HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-06-21, Page 4444 Signal Star • Wednesday, June 21, 2017
GODERICHtirtIti
1827-2017
On July 1, 1867, by all outward
appearances nothing was different.
Queen Victoria was Canada's Head
of :State and the Union Jack was
Canada's flag but everyone knew
something changed that day. In
celebration, thousands of Huron
County's `loyal citizens' flocked to
Goderich, the county seat, to proclaim
the nativity of their new nation.
'Celebrations began early in Goderich
as crowds gathered to welcome the
new country when a giant bonfire
was lit on the. Courthouse Square
right after midnight. As the sun rose
on the Dominion of Canada. for the
first time, the Goderich Garrison
Artillery prepared to fire a dawn
salute from their 32 pound cannon.
Someone, as a prank, had replaced the
union flag with the Stars and Stripes.
The gunners in. a fit of `justifiable
profanity' were prepared to fire the
flag from. the gun's mouth but cooler
heads prevailed and Goderich was awaken
by 5-6 shots from 'Big Bess.'
Apparently, the American flag had
probably been taken from the U.S. Consulate
during the night because 'a huge white flag'
was seen flying from its flag .mast and the
building's doors had been barricaded.
Fortunately, General Thomas Allcock, the
U.S. Consul, saw it as playful `folly.'
'The Huron Signal' reported that the
slay began early as from `all parts of the
country, by private conveyance, on ' foot,
by any means found most convenient,
crowds of well-dressed people poured' into
Goderich. `Old men andtheir aged wives,
stout middle-aged farmers with their better
halves and children, yotig men with their
gaily beribboned lasses, by the score, all
determined -to have a day of rejoicing.' A
special excursion train with 500 visitors
arrived in town while the steamer `Silver
Spray' delivered yet more celebrants by the
lake. In 1942, John Elliott recalled that the
'wee village' of Benmiller was deserted as
young and old headed into Goderich. The
`Huron Expositor' noted that `Dominion
Day celebrations completely emptied'
Seaforth.
By early morning, the `Signal' was `afraid
to say how many thousands' had arrived
but it was 'a splendidsight to stand on the
Square and look down West Street' and see
'a moving mass of human beings, all the
way down' to the lake bank.
The seven companies of the 33rd Huron
Regiment assembled on Nelson Street in
front of the Victoria Park Drill Shed. 'It was
said the soldiers were. `liberally -supplied'
with refreshments that were badly needed in
the heat and dust. Even if some companies
required more drill, the paper said 'a
finer body of men could not be found in
the Dominion.' (Could their unsteady
drill had something to do with the liberal
GODERICH
refreshments?). Lieutenant-Colonel A.M.
Ross led the military parade followed by the
Goderich Fire Brigade with their `handsome
colours' which added 'much beauty to the
spectacle.'
The parade marched to the Square where
Canada's inaugural celebrations took place
by the courthouse's west entrance. Goderich
Mayor J.V. Detlor acknowledged it was the.
`duty' of Canadians to ask the blessing of
'a Higher Power' on the new country. An
in -vocation was delivered by . Reverend
Canon Elwood of St. George's Church to
Canadian' must uphold Canada's founding
principals of `fairness and moderation.'
Cameron predicted that with its abundant
resources,. Canada would become 'one of the
greatest countries on the face of the Earth.'
Afterwards, three enthusiastic cheers for
the Queen, Governor-General and the 'New
Dominion' were raised.
At exactly noon, .the volunteers led the
crowds to the lake bank where the Goderich
Artillery Company's other gun was mounted.
When the gun fired, it signalled .'a splendid
feu de joye' as 'the roar of the cannon from
the point and the two gunboats
[HMS Cherub and Prince
Alfred] mingled with the
sharp rattle of the volunteers
rifles.' The 'Signal' further
described the gunboats in
the - harbour `decorated with.
flags and streamers of every
pattern, the Union Jack
waved from every available
point.' It was, the `Signal'
said, 'a picture of surpassing
beauty.'
As the echo
guide the new country. Mayor Detlor read
the Queen's proclamation 'for uniting
the provinces' into one Canada. Detlor
concluded his address by stating his hope
that Canada would 'be the home of freemen
and the asylum of the oppressed.'
M.C. Cameron, the Member of Parliament
for Huron West, said that `every true
of gunfire
died away, the
latest Marlton
built schooner
`Ontario' was
christened.
With'
thousands
watching from
the lake bank,
Miss Allcock, the `amiable'
daughter of the U.S. Consul,
broke a champagne bottle
across the `Ontario's bow
and launched the schooner
into the water. Several of
'Her Majesty's fearless tars'
lashed themselves to the
cross trees on the mast as the `Ontario' slid
gracefully into the water. The `Ontario's
launch was described as 'the. prettiest sight
of .the day.'
Boat races, boat excursions, picnics,
and athletic competitions rounded out the
afternoon's events. Canada's first day ended
with a torchlight parade through. the streets
of Goderich about 11:00 pm after which
'the town sank to rest' after a memorable
24 hours.
The `Signal' called the first Confederation
Day 'the most successful demonstration of
'its kind' in Huron County. Although the
symbols of loyalty had not changed, the
attitude towards them had begtin to change
as the Queen, flag and parliament were now
perceived as `Canadian' institutions. In
that subtle shift in attitude, the Dominion
of Canada was born. A unique proposition
based on `fairness and moderation' which is
still 'the home of freemen (and women) and
an asylum of the oppressed.'
by David Yates
Happy Canada Day!
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