HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1971-05-13, Page 13n •
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George Tate Blackstock, Q.C., famed years ago as an
after-dinner speaker, appears in this picture (facing camera) as
aboui to perform that fuation. Second from his left 'is
Mackenzie, King, who, judging from his apparent age, would
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have been, M.P. for North York at -the time. The Occasion for
this formal dinner, and the date, thereofe.are not noW know.
The figures here shown are enlarged from a picture in Ontario
Aachives, Toionto.
Granimar School debaters
chose law and politics
' BY W. E. ELLIOTT
"Every little boy oy gal
• That's born into this, vvOrld.alive
Is either a little Liberal
Or else a little Conservative."
Onee'upon a time, in the days
when the foregoing was
el approximately accurate, George
Blackstock and Malcolm
Cameron were teenage -students
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at Goderich Grammar School,'an
institution which functioned'
with credit for, 30 years or more
—before.,„the Collegiate was built.
George, born in 1851, was a son
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of Rev. W. S. Blackstock, D.D., „ .
Minister ' of North Street
Methodist Church, 1870772.
Graeme Cameron, also born in
1857, was 'the eldest 'son ,,of •
Malcolm. Colin 'Cameron,
• Member for South Huron' in the
first four. , Parliaments ' 'after
Confederation and 'for many
• years afterward M.P. for West
Huron,
They •were clever lads,
evidently .. with some. -talent for -
debate, for which, the school "
offered opportunities. ,There is a
story, heard around Goderich
• years ago, that George on" one
..„..„,occasion interrupted . Graeme
with' the declaration: "I deny
the allegation anid defy i2the
allegator!" Then again, it' may
not have been original.
Graeme left ' the Grammar
School for Dr. Tassie's famous
- • , school' in Galt, studied law, was
called to the Bar and 'practised in
Goderich with his father's firm..
George went on to ,Upper
Canada College, studied law and
was called to the Bar when 22.
Later he was partner/ in a big
Toronto law firm whiCh through
the 'years changed its name often
and today is ',barely recognizable
as Fasken and Calvin, with some
29 members.
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Malcolm Graeme Cameron
early took an interest' in
* municipal and provincial affairs.
At ,27, and apparently without
previous council service, he, was
elected reeve, with concurrent
• membership in Huron county
courted, and held, that' office fpr
five years'. In 1890 he probably
• read.: in , the—Globe that George
Tate Blackstock had won fame
as counsel for Reginald 'Birchall,
tried and subsequently hanged
for the murder, in' an Oxford
• bush, of Fred C. BeriWell,
Englishman. This case, ` of wide
* interest at the time and Ie\ig
afterwatdi, was fought out before
Mr. Justice MacMahon in
• Woodstock city hall. Crown
prosecutor was B. B. Osleil ef
, „Toronto. -131ackSteck 'had been
appointed a Queen's :counsel in
t •R•
• the 'preceding 'year.
His father, Rev. Dr. W• illiam
S. Blackstock, after Serving 2,3
different, -charges in -the -course of'
40 years, concluded his ministry
at King Street Church, Toronto,*
and took superannuation in
1887. .He was stationed at
Brighton, No rthun;therland
County, when George was Wm.
in 1857; and after five
subsequent' stations dune to
Goderich in 1870. In 1873,4
went to Clinton for one year,
then 'served for a time in'
Montreal- Conference. He died.
on October 28, 1905, at the age
of 81, about the time George
was campaigning for, the
Conservatives in the Ontario,
general election. ,
Graerne,Cameron was elected
al mayor of Goderich in 1902, in
which year he , was appointed, a
King's.Counselautd*watkAlle
' West -HiironwSeat An thti Ontario
Legislature. By. 1903 he Vas
• living at "The Castle" on St.
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Malcolm Graeme Cameron, K.C., was several times mayor of
Goderich, twice represented West Huron in the ,Legislature,
and latei• was county judge of Northumberland—Durham. This
picture was probably taken about the time he was mayor.
George's crescent, which 'his
mother purchased from the
McDermott estate, . five years',
" after the death of fion. M." 'C.
Cameron. I/
When the. Ross (Liberal)
government was swept from -
office in 1905, along with most
of its followers ill the House,'
Graeme Cameron held. West
Huron,, defeating Dudley
Holmes, Conservative, by three
votes. William Proudfoot became
member for' Centre Huron in
1908. • G o de rich Cid-Zen:5
re-elected _Cameron as mayor in
George 'I'. Blackstock's
reputation as counsel in criminal
cases persists to this day, but
seenis based largely upon the
Birched case. It is'said by former
associates that, he Aid not seek
briefs of this kind„ and in his
firm they were mainly assigned
to Wallace Nesbitt, who wa's said
to be able to talk 'to juries "in
their own language."
A murder case of wide
.interest in' 'the. GoderiCh' area
brought Blackstock
the part of Crown prosecutor in
1911, when Edward Jardine was
tried before Chief Justice
Falgonbridge- for the sex killing
of Lizzie Anderson. Blackstock
was° assisted by Huron Crown
Attorney, Charles A: Seager, and
defence counsel. was Loftus
Edwin Dancey, also of Goderich.
Jardine was convicted and later
hanged in Goderich jail. Short
bits of the hangman's rope were
cherished by some,,Goderich
residents' as souvenirs of, an
exceedingly sordid affair.
BlackStock became noted as
an after-dinner speaker and as a
eTibitider op�Tffhiii
platforms. He campaigned in the
1905, Ontario election which
,brought J. P. Whitney into office
as premier, and in, the 1911
Dominion contest, when he
debated the reciprocity treaty in
Massey , Hall with Liberal
opponents. He addressed the
Canadian Club of New York
With Sir George Poster and
Rodolph Lemieux' — surely
testimony to his repuration for
eloqnence.
In 1909 he was Crown
counsel at the Kinrade inquest in
Hamilton, an „affair. Whichiad
almost every aspect of a murder
trial, except thartheie was
licensed person. Nearing it
explosive conclusion, 'as this
'writer recans, I. Blackstoek's
eXtminatiori 'or Fitment*
Kinrade, sister of the dead girl,
lasted three hems
4',t:
"Do . you tell me; in this
solemn moment and in' thee
solemn circumstances," he
pressed, "that you know nothing
about who killed' your sister
,Ethel?"
"I do not know that' man,"
the4.witness replied. ;".
"Do you know anything
more about ' it than what you"
have told me?"
"No, nothing more."
- "Then that man did it or else
the' only persons in the hoese
were you and your sister Ethel,
and' if no man was there, 'then
you two, girls would be left
alone. That will do, Miss
Kinrade."
At this. point (,1:30 a.rn.),,the
witness collapsed and was
assisted from the ,rporn. She
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cried hysterically: "The man,
the man! He'll shoot me!"
That' tragedy was never
cleared up.
Long before these eyents,
Blackstock sought a seat in the
Legislature; and 'if. successful
might have found himself
opposite his former schoolmate,
Cameron. Probably he tried too
sOon. In 1884, at. 27, he. was
Liberal _candidate in Lennox and.
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unsuccessful. Three years, later
he opposed Hon. Edward Blake,
Liberal leader in the Commons,
for the West Durham seat, losing
by only 116.
In the 1891 general election
— John A. MacDonald's last.:
contest — Blackstock was again
candidate in West Durham,
losing to Robert Beith, noted
livestock man of Cobourg, by
198. It was three times and out
for Blackstock, still only, 34
years of age, while Graeme
Cameron, upon entering his first
political campaign in 1902, was
45. He had married Flora
McLean, and when Mr. Cameron
was appointed coUnt,y__judge_oL.,
Northumberland -Durham in
1920' they went to live at'
Cobourg..
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Blackst:ock varried; in 1880,
Emeline Moulton Fraer,"who
divorged him in 1896: He died in
19.21, aged 64. Judge Cameron
died iu 1925, aged.:, 68. Mrs.
Cameron .returned to Goderich
and resided for some- years on
Gloucester Terrace:, They had
one daughter, Mrs. John
Robertson, now widowed and
residing in Metro Toronto.
The lives ,of these two men
afford interesting parallels and
equally interesting 'variance.
Both were, 'men a impressive'
personality, "learned in the
law," talented speakers and
'individuals of 'great . intellectual
virility.
124th YEAR - 19
o tritb
SIGNAL
Creitots of Time Cottage
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vt#!0 ",11,734,11144,1,,Plet
The, creators of Time Cottage
at Saltford celebrated their '60th
Wedding anniversary Saturday;
May 3. The couple was married
Knox Presbyterian Church by
the Rev. George E. Ross May 3, 1
1911..
The bride, was the former
May Wilson, daughter of Mr.; ad
Mrs. Bernard Wilson and ' t
groom was the son of Wrn.
McCreath.
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Presently residing at 108
Montcalm St., the couple haVie
two children, a son, Wilsob
McCreath and a daughter, Mr4.1
Howard Fowler. There are three
grandchildren and six great
grandchildren.
Mr. McCreath is a veteran, of
the First World 'War. He is' a
member of the session at Knox
Presbyterian Church and_for
many years was registrar forthe
Kintail Church Camp.
Both'Mr: and, Mrs.'McCreath'
are interested in ' the historical
past. Mr. McCreath was a
member of the Historical
Society and, was, an assistant .to
the late'Herbie' Neill who
established Huron County
Pjoneer Museum in Goderich. It
was through Mr. McCreath that
many itenA were donated to the
now famous museum and -he is
still vitally interested 'in the
enterprize,
The restoration of Dunlop's.
Tomb 'in Colborne -Township
was made., partly through the
influence of glr. McCreath,
The couple created Time
Cottage in Saltford beginning
about '1930. The cottage wa a
log cabin brought from the
Auburn area after Mrs. McCreath
had noted it while on a drive one
day with lier husband and had
remarked that the little building
'would . be nice down' by tne
Maitland.'? •
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1971 .
..74404-mormoopmpoLswk' •-•
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a on
an
T lot upon.' which' Time
Cottage located is adjacent to
the site where salt was' first
discovered in Maitlandvilie, now
Saltford. Mr, and Mrs. McCreath
ived there for 17 years and
during that time directed inTly
tourists through their gardens
and home which according to
Mrs. McCreath • was "just like a
doll's house."
couple'piece and her
husband, Mr. and Mrs. Randall
Marriott took up residence in
Time Cottage when the
McCreath's moved to their
preSent address.
Mr. McCreath was also • a
member of the Huron County
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Mrs. Wm. Porter .presided at
the Goderich' W.I. meeting `in
MacKay Hall, Thursday, May '6.
Mrs. Allan McTaggart was at, the
piano.
The roll call was answered by •
"Naming a country you would
like to live in", with 31 members
and two visitors present:
•Trie . secretary -treasurer's
report was read, by Mrs.
Elizabeth .Sitter. Proceeds from
the bake sale were $48.19.
• Thank Y.. notes were'
received from -Mrs. Bullen and
Mrs'. Albert Oake.
A request for -assistance was
received from the Girl Guides
and it was decided to donate
$10 to them. \
Mental Health
Peppy Bags
Children's Aid Society board, of
directors. and 'was chairman of
the Colborne Cemetery board
for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. 'McCreath
celebrated quietly' Sunday, May
4 at a, family 'dinner in Tiger
Dunlop Inn attended by, all their
family except one grandson,
Robert Fowler, a member °fine
National. Band who Was unable
to be present. The group later
moved to the Howard Fowler
home for a relaxing evening.
The couple received a plant'
and a silver tray from the Town
of Goderich; telegrams from Her
Royal , Highness Queen
Elizabeth, Prime Minister Pierre
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a
el'aliv-a0sVittAVAtilk,yoixtzvo,9411,:1kt,"
Elliott Trildeau, Robert
MOKinley MP and Hon. Robert
Stanfield; 'a plaque from the
government of Ontario and ,
Preriaier William Davis presented
by Hon. C. S. MacNaughton; a
letter from Hon. C.' S.'
MacNaughton 'and Mrs.
MacNaughton; and several long
distance telephone calls and
many cards.
Also on Sunday, Mr'. and Mrs.
McCreath visited Time Cottage
and had their'Diamond Wedding
Anniversary picture taken by the
fireplace in the same setting as
Mrs. McCreath's parents had had
their 60th wedding anniversary
picture taken over 30 years ago.
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makes donations, announces plans
should be handed'in at' the June
meeting.
Recommendations VOM the
Program 'Planning meeting, held
at the home of" Mrs. Elizabeth
Sitter, were adopted as follows:
A dessert card party .willbe held'
in, March, 1972, as near the 17th
as possible; "Come As You Are"
teas will be held in the homes of
as many members as possible.
The W.I: will sponsor a bus
trip for-SeniOr Citizens to the
Falls Reserve Park, the date to
'be decided in June.
A donation of $25 will be
sent. to MacDonald
Expansion Fund.
card of. thanks will'be sent
•to Mr.' Pollock of the Mill End
'Store, for free space for the ,bake
sale. • •
a
West Huron° District annual
meeting' of the W.I. will.be held
aptelegaLtoensdetsobotrhoi,s°
mMeeaty31.
ing will
include: Mrs. Wm. Porter, Mrs.,
Geo. Morley, Mrs. R. H. Wilson
and Mrs. Norman Clairmont, as
Mrs. Elizabeth Sitter's assistant,
Mrs. Bert Mills. Courtesies will
be given by the Goderich
branch.
• Mrs. 1/. J. I Cantwell was :-
reported ill at home.
There were two birthday§:"
• There will be a bus trip to
'Ontario Place in Toronto,
Tuesday, June 8. Details will be
announced later.
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A membefship in .the Huron
County HigOrical Society will
be purchased.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sitter gave an,
excellent repOrt of the Officers'
Conference at Guelph.
Mrs. Wm. Porter gave a
demonstration 'of 'making purses
frOm yarn.
Mrs. Jack Cook,. program
convener, displayed articles from,
'Barbados and told of, their trip
• ‘there in March.
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Mrs. Geo. 'Morley, first
v i c e -p resident, closed the
'meeting, Mrs.' Win. Porter and
her committee served lunch, and
a social hour was enjoyed.
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Bill Conhrane (about to exit through the window) plays the
pe+,
father of :the','bridti• in 'the -tht
ird , 'this
'weekend's production of the Goderich Little Theatre in
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MacKay Hall.—His wife, Virginia Lodge, tries to restrain,, him,-
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while the. groom, Tony. McQuaik, sfed the .bride,,. Eigenor
Robinson, watch. This riotous "Om, should keep the
audiences in stitchei the whole, time. (staff photo)
eve—
yam"a.
Gail Sully portrays the old girlfriend and Warren'Robinson is
the old boyfriend, who is now a famous Hollywood producer, 4% rya.
in the tlelightfulsecond act of "Plaza Suite, Goderich Little
Theatre's -.this' year, „starting *mighti-,
MacKay, Hall, The director is Kathy Jenkins,and the play it a I
rollicking comedy which ould tickle the fancy' of most
theatre -goers here. (staff p )
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