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Clinton News-Record, 1984-07-18, Page 27Page 4—Wiogham-Turnberry Bicentennial Foremost town followed at very 'short in- tervals by Peter and Archibald Fisher, Peter and Thomas Long, John and Thomas Gregory and Thomas Abraham. The two first named settled at "the plot" and built the first mill at the place or in the neigh- bourhood, and were the means of concentrating quite an amount of trade at the` spot and building up a village which at one time promised to realize thecalculations of the Government engineers by making Lower Wingham the real town. In fact, up to,within six or eight years ago, it was the chief place of the two in size and importance. -Since the impetus Wingham received by the proposed railways, which afterwards became a reality, lower town com- menced to retrograde, but it is still an unincorporated village of no mean im- portance, containing grist and saw -mill, cloth factory, three general stores, harness store, cooperage, two hotels, school and nearly 500 inhabitants. RAILROADS SPURRED A RAPID GROWTH As an illustration of what individual enterprise can accomplish, even in the building of large and prosperous towns, when supplemented by the ad- vantages of that modern civilizer, the railway, Wingham is one of the most (Continued from Page 3) successful examples to be found probably in all of Canada. We have already stated that up to the time of the agitation for the building of these roads (two branches of the Great Western Railway: the south extension of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce division and the Lake Huron and Buffalo division) the progress of Wingham had been slow and its history confined to the humdrum and monotony of the every- ' day experience of all country villages. The impetus given by the above movement, however, was simply wonderful, and the beautiful and busy town which now greets us has experienced the greater part of its entire growth and development within the past half dozen years, and this during a period of time the most of which has been a season of almost universal commercial depression, not only throughout Canada but throughout the United States and even the whole world — a fact which makes the progress of Wingham all the more to be wondered at. At the time of its in- corporation as a village, 1873-4, the population was just sufficient to warrant it, i.e. barely over 700, while at the close of 1876 it had in- creased to over 2,000 and it is now estimated that it con- tains at least 3,000, exclusing of Lower Wingham which increases the total by another 500. CENTRE OF TRADE The town has become an important centre of trade, while the manufacturing interests are rapidly assuming proportions of leading importance for a place of its dimensions. There are two very extensive grist and flouring mills, one with seven run of stones; one foundry and agricultural implement factory, where all varieties of the last named articles are turned out, except separators only; one very extensive furniture factory, which has already worked up a considerable export trade, including large shipments to Manitoba; three tanneries, of which one,' owned chiefly by Messrs. Hyman, the celebrated leather mer- chants off London, is a very extensive one and turns out in the neighborhood of 10,000 sides of sole leather in a season; one steam woolen factory in operation and another under construction; a carding mill; two large steam planing mills "and sash, door and blind fac- tories; extensive steam lumber, stave, shingle, lath and heading mills; four carriage shops, some quite extensive; a large number of blacksmith shops; a pottery; two brick -yards; two lime - (Continued on Page 5) r vAND WE'RE ERSARy -CELEBRATING WITH OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE! SAVE ON GLASS STORAGE JARS made in Italy. Wire clamps assure an air tight seal. Assorted sizes and shapes. SAVE ON BEAUTIFUL STEMWARE Glass stemware to grace any table. Five sizes all on sale. SAVE ON QUILTED PLACEMATS Several different styles and colours with piped borders, ruffles and lace trim. PLUS MANY MORE DECORATIVE IDEAS FOR YOUR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM, KITCHEN AND BATH BOUTIQUE Located at Hodgin's Lumber 357_3659 The North End of Wingham OPEN'MON. - FRI. 8-5:30. SATURDAY 8-4:00 PM 3oIiYWingham, TIRE SER �T ll�� KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY WITH THIS BICENTENNIAL SPECIAL: LIFESAVERTM XLM RADIAL • Our top quality steel belted radial • Styled and sized -to match most North American cars • Dependable handling and traction, mile -after -mile • Low Rolling Resistance tread com- pound for improved fuel economy AS LOW AS BROPHY TIRE SERVICE 11 John St. West Wingham 357-3712 \\\\ ®5IE O PRoc�s caphyl . 1. Ph®tog on \ phOt® 2:00 P'm`ends. V ; BacK by t