HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-08-09, Page 4Page 4-1-Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 9, 1978
"Thi Lucknow Sentinel
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LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
"The Sepoy Town"
On the Huron -Bruce Boundary
Established 1873 - Published Wednesday
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Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
Robert G. Shrier - president and publisher
Sharon J. Dietz - editor
Anthony N. Johnstone - advertising and
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, LucknowNOG 2H0
Second class mail registration number - 0847
Pioneers
He never owned a combine or a tractor,
He never saw a power -driven mower,
My father cut the grain with scythe and
cradle
As men had done for centuries before.
He split the rails to build his wooden fences
He walked uncounted miles behind the plow,
He drew the wheat to mill .with team and
wagon,
He pitched the hay by hand from load to
mow.
My mother baked her bread and churned her
butter,
She had no luxuries to buy or sell,
She made the yeast from hops and soap from
ashes,
,She carried pails of water from a well.
-
She worked unceasingly from dawn to sunset
_ - With patient hands that never seemed to tire,
She never turned a switch -or pushed a
-- button,
To make a cup of tea she built a fire.
And yet I wonder if this world we live in
Is better than the one that went before,
When men had never heard of atom bombing
And constant treat of suicidal war.
Our parents lived their days as God intended
In sunlit valleys, close to birds and flowers,
In spite of all our vaunted march of science
Their quiet lives were happier than ours.
MICHAEL FORAN
The first priest to visit the new settlers in
the Wawanosh district was Father Peter
Schneider who was then based in
Goderich. He travelled on horse back and
tried to visit this scattered flock about once
a month. The first Mass was celebrated in
Michael McCabe's log house. The McCab-
es had taken up Lot 23, Concession 6 some
time before this. Father Schneider con-
tinued to care for these people until 1856
when Father Wassereau, Kingsbridge,
took over. He celebrated Mass for the
settlers in the log house of George Brophy.
By this time, the parishioners were
becoming fairly numerous:
The first St. Augustine church a log
structure, was built down at Brophys in
1857. Father Wassereau was then in
charge of St. Augustine mission. This
church was in use for fifteen years or so. By
this time, the congregation had grown
considerably in numbers and 'the log
church was too small.
In 1872, with Father Wassereau still in
charge, a new frame church was erected - a
mtfch larger structure. Mr. Patrick Kelly of
BIyth was the contractor. It was entirely a
frame building with no basement. This
church was located just a few yards west of
the present stone church,and possibly a
00000,,
St. Augustine parishoners and former parishoners gathered
on the churh lawn for a talent show following concelebrated
mass to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the present church
building. The church has been the centre of the .community
ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH
1903 -1978
since 1857 when a tog structure was built on the George
Brophy farm to serve as the first church building. The present
building is built of limestone quarried on a local farm.
St. Augustine
75th anniversary
CONTINUED FROM P. 1
he saw were stone. There are only seven stone churches in the
diocese of London. He remarked how several girls from the
parish had become sisters, also a bishop and two prieststhat
he knew of. Several of the Sisters were present for the day.
. Msgr.'s speech was followed by a program of local talent
which consisted of numbers by the Hebert, Stapleton and
Boyle sisters. All the ,children of the parish, Raymond and
Marie Boyle, a skit by Foran families and John Boyle and
George Brophy recited a poem, the Donnybrook Fair.
A short time was allotted after the program to visit and
purchase books on the history of the parish and to view many
pictures that were well displayed.
After 3 p.m. a tribute to the church's pioneers was started
with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament then a procession
to the cemetery led by Rev. E. Dentinger, the Altar boys, two
flag bearers, representatives of the Catholic Women's
League, the men of the parish and the youth. Three baskets of
flowers were laid at the cross to honour the departed: They
were presented by Mrs. Raymond Boyle, reperesenting the
Catholic Women's 'League, Ken Leddy, representing parish
members, and Janice (Foran) Bowland, the parish youth. A
short service followed.
The building of the churches
little closer to the road. There is a slight
difference of recollections in regard to its
precise location. However, Mr. James
Leddy, who is now 80 years old and the
oldest native man still living in the parish
(1975) informs this writer that he (Mr.
Leddy) made his first communion in the
frame church..
Out in front of the church - adjoining the
road allowance (south side) and running
parallel to it - there was a boardway, a sort
of landing platform with wooden steps
leading therefrom. In this way, the ladies
and children alighted from the horse drawn
vehicles on to the platform, went down the
steps onto a board walk, and then into the
church. Similarly, when Mass was over,
they mounted the platform waiting for the
rigs to pull along side.
Sometime after the stone (new) church
was ready for occupancy in 1904, the frame
church was moved southward some yards
and transformed (with additions thereto)
into a shed to be used in conjunction with
the new church. This was done during the
earlier years of Father Laurendeau's
pastorate.
The shed (for horses) used in connec-
tion with the frame church was on the north
side of the road and further to the west.
down at the edge of the swamp.
At the turn of the century -(1900) a
decision was made to build a new church -
a stone church. This decision did not meet
with the unanimous approval of all the
parishioners, There were some skeptics -
some ' doubting Thomases. There were
people who said that it couldn't be done,
that this wasn't the time for it - things of
that nature.
However, the decision to build a new
church of local limestone stood and plans
and specifications were drawn up. Some
exploration , was carried out to find a
natural limestone formation. Fortunately,
it wasn't necessary to search very far.
About three or so miles through the fields
to the south-east, an almost ideal situation
was found in which to set up a limestone
quarry. Its location was on the south bank
of the Maitland River on the west half of
Lot 28, Concession 6, East Wawanosh -
right at the back (south) end of this farm.
Here, the south bank is quite low and
prone to flooding. Mr. George Wallace or
perhaps his father, was the owner of this
property when the stone for St. Augustine
Church was being quarried. According to
research, the Wallace family (who were
Protestant) did not seek or receive any
financial remuneration for the stone
quarried from their farm. It was donated in
a spirit of good will.
Before this time, several limestone kilns
were in operation in the Wawanosh area -
mostly in the vicinity of the river. Lime for
local use and some for selling was procured
by using cordwood for fuel to heat the
limestone. This is limestone country.
A limestone quarry was established at„
the rear of Wallace's farm. This was in
(east) about 55 rods from the Donnybrook
Bridge on the Division Line. This is the
third bridge at this site. Mr.' John Leddy
(Joe Leddy'se father) was quarry master.
The stone was dislodged from the
formation by using blasting powder (not
dynamite) with a 'tong slow burning fuse
attached. Blasting powder is a black
powder. The blasting was usually done in
the evening or early morning. Mr. Leddy
had previous experience in this type of
work elsewhere. Some limestone may have
been taken from the river bed.
A tramway or causeway was built across
or partly across the river from whence the
stone washauled with teams. and wagons
down to the. site of the new church. The
fathers and/or grandfathers of several
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