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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-07-18, Page 5DAILY PAPERS—Elmer Williamson of Fordwich celebrated his 95th birthday last week. He reads two daily newspapers every lay as well as his community paper every week. (Star • Photo) 1 keep usy.' EI.mer Wilhi,imson, 95 FOif.DWICH — ` Oh, he's a wonder. I just love talking to that man.". - - Those are the comments heard over and over again when the name Elmer Williamson is mentioned in this village. And who is Elmer William- son? Elmer Williamson is a wonder — and delight to talk to. He's a small man, unassuming in his speech and manner. He lives alone now since the death of his wife in 1977 in a comfortable home at the north end of the village across the railway tracks, right next the "Masonic Lodge. He cooks his own meals, mows his large lawn, tends a vegetable and flower gar- dens. And he does his own housecleaning. WIIEAT PRODUCERS 'We are agents for hie Onlarl0 Whew Producers Marketing Board * FAST- UNLOADING * ACCURATE PROBE SYSTEM * TRUCKING AVAILABLE Also; we will be huying, ;Ay and sillily Barley. Foam' coefeaeNng of corn and soybean. Come In and see us of glw ws a ca!! acrd ki es help yea look after per coop. Howson Mills Elevator Division Blyth, Ont, 523-9624 Or 523-4241 We &Nee PA elks sas1 of 810 oh Coanly Rd. 25 lien V, mile ntvlh SEND OFF THIS COUPON NOW some cold meat and a slice of quiet nature. He is especially Every morning. after - breakfast he walks down,to� tomato — •something like -`w'�-"1own at the Fordwich Klaassen's General Store that" eo le who d Library. and buys two dailypapers, p p on'tget-a "Uow .many h4Ql5ti._4q.. I the London Free Press and chance to wort off their food, read a week? Well, that the Kitchener -Waterloo Mr. Williamson thinks eating depends on the book. If it Record. After reading about a big, hotmeal at night is a isn't too big, not more that what is going on in the world, mistake. 200 or 300 pages, then I read he'll do a bit of gardening ."I think that's the cause of two, sometimes maybe and then get himself a hot a" lot of these heart„,,three„ ,k,,week. I like a good dinner — not lunch, but problems." ativentt,lre story — mystery, dinner. When it comes to detective — something like Then in the afternoon hell longevity, Elmer Williamson that. But nowadays you take a walk down to the is an expert. know, there are a lot of books library or to the bank or the "I never smoked nor drank that aren't fit to be in the hardware store. in my life and I keep pretty library. They should never active. I had three grand- •be in there - "It's a half.a mile one way. parents lived over 90. The W!aigt too Much It isn't too bad going — it's all downhill. But coming other one died at 60.; My dad As Elmer Williamson puts died at 75 and my mother at it, "I never was much for back it's all uphill. But I take my time now. I don't hurry." 80, I had one brother; he died giving advice." However, he Oh yes, another thing. El- at 72. He was a big man like says he does notice a dif- mer Williamson celebrated my dad. 1 .was the small ference in people today. his 95th birthday on Wednes- one." • "They expect too much, day, July li. Does he think he'll live to but it doesn't seem to make "The neighbors (Mr. and be a hundred? them happy. I'm happy the Mrs. Doug King) had a party Mr. Williamson gives the way I am. I never had much for me," said Mr. question some consideration. money to spend, but I can't Williamson the next day, "Oh, I might make it," he see where I'd change looking as though he could says. "I had a great- anything in my life." _ still hardly believe it. grandfather lived to be a Years ago, he says, people "Oh yes, it was a surprise. hundred." c. had lots of fun at house I thought they had just in Born on Farm ,, .parties. vited me over. We had some Elmer Williamson was \ "I used to play fiddle for d then she said born three miles from Mount the dances and we'd have Supp.. Forest in Normanby we'd have dessert later. I still didn't think anything of Township, the son of the late it, even though I saw she had Mr. and Mrs. Joseph the china out on the table. Williamson. When he was And the kids were dressed eight years old the family up, but I thought maybe they moved to the first concession were going out somewhere. of Howick Township. He Then all these people'started attended public school at SS coming,in. We cut the cake 10 south of Gorrie. about half -past seven." In 1912 he married Helen Ordinarily Elmer William- Campbell, the girl -next-door son would have a cold sup -in country terms. "She lived close by, about perI \call W supper that's a half a mile down the road." .what- w.e always called it on The couple farmed, first on the farm - breakfast, dinner the Williamson home farm and then on the Campbell and supper. And we lead farm. They quit farming in . go up and have a game, but three hot meals a day. I've 1947 and then moved into they don't come until about known us to have something three. Not manyof them like fried potatoes for break-. Fordwich in 1952. fast, but then we worked it The couple has a family of ' have to go home and get off: one daughter, Mrs. Lenwaod their own supper like me. '"I don't need all,that now. (Merle) Edgar of Mount For- Mr. Williamson notes that For breakfast _I'll have ' est, six grandchildren and while both men and women cereal. I used to have dat- eight great-grandchildren. used to play shuffleboard meal but I've switched to "They're scattered all together, only the men play cream • of wheat. I blamed around," said Mr. William- . pool. • the oatmeal for .making me son, "but they came here the. "Oh, you know, years ago dizzy: At least every time I'd Sunday before my birth- ' the pool, room was . con - eat it; I get *a little dizzy, so Iday" sidered be a den of After farming Mr: Wil- iniquity `i ou were found in switched; iiamson did what he calls there, yo`r were going to the "I have my' hot_ meal__at___.__contracting work, or ear- -devil for sure. The womefi dinner. Then for supper I pentry repair work. didn't go there. I don't know, won't have too much, maybe " th' I learned good limes. There was no drinking, nothing like that, no trouble. Now they have dances at the community centre over here. Oh, they're all right, I guess, but it isn't the same. You can dance all night and never see who's next to you. And they have to have a bar and that can cause trouble at times." Mr. Williamson says he used to enjoy playing shuffleboard in the basement of the Fordwich Hall. . "But noW they have pool tables in there. Sometimes I To: PROPANE SAFETY, £> 555 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A2H6. Please send me your free 20 -page handbook, LIVING SAFELY WITH PROPANE. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY:—_ .-•--_ -.—.- --._._ P. CODE: `DON'T LET NOUR WEEKENDS GO UP IN SMOKE! Propane is a wonder- fully convenient fuel for cottagers, campers and backyard barbecuers. It's clean,. quick and efficient for cooking, refrigeration and lighting. But, like all flammable materials, propane must be used with care. Did you know, for instance, that: o Propane barbecues should never be used in an enclosed area. Propane cylinders must be stored outdoors and checked for safety every 10 years. o A propane cylinder should always be moved or stored in an upright position. o Propane cylinders must be located outside recreational vehicles or in a compartment that is gas-tight to the vehicle interior and ventilated directly to the outdoors. o It is strongly recommended that propane: fuelled refrigerators be cleaned and adjusted every year. . You'll find these safety facts and more in our free booklet. Mail the coupon today and get your copy.,It's a great reference guide, and it will ensure that propane is always a helpmate rather than a hazard to you and your family. The Ontario Government -Working to Help People. . . Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations Ontario Robert Elgie M.D., Minister William Davis, Premier very rng r,about carpentry, I learned from Clarence Gibson. He was a good carpenter. He taught me all I know." • Besides doing carpentry work around the area, Mr.. Williamson worked" "mostly repairing" at the Malcolm furniture factory in Listowel about 20 years ago. His knowledge of carpenty has stayed with him. People irr^Fordwich are still talking about how he built himself a closed -in front porch a few years ago. "That was back in 1977. I built the whole thing," Mr. Williamson said in a matter- of-fact tone. . He and his wife lived to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in June of that same year, 1977. Six months later Mrs. Williamson died. "Oh yes, I like it here ... li think people care more about what happens to one another in places like this than, they do in the city. I think they know more about what goes on too." Certainly the people in the Village of Fordwich care about Elmer Williamson. He is known by just about everyone and is repected for his independence as much as he is for his friendly and The Wingham Advance- fimes, July 18, 1984—Page 5 I could never see anything wrong with a game of pool.. It's the same as a game of cards or anything else. You can gamble at just about anything if you want." Mr. Williantson says he and his wife were members of the Molesworth Presby- terian church and he was on the church board. He still en- joys going to the Molesworth church, "but I'm no evangel- ist or anything like that." Asked what he thought of the kinds of schemes some televison preachers come up With to raise 'money for themselves and their organi- zations, Elmer" Williamson didn't hesitate to state his opinion. =`The churches around home need help. If you want to help, help them. It's getting hard to keep a church going." • Good" Eyesight Besides being a good ' walker, Elmer Williamson has exceptional .eyesight, given the fact he has been an avid reader all his life. "I . can read my newspapers without my glasses. But I don't do it, I leave my glasses on. And my hearing is still pretty good, although if I'm sitting in a =CLEANING—Besides cleaning his own home, Elmer Williamson, 95,, mows his large lawn once a week, has a vegetable and flower gardens and still finds time to read at least two books a week. (Staff Photo) hall or in church, sometimes I can't hear what everybody 'is saying.. When it comes to the state of the nation, as far as old people are • concerned, Mr. Williamson' thinks most of them have it "pretty good". "I pi—ea—ill—you are-tivvinglfl the city and don't own your own home, then you'd find it pretty tough. But I can't; complain." This year Mr. Williamson bought himself a new riding lawn mower and it was a big decision' for him. "I hated to spend that kind of money on it, but then I thought I might just• as well get the use of it. If spent it on a long .trip, then by the time I got home it would be gone and I'd have nothing to show for it." . Elmer Williamson says he's 'never travelled much. - But that's only true if one is talking about physical travel. Intellectually he's travelled widely. He's the consummate • armchair. traveller who's circled the globe 'through the pages of countless books. He can pass, the time of day in quiet conversation on any number. of topics. No wonder he's one of the best liked people in the village. And Elmer Williamson still• hasn't quite come" to terms with that new riding MR. AND MRS. RICHARD KRAEMER of RR 3, Lis- towel, are happy to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Joanne Marie, to Michael John, son of lam. and Mrs. John McIntosh of RR 5, Brussels. The wedding will take place Saturday, Au- gust 18, at 2:30 in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hesson. Joanne graduated from the film and television course in Humber College and is presently employed with R.S.L. Film Corporation in Toronto. • mower. When it was -suggested he have his picture taken beside' his new machine, Elmer Williamson • had another. idea. "Why not take`a picture of me with my vacuum cleaner? i- that my -ow -n -- cleaning top." . And for anybody who's in- terested; Elmer William- .. son's house is as well kept as his lawn and his gardens. "I keep busy,;' he says. Maybe that's the secret of not only a long life, but a good and.a happy life. Procters hold family reunion BELGRAVE - The 53rd annual Procter Reunion was held on Sunday, July 8, in the Belgrave Institute. Hall with 44 signing the register. A social time was enjoyed during the afternoon as well as a ball- game and several games for the children led by George Alton and Kate Procter. - Everyone was welcomed by president Ken Procter. Ross Procter reported on the" progress of the 'family his- tory. A delicious lunch was served; followed by a short business meeting. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Kiel/ 1 - INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. Insurance - All types. Home, business, auto: farm, life. WINGHAM 357-2636 . GORRIE 335-3525 Thurs., July 19 to Wed. July 25 Thurs. July. 19 . Wingham & Turnberry Bicentennial Celebrations begin, Sidewalk 'sale, Legion Members Registration 2:00 p.m., Penny Camival, Official Opening, Variety Con- cert, Queen Contest etc. Fri. July 20 • ' Wingham Sr Turnberry Bicentennial Celebrations continue with Sidewalk Saks, Heritage Lane,Bike & Buggy Parade, Slow Pitch Tournament, Bingo; dance (Wingham Legion),' Dance (Armories), Dance (Arena) Sat. July 21 Wingham & Turnberry Bicentennial Celebrations continue with Sidewalk Saks, Pancake Breakfast, 10 Kilometre Road Race, Heritage Fair "& Antique Market, Baby Show, Horseshow Tournament, Anti- que Car Show, Lions Bingo, Jaycees Dance, Legion Dance, Dance (Arena).. Break Dance Contest. Walter Ostenak Dance, Sponsored by Lucknow Agric. Soc. in Lucknow Comm. Centre. Baby Bazaar & Bake Sale, Sponsored by Lal.eche League, Wingham Town Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Bicentennial Celebrations continue, Church Services, Slow Pitch finals, Drumhead Ser- vice. Drive -In Church Services (all denominations); Band Concert (Riverside Park) Nomination Meeting, Huron -Bruce P.C. Assoc., at Brussels Gomm. Centre, Guest Speaker Hon. Perrin Beattie, R p.m. Sun. July 22 Mon. July 23 ROXY HOME VIDEO 1 Great Family Entertainment 241 Josephine -St., Wingham Phone 357-3373 44.44. dadlla 1,0.3 mom mew= mastes omen reereava mem. mow. -.mem 4,444414 *mom =Ism. ay.,. meows, amen einem%