Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-09-23, Page 44—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTLMIER 23, 1099 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Dale - General Manager/Ad Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Gregor Campbell - Reporter Larry Dalrymple - Sales Pat Armes - Office Manager Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS: • 30.00 a year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus 578.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing of 100 Main 5t., Seaforth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held of Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, wit not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for of the applicable rote. In the event of a typographical error. advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible For the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, September 23, 1998 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Mala Street.,feaferlhs Telephone (5191527-0240 Tax (519) 527.2959 Mailing Address - P.O. ilex 69, &safertls, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council ' Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Nothing worse than getting 'stuck behind a bus, but stay there There's nothing wore than being late for work and getting stuck behind a ,line of traffic following a school bus. The opportunity to pass can be difficult as the bus moves slowly from one country home to another picking up children as the line of traffic behind it grows longer. There's nothing worse that is, unless you're the child who ' has to dodge a passing car or a parent who watches in horror as a child is almost run down. Sixteen thousand students are counting on you to help them get to school safely each day this year. That's the number of students in the Avon -Maitland District School Board and. Huron -Perth Catholic School Board who ride the bus each day. Bus drivers noticed in the last school year an increase in the number of drivers passing buses with the red lights flashing and children boarding or exiting the bus. When approaching or meeting the bus, it's the law to stop 20 metres before reaching the vehicle when its red lights are flashing. The vehicle can't move again until the bus moves or its lights stop flashing. Drivers also need to be prepared for buses stopping at railway crossings which is the law for all bus drivers. , It sounds so simple but it seems too many drivers need to be reminded at how much is at stake if they ignore a flashing red light. STH How to access us •Letters to the Editor and other submissions can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: s . ..hulronexp@odyssey.on.c a tr`. All letters and submissions must be and lictompanied by a day -time tel ,naltsber. All submissions are subject to i length and content Luck, coincidence leads Westcott into 1950 brokerage business Luck, coincidence and desperation got me into the brokerage business in 1950. And more of the same got me out of it. I left Virginia and our two month old son in Seaforth and came to Toronto to work at the Telegram on Bay at Melinda Street, a bit south of the City Hall. It was 1950, 1 started on a Monday and by Wednesday 1 was fired. When I tried to explain to managing editor, Douglas MacFarlane that I could not work on the upcoming Saturday....for I promised by wife 1 would come home every weekend, he asked my name. When 1 told him he picked up the phone and said something like, "make up Westcott's pay..he's through". I left Seaforth to make good in the big city, and now suicide seemed preferable to returning home. 1 was a failure after only a few days. The folks who told me I couldn't make it in a big place like Toronto would now laugh me out of town. Reading the want ads in my small room near Spadina and Bloor I was beginning to feel that 1 had made a big mistake. Thursday morning I tried the Employment Office on .Spadini again but there was nothing. I had stopped there on my way home the day before, as I was leaving, a fellow at the counter called out, "young man, come here...I may be able to help". Although I had not spoken to him before he seemed aware of my plight. "I live in Port Credit and last night my neighbour mentioned his company is looking for a young man." He wrote a name and address on a piece of paper and that same afternoon I went to 50 King Street West to see a Mr. David Giffen. The company was Dominion Securities and they were looking for a young man for the stock cage. Up to that afternoon I had never heard of Dominion Securities, nor did I know what they did. In fact, I didn't know what a stock cage was. But I got the job. I was to start the following Monday. What had been an empty shed of steel girders all through the war in 1-950 was the beautif ,'Batik' of Muutzvat bu•Idisig nlt)tth-west' corner of King and Bay - and I had my own desk on the 5th floor. The company had two whole floors. That building is now long gone, on the same site today stands the immense and beautiful first Canadian Place. Early on my first day a friendly and impeccably dressed man 'shook ,my hand and said "Welcome to D.S." His accent was as distinguished as his clothes. Never had I seen a man dressed in so much expensive looking tweed. Except for the movies I had never before seen a man with a handkerchief sticking out of his coat sleeve. His name was Claude MacDonald. 1 told him how grateful I was to get the job and how proud I was to be working in such a beautiful building in the heart of the financial district. He grinned and told me it was a famous corner. "The head office of four The learning experience was confusing and a bit intimidating for there were many broker buzz -words different banks are located at King and Bay," he said. "On this corner is the Bank of Montreal and directly opposite is the Imperial" he continued "and on the north east is the Nova Scotia and on the south west is the Bank of Toronto". He went on to tell me that the first letter of each spells the word mint. I have never forgotten•that.piece of trivia from my first day. In fact the following weekend the mint story travelled around and was told and retold until I'm sure almost every one of my friends heard it. I don't think I fully realized the degree' of my good fortune until Mr. Boswell, the manager of the Dominion Bank came into my dad's jewellery . state. kle.cangratulated_me,. shook:.my hand and said "So you landed a job with Dominion Securities Clare,...your dad must be very proud of you." He leaned over and whispered, "1 hope they are paying you at least three thousand a year." I didn't honestly know what it was - for I never asked, but he was close. I later found out the salary was $2940.00 and there was something about a Christmas bonus if the company had a good year. That was forty eight years. ago. So many times since then 1 have thought about luck and fate and the effect it had on my life - and what might have happened...or not happened. if that man in the Employment Office hadn't bothered to tell me about his Port Credit neighbour and the job. Not many young men come to the big city with as little education as I had then. I was as well woefully lacking in office skills of any kind - and with clothes and a demeanor that was unmistakably small town. To get a desk and my own phone in a Bay Street brokers office in a beautiful new building...with real marble floors in the lobby and thick blue carpets in all the offices, was to me the height of good fortune. And there was more - so much more. The Igarning experience was -confusing and a bit intimidating for there were many broker buzz -words in those first weeks that had no meaning for me. I could best describe what was happening to me by saying that 1 was "adopted" by a group of people who in retrospect seem to have been put there by central casting. Magically, it seemed like they were all given roles to play, designed to turn a humble boy from Huron County into a marketable product. I didn't stay long in the business, but the stint at Dominion Securities gave me some insight into big city life and the big city work world. I was dropped in right at the start, when corporations were beginning to think about interpersonal skills and efficiency and productivity, and the rewards that could come to those employees who could master the craft. I was only there a few months when I made a great discovery and it gave me reason to be proud. I found the great joy of self esteem. It seems the ordinary common sense 1 brought from Seaforth to a large corporation had some value. The world's largest brokerage company had not yet set up shop in Canada but it did have 100 offices atound the world with a head offjce,in., 41ew't'drk C`i'ty. It was called Merrill;' Lynch, Pearce, Fenner and Bean. All the stock purchased in Canada for their American clients was bought on the Toronto and Montreal exchanges by Dominion Securities. It was big business amounting often to hundreds of thousands of dollars a day...but there was a snag. With such volume there was a headache at the end of each day. CONTINUED on Page 5 Diptheria epidemic closes schools in Crediton area September 23, 1898 Diptheria is epidemic in the vicinity of Crediton and the schools have been closed in consequence. During the week, W.R. Somerville, uptown GTR agent has ticketed the following parties, F. Sills to Sandwich, Mr. Ryan and son to Sandwich, Harry Edge, Detroit, John J. Cluff to Detroit, , J.C. Laidlaw to Minnesota, W.A. Greay to St. Ignace, Mich. J. S. Crozier of Egmondville moved his family to Seaforth so as to be nearer to his work. Rev. John Muldrew, formally of town, has accepted a call from the Presbyterian congregation at Morris, Manitoba. Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Hoffman of sonNorman left this wcek for Manitou, Manitoba where they will reside in the future. A gravel crossing is being laid down in front of the Royal Hotel stables. This will be a big improvement on the old plank walk. S.A. Dickson and Miss Ida took a driving excursion to Sarnia going by way of Grand Bend and Forest. Mrs. C.J. Baladen, of Melbourne, Middlesex Co. visited her father, Mr. E. Dawson. Geo. Turnbull shipped a car load of heavy horses to Liverpool and W. Cudmore Jr. went with them. While lifting a box W.J. Beattie got the palm of his hand torn by a nail, making a severe and painful wound. John McMillan, M.P. will address a mass meeting in Cardno's Hall on the subject of Prohibition. In the Years Agone James Baird Jr. of Bruccfield took advantage of the cheap rates and went out west to visit her brother in Dakota. September 26, 1923 H. Arnold, Manager of Molson's Bank in Hensall was struck by a car driven by C. Campbell. His face was badly cut and the front wheel passed over his ankles, breaking a small bone. Miss Cassie Dougall of Hensall has returned from a pleasant visit to friends in Huron and Perth Counties. One of the happiest events which occurred in the Hibbert vicinity for a long time took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mahaffy when they celebrated their golden wedding. One of the prettiest weddings of the season was held in St. James Catholic Church when Mary Florence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Kennedy of Tuckersmith was united in marriage to August Ducharme. Miss Emily Kennedy was bridesmaid and Maurice Melady was groomsman. Miss Jean Murdock of Brucefield purchased a fine new Mason and Risch piano from a Stratford firm. J.W. Beattie of this town has a sow on his farm near Seaforth, that has a record all its own in the breeding line. On Sept. 10 she gave birth to seven pigs and twelve days later, gave birth to six more. Seaforth's Old Boys Reunion, Fireman's Tournament and Golden Anniversary has been assui€d for August, 1924. October 2, 1948 Mrs. Russell Coleman was hostess to about 100 guests when she entertained al a trousseau tea for her daughter hazel prior to her marriage. Extensive alterations to (he large frame building on John Street, owned by Dr. J. A. Munn and until recently used by John Bach for implement storage, are underway. Gordon Wright will occupy it for his cabinet making and furniture repair business. Mrs. John Carter of Hullett, celebrated her 87th birthday. Her daughters, Mrs. John Ferguson and Mrs. M. McKellar arranged a party in her honor. Howard Kerr, son of Mrs. James Kerr, Seaforth, recently opened Ryerson Institute of Technology. He is also Director of Technical Institutes in Ontario. Under new arrangement, Seaforth stores will close each week day, Monday through Friday, except Wednesday at 5 p.m. On Wednesday, closing time is 12:50 and on Saturday evenings it will be 9 p.m. Howard Storey of Winthrop has moved onto the farm recently purchased from Wm. How. 'Rev. D. Glenn Campbell was inducted into the pastorate of First Presbyterian Church. September 20, 1973 Following Monday afternoon's regular meeting of the Huron County Board of Education, the salary agreement for elementary teachers was handed out to the press. (Board members received 'theirs last week). The one-year contract calls for a seven per cent tectal increase in the overall.salary agreement ratified•by the Board and teachers in June. A complaint that school buses operated by the Huron County Board of .Education are being overloaded is being investigated by Board Officials. Sale of the property and good will of Kilbarchan Nursing Home on Church Street was announced this week. The new owner is Chadee Holdings Ltd. of Toronto. A crowd of more than 3,000 persons attended the tractor pulling contest Sunday afternoon sponsored by the Seaforth Agricultural Society. This is a new feature in conjunction with the fall fair. Jack Scott was honored at a dinner -dance Wednesday night on his retirement after serving 42 years as a fireman with the Seaforth Volunteer Fire Department and the last 22 years of that period as Fire Chief. The Huron County Board of Education at its meeting in Clinton , on . Monday afternoon approved the use of the venereal disease teaching kit in the teaching of health in the schools beginning with students in Grade 7.