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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-08-02, Page 11THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 2, 10/E-11 TIM CUMMING PHOTO ONE WAY TO TRAVEL - This mannequin, modelling the latest in chic Homecoming '95 apparel, gets a little help from Homecoming Co-chair Joe Steffler and Fire Chief George Garrick. They were moving the model to the new Homecoming headquarters at the old Stewart Brothers store. Seaforth cont. from page 3. • Stewart Hatcher was the boy who came the longest distance to that first Old Boys' Reunion. He came from Calgary, Alber- ta. Miss Hazel Dean won the same award for girls. She came from Hope, North Dakota. "It was the largest and most successful demonstration ever seen in this county," the Ex- positor said. "The main street, the public buildings and private residences were beautifully decorated and thewhole town looked prettier than ever before in its history... "Old boys and girls were here almost from the ends of the earth, many having been away, for fifteen, twenty, thirty and even forty years, and all were glad to get back and enjoyed every minute of their visit, and all remarked the changes, improvements and beauty of the town... prettier than ever' arrived with a large delegation fact any other town in Western and were met by the whole Ontario has ever witnessed." town." "From early morning the "In the evening the il- people came flocking into town luminations were turned on for and when the special trains the first time, and the with their loads of fire com- thousands of lights, the panies and bands arrived the beautifully decorated buildings town was full to overflowing. and stores and the myriads of "It is estimated there were flags and streamers, presented ten thoueand people on the a scene never before equalled ground and still the streets of in the old town. the 1, "n wire jammed all afternu e gate receipts for the aftenw ,n were fourteen hundred dollars and there were over a thousand passes issued to firemen and bandsmen "The carrying out of this Old Home Week is by far the heaviest that any committee or committees in Seaforth have ever undertaken and in spite of many doubts and dis- couragements was carried . through with success beyond all expectations... "They have advertised Seaforth and Seaforth Fire Brigade and hospitality to thousands of strangers in a way that could not have otherwise been done." "Whirlwind Business" "Main street was blocked with sightseers, autos and car- riages from early evening until after midnight. But it was an orderly, good natured and happy crowd and no accidents occurred to mar the pleasure. The side attractions, shows and merry-go-round did a whirlwind business and everyone was out for a good time and certainly seemed to get at it." Saturday was welcoming day. Wednesday of the week was The newspaper notes "every the annual meet of the Provin- train bringing its quota of old cial Firemen's Association, boys and girls, who were met which this newspaper called by the band and citizens. At six "the largest and best o'clock the Detroit special train celebration that Seaforth. or in 'The Campbells were Coming' AUGUST 2 - 6, 1924 You might think the local press had run out of adjectives describing Seaforth's first Old Boys Reunion - but 10 years later newspapermen found even more: "Seaforth Connoiseurs (sic)In Scotch Like Scotch,New- York Style" So went the heading in a story in the New York Herald Tribune in one of its August 11 editions. One of the highlights of the Seaforth's 1924 celebrations was the visit of Dr. Charles Campbell, of New York, and his Highland Pipers Band. "It took the Borough of Brooklyn to give the jaded town of Seaforth, Ontario, a new thrill," the story went. "The name of the main street in Seaforth is Main Street. It is to Seaforth what Broadway is to New York, what St. Catherines Street is to Montreal, Peachtree is to At- lanta, Market Street is to San Francisco and Canal is to New Orleans "Main Street Seaforth figured that there was nothing new under the Canadian sun. And then along came Dr. Charles Campbell and his bagpipe players from Brooklyn..." How good were these guys? Very good according to the reporter, if a soul still wondered all he or she would have to do would "be to lay an elbow on the soda fountain at Seaforth's corner drug store and have a chat with the white - coated dispenser, who has seen the Gordon Highlanders so often he loathes kilts and bag- pipes... "Seaforth heard Scotch music as Scotch music should be played, not as that Toronto gang in tartan plays," the story concluded. Prior to the visit of Dr. Campbell's band, The Huron Expositor noted a couple of Canadian dailies said the New York Pipers weren't coming because they only knew one hymn, "The Campbell's Are Coming." "Their appearance and piping were something that Seaforth, with all its Scotch traditions, had never seen or heard before," continued the report in our local paper. "To many war veterans they looked more like the pipers from one of the crack regiments of the Imperial Ser- vice, than the product of New York. Whatever their ancestry they could pipe and they could march." A Sullen Crowd Still, Seaforth crowds were strangely a sullen lot, according to the report. The newspaperman said it had something to do with our peculiar local temperament: "Seaforth spectators are lar- gely descended from a pioneer race that found expression in speech difficult," the account explains. "We are not used to massed cheering, in fact we don't believe we could do it if we tried: But even a casual obser- ver might have noticed the lines of spectators stiffen and stand erect when the kilts came swinging past and then follow them with their eyes to the vanishing point and we came back again and again to do the same thing over. "No, we didn't cheer them very much, but Charlie Campbell's New York High- land Pipers will remain the standard of comparison by which all visiting bands will be viewed in Seaforth during the life of the present generation." Andy Sutherland was the hard-working general secretary of that year's Homecoming committee. Seaforth mayor at the time of the multitudinous festivities was William H. Golding, who later was ap- pointed to the Canadian senate. A prize of $10 was offered for the biggest bullfrog caught in the Egmondville mill pond during that second Seaforth Old Boys' reunion in 1924. Tom Gemmell of Tuxford, Sask. sent a cheque for "a coupling race for Firemen 60 years and older." The Public Library Board opened a ladies' rest room at the Library and had a lady attendant on duty for the Reunion. "Citizens will kindly direct visitors to this room for com- fort and convenience," directed a report in this paper. Convoy of Cars Trains were by now on their way out as a favoured mode of public transportation - and cars were on their way in. Saturday was reception day and the Detroit Old Boys mustered in a fleet of 75 cars at Brucefield for the entry into town at about 6 p.m. "They made a grand spec- tacle led by Dick Dawson on his white horse and our own Billy McLeod," as the story in The Expositor described it. "At half past six the Toronto Special pulled in with 200 Old Boys and Girls, as many more having previously arrived by motor." The 1924 Reunion was a success "even beyond all dreams," the newspaper con- tinued. "The Reunion of ten years ago was in stature as a child compared to the Reunion just closed. Not only did the atten- dance of Old Boys and Girls exceed the attendance of ten years ago by many hundreds, but they came from greater distances, many after an ab- sence of over 45 years. And there was more enthusiasm, more cordiality and more good times. "Hundreds repeated the same story, 'I never had such a good time in my life'...: "Nature, of course, did her part well; there has been much rain this summer and the lawns and homes looked fresh and clean and every resident took pride, no matter where their homes were located, in making them look the best. Rain put a damper on some scheduled events. "The weatherman was the only one who misbehaved during the whole five days of the Reunion," The Expositor noted, "and even he was good until Monday. After that he began to slip a little day by day until by Wednesday night he was unspeakably vile." The rain spoiled Tuesday night's fireworks and Wednes- day's scheduled fraternal visit from Mitchell. No matter. The Mitchell contingent came beck Friday night instead, giving everybody "a chance to prolong the Reunion fun and frolic at least one day longer." see HELL -HOPPING p`. 12. OneConvenien ENTI1 Starting Sunday, August 20th, we at Zehrs Food Plus, will be providing our customers with the convenience of a one-stop shop. A professional pharmacist will be awaiting you. It will be our genuine pleasure to meet you. Our staff pharmacists will be available to provide you with quality health care including professional, confidential consultation. See you August 20th! • enjoy the convenience of a one stop shop • we will fill your prescription while you shop • professionally trained staff • complete selection of qualitypersonal care products for the entire fmily at low, low prices everyday • . #8 Goderich sw. .e..a w