The Citizen, 1992-07-01, Page 41-x %J
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 ,1992. PAGE A9.
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East Wawanosh Township 125th Anniversary Commemorative Edition # %
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Farmers form Silver Creek Threshing Syndicate
Published by North Huron Citizen
In 1916 the farmers of the sixth and
seventh concessions in East Wawanosh
decided to form a threshing syndicate.
About 20 farmers each paid a share of a
set price for the second hand steam engine,
separator, and com cutting box bought from
Fred J. Cook. Three men were hired: an
engineer, separator operator, and a tank man
with a team of horses. The threshing
operation was called the Silver Creek
Syndicate.
Escape everday
stresses at
Nature Centre
continued from page A7
In grades five to eight, children can be
introduced to orienteering which focuses on
map reading skills. Compass Orienteering is
one step further and involves using a
compass and map for navigating through he
conservation area.
Special weekend sessions are offered as a
service for groups like Cubs and Scouts,
senior citizens and 4H clubs and the Beavers
hold their annual Jamboree there as well.
Two Conservation Education Technicians,
Jayne Thompson and Esther Buck, operate
the centre, however, the building is closed
on weekends.
The Wawanosh Nature Centre, like all
other areas run by the MVCA, is open to the
public on weekends. So when the stresses of
everyday life start to get to you, and you feel
the need for some fresh air and open spaces,
take retreat to the beauty and peace the
Nature Centre has to offer you.
The shareholders set a price by which the
farmers paid by the hour for threshing and
silo filling. A meeting was held each
November where all outstanding bills were
paid and the profit was divided among the
shareholders.
Business soon expanded. In 1919 the
syndicate purchased a new George White
engine. The organization could now do the
threshing of at least 40 farmers and
continued to do so for several years.
Rain or dew was not a hindrance to work
because grain was brought in from the fields
to the bam. The grain flowed into two bushel
boxes. Two men had to dump these into bins
in the granary.
After the first heavy frost, the com box
was put in action. Four to six teams of
horses and wagons and a crew of about 15
men loaded wagons, pulled the com off and
fed it into the com box at the silo. Knives in
the com box chopped the com into one inch
pieces and a fan blew the chopped pieces
into the silo. Two or three men in the silo
levelled the com off and tramped it down.
In the fall of 1927, Simon Hallahan, who
still lives at RR 3 Blyth, took on the job of
managing the syndicate. Bill Hallahan was
the separator operator and Hugh Blair was
the tank man. Simon Hallahan continued as
engineer and Hugh Blair became the
separator operator through the fall of 1937.
A new Waterloo separator had been
purchased in 1935.
Stook threshing became gradually more
popular and more threshing outfits began to
operate. Half the shareholders bought out
the others.
Hugh Blair took over the syndicate in
1938 as Simon Hallahan decided to work
full-time on his own farm.
A second hand Waterloo engine was
purchased in the fall of 1939 and was used
until the fall of 1942, when Hugh started
using his own John Deere tractor. He
operated the syndicate himself until the late
1960s. He purchased a forage harvester
which chopped com in the field and loaded
it in forage wagons which were self
unloading.
In the 1930s combines were being
manufactured with cutter bars attached. This
machine could cut and thresh right in the
field. At first it was drawn by a small tractor
(30 h.p. or less), but later most were self-
propelled with working capacity increasing.
Congratulations to our customers and friends in
East Wawanosh on their
125th Anniversary Celebrations
^DAUPHIN
“FEED & Supply
DUNGANNON
529-7951 1-800-665-5675
WALTON
887-6023
Many operators still do custom work farm
to farm, but much less time and labour are
required.
Other privately owned threshing outfits
have also operated in the township
throughout the years. Some of these
threshers were the Coulter family of St.
Helens, George Jordan, James R. Coultes,
George Cook, Jim Martin, Charles
Robinson, the Boyle brothers, Fred
Davidson, Russel Walker, Bob and Lome
Scott, the Hallahans, Sam Thompson, Robert
Golley, Fred J. Cook, Albert Gower, Sam
Walsh and Pat Murphy. These names are
still familiar in the region today.
The Swamp - Artist's Studio
PAINTINGS AND
ETCHINGS TO VIEW
• Hasty notes "Forest and Fields
of East Wawanosh"
• Portraits on paper or in oils
- by commission
JO MANNING
By Chance or Appointment 523-4505
11/2 miles S. of Westfield or 3 miles W. of Blyth on Cty. Rd. 25 then 11/2 miles N.
Sign by
Jane Stryker
Looking for security and friendship?
A place to retire?
Ua
F Happy 125th
East Wawanosh Township
NORTH HURON CREDIT UNION
8 Alfred St.
Wingham, Ontario
Serving the community's financial
Ik needs for 40 years.
ERE
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manager
Custom site
built or modular
homes from $59,500
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Clubhouse and pool^
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Close to Golf, curling,
fishing, hospital and
other town facilities
nearby
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Come to see us
Call or write
1-519-357-2037
< RR3, Wingham, Ont., NOG 2W0
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