The Rural Voice, 1992-08, Page 41Huron Historic Gaol shows the
primitive conditions prisoners lived
under until the 1960s.
contains Engine 6275 of the
Canadian Pacific Railroad.
Surrounding the engine is a typical
main street of a small town of the era,
with everything from a printer's shop
to a fire hall to an undertaker's. Also
in the museum is the collection of the
working models designed by Neill to
demonstrate how early machines
worked.
If you go up North Street further
and turn right on Glouchester
Terrace, you'll come to the Huron
Historic Gaol, the old jail built in
1842 and used until the 1960s. James
Donnelly of the "Black Donnellys"
was housed here along with latter day
prisoners like Steven Truscott. The
Gaol shows you that life as a
prisoner, even in the 1960s, was
pretty grim.
On the top floor of the central
cupola in the Gaol is the original
Huron County council chambers
where the first county council
meeting was held in 1842.
Councillors quickly found the cold,
smelly quarters, shared with prisoners
on the floors below, was not ideal for
weighty deliberations and the council
meetings were held in a local hotel
until a new court house was built.
If you turn back on Glouchester
Terrace and go west, the street loops
along the top of the cliff overlooking
the Maitland River Valley and
becomes Caledonia Terrace. After a
few blocks the street turns away from
the cliff and becomes Waterloo St.,
heading south. This area of Goderich
is home to some of the oldest, most
stately homes in Huron County, an
area that helps Goderich uphold its
boast of being the "prettiest town in
Canada".
At West St., turn right, heading
toward Lake Huron. Along the way
you'll pass the Park House, today a
restaurant but at one time, the house
of the commissioner of the Huron
Tract. Stay to the right as you go
along West St. and you'll find
yourself going down to the harbour.
To your right you'll see the huge
Goderich elevator complex where
you might be fortunate enough to see
an international freighter loading
western Ontario corn or wheat for
export. Grain from western Canada
also comes in to the port for milling
at the Howson and Howson flour mill
at Blyth.
That grain used to come and go
along two railways with the C.P. Rail
station located at the foot of the
harbour hill. That rail line was
abandoned several years ago and now
most grain comes and goes by truck.
Those feeling fit can experience
the newest attraction at the Goderich
waterfront. When CP Rail abandoned
its line into Goderich, local
enthusiasts fought to save the bridge
over the Maitland River. Today they
have restored it as a pedestiran
bridge. You can walk along the road,
following the old rail line, from the
main beach or you can pick up the
trail from the North Beach road on
the other side of the harbour. Either
way, the long bridge provides a
spectacular view of the harbour, Lake
Huron and the Maitland River Valley.
If you've got the time and the
energy, you can follow the old
"Custom Wrought Iron
Fences A Speciality"
SHARP'S CREEK FORGE
R.R. 2, Goderich
(4 miles east of Goderich, Hwy. 48)
ATTENTION
BEAN GROWERS!
Bean Knives Re -forged at
Competitive Rates
519-524-8096
Exeter Depot - Brander Steel
r
"THE MODERN SMITHY"
BRUCE COUNTY
PLOWING MATCH
MACHINERY DISPLAYS &
DEMONSTRATIONS
to be held on
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1992
COACHING DAY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1992
on the farm of
RUTH & ROSS FARRELL
Lot 1, Conc. 9,
Huron Township
1 1/4 miles north of Pine River
or 2 1/2 miles south
of Kincardine on
Provincial Highway #21
AWARDS BANQUET &
CROWNING OF THE 1992 BRUCE
COUNTY FURROW QUEEN IN THE
RIPLEY ARENA
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH
- 7:00 P.M.
For further information contact:
President
Jim MacKay 353-5540
Secretary Treasurer
Bonnie Thorne 934-2202
Township Director
Dan MacDonald 395-2879
AUGUST 1992 37