.
"Where there's smoke," Colin told himself, "there's
fire!"
Confronted with his thoughts, Annie naturally denied
there was any reason for him to fret. "Di ye no ken I
love ye," she would say and pretend to laugh off his
fears. Deep inside, she knew that he had every reason
for concern. How long before she became a "wild lass"
again?
By the time the harvest was in and the last clinging
leaves had left the trees, Annie_ was >ile a dorment
volcano. She wanted to spend her life with the man she
CONTINUED FROM P. 4
X5,000 people through our
activities.
We should appreciate
hearing from readers regard-
ing the various programs we
have run - Have they been
useful? What have we done
that was right? What have
we done that could be
improved? And most import-
antly, what programs would
your readers like to see run
before the project ends?
Sincerely,
Tony McQuail,
Project Co-ordinator.
To the editor,
The Lucknow Sentinel.
We enjoy our Lucknow
Sentinel and keeping in
contact with happenings in
and around Lucknow and
Kingsbridge. Even though
our papers are two to three
weeks late, it's still nice to
keep in touch.
Mrs. Clem Steffler,
Fairview, Alberta.
had marded. Wanted to bring him joy and happiness,
but she knew a lasting marriage was not to be. Annie
prepared to escape again, back to where people lived in
close proximity, and women like she could surrender to
the life her chemistry demanded.
The arrival of a travelling horse trader in the early
winter brought Annie the opportunity she had been
waiting for. She plied the stranger with several "wee
drams" whilst Colin milked by lamplight in the barn.
Lulled by the warmth of the cabin and fired by
questionable imagination, he agreed to take her to a
town far away from Redtrees.
"Meet me at the corner of the sixth and the tenth, at
this time tomorrow night," he told her, fully aware of
her womanly charms. "At six o'clock, I'll be there."
The next night she watched Colin. make his way
through the snow to the barn and realized this'might be
thelast,time she would see him. For a few moments she
was tempted to forget her escapade, but within her she
knew there was no other way - she had to go! ,
She walked away from the cabin with a small carpet
bag which contained her few precious belongings. The
snow , was falling thickly and whipped up by a
south-west wind. Only half way to the fateful corners
she was already bitterly cold and walking through deep
drifts.
H
At the tenth line she looked for the coming of the
horse trader. The sleigh was heading down the, line but
unknown to her, the driver had second thoughts about
taking on a passenger. He .did a lot of business in this
area - suppose somebody should find out that he had
separated a man and his wife? By the time he reached
her he had made up his mind. He put the whip to the
horses and sped past, ignoring , her cries for help.
Why did Annie remain at the corners? Did she expect
some other passing farmer to find her? At that time,
there were no farms, in the immediate area, but why
didn't Annie attempt to return home? This will always
remain a mystery. Tt is obvious however, that poorly
clothed and inexperienced, she would not have
survived for long against the storm and the frigid
temperatures. .
It was a long hard winter and most of the roads
remained closed until the middle of March. The snow
had been blown into huge banks, and it was not until
April that the tartan plaid of Annie Mathieson appeared
through the melting drift where she had been lying.
Colin had long since made peace with the departed
spirit of his pretty bride. He saw her as a brave, loving
woman, who had sacrificed her life rather than
$ disgrace his name.
To this day there is no building within half a mile of
the corners. Upon a plot of ground, Annie rests at the
place she is supposed to haunt:There is a small granite
stone bearing her .. name and an inscription which
perhaps relfected Colin's lifelong wish: Does .Annie
return because °of those few words - "Will ye no come
back again?"
Letters to the editor
To the editor,
Lucknow Sentinel.
While at the Grey Ox on
July 9, Pharis Mathers
advised methat he too, is
residing on the original
family homestead, lots 35
and 36, concession one,
Kinloss. 1 apologize and ask
that he be included with Mrs.
Leonard Maclnnis, Frank
MacKenzie and Allan Gra-
ham as descendants of
original Kinloss settlers who
are now residing on ,the
homesteads.
Pharis is in a special
category. He -, is the only
person I have met who knew
that his grandfather, Christo-
pher Mathers, was among
the 2,000, who had walked to
Saugeen, now Southampton,
for the big land sale on
September 27, 1854. No
wonder Pharis later became
a President of the Bruce
County Historical Associa-
tion.
Before parting on Sunday,
Pharis gave me a cassette
which he did not wish
returned. It is about the
Bruce County Historical As-
sociation. In writing to thank
Pharis, I have asked that he
put material on tape about
his father, Reeve Henry
Mathers and this very re-
markable Canadian family. If
he doesn't respond, I am
afraid Canadian history will
miss material which .should
be recorded.
Sandy Nicholson.
Lower Interest Rates
NOW AVAILABLE ON
1st and 2nd Mortgages
ANYWHERE IN ONTARIO
ON
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL,
INDUSTRIAL AND FARM PROPERTIES
Interim Financing For New Construction and Land
Development
FOR REPRESENTATIVES IN YOUR AREA PHONE
SAFEWAY INVESTMENTS
& CONSULTANTS LIIiTED
Branch Office: 504 Tenth Street, Hanover, (519) 364.3121 '
Evenings call Ckerd Page [5191 881.0101.
Head Office; 56 Weber Street, Edit Kitchener, (519) 744-0338.
Branch Office: 705 Goderich Street, Port Elgin, (519) 834-4044
We huy existing mortgages
for instant cash
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 26, 1978-4'Inge 5
The t:Qlumn that's read fora purpose
1"11)41k III
by Scotty Hamilton
r
'MIR -your problems to "Impact' cio
T. +s paper. All letters will be answered
provided a stamped addressed envelope is
enclosed. Some of general intereSt will be
published. Letters must be signed but we
will NOT reveal your identity.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
"These Questions and Answers based on Ontario Law, are
published to inform and not to advise. No one should try to
apply or interpret the law without the aid and advice of a .
train -ed expert who knows the facts, since the facts of each
case, may' change the application of the law."
■
A Syndicated Canadian Newspaper
Feature
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Mon. -Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
SUN. 10 A.M.-MIDNIGHT
LUCKNOW 525-2034
Can you clarify the situation concerning
rebates from Auto insurance Companies, as
ordered by the Anti -Inflation -.Bo
• Auto insurance companies that were
judged .by the A.I.B. to have made excess
profits were ordered to refund a percentage
of their earnings in the form of rebates to
their policy holders, however there is no set
and, fast rule concerning how these rebates
havk to be made.
There were 26 auto insurance companies
involved in making. refunds,and all were for
varying amounts, from a low of $42,000 to a
high of $15 million. Most of those firms have
chosen to make their rebates in the form of
discounts on renewal,premiums.
To find out more about a specific case, call
the A.I.B. COLLECT at 996-1072. - -
C. A. BECKER
EQUIPMENT LIMITED
/ r ;" 111
Soles
Service
Rentals
Field test a new '86 tractor to -day!
LUCKNOW 529-7993
Seven months havegne by and Pm still
awaiting a cheque from the Motor Vehicle
Accident Claims Fund..I had no collision
insurance on my car so had to borrow money
to get it ;roadworthy again, plus time Hist
from work and a hefty towing bill. In plain ..
language I need this money badly, but so
far, seem to be getting nowhere. -
Can IMPACT do anything to help, please?
It appears that some information was
missing
-foal the uninsured driver that ran
into yowl' car, however it seems that they,
(The Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund)(
now have this completed and expect to be
mailing you a cheque, "in a very near
future." So hang in there, Mr.. Reader,