HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-08-12, Page 20Page 20—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1987
OFF TRACK
In Off Track, the Youth Theatre production based on the School -on -Wheels story, a stu-
dent, played by Brad Milburn of RR2 Clinton, gestures wildly as he tries to explain to the
teacher, played by Tom Bailey of Blyth, why he was late for school again. Other
"students" are played by (left), Mark McDonnell of Westfield, Joanne Olson of Belgrave
and Rachel Thompson of Toronto. The production is staged at the Blyth Festival
workshop theatre on August 13 - 19. (Toby Rainey photo)
Story of School -on -Wheels to be told
by young actors in Blyth this week
BLYTH - An enthusiastic group of young
people have started work on a project which
will bring alive a unique segment of Ontario
history to their peers, and bring back fond
memories to many of the older generations
in the Blyth area.
For the eigth consecutive year, the Blyth
Festival is offerin>its summer program of
youth workshops, and this year's project for
the older group (12 years and up) will be the
story of Fred and Cela Sloman of Clinton,
and of the 39 years that Mr. Sloman spent as
a teacher on the travelling School -on -Wheels
which brought the only education they
would ever know to more than 1,000 isolated
children in Ontario's vast northland.
The story is special to Blyth since Mr.
Sloman's first school, in the early 1920s, was
the old Blyth Continuation School, now used
as an apartment building at the north end of
the village, and many of the older residents
in the area still have special memories of
their early schoolmaster, who was later to
become famous all across Canada.
Tom Bailey, one of the researchers in the
youth workshop project, says that the group
has not yet decided on the final format of the
play they will present on August 13-14,
because they are a bit worried about
creating "a character as huge as Mr.
Sloman, who would make it almost a one-
man show."
Instead, the young people may present the
School Car story from the point of view of
Mr. Sloman's student, which would give all
of them a chance to develop their own acting
and theatre skills, which is after all, the
chief purpose of the summer workshops, as
Mr. Bailey points out.
Leah Cherniak and Martha Ross, co -
artistic directors of Theatre Columbus in
Toronto, will lead the workshop, with -Ms.
Cherniak leading the group in improvisa-
tional sessions to flesh out the Fred Sloman
story, while Ms. Ross will help co-ordinate
the material and write the script.
Lisa Frayne, who was the leader of the
recently completed youth workshops for two
younger groups of children in the theatre's
summer program, will serve as stage
manager; while Mr. Bailey and Brad
Milburn will lead the group in researching
the story.
The research to be undertaken by the
young actors will include a visit to the actual
School -on -Wheels used by Mr. Sloman, now
located in Sloman Park in Clinton, where it
was moved five years ago after being pur-
chased by the Town of Clinton in honor of
Mr. Sloman's memory.
Now almost fully restored as a museum,
the School -on -Wheels is open daily
throughout the summer months, attracting
hundreds of travellers each year as its fame
spreads. One of Mr. and Mrs. Sloman's five
children, Margaret Sloman, has been the
Curator of the Car for the past two sum-
mers, and can provide a very special kind of
insight into the history of the school which so
fascinates its visitors.
Although Mr. Sloman died a number of
years ago, Mrs. Sloman is still bright and
lively at 90 years of age; living only a few
blocks from the final resting place of the Car
which was home to her family for so long.
During his initial research, Mr. Bailey spent
several hours talking to Mrs. Sloman, and to
The Blyth Citizen's Toby Rainey, another of
the Sloman children.
In 1985, CBC -TV presented the story of the
School -on -Wheels in an hour-long docu-
drama directed by Jim Swan and starring
Gordon Pinsent as the pioneer teacher; and
last year, Karl and Mary Schuessler wrote a
book outlining the role of the travelling
schools in Ontario's educational history.
The play to be presented August 13-14 and
will be a welcome addition to the ongoing
story of the Sloman School Car, and
Katherine Kaszas, artistic director of the
Blyth Festival, has made the suggestion
that the work done by the youth workshop
this summer may some day be re -worked
and expanded for presentation on Blyth's
professional stage.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A
GREAT FISHING PARTNER
Better Late Than Never!
Super Duper Scotty Cooper
Coming Events
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Thursday to Sunday from 5
p.m. to 1 a.m. Licensed outdoor patio overlook•
ing the Boyfield Marina. At the Harbour Lights
Restaurant, Hwy No. 21, Bayfield.
565.2554. 28-33
COFFEEBREAK. Enjoy coffee. fellowship and in•
formal Bible Study. Babysitting, storyhour pro-
gram included. September 17, 9.45 11 a.m..
Clinton Christian Reformed Church, Princess
St. 30.33x
SHOW YOUR QUILT! The Huron County Pioneer
Museum invites you to display your quilt in its
third annual quilt show to be held at The Livery,
South Street, Goderich, from August 22 through
September 7, 1987. Deadline for submission of
quilts at the Museum is August 17. Further infor•
motion available of the Museum
524-2686. 31,32ar
BE SURE to attend Bayfield Fall Fair. Friday and
Saturday. August 21 and 22. Call 236-4422 for
entries. 32,33or
BLYTH FESTIVAL presents OFF TRACK, created
and performed by the Young Company, inspired
by the Slomons and their School on Wheels. Per•
formance times: August 13 at 7:00 p.m., August
14 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. No admission
chorge; silver collection. Blyth Festival Garage
on Dinsley Street. 32ar
ALL CANDIDATES meeting for upcoming election
hosted by Huron County . Federation of
Agriculture, Monday, August 24. 8 p.m. at the
Hullett Central School, Londesboro. 32,33
BINGO - Vanastro Rec. Centre, Tuesdays, 8 p.m.
First regular card $1., 15 regular, $20 games, 3
share-the•wealth. Jackpot $200, must go. Lucky
Ball $240 (if not won). Lucky Ball increases $10 per
week. Admission restricted to 16 years and
over. tfor
CATERING - for complete satisfaction, let us
cater your next special occasion. Variety meal
plans. Captain's Cove Family Restaurant,
Bayfield, 565-2992. l0tfar
BAYFIELD LIONS and LIONESS CLUB Bingo every
Friday. Bayfield Community Centre. Door open
6:30 p.m. Early Bird 7:45 Jackpot. 24tfar
BLYTH FESTIVAL; GIRLS IN THE GANG: August
12, 13 (matinee), 20, 22 (final performance) BUSH
FIRE: August 13, 14, 18, 19, 21 (final perfor-
mance) BORDERTOWN CAFE and MISS
BALMORAL OF THE BAYVIEW are sold out;
however, 10 rush tickets for each performance
go on sale at 12 noon for the matinees, and at
6:00 p.m. for evening performances. All perfor•
rnances are at 8:30 p.m. except matinees which
ore at 2:00 p.m. For tickets; call Box Office at
523-9300 9225. 32ar
GOURMET DINNER, Saturday, August 22, 6 p.m.
Blyth Community Centre. The Board of Directors
of the Blyth Festival serve up their annual
scrumptious fore of Huron County delicacies,
Tickets ore $18. per person, available from Box
Office. Call 523-9300 9225. 32ar
00 4.0 sae as eta 00
I* BROWNIE'S DRIVE-IN
169 BEECH ST., CLINTON 482 7030
OPEN AT 8:30 P.M. - FIRST SHOW AT DUSK
a THIS WEEKEND: FRI.-SAT.-SUN., AUGUST 7-8-9
e
a
erwveaea►eeeeee ec € e e c e e€
A JO( CAMP F II M
a
a
O
from all your fishing buddies
on Buckhorn Lake
C1 ip it ! ®®®®�® i
BLUEWATER
CREATIVE NEEDLE
CLUB
EARLY FALL ACTIVITIES
TUES., ALIU. 23 30 p.m. • 10:10 p.m. at
Holmesville Public a Sc hool Auditorium
CRAFT EXHIBITIONS and sales by members
and guests; also 1 hour demonstration by
!MIS( RAFT of London; plus mini trade
show of fabric and c raft businesses of Huron
Cnty. Guests $1.00. Members no charge.
SAT., AUG. 29th • 9 a.m. - 1:10 p.m.
FABRICS ET(. YARD SALE corner County
sass
Rd. 11, ( ons. 10, CODERICH TWP. (across
4144411
seem from Middleton's ( horn hl at Don Mid- sale
0%to dleton's Whitehall Farm. Be early for hest
selection!
KJ TUES., SEPT. 22nd 7:45 p.m. Regular
• Meeting at Goderich Twp. Hall. Guest
1 speaker Audrey Stevens, 1 ondon (formerly
of Seaforth), whose specialty is making
Icustom made dress forms and tea( hing good
sewing ter hniques.
(Bill Hoy)
Happy 16th Birthday!
—Love, Brenda
•
FRIDAY
Sorvod from 5 p.m
FoaturIng Itallon
pont° dishot, full
NIGHT BUFFET
••
•
. 7 p.m. Every Friday Night.
food spaghot t 1, lasagna.
.alae ba.. $695
Adults • oo.
WEEKEND
ENTERTAINMENT
FAMILY BRUNCH
SERVED EVERY SUNDAY 10 AM - 2 PM
Includos sovorol salads. fruits, hot dlahos,
dossorts. All you can oaf.
i
4
SUNDAY BUFFET
SERVED EVERY WEEK
4 PM - 7:30 PM
FULL MENU WITH DAILY SPECIALS
including full salad bar ,
FRESH FISH DAILY
f4
••i
OPEN 7 days a week 11:30 am - 1 aro
except Sunday open 10 am - 7:30 pm
HIGHWAY 21 BAYFIELD
r .rte r.Y.t.ttos
563-2992
�.: .. Vsr< �.r.sr"t, .44
0000 W .
Fj
IMO
•-'
I
1I
I
1 SAT., SEPT. 26th BUS TRIP to WEIIESI EY
i APPLE BATTER FESTIVAL. Bus leaves Clin- t�
ro-• ton 8 a.m., home 6 p.m. $9.00 each. Don't •
otarat mics it! IV
SUN., O( T. 18th STRATFORD FESTIVAI
sisal
,is BUS TRIP. leaves Clinton 9 a.m., home 6 s—
p.m. This includes tour of the costume dept., I
talk & demo by the properties dept. head,
Doug Grass; brunch at Samuels; and the play
"Cabaret". $41. each. ( ome and ejov a good
I day!
TUES., O( T. 27th Regular meeting at
Goderich Twp. Hall, Holmesville. Guest
T.B.A.
Anyone is welcome to come. For further in -
2"® formation call Audrey .Middleton, phone
•r`�°1 482-9818 - after 6 p.m.
041
seed
east@z ° i
•
15 PIECES
OF DELICIOUS DIXIE LEE
CHICKEN
ken
®a=—®®C1Yp At
0010
NOW TILL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
D ir«s •(cot ei crfairs Orrsirfif it
fliti!'I,tii11 ttiiiiitt#tt3"#iiil
tenot
BAYFIELD AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY
731st FALL FAIR
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 i st
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd
Friday Evening - Chain Saw
Competition 7 p.m. Fair grounds
Arena ,ta pens - Exhibits & Lion's Bingo
Admission - Adults S1.00;
Children Free
S. - turdc y Afternoon - Parade 12:30 p.m.
Clinton Pipe B red
Huron County Warden - R,( bert IVIcEiurney
(will declare Fair open)
SPECIAL EVENTS -
rsehoe Pitching ®B. g Tyin. *Nail Drivin ., etc.
®Children's Fish Pond °Heavy Horse Show
*S ddle Club e4•H Clubs *P ultry siShee;s.
*Spec; I Events for Juniors
IN ARENA - Exhibits of Crafts: Quilts; Needlework; Fruit;
Vegetables: Baking; Canning; etc.
Arena Upstairs: Bayfield Llorrs' Club Games 8, Rides
2 P.M. BABY SHOW -:
Flowers and
Refreehrraerat Booths; Admission, Adults 52.00: Children Free
MD?
00
A