HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-08-27, Page 4GODERAM §IGNAI;STAR, THURSDA'i*'4.YOUST i'1,1470
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Kingsbridge nostaigia,A
1
Another Kingsbridge Old .Boys'
Reunion has come and gone. But/or the
native ,sons arid • daughters, who returned
from distant centres to drink once again
from the picineer vvells 'of theirhappy
childhood days, nostalgia , lingers on. v
Those who were Unable to return for the
reunion were there in spirit, at least, even
though they were at their new homes in
various parts of this continent and
beyond.
Visitor's were present, to mention some
areas, from Florida, ,.Quebec, British ut
Columbia, Lalifornia, Michigan, Maryland,
Minnesota,.Pennsylvania and Holland.
, The nature of Kingsbridge is such as to
mark it'as a distinctive spot with a Strong
community spirit.. From pioneeti:. days it
was solid' with settlers ,of „Irish descent
from Kingsbridge horth to Kintail. From
there on north ...the Scotch Settlers took
over. Down through the years these
settlers.of two different races lived most
.amicably together. Since World War 11
Dutch immigrants have taken over abotfer
75 per cent of the farms once.inhabited
by the, Irish and Scots. Progressive
farmers, the Dutch are perpetuating the
Itingsbritige7-...virit, ;wen:-'tottr ivrnight
be in somewhat different rnanner.-in
'bygone years, :Kingsbridge had the ,flavor
of lively fun and fighting Irish. Naturally,. -
-the -native sons -and -datighters-who-return.
to Kingsbridge today find that the passing
years have brought many changes to the
Soenes Of their childhood.
• But the _Kingsbridge Geneological
'Society can be depended upon to
perpetuate for - years to come happy
reminiscences of former residents at
Kingsbridge.
0.13i-TObably the most impressive parts of
the recent reunionprogram wereHaying
of 'a Memorial wreath and two minutes of
silence at'thecemetery; the sentimental
serrrfon at the church by Rev. Fr. Ralph
O'LoughTip csb; , now of Indianna;
reading of a history .of Kingsbridge by
Marianne Frayne; a poem describing the
way in which `formerresidents thought of
Kingsbridge and read by Joseph Sullivan.
The original settlers in Ashfield
Township, composed' of Scotch and Vish
, in abdut equal numbers, side by side
subdued - the forests and created
agricultoral lands.
As Ashfield was not included in the
block of land purchased by the Canada
Company, the tide of immigration 'which
flowed into that Company's lands did not I
extend up into Ashfield until .about1842.,,
First nearest settlement in the area was at
-Port Albert where it was thought a ft -
bustling harbor would one day be created.
Amongst the pioneer settlers in the M.
Ashfield district were such ,.names as :1
Dalton, O'Neil, Sullivan; Martin, Dean,
Austin, Griffin, McCarthy, Flynn, Nosey, FZ:
Lurnbar4.
McJerze, PAGregor.
At one time there were as many as two
score children 'attending school_ at
Kingsbridge all having the farnily name of
Dalton. 'The teacher or teachers had a
difficult time placing all the Christian
names correctly.
And so life with its changes goes on in
the Kingsbridge area. But whatever 'the
changes, you can count on it that "There
will always be a Kingsbridge."
Mad by paper kite
An Old letter has -beerr-unearthed---in
Montreal which has present day interest
because of the staggered mail strikes
causing havoc clear acrossOanada:
' A picture of the envelope appears in
this week's paper and also a typed copy of
the letter which the envelope contained.
it Was _despatched from Goderich on
March 18, 1848 - about 122 years ago -
and arrived at Stratford on March 20th.
The hand stamp on the front of the
envelope is faint but plainly ,discernable,
althougly it does not show uP so well in
the. photograph. The letter is signed. by
George Kennedy, believed to be a minister
in Goderich at that ti'me. It was addressed
to Rev. W. Dignam, a.Wesleyan mjnisteroat
Stratford. 0•
• Most interesting thing in. the letter is
the postscript which reads: "This, of
Course, will have. a. speedy passage. The
Wind is fair and it is carried by a PApER
KYTE."
A letter carried frOm Goderich to
Stratford, a distance of about 45 miles as
the crow flies,' by e PAPER KYTE!
Amazing! A • truly heavenly message
between two ministers!
Although the postscript definitely
mentioned a "paper kyte", the Montreal
man, Charles P: DeVolpi,- wanted to be
reassured that thek, letter was, actually
--#3)
-carried-bra-paper kite', Some years ago he -
wrote to The Signal Star to inquire if any
mention of rthis feat wets to rie--found in
The Huron Signal Of 1848. A search
through 0 The Signal failed to reveal Such a
news item unless it appeared in a
Stratford newspaper at some later date.,
Mr. DeVolpi claimed that if the incident
were true it would be Canada's first. "air.
mail.- -
Personally, we are inclinedto regard
this paper kite air mail as being untrue.
Many would label such.an alleged incident
as ridiculous. But then, isn't the preient
plan of staggered mail strikes becoming
somewhat ridiculous? Why not have any
hews items related to it in ridiculous vein
also?
-Business firms, annoyed by intolerable
conditions created by these mail strikes,
are searching for means -to replace the
long, established posealilserVice. One of
these days they just might come up with
something although we are - rather
, confident, that the something yvill not be
mail by paper kites. Ina few Veers the
. upper atmosphere may 'become so
polluted. the kites would lose their way in
the .smog. Particularly theisinog produced
by the smoke from all the pew -industries
which are supposed to be corning to
Goderich.
Remember When ? ? ?
601( EARS AGO
Cost of a proposed' sewer on
St. Patrick's Street 0 between
Waterloo and Arthur streets, was
estimated at $300.
The estimate of expenditures
for public school purposes for
. the year was given as $8,500 by
A, 'Walton, -secthtary ..of the
board.
Council was recommended to
set a rate of 25 mills, including 6
mills fortlie Khool rate.
The town wondered what to
do with a Hungarian jewess and
her three children who had been
depending on the town for their
bread and butter for the past
month.
Wm. J. Afford, 33, an
Englishman who came,. to
Goderich from Peterboro and
who had been employed in the
construction of a .new elevator
for the Western Canada Flour
Mills, was drowned at the
harbor.
- 25 ViARS AGO
More than 1,000 persons
attended the "penny fair" held
by Ahmeek Chapter LO,D.E.
Mrs. J. • W;.-toates,- treasurer,
reported receipts of.$601.31.
. -
Huron County Council held
its first picnic since the begining
•of World War II. Oldest person
present was Dr. J. W. Shaw of
Clinton. Warden Alex Alexander.
was chairman of the program.
A team skipped by E. J.
Pridharn captured chief honors
at a lawn bowling tournament at
Stratford. Other members orthe
rink were F. Wood, W. Hodge
and Mat Ainslie.
.• A duet was sung by Floyd
Lodge and Ralph Henderson.
The Sea Cadets of R.C.S.C.
"Courageous", of London staged
a regetta at Goderich harbor.
Participating in the regetta were
crews of various corps who had
trained during the summer at
,Kitehigarni Camp.
ESTASLISNIED ih` 123rct• YEAR
1$4.9 epoorrtril l'ignat-i)tar of .
Th. County Town'Nowstiopor of Huron —in— • PUBLICATION
Published at GOderich, Ontario every Thursday morning 'by 4
• P.O
t
RONAL Prude, managing editor
SHRLEV J. KELLEk women's editor -
10VVAcita, rilisKt; titivettittrig-iiarwieV1
Sig.nal.,Stat Publishing .4iraited
TELENIONE 524.8331 area code 5
,
• Dear Sin
he Mayor's letter in your
new paper was a surprise„ Dr.
Mills is an edUcated and
intelligent .persoli and as far as I
am eOncerned the dramatics of
his lines seem out of character.
The anonymous letter on the
'subject ,cif the ' town dump (or
dumps, as in reality we now he
two) was very Much to the point
and, obviouily written bya
seriously concerned resident
Had the TOwn Council shown
better results in dealing with this
important matter, such letters
Would not be necessary.
I did not get the impression
that the letter in question was ,
reviling anything or anybody
and I object to having it called
"a poison pen letter just as I
want tr.) make it ,clear that as
Vhuch as I respect the Mayor and
his office he most certainly 'did
not speak' on my behalf in this
matter.
I do not condemn honest
criticism,' of obvious facts (the'
old dump was closed and yet I
have seen clouds of smoke over
it on many, occasions during the
summer) and I do not. condemn
the local newspaper for printing
it. As a matter of fact, I feel that
the Editor is doing wh# , the,
Mayor, should be doing 'abbot
the dump.
13y the way, although the
Mayor sounds deeply hurt in
general terms, he does not say
• hi eit--vdeifre--p-Otnt•S r -
incorrect in the letter that upset
him. The Couneil rejectedSignalStar.
a closer 1
-,
and cheaper dump site itaavour Dear Sir:
Somebody has to act.
Whether it is the Mayor, the
Editor, the • Health Dept. or
ordinary citizons who feel
concerned enough to speak !IA,"
It seems unimportant; as long as
the old dump is positively
stopped *from polluting the Jra
and, being an eyesore as well as
health hazargoi0e-% .
How soon will the sinoke stop
O and the hillside be covered?
. Yours very truly,
Elsa HaydonO .
* * *
I overlooked thanking you for
the excellent coverage you gaVe
our concert in list week's paper.
We 0 had a very large crowd on
hand last Sunday evening and I
am sure the; cov rage played a
great part in the a tendance.
Thanks,
Don McMilhm.
Opinions
In order that Signal -Star •
readers might express their ,
opinions on any topic of
public inter,est, Letters to The
Editor are always welcome
for publication.
O But the writers of such
letters, as well 'as 'all readers,
are , reminded that. - the
opinions expressed in letters
isublished--are.not---necessarily---
the opinions—held by The
of- a-ctrnsiderabirdistant Enclose is a 'Cheque T5F-
-and very much more expensive renewal of my subscription to
one. Should we perhaps admire Ahe Signal -Star.
g: ,Photo of the old envelope which contained a letter despatched from Goderich to Stratford about
i 122 years ago, reportedly by means of "a paper kyte". At the'bottom, is reproduced from the
5,- letter the postscript in it which told of its being carried by what Was said to be "air mail". 1 *
= _ •
Rignmaamammaimmullitimunittimunamoutimmilitmmtimummaimimmumaiiiiiiiiimiliammilfaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmimmialimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii0
Cod firs -
the Council for telling us that
the difference -Would be $2,000.
— (why even that much more?)
and then Showing some $15,000.
increase in that item in the
budget?
Or should . we. adrnire , the
I do enjoy the paper, the
photographs are excellent.
Yours truly, •
- Mrs. C. J. (Bernice) Lsche •
Sebringville.
d0 0 0 0 0 Council for theoretically closing Deat Sir:
mail" from GloderkhI
. -
Canada's first "air mail- may have been .between Goderich and Stratford In the belief of Charles
P. deVolpi, General Manager of Perkint-Paper Products Ltd, 250 Laurentien Boulevard, Montreal.
While going through some aged correspondence Mr. deVcilpi came across a letter written on
March 18, 1848, by George Kennedy of Glxrerich,. to Rev. W. Dignam, a Wesleyan minister at
Stratford. ' , •
A postscript in this. letter, a typed Copy of which appears below, stated: "This, of coursewill
have a speedy passage. The wind is fair and, it is carried by a paper kyle."' The reference to the
letter being carried by a paper kite is what led Mr. ,deVolpi to the idea that it might have been
Canada's first "air mail". •
The photograph of the envelope which carried the letter appearsabove (See editprial also).
A 'copy of the letter is as follow„
Rev. W. Dignam
Wesleyarr,Minister
, Stratford, •
Huron District.
My dear Br., W:
- I have just now snatche-d--:a niontint, from a variety, as well as a number of duties that press
heavily upon me, in order to answer your business letter. I would have done so sooner but like °
yourself on a former occasion was from home when the letter arrived, and only came home two
days awo. I attended to the business yesterday as the receipt will show whichoI here enclose. I
received the 2/6 alluded to, there was no danger in .that quarter, he is a sterling man You -
mentioned in your last (prior to this) something about land, Mr. Gunday's land is at least 12 or 15
miles from Goderich, there is no want ofit at 8/2 per acre, but not any more convenient. I was
obliging enough (foolish enough) to lend him 30 pounds -lad 'July *to relieve a pressing want. I
believe his trunks were held in his boarding hoUse at Stratford; that seven pounds, ten _shillings I
had kept from the conference, CO- pay a debt I owed in August he prorriished to have it forthcoming -
by that time but alas I have not got it yet to put-on the climak I endorsed a note in the Goderich
Bank jointly ,with another of seventeen pounds, ten shillings. This, too, I had to pay, so you may
guess I have vgot enough of -Gundy. Judge Acklin told me a few weeks ago that, he and Lad
mot Gundy drunk between here and Stratford earlylast summer, which with other and,
instarces has been corroborated lately by several respectable persons. I learn too from John
Ryerson whom I Saw in Hamilton four weeks ago that there are yet a nuniber of brandy bills in the
Taverns around Stratford unsettled; and I learn from E. M. RSTerson that there are some about the
suburbs of, Brantford of a similar kind; there are also a number of little debts such as my own.so I
suppose he will have the honotir—Of standing not only before the Commons, but as you say before
the House of Lords!!! I will be one of the -prosecutors of,course, and' I will you may be 'sure do
everything I can to hang the scoundrel.
•
Our Missionary Meeting went off well, Dr. Willy rode the White
Horse as usual on such occasions and Daddy Waldron was sent with
him to say "Amen". Mr. Fletcher (Secession) assisted at the Meeting,
the Chapel was crowded to overflowing and many were necessitated
to go away forwant of room. • •
Your Mend John, Shaw is rather a strange character, he has,iately
allied himself to a blonite party that has seceded from us here, about
twenty in number that object to Meffibdist being a Church and of
course refuse our tickets, after trying every means I was under the
necessity of dropping_them. We have -had betweeii 30 and 40 added
to us this year' and, with the exception of this Elonite opposition we
are getting , along Nen, peaceably; I have not time to say any More, -
only that we are ail well.
Mrs. K. joins me in ,Warmest regards to you, Mrs. and Miss D. as
well as the little daughter.
Yours affectionately,
Geo. Kennedy.
Rev. W. Dignam
P.S. This of course will have. a speedy passage. The wind is fair, did
it is carried by a paper k9te. G. K.
• r'
741
.4,AV
44,1410: '41:.41117,t1
Sobacrintion Rata $6 a Vast -To 11.1.A. $/.80
ifrinern-ber When
10 YEARS AGO • *million dollar bridge were being
' Mrs, Douglas 114cNeil4 RR 6, readied for basic construction
Goderich, was the main prize work. The hillside to the south
winner of the Fun Fair Cooking of the Golf' bourse was being
School held in the G:D.C.I, bulldozed and levelled.
Auditorium. More than, 1,200 . . •
embryo _ chefs and cooks ONE YEAR AGO
attended the event, sponsored •
• Mrs. Jean Barnett won. the
Esimrwa„ .einviamenr- tiiiiver' show- of the Gbilerich
Li•li*L" tne forthcoming 'Horticultural Society. The judge
academic year was set at 475 was Mr.- Jim Burstomatondon"
,stodAnts3',4takt 1k:hundred -tuorew-o. Geolge tt*, Of
than 'a year ago. i,leW principal at
Indiatl
the school was to he Mr. Okal itentedr' *Or' 'on the
River
Day. • ' ' • 4
!loth aides of the MaitlanAd °*°h111111ePitil6wttaiswaiting
wt6ttirfishing
ril trh°inilig
River itipproaeheg to the new 1:1*" (itifiel'ich with 8"Pliedi
•
the old dump and then lettingl•
the 0 town trucks dispose of
• refuse on these premises? Private
citizens, industry, Works Dept.,
everybody seems. to be- lo
agreement that the new dump is
too far for convenience (and
open just two days a week).
Does anybody really expect us
to admire the wisdom of the
Council that placed the dump_
there? 4
'On the contrary, I cannot get
rid of a feeling that behind the
whole dump situation there is
somewhere something about
which we have not all the facts
and not the full truth out in the
open. And this is a good point to
remember that some councillors
were against creating the
situation in which we „now find
ourselves. _
I was very much interested in
the way our Mayor tried to
deflect attention from the, dUmp
to the citizen who wrote
enquiring about the dump, and
the editor, Who printed the
. letter. •
These 0 skirmish 'tactics have
been recognized as effective
-smoke screens ,for years. Added
to,„the,,, smoke atvthe old dump,
Whole, question should be
well hidden. ,
Our newspaper and our
Council have much to contend
_withr and do a very good job on
many of - their problems. But
there is a 1' question that rnany
eitizens , would like to have
clarified: what ,is the 'situation
regarding the dump(s)?
Mary B. Howell.
•
40
r;)
AT
LIFEI
By G. MacLeod .Ross
4.1
0.E.C.D.
West Germany has superseded the U.S.A. as the principal source of.
private capital for poor conntries. The average interest rate. is 2.7%
to 2.8%. •
WHAT IS GOOD FOR THIEU
What is good for Thieu is apparently going to be good for the U.S.A.
• Thieu requires a "residual force" of 50,000 Americans after 1973,
but what South Vietnam needs urgently is mdre money to pay the
army and soldiers' dependents.
pock STRIKE A0,- •
'The British dock strike was prevented from becoming a prolonged
tie-up by the • appointrnen,Lof a court of inquiry to arbitrate the'
dispute. While not binding;lhe decisions of such a court carry much
weight. Canada? ? ? ?'
BUY,:200LBS. OLARD
RECEIVE 2 LBS.
SAVE 20c lb. S_W_Irpotiv
D. CHUCK
advance)
SeconA. ,.."
a% (nail relitittation
0716
MADE FROWIYAO