HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1975-12-11, Page 25arnnuq:ot; w w ea+q.• • ,x ., e.^w,. .:.. ..,. ... «r.,w.. .vr qws }prti. w�pyN
minister of
rank. Hibor said right here in
is that he a do t #OW:
Qntari h be(leves
lie word
ti ih !kilt a the time to take
verent, decision
is n1 twistat is closed.
$hirley Kelt ,t editor of the Gederich
%gnat -Slat* wrote an eye-opening
edlictriat in that paper last week,
pointing out that many are deeply
irk concerned about the rumored closings
in Huron.
.That's: understandable in a com-
rn'.untty like Huron County." Mrs..
Keller writes. "where ' municipalities
have for Years functioned almost in-
dependent of each other and where
each of the five towns has a hospital
presently serving the needs of the
1 citizens in that area,"
Mrs. Keller, in her editorial, pointed
to an interview she had with Jack
Riddell, Member of the Provincial
Parliament for Huron -Middlesex, who
said he was, concerned that even
though he had no definite proof of any
hospitals in Huron were closing. any
suggestion: that some HMO hOSpitaJs,
namely, Clinton' •nd „ xetel, may
p
incus in that nurnber (i0e4 not seem.
IMMAittlef to, hi;,
Mr,#: tats the odr,ich paper
that there would' many, hardships
impOsed OA an the citizens is thou, areas.
where hospital*, would ;IMO
Riddell-said:that Huron is In, the snow
beat and emelncy travel in the
. winter. by nsity. needs ds to be the
shortest distancePassible.
Mr. Riddell also argues that many
retired lata reside in, Huron's towns
and he, feels they would seriously
inco-nv.ienced by having to travel long
distances to visit their loved ones
during an illness, Mr. Riddell gives an
example of an 85,year-old woman in
Exeter who would have to find tran-
sportation to . London to visit her 87 -
year -old husband.
And with figuresto support his
thinking. Mr. Riddell isn't convinced
the closing hospitals is the way to
effect savings on health costs in ' On-
tario. He points out that it may cost as
little as a day to maintain a patient
in a smaller .hospital, while the same
patient in a larger hospital would cost
$260 a day.
Mrs. Keller concludes that If the
Province should try to dose one or two
hospitals in Huron. it can expect a
deluge of .protest from this part of the
province. For Huron 'people have a way
of making themselves heard when the
chi ps are«d owin
;,Tl7K''Mr.AaliT!M: !Mt",r!":,y..y..*ry}+!il
y'er �S vident man
i eoPt•
May t say 'Thank You" fer
a real welcome hole: and the
special privilege of meeting
so many former classmtes.
and teachers at the Clinton
High School,
My sincere appreciation,
Mrs. Gordon MacFarlane
f nt*.e,B.erhice Lobb),
St. Thomas.
our te: est suo4eL steels, so • tt + lii;«.e y
ependeW
A family reunion
"And cousins by the dozens.." That line
from an old nursery rhyme or something
seemed to be the theme when the Thomson
clan held a family reunion at the' old
homestead, on a beautiful day in October.
There was a lot of kissing and hugging
(we're an emotional family.) i was bussed
and squeezed by a lot of middle-aged ladies
and trade up for it by heartily bussing and
squeezing a number of extremely bussable
and squeezeable nieces and daughters of
nephews and various other attractive
young hussies drifting about.
- Most people have been sucked in, at one
time or another, to a family reunion, It can
be a ghastly experience, or a joyful one.
This one fell into the latter category.
There was no mourning for the dead, only
a great sense of being alive, and the
pleasure of knowing that all these people, of
all shapes and ages, were blood kin, all
sprung from the fertile loins of one Walton
Thomson, an Irishman of Scottish ex-
traction, away back there in the 19th
century.
'Walter was prolific, and his sons were no
slouches either. One of thein. Mdttntain
J4Ck Thomson, a sometime scourge of the,
Ottawa Valley during the great lumbering.
days, had about 10 children by his first
wife, and when she died, married her sister
and produced another large family.
Another, William, after whom f was
named, sired 10 children. And there was the
last of them, my uncle Ivan, 84, dancing
around like a 30-ye'arold, welcoming all of
us with something close to tears of joy in his
eyes.
He's as handsome as always, slim as a
boy, blue eyes sparkling, wit bubbling,
Striding about as though heed never heard
of arthritis, A man of many talents, a
conservationist who plants trees lovingly. a
6 traveler whose next Letter might be from
New Zealand, an artist in working with
wood, a deep lover of nature and people,
and a concerned and loving patriarch of the
clan. -
It is my casual boast, and my brothers'
and sisters' grudging concession, that I
"take after him. ' 1 wish 1 did. He
remarried at 80 and has a three-year-old
grandson. Figure that one out. No way can
I match that.
He showed me thei room in the old brick
homestead, a fine house on a steep bluff
verTooking the Ottawa • River. the
edroolns in which my grandmother bore
the Iii children. No wonder she died sit, an
age when most modern women are just
getting their second wind, or their second
husband.
He showed me a picture of hi/aurally at
the dining table. At the head, my viand -
father, white halt andhuge curly heard. On
tae side, tour strapping sons, On the other
three daughters and two little ..sons,
and an empty place set for Emerson. a
maverick who was in the Klondyke when
the photo was taken. How would you like to
try to feed a mob like that in these days?
You'd be bankrupt in a week.
Another picture showed my Uncle Ivan
as the sole surviving member of the
Shawville Pontiacs, taken in the days when
hockey was deadly serious but played for
fun, and Shaawville used to journey by
sleigh to take on the stalwarts of Renfrew
and Pembroke.
Perhaps sadly, there was no living to be
made for huge families on the barren land
of Calumet Island; and the tribe dispersed,
some of the boys joining the great exodus to
The West, the El Dorado of those days.
They were honest, hard-working, good-
looking, gregarious people. But it wasn't
enough. They established themselves and
worked like slaves to build something.
Then came the Depression.
And they suffered. Boy, how they suf-
fered! All of Canada took it in the neck, but
the prairie farmers took it in the neck and
in the guts and in various other parts of the,
anatomy.
Most of my uncles went through The`
Great War. Many of their sons went
through World War II. Some didn't come
back.
Things picked up. Some of them even
made a decent living before they died.
Their children are moderately . well off.
middle-class people; with warm hearts and
no pretensions.
But they're fiercely proud of being
Thomsons. (And don't ever try to spell it
with a "p," We have no truck with the poor
white trash Thompsons with a "p.")
And there we were, cousins by the
dozens. on the lawn of the 103 -year-old
"homestead," looking out over the Ottawa
River. where Grandfather had been a slide -
master in the lumbering days, and
Mountain Jack, his brother, had been a
"scrapper" known throughout the Valley
for his fists and feet, in the days when cops
were few and far between. and a man was a
man, or else.
A gang had flown in from Saskatoon.
Others had come from the States. It took
me 15 hours driving to get there and back.
And I wouldn't have missed it for the
world, I hope some of the young ones got
the sense of pride and family that I did.
There wasn't a millionaire present.
There wasn't a famous person present. But
there they were, salt of the earth, backbone
of Canada, a lively, loquacious, witty lot,
and f was glad to be one of therm
Social footnote to Westerners. ll+fy first
cousin, JaClet'h;orrison, and his wife Louise,
of Saskator ki, were not, respectively, in
their .uttderrear and nightgown„,as ey
were i}it time 1 met them„ scou' le of
years' akio in Germany.
No questions
A brief reunion this week . with Annis Stukus, who ex-
celled, improbably enough, as both a football coach and a
newspaperman, reminded me ofthe message to Garcia
which my father used to feed to me as regularly as other
old-fashioned parents fed their children sulphur -and -
molasses.
I'm asamed to say that I recall neither the locale nor any
of the details of that story except, that the messenger.
whoever he was, got the message. whatever it was, to
Garcia, ..whoever he was, against hairy odds and with a
dedication that was downright fanatical. ,
My father used to ad lib and embellish the yarn as aguide
to the quality of determination which he probably felt was a
shortcoming in a son so locked in the iron mask of shyness.
I don't know if it did much good, but somehow. even
today, when I'm faced with a job or a problem that seems
insoluble I tend to think of it as a message to Garcia.
I'll get back to Stukus in a minute. First, I have to say that
I agree with the widely -held view that self-determination,
like self-employment, is on -the wane.
The consolidation of business ate industry and the growth
of t. a labor movement have e1e- .lir' !united the individual's
enterprise and, I fear, have diminished his enthusiasm and
initiative.
My brief whirl in the editor's desk confirmed that.
Looking back on it now I think the real reason I was glad to
get out'was that I couldn't bear the cool climate of apathy
that seems so common now.
I believed, as Thomas Wolfe once wrote, that newspaper
writing should boil and bubble and in the bland atmosphere
of the Organization Man I felt curiously old-fashioned and
embarrassed. For every person who seized on an idea with
a glad cry of joy and zeal there were 10 who wanted to
examine it cautiously under a microscope, to discuss it in
committee and establish it as unpractical.
In a world in which the first reaction ea a brain -wave was
to wonder what it would cost in over -time I was clearly a
lost lamb.
So. when It seemed an uncommonly brilliant conception
to have a football writer look at Formosa, which then
-threatened to hot -up the cold war. I felt again the chilly
water poured from a great height.
The theory was that readers should know more about this
situation, that the best means to that end was to send a man
who would give them a jolt of identification.
1 brought the idea forth. There it lay, curled up and dying,
in the face of polite and logical appraisal. Only sheer per-
versity kept nae from giving it the last rites.
I still think of the three-minute interview with that big,
uncomplicated man as the most refreshing moments of my
short, disastrous career in an executive capacity.
Stuke is such a talker that they call him "The Loquacious
Lithuanian." But when the chips 'were down, I never met a
man.with fewer or better -chosen words.
"We`dlike you to go over toF'ormasaaa!and tell us.what you
see there," I said, still trying to retain some confidence in,
the idea. "Great!" said Stukus. "I'll make the
arrangements this afternoon.
That was about the extent of our discussion. As I ex-
pected. Stukus delivered the message to Garcia. I wasn't at
all surprised that he ended up across a desk from the late
Chiang Kai-shek or that his reports were clear and in-
telligent accounts that surely gave some readers a new
awareness of a trouble spot that might affect their lives.
For myself. 1 think it was the first time I'd' really un-
derstood what my father was getting at in his story -telling.
Dear Editor:
Please tell your readers of
my plea for used postage
stamps,
Especially at Christmas
time, I think of all the used
postage stamps that are
needlessly discarded. These
seemingly worthless articles.
from any country. are sold in
bulk by the Scarboro Fathers,
to stamp dealers. to help
finance mission projects
throughout the world,
In 10 months, 1 have
received over 100 pounds of
cancelled postage stamps, in
small quantities, in very
-large quantities. from
schools. service clubs.
companies, • individuals etc.
They add up quickly if
everyone collects them for
me.
It hardly takes a second to
rip the used postage stamps
off of an envelope leaving a
bit of paper around it.
This can be YOUR way of
helping the world" s poor
without -costing YOU a lot of
time or money..
.�ylease' tend Thy "third
class" mail) or bring all your
cancelled postage stamps,
anytime of the year to: Mrs.
R. M. Chmay, 230 Jarvis
Street, Fort Erie, Ontario, or
Mrs. J. C. Lawrence, 6782
Dorchester Road, Niagara
Falls. Ontario.
Thank you,
R. M. Chmay.
10 YEARS AGO
December 9, 1995
Billy Brown, three-year-old
and convalescing in the Honolulu
Queen's Hospital in Haw.vaii has
become something of a celebrity
on the island, and has received
the .attention of the camet4 men
and photographers on both the
Advertisers and the Star Bulletin
- daily papers in Honolulu. Billy's
mother. the former Jane Wood,
Clinton, had to leave him in
Honolulu while she went on with
three other children to New
Zealand to join his father. He has
been in hospital since November
18. '
Clinton and area persons were
briefed on a recommendation by
a team of Canadian National
Railway officials last Thursday
evening, that passenger service
from Goderich to Stratford be
terminated. Some years ago
passenger service on the route to
London was stopped. The tine via
Strntt'Ord to Toronto has con-
tinued. Keith Hunt, manager of
all CN services, Southwestern
Ontario, replied that work would
be reduced, and this could mean
fewer men, and possibly the
station would be closed in 1966 or
1957.
Six more Huron County am-
bulances are going Out of service
as of next Wednesday. December
15. Ball and butch, n Beattie.
here in Clint° , at Blyth.,
Stiles and Lodge at Goderich and
the , Arthur Funeral Home at
Auburn have announced their
decision to withdraw this service.
Douglas Bali of ,Ball and Mulch
reports a decline in revenues and
the difficulty, of getting payment
for calls as being the main reason
for ceasing.
1 wo Huron County young
people were among 200 students
who received bursaries, prizes
and Scholarships last Thursday
night at, Waterloo Lutheran
University., Murray Hunter.
Lucknow. was a winner of an
AT, A. Trbcking Industry
Educational Foundation bursary.
Mr. Hunter and Linda K. Coulte. s,
Belgrave were also awarded
Huron County Bursaries.
Clinton merchants and service
clubs don't go for the modern
trend of btiftgiog Sent* Claus to
town in jets or parachutes... they
used Joint Jetfery's steam engine
from Goderich. The old engine
drew Santa and his 'reindeers on a
float during the snow storm
Saturday afternoon.
'Murray Holmes and Mrs.
George McGee. each wan 6100
when the Red and White cash
cards they held turned out to be
worth .$100. Corrie's Red and
White Foodrnaster gave away.
hundreds of dollars in the
promotion.
Gayle Turner. daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Turner. was a
member oaf the graduating class
of Registered Nursing Assistants
from South Huron Hospital in
Exeter last Friday.
25 YEARS AGO
December 7. 1950
"What are your polities. neigh-
bour?"
"Wal. stranger. politics is
kinder mixed up here at our
place. I'M a Liberal. the old lady
is a Conservative, the baby is wet
and the cow is dry."
Clinton Town Council' held its
December meeting in the Council
Chamber Monday evening with
all members and Mayor R.Y.
Hattin presiding. At the close of
the meeting, Mayor Ha ;tin paved
the way for the 1950 council
metnbers to express their
aspirations for 1951. by stating
his intention to stand again for
election as Mayor unless some
other present members desires to
Step up. He has been mayor in
1949-S0.
The induction of the Reverend
Webb into the parish of
Trinity. Bayfield St. James.
Middleton. and St. John's
Church, Varna was held• 4n
Trinity Church on Wednesday of
last week and despite the in-
clemency of the weather,. there
was a goad attendance for this
impressti a ceremony.
Frank Fingland Jr. has
-.returned to his studies irl Toronto
after a week spent in New York
and at 'Lake Success whore he
met and heard several orf the
United Nations delegates.
Air Force Headquarters has
announced the pi~emotion of ` Wing
Commander H.R. Patrick. ORF,
IS. head of the, RCAF's Reserve
No. 1 Radar and Comtnuni'cation
Unit. Montreal. harmer Coni-
manding Officer of RCAF Station
Clinton, to the rank of Group
Captain. The promotion is ef-
fective immediately. ,
The candidate for re-election
stopped his automobile in front of
the farmhouse, and addressed
tie old farmer who was sitting
under the apple tree.
50 YEARS AGO
December 10. 1925
D.R.O.'s and Poll Clerks for the
coming municipal election have
been chosen as follows: G.E.
Saville. Guy Hicks. A.F Cud -
more. W.3 Cook. F.G. Courtice,
J.B. Levis. S.J. Andrews. M.D.
Cameron.
Mrs. David Steep picked
.,pansies in her garden the other
day.
Mr. and Mrs. A.J. McMurray
are moving to Harriston where
the former has been named block
man for International Harvester
Co.
James Snell, one of the
County's best-known sheep
breeders. died this week. Sur-
viving as well as his wife. the
former Jane Ellcoat. are four
sone William. Howard. Hum-
phrey. and Epht'aim: and one
daughter. Miss Mary.
Prof JC McLennan of the
Toronto University. a former
Clinton boy. was connected with
the discovery of helium at
Inglewood. Peel County.
Clinton Town Council passed a
bylaw to provide funds for the
erection of a Collegiate Institute
Building at a cost of $80.000.
debentures to be payable in thirty
years -
Eggs on local market 36c to 60c
to lave hogs. 511.75.
75 YEARS AGO
December 7. 1900
The following parties are
putting in telephones - S.H.
Smith. R. McLennan. nnan. Thos.
McKenzie. A.J. Crealey. and
Rev Father McMenamin.
The first concert in the
Metropolitan course was given 'in
the Town .Hall by the Patricoto
Grand Concert Company and was
undoubtedly the finest en-
tertainment ever given an Clin-
ton The members of the Com-
pany won the audience from the
start. This course is under the
titaabagement of C.C. Rance, who
is to be congratulated on the high
character of the entertainment
provided, and whose efforts to
supply nothing but the very, best
should be, appreciated by the
people.
John Ireland has disposed of
his milk- business to Fred Lock-
wo&I. and has not jet decided
What he will do. Mr. Lockwood is
well . known as a steady in-
dustrious citizen of the town. rn
whom perfect confidence can be
placed and will give careful at -
tention 10 his business.
Charlie Holmes has been ap-
pointed assistant G.T.R. agent
tat Tavistock. a position that he is
Well qualified for. He is a son of
Harry S. Holmes. G.T.R. agent of
Acton. who got his early training
in railroad duties at Clinton
station. Harry is a son of the
veteran Dan Holmes, formerly of
GoderiCh now living retired at
Leamington, but for many years
well-known G.T.R. conductor.
who had the honour of taking the
first passenger train into
Goderich. The railroad business
apparently runsin this family.
Markets for this week were:
fall wheat. 60c . oats. 26r. butter,
16c. eggs. 14c to 15c. ,pork. live,
55.50
The Jackson Manufacturing
Co. - This is the title of a new firm
composed of -Messrs. William and
Thomas Jackson: who iri addition
to their extensive business under
the name of Jackson Bros.,
commence the new century with
the manufacture for the
wholesale trade. of children's and
boys' Clothing. and later on will
add a special tine in men's suits.
We have always maintained
that Senator McMillan is one of
the few Michigan statesmen who
can push an office seeker out of a
tenth story window and make
him believe he went down the
elevator. (researched by Michele
Flowers)
Member. Ontario Weekly
`eu:%piper .10019ctaattrian
The Clinton ws-Reenrd is published
each Thursday at Clinton Ontaariia, Canada
It is registered as second class main by the
post office under liars permit wurriber 1*t7
The Nevis -Record incorporated 'trr !1924 the
Huron News -Record, founded in idiot, and
the Clinton New Era, founded in itoNS Total
ctarestls'tioitts 2.7411.
dito James ,. Figeraid
J v flsing dir ee o r -/+miry L. Haiti
'Newt
Vi}�i" 1t i ftOitr - .t. Howard Aitken
• Newtq sty fi rbey Clark