HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-11-05, Page 13HEAR OF ST. JOSEPH HISTORY — Historian and educator J.L. Wooden was•the guest speaker at Tues-
day's annual meeting of the Huron Historical Society. His topic was the history of St. Joseph. From the
left are Mr. Wooden, president Isabel Theedom and secretary -treasurer Doris Batkin, both of Clinton
and past president Joe .Hogan, Exeter. T -A photo
History of St. Joseph outlined
at Huron Historical meeting
The history of French Canadian set-
tlers in Huron county and at St.
Joseph in particular was outlined at
Tuesday's meeting of the Huron
Historical Society.
Central Huron Secondary School
principal J.L. Wooden was the guest
speaker and traced the history of the
first settlers from Quebec to the
Huron District in 1846.
Three men with surnames of
Gelinas, Bedard and Durand came to
this area in 1830 and convinced a
number of families to move to the
wilderness of Huron county.
They cameby boat from Montreal
to Hamilton and from there walked to
Stratford. a trip that took two weeks.
Most came because of poverty in
Quebec.
In 1846, thl Huron District popula-
tion was only 8,000. Now it stand at
about 55,000.
Wooden said French Canadians are
not as identifiable as they once were.
He added, "I don't know of very many
under the age of 50 years who speak
their original language."
He continued, "Now the most iden-
tifiable ethnic group is the Dutch. But,
these identifications have a tendency
to break down.
Narcisse Cantin was known as the
character in the establishment in 1890
and dreamed up a variety of schemes
which never became a reality.
By MARY CHESSELL
Margaret and Bob Reid had the
pleasure on October 30 of attending
the 247th Convocation of the Univer-
sity of Western Ontario where they
witnessed their daughter Cheryl
receive her Master's Degree in
Library Science.
Dorothy Ostrpm has purchased a
home in the village of Varna from
Lorne Tyndall and will soon be mov-
ing in. Jim and Tammy Sparling, who
have been living in the Tyndall house,
haveboughtDorothy's farm.
Anniversary'
The Jefferson family gathered in
Fullarton township hall on Saturday
evening to celebrate Bill and Mary
Chessell's fortieth wedding anniver-
sary and present them with a
beautiful swag lamp. Their atten-
dants, Homer and Burnie Andrews of
Clinton, treated them to dinner at the
Black Angus on Thursday evening.
The Chessells have really enjoyed
these smaller parties, as they have a
good visit w4th each and every one.
The Remembrance Day service
will be held at the Cenotaph in Varna
.on Sunday at 10:45 following the
church service. The Discipleship,
Groups will meet at Goshen Church
this week at 7:30 on Thursday.
READY TO TRAVEL — Melissa O'Brien and'John Gregus are ready
for a train ride with engineer Adam Little at Thursday's Hallowe'en
party of the Sunshine Kids Nursery School. T -A photo
Zurich bowling
Monday Night Ladies
O&E B. Bierling 721
GG J. Bailey 665 •
DP M. Becker 546
JS M. Sweitzer 576
PP J. Fisher 723
S P. Miller 669
RI) S. Dicker( 6:39
P M. Kraft 598
AO D. Thiel 554
T&(' 1. Reid 579
HG 8. Stade 551
BB B. ltegier 475
IIA S. Dickert 234
HS S. Dickert 425
HT S. Dickert 839
Tuesday (;rand Cove
Tom Duggan 497
Norm Wilde 590
Mary Wallen 441
Geo. Anderson 537
115 Syd 'Phomas 205
22
35
28
4
40
24
45
18
33
45
35
7
Tuesday Afternoon ('AP (:roup
Rick McCann 89
Wayne Duke 84
Jeff Dekort 106
Tom Masse 140
Bill Smith 42
David Fox 76
11(' W. Mawson 129
Donna .tones 173
'Tuesday Nile Men's League
N(' Jim Smith 698
13 Ron Dickert 700
T Carl Zimmer 608
B Wayne Cerny 582
K Jack Fuller 746
NT Rick Miles 604
FA 011ie Edwards 615
BS Wayne Schilhe 700
D11 E. Guenther 552
K Tom Smiths 691
P George Coyle 679
11 John Smits 589
Wednesday Morning Ladies
Peggy Ferguson 405
Betty Smith 606
Vicki Horbaniuk 604
Phylis Laughton 477
Helen Wasnidge 500
Dorothy Kipfer 583
HC Vicki Horbaniuk 247
Wednesday Nite 1.adies' League
GG Chris. Weiss 620
BJ Cathy Rupert 575
G&C Dale Ridley 648
S Linda Webber 68:3
DS Tammi .Jennison 565
GB Jean Dann 663
Thursday Morn (.rand Cove
Bert 1,0w 633
Olga Keay 493
Norma Low 595
Ted I)ay 487
Jim Girling 475
HS Bert Low 275
HS Norma Low 232
Thursday Nite Mixed League
D Leroy Melocke 593
GT B. Martens 553
(' Doreen Datars 535
SP Kathy Hayter 645
AT Frank Palen 538
I3 Gary Huston 639
Saturday Ladies Interlown
L Marg Young 622 5
Z1 June Fisher 624 2
M Cathy Stanhury 780 5
1.3 Betty Datars 713 1
Z2 Bev Bierling 608 2
G Del Mitchelmore 625 5
These included building a canal
from Port Burwell to St. Joseph to
take advantage of an underground
waterway which he believed existed.
Cantin had laid out plans for a large
St. Joseph community. He built a
spacious hotel, but, Wooden said it
never actually opened. The only part
of the hotel completed was an 80 foot
long bar to which he brought prospec-
tive investors in his projects.
Wooden's summation of Narcisse
Cantin was, "He was a real promoter,
but, none of his dreams ever became
reality. Through his efforts St. Joseph
has become a fascinating little
• corner."
Brother Andre of Montreal was a
particularly good friend of Cantin's
and made three trips to St. Joseph.
Napoleon Cantin, a son of Narcisse
spends his summers at St. Joseph
and is pleased to show his museum to
visitors.
When speaking of Huron's present
population Wooden said, "Close to 20
percent of our town and village
residents are over the age of 65. The
provincial average is nine present."
According to Wooden, English
Canada has retained a close relation-
ship with its -source, but French Cana-
dians cast theirs aside early. That
makes them quite different. They are
really more North American than
most.
Huron's ethnic ties are reflected in
place and family names. Wooden said
'mosLof the ethnic patterns have been
all but obliterated by mass culture.
He referred to the Devon and Cor-
nwall speech patterns in the Exeter
area and German speaking in and
around Dashwood which have vir-
tually disappeared.
Isabel Theedom of Clinton is presi-
dent of the Huron Historical Society
and was chairman for Tuesday's
meeting at the Brucefield United
Church.
Keith Roulston, RR 3, Blyth and
Margaret McClure, Crediton are vice-
president; Joe Hogan, Exeter is past
president and Doris Batkin, Clinton
handles the duties of secretary -
treasurer.
Auxiliary of
Legion meets
The Ladies Auxiliary to the R.E.
Pooley Exeter Branch 167 Royal
Canadian Legion held their regular
meeting October 27 with 41 members
present.
President Esther Hillman chaired
the meeting.
Dave Kenney, London was the win-
ner of the 50-50 draw for September
and Gerald Lawson for October. Lin-
da Webber won the mystery prize.
Zone Commander Mary Hawn of
Kincardine made her official visit.
She reported on some of the highlights
of the Bi Annual Convention held in
Windsor, Ontario in September.
President Hillman and First Vice
President Shirley Smith attended this
Convention.
Donations of $100 each were made
to the Salvation Army in support of
the Third World and the Exeter Group
Home for the Mentally Handicapped;
$75 to the Recreation Centre for free
skating and $50 each to Survival
Through Friendship and the Huron
Day Centre.
Kathy Hirtzel was the recipient of
the Legion Ladies Auxiliary Bursary.
Plans were made to play bingo with
the residents of the Exeter Villa.
Lynda Parkinson's team placed
first and Marion Frayne's team plac-
ed third in Zone euchre in Blyth
September 27 advancing to District
euchre in Wingham.
Three teams took part in Zone crib-
bage in Brussels October 18; Marion
Frayne's team placing first, Marg
Medley's team second. and Lynda
Parkinson's team third. These three
teams advance to District cribbage in
Tara Saturday, November 15.
Zone bowling will be held in Clinton
Saturday, November 8.
Upcoming banquets were planned.
Legion Children Christmas Party is
planned for Sunday, December rand
the Auxiliary Christmas Party for
Monday, December 8.
November is the month to
remember. Auxiliary members are
invited to attend the Remembrance
I)ay Parade on Sunday, November 9
at 10:15 a.m. sharp.
Lunch and birthday cake was serv-
ed at the conclusion of the meeting.
Next general meeting is Monday,
November 24 at 8:30 p.m.
Now 75 years in Huron Times -Advocate, November 5, 1986
Page 13
Family Children's Services celebrate
A birthdayparty was held at the
Stanley township complex in Varna
Wednesday night to celebrate 75
years of Family and Childrens Ser-
vices in Huron County.
Present executive director of the
organization John Penn was chair-
man for the evening and he told the
large audience, "The speeches will be
short, we are here to celebrate and
have fun."
Entertainment was provided by a
mixed choir of 120 students from
Robertson elementary school in
Goderich and the No Notes, a group
of older entertainers.
The birthday cake was cut by board
of directors president Audrey Royal
and Clare McGowan who was a social
worker and director for 25 years. She
retired in 1971.
Miss McGowan drew laughter when
she posed the question, "What on
earth does a Local director do with his
time?
She went on to sort of give the
answer by presenting six requisites of
a director or social worker.
These included "I must be
available, take time to listen, let peo-
ple know you care, do not promise'
anything you can't carry out, be loyal
to the confidence of the clients, be
loyal to yourself and the board of
directors.
She concluded by saying, "I had the
best staff possible. They were loyal to
me and each other. The volunteers
and foster parents were super. They
were willing to go the second mile".
In addition to McGowan other
former directors speaking briefly
were Bruce Heath, Jim Cargin and
Jack Finlay. Lorraine Brophy
represented the Foster Parents
Association and warden Leona Arm-
strong brought greetings from the
county of Huron.
Director John Penn said there are
now 60 children in the care of Family
and Childrens Services with 48
families available.
Penn said the number of children is
lower now then in the early 1970's
when the figure was as high as 120.
He explained the drop by saying,
"We are now spending more money
on trying to keep families together.
We have programs in parent training
and adolescent support groups to do
that".
While the agency was once largely
funded through voluntary donations,
it is now funded 80 percent by the pro-
vincial government which lends to a
greater continuity of care throughout
the province.
Just as it is no longer acceptable for
children to be separated from their
parents because of economic reasons,
Penn says society believes it is less
and less acceptable for child abuse to
happen.
Penn added, "I think society is
much more protective of kids these
days. Twenty years ago, people were
reluctant to become involved in child
abuse cases, but they're not as
tolerant of that stuff as they used to
be."
Asking for help has also become
more acceptable since the majority of
families working with the agency
have requested that help.
•-•4-.•• •-
NURSERY SCHOOL DRAW — Drawing outthe winners in Thursday's draw sponsored by the Sunshine
Kids Nursery School are Jackie Dougall, Michael Siep, Katrina Snedden, Bradley Van Bakel and Adam
Whiting. The winners were John Smithers, Elsie McDonald, Erin Coward, Christine Kennedy and Bob
Restemayer. T -A photo
Near Trivitt Church
Ask for sidewalk repairs
A delegation from Trivitt Memorial
Church appeared before Exeter coun-
cil Monday, to back up a letter sent
from the church asking for some
repairs to the street and sidewalk on
Baldwin St. because three of the en-
trances to the new addition front on
that street.
The letter from wardens Audrey
Bentley and John Heslinga explained
that the town has failed to maintain
the street properly for "many years
now" and it and the sidewalks have
fallen into disrepair.
It was noted that shortly after the
church was erected by Thomas
Trivitt, the land along the north side
of the church was deeded to the town
by Bishop Baldwin "on the condition
the town maintain it as a public
thoroughfare".
The church also asked that the
sidewalk along Baldwin St. be extend-
ed to join with Andrew.
Heslinga was accompanied by
three other church members to coun-
cil's session and it was pointed out by
Councillor Ben Hoogenboom that the
church would have to pay half the cost
of installing sidewalk where there is
none at the present to join Andrew.
Heslinga said he felt the church
would be prepared to discuss that
possibility.
Public works committee chairman
Lossy Fuller also noted that all the
funds for sidewalks had been expend-
ed this year and the project would
have to be considered for some future
date along with other areas that will
be pinpointed in a needs study on
rdads and sidewalks which will be
presented tote committee next
week.
"It will have considerable
thought," Reeve Bill Mickle assured
the delegation.
Florence Genttner asked if the pre-
sent deteriorated sidewalk could be
taken out and levelledfor the upcom-
ing winter months and works
superintendent Glen Kells said he saw
no reason why that couldn't be done,
but warned that a gravel walk can be
messy in the winter.
Before leaving with the assurance
the matter would be discussed at next
week's public works committee ses-
sion, Heslinga indicated council
would be invited to an open house of
the new addition in the new year.
That prompted Hoogenboom to ask
if council members would be ex-
pected to walk along Baldwin St. to
get to the event.
HARD TO GRAB — Exeter Fair
homecraft president Barb
Passmore has problems in Thurs-
day's Midnight Madness apple
biting contest. T -A photo
New well for cemetery?
A new drilled well is being con-
sidered for the residence at the Ex-
eter cemetery, the board reported to
council in a letter marked "for your
information" this week.
Following the last meeting of the
board, a similar report on activities
was presented and council ended up
not accepting the report due to their
concern over hiring practices outlin-
ed at that time by the board.
The recent communication noted
that the board members had review-
ed bylaws and resolutions approved
when the board was established in the
1930s.
At their October meeting, the board
said they felt they were operating
under the mandate set down by coun-
cil, administering a town department
efficiently and using a minimum of
tax dollars.
"The board felt the operation
should remain as is," the communica-
tion concluded.
Consideration for a new drilled well
was undertaken after superintendent
H. Knip elaborated on the present
contaminated water supply and how
that water caused lingering illness in
his children.
A letter from the Huron County
health unit was also attached noting
that a sample of water taken on Oc-
tober '1 had unsatisfactory results
with a high presence of coliforms and
mgwemieslawsetalloalalIN aINMIrli11111laEll InIIIIll■li
faecal coliform.
Public health inspector J. M. Orr
strongly recommended that water
from the present well not be consum-
ed without boiling or treatment. He
said a chlorinator or ultraviolet water
sanitizer may make the supply safe,
but added that a drilled well would be
less prevalent to contamination than
the present supply.
Board members considered a
chlorinator or ultraviolet sanitizer as
"bandaid remedies" and instructed
the superintendent to get two quotes
on installing a drilled well and that
the cost be taken from the reserve
fund set up five years ago for
cemetery expansion.
The board also reported that old
survey stakes were located and
shown to surveyors who agreed to
change the recent survey on the
Whiting property to the east of the
cemetery. The boundary line is now
located about one foot from the
greenhouse buildings, not through the
middle as had been established before
the old stakes were found. The board
expressed no interest in purchasing
any of the Whiting property.
It was noted that the winter storage
rate for the mausoleum had been
lowered to $40 "to be competitive with
other cemeteries as no storage ren-
tals took place last winter". The
previous rate was $70.
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