Village Squire, 1979-05, Page 19ashes and continued until the station was sold following Doc's
death.
It was the tiny radio station that gave a start to one of the most
successful natives from the area. Harry J. Boyle grew up in the
St. Augustine area, centred between Wingham, Goderich, Blyth
and Lucknow. His interest in writing and in radio led him to offer
himself to Doc at no salary until he proved himself. He later
made his mark as a writer, particularly dealing with
reminiscences based on his boyhood in Huron County and won
the Leacock award for humour. He made perhaps an even bigger
mark however through his work in radio with C.B.C. and later as
a commissioner and eventually chairman of the Canadian Radio
and Telecommunications Commission.
Wingham has produced some other fine artists as well. Most
famous at the present moment is writer Alice Munro who uses
her Huron county background for the basis of many of her
thoughtful stories. Her father, Robert E. Laidlaw also took up
writing in later life and his novel The McGregors has recently
been published.
One of the first natives to show artistic success was George
Agnew Reid who was born near Wingham in 1860. He went on to
be one of Canada's foremost artists before the turn of the century
and a leader in the founding of the Art Gallery of Ontario. He
was the first artist to be honoured by the placing of a plaque by
the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Wingham has produced another kind of artist over the years:
the practitioners of the art of politics. It began in 1887 when Dr.
Peter MacDonald who held office until 1904 and rose to be
deputy -speaker of the legislature. Next came Dr. Thomas
Chisholm in 1904 and A.H. Musgrove from 1908 to 1919.
In 1943 a local merchant and former mayor John Hanna ran for
the Conservatives and held the provincial seat until his death in
1962. He was succeeded by a Liberal, Murray Gaunt, a former
broadcaster who has held the riding ever since.
One of the big local stories annually in Wingham itself has
been the one that could be foreseen when the first settlers
arrived: floods. History can be recounted in the town by
reference to this or that great flood. Hardest hit of course was the
Lower Town section, a place that was mostly abandoned by those
who could afford to abandon it as years went by. In the 1880's
there is mention in accounts of the mill in Lower Town being
closed for two weeks in a row because of floods. Often
transportation south to Belgrave and Blyth was interrupted by
the flooding of the river over bridges to the south and people
wanting to travel had to make the last part of the journey to
Wingham by boat. In 1891 both branches of the Maitland River
flooded and residents chained down the C.P.R. bridge to save it.
It didn't float away but it was shifted 10 to 12 feet.
One of the worst floods to hit Lower Town came in 1912 on
Easter Sunday and the Easter Parade that year for many
included a trip from Upper Town to Lower Town to see the
situation. People in Lower Town became used to the problems
however. One mother and her daughters who lived in the centre
of the flooded area moved their stove and food stuff to the second
floor of the house rather than try to make it through the rushing
waters in a row boat.
The worst flood in living memory for many residents came in
1947 when many in Lower Town had to be rescued from their
homes, railway service was curtailed for several days and water
reached all the way to Wingham's main streets. The seventies
have seen a number of floods across Highway 4 at the southern
end of the town necessitating evacuations from stores in the
area.
None of this will dampen the enthusiasm Winghamites feel
this year as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. People from
all across the continent are expected to return home for the
homecoming celebrations. A play highlighting the history of the
community will be performed by the Wingham Towne Players
later this month. (See Around Town) The whole town is getting
together to celebrate and inviting its friends too.
if-CIA/Tr's
MOT11FKS DAY /nAY1
13* x'
A Perfect Bouquet
A Luscious Potted Plant
12 Roses to say "I Love You"
All are beautiful -- and possible at...
THE HANDICRAFT
& FLOWER SHOP
Open Tues. to Sat.
Evenings by appointment
Phone 357-2023
306 Josephine St.
WINGHAM
GIFTS
THAT
SAY
appOlolttemikuy
PEN HOLDERS
PAPER WEIGHTS
WRITING PAPER
HASTY NOTES
BOOKS
PLAQUES
CENTENNIAL SPOONS
PHOTO ALBUMS
KEY CHAINS
CHOOSE A NICE
CARD FOR HER
FROM OUR LARGE
SELECTION.
HARRIS
STATIONERY
WINGHAM -- PHONE 357-3191
May 1979, Village Squire 17