HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-12-24, Page 1414S-7111[ NURON EXPOSITOII. Deese,her 24. 1.•7
Remembering the Christmas concert
[Editor's note: Ken Papple
born and raised in Seaforth
now living in Waterloo shares
a Christmas memory he wrote
in the Huron Expositor Dec.23
1976.
By December I the normal-
ly well organized routine of
thg day had taken a rather
dramatic new course. In those
few short days ago the
teacher was responsible for a
classroom of students from
grades 1 to 8. Today we talk
about political pressure - well
the teacher soon responded
by organizing a Christmas
Concert.
The concert served among
other things as one of the
community's major measur-
ing sticks as to how effective
the teacher really was.
Rehearsals accordingly
became the new curriculum
and this was implemented for
longer and longer portions of
the day as the great event
drew near. It was tremen-
dously important that each
student had some role to play
and this sometimes made the
result a mightly long affair.
Surely the old party line
from the Manse hill to
Stewarts was a hotbed of
acclaim and criticism. Each
parent wanted her child to
make the best showing possi-
ble. In fact on concert night
one could see many parents
who were saying the mono-
logue better than the poor
frazzled child.
Concert Day
Concert Day meant that the
classroom had to be trans-
formed into an auditorium
with the stage being assem-
bled at the front. What an
exciting task. The trustees
usually came to the school,
. hoisted the big ladder up to
the attic and then very cau-,
tiously lowered the huge
planks down. These in turn
were made into a stage. The
wire was strung above and
the drapes hung.
The teacher's room, which
on other occasions were not
allowed into, was now piled
high with props, costumes
and containers with water to
refresh nervous young per-
formers. When i think of the
space and the number of stu-
dents, it was a miracle that
the show went on. The piano,
a most necessary part of the
equipment. was strategically
located to provide a con-
cealed entrance to the stage.
1 recall one night when the
weather had been somewhat
like this year. The snow was
deep and it was so cold that
Dad decided to take the
sleigh.
Being a trustee and close to
the north road he had volun-
teered to drive the team up to
get Mrs. Wendorff, our much
loved if rather chubby music
teacher. How exciting it was
to nestle down in the old huf-
falo robes which had been
brought out of safe keeping
especially for this night.
With the full moon floating
across the white snow casting
mysterious shadows from
trees and hushes the world
was a wonderful fairyland.
As we were returning and
topped the manse hill, thc
schoolhouse scene which was
a good mile away, burst at us
with a glare of anticipation.
Someone had fired up the •
old furnace that night and the
classroom turned auditorium
, was a hive of activity. This
was one of the social events
of the season. The trcc was
decorated and laden with
gifts - for everyone gave gifts
to his friends at this affair.
in anticipation of Santa.
gifts had been preplaced for
the little ones to enjoy later.
Everyone talked out front
and the pudding performers
giggled behind the curtain.
The women sat together to
admire the latest additions to
the community and the men
gathered by the windows to
smoke and talk. The
teenagers sat near the hack so
they might enjoy their own
private gossiping.
h was a night of warmth
and friendliness as the crowd
chided each other about get-
ting stuck in the school desks
because of the good cooking
or why weren't you removing
your coat - were you hiding
something?
Everybody listened for
familiar laughs. it was good
to know that ivy was in the
audience. Each parent's spe-
cial pride meant that there
were many reassuring chuck-
les and a great deal of
applause. There were recita-
tions, solos, choruses and
always the nativity scene.
There were some near cata-
strophies that night. I had
taken it.on my broadening
shoulders to tell Amy and
Shirley when to pull the cur-
tains and since I was ready to
go on I thought that Margie
and Elsie were ready as well.
I was left standing centre
stage talking to two actresses
who weren't there.
Poor Mrs. Powell had to
push the girls on stage and
then slide the rest of the
props on from under the back
drapes. Later part of the cur-
tain near the piano (really a
white bed sheet) which
served as part of the girls'
dressing room, fell down
showing Marguerite, Linda
and Dorothy in various stages
of changing. Needless to say
they blushed steadily for the
rest of the night.
Everyone smiled when Jane
had said her special thanks to
all and Bill came up to take
her hand and led the students
in the finale.
It might have been fantasy
but certainly there was some
magic about the gentle tin-
kling of the hells and then the
boisterous ringing of the out-
side school bell and thc loud
ho ho hoing from the stairs.
To be sure, it was Santa, a
particular favorite for years.
Archie's happiest laugh
could be heard and he and
John welcomed the Jolly old
soul. We did note that our
good friend Harry was absent
from the audience.
Santa always loved to con-
gratulate the teacher with a
big kiss for all of her hard
WPS principal
off to new school
Walton
by Patty Banks
887-6156
School News: A busy week
at Walton Public School
started on Tues. when they
had their annual turkey lunch.
Each class prepared their
own desserts. Walton Down
Home Family Christmas con-
cert was held Thursday night
at the hall. The room was
packed with parents, grand-
parcnts and people from the
community. •
Principal Mrs. Crocker
informed thc audience of her
leaving the Walton School
and will be the new principal
at Grey Central beginning in
the New Year. During thc
course of thc evening she did
some reminiscing about her 3
years in Walton. she told of
her personal goal of getting
new computers in the school
and thanked thc sponsors in
thc room for helping that to
happen. Maggie Cranc will
he thc new principal begin-
ning in thc new year.
JoAnn and Kelly
McDonald were greeters at
Duff's United Church on
Dcc. 21 •
Scott, Peter, Nathan and
Rev. Murray did the lighting
of the candles as well as the
reading of thc liturgy. The
fourth advent candle was lit.
Rev. Murray's sermon was
called, "Love Songs".
The Christmas Eve service
will be held at 7:30 p.m.
I am sure that you won't
was to miss, seeing some of
your favorite characters on
Christmas Eve like. Jeff
(camel herder) McGavin and
his life size pct camel (Jim
Cook) or Gracmc (innJcceper)
Craig. or Jim (father)
McDonald. including Sarah
(Rebecca, who finds the real
message Of giving)
McDonald, Shannon (Mary)
Gibbons riding the donkey
being led by Chad (Joseph)
McCallum. or Nathan (bird -
boy) Murray, Karen (heavily
burdened) Hoegy. Thcrc will
be a hand made up of guitars,
trumpet. saxophone, organ,
violin, piano music, choirs,
quartet, scripture being read,
communion served and
Duff's traditional candlelight
singing of Silent Night. A
silent night, a holy night wel-
comes all that wish to attend.
That ends my news for
1997. 1 want to wish every-
one a very happy Christmas
and may 1998 be one of the
happiest years of your lives.
work. She blushed politely
and thanked all for the co-
operation she'd received.
Much to the children's
delight the presents were dis-
tributed.
The men seemed particular-
ly eager to get to the sleighs
and cutters that night and the
women seemed rather anx-
ious as they waited. 1 noticed
on the way home that Arthur
was particularly happy and
the other men were doing
some loud talking and I heard
some mumbled comments
about drinking on the parts of
Mom, Gertie and Pearl.
Being a youngster I didn't
pay much attention as we
huddled in the comfort of the
sleigh as the warmth and
companionship flooded over
me.
It was a time I felt very
good about myself and the
people I lived among. Even
the memory of the scolding I
had received at suppertime
for spilling the ashes didn't
seem to matter.
Santa put in a surprise
appearance at the
Seaforth mites' practice at
the arena Saturday after-
noon. The other big guy in
the picture is Dave Murray
(without the beard)
(Fitton photo)
Broomball roundup...
Ladies Broomhall Dec. 17
Parr Line 8 Socialites 0
I'm sure this wasn't really
the Socialites as they never
have a score this wild, but
they had the same team spirit
and get up and go. I think
their goalie won't want to
trade for a Parr Line sweater
again, as she keeps out all
goals with a Socialite sweater
on. Parr Line goals were
scored by Sherri Loveridge,
sly Glenda Chaput, speedster
Bonnie O'Reilly, quick -draw
Susan Arts and old faithful
Sandra Melady. Passes from
Cathy Innes, Marj Copeland,
Kim Eckert, Tanya Eckert
and mom Eckert.
Polar Ice 0 Farmerettes 1
Polar ice played superb as
you can see by the score.
They had the Farmerettes a
little bit worried. The lone
goal for Farmerettes was
scored by quick, speedster
Barb Elliott, assisted by a
quick pass from Angie
Huber.
Juveniles 0 Grads 6
Juveniles try hard and never
give up. Overpowering the
older gents on the Grads may
come with time. However,
Grads pick up all their scor-
ing in the second half. Goals
by Jim Nycnhuis, Al Wynja,
Jason Phelan, Harold Hugill
and Joe Vink, set up by
Martin Wynja and Ray
Ruston.
Broomball Jan. 7/98: 9 p.m.
Grads vs Parr Line men; 9:50
p.m. Parr .Line vs
Farmerettes; 10:40 p.m.
Socialites vs Polar ice.
Broomball Dcc. 18
Winthrop 2 Knights 0
The Knights had plenty of
spirit but were short on goals.
as none were accumulated,
only penalties. Winthrop had
all the luck goal scoring by
Mikc Thomas and Steve
Knight, quite a combo. Direct
passing by Joe Ryan and Dan
McNichol. Winthrop also had
their share of penalties for the
Christmas season.
Arabian tragedy
Dublin
hy Dorothy Dillon
345-2883
Heartfelt sympathy of thc
:ommunity is extended to
Margaret and Ed Rowland
and family at the sudden'
death of their daughter Lauric
K. Rowland who died in
Saudi Arabia this past week.
Deepest sympathy is also
expressed to Fergus and
Mary Stapleton on the death
of their sister, Rita
Newcombe.
Seaforth and arca Town and
Country Homemakers held a
very enjoyable Christmas
dinner at Scaforth and
District Community Centres
on Dec. 18th.
The group was entertained
by Grades three and five chil-
dren from Scaforth Public
School.
Birthdays were celebrated
by Marjorie Anderson, Mary
McMillan. Janet Rice, and
Jean Hildebrand.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Lord - thank you for the
Christmas spirit. May it live
in our hearts every day - not
dwindle and vanish when the
season is past.
Cyclones 1 Grads 5
Cyclones squeak in a lone
goal by "wee" Manny
DeSousa. "Wow" he is on
"cloud nine". Brilliant pass-
ing from Brad Hern and Mike
Doorleyers. The Grads trail
but pull ahead as goals. pile
up by masterpiece Chris
Goris. the Wynja boys and
son Steve Wynja. It is a great
forward line. Defensive help
by Ray Ruston and Tony Ulan
Den Heuvel. {I
Royals 1 Parr Line 2
Royals have the lead and
then they loose the lead as
their single goal was
achieved by #7 that week. So
whoever changed sweater
numbers and didn't let any-
one know this is a "guess
who scored" but David Major
did all the passing to this
secret person. However Parr
Line seems to pounce hack as
Jamie Poirier lights up the
arena with this quick action
goal. His sidekick goalie
Dennis Dolmage sccires a
blue line goal in overtime.
Great game to help end the
Christmas season. See you all
next year.
Mens Broomhall Jan. 8/98:
9 p.m. Juveniles vs Parr Line.
9:50 p.m. Cyclones vs
Knights. 10:40 p; m.
Winthrop vs Royals.
ANNOUNCEMENT
DR. ROBERT SUZUKI
Dr. Grant Lee & staff at the Clinton Dental
Clinic would like to welcome Dr. Robert Suzuki
to our practice. Robert is a graduate of the
University of Western Ontario. He will be
joining our practice on Jan. 2, 1998. Dr.
Suzuki is looking forward to serving you and
your family.
We would also like to extend our best wishes
to Dr. Norman Thie who is taking a leave of
absence to further his education in
temporomandibular joint disease. He will be
rejoining our practice in approximately 18
months. Good luck Norm.
CLINTON DENTAL CLINIC
Medical Centre -105 Shipley St.
482-9392
DABHWDDD®
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
.9ref,t4ew
ALL OF US AT D & D GLASS AND DASHWOOD
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE THANK YOU FOR
YOUR BUSINESS THE PAST YEAR. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO 1998.
BACK ROW L -R: Tony Van Dyke, 'Fergie' Ferguson, Dave Miller. Toby Killby, Rick
Parsons. FRONT ROW L -R: Marg Miller, Brad Mount. Maryanne Hallahan.
PLEASE NOTE:
We will be closed for Holidays
December 24 -January 4.
REOPENING MONDAY JANUARY 5
Use our toll-free number
1-800-524-6616
WINDOWS
DOORS
SIDING
SALES
SERVICE
INSTALLATION
1st Avenue, VANASTRA
482-7869
PROFESSIONAL SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION
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