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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-09, Page 24This ship was one of many that were wrecked and considered a total loss. She was named the "L.C. Waldo" when wrecked on Manitou Island, Lake Superior, during the November 1913 storm. She was salvaged and renamed "Riverton" in 1916. She was renamed again in 1944 and was called "Mohawk Deer". She was sold for scrap in 1967 but she was lost on the Atlantic Ocean while being towed by a sea -going tug across the Atlantic to be scrapped In Spain. (Photo courtesy of Ron Pennington) First annual memorial service today... • from page 2A Goderich beach. They were- all identified by their next of kin with the exception of the five who are buried in the unidentified seaman's plot at the Maitland Cemetery where the memorial service is being held today. THE SEAMEN'S PLOT "The seamen's plot has. been visited by many people over the years from out of town as well as by our own local people," says Mr. Pennington, "but I doubt if anyone has spent more time or visited the plot more often than I have over the years whenever possible." The whole thing has always been somewhat of a personal matter to him, he says, and sometimes he has visited .the plot for no other reason than -to clean off the footstones at • the • foot of each of the five graves and to read again the inscription on the large monument marked Sailor. The footstones all have the names of the ships the sailors where on, in- scribed on them , (one John A. McGean and three James Carruthers). These names were stenciled on the life- jackets which were on the bodies of the drowned seamen when they were found on the beach at Goderich. One footstone has "Kintail" inscribed on it. This body had 'a life- jacket on it but there was no name of any ship' on the life -jacket. The body was found on the beach somewhere between Goderich and Kintail and therefore .could only be identified as Kintail. "For many years I had often wondered if something more could be done in remembrance of these lost seamen who apparently had no next of kin to come forward and identify them. If these five men had been identified, thW would no doubt. have been taken to their own homes and their graves looked after with flowers or wreaths placed year after year and they would have been . recognized as having been Someone," says Mr. Pennington. Mr. Pennington then decided to approach town council asking that the same respect be ac- • corded to the unidentified seamen as was given to those who were iden- tified..... The unidentified seamen's plot is located in a very nice place at the top of the hill on the right hand side as you enter the cemetery, says Mr. Pennington. "It is the only seamen's • plot that I have been able to find in any other cemetery along this side of Lake Huron. I have searched a number of them but most of the bodies which were washed ashore were identified and taken to their homes. There are supposedly four or five more bodies in Kin- cardine Cemetery but there are no markers of any kind and even their exact location, up to this time, is unknown," continues Mr. Pen- nington. However,. Mr.. Pen nington say thatia bias' spoken to an interested man of office in Kin- cardine who will look into the situation and it is hopefulthat the unidentified seamen's graves there will be located and marked. in some way in the future. "We should be proud to have the always tidy and beautiful cemetery here that we have, thanks to Mr. Elgin Chambers, caretaker and his staff, and to have the only seamen's plot on this side of lower Lake Huron which has so much history attached to, it," says Mr. Pennington. "The cemetery staff can only keep the grass cut and kept as tidy as possible. They are not expected to do more than this. Therefore, I felt it was about time someone looked into it to see just what could be done to beautify the plot more and preserve the dignity of the unidentified seamen and the history behind them" he con- tinues. Mr. Pennington felt 'that if something was not done, that future generations in time would know nothing about the plot or the Great Storm. "After giving this much. serious thought for so long, I just suddenly decided that the plot was not going to be neglected and forgotten if I could db anything about it, even if it meant getting per- mission from the, proper authorities to do something or my own," says Mr. Pennington. TO THE ELECTORS OF ASHFIELD TOWNSHIP I consider it a privilege to have served as your Reeve for the past four years. 1 would appreciate your vote for Reeve of Ashfleld Township o'n November 13, 197i1 and assure you, If re- elected, that 1 will continue to serve you faithfully to the best of my ability. Sincerely WARREN ZINN "But now, however, thanks to our town - council and the cemetery board," he says, "the unidentified seamen's plot is going to get the attention needed and will undergo a complete "brightening up" with more engraving on the present tombstone and the raising up to the grass level again of the foot - stones on each grave (they have sunk down into the ground over the years)." "All of this work of course is not expected to be done immediately because of the lateness of the season? but it is being done," continues Mr. Pennington: He says he is very pleased with town council and in particular with councillor Haydon Jot— the work that has already been done at the plot since he brought it to council's attention. It was not a matter of '`Ccjl}ncil being unwiing anything, the the councillors just didn't know about the plot, says . M°r. Pen- nington. MYSTE RIES Many of the ships lost in the Great Storm are still sunk in the Great Lakes somewhere. Only one or two have ever been found. Most of the ships in the storm were carrying grain, iron ore or coal. Both American and Canadian ships were involved and a lot of bodies were found (all later claimed) in the Ports Franks, Thedford and Zurich areas. Although the ships were well-built in the days of the Great Storm, there were no' means of advance weather casting as there are today, says Mr. Pennington. When the storm started, it would be difficult to launch life boats. There are a lot of mysteries still connected to the Great Storm, says' Mr. Pennington. One life boat washed ashore at Bayfield with the frozen bodies of seamen from two different boats on it. This could be an in- dication of a crash bet- ween two boats. In one of Captain Sinclair 's stories about the Great Storm, he reports • that seven unidentified bodies are buried at Goderich.. But Mr. Pennington tells us that two of these seven were later identified. Mr. Pennington thinks the unidentified seamen's plot should be mentioned someway, in the museum and the jail here as tourists might find it worth visiting. ' The Great Storm could take days to talk about, says Mr. Pennington and he would be happy to talk to anyone, about it. It is a part of our history, however tragic, and he is hopeful that it will never be forgotten`. Murphy resigning James Murphy, artistic managing director, of the Huron Country Playhouse, announced his intention to resign at the conclusion of the coming Summer Season. Bill Amos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Playhouse, accepted the resignation with regret at, its year-end. ,, eetiing on October 30, 1978. , James Murphy, who along with Bill Heinsohn, founded the Playhouse in 1972, has served as ar- tistic and managing director since that time,` Mr.' Heinsohn servedas., executive producer. for three seasons and has remained active . in the board of trustees since that time. The Playhouse started in 1972 as a small tent operation and has developed into the largest summer theatre of its type in the Province, with physical assets valued at. $350,000 and an annual operating budget in the area of $250,000. The 1978 season achieved an 80 percent capacity with a $30,000 increase in ticket. sales over the previous season. James Murphy told the Board he was leaving the Playhouse for personal reasons. He said he has enjoyed his seven years of "complete and' total involvement"; with the Playhouse and looks forward to the 1979 season which he hopes to announce shortly after the New Year. EXPERIENCED AND SUCCESSFUL IN -Planning -Community Work -Organizational Work -Business Administration TO SERVE YOU NOW AS YOUR COUNCILLOR JAMES 0. MAGEE Special Carpet Cleaning Offer S 4 9 95 Get your living room and dining room carpeting cleaned now by the Steamatic professionals for one low price, only 549.95. Offer effective until Nov. 30th. Phone Stearriatic E ?LIPfATIC� sT Cleaning Service thc t� t it ck�;lllill! scrvicc. 524-2.260_ GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1978-*PA0E 3A New assistant at Bluewater W. T. Gregg, Facility Director of the Biuewater Centre, is pleased - to announce the ap-' pointment of A. E. Mountford as Assistant Administrator, effective October 25, 1978. Mr. Mountford was appointed to staff with the Ministry of Health in October, 1969, as an accountant. In 1970 he became the Financial Officer, a position he had held until his ap- pointment to Assistant Administrator. Mr. Mountford has had considerable experience inresponsible accounting positions. He is a graduate of both the Registered Industrial Accountants Degree course and the Canadian Hospital Association Hospital Organization and Management course. Mr. `Mountford is very familiar with the operations of the Bluewater Centre, having served as Acting Assistant Administrator during his predecessor's absence, and is well respected by everyone with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Mountford has served on the senior Administrative Advisory Committee, Ancillary. Program Services Committee, Support Services Committee and Canteen Committee:, It is expected that Mr. Mountford will have some progressive ideas to present to Mr. Gregg relative to the ad- ministration of Bluewater Centre, particularly in the ser- vice -and finance areas for which he will be responsible. It is also expected that he will be an honest, dedicated and experienced ad- ministrator who will be willing to test new ap- proaches and remain with the proven ones. Mr. Mountford is a good sportsman, besides being a good manager. His fondness for golf is reflected in his solid ability to play the game and it is hoped that he will continue to enjoy himself away from the Centre in other interests as he has in the past. .0N, NOVEMBER 13 - RE— ELECT JOE FRITZLEY FOR GODERICH TOWNSHIP COUNCIL Keep experience working for you. RE-ELECT X BILL CLIFFORD FOR REEVE "KEEP EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR YOU" 2 Yrs. Councillor • 2 Yrs. Deputy -Reeve • 2 Yrs. Reeve • Chairman of Finance Committe, Town of Goderich. • Member of Goderich Planning Board: • Member of Executive Committee, Huron County Council. • Member of R.D.O.P. Advisory Board, Guelph University. • Member of Housing Committee, Assoc. Counties & Regions of Ont. • Vice -President of Goderich Industrial Development Corp. • Member of Board of Go, ; �r;; . s, Conestoga College. 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