The Goderich Signal-Star, 1967-06-29, Page 24The Gorier * Sf»4•St*r, T tt d r',, ALM 29,. 1067
Covifederal.ioi
By George L, Ellis
The hands 'of the town clock
edged past midnight and head.
ed for the first of the early
morning -hours of July 14,1867.
At that. rtioment, ' a huge bon.
fire on The Square at Goderich,.
Huron's County Town,' hit' its
peak' and the gi9w from its
"towering flames could be seen
for many miles' atound.
. The big bonfire was but a
prelude to the festivities which
• were to follow that day to usher
in. the birth of The Dominion
of Canada. Queen Victoria's
,Proclamation, read later in the
,day, officially united the Prov.
inces of Canada (Upper and Low•
ex Canada),NovaScotia,andNew
Brunswick.
To -celebrate the joyous oc-
casion, there flocked to God.
erich from all parts of the
county the largest single gath.
ering ever witnessed in Huron,
up to that time. In 1867, Huron
County's population was over
66,000, in contrast to the 1966
population figure of around
50,000. The Town of Goderich'
however, today places its pop.
ulation at 6•,626 in comparison
to about 4,000 in 1867. .6,
As the flames of the big
celebration bonfire died away,
many youths took to hijinks un-
til dawn, just to keep the ball
rolling. One of numerous es.
capades ',included a display of
feeling which was probably in.
tensified by the fear of the Fen-
ian Raid at that time.
A rollicking group amused
themselves -by -hoisting a large
White flag on top of the flagstaff
.of Goderich's "esteemed U.S.
Consul, General Allcock."'
'The same group also barr.
icaded 'his door steps and en.
gaged in similar acts.
However, the townspeople did
not regard the action seriouslu,
noteregarliiethenaotionseriously,
but rather laughed off ,the
"folly:" •
Daybreak saw a party of art.
illerymen fire five>or six rounds
from Big Bess, the cannon lo.
cated at the Point overlooking
Lake Huron..,
Soon after the 'firing of the
cannon there arrived_ at God.
erich from all parts of Huron -
by private conveyance, on foot,
• by ox-4Irawn carts and by any
other means found most con-
venient crowds dressed up in
•a
Bonfir
• Goderich harbor -a few years after Confederation
their top finery.
All were determined to have
a day of rejoicing, tb see and
to be seen.
Snorting , out long, black
clouds of smoke; an excursion
train arrived at 10:30 a.m., and
500 visitors from various parts
of Huron clambered off the
coaches and hurried to the cen.
tre of town. A little later,
the speedy lake excursion boat,
"Silver Spray," docked with an.
other large crowd.
By noon, if one stood. on
The Square and looked down
West- Street, the board side.
walks were packed with a mov.
ing mass ; of humans all the .-•
way down to the bank of the
.lake,
The Huron Signal reported
that: "The new Dominion was,•
ushered in by the loyal people
of the County of Huron in , a
• most joyous manner. All class.
es seemed to appreciate the
great change that was about to
take place in the country's pot-
ideal relations as colonies, and
all entered heartily into the pr
parations for the celebration of '
-an event so important.”
Outlying volunteer military
companies poureu into uouericn
by train and wagons and, after
_ parading around the Square,
marched to the Drill Shed on
Nelson Street where "liquid
refreshments were 1iperally
supplied." There were seven
companies in all under the com:
mand,of Lieut. Col. Ross. They
included:.. Goderich G. Artil.
lery; Huron'Rifles; Seaforth
Infantry; Clinton Infantry; Bay.
field Infantry, Exeter Infantry;
Goderich Township Infantry. .
Following the military men
were Goderich firemen under
Capt. Bates and Chief Engineer
Saunders. •
At 11:30 elm., they marched
to the Square where "A great
assemblage had gathered to wit.
ness the inaugural' ceremonies"
His Worship, Mayor V„Det.,
ler, called upon Rev. Canon El-
wood who, dressed in his robes
of office, gaye the following
prayer: • •
"Almighty God, from. whom
all power is derived, we humbly
beseech Thee to bless Thy ser.
vant,--the •Golernor General of
the Dominion of Canada. Grant
that he may .use the sword,
which our Sovereign Lady the
YOU SAN BE "SOtE"
IF IT'S
Westinghouse
WE'HAYE SQ,ME,,.ATER MODELS IN 'STOCK
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SEE
WILF
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THE OLDEST
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Square
queen hath committed into his
hand, with justice and mercy,
according. to Thy .blessed will,,
for the protection of this pea
ple, and the promotion of true
religion amongst us. Enlighten
him with Thy grace; preserve
him by Thy providence, and
encompass him with Thy favor,
Bless, we beseech Thee, the
whole Council; direct their con.
sultations to the advancement of
Thy glory, the -good of , Thy
church, the honor of Her Maj.
esty, and the safety and "wel.
fare of this Dominion. And this
we humbly beg in the name
and through the mediation of
Jesus Christ, our only Red.
eemer and Saviour, . Amen."
Mayor" Detier then read the
Proclamation by the Queen. He
rejoiced that he had lived to
see tlfe country become great
and united. Thiswas followed
with an address by M. C. Cam.
Brun.
At precisely noon, the vol-
unteers took up a position on
the lake bank. The cannon on
the ,Point was prepared by
firing party. •When the wor
was given, a rousing "feu de
joye" was fired, the roar of
cannon frora thee oint dud' the
two gunboats in the harbor be•
ing 'mingled with the sharp
rattle from the volunteers' rit•
les;, The shady banks of the
Maitland River . were thronged
with a gaily dressed multitude;
The gunboats were decorated
with streamers; the Union
Jack waved from every avail-
able point and the long .tine of
volunteers completed a picture
of surpassing beauty.
Atter hearty cheers*, a new
schooner was launched at the
harbor. This was followed by
boat races.
•All day and during the even.
ing, the steamers, Silver Spray
_apd Clinton, took short exour.
sions. out into the Lake. ` A
program of sports was staged
on: The Square. M"isic for .the
day - was provided by the Bay.
field Band. - in the evening,
The Cool Burgess Minstrels
gave a concert. A number of
the Good Templars hada straw-
berry festival at Galt's Point.
The Colborne Inn was specially
illurhinated as were its many'
customers.
Thea town firemen ended the
day's festivities with a torch.
light procession, about 11 p.m.
Tlie float built, around a 1934 Hudson proved
to be the prize winner for F. E. Hibbert in the
1937 Old Boys Reunion parade, A ramp was
built all .around, ,the ,car , on which seven
participating bathing beauties could walk" or
stand. Three: of the 1937 beauties seen are
left to right, Helen MacEwan, Mary Thornelow
and Babe Webster;
These seven girls helped the entry of F.E.
Hibbert win over all other entries back in '37.
Left to right are Phyllis Baechler, Mary
Thorneloe, Helen MacEwan, Agnes Thorneloe,
Marion Chapman, . Grace Osgoode and Babe
Webster.
• /
View from Goderi•dh's St. George's Church spire, looking south.
.i7�" r ' •ice ._ .._--`""""-' ;�
DON'T MISS THE CANADA CENTENNIAL
D HOME WEEK" CELEBRATIONS
IN
SATURDAY, JULY 1, .1967
10:30' a.m. Dedication of Centennial Park.
Gue,st_speaker:.J. Alex Hume. For
many years with the Parliamen-
tary Press Gallery, a Goderich old
boy. '
1::50 p.m Monster parade forming on• Agin
.Ave. and fi.nishing at Agricultural
• Park Where floats and also other
entries will be judged and prizes
awarded.
3:00 p.m. Beauty contest and variety en•ter-
tai'nrnent'at the Agricultural Park.
7:30 p.m. Monster Kinsmen -Lions Bingo at
the Arena.
8:30 p.m. Dance at Harbourlite Inn, spon-
sored by the Goderich Old Horne
Week Committee.
The Colborne,Township Centennial' Home
built before 1867. which has been renovated
and f}irpished in the style of 100 years ago
will be open from 1:09 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Admission, adults 25 cents; children 10 cents.
This house is situate& 11 , -miles south" of
Carlow. •
SUNDAY, JULY 2, 1967
11:00 a.m. SpeckatToririst Centennial Service -
at Victoria ,Street United Church.
Centennial dress ''and display of
antiques. Speaker: Rev. Leonard
. Warr.
-3:30--:7n:—Drum1Ytead Service at Court House
Park under the auspices of the
Goderich Ministerial Association,
the Royal Canadian Legion, Gdde-
rich Centennial Committee, Coun-
cil of the County of _Hurdn. -
Guest speakers: Rev. Harold J.
Snell of Riverside United Church,
London and the Rev. J. Ure
Stewart of Seaforth. There will be
several bands in attendance. ' Pre-
sentation of Gold Cord and Queen
Scout' awards to .a number of Girl
Guides and` Boy Scouts of Huron.
7:30 Special Tourist Centennial Service
at Victoria United Chureh. • Guest
speaker: Rev. Anne Graham.
p.m.
Colborne Centennial Home—See July 1,
1967 for details.
MONDAY, JULY 3, 1967
- 2:00 p.m. Old School Days -- Meet your old
friends and desk mates at . the
Victor Lauriston School arid see
the collection of old school books,
atfendarice rolls, group pie -hires
on display there and enjoy the
refreshments to be provided by
JULY
ist-8th
O:DE RI'CH
the Goderich Home and School
Club.
1:30 p.m. Boy's Bicycle Race—Boys 8 to 13
over a ' five -mile course starting
and finishing on the Square at
West Street. Prizes to the first
three finishers.
2:00' fern. Girl's' Bicycle Race—Girls -a to 13
over a three-mile • course starting
and finishing on the Square at
W'r'est Street. Prizes -to the first
,three finLhers.
Monday is Ladies' day and the -girls have
promised us 'sone special entertainment, the
nature of which will be a surprise.
Gigantic Midway will open Monday after -
.noon and will continue throughout the meek ,r
on the Square. This Midway features' numer-
ous rides and gamesand is the best operating.,
on the Midway circuit in Canada.
TUESDAY, JULY 4,1967
19:00 a.m. Motorama featuring Antique Cars
and , Experimental Models pre-
sented by the -Goderioh Rotary
Club at the Arena.
1:00 p.m :to 12:00 p.m. Midway ion the
86*. . ' 4.
8•:30 p.rn. Fastballgame at the Agricultural
Park. Huron County All Stars
against Goderich Town League
All Stars.'
8'30--p.-m,--CKN n. -D an ee -at- the- rena,
sponsored by the Goderich Rotary
Club.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1967
1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Colborne Centennial
• Home. (See July., 1,. 1967, for
details).
1:30 p.m Harness Racing at the Agricul-
tural Park. Ten heats. Betting
privileges. Sponsored by the Gode-
rich Trotting andAgricultural
Society and the `6•oderieh Old
Home Week Committee.
2:00 p.m , Old School Days. (See Monday,
July 3, 1967, for details).
8:30 p.m. Monster bingo at Harbourlite Inn,
sponsored by Goderich Lions Club.
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1967
1:00 p.m. • to 1240 p.m. --Midway on the
Square. -
This would 'be a good day to take in the
Huron Pioneer Museum on North Street which ,
will be open ail through the week.
8:30 p.m. Dance to Romping Ronnie Haw-
kins at the Goderich Arena,
Ronnie will be backed up by
Goderieh's own Win Jammers,
• sponsored by Goderich Lions Club.
7:00. 'p.m. Goderich Industrial Softball
League at Agricultural Park.
DRMCO' vs. Robinson.
"9:00 p.m. Kinsmen vs. Firemen.
FRIDAY, JULY 7,1967
1x00 ,:p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Midway on the
Square. There will be clowns in
attendance oto entertain the chil-
dren.
' During tile evening the Centennial Heln-
oopter and Communications Systems will"
visit the Agricultural Park: The " exact time_
is uncertain, Free admission.
SATURDAY, 'JULY •.S, \1967
• 1:00 p.m. ,to12:00 p.m': ' Mitlw - on the,
Square.
to 9:00 p.m.Colborne Centennial
Home. (See July. 1, 1967, for
details): ,
Old School Days. (See July 3, 1967.E
for details). ' .
Fast Ball Gaine between NHL All'
Stars and Goderich All Stars at
the Agricultural Park. The NHL
All Stars include Gdderich's- own
Larry Jeffrey, Paul Henderson
Gary De.ak, plus many other well
known NHL layea-s. The NHL
All Stars will -be aval, a Ie for
autographs prior to Vlie I game.
Immediately before the' game the
Goderich Fire Department and
the Seafhrth Fire Department will.
engage in a' tug-of-war eontest.
At the conclusion of the game ,the
two brigades will meet in a water
fight with high pressure hoses.
Planting Centennial Oak in the
Court House Square. This oak
being presented, by . the Banker
family' is a graft of a tree planted
at Windsor Castile to- celebrate the
Coronation of his late Majesty
King George V and Queen Mary.
Grand Finale Free Street
Dance on the Square featuring
Square Dancing, There will• be a
large number of old time fiddlers
pro iding ente'rtainment. During
the coii'rse.of the dance prizes will
be awarded to the best male and
female participants dressed 1
period costumes and to the be
boy and girl to period costun'i
At the same time prizes will bar
awarded for the best decorated
store or' shop window.
1:00 p,ro.
2:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
•
8:30
8:00 p.m.
GODE►RICH OLD HOME WEEK COMMITTEE
.C1 a
Chairman;„ J. K. Hunter; Vice -Chairman: Reg Bridle; Secretary: Karen Sturdy.
embers: ,William W, Ross, JohnWhetstone, Thomas Campion, Tony Bedard, Murray Hetherington, Larry t'lonffe, Raymond
ate moi d Gordnn,Crawford William Hughes, Edward Stiles, Jack Gould, Mike Rogers, Fred Salter, Maurice Gardiner,Gordon
Walters.
•
41.
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