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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1959-05-07, Page 1• "'IE Spiriof Huron" will make Its filial tiip this week -end. A crowd Of up to 3000 people is exPeeted to watch Saturday as The Spirit — a retired, 90 -ton steana locomotive bought ,from the OP O -11g4bit.:49, uron -Cirn tY :Pio he r illepb Neill, the museum's dedie: ated, 73 -year-old curator, can hard- ly wait until it gets there. Then he will be able to pro- claim that Huron's museum is the first 'mu.seum in Canada to have a. full-size, steam locomotive as a permanent exhibit. He admits, with a twinkle in his eyes, that he was "the first mzen crazy enough to think of it." Cost $3,800 He is also digging into his own pocket for $3,800 to pay the CPR for the engine. Steam locomotiye No. 6275, built in 1910, was beihg used as a yard engine here at the time of its retirement last Decein- , ber 9. "They claim in three yearsthe last one will be off the tracks," says Herb Neill, referring to the replacement of steam engines by diesels on Canadian railways.. Goderich Junior Chamber of Commerce has thrown its full sup- port behind Mr. Neill's imagin- ative prjecL. The Huron Big Pound Engine Co. has been formed • . • • Pr* , 4,40 44: as a joint enterprise of the Jaycees and the museum. Shares are being sold in two denominations --one dollar for a five -pound interest in the locomo- tive, five, dollars for a 25 -pound interest. It is hoped to realize enough from the sale of these shares to reirdburse Mr. Neill fully for the 3,800 he is laying out to. secure the engine for the county. Larry Aldhaxn, first vice-presi- dent of the Jaycees, states that Engine No. 6275 vtill be moved from the C,PR roundhouse at the harbor on Friday, - At the inter - switching, it will cross over onto the ONR line and will be hauled up the hill by a ONR diesel. Portable Track Half a dozen sections ,of portable track will be put to use after the engine is taken off the line at the Edward coal Yard. Each section of 'portable track is about 10 feet long. • As TheSpirit inches along this •pbrtable -track,-the track---belund enn will be picked up and put down in front agan. By repeating this !procedure again and again, the locomotive will be moved along Trafalgar street to the museum. "The CNE. hopes to shove the engine off in the Edward coal yard onto our track and close their switch again, ready for action, by 5 Pm. Friday," says Mr. Neill. He emphasizes that it is almost impossible to set " up a specific time schedule for the moving oper- ation. But it is likely that it will take all day Saturday to move the lecomotive along Trafalgar street and put it in position on the museum grounds. (Members of the section crews of the CPR and CNR have offered to assist in moving the engine along the street, says Larry Ald- ham. The curator figures that about 10 men will,be needed to lay down track in front, and 1niore to pick, up behind the engine. Regulations won't allow them to be able to move ,:under its own power. A winch will be used to pull the locomotive, , stateS Neill. Outside the museum, sonie track has been laid in cement as a per- manent resting place for The Spirit of Huron. As soon as possible, walls, will be put around the leo- motive, says Mr. Neill. police To' Aid di' Police have been asked to keep the streets clear while the moving is in progress, The project has been under con- sideration for about a year, Plan- nitug began in earnest three Months agb. "It's a county project" says Mr. Aldhani. All towns and villages in the, .county will .be asked to co.; operate, in carrying the plans of Huron Big Pound Engine Co. to, a successful completion. "We have a truly outstanding museum here, and 1 don't believe we will ever find a more dedicated Man than Mr. Neill," adds Mr: get upsteami-so-the Huron, County Pioneer Musetun drew 16,000 people to see its col- lection of 5,000 exhibits last year. With the locoinOtive at the 'mus- eum, Mr. Neill expeets Attendance will be up by at least 2,000 this year. 'My whole object here" says Herb Neill, "is to gather and pre serve the things that have -con- tributed to our wy of lie—the things that have made this country what it is. t. - "The old steamer opened up this country. It was the steamer that made Canada what it is. Now the steamer is becoming obsolete." Link With The Past Mr. Alclham toroinAti: `The reason 'we have taken on this pro- ject, primarily, is to. preserve some link with the pas. The historical value of this will not be realized for another 20 or 25 years." By that time,. he expects that steam locomotives will be EA) rare that most children could grow up without ever-seeing-onerwere it riot for The Spirit of Huron et the Huron coutty Pioneer Museum! The Spirit is 60 feet long and 16 feet high. Built Tn 1910, some rebuilding was done in 191. As a yard engine at Goderich it fre- quently handled 50 carloads of grin per day, not to mention salt, gasoline and road mahinery. Its last working day Was Deem- ber 9, 1958. Next day it was re- placed by a diesel yard engine. How did Herb Neill get the idea of 'preserving a steam locomotive at the county Museum for fixture generations to marvel at? "The whole -thing started over a joke," he recalls. "Then I began to think-Tand the more I thought, the more' determined Igot." He admits that, especially at age 7, he is taking a it of a gamble when he invests $3,800 of his own hard-earned money in an obsolete IocomotiVe. But he feels that his confidence in the future of the Huron Big Pound Engine Co. will be fully jusified-, .., ....i...- •';'„ isi . tAif . ' • ' Xv. .59" 4Midt•el • ; Old 6275 Spirit Of Huron oberit 112th Year—No. 19 • GDCI girls look over eadet inspection at Collegiate. TOTAL OF 446 PERSONS : 61 S -S Photo by RH. Blood Donor Clinic ;Here Sets A Record '• The iblood donor clinic held at 0 G-oderich oneTuesday is belietred to have set up a record for Ontario. Of the 560 cards filled out as a result of the canvass, 440 persons Preserrted themselves at the clipic on Tuesday held in the basement of North Street United Church. • In proportion 'to population, Mr. Stewart, the Red Ceoss blood clinic director, believes Goderich set a record. 'It was the largest , clinic handled by him in Ontario .since the inception of the blood clinics on January 1st of this year. . For example, the number of, donors at a clinic at Owen -Sound numbered 218' and nir Windsor, 223. Of the persons who presented themselves TirTire§klr-abbut 60 per cent were men and 40 per cent wmen. The current influenza epidernite 'was responsible for the absence of many who had com- pleted blood donor cards. About 11 per cent were refused as donors, ,a few because of blood quality but the large majority en account of previous attacks of jaundice, mal- aria, tuberculosis or some recent The Red Cross team fom Lon- don, accompanied by Mr. J. )3. Stew- art and Mr. John Anderson, district chairman of the Canadian Red Cross Society, was composed of 14 members with all. food and equipment necessary. This includ- ed *two 'refrigeration trucks for immediate blood cooling. Assist- ing this group were four successive grOups of 12 local volunteer wo- men who acted • as receptionists, typists, nurses and waitresses. "We have been delighted with the respense in Goderich; it has really been terrific," said Mr. An- derson of the Canadian Red Cross Society,, London. , The clinic at Goderich was 'ex- cep'tionally well organized by Dr. J. C. Ross, local chairman of the Bargain Days It's BARGAIN DAYS in Goderich on Thursdy, Friday and Saturday, May 14, 15 and 16 at stores displaying the yellow Bargain Days pennants. Watch for the bills crammed with money saving buys, and the stores displaying the pen- nants. fled -Cross -Blood Clinic. He was 'awy assisted by Mrs, Frank .Curry. It was stated that the vast major- ity of donors gave their blood in a genuine desire'' fee service to those who will have need of it. A number were influenced by the knowledge that the complete blood ,typing, card shortly to be returned to them might be life-saving to themselves in an emergency, since it quickly shows the type of blood they would need in an emergency transfusion. A goodly- number were present on compassionate grounds, having seen the saving. results when a dear friend or relative was in need of an im- mediate blood transfusion. The most cemmon types of blood, positive ad negative, are as fol lows: 0; A; B; ABI Positive 0 is the most common type and it was this which the majority of donors at .Goddich gave on Tuesday. The rarest type is AB negative. About three years ago there were on display in a store tvindow -on the Square in Goderich a num- ber of 'large photos of the -first blooddonor clinic held here dur- ing World War II. At present it is not known where these pictures are. ,If anyone know g of their whreabouts, would they please in- form Dr. J, C,- Ros's, West street, Goderich. Snug Harbor Site Sought For Booth For -Yachtsmen On -behalf of the Snug Harbor orinittee, Mrs, G. Filsinger asked Town Coencil Friday for permis- sion' to place a' building, which would be headquarters for visiting Yachtsmen, on the area adjoining Snug Harbor. After some discussion, council directed the water, light and har bor committee to investigate. It Was suggestedthat all interested parties might 'he invited to the next ceulleil meeting: - After reviewing the improve- ments made last year, as a resUlt of the Snug Harbor Committee's efforts, Mrs. Filsinger told council that a refreshment booth is plan- ned -for the visiting yachtsmen. Gordon Muir, manager of Sifto's rock salt Mine, has offered to give the committee a building which has been used as an office, she said. 'Value of this building was estimated at $1,500 to $2,000: Local merchants • have given money to move this building and place it on cement posts at the proposed site, ,he coptlnued.. "We're not asking for money. All we want is a Site," Mrs. Fil- singer stated. people from the yachts and people out fishing on the north pier would be able to gt such iteins as • coffee, soup and sand- wiches at the proposed booth. This would not interfere with the busi- nessof other refreshment booths at the harbor, she stated. A letter from the Port -Huron Yacht Club informed council that a long distance race will be held September 6-7-8 from the Lake Huron lightship to Goderich and back to Port Sanilac The club asked council assistance in arrang- ing for a mark orcheck point about one mile off shoreat Gode- rich. • • Re-Classitication Chronic atients Aids Hospital The board of Alexandra Marinet ing home will have to be establish - in Gaderich or near by. and GeeralHospitl has instruct. cd ed itsexecutive committee to "dealt Meatitime, the boatirS4firlitial immediately",, yvith ,.the case of about nine patients classified as ineligible for payments from the Ontario Hospital Services COmmis- sion and for whom no other main- tenance support is forthcoming, Chairman G. G. Parsons said a meeting or the committee would be • called "soon." He indicated that notification would be made to patients or .next-of-kin or the municipalities concerned, a stated time allowed and then chronic patients for whom lid maintenance was forthcoming would be placed in nursing homes, which are under problem, rendered acute by a sweeping disallowance ,by the com mission of numerhs chronic pat- ients, haS, been substantially re- lieved through a reclassification, Hitherto, the hospital had been classified as having all "active" beds, with a rate of $10.70. The board on Monday evening had be- fore it a commission communica- Hen allowing 24 beds forhronic patients at $9, the remainder to be classified as active at $12. For the.24 beds the commission recog- nizes .25 patients as' chronic and will start to .Pay for their care. Thee were previously understood .....A,4bosawolfaaeudan 1.1,14 erakamin Action Was takenat r special meeting MiSnday evening at which board iiiembers in general agreed that ntirsing home accommodation must be found or provided for "custodial" patients, not requiring care which can be given only in. hospital, In this connction, the opinion was expressed that a nurs- i rr act*****4ra accO c ly would have been -cut off such benefits, some by the 'end of April. islOt Approved A proposal receritly that the chronic wing be conVerted into a nursing home, operated separately,, was not approved by the Commis - ion. A nursing home would come tinder fhe Ontario Department of Welfar, not Health. Now there is a suggestion frOrn the 'WeTfare- -de- partment thet the chronic wing might be operated as an extension of the county home. County Clerk J. G, Berry confirmed a telephone conversation with James S. Band, deputy minister of welfare, who On Monday told him "municipally Operated nursing homes is the eventual answer" "We should try to reach' some sort of policy about indigent' pat- ients cut off from hospital care," said Dr.. Jack Leitch. "I don't think we can rent the wieg to the county. They (the commission) ,want this as a chronic wing, We should make overtures to some local bodtjw.Ltablislursin J..11. Kinkead, former chairman: "We still have a problem, but not as pressing as before." C. S. IVIacNaughton, MLA.: "As long as the doetors' report is inter- preted at Toronto as that patients require hospital care, .nobody ean (Continued on page 7) The Weather Real summer ,weather -sud- denly broke wi,th' a bang in the Goderich area on Wedness day following ,the ,unusually rugged winter and the -cold spring to date. Just to remind people how lucky ithey are this spring, Harry Sturdy, West street, brought i a picture to the Signal -Star office. It show- ed what things looked like ....arond,-ton-•,MIN. 9 and,. of 1923. Just 36years ago right about now there were, three inches of snow lying on bak'"- ttr''Ytititfr'g'•':-ejanet.Trt'Fe,7 crabbing! Call For Tenders. On Town Garage, ToWn Council is callirig for tend- ers on a new garage for public works vehicles, bitt it site has not been announced yet. • Council decided Friday te• pick up its option to buy the Harnwell Estate property, at the corner of Britannia road and South street, for $5,500.. The Kinsmen Club Plahs a senior citizens' housing project there. In response to an official invte- tion,Mayor E. C. Fisher and Mrs. Fisher will attend the formal opens ing of the St. Lawrence Seaway., In a reversal of its policy adopt- ed last yea, council voted to ban smoking during formal, council ses- sions. it's still all right to pull out a stogy during committee discus- sions. RED CROSS CANVASS A totar of $2,045 was, raised in thp Red Cross canvass in Goderich,- Mrs. Frank Curry, Chairman, has reported. ORAL CHARGES MADE - ODERICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1959 Single Copies 10e yclro Dernand HR�pped, uncil Refuses To Pa Only Two'io-ats- flhIDOt Aram, 0 "Of all the ridiculous statements the PUC already has a surplus of esnange$140,000—"twiceas large as itneeds to be." He said he didn't believe there is another town ,of similar size in Westeen-entarie with a -surplus -04 4144%000-e _ - -Menibers of the local PUC have nothing ,to do with fixing the rates, added Councillor Huckins, off a mistake wasmade, it *as the 'fault of Hydro and the town shouldn't have to pay for it, If •Ontario Hydro is So 'kenly interested in Gederich.4: it sffould lower the rate to Goderich' con- smlers, suggested the councillor. "It's time for some townto stand up and be ,counted—and call their bluff!" he 'urged. Councillor W. J. Taylor - said he La'ke grain carriers have swung into actibn for the season and the , tvvo elevators, at Goderich harbor are once again being filled up with .grain frOm the Lakehead. The Algorail, IVIaunaloa II and Bricoldoe are scheduled to arrive this Thursday morning- with 'car- goes. . Last Thursday the Bricoldec was in wit11)29,000 bushels of wheat and oat's. On Friday, the Windoc and also Maunaloa 11.were •in. Sat- urday saw the Cornell in with a Vad of ,corn, part of whic10went to' each. of the elevators. The John Ericsson waSin with a cargo on Saturday and left Sunday with the barge, Alexander Holley. When the Maui -Igoe left, it took in tow the Bryn Barge, On MOnday the L. A. McCorqua-- dale took out barge 137. On Tues- day .the James B.- Eads took away the barge, Glen Bogie. Only two beats lying inactive in the harbor now are the barge Co1-' lingdoceand the Superior". - O.P.P. TRANSFER 0P.P. .Constable Don Westover has been transferred from Gode- rich to, the Exeter detachment, effective May IL omplaints Must Be In, riting Says Commission The 'police 'commissian, sitting on Tuesday afternoon to deal with applications for a' vacancy on the force, . the 'Matter of police uni- forms, and various traffic items, h.eard also, a triple eomplaint from John Spain. When hl S place On East street was raided a couple of weeks ago, he said, a cellar door' was unnecessarily brokeie' the pr -e - sent police force, he contended, is too large, and has increased taxes; the Legion and the "Air pert" (RCAF at Clinton), he charg- ed, are selling liquor "wide open," In one 'instance, he had made a complaint regarding which nothing was done, he Said. "With-four..police in eight-hour shifts the tax rate conld have been left as it was," he contended. In discussion after Mr, Spain left the council chamber; the _om- mision reaffirmed the principle that complaints, must be in wri ing. The secretary was instructed to write, Mr. Spain notifying hint that this "s and. has been the policy of the Police commission," and that be will benotified of a meeting at ttlicteli mayemake. further represetrfatIons:" "To raid A pia te ig matter," said Judge Finland, "and the law requires that you must have some good reason." In a Canada Temperance Act area," said Magistrate Holmes, "the law requires more actual ground given for obtaining a search war- rant than to go into a place to ,et articles stolen." "And mere grounds Clan under the Liquor Control Aft," said Chief Minghall. "In ths• Case," pointed out the magistrate, "you have Ile inforrie atien. if Spain swants to make accusations he should do the same as anyone else and pet Win writ - in II is a taxpa er, and,we over such things," --oriere are some accusations here against the department would like to answer;" said Chief • "I dont think there is_ anything to telte action on," detrared Judge Fingland. "Life is too short to sit here as a commission and have, anyone come up to the rail and make remarks and, expect some tangible result. Regardipg action or leek of action by the „polige, we must have pm -plaint in Writ- ing, as in the paSt" Magistrate Holmes expressed the opinion that crimes such as theft have not increased in percentage; if 'traffic cases were eliminated from the list there would be just little core of criminal cases.. Four applicants for appointment to the vacancy on the force will be invited to appear before the commission on the afternoon of May 21. Mayor Fisher relayed' a com- plaint about cars following the fire truck. Chief Minshall pointed- out tht tile, Highway Traffic ',Actre- quires motorists to pull to 'the right aide ad stop, and that this ,applies equally to volunteer fire- men. Speeding trucks were Subject of another complaint. "We have got to have more traf- fic lights in this town to b-eak tin id' the agistrate. Ile - at Waterloq ard WellIntn'intereetion" The 'chief constable read a re- port by the director lf the On- tario Police College showing high marks obtaine'd by ConSlable F. If. Creeden in H.T.A,, Crim- inal Code, first aid and revolver marksmanship, 'The commission expressed its satisfaction, "The force in my" opinion is working exceptionally well," re georted the •• chief, "and gradually winning . the respett of citizens. This can be attributed to the fine backing of the eolice commission and also the Work the members of the department are doing. From January 1 to4ae present date_ we Piave 841 important phone calls With 530 in 1958, We have more complaints from people who at one time said they gbt no action. My policy is, no matter how small a complaint, a member of the de- partment must, ger and see the people • and shdw we are inter - rested" 0, I've ever heard or seen ,pre,sentd., my nruniiPalMerience this is IT!"' thundered Councillor John Huckins when Town Council met a414;'etihythd4?biletaattiCif4441"." the town -1,500 per year extra for the 'next 20 years. This is sup- posed 'to be au adjustMent in the town street lighting account, be- cause Ontario Hydro . claims the PUC has not, charged the town enough in the past. , ^ Council reacted. ,Friday by re- fusing to pay the hilt Mayor -Ernie C. Fisher,. a mem- ber of the' Public Utilities Com- mission, admitted that the PUC is largely "a rubber st7tinp" for the Hydro Electric Power Commission couldn't see any good reason for of Ontario. . the extra charge. In his opinion, • "Not Our Mistake" it was like, telling citizens they. "It's their mistake, not ours!" would have to 'pay extra taxes in declared Councillor Huckins refer- the future • because somebody ringto Hydro's claim that the tecenthought they hadn't ',paid enough" has. not been charged enough for uring the past 20 years. street lighting in the, past. Mayor Fisher said he had' open Once' again, the surplus -of the ed up the quest* at the last PUC local PUC was the target of con- meeting, and the situation had siderable criticism from members been discussed for an hour and a of council.. half, The 'mayor was inclined to feel that, before saying too much, the town. should give Hydro of- ficials' a chance to explain. the, reasons for the extra. charge. Too Optimistic? ' • Councillor Huckins was inclined to feel that the mayor was a bit too optimistic if he hoped to get an explanation -satisfactory to the town. Councillor Huckins ,had ap- proached Hydro on varlos occas- ions before with similar objections. And the usual result? 'They bury you under a flood of Hydro technicalities," said Council - ,ler Huckins. Hydro still hasn't been ahre to explain What happened to a sink- ing -fund to which Goderich con- tributed, added the councillor. Ire and the mayor agreed that Council was given to understand that Hydro had rdviewed the man- ner of calculating street lighting accounts in all municipalities, The Hycli:eauditors decided that the amount which 'Goderich paid' for street lighting over the 'past 20 years didn't cover the cost. The general ' funds of the PUt' were subsidizing street lightia* they, stated. As a result, they decided that the town should pay an extra annual charge of about $1.500 for the next 20' years to make up for the "paper deficit." Apparently council first learned abopt the extra charge when it became evident- that last year's street lighting' bill would be about $2,000 higher than councilhad figured in its budget for the year, when the PUC • buys power from The extra charge of about $1,500 Hydro, the PUC should then have per year would' go into the sutplus account of the local PUC, it was indicated. Attacks Surplus Councillor Huckins objected that U11 Carlt ro1 over distribution of that power, and that Hydro should - not interfere in local affairs, When Councillor Taylor asked what the. PUC hydro surplus ac-" count of $140,000 is for, the mayor replied it would •take. --an auditor-- . — • •-• to give the answer. He had been told there is a $15,000 debenture debt hanging over the Of, this; .$90,000- WA s convex, It was stated, however, that the PUC has accumulated over $100,000 in surplus funds since 1952.. Councillor Taylor thought it otanded strange to have a tar surplus and be paying interest on debentures at the same time., The PUC has $80,000 in cash, but the commissiohers can't even. invest that in bonds 'without the consent of Ontario Hydro, claimed Councillor Huckins. Mayor Fisher said it wasn't a "tree" surplus. "There are $42,000 in accounts payable that have te be taken out of it," he stated. As far as' CountillculTayler could see, if locar officials aren't able te answer tne questions of the citi- • there is no sense being here 1helowrerniight as ask Hydre to step in and take over completely if that is the case, said. Should Have Answers Agreeing, Mayor Fisher said he had made similar. remarks at the last PM meeting. When people ask questions, they should be able to get the answers ,from elected representatives, he felTen 'Speaking from experience, Coun- cillor Huckins said it is "frustrat- ing" tq be a member of the PUC because the commission is only a rubber stamp for Hydro. "In other words, they're just sitting there --and they do as theyre told, or ele," he said. Councillor Huckins recalled one accaSion many years ago when the PUC' did defy Hydro successfully, When the PUC gave' a three -Month free bill" to local consumers; Hydro threatened to take. the com- missioners to court,- said 'the coun- cillor. The PVC dared Hydro to do anything, and nothing happen- ed, according to Councillor Huck - ins. On notion of ,Culiciller Huckins, seconded by Councillor Taylor, the 1959 council refused to pay the extra charge of about $1,500 a year: 4.• Stending in front of the range targets following the annual inspection of the GDCI Cadet Corps last Friday afternoon are seen, from left to right:* Cadet Sgt. Major M. Daltn; Cadet Major W. Ilayson; Major E. C. Milliken, Listowel, insPeet- ing officer; Capt. R. J. Brantley, London, area cadet offier; Capt. J. H. Stringer, ettatit tort* instructor; Lt. Neil Shw, asistant' cadet copg, S -S PhoiO bY tit tor.