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The Clinton News Record, 1925-07-30, Page 15II 4 a '..' 0.S�HtE,,4•"iF'G^`ii�a„ su 'diSn .... ''`4. :•5 sal. '�'•iJ: LIVELY (App:KINGS IN CLINTON ABOUT THIRTY-FIVE YEA ,r ro.Jm' W. Shaw, who came td aritonp.>z ' Early Nineties, Recalls an Old Fashionec Raising Bee and Other Events. On any arrival in Clinton in 1891.1 -,Tare 1, 1892. "Master Carl Dra- observed the ininaber (if 'yor - under thirty years of age in business f=or themselves or with their parents. In those days - when a boy reached majority he took over the business of his father' or received a partnership' and later became the owner. Those in business in 1891. were of the young-' 4 to 1. The same day Clinton Grieket ar generation: James and Norman Club defeated Forest by' 5 wickets, Fair, George McTaggart, Drank and McMurchie and, McTaggart being Bert I3odgins, Lack Kennedy, Joe chiefly responsible. They afterwards Chidley, Toand Will Jackson, Jas. took on the Irish Nine of Lucan with Scott, A. H. Manning, Horace Foster, Hoover pitching and Spalding catch - T. C. Bruce, Billy Beesley, A. M. Mg.Todd, II. T. Rance, W. P. -Spalding, i May 11, 1892. "Miss Maggie Jack - A. T. Cooper, A. J. Holloway, Andy son leaves. this week for Rat Portage Porter,' Jack Allen, Phil Crews, Jacic to visit` her sister, Mrs: -C. C. Rance. Kennedy, Rennie , McDonald, and a But High View residence is not to' be few years` after, Ogle Cooper came; entirely deserted by its youth and. scarcely any of them married. Why beauty for the and shed Aggie, was this` not a good location for a who has•been in Toronto for some • doctor? and my policy was to be one time is expected home before her sis- ter leaves." "Mr.'A. D. Fisher, who, when re- siding in town was known as 'Chaun- cey', an expert with . the mouth: or- gan and guitar, now holds at a good salary a first class position in one of the watch departments of 1Vlessrs. Tient Bros., Toronto. His friends will be pleasedto know about his most wonderful success and wish hien still further prosperity."" We 'expect Mr. Fisher, who now is an extensive manufacturer and inventor up for the Old Boys' Week and we hope he will ;bring his old mouth organ along for the serenade now being organized by Col, Combe. Forest Free Press: "E. M.. Mc- Lean,' late of Forest, entered upon Inc duties as Science Master' at the Clinton High School on Jan. 4th. Judging from Mack's account of Clin- ton. itmustbe the model, town of the Province." Mack ruin be here in August and there is' no doubt his ac- count of the happenings sines 1894 will be interesting to the Old Boys. Feb. 28. 1894. "Tho Band tan now lay claim to having one of the best Brass Fords in the eouatry. A lead- er is the may requiretne s. to perfect the organization. The officers elect- ed were: Hon. President, Capt. H. Torr Ranee; President, H. B. Chant; Vice President, Jack Emerton; Treas- urer, A. J. Holloway; Secretary, Will Harland; Committee of Management, 3 B. . Gibbings . and A. 3,, Holloway. 1. am sure it ;will be a surprise to the present bandmaster to, (earn that those named above every played in a band. . - n men per of the Forks dislocated his elbow and ;partly dislocated has, shoulder. This seems to be a hereditary trait ,', and Carl should' not grumble if his boy does the sane. On Dominion Day the Dauntless Lacrosse Club defeated Goderieh by of the younger generation, grow up together and attend to their physical ills.. Some of the older businessmen, few of whom are now here, were; N. Rob- - son, ob•..son, T. Jackson,Bob Holmes, John. Harland, Curtis Stevenson, Geo, Sal low,_ 0. S. Doan, D. B. Kennedy, 3. Biddleeombe, 3. Chidley, Sandy Mc - Murchie, Peter Cantelon. In those days the big exporters. were, our ' awn David Cantelon, the Apple King, who thirty-five years :- ago 'was a horse to work and only Within the last few years has eased up a bit, but during those busy years ' he always found time to pilot the 'af- fairs of our town, filling the position of Councillor, Reeve and Mayor, also Wardesu of the County, and we hope he may yet enjoy many years look- ing back upon his life work, Sid Smith' was also a big buyer and ex- porter as well, as a first class sport, 'ready for any picnic, dance or enter- tainrnent. In looking up news items in The News -Record, the Fainily. Journal, then published by Whitely and Todd, T find politics were taken more ser- iously thantoday if we are to judge from the bitter and personal contri- butions. In Feb. 1892 the firemen were or- ganized upon the basis that exists to- day, with Win. Coats chief, Chas: Helyer capteiand Bob Stevens, Jack West, Hugh Ross, Dick Horsley, Tom Glew, Harry Glazier, S. Wilson, J.. 0. Stewart, Jhn Howe, Bob Welsh, Syd; Croll, firemen. The only :fireman re- raaining is. the present chief. Glazier. On April 1802 appears, "There. is a movement on foot among the con- gregations' of on-gregations'of Ontario and Rotten- bury street Churches to amalgamate and build a church large enough to accommodate all." The movement, evidently, did not materialize. Feb. 2, 1892. John Torrance, reeve of Stanley, defeated Win; Milne of Gray for the Wardenship by 26 to. 25, a political fight in those days. At the present time the honour .alternates 'between the parties. Judging from .John's present appearance he must have been a very young Warden. May, 1892. Capt. H. B. Combe and others took a run to Goderich.on -their bicycles, in an• hour.Some run over those hills, but the item does A Raising Bee • I remember Very distinctly being invited to a raising at Willie Weir's farm, just outside of Clinton, in 1894. We were told to come in our working clothes. Jim Fair wore an old slouch hat, a Waterbury watch, a hickory shirt, a faded coat, with overalls to match. The bottoms 'of the overalls were stuffed into a pair of long boots, with once red leather tops. •, Andy Porter was allowed tocome in his ordinary clothes, as Syd Smith remarked that Andy's. as was agri- cultural enough to be painted : on a hay fork. Bob Agnew was on deck with an old red muffler which he 'used to wear 'not say how long they were returning. when goingto school in the country, A LANDMARK REMOVED 'This building occupied the site on which the postofrice nowstands and was torn down to make room for it. It was used as a store and dwell ng by Mr. H. Wdltse. This building,which was at one time considered about the best in the county, was erected by Messrs. Moore and Hunter and used: by them for years as a dry . goods store. The men shown in the • picture are, reading from left to right: W. Dryclone, who was then a young lawyer, just building up "a practise and has his little brief bag hi's arm; the late Joseph Rattenbu �y and the late F. Tomlinson of under P Ttri, tcefield• .0 Rider, who was buried on Sunday last, is sitting, A. For- tner beingimmediately , behind him; the late Rev. W. B. Newcombe and the late Thomas' Jael:see sr., George McLennan and Bert Wiitse. Mr. II _*i : a he was probably too busy himself to' come out to have his tltsc says picture taken. c ss,.r,s 'i • „},:! ;1. AT WEMBLEY. The above shows the Doherty Pianos, Limited, and Sherlock -Manning exhibit at the Empire Exhibition at; Wembley this year: wrapped tightly around his tuaible We interviewed Lack Kennedy, the neck, automobile . He resides in Toronto After the buttermilk was passed and is very successful and will be around Willie explained he was .about :here with the Old Boys and full of to erect a barn, as the foundation had pap. been built, everything was ready for March 20; 1895: In these days boys an old time raising. began early to organize sports. In Billy Coats and Joe Wheatley were this issue is the following: Baseball: chosen captains, Billy won the toss This manly pastime will be among, and Bob Holmes of the New Era was the leading sports in Clinton during his first choice. "Sandy Innes," shouted Joe. "A good .plower, but no use at this raising," quoth Billy. "I will take Syd . Smith,". said Billy. "Jim Fair," yelled Joe. `Lack' Ken- nedy," en-nedy ' retorted Billy. "Alex. Ingles,' said Joe. .t°Excuse me," said Mex. "I am nae the mon I was thearty year ago. I will carry the water jug, if it please ye," "Joe Rattenbury," yelled "Joe,and so the choosing went on; and by twoo'clock a good start. was effected. It was a goodly sight to Geo. Mc- Taggart and his assistant, Bill Coun- ter,`hauling with well-groomed hands at the rough end of an amateur saw- log. "It's worse than cleaning an In- gersoll watch," said Bill. "Isn't it about time the supper bell blew?" breathlessly asked Gall Holloway, as he drove home a pin with a heavy setting maul, with which Bob Holmes forces his editorials upon a suffering public. "I hope we have more than `bisticks' and cheese," says Gall. "You will observe I do nothing but saw wood," said Phil Crews. Phil was cutting a, joist and just then he drew the linen edge of the saw across his fingers, He said something and saw stars. "Hurry 'up with those groceries," yelled Ogle :Cooper, "or we will be beatten" Bert Kerr wiped his forehead on the 'sleeves -of his checked flannel shirt, rolled up the dizzy precipice or a sad,?ing plank, pushing a wheelbarrow laden with rafters ahead of him. "Whoop La," shouted Bill Coats, as he missed a. nail with his hammer and bisected his index finger at right angles. "You are better at striking a tax rate," wasthe remark of Dick Fair at this mishap. Just then the supper bell rang and it was a pic- ture to see them all run for the table. In order to keep up with the grand old custom of the country, Billy Weir had set a. special table for the hired Man . The place was unanimously awarded to Bob Downs. The choice was justified by the victuals he con- sumed, Jim Ford had just tackled his. second .piece of pumpkin pie when the whistle blew for work. He took it with hint to the barn. Night eame as a benediction to all. JoeWheatley's side won by 11/2 raf- ters. Then from'the top of the barn Willie Weir' hurled a keg of hard cider and the toilers ,started in (Or - suit. the coming season, and the people who lovesport will be pleased to know that a club has been organized with the following board of directors: G. D. MeTaggart, John Wiseman, F. R. Hodgins, Geo. Armour, 3. B. Hoover, J. W. Shaw; secretary, B. 3. Gibbings; manager, J. B. Hoover; committee, W. Harland, R. Agnew, B. Kerr, A. Scovell, A. Stonehaiit, W. P. Spalding, A. Scruton, G. Baxley' G. McCrae, F. Glendenning. A captain will beselected from the team. April 3, 1895; The following offi- cers were elected for the Dauntless Lacrosse Club: President, N. Fair; vice, B. J. Gibbings; secretary, R. W. Read; treasurer, Ogle Cooper; cap- tain, bred; Beattie; committee, S. HIanlon, Bob Turnbull, Lack Kennedy, Geo, McTaggart, Allen. Turnbull, W. Doherty, Geo. Morrison ,J. Fair jr., John G„ Miller • April 8, 1895; W. 11 Fair on Mon - clay took possession of the book and stationery business purchased from R. Spalding ,and he has held it ever since. "Often the cheapest, always the best." July 6, 1895: The officers of the 33rd`Regiment held- their annual din- ner at the Rattenbury House tonight. Among those present were the follow- ing: Lt. -Col. A. " Wilson; Surgeon Holmes; Copts. Combe, Rance, Todd, Forrester, Howard Jackson, Beck, Maj. Jordan, ,Maj. Wilson, Capt. Rob- erts, Capt. Hays, W. Shaw, G. D. Me - Taggart, John Young, W. Ransford, W. Jackson, Lt. M. D. MeTaggart, R. McDonald, Dr. Freeborn, Capt. Wil- liams. Very few of these officers are now in the army. The speeches were numerous. John Elmsford is re- ported as singing a song illustrating prominently that every living being was tainted with Gritism or. Tory- ism. An enchore was, demanded and he tang "He's an Englishman"_ Evi- dently John did not prophecy that there might be a 3rd party, the Pro- gressives, born in,the 20th century. Mr. W. Jackson asked the officers to take into their serious considera- tion Borne plan of going to war for. trade effects. His was more ;prophetic he also sang "Old Black Joe." Capt. Todd, in responding to the Local Corps, mentioned :the short: sightedness of the opposition in ser - Bain quarters to the proper mainten- ance of the Canadian Militia. • Capt. Forrester compared the Can- adian and English solder, saying the former were more apt students" than the latter, concluding that rural regiments were starved and too much money squandered at headquarters. Capt. Beck said he joined the force in 1865, was on duty at the Fenian Raid and told some reminis- cences. Capt. Rance recited "Excelsior" in his usual good style. G. D. ]McTaggart responded to 'Trade and Commerce"' and as a taxpayer concurred in any expendi- ture for the militia and that in com- parison Canada was in as good a position as any ,other. Capt. Combe said such gatherings as this educated the members and that much bene- fit resulted from boys joie:Mg the force. The Ladies were responded to by L. MeTaggart and R. J. McDonald. Storms:. In those old 'days there were some storms. The following 1 can vouch for, as my old friend and reliable citizen, Wm. Marland, was an eye witness. He was plowing in the field' near the bush when he heard a great roar, Looking around the dust was so thick he lost sight of the bush. .Ile at once unhitched the team and turned them towards the barn and he and they got, there .as fast ars possible. Cap. Morrish was• the lucky one to cateh the keg so: he was elected to be torch bearer. tram sandwiches and "twofers" were passed around an d Billy Weir hitched up the hay rack and drove us home, a tired crowd. Wednesday, June 17, 1896: The Dauntless Lacrosse Club goes to. Mitchell today to play their second championship game. The players are: goal, Cantelon; Point, B. Kerr; cover, Beattie; defence, Robertson, Morrish, Turnbull; centre, Buggin; home, Read, Gibbings, Noble; outside, Whitely; inside, Yellowlees( Score was 2-1 for. Clinton. Very rough game. June 19, 1896: Cricket Match. A very interesting game of cricket was played between the married and single men. The score was 64 to 67 in favor of the married men, whose side was composed • of H. C. Bruce, Dr. Agnew, Dr. Bruce, T. Johnston, L. Kennedy, A. J. Holloway, Geo.. Barge, Joe Rattenbury, J. W. Shaw, J. W. Chidley. The ,single mien were 1. McMurchie, M. D. 1VleTaggart, W. P. Spalding, R. Downs, J. D. Kilty, R. Barnhardt, Morgan, Ed. Cantelon, J. Miller. Best score, 80 for Lack Ken- nedy, 22 for R. Downs. July 11, 1894: Clinton horses to the front. On July 2nd Mr. Joe Copp's. Allan Wilks by Jay Bird, cap- , I3ui. before getting there the huin•i- tured first' money at Brussels beat- cane had arrived and it met the ing the Senator's 2:2611 This°'be- straw stack and hurled it in the air. ingAllan Waits' "first race it speaks covering. him up and,it took some lit - well for a future. Lack Kennedy's tat digging •n • to get from under. By ' Lord 'Ten son also won first money this time the _sin hacl arrived,corn- in the orn- iithe 2;50 pace, turning the tablespletely soaking him. As soon as the on his old.rival, Brown Sam best rain ceased • he ' cautiously emerged ��' n his. shelter and ttpon looking time: 2:3 ,' Joe still loves ahorse from 7 si;t gum and is the only one left in town of the around found fish. in gr q o Y been blown from Lalte Hui'ou cess as to attendance was assured old racing brigade., Lack has turned that had be Ib � sue, his attention to a faster class in tate with the stornt.1Should George Lane, frnttt tate cursor. an old Clinton. boy, come for the Re- union he will corroborate this story for it is said he got a good mess of those fish. Bowlers: Away back in 1893 Clin- ton organized a Bowling Club and constructed a green behihd the sold Molsons Bank. But this soon became too small to accommodate the-menr- bers. Those playing then were W. W .Farran, D .A. Forrester, J. P. Tis- dale, D. L. Macpherson, Lack Ken- nedy, H. C. Brewer, W. Jackson, John Johnson, J. W. Irwin, John Harland and G. D. McTaggart. The Club se- cured grounds and laid down ten greens where the present quarters are. Success came from steady prac- tice and at local tournaments: They won many prizes and soon became ambitious and sent a rink to Niagara to play' at the Dominion tournament, composed of G. D. Mc- Taggart, Billy Jackson, •Davey'For- rester and J. P. Tisdale. They re- ported a grand time, But the greatest victory was achieved at London' at the Western, Ontario Bowling Tourney in'' July, 1903, When the rink skipped by W. Jackson won the Labatt Trophy, em- blematical of the championship of On- tario, which meant Canada, and the second prize, called the Association, won lw W. P. Spalding's rink, first prize in doubles won by Hoover and Agnew. This record has never been equalled ,by a single club in one sea- son. The trophy rink was W. Bry- :done, D. A. Forrester, Jas. Fair, W. Jackson. The visit of the British Bowlers was an important event in the his- tory of the game ho Clinton. They were welcomed at a banquet provided by the ladies in the town hall. In the' afternoon the Clinton •Club defeated the British by 5 shots, being the se- cond on the tour to aeeontplish this task. Talk about old times and old tim- ers. here's a report of a Dominion Day Celebration in Clinton, July 1, 1874, just 51 years ago. It says the Barss Band played from the roof of Searle and Davis' store (you' could not hit them with bad eggs up there) and opened the day's proceedings, which consisted of : Calithumpian parade, . Horse races and athletic sports . You will find Joe Copp the chief winner and Joe'Wheatley•oame a close second. Joe Copp took first in standing jump, 12 ft. 11 in.; F. Moul- ton second.; Three standing jumps, Copp lst, 36 ft. 1r/e in. Running, hop, step and jurrp, Joe Copp, 45 ft. -9 in., Joe Wheatley second. (Pole (Fault, R. Foster, •J. Foster. Running jump, Joe Copp ,19 ft. 9 in.; Ben Cole 2nd. 100 yard race, Joe Wheatley, lst;. Sandy Taylor 2nd. 200 yard race, Joe Wheatley, ist; Wan. Jones 2nd. These records in this vicinity have never been beaten. • The running hop, step and jump was an extra good jump. The athletes of today with coach- ing and training by professionals have not equalled these marks in this county. In 1871 at . Bayfield on 24th' of May: ' Men's foot race, Joe Copp, lst; Tom Cameron, 2nd. Standing jump, Joe Copp,, B. Cole. Running ,Jump, Joe Copp, B. Cole. Hop, step and junl)0, Joe Copp, G. J. Austin! Joe has raised two pretty fair athletes but neither has shown the class of their dad. On July 2nd, 1874 the following item appears:: "New Butcher Shop. R. Fitzsim- ons begs itzsiin-ons'begs to announce to the inhabi- tants of Clinton and vienity that he has opened b new butcher Shop op- posite the market; where he will be pleased to meet; all his old customers and as many new ones as may favor him with their custom. Al'l kindsf. meat kept in season and promptly,do livered anywhere in the village." I doubt if any of the old timers are. still in the same class of business as long as Bob and still going strong: Memories: ,,.There are a few, events which occurred during my first few. years' residence in Clinton. The first was .a St. Andrew's dinner, giver; by2 Sons of Scotland on Nov. 3rd, 189 The previous year Murray Camp 5. 0. 5. had been organized and Chief. P.W. Fortune tune and the officers` deter, misled, to hold the the In st 'St. And •tew's dinner ever hold in Clinton, man '' town As almost every Sc0ttin l and vicinity had become members the 'ecU.a A. N. )14.4tiia'0W...,.1 `only hotel .man at that time eligible to be called Scotch, and after con- sulting his mother, -vho by the way, was a better Scot than .Lack, as' she was "Hielan," decided :to serve •the dinner. Mrs. Kennedy pleasantly agreed to looks after the cooking, but regretfully ,announced she could not make the "Haggis", a most essential part of the banquet. Mrs. Thos. Fair, having a mare than local reputation for making this most wonderful and rare dish, agreed most willingly. In those' -days the O.T.A. had not been born so the liqurcl refreshment part was easily ;pi•ocut;ed. The dinnerP rovided has never been surpassed ;or even equalled before or since. ' It has gone down as history. Thos. Fortune was Chief and John Croll, Chieftain; Jitnmy Ross and Jack Dingwall, Pipers. • . Some of the guests were: Wm. Murray, SandyMc- Murchie, Jas. Fair; Alex, and Jimmy Tngles, Ivan McGarva, Geo. McTag- gart, Colquhoun, D. A. Forrester, D. L. and D. F. Macpherson, W, Coats, Jas. and Norman Fait, 3. J. and Ren- nie McDonald, W. P. Spalding, McGill Dixon, Charlie Duncan,Harry In- gsanr,• M. D. 1VIcTaggart, D. McAllis- ter, W. Weir, Dr. Gunn,Dr. Turnbull, and some • who were: half Scotch, as Will and Tom' Jackson, Syd Smith, Barry Combe, Torr -Rance and N. Robson. It is unnecessary to say the ;ban- quet was a grand success.., We sat down serene and complacent in front of our Haggis and our whiskey on one side ,surrounded. by our bag pipes in the complete ' enjoyment of our na- tional pleasure. 'Of .course the Eng- lish and Irish have no national dish or national music so wouldn't enjoy such a• banquet. We began the din- ner with the usual ceremony with the Haggis at 8 p.m. and closed with Auld Lang Syne at 6 next morning. The toasts were many and all drunk in true highland fashion, the speech - ea excellent. To those Englishmen like John Ransford, : who may not have seen Highland Honors at such gatherings the following will ex- plain: When the 'Toasts are given with Highland Honours the whole of the company rises with the Chief. Tho warden secures the door and stands at attention: .The toast to the Patron Saint, St, Andrew, The Chief and company,', stand on their chairs and •place their right foot on the table and while in this: position (tate ChieE leading) pro- nounce the words Silas e' (west with it) three times to be followed by three hurrahs. Then the words silos e' (east with it) three times, followed by throe hurrahs as before and last. lythe word nish (now) titres times, Followed by three hurrahs at the final hurrah the piper will strike up a few bars of a stirring mleody: The Chief and company retiring, to their seats. Toasts with : f_Jighland Honours can only be proposed by the Chief and the. piper shall only play at° his rel - quest. Lion Alexander of Toronto sent the following lines: • "I' wish you joy St. Andrew's nicht, Till morning sun comes glinting,,• Sing loud and dance, skirl pipes WVmight, I'll turn my ear to Clinton.", "Good night and joy be wi'ye a' And I wish my grannie saw ye." I remember distinctly the origin and development of the 25 Glob In 1893. In the beinning the members' listwas limited to 25 men. Only those unmarried were eligible. The objects were, as noted in The News- Record of that date: "This commend- able ommend able', organization is for mutual int- prevenient. mprovement. The debates are proving snore interesting with each meeting.. They are of a national nature, such as broaden the mind and intellect of young men. The next debate_ will be "Prohibition." The rules and . constitution had to be radically revised, as the months went by, for the resignations began to come in So rapidly on account of many forsaking their bachelor ways. So we struck out that clause and if we hadn't, there would only have been three members left, Dan Macpherson, W. E. hand and Dick Fair. But to our great surprise and delight W. D. quietly forsook the other two, who to this moment have never had the courage to propose. CLINTON TOWN HALL 0 61. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY In,the foreground is seen the handsome fountain donated in memory, the late Sidney Smith. TILE CLINTON l' +JBLTC :EtOSPI7'itL 'community hospital in d it r toned as r o S lltis building was reurodellc a 1 opened February, 1924. Some -home comiii g ones" may recognize ' it its the _o lc I Mc.la • :,gart' home, :The building and grounds were donated to the hospital oa•Major M. D. McTaggart ,0 memory of his parents, and is now, b td by ) gR a 1 mule' o and best e quipped ed' of the smaller h8spitals in ` � cc _ , al q 1P caro MI' the most; Western Ontario. : -