HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1966-11-24, Page 13•
119th Year — No. 46
1;HE GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR THURSDAY, NOV. 24, 1966
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During the 1921 Old Homo Week parade the Goderich Town
Council was conveyed in This shiny touring car. In silk hat
Mayor E. R. Wigle and to pis right Wesley Walker. Driver is
Joe Kelly and to his left .Dr. W. F. Clark, in the middle .
in straw hat. Robert H. Cutt and John .Storey. The seventh -
man peeking over Dr. Clark's left shoulder is not identified.
It took two automobiles -TO airy 'the town council. This one, , Councillor B. C. Mannings and town clerk Lyn L. Knox. The
not as elaborate as the other council car, was carrying extra driver is Roland (Roily) Knox •and on his right 1. H. Mitchell
decorations, including evergreens, a flag, Union Jacks and The parade moved around The' Square in bright August sun
Red Ensigns. Back seat over the wheel is Councillor Knight, light.
At the head of the parade; was the horse-drawn fire pumper
its great brass funnel glistening in the sunlight. Behind
the 35 -piece band, girls in white middies bore lettered cards
spelling out "The Signal." 'They were followed by horse'
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drawn floats, clowns and blacked -faced minstrels strumming
banjos. In the cool shade of the trees in Court House Park,
refreshment booths experienced a lull . in trade as all eyes
turned to watch the passing of the parade.
Around the gravel streets the Old Home Week parade moved,
and a procession of cars fed by what appears to be a military
brass band. it was summer aid young boys -wore short pants
and long socks, little girls in white frocks and sfockings with
bows in long hair, women's dresses fell well below the knee
and men stuck to heavy dark suits. Summer headgear was +
a straw "boater" but some men sweated it out in heavy
felt hats.
Second Section P+ Os IA -8A
Former SigncitReporter.
To Speak Here Next Year
J. Alex Hume, of Ottawa, .a retired member
of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, has accept-
ed an invitation to speak in Goderich on July
1, 1967.
Mr. Hume was asked by Goderich Centen-
nial Committee to spew at the officiJ.l opening
of the town's Centennial parks.
Mr. Hume ` began his 42 -year newspaper
career on ThQ Signal in 1921. and continued
through 1924. More details of his background
are contained in an editorial page letter to the
editor he submitted before he was approached
by the Centennial .committee.
. July 1, 1067, will also be the first day of an
Old Home Week, planned as part of Godrrich's
Centennial celebrations.
With his letter to the editor Mr. Hume
sent a group of postcards bearing photographs
of an Old Home Week held in• Goderich in 1921,
his "first year as a reporter.
The photographs demonstrate to some ex-
tent the changes in Gaderich in almost half a
century. The old court house has been replaced
with a newer buildng, the streets have been
paved and the fireengine is now automotive.
With another Old Home Week coming next
year, there is reason -to wonder what changes,
will come to Goderich in another 45 years.
In 1921 the automobile was starting to replace the horse
although one is tethered to one of the cedar trees that were
planted in barrels round The Square during Old- Home
Week 1921. At the intersection of North Street and The
Square a traffic sign placed in the centre of the road said,
"Go To The Right," and "Go Slow," At far right in .photo
can be seen the Hamilton Street intersection. The Square was
gravel transversed by board walks. '
During the Old Boy's Reunion, Aug. 7 to 11, 1921, the base-
ball executive posed in front of the grandstands at the ball
park. Note the numbered stands. Kneeling in flannels with
a baseball glove in his hands was Judge Dudley Holmes.
Extreme right standing was John (Jack) Knox and to his
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tib 7+ I obn.an IFM 4
414til 411 di/Jill/110
immediate 'right is Dr. A. C. Hunter.' Mr. Hume could not
• recall the others by particular names. Sporting events were
a highlight of the old home week that year attracting
the attention of many members of the community.
Down at the harbor the SS Greyhound was docked with a
romantic promise. It had come for its annual visit to Gode-
rich and the popular moonlight cruise which attracted
young swains and their interests of the heart during the
1920s. During the Old Home Week in 1921 the ship's decks
were Tined early for the cruise. On the upper deck a band
played while hats were waved to the crowd that gathered
ashore and hankies fluttered in the hands of the young
women.