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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-08-27, Page 4GODERAM §IGNAI;STAR, THURSDA'i*'4.YOUST i'1,1470 11111u111 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