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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-08-08, Page 9Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1989 SECOND SECTION THE HOWSON MILL was destroyed by fire in 1950. The first mill at the site was built in the 1860s. (Photo courtesy of the Wingham and District Museum) Upper Dam, Howson Mill are part of town's history By Cheryl Reece The first Upper Dam in Wingham was built in the 1860s, as was the first Howson Mill. Heavy flooding on the Maitland River over the years has meant the dam has been washed out a num- ber of times. In 1899, the Upper Dam was washed out and a new one built at a cost of $3,500. In 1906, a bridge was built over the dam, made of British Columbia pine. The dam survived for many years, until the afternoon of Satur- day, May 8, 1920, when the Upper Dam gave way, taking with it 40 feet of the bridge. It is believed that ice damage of the previous winter had weakened the structure. In July of 1920, approval finally was given to construct a new, rein- forced concrete bridge and dam, wide enough to provide space for foot traffic. In August the old dam was demolished through the use of dynamite and construction started on the new bridge and dam, which were completed one year later. Three years later, the dam had to be repaired because its slipways and foundation were being under- mined. The dam supplied power to pump water for the town until the flood of 1948, after which the water was pumped by electricity. The Howson Mill had sole use of the power supplied by the dam. How- ever, in 1950, the mill was destroyed by fire. The Howson Dam, as it was called by then and has been ever since, was never used again as a power source. The first mill built at the site was in the 1.86os-by J. Wrenchman. He sold the mill to the Gregory Broth- ers. The original mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt by the Gregorys. John Gregory later bought his brother's share in the mill and operated it until 1879, the year of Wingham's incorporation. The mill then was sold to Emmanuel Rockney and Sons. It had several owners after the Rock- neys. In July of 1895 the owners, which at the time were Carr and Brothers, installed a steam engine to run the mil when the water was low. Elec- trical power replaced this engine when hydro was installed in Wing - ham in 1920. In 1899, Howson, Harvey and Brocklebank purchased the mill. Mr. Harvey sold his interest in 1906 and in 1917, Mr. Howson bought out Mr. Brocklebank's share. Frank Howson soon joined his father in the business, which became known as Howson & Howson. When Mr. Howson first pur- chased the mill it had a capacity of 200 bags of flour a day. In 1902, it was noted that the Howson Mill shipped 1,500 bags or three railcars of flour to South Africa. By 1944, the output of the mill was 1,000 bags of flour a day. In 1947, the Howson firm purchased the Blyth mill. In 1950, the Howson Mill in Wingham was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in three hours. Many local residents came out to watch the fire. The mill never was rebuilt. After the fire, the How- son firm bought its present build- ing on Josephine Street to use as a feed store. The firm of Howson & Howson is still operating mills, but not in Wingham. Situated on the lawn at the Wingham and District Museum is one of the mill stones from the original Wingham mill. THE UPPER DAM washed out in the spring of 1920 and a new concrete bridge and dam were in place by the following year. In the right hand corner is the pump house, which is still standing at the site. The two bridges in the background are the old McKenzie Bridge (now the Hanna Memorial Bridge) and beyond that is the former CPR railroad bridge. The two-storey building in the back- ground was at one time the Wingham Chopping Mill. (Photo courtesy of Wingham & District Muse- um) Premdor, Century agree to merge Premdor Incorporated and Cen- tury Wood Door Limited, a private company, recently announced that Severances get the nod Two land severances bordering East Wawanosh Township have received the nod from council. Murray Siertsema, of Lot 42, Concession 1, Village of Blyth, and Ronald Cook of Lot 2, Concession 4, Morris, have received no objec- tion from Fast Wawattosh council to their severance applications. they have agreed in principle to a merger of the two companies, sub- ject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Century Wood Door Ltd., which has operations throughout Canada, is a manufacturer and distributor of wooden doors, moldings and hard- ware with five manufacturing oper- ations in Canada. By virtue of its recent acquisition of Crown Door Corporation and four door plants, it becomes one of the largest manu- facturers of doors in the United States. Century projects that its com- bined sales for the 1989 fiscal year will be approximately $150 million Sad million in the United States and $70 million in Canada. Prem - dor had consolidated sales for the six months ending June 30 of $85 million and projects that sales for the 1989 fiscal year will be 5165 mil- lion. The combination of Premdor and Century will result in the merged corporation being the largest door manufacturer in North America. Whales arenot tne only mam- mals who communicate to one another, i lephanta can talk to each other over long distances by vibrat- ing a thick fold of skin between their eyes. The thunder -like sound ran be heard as fad away as five kilomettea. Council reviews tenders for new concrete bridge GORRIE—In its recent meeting The price quoted in the tender Howick Township Council received form does not include the and reviewed tenders for a new approaches to the bridge or any of concrete bridge to be built at Lots the engineering fees. Currently the 20-21, Con. C. engineering costs are in excess of Four tenders were received from $20,000 and Clerk -Treasurer the following companies: C. A. Thomas Miller said they may go as McDowell Ltd., Centralia, at' high as $30,000 or higher. $303,841.41; KKN Builders Inc., Dublin, at $319,095; Owen King Ltd., Walkerton, at $434,726.80; and Michael Maloney Construction, Stratford, at $393,220. To review and make recommen- dations regarding the tenders, the township has hired the services of B. M. Ross and Associates, Goderich. The firm recommended to accept the offer from C. A. McDowell Ltd. at $303,841.41, pending review by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and B. M Ross and Associates. Slow down at 10th Bridge Watch your speed as you approach the 10th. Line bridge in East Wawanosh Township. Speed on Concession 10-11 at the 10th Line bridge as been lowered by East Wawanosh Council to 60 kilometres an hour from the wester- ly limit of Lot 30 to the easterly limit of Lot 31. Signs will be placed on the road as soon as approval comes from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The township has $360,000 to complete work on the bridge and it is estimated the complete project will require the full amount. A date for the start of construc- tion has not yet been set. During the next meeting council hopes to get final approval of the tender from B. M. Ross and Associates and the ministry. Council will then be able to set a construction date. Howick public meeting held for amendment GORRIE—During its regular meeting on Aug. 1, Howick Town- ship Council held a public meeting regarding a zone amendment for Gerald D•'Arcey of Fordwich. Mr. V'Arcey, who is the town- ship's deputy reeve, was not pre- sent at the meeting. He applied for a rezoning of part of Park Lot 22, to permit the construction of a single family residence on the property. The land in the Village of Fnrd- wich is currently designated resi- dential and zoned developmental. At present a construction firm is operating from the property, which includes a shop and a parking area for trucks and machinery'. The application proposes to erect a single family residence on the most westerly portion of the prop- erty, adjacent to Queen Street. The portion subject to rezoning is an WHY ALL THE FUSS?—Bradley `and Brent McKague, nine- month -old twin sons of Joanne (Grummett) and Wayne McKague of Teeswater, were not too impressed by all the hoopla at last week- end's Teeswater-Culross Old Boys' and Girls' Reunion. Perhaps in 20 years they'll have a different view of the festivities. Young Company takes to the stage Blyth Festival's Young Company is all set to entertain this week with stories by Harry J. Boyle. "Christmas in Clover", based on Boyle stories and adapted to theatre by Keith Roulston, will take you back to rural Canada in the early 1930s. The play features a pageant, several local and not -so -perfect farmers, and a few modern touches. Original music by Robert Clinton is included in this Young Company production, which takes to the stage this Thursday, Friday and Sat- urday. _ Now in its 13th season, the Blyth Festival Young Company is direct- ed by Peter Smith, associate artistic director of the Blyth Festival. Assisting are Heather Morton and Joanne Olson. Designer and technical director for the Young Company is Jeff Henderson. Mem- bers come from Bayfield, Clinton, Exeter, Brussels, Teeswater, Strat- ford, Brucefield, Londesborough, Woodham, Blyth and Belgrave. Tickets for "Christmas in Clover" are available at the door of the Blyth Festival Garage on Dinsley St. East, or from members. DOCTOR DIES The community lost a valued friend. in the fall of 1968, with the death of Dr. W. A. McKibbon, who died in his 61st year. area of approximately 123 feet by 200 feet and fills the minimum size requirement to accommodate the proposed single family residence. The remainder of the lot remains zoned developmental, which means the existing construction operation is recognized as a permit- ted use. In his report and recommenda- tions to council, county planner Brian Treble said the county has no objections. The application, he said, would conform to all existing land designations, and the proposal rep- resents appropriate development for the urban area of Fordwich. Council wants four-way stop Turnberry Township Council has voted to install a four-way stop at the corner of Victoria and Mary Streets in Lower Town as a safety precaution. Council also has proposed decreasing the speed, limit at the location to 40 kilometres per hour. However, ministry of transporta- tion approval is required to make the change. Morris applies for blue boxes for the hamlets Morris Township is in a recycling mood these days and will be sub- mitting grant forms for recycling "blue boxes" for the hamlets of Walton, Bluevale and Belgrave. Clerk -Treasurer Nancy Michie said she hopes to hear back from the province in the near future to know if Morris has been accepted into the blue -box program. The township already has recy- cling bins at the municipal waste disposal site. E. Wawanosh building permits Five building permits were issued by East Wawanosh Town- ship Council last week. Angelo Ippolito of Lot 14, Plan 500 received a permit to build a res- idence. John Linke was granted a permit to add to his residence on the north part of Lot 31, Con. 3. Jo Manning of Pt. Lot 34, Con. 3 has been given a permit to con- struct a double -car garage. Murray Thompson received a permit to put up a cement wall and roof adjacent to his barn at Lot 28, Con. 7. John Nonkes has been granted a permit to add to a storage shed at Lot 36, Con. 1. A TOIICH OP YEST RV Alt -•Cars shared the street with weekend's Teeswater-Culross Old Boys' and Girls' Reuhion. this old-time horse and buggy at last