Village Squire, 1979-08, Page 12The pretty pavilion on the shores of the mill pond in Wingham. The town has turned the area along the
river into a precious asset.
Wing/iam' s
jewel
The river was what brought people to the town of Wingham in
the first place.
The townsite was chosen because the convergence of two
branches of the Maitland river made it an ideal spot for mills at a
time when water power was the most important form of power
for industry.
Early settlers quickly found out that what was good for mills
wasn't necessarily good for houses and stores and so for years
Winghamites :'ad ambiguous feelings toward the river. Many
moved up on the hill to dry land and there the most impressive of
the early homes still stand.
But a decade or so ago people in Wingham began to rediscover
the value of the river to their town, not for water power but for
recreation. Today the river is perhaps the most beautiful part of
the town. Riverside Park has turned the east side of the Maitland
and the old mill ponds in Wingham into the jewel of the town.
Take John Street left from Josephine Street and go down until
you reach the park on your right where the road forks. The park
winds along the foot of several streets in the west end of town.
The focal point of the park is the mill pond but to that have
been added acres of grass, a picnic pavilion, playground
equipment and the town's Swimming pool. There's also a
camping park for visitors who want to stay longer than just for a
few hours.
Exetei's
surp rise
Situated in the flat -lands of southern Huron county Exeter is
not blessed with the kind of topography that usually makes an
attractive landscape. The plains may make great cash -cropping
• land but it does not make the kind of views that send people
scurrying for their cameras.
But the people of Exeter have made the most of what they
have. They have made use of the small stream that flows through
10 Village Squire, August 1979
the north end of town to make one of the most attractive town
parks around.
Like a tip of an iceberg there is a view of the park off Highway
4 in the northern part of the town but it's only a small part of the
park. It's an attractive opening view, though with a green belt
along the river banks and arching bridges over the water. To get
to the real goodies, however, turn onto Mill Road and proceed
back. On your right is a swimming pool that offers youngsters a
chance to swim. Farther back the park widens out into a large
area offering plenty of grass for frolicking about, hundreds of
picnic tables, a picnic pavilion, playground equipment and
plenty of large trees for shade.
The river at this point has been dammed up to make a small
lake that provides a soothing backdrop to the whole view. Across
the lake there are some of the finest homes in Exeter built with
their backs to the water allowing picnickers to also have an
appreciation of architecture while they relax.