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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1956-12-06, Page 1e na sow lot h Year—No. 48 GODERICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, DECEMR]R 6th, 1956 $nbeiwiptiwrstiarieS43-6909 Single + opies7 TWO MUNICIPAL VETERANS SEEK MAYORALTY • ' ►'' itztztc'►"sa's ,.L.wi tMi'W" r iit{tcti +a ' faitAV fi CECWW toCiit Flames from the burning British Exchange Hotel shot so high into the, ale that • their reflection could be seen for as far away as 25 miles. Here is shown the fire at its peak in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The entire` ,interior of the building was gutted with only part of the walls left standing. —Photo by Gordon Henderson MEAT YOU EAT IN GODERICH Three bedies have been recovered so far from the ruins of the British Exchange Hotel. It is thought this is the total number but the possibility still remains that others would be found after the debris is sifted. The above photo' shows one of the bodies, covered by canvass, being lowered to the street about 8.30 Ja.m. on Tuesday. Fierce Fire Razes British Exchange; Three Lives Lost In The Holocaust The Ontario Fire Marshal's office is conducting an intensive investi- gation into the $70,000 mystery blaze which razed the British Ex, change Hotel, snuffing out three lives early Tuesday morning. An inquest will be held at the Goderich Town Hall on- Friday December 14, into the death of Harley Phillips, 3 year-old Ash- field Township farmer, whose ,body was found in a second -storey room in the South street side of the old hotel. In the same room fire- men found the bodies of two Gede- rich men, John Willard Spain, 30, a con.etructinn worker; and Donald B. Littlechild, 29, a sailor. Fir° Chief .1. J. • Hogarth says he has heard reports that two hotel guests are still unaccounted for. but he and Coroner Dr. N. C. Jackson doubt that anyone else -died in the raging inferno. A 64 -year-old carpenter, who •couldn't get to sleep, may have saved the lives of nearly 30 guests who fled in their night clothes or were rescued by firemen. Tames (Dinty) Moore, of Clinton, kicked the doors and pounded the walls to arouse other guests after he smelled smoke. Minutes after most guests had ma -de their way to safety, the an- cient building was t,enapletely en- gulfed in roaring flames. First discovered at 3 a.m., the fire had eompletely gutted the hotel by 4 am., just one hour later. Reflec tion of the fire was seen 30 miles away. I ong a Goderich landmark, the building was about 115 year~ old Thanks partly -to a thick fire wr'l and the fact there was very litt'e wind, firemen were able to save adjoining shops and apartments on the Square. Furniture was moved out of Art George's home on South street, but the George residence was saved from the flames, too. Partly Insured The hotel was only partly in- sured, said Harry Levine, who pur- chased it from Mike Ra'batich last October 10. -coincidentally, Mr. Rabatich, who moved to Be'amsville recently, returned to Goderich the dare before the 'fire. Tuesday morn- ing, he stood in the street, viewing the burned -out shell that was once his property. Requiem mass for .Tohn Willard Spain was celebrated this morning in St.. Peter's Raman Catholic church. Funeral services for Har- ley Phillips and Donald B. Little - (Continued on .Page 6) A total of 2,120 head of live- stock •,was slaughtered in local abattoirs during the 1O -month period from January 1 to October 31 of this, year. Fig- ures, compiled from, the re- ports of the meatinspector, have just been released by JCaunei:llorFrank Walkom, chairman of Town Council's .special committee. The total has been broken down as follows: pork 1,167, beef 735, veal 119 and lamb 99. Of the total, 440 animals were killed for district fanners. There were 244 parts re- jected by the inspector. Only eight complete oarcasses were rejected. O 0 0 Acclamation In West Wawanosh And In Ashfield Acclamations weregiven the township councils of Ashfield, West Wawanosh and Colborne. The Colborne council is given elsewhere in [this issue. Follow- ing are the other two township councils given acclamations: - Ashfield REEVE—Cecil Blake (acct). COUNCIL —Donald MacKenzie, Tom Howard, John Bradley, An- dr'Ritchie (aecls,).. SCHOOL TRUSTEES Roderick McKenzie, Hugh Ma•wtiinney,• Reu- ben Wilson (acres..). West Wawanosh REEVE --John S. Durnin (acct.). OOUNCIL—Eldon Miller, Lorne Durnin, Orville McPhee, Harvey Culbert (accls.). PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEES— William Webster, Wallace Miller (accls.). Elected Following are those elected in contests held at Clinton, Blyth, Hensall and Lucknow: Clinton REEVE --Burton Stanley (443), Melvin Crieh (345), PUC (+two elected for trwa �years)_��, tt�>�� .and•...g�a�es .. .. , 4.#n ..�'%ric'1 y.�} Vi.. .y Y Garon (372); ' Hugh°1 Iaivv�kins �` 97)',4" 4J , and Donald Symons (216).. Blyth COUNCIL (four elected) — Gor- don Elliott (266), Borden .Cook (238), Donald Howes (234), Seott Fairservice (226), George Radford (141), Fred Howson (118), Cecil Wheeler (88). SCHOOL BOARD (three elected) --Frank Elliott (220), Grover Clare (182), Mrs. Franklin Bainton (169), almost definitely be .counted on Mrs. Jack McDougall (143), Walter Buttle (138). Hensel! COUNCIL (four elected) — John Henderson (184), Lorne Luker (166), Gordon Schwalm (164), James Sangster (115), David Sang- ster (114), Harry Hoy (103). Lucknow RF)FVE George W. Joynt (221), Alex W. Hamilton (209). O 0• o 1 a CHRISTMAS SHOPPING The pages of this week's issue of The Signal -Star are loaded with Christmas gift suggestions. Make your Christ- mas shopping eas- ier. Sit down NOW and check through the ad- vertisements of merchants, keep- ing in mind what you are looking for and for whom. You'll be, agreeably surprised save you time and money. ISSUE how "newspaper shopping" can CU- -ME Q i u - at tZta - •-M IMMI- ZEZEC EI Christmas Lighting Contest Offers Prizes Details of a community- wide Christmas Lighting Con- test were announced today by the beautification committee of Goderich Junior Chamber of Commerce. The contest has been de- signed to spread the Christmas spirit and maintain [Goderich's reputation as "the prettiest town in Canada," said a Jaycee spokesman. A grand prize of $25 is being offered for the best home or apartment display. It will not be necessary for judges to enter the residences. They will award points only on the basis of how each dis- play looks ,from the street. A suitable plaque will be presented to the retail firm which has the best window and outside .display of Christ- mas lighting. There will be a - separate award for service --sta- printed elsewhere in this issue of the Signal -Star. Entries should be post -marked -• not later than December 14. Retail establishments do not require an entry blank. The spokesman added: "The entries will be judged during the Week of December 17 to 22, the week prior to Christ- mas. The judging will take place during the hours of 6.30 to 11 p.m." In the judging, points will be awarded 'for general artistic effect, originality, ingenuity in utilizing surrounding✓ and con- formity to the Christmas spirit - In announcing the contest, the spokesman said, "The com- munity will receive many bene- fits from an all-out effort to decorate homes, apartments and business establishments. The contest will provide plea- sure for Everyone ,pa4ti.cipatt Ling, and -.will help beautify, our Winter Storage FIeetTo Be At Least 19 Boats With a fleet of 19 boats that can Jobless Fewer A` , This Time bogie. The John Enccson pulled out of Goderich Harbor Wednes- day evening for the Head of the now, and the possibility of even more, Goderich harbor will have the largest winter storage fleet in 1956.57 since the record year of 1928-29 When there was a total of 22 boats. Much depends on the weather as to the definite size of the winter storage fleet here. Last year, the winter season of 1955-56, there were 12 boats and in 1954-55 there were 17 boats. For the Upper Lakes and St. Lawrence Transportation Company I Limited there are already four baa-ges, loaded with grain, lying up here. They are the Bryn, The j Holley, The "137" and The Glen - Than Last Year Though the number of unem- I ployed persons in the Goderich area rose during November, the total is still 51 lower than last year at the same stage. Figures as at November 30 have just been re- leased by Goderich office of the National Employment Service. The office services Most of •Huron County. In •Goderich during November. 15 men were called back to work following a lay-off at one of the town's larger industries. Several others who were laid off earlier have taken employment elsewhere. For Jthe 'whole area, the number of jobless persons rose by 64 to 281 during the month. At this time last year, there were 332 out of work. Of those currently seeking em- ployment, 212 are men and 69 are women. Included in the total are 27 war veterans. The Goderich NES office will re- main open on Boxing Day this year. o --- o -'o WEATHER SIGNq Herb. Such doesn't know whethee sls a sign of a mild winter or not, but he observed two robins flying around the house on Wednes- day. Both birds looked sleek and chipper, he c.tpu..s. REEVE HAS, RECOVERED , Reeve J. ISL Graham has been discharged from Alexandra '.Marine and General Hospital today following recovery from a brief illness. Early Monday evening he had dinner at a local hotel and 'w''hen he did not feel so well, returned to his home on South street. That evening he went to hos- pital and has since recovered - n- --_ -- n - -- 0 In the report . of ,the Hullin- Young wedding appearing in last week's issue, the marriage took place at. Trenton, Ontario, and not Clinton, as .stated. Lakes and counts on • returning here with a load of grain for her Last trip of the year. For the Goderich Elevator and Transit Company Limited the barges, Alfred Krupp and Owendoc and the boats, Windoc and Sarnia- doc ae already laid up here. En- routte to Goderich to lay up here are the Mantadoc, Saskadoc, New- brundpc and Calgadoc. In addi- tion to these, the Elevators are counting on at least six more boats to come to Goderich Harbor for the winter. An announcemerlt has been made that the Soo Locks plan to stay open until January 1st and if this is so and the weather rdmains favorable the winter storage fleet of boats in Goderich Harbor could possibly equal the record year of 1928-29. Newcomers Spark' Contest For Six Seats On Council Goderich.voters twill- go to the polls next Monday to elect a mayor and six councillors. Reeve J. H. Graham is challeng- ing the incumbent, J. E. Buskins, in the mayoralty contest, - while eight • candidates are seeking six Council seats. Acclamations 9 Through acclamations, Depuey- American industries eontesriplating Reeve E. C. Fisher will be reeve in, coming into this area, but they 1957 and Councillor James Don- need an adjacent airport, which nelly steps up as deputy -reeve. we have. One of these industries They were the only persons pro- put a plane down at sky, Harbor posed for these positions at the to look the situation aver." nomination meeting in the Town The mayor proposed a special Hall last Friday night. fund which would enable the in Three two-year terms on Gode- dustrial commission to go out rich Public School Board and two after industries whenever and two-year terms on the Public Util- wherever opportunities arise. ities Commission were also filled He estimated that the $6,000,000 by acclamation. rock salt mining development here Elected as school trustees were will employ 75-100 men. Ralph E. Blackstone, Mrs. Made- St. Lawrence Seaway leine Edward and Dr. J. R. Leitch. The St. Lawrence seaway is not The last named 'trustee replaces likely to have any great, sudden B. M. Ross, who did not seeks,re- effect on Goderich, said the mayor, election. but he felt - it should increase lite Re-elected to the PUC are R. G. town's prosperity through time. Johnston and Thomas Taylor. Since R. G. Johnston, chairman There Twill be at least three new of Goderich PUC, was not present, faces on the 1957 Council. After his report was read by the enzyme devoting a great deal of time to In connection with the proposed municipal affairs for the past few new $550,000 water plant here, the years, Councillor- Frank -Skelton, report said the PUC plans action chairman of the industrial cons- es soon as further information is mittee, is retiring. received from the Ontario Water 6. Three of the 1956 councillors are Resources Commission. seeking re-election. They aro At this point, the mayor stepped Councillors C. M. Robertson, Frank down off the platform so he could Walkom and John Vincent. better hear the remarks of a Newcomers who are seeking eke- citizen who apparently .had some tion to Council are Peter S. Mac- personal grievance. After same Ewan, W. A. Tipple, J. A. Wilkin . arguing back and .forth Mr. Gard - son and James A. Bisset. Also a iner, the chairman, stepped in, candidate for Council is Joseph saying, "This is developing into a Allaire; who was a member of the donnybrook." 1949-54 councils. When the chairman insisted that Councillor" -Robertson was als'o'pdure 'be -followed -the mayor nominated for mayor, but he de- returned to the platform and the clined to contest that position. citizen decided not to pursue the After nomination's closed, Glen matter further. Gardiner was appointed chairman Confirming his plans to contest of the meeting. Attendance was the mayoralty, Reeve J H. Graham rather disappointing -compared to said he had been placed in a pecul- some other years. Only slightly iar position because there were more than half' the seats in the two young men coming along. He Town Hall were filled. said that Councillor Donnelly waait- - A: -good many left before 10 ed to he _deputy -reeve, so D•epiity- 4 o.'ctgck, of h4a h several can iida1e's Reeve 'isber'wa "forced to move:" 1 •stick had ho had 'fit? d lr rtit�ivitv°. Mr; Frslrer nth!ze clic h _6Q xp as- '"to speak. Some of those who left ing Reeve 'kItaha> .:. trhes tilaybr. early were heard to say that they That was when M.r. Graham-deei•d- did not want to miss the Friday night fight broadcast. Mayor Huckins stated: "I want ed to move up and leave the reeve - ship open to Mr. Fisher, he said. Amid laughter, Reeve Graham to have a heart -to heart talk, as it said, "I don't think 'Mayor Huckins were, .0 conditions as we find (who is seeking his seventh terra them in our town today. in that office) can say anyone is "You don't need me to tell' you hurrying him." that they are not all that they Unfolding his views, the reeve could be. As a matter of fact, I said it is his contention that the few communities are enjoying theHuron County road rebate should prosperity they were a few years I be used for actual road construe - ago." tion in the town, not just for The mayor assured his audience, patching. "One thing sure is there will be A man in the audience asked the no increase in the tax rate as we reeve if anyone is free to take see it at the present time." gravel off the point below the When the mayor turned his at- Sunset Hotel. This question was tention to the search for new in- referred to Mayor Huckins, who dustry, someone in the audience said that a Deportment of Trans - shouted, "What can you do about port official had been galled in it?" recently when there was a man - Mayor Huckins went on to .say plaint about removal of the gravel. that last spring he had been told One contractor has been allowed by a bank official that Goderich to take 200 yards of giravel off to had definitely secured a new in- complete the [breakwater contract. dustry. "Two days later," Said the After that, no more wtl1 be taken mayor, "they called to say it was off, said the mayor. going to St. Thomas—simply be- Councillor Robertson cause St. Thomas gave them a Lac- Councillor Robertson, wlio was tory situated on a rail line." I nominated for both a council seat He continued, "There are two ' (Continued. on page 11) statements MAYOR HUCKINS- ! When you elected me to the of - I fico of mayor in 1961, you bestowed upon me your highest -honor. You placed your confidence rn • me. i Now, with your consent, may I , review events as they have hap- , pened during the past six years. II have stated on many occasions previous to 1951 that I could not I, understand why our town, with the only deep water harbor on the east shore of Lake Huron, both railroads with inter -switching tacit - 1 ities, paved highways leading into I our town, situated in the County of Huron, the banner county of the Province, and the County Town, � should net be growing and expand- ing. I The 1951 Council. seeking the betterment of our town, started out to do something about it. One of the first things we did was to go about building the roadway to !the north side of the Harbor. After 114 years of heartbreaking frustra- tion, most of it frim amongst our i own citizens, we were successful �in what we considered was a long needed asset. Now we are to be 'ble..sect with a $6,000,000 develop- ment, the fulfillment of my dream of 20 years ago. i We fondly believe that this de- velopment will encourage other allied indu.sttry to locate in our fawn. We formed, an Industrial Commission, made up of young 1 business men from our Junior !Chamber of Commerce, and mem- !bees of theCouncil Through the untiring efforts of these men came our new industry, the Sheaffer Pen Company 6f Canada, considered to be the ereem of industry. Along with our industrial pr6gram carne the building of two new rental sub- divisions under the N.II.A., all of which a` Bled 1,500 to our popula Hon . It is a calamity that during From Yo ur M�yoralty Candidates the same period two of our oldest industries are in a temporary period (we hope) of limited activ- ity. We feel sure that in the very near future a change for the better will take place there. In our efforts to encourage new indu: try to come in, we still have to help and encourage our present industries in any way within our power. , 1 know you all agree that the paving of the Square was long overdue and. coupled with the landscaping of the park surround- ing the lovely new Court house, it is a distinct improvement and a sure sign of progressive thinking. Your induo`trial commission is very active now. They have estab- lished contarts with all known outlet: where information is ole (Continued on page 11) REEVE J. H._GRAHAM In offering you me eeteriees for the office of Mayor of • Goderich for 1957, I -have taken a step which II feel most of you will agree is a most logical One. 1 use the Ford "logical" because I have a back- ground of 18 years of service on municipal councils in Goderich and in Colborne Township. For the pact five years I have .served as your reeve, the next office to that of mayor. During all pi th been my pleasure did support from After considers ' and also the urgi. who -feel it. is time ation for the highs occupied that ofii that, about two r rHarkins said that 1'4 �,- should any of t .senior members of years, it has to receive splen- did electors. ng these factors, ng of supporters for a change in the mayorality, I decided that my proper course was to accept nomin- ation office this year. As you know, M ayor Huckins has ce for six years now. What you nay not know is nonths ago Mr - he would retire he. -other three f Council decide to step up to the mayor's ehair. Since that time, it appears that the mayor has changed his mind. Another reason for my own de- cision to seek the mayoralty is that I would not wish to stand in the way of two promising young council members, who are coming along. They are Messrs. Donnelly and Fisher. My decision to seek the mayoralty. left room for Mr. Fisher to take the reeveship. Mr. Donnelly, in turn, received an ac- clamation to the post vacated by "Pi:sher. Mr. Huckins .frequently has had much to say about the rnatter of industrial promotion. As far as industries are concerned, there as riot a man on Goderieb,Towp Co�ttliy cif who is not every bit as interest- ed in seeurine, industries a 1 i Further along this line, it seems . that Mr. Huckins always has some- thing up his sleeve that isn't finieh- ed at the end of the year. Ile puts this forth as a reason7hy he should be returned' to office. , Now, if he does Rove any un- finished business, chances are he got it because he is the 1l,Tayor of Goderich, not because he is John 1Tu kins. Consequently, is tilos anyreason whythis business htn� nes, cfltY- nfot be finished by the Mayor of ' Grnlerieli, whether the mayor hap- pens to be Mr, lluc `tins or some. body else? - tneideetally, if a mayor lays s tnuch.};t t'fini":tontintsk o hidQ r:n ation as t*✓0, are t atiletiinf? Ira tq believe, why does lie not ie'Sseae 02' the reaponsibility of .these ttlattiia (Continued on pace 111