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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-12-06, Page 34PACK jFOOppICH 81CNAL8PAR. Tr1UpSDAV. UECeMne1 n. 1973 Inspector Tom of Huron County schools BY W. E. ELUOTT "The people of Huron want the school inspector to be a Christian and scholar and a gentleman. A drinker and swearer and shoulder -hitter and Sabbath desecrator should not be even mentioned in con- nection with So important and honorable a position." This from the Huron Signal of January 22, 1886. Dan McGillicuddy, editor and publisher, always knew what was best for town and county, and was never backward about offering guidance to public bodies: County council had five applications for the post of in- spector, and the Signal announ- ced that " "the two gentlemen with the best claims are Mr. Turnbull, Clinton, and Mr,. Tom, formerly of Exeter." Either, it said, would fill the position with honor. The school and printing com- mittee of county council dealt with this appointment. On January 28 a bylaw was or- dered, appointing J. E. Tom, ef- fective Feb. 15. On Feb. 5. it was recommended by the committee that James Turnbull be appoin- ted.1, Diligent search of the minutes discloses no further mention of Turnbull. Goderich public school board, which - evidently appointed its own in- spector, in March received an application from Mr. Tom. John E. Tom, better remem- bered as' J. Elgin ,Tom, perfor- med the duties of public school inspector for West Huron for 42 years before retiring in 1928: Evidently he met the yuelifications originally specified by the Signal, for the same newspaper, upon his death' in 1930, praised him for "great influence and untiring exertion in the advancement of education," active association with church work and the tem- perance cause and a lively in- terest in civic affairs. "In his passing," the newspaper said, "Goderich loses one of its most active and useful citizens." LOG SCHOOLS GONE The vacancy which necessitated appointment of an inspector in 1886 resulted from the retirement of Inspector Miller after 15 years. His doctor This is the schoolhouse of SS No. 5 Usbome, where J.E. Tom, future school Inspector, received his primary education. It Is on part of Lot 17, Concession 3, .near Exeter, and Is now the residence of Mr, and Mrs. Donald Wilson. (photo by W.E. Elliott) "PANT NYINArill AVE Yes you will save 20%n on all of sir stock WALLPAPER & PAINT Buy Now Everything You need for Your "Home improvement" 38 WEST ST., 00DERICH 524-8532 J+ - had advised against risking "another winter's travels." The windswept Lakeshore roads, he noted, contributed to the "sad tale" of school attendance, nearly half of the pupils enrolled attending school less than 00 days in the year. In his final year, 1885, attendance was 47% . Mr. Miller reported with pride that whereas in 1871 there had been 27 log schoolhouses in his inspectorate there remained in 1885 only one. The total of school sections was 83, of schoolhouses 85. The legislative grant was $5420. As to teacher' qualifications Mr. Miller reported four first- class certificates, 33 second- class and 67 third. In Goderich, there were no firsts. The inspectorate included Ashfield, Colborne, Goderich, Hay, Stanley, Stephen, Usborne and Wawanosh townships, and the village of Bayfield and Exeter. Inspector Miller reported 168 visits to schools by himself in 1885, and 251 by trustees. In the first years of his term, he had spent more than four hours on each visit. School inspectors "found it convenient to dine in . the homes of rural trustees, especially in the days of horse: and -buggy travel. J. W. Coulter, an academic • superintendent in the modern set-up, recalls visits from In- spector Tom to the stone school on the Coulter farm in Morris, where Inspector Field was also a "regular diner" at_ the trustee's house. (continued on Page eS) John Elgin Tom was appointed in 1886 (by county council) public school Inspector for West Huron, and served for 42 years, retiring in 1928. For some years he,was superintendent of Knox Sabbath School, and held various church offices, as well es serving on the library board and as a trustee of MacKay Hall. He died In 1930. try r LOVELA'S ST GIFT REMEMBRANCE - Whether N's a • MONUMENT • MARKIN • IlragCltrnpN' You are remembering a laved one: Let T. PRYDE.& SON LTD • Help you -decide on your memorial, requirements - to Goderich see- • Don Dino/ism 77 Hamilton .Sl. 524-8761 or • . Frank Mcllwain 524-9465 LOWER INTEREST RATES -,�m�' Now Available On 4ST. AND 2ND MORTGAGES Anywhere in Ontario On RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL and FARM PROPERTIES Interim Financing For New Construction 8 Land Development For Representatives In Your Area Phone SAFEWAY INVESTMENTS AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED (519) 744-6535 Collect Head Office - 56 Weber St. E. Kitchener, Ont. —We Buy Existing Mortgages for Instant Cash- 1 WE CAN'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED ANYMORE Recent events in the Middle East have underlined just how essential a dependable supply of energy is to the way we live. Present indications are that supplies of imported crude oil in Eastern Canada are barely sufficient to meet demand. If we can't maintain imports, real shortages of gasoline and heating oil could occur here in Ontario. But uncertain import supply isn't our only concern. Canada's own oil and gas supplies are being depleted. and cannot be renewed. To make sure we have enough energy for the future, and to give us time to develop alternative energy sources, we must make the best use of the sources we have now. L • Nobody has the right to waste fuel, or any other form of,— energy. The time has come to take a good, hard look at the way we use energy, and to use it wisely. Good energy habits learned now, especially by our children, will bring us comfortably through the winter, and pay off - in years to come. Let's get to work. ,, um mil mu mill am mil ii um on Nos iii moo in IN in Not NE Ns EN lim on Ns um us Eli 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • candoto conserve energy tyQ_ 1-7Your heating system. Clean forced -air filters once a month Bleed air from hot water radiators, fix leaks ❑ Empty the flue clean-out - CI Have the system Qhecked by an expert ❑ Insulate ducts and pipes in areas that don't need heat ❑ Glossy white radiators heat best ❑ A gravity air system with a single return works best with interior doors open. 8-13 Keep the heat in! Insulation pays, especially,in attics. o Fit storm windows, weather-strip outside doors 0 Keep fireplace damper closed,0 Use range hood ventilators only when necessary 0 If you sleep with the window open," close the door.❑ Close drapes at �,ght. ,...' 14-17 Use/ ��our thermostat. Each,degree youlower the thermo- stat cuts fuel consumption about 3% ' 0 It's possible to save b lurnin the Y 9 1111 MNNMMINMNMI NMI MUM --- Ell -- 11111 IMO= I" Save this check list and save energy thermostat down at night If you use a humidifier, you'll stay comfortable with less heat .` If there's a Shivery Sam in the family. suggest he wears a sweater. • 1822 Hot water. Insulate exposed hot water pipes • If your water heater has a dial, try setting it lower 0 A dripping tap wastes up to 175 gallons of hot water a month ❑ Don't use dishwashers till they're full ❑-Geherally, a shower uses less hot water than a bath. 23'32 Around the house. Are the door seals on your oven, refri9erator and freezer good? ❑ Don't use the oven if a toaster or fry -pan will do the job ❑ If you buy an electric heater, make sure it has a thermostat 0 Use lower wattage bulbs iLyou can D Use Christmas lights from 6 pm till bedtime ❑ Use pots that cover stove elements U Thaw frozen food before cooking O Defrost freezers regularly 0 A pressure cooker saves energy as well as time. 3339 on the road. A well-maintained car is an economi- cal car 0 Check tires and alignment O Prolonged idling wastes gas Can you use the bus? Or ride with some- one else? 0 Does your size of car really fit your needs?, o Over 50 mph, economy decreases ❑ Jack -rabbit starts waste gas 4O"44Around the farm. . A well -tuned tractor burns 1O% less 'fuel ❑ Underground or pressurized storage tanks reduce vapourization loss 0 Reduce tractor wheel slip and you save fuel ❑ Prol&nged,idling of engines wastes gas ❑ Can you turn yard lights off earlier? • 45-41 At work. Can the thermostat be turned down? 0 Can you turn off any lights? ❑ Has your company got an Energy* . Conservation Suggestion Scheme? We're: taking our own advice.' All Ministries and Agencies of the Ontario Government are doing their bit to conserve energy. Lighting and heating levels are being reduced in government buildings: a new emphasis is being given to economi- cal operation of vehicles; Ontario Hydro and the Ministry of Education are encouraging, consumers and schoolchildren to learn good habits in the use of energy. And that's just a beginning! 1 1 1. 1 1 1 1 111 1 111 11 11 1 1 1 Industry, business, homeowners, agriculture and government must all work together to conserve energy. If we each save a Iittle...We'II allsave a lot. of Ontatio Ir A r N A A