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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1948-03-25, Page 1WITH ; WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE CLINTON' NEW, ERA, =ESTABLISHED• 1865 No. 13 - 70th Year; Whole No. 6298 CLINTON, ONTARIO, THURSDAY,' MARCH 25;1948 The. Horne Paper With the News mber of Commerce Urges 50 Additional Houses * * *. HUW TIMES• CHANGE! . . . A year ago today began one of the worst winter blizzards in• many years, tying up traffic tight as a drum - and ten. inches of snow fell Today, dust was swirling up the main street of Clinton, just as in mid -summer .. . * * »' SPRING, 1948 STYLE, REALLY came on Sunday, the day it was supposed to .arrive.. The day was most beautiful, bahny and warm, although ram threatened in the morning ... During the afternoon, many pepple from this district • motored to Goderich to view the damage to the harbour there caused by the rampaging Maitland . * BUT TO GET BACK TO SPRING, Jabez Rands and Sam Castle, Jr., two local ornithologists, report that the migratory birds are back, some of them, earlier than other years . For example, they have seen plovers (killdeers), blue birds, red -winged blackbirds, song sparrows, purple grackles (blackbirds), red pot, purple finch, bronze grackles, cow birds, golden crown kinglets ... The study of bird life is a wonderful study, but you must possess a good eye and ear to get anywhere with it... *..*• CLINT O'N WILL HAVE AN entry in the Drama Festival spon- sored by Goedrich Dramatic Club next week .•. The YPU of On- tario St. United Church has ent- ered a play, "Brothers In Arms," by Merrill Dennison, which'" will be presented on Thursday, April 1, at 8.30 p.m. Mrs, R. Fear is the directress, and cast consists of Miss Lois Connell, William Gould, Ross Merrill' and Gerald E. Nelson, . . Five ober plays are' being pre-; rented on the two nights; March 31 and April 1, but this entry is the only one outside of the County Town ' . .Best of luck to the Clinton entry! . * * WE SHOULD LIKE TO CALL the attention of our readers to. the fact that special Easter ,music is being ,rendered in the churches on Sunday, March 28, notices con- cerning,which are published else•• where in this issue ... .A Good Friday service is being held in St. Paul's Anglican Church at 10:30 a.m., not 10 a,m. ,as stated in cast week's announcement .. , It will be under :the auspices of Clinton Council of. Churches • • • • • WIZEN JOHN F. CLARKE, horticultural fieldman for the On- tario Department of Agriculture, visited Clinton Lions Club Tues- day, several horticulturally -mind- ed citizens had the privilege of streeting him at a conference in the Town Council Chamber ,after the Lions . Club meeting, , Among them were J. D. Thorn- dike, prhsident, and Harry Plum - steel, se retary treasurer of the last Horticultural Society here... s *. 4. APPROPRIATE ACTION W A S taken toward re -organizing the local Society . . . A letter was drafted. to be sent to John A. Carroll„ ,;secretary -,manager, On- tario Horticultural Society, re gardingere-organization and pos- sible g rants: , It seems that permission must be received from the Ontario body before •a local Society. may organize ,.. There should,. be some action locally within,a,rweek or two , , . W'C A. C. Hull, DFC Discusses Defence Wing Commander A. C. Hull, DFC, commanding officer, RCAF. Station, Clinton, and a former officer commanding the famed "Ghost. Squadron" in the Second :World War, spoke at a meeting of Goderich Kinsmen Club Thursday evening last, on "The defence of Canada." The .speaker said the nature of future wars will be very consider- ably changed because of new de- velopments in warfare, He said Canada must work with other nations; to prevent a future war. In the event of a sudden attack on Canada, this country; he said, would heed an airforce equivalent to the size of the air force station- ed in Britain. at the height of the blitz but Canada could not afford such 'an expense. Another war would see planes capable of flying farther than. from Europe to Am- erica and back again without hav- ing to top for refueling. "Thel defence of Canada does not rest with the armed services," he stated, "It is the responsibility of every citizen of Canada. The armed services are only the "tools." The Week's Weather 1948 1947 High Low High Low 42 15 25 , 11 57 352 57 33 37 14 62 • 43 36 16 69 35 35 25 Huge "Lake" Forms as Spring :Floods Cover Countryside ABOVE is an aerial photograph, taken by The London Free Press photographer, Which indicates that the area around Clinton by no means escaped the flooding conditions that existed throughout Western Ontario when the ice went out of the neighborhood rivers last week. The towns of Listowel and Wingham-business and residential sections- ' were particularly hard hit, while terrific damage was done to Goderich Harbour by the rampaging Maitland River. The huge "lake," covering several hundred acres, ex- tended east of . Clinton near King's Highway No. 8, when the -Bayfield River and its tributaries utterly failed to drain the land of onrushing waters, produced by melting snow and ice and heavy rainfall. The peak of the flood conditions was reached Friday night,:: Saturday and Sunday, but had abated by Monday. For a time, highway connection with Seaforth was cut off Friday night when the waters rose too high for vehicles . to ' pass. LIONS CLUB AIDS HORTICUTURAL SOCIETY HERE After hearing an appeal from John F, Clarke, fieldman in hor- ticulture, Ontario Department of Agriculture, Clinton Lions Club, at its regular dinner meeting in St. Paul's Parish .Hall Tuesday evening, decided to "father" re- organization of Clinton Horticul- ture Society, dormant for several years in co-operation with Clin- ton Women's Institut. President W. E. Perdue . was chairman and introduced several guests who are especially inter- ested in horticulture -- Mrs. C. Sturdy, Mrs. Mervyn Batkin, Mrs, C. H. Epps, J. D. Thorndike, Will.. lam Jones, C. V. Cooke and Ger- ald E. Nelson, assistant agricul- tural representative for Huron County. Other guests included John Fraser, past president of Burford Lions Club, and Frank McMurray, member of Ancaster. Lions Club. 'J. D, Thorndike, the last presi- dent of the former Horticultural Society, spoke briefly thanking the Lions for any help they might give in getting the local Society under way again. J. A. Sutter, chairman of Com- munity Betterment Committee, announced that the annual Farm- ers' Night would be held Tuesday evening April 1'S, with attendance limited to 150 and speaber, Hugh Catnpbell, sales manager, Can- adian Industries Limited. In behalf of the Club R. S. Atkey, chairman of Membership Committee made the presentation of a Certificate of Membership to rit. Lt. G. G. Agnew, a new member. The draw, made by Jack Fraser Burford, was won by Mrs. Mervyn Batkin, president, Clinton Wo- men's Institute. Mr. Clarke was introduced by C. H, Epps, and was thanked in behalf of the Club by William Jervis. Mr. Clarke said that Ontario was a garden, placed on earth by God, but man had blemished it. It was within man's power, how- ever, to beautify this garden and bring it back to its former state. (Continued on. Page Five) Raging Spring Floods Cause Terrific Havoc In this section of Western On- tario, at least, the spring break- up of -1948 will long be remem- bered! Damage running into millions of dollars, was caused as rivers, swollen beyond all expec- tations from melting snow and ice and heavy rainfall, jumped their banks and carried everything in their wake. The Maitland River was by far the chief offender, as it rushed along in headstrong fashion, carrying disaster into Listowel, Fordwich, Wingham and Goder- ieh, and many other smaller com- munities along its course. CNR Bridge Goes The Bayfield River, closest to Clinton, stood up manfully in the race, however, and washed away bridges and culverts, flooded farms and roads and highways, and caused very substantial fin- ancial loss to the territory through which it flows. The CNR bridge over the Bay- field River, about a mile south of Clinton on the Clinton -London line, lost 12 piles as the ice crush- ed against it. The last train went south over it Thursday, but since that time a CNR repair gang from Stratford has been busy night and day. After working steadily since Sunday, the • pile -driving outfit left last night for Wingham to re-establish the bridge swept away there. The work of repair- ing has not yet been completed, but should be within • a week. In the meantime, the northern terminal of the branch line is at. Brucefield Station, and mail, ex- press and passengers are being transported to and from Clinton to Brucefield by truck and car. It was almost- a year ago --on April 5 to be exact -- that the bridge went out when 24 piles buckled. under the pressure of the Bayfield River. Similar damage was caused this year. It was a year ago today that the ferocious blizzard broke, it will be recalled. Damage. $5,00.0,000 Heavy . rains last Friday turned the Maitland, normally a peace- able little stream, into a raging Diamond Wedding For Mr. and M Anniversary rs. Eli Holtzhauer Surrounded .try Most of their family, Mr. ,and Mrs. Eli Holtz- hauer, who recently moved from Clinton to Blyth, were "at home" to their friends on Sunday on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary. The elderly couple were the re- cipients of many congratulations. Despite advancing years they are enjoying fairly good health and take a keen interests in community events and their friends. Mr. Holtzhauer will be 86 in May and Mrs. Holtzhauer is 80.: They were married at Mildmay, Bruce County, March 21, 1888. Mr. Holtzhauer was born at PlattsviRe; the eldest son of John Holtzhauer, who emigrated from Germany to Canada to escape militarism, and Elizabeth' For- imbu, an immigrant from France. March 18 Mrs. Holtzhauer was formerly 19 32 Mary C. Plaetzer, daughter of Mr. 20 and Mrs. John Plaetzer, Hulled e• ' 21 Township. They met while Oar. 22 Holtzhauer was learning his trade 23 49 30 50 3'L as a miller at Mildmay and Mrs, 24 49 ' 28 ,46 ... 37 Holtzhauer went there from Hui Rain: 1,21 ins.' Rain: 1.04ins, lett Township t0 assist a•relative Snow: 10 ins. who was ill. torrent that surged through homes Masa A. Pond, Guelph, and business houses. in Listowel, wickets will be. kept open for two d ntai olle a of Educe- Housing Committee re -survey the Fordwich and Wifrgfignl., placing hours 'from-• 10:30 to 11:30 .a.m. I ten int, . • . s C .been engaged• town 10 see what is the need, end large sections of the business and and from 2 to 3 p.m. There'will; iron,Tnontoi ds•I residential areas under water.:, be no rural delivery service, I as teacher of Modern Lang -also that another 50 houses be Fortunately, there was no loss of 'public lobby will be open until wages, her duties to commence in started this year, regardless Of life although several narrow 6 m, the fall, This is a new appoint- whether or not houses were to be p• erected at camp. He added that The wickets will be kept open if the town had the.housing, it for four hours on Easter Monday, special qualifications for teaching could get plenty of new industries. March 29 - from 10:30 a,m. to The Commmittee also would 11:30 a.m., and from 12:30 p.m, and for R ti al like to see garbage collection to 3:30 p.m. Public lobby will handled by the town, but felt that be open until 6 p.m. Rural mail right now the Council had enough delivery'service will be as usual. on. its hands. The Committee, ,Good' Friday, Easter Hours at Post Office Tomorrow, Good Friday, March 25, being a statutory holiday., there will be curtailed service at the local Post Office, according to Postmaster G. M. Counter. The Street Repairing Well: Under Way The advent of spring left' the streets of Clinton,. generally speaking, . in a' bad mess, but probably no worthan in a great many other towns, espec- ially those hit by floods. Cel- lar flooding also was prevalent, particularly in. the lower areas of the town. The town authorities got busy as soon as they ,could on Mon- day to start helping nature to provide improved surfaces, "Vinegar Hill" was tackled by a bulldozer provided by the,On- tario Department of Highways and it did a"yeoman job on Tuesday and helped ease the bumps on Albert Street north, Under the direction of Ald. O. L. Paisley, chairman of the Town Council. Street Commit-. tee,. ,and Mayor A. J. McMur- ray, more than 200 cubic yards of gravel were placed on Huron Street, toward Goderich, in the middle of the concrete pave- ment where the sewer had been excavated. This action provided a big improvement. "W'eve made a good start, but there are plenty of streets still to dc," the Mayor com- mented with a smile. Collegiate Needs Three More Staff Clinton Collegiate Institute will have three new teachers on the staff in 1948-49, it was indicated at a special meeting of the High School District Board in the Col- legiate last week. Mervin Richmond took his seat for the first time as representative of Morris Township, now includ- ed in the District, He was 'Wel- comed by Frank Fingland, who presided. i The Board received the re- signation of Miss Mary Matheson, who has headed the English and History Department since Septem- • ber 1945. She is going to Burling- Fton, near Hamilton. The Board is advertising for a successor. Acting on a.recommendation the Civic Affairs and Public Re- lations Committee, Clinton and District Chamber of Commerce, at its March general meeting in the Town Council Chamber Thurs- day evening last, recommended', to Town Council that steps be taken at once to have an additional 59" Wartime Houses started in Clin- ton this year. in addition, the Housing Com- mittee Was instructed through the y Town Council, to get in touch with W. H. Golding; MP for. Huron -Perth, and L. E. Cardiff, MP for North Huron, regarding the 200 new houses that are • scheduled by the Department of National Defence for erection at RCAF Station, Clinton, with the idea of having at least part of .' them built within the Town of Clinton. if the Members of Parliament gave an encouragement, a small delegation might be' sent to Ot- tawa, it was agreed. Recreational Council G. Ralph Foster presided at the meeting, which was favoured with a good attendance. He explained. that the executive had decided that the general meeting of the Chamber would be held in the Town Council Chamber on the second Thursday of each month at eight o'clock. J. G. McLay, vice-president, reported on progress made in the formation of a Recreational Com- cll. The - bylaw is to be passed at a special meeting of the Town Council on Monday, March 29. Already, several possible appoint- ees for the position of Recreation- al Director had been interviewed by Principal E. A.. Fines. He explained that half the salary of the Director would be paid by Clinton High School District Board. Housing. Situation "Desperate" N. W. Trewartha, reporting for the Housing Committee, . stated, that 15 of the wartime houses were practically ready for occup- ancy, but were waiting for the installation of water services by. the Public Utilities Commission. Mr. Trewartha also reported a• brisk dewed for building' lots in sown. ' H. E. Hartley, chairman of Citric Improvement and Public Relatloas Committee, said that the RCAF was very pleased to know that someone was taking an interest m the housing problem. The Com- mittee recommended that tbie escapes were recorded. . Damage to the whole Maitland system was estimated at $5,000,000. Flood -ravaged Wingham count- ed more than a million dollars damage in the most powerful blow the Maitland ever dealt that town. Both CNR and CPR bridges were down, With four dams above Wingham washed out within a few hours, thousands of tons of ice swept through the town, forcing 60 fam- ilies out of their homes, cutting off rail and road transportation,. and levelling hundreds"of small. buildings. Goderich Harbour Hit Goderich Harbour took a _ter- rible pounding, as the Maitland; piled thousands of tons of ice against piers and 15 freighters and other vessels which wintered there. Damage of a major char- acter was done, but the Federal Government has placed top prior- in good condition, Southern On- ity on the reconstruction pro- tario farmers are just beginning gram. Damage was estimated at to tap maples for syrup but with close to a million dollars." • the ebception of Leeds County in The town itself did not suffer, Eastern Ontario, there has been however, due to its high altitude little or no run. • overlooking the harbour, When village of Bayfield did' not suffer either. meat A third teacher, a male with Physical Training and Cadet t isrk actingasRecreational Director for the community, will be engaged, the Board to pay half his salary and the Recreational Council, to be established- shortly, the remainder, Several possible appointees already have been in- terviewed by Principal E.A. Fines. After some discussion, t h e Board decided to purchese a new 0 Warble Spraying Begins in Fortnight Most farm fields are bare and farmers are looking forward to an early spring, It was indicated in the weekly crop report issued Tuesday by the Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture. There is still a good depth pf snow in some Northern Ontario centres, 'how- ever. ' Fall and winter wheat appears to have come through the winter The groom was successful in his trade and had charge of the grist- mill at Plattsville, and later was chief miller at Blyth, Fair's mill at Clinton, Be/miller, Auburn, Freelton and Crediton. The couple lived at Niagara Falls until 1940 when they moved to Blyth where they have -since resided with the exception of about two years in Clinton. Their family include: Mrs. Fred (Clara) Potter, Clinton; Mrs. Har- old (Elsie) Bean, Detroit, Mich,; Harold Holtzhauer, Niagara Falls; Wellington Holtzhauer, Guelph; Norman. Holtzhauer, Calgary, Alta, The last named was unable to be present but forwarded his regrets. Mrs. Holtzhauer is the last, surviving member of her family. Mr. Holtzhauer has one brother, Moses Holtzhauer, Blyth, and four sisters: Mrs. Agnes Pullin, Galt; Mrs. Christina Sehaus, Clifford; Mrs. Elziabeth Irwin, Auburn; Mrs. Sophia Willoughby, Hamil- ton. Their friends wish them contin- ued years of happy married Iife. BRIDE -ELECT FETED Miss Jean Woods, London, whose marriage to Gordon Herman takes place on Saturday, March 27, has been honoured at several funct- ions. Miss Elva Govier, London, was hostess at a delightful show- er. Mrs. Wesley Reddy also en- tertained at her Forward Ave. home for the bride -elect. COMING EVENTS Sale of home made baking and candy sponsored by Ladies' Aux- iliary of Canadian Legion In the Council Chamber, Saturday, Mar. 27, commencing at 3 p.m. 11-b. Easter Bonnet Dance, Town Hall, Clinton, Monday, March 29, at 9:30 p.m.. Ken Wilbee's Or- chestra. Auspices Huron Fish and Game Club. Admission 50e. 12-13-x Tuesday evening, March 30, in Town Hall, at 8:15, by popular request, The Minstrel Show will be repeated, new jokes, new songs, new dances. Proceeds in aid of Recreation room In Wesley -Willis United Church for Scouts and Guides. 12-13-b Masquerade and Carnival, Town Hall, Bayfield, Wednesday, March 31. Auspices Bayfield Agricultural Society. Adults 50e, children 15c. Firemen's. Dance, Friday, April 2. Good. orchestra. Admission 50 cents, 13 -I4 -x 500 Party, Odd Fellows ' Hall, Tuesday,April 6, 8 pm. Proceeds in aid of Cancer. Polio and T.B. Fund. All welcome. 13-14-b Community Games Night, cards and dancing, Thursday, April 8, 8 p.m., Town Hall, Clinton, aus- pices of Hospital Aid. 13-b Sale of Home Made Baking and Candy, Council Chamber, Satur- day, April 10, auspices Girls' Club, 1 Presbyterian Church, 13-14-b Huron Old Boys' Association of Toronto Euchre and Bridge, West' End YMCA, College and Dover- . court, Tuesday, April 13, at 8:30 p.m. M. 11-12-13-14-15-x ; A number of herds in Huron County are showing 'Warbles in a might cause. It was pointed out fairly advanced stage. Spraying that the attendance from Tucker - will begin within two weeks. , , smith was comparatively small: Congratulates His 'Successor however, wished to go on record (Continued on Page Eight) Children "Escape stoker, to be installed next July, From Burning. Home at a price of $1,072. The stoker will heat the school more effic Five children, warned by their ienily, eliminating a smoke nuis- mother by telephone front a ance,and probably save money in neighbor's, escaped uninjured the long run. Fuel consumption when fire completely destroyed. now is nearly 80 tons of coal a the two-storey frame farm home season. of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Soueh, Trustee N. W. Trewartha, chair- second line' of Morris Township, man of Finance, said that the shortly after nine o'clock Satur- stoker could be 'paid for with a day night. mill rate of 2.5 as. against 2.4. Mrs, South had gone to visit Tuckersmith . Township Council with a neighbor for a short while wrote regarding that the Colleg- and noticed the fire when she date be operated on standard time glanced through a window toward for the benefit of the rural stud-. her own home. z ents. The request was filed, on Neighbors who rushed to the lied b ere w en Ca or account of the confusion that it scene h y phone attracted by the flames, removed some furnishings. The house had been redecorated only recently and the loss, which is estimated at $8,000, was only partially covered by insurance. The fire was blamed on an over- heated pipe, George Wilson Given Past President's Badge George Wilson, Brucefield, a veteran member - of Clinton Branch No. 140, Canadian Legion, was honored at the March meet- ing in. the Legion Hall Monday evening when he was presented with a Past President's Badge. President H. A. McIntyre made the presentation to Mr. Wilson who headed the Branch in 1947, congratulating him on his marry services to the Branch. The re- eiplent replied in fitting manner and promised to continue to be active in the future. Two new members were initiat- ed -J. William Counter, who serv- ed with the Navy during the war, and Stephen Welbanks, a Caned- , ran Army veteran. The president I was in charge of this ceremony. Membership now approaches ;tine 200 -mark. George H, ,Jefferson entertain- ed the gathering by reciting sev- eral of Rudyard Kipling's poems, closing with "The 'Recessional." Refreshments were served •at the Biose of the meeting. Two prominent Goderich Township fruit growers are seen ABOVE as CLAYTON LAITH"WAITE, 'retiring president, extends the hand of congratulation to D. J. LASSALINE, who was elected president' at the annual meeting in Clinton Thursday last, of Huron Fruit Growers' Association. Smile for Today Other officers and directors elected were: 1st vice-president, Thomas Salkeld, Lucknow; 2nd vice-president, :George. Johnston, Bayfield;' secretary -treasurer, LeRoy G. Brown, Clinton; honorary presidents, George Laithwaite, . R.R. 1, Goderich; J. R. Stirling, R.R. 2, Bayfield; R. J. Mc.Leughlin, Brussels; J. W. Joynt, Lucknow; Stewart Middleton, R.R. 3, Clinton. Directors: Harty Mitchell, R.R. 2, Goderich; Clayton Laithwaite, R,R. t, Goderich; Benson Sowerby, R.R. .2, Goderich; Fred Middle- ton, R.R. 3, Clinton; William 'McGuire, R.R. 2, Bayfield; D. A. Smith, R.R. 2, Bayfield: Fraser Stirling, R.R. 2, Reynold; ' Ed, Sowerby, R.R. 2, Goderich; Lorne Woods, rLucknow; Robert Archi- bald, Seaforth; James Gardiner, Kirkton; W. Joynt, Lucknow; William McKenzie, ,Kippen. His Choice Visitor: "You don't mean t"� o lull me that you have lived in this out-of-the-way palce for over '29 years?" Inhabitant: "1 have.." Visitor: "But, really, I cannot see what you find to 'keep you busy." Inhabitant: "Neither can I - that's why I like iti" •