The Seaforth News, 1940-02-22, Page 4PAGE FOUR
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1940
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
Snowdon Bros., Pill
i.her+
WALTON
Mrs. W. J. Humphries and Billie
spent the week end with the forst- i
errs mother, Mrs. I. 13oltou or Mc-
Killop.
Mrs. Kell Rutledge of Toronto spent
the week cud with Mr. and Mrs. F.
Rutledge.
Mt'. Blair Shaw of Harrtstou spent
the week end with his mother, Mrs.
Pearl Shaw.
Mr. Gordon Murray, who is work-
ing at Wroxeter called on friends in
the village on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Wright who have
been spending the winter with friends
M Wroxeter spent the week end at
Chir home in the village.
Mr, D. Bird, who has been in the
London hospital for some time was
operated on on Saturday and his
many friends were glad to hear the
operation was successful, and hope
he will be soon able to come home.
Mr, H. Campbell has rented Mr. E.
Bryans' house and gets possession in
the spring.
The U.F.W.O. meeting was held at
the home of Mrs. A. Coutts on Wed-
nesday, Feb. 21st. "How to Win
Friends and Influence People," was
given by Mrs. Geo. Love. Rollcall
was Ways of Showing Courtesy
The annual World's Day of Prayer
service was observed by the w•om-
mets s organizations of the Anglican
and Duff's United Churches. Mrs. Gil-
bert presided and quiet music was
av son. Many
LONDESBORO
Mr. and Mrs. Bert flunking were
tu
g'sts at t e home or Mr: Willis
vim untain on Sunday.
.
Th Aim WeilMlssimtt E'ircle 11,"'Whit regular monthly meeting at
he home of bliss Illeen Millet• on
Tuesday e sday evening. All report a very
enjoyable time.
The Red Cross Bunce held on Fri-
day evening, was a real success, the
proceeds being $25.
Mrs. John Mairs and Miss Berea
Mairs were guests at the home of
Mr, Wm. Govier, over the week end.
Mrs. Charles Johnston is visiting
her daughter Mrs. Cecil Cartwright,
tiles Fern Watson of Auburn spent
the week end with her mother. Mrs.
Charles Watson.
Private Cowan, Mrs. George Cow,
an and Master Billy Cowan were
guests at the hone of Mr. Ted
Pickett on Sunday.
The Win Others Sunday School
Class held .a social evening in the
basement of the church on Friday
evening. A short program was given,
consisting of a piano solo by Gladys
Mountain, a duet by Margaret and
Irene Fothergill, a reading by Mar-
garet Fothergill, a solo by Eleanor
Sprung. a solo by Isabel Forbes, and
a mouth organ selection by Charles
Stewart, Following the program, Mrs.
Hesk, the teacher of Win Others
Class was presented with a handsome
hand bag and scarf. The address was
read by Miss Fern Watson and Mr,
Harry Snell presented the bag and.
scarf. The rest of the evening was
spent in playing games, after which
a dainty lunch was served by the
girls of the class.
Miss Bina Kirk visited at the home
of Miss Mabel Harvey on Saturday,
played by Mrs. W D id
heard the broadcast of the service
conducted by Mrs: Ernest Forbes of
the Inter -Board Committee of the Wo-
men's Missionary Societies of Can-
ada on Feb. 8th.
The W.M.S. of Duff's United Church
met on Feb. 14th with Mrs. Gilbert
presiding. A letter from the supply
secretary Mrs. Colclough requests
second hand clothing and quilts. The
programme was in charge of the Wal-
ton group. A chapter on "The Regen-
eration of India," was presented by
Mrs, M. Holland and Mrs, Silas
Johnston.
BLYTH
Services •were 'held in the United
church on Sunday with Rev. Arthur
Sinclair in charge. At the Sunday
s•ahool a chorus was sung' by fourteen
boys and Girls with Miss Elizabeth
Mils in charge.
'Norman Sinclair, of Toronto Univ-
ersity, spent the .week end with his
,parents, Rev. and 'Airs. Sinclair.
Charles Barrett, Who •has spent the
past two months at Milburn returned Intel, London, is spending severa
10 •town on Friday. weeks at the home of her parents
The crokinole and card party spoa- I Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Follick.
sored by the Horticultural Society Mr, John Tapp left this week fon
was quite a success. A :dance followed Ottawa where he will stake his Monte
• VARNA
-Mr. and•Mrs. A. McBride of Blake
were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart
Beattie on Sunday. •
The dance put on In the hall
Thursday night in aid of 4iphe -Red
cross was a success. Proceeds
mounted to around $30.
AIossrs. Harold and Ah -in Elliott
of Kitchener spent Sunday at the
parental home. On their return they
were accompanied by their mother.
Mrs. Chuter spent last week with
friends iu London.
The Varna Associate Library held
its annual meeting at the hone of
Mrs. E. Beatty on Thursday evening
last. The folloivin:g were elected dir-
ectors for 15)'4'11: Ben Rat'hwell, Ed
Chuter, Stewart Beattie George
Reid; Mrs, \l. Elliott, Mrs. Sher.
Keys and Mrs. O. Doweon.
Mrs. • Geoitge Connell is spending
this week with relatives in Toronto.
\Irs. E. Smith visited with -friend.
in London 'last :week.
Stanley District LO.L. met in the
Orange Hall on Wednesday last and
elected the ;following as officers for
the ensuing, year: \V.M., J. Pease; D.
\l., A. Coleman; chap., C. C. Pil-
grim; rec. sec., Percy Johnson; fin.
sec., J. Petty; treas., J. B. Rathwellt
n)ariihall, G. Clarke; '1st lest., W. J.
McLeod; 2nd legit„ Lewis Clarke.
The 'Royal- Scarlet -.Chapter. of
Stanley held its annual .meeting in
the 'Orange hall on Wednesday, Fob.
114th, The following officers were
elected: '\\':C,. Fred McClymont;
D.C., Jas. Petty: chap„ A. E. Erwin;
scribe, Chas. C. Pilgrim; treas., El-
mer Welbvter; near hall, Percy 'John-
ston; 11st 'feet., W. J. McLeod; 2nd
lett 'f. B. Rathwell tit cond., John
Pease; 2nd coed„ Lours Clarke: her-
ald, Anson Coleman: sentinel, Geo.
Clarke. '
HENSALL
Miss Violet Schwalm of St, Thomas
spent the week end at the hone of
her parents, Mr. and. Mrs. Pete).
Schwalm.
Mr, Donald Walker and Mr. Lloyd
Noakes who are training for overseas
service in Toronto spent the week
end at their respective hones here,
Mrs. John Elder left on Saturday
for Toronto, where she will visi
with relatives.
Dlr. and Mrs. John Corbett and.
Air. Garnet Mousseau spent the week
end with Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Corey in
London,
Mr. John Swan of London visited
on Saturday with his father, Mr
Alexander Swan.
Rev. Mr. Weir has been confined
to his room for the past week with an
attack of influenza which caused in
flamnation in his ear. Mr. Weir's
many friends hope for a speedy re
sorely.
Miss Mildred Follick, who has been
training for a nurse in Victoria Hos
the period of =ante: and refreshment_
were served.
Mi,.. Annie Barr, teacher at Port
Aubert, spent the week end witth her
tparente. -Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Barr.
Mr. and Mrs. R. 5. Hoover of Grey
- township' -celebrated their fiftieth wed-
ding anniversary on Monday. Mrs.
Hoover alas formerly Margaret Gib-
son, daughter of the late James and
Margaret Gibson of ;the first line of
'Morris. Mr. Hoover is the son of the
• late Adam and Ellen Hoover of the
.4th cnnceeeion of East Wawanosh.
The ceremony was performed by the
tate Rev. T. 13. \Vbilwin. then station-
ed at Bluerale and pastor of the for-
mer Methodist church. on February
19th. 11190. They- started married life
on the 4th concession of East \\'a -
war .an, near Westfield. Twelve years
later they moved to •the 9th coact, -
son ,.f Grey township near Brussel-
• Where they have since resided. To
this union 'were horn two ,daughters
and ' l-ree -ons: Mrs. Duncan McCal-
unt. Blyth: Harvey Hoover. Mount
Forest:- Beth and Norman, at 'home.
One +-ei, \Villiain. died in :19J5. Mrs.
H -.over had one throther, the late Pet-
er Gibson of - Hamilton. Mr. Hoover
one of a lamily of thirteen, eight of
wit .m are still living, his twin 'broth-
er residing in 'Welland 'while the oth-
er r:.ide in Alberta. They have sev-
- en atnIchitdren: Harvey Jean and
Irene McCallum. Blyth; Melvin and
Cr:onion Hoover, Mount Forest, John
and Murray Hoover. Brussels. Mrs.
Hoover is 75 while ,Mr. Hoover is 78.
'flies are both enjoying -good health.
BRODHAGEN
Mr. and Mrs. George Young of
Stratford visited with Mr. and Mrs.
George Diegel on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. George Jacob of Kit-
chener visited with Mr. and Mrs.
Gottleib Mueller and Mr, and Mrs,
Manuel Beuermann.
Sir. and Mrs. Russell Sholdice and
Gary visited with Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Sholdice at Walton- on Sunday.
MANLEY
The many friends of Mr. Pete Mc-
Laughlin. who has been under the
doctor's care will be glad to know he
is on the way to recovery.
Last Sunday night a snow storm
tied up traffic. Some of the collegiate
students were not in attendance, but
the snow ploughs have made the main
highways passable again.
Mr. Fred Eckert from .Egmondville
was a visitor in our burg the begins
Hing of this week.
A hunter was showing off his col•
%action of trophies to a group of visit-
ors. He was rapturously explaining
how he acquired the various exhibits.
"See that elephant?" he said. "I
shot it in nay pyjamas."
"My goodness," murmured- the sur-
prised young lady, "How did It get
with his son.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baynhan
and family of Exeter visited on Sun
day with Mrs, Baynham's parents
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Moir.
Mr. John Craig, who has been con
fined to Scott Memorial Hospital
Seaforth, returned to his home here
last week much improved in health.
Messrs. E, L. buckle, Thos. Welsh,
Alf Clarke, Geo. Hess, G. M. Drysdale
and Walter Spencer motored to De-
troit on Saturday and spent the week
end there.
Mrs. James Smillie motored to
Toronto on Saturday and spent the
week end with her son-in-law and
daughter Mr. and Mrs. Harold Shep
herd.
Mr. Wm. Craig is seriously ill at
his home here with pneumonia and
was given a blood transfusion on Sat-
urday.
aturday. Air. Craig's many friends wish
hint a speedy recovery.
A splendid attendance was at the
hone of Mrs. J. A. Patterson on
Wednesday evening when she was
hostess for the Hensall Senior Insti-
tute. Presiding for the evening was
the president Miss Beryl Pfaff, and
the opening exercises and the roll
ea11 was answered with "My Maiden
Name" in full, after which the
scripture lesson was read. The main
feature for the evening was the de-
r000nstratiou of ironing a shirt by
Mrs. Patterson the hostess.
DUBLIN
Mrs. Dan Williams and son Dan.
with Airs. John McGrath and Hugh,
were Sunday visitors at the home or
Dir. and Mrs. Toni Williams. of Tuck-
ersmith.
Miss Anne Ryan has returned hone
after a short holiday at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. John Evans, Goderich.
Mr. Ed Fawcett" who is ill in Strat-
ford General hospital, is improving.
Miss Mary, Burchill of London is
visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Burchill, Dublin.
Private Joseph Heffernan and 'Mrs.
Heffernan of London were -week end
isitnrs with Mr. and bits. Dennis
Dillon.
Mrs. David McConnell ie visiting
ser daughters in Detroit.
A. meeting of the executive of the
Catholic Youth Onganizauion was
held last week to make arrangements
'or an interesting program to be 'held
at a later date.
A number of our citizens attended
`tie: funeral of Mrs. John Edwards in
"tratford. The 'late Mrs. Edwards died
at her ;home in Stratford early Sunday
morning in her 78th year, She had
been in poor 'health for the ;past year.
l nrmerly Miss Catherine Feeney, she
;tis horn at Cardinal, 'Ont. She had.
lived in St. Marys and 'Mitchell lbefore
going to Stratford. She was married
ttiout 515 years ago to John Edwards
•.vdto predeceased 'her in 1939. Surviv-
ing are three children, Mother Aug-
usta of rhe ?t'reulin•e Order, "The
Pines." ;Cha harm: Miss Sarah Ed
ird . a`. moire, and Mrs. E. B. 'Dyers
1: Georgetown; :one brother, 'John
1- _,_ ney, and . :- sister;, Mrs. P. Bu
•st and kir-. T'. 'Cyn. all of 'Cardinal
S\ -ant and Alt 4d:A, 3 weeks See
PICKIN'S OF SPORT
Continued from Page One
Codetnh •C+)al Swiger defense,
iarrick, Shocnhtl ,centre,lahus,u,
wings, W es1hrook, Dunk; silks,,.
;lack. E. \Vorsell, Kingewell,: Ii.
\\'.or<ell. Durnin. Referee — Thoru-
dyke, Clinton.
Duncan Cup
The Bruins defeated the Bison's
' .4 in a hard :battle Saturday :morn -
ng. The Bruins' scorers were
Coombe 2, Fraser 2 and Ry -an. while
Eisler was the ,spearhead -of Bisons
attack, netted t'he puck twice for the
osers, and Wilson and 'Cnontlbs
scored the otter Bison ,goals. In the
second game the starry Chesney ,led
the Athletics to a l'1-3 victory over
the Argos by scoring 3 goals and
assisting in the rest of his team's
counters. Cleary S, Reid 2, and Mac-
Lean scored 'the other Athletic goals.
Sanith, \\'Dods and .Quinlan scored
for the Argos.
Hensall and Egmondville Win
Egmondville defeated Dublin 4-3
and Hensall trintnted Winthrop 9-3
Saeturday night. In the first 'game
Hensall trade 'Winthrop look sick
and Feinbairn played a swell game
for Hensall, netting the 'puck five
times, while Hudson Campbell ,and
Tudor •were the other Hensall
scorers. Battles 2. and Riley scored
for Winthrop.
The second game oras more even
with Dublin giving the River Rats a
hard 'battle, 'C. Rintou-1, Don McLean,
A, McLean and aNicholson scored .for
Egmondville while Wilson, O'Connor
and Wilson again scored for Dublin,
CONSTANCE
Most of the school children have
been home owing to the flu.
Mr, and Mrs, Thomas Riley of
Clinton spent Sunday in the village.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Glazier and
Mrs. Adana Glazier of Clinton spent
Sunday at the hone of Mr. and Mrs,
David Millson.
Little Douglas Riley is at present
111 with the flu.
We are glad to see Mr. Walter
Scott around again after being ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Wan. Logan of Blyth
spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs, Leo
Stephenson.
Miss Ethel Dexter, Kitchener, spent
the week end at the hone of her par-
ents. Mr. and Mrs. Austin Dexter.
Airs. Austin Dexter entertained the
ladies of her group of the W.A. one
afternoon last week.
A very interesting sleeting of the
Club of Progress was held Friday
evening, Feb. 16, in the sch000lroom.
Chairman, and secretary, Mr, 0. An-
derson. Human:Ms readings were
given by Mrs,. E. Culbert, Miss Jean
Wakefield, Miss Helen Britton. Mrs.
1Vm. Jewitt delighted the audience
with a .piano instrumental. Miss O.
Ptyee sang a solo, aceempanying her•
self with the guitar, which was very
much enjoyed. Two promising young
singers, Eric Anderson and Teddy
Phillips, entertained the audience
with a duet. Interesting discussions
on live stock were given by the 101•
lowing: Mr. A. R. Dodds, the evolve
tion of the British pig; Mr. Wilbur
Jewitt. sheep; Air. W. M, Jewitt,
cattle. The Misses E. and 0. Pryce
favored the- audience with a piano
duet. A very humorous musical trio
was sung by Air. F. Phillips, Mr. C.
Weldon, Mr. W. M. Jewitt, aecompan-
led by Mrs. Jewitt on the piano. The
meeting closed by singing God Save
the King. The next meeting will be
held on March 15.
STANLEY
We are pleased to know Myrtle
McKinley is recovering from her re-
cent serious illness.
Gordon Saunders of Detroit visited
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McKinley over
the week end.
The annual meeting of Goshen Un-
ited Church and Sunday School was
held in the church on Monday after-
noon of last week.
Reports were given by the various
departments and officers 'elected!) for
the current year, The staff of teachers
and officers stand practically the
same as last year.
The boards ' of Goshen United
Church including members of`session,
stewards and trustees will meet at
the home of Mr. Richard Robinson
tomorrow afternoon. A get together
meeting to plan our church work fpr
the year.
On Monday evening, February 13th
the Young People's Union of Goshen
United Church entertained the
Brucefleld Young People at a very
successful Valentine social in the
hall at Varna. Mr. Harvey Heys, vice
president of the Goshen Y.P.U., wel-
comed the visitors who were in
charge of a most interesting devo-
tional program. About eighty young
people joined in a hearty sing -song,
atter which several exciting games
were played.. A delightful lunch was
served and Mr. Bill Pepper 'thanked
the Goshen society for a very plebs-
ant evening. .
Imperial Measure
Certain standards of e'eigthts and
measures used in some of •tire states 1 t
the United States ;are not legal r:
Canada, though frequently used. Tho
D. S. standards are not so flange; 'beim,
about 166.16 per cent smaller 111 catpac-
itv than the legal .sta'nd'ards in Car:-
arla: that is, the Imperial, coact an•l
:ranee. Imperial roe-as'ure is 20 p
sr er than the 'C S.measare,.
r convect a ;given number of 1J S.
,gallons- into Imperial 'gallons, subtract
1'f ,111 or divide by 1-2. To convert a
nunt'her of Im'p'erial gallons itito
Lt. S. ,eallons, .add 11:5111, or .Inultiply
by 1-2: -
Goderich Juniors Get the :Breaks'
Goderich Juniors defeated Sea -
forth 7-4 in overtime at Goderich
Tuesday night. The Seaforth team
had a slight edge through most 'af
the gant•e although Goderich got the
;breaks in the second 'period, and
overtime :periods 'gave ,them 'she
game.
'Westbrook opened the :scoring for
Goderich when he took Johnson's
pass to :score on a ten foot drive,
The Beavers came right thacic and
McLean scored on Pearce 'pass -to
even the count :It.lf and Nigh sent the
visitors one up when he scored un-
assisted. Penalties in this. 'period
went to 'hleLean 2, Cameron and
\V e s lib rook.
Starting the second period' the
Beavers scored two more when
Pearce and Hudson scored, but
\Vorsell rounded 'tile Seaforth de-
fense to score and put Goderich
:hack in the 'game and two minutes
later Westbrook scored the third
Goderich goal when the puck
,.glanced 'off Cameron's shoulder into
the •open corner of the Seaforth net.
\Vestbrnok tied the .score early in
the thud when lie heat Messenger fn
a scratoble in ,front of the Seaforth
net. The heartbreaking goal carte
while Cameron was serving a l)eu-
alty at 4.55 of the overtime when en
easy shot deflected off Hudson' -s Reg
and went into the opposite corner
from -which the Seaforth goatlie ex-
pected it. Doak and Westbrook
,cored G'oderich's final ,mals on
breakaways wthile Seaforth played
every man sup.
Seafprth — Goal, Messenger; de-
fense - Cameron. Riley; centre,
Pearce; wings, McLean Nigh: subs.,
Gennnell, Hildebrand, Hudson.
Goderich — Goal. Swiger; defence,
Costello, Schnenhals; centre, John-
son: wines. Westbrook, Doak; subs.,
Garrick, \Vs,rsell. Duenin. Black,
Kingswell,
Referee: 'I'h:orndyke. Clinton.
Little Pickin...
It was announced this week that
Jack Walker has taken over the pos-
ition of manager from Allen Reid for
the intermediate Beavers in the play-
offs—Jack is familiar with this job
as he had it last year...The diction-
ary says "amateur" means "to love" or
"for the love of".,.Lindy • Leppard,
who has been receiving mail from
fannettes,, please note,..The McFad•
din brothers have been playing good
hockey this year...they were attract-
ed to Seaforth instead of Dave Pink-
ney's M.O. League by the healthy Sea -
forth winter climate...The Junior
Farmers play-offs commence on Sat-
urday night...these games used to
draw capacity crowds but there is too
much other hockey now,,.Faus are
arguing which is more important to
hockey: Juniors or Intermediates.,.
reminding us of the old gag: Which
comes first, the chicken or the egg?
...because when Intermediates get
too old to play, what could a town do
without juniors...import them all??
The intermediates play their first
play-off at Tavistock Wednesday
night, ..best at luck..,the Juniors are
smarting after Tuesday night's defeat
at Goderie,.h,..it is only their second
loss of the season.,.but they claim
to have been granted only thirty ntin-
rtes' practice since the season started
whereas the intermediates have gen-
erally had two practices a week...
.Irs, get no special peivileges,.,the
Juniors also say they have not even
been able to get much needed socks
from the S.A.A.A....It is considered
possible the Junior Farmers' league
will be abolished next year...which
would be a pity because most of our
local boys on the intermediate team
got their experience in the Junior
Farniers...Egmondville is now play-
ingwithout the services of "Speed"
Bell who joined the intermediates and
Harold Nicholson who is out for the
season with a dislocated shoulder...
Their places are taken by two rookies;
"Perk" Chesney and Don MacLean.
Bob Gemmell had four teeth knock-
ed
nocked out by a stick in Tuesday's game.
One of tike 'benefits derived from
the 'Canada-+Uniterl States Trade
A''greement may readily be apprecia-
seel -When a study is -trade of the ex-
•iort figures for cattle 'anrl calves :dor-
in.:- the past Couple of years. 'In 1935
'Canada shipped store than 80,000 ;beef
cattle to i.-. S markets. To 1939 title
was increased to :1178,000 head, 'Calf
exports, likewise showed a very -sharp
increase from 4'6,000 in 1438 to 140,000
in d939. -
REGENT
THEATRE
Seaforth
NOW PLAYING
James Cagney Priscilla Lane
"Roaring Twenties"
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY
Ginger Rogers
in
Walter Connolly
"Fifth Avenue Girl"
with
James Ellison Tim Holt
The best comedy since Bachelor Mother
NEXT
Alice Faye
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
Constance Bennett
iu
Spin"
''pin"
"Tail
Nancy Kelly Joan Davis
Women at home in the sky—and hungry for Romance
Coming—SHIRLEY TEMPLE in
"THE LITTLE PRINCESS"
ELIMVILLE
Miss Dorothy Johns spent the
week end in Toronto.
Mr. A. C. Whitlock of St. Thomas
was a visitor with Mrs. P. Whitlock
and Mrs. R. Dennison on Friday last.
The congregational meeting was
held in the church last Thursday
night. The reports were very satia-
tory.
Mr, and Mrs, Fred Long of Atwood
were Sunday visitors at the home of
Mr. Wnt. Johns.
NIr. and Mrs, Ewart Pym and girls
of Exeter were visitors in the neigh-
borhood on Sunday.
SEAFORTH
(By W. H. Johnston in the London
Free Press.)
It is seldom that a more unpromis-
ing site for a ,prosperous community
-has been chosen than that of the
Town of Seaforth. In the early days
it was a veritable swamp covered
with an almost impenetrable forest.
The site was so Ion' and wet that
the farm lot' all around were located
before .\ndrety Steene was courage-
oue enough to take up lot 26, conces-
sion one, 'McKillop, He made a clear-
ing on the southeast corner of Itis lot
and built a lig house that stood un-
til burned down in the 70's.
A man named McGregor bought
lot 1!, concession one, Tttckerstnitli,
but he lived about a rile away, to
the west of Harpurhey. However, he
cleared 10 acres on the corner and
thus provided a building site for 'the
future town. Ile offered the whole
farm for $450 lint it was many years
before he sold it, 'He sold three acres
on the corner to Andrew Mc -Kearney,
who built a log tavern. This building
and Steene's log cabin were the only
two houses in Seaforth until the God-
erich & Buffalo Railroad was con-
structed and opened in 1.858,
For probably more than 20 years
two adjoining villages -had been in
existence with no thought that there
should ever arise a rival on what w•as
known as the Guide Board Svvarnp.
It was so called 'because at the corn-
er: where the Grey Turnpike termin-
ated at the Huron road a post and
forger board stood telling the lonely
traveler how far it- was to Goderich.
Egmondville and dinleyville (now
Brussels) with finger .pointing to
each of these villages As this guide
board was in the centre of the swamp,
the name stuck.
The two rival villages were Har-
purhey. less than two miles 'farther
west on the Huron road, and Eg-
mondville, the sante distance to the
smith on the height overlooking the
Bayfield River Valley.
The first -named, Harpurhey, was
started and named by Dr. Chalk, the
first reeve of Tockersmitlt. The vill-
age grew rapidly and by '1185'8 was an
important plate with good b,usinese
houses and some manufacturing, a
mechanics' institute and another
physician, Dr. Coleman.
Egmondville was a live village with
a Canada Company grist mill and a
fine business centre catering to a
large territory to the east, south and
west and they gave Seaforth a real
struggle for her -supremacy'.
With two such 'formidable rivals
eec are led to inquire how it was pos-
sible for Seaforth to eclipse them.
The first impetus towards the growth
of a village ,was in the coming of the
railway Which passed through what
is now almost the centre of the town,'
though the 'company did not consider
having a station -there. Egmondville
and Harpurhey 'set ,up ,flags stations
that were used as such 'but Seaforth
had nothing.
Now the 'human element came into
esietence and a mushroom town ap-
peared almost over night. Three
young professional. 'nen appeared on
the scene and a wonderful transform-
ation 'followed. These men were
Messrs. Patton, Bernard and Le -
Fray. Patton -was long a partner is
the law business with Sir John A.
Macdonald- in Kingston. Bernard and
LeFroy were lawyers in 'Barrie. They
'bought the original lvicGregor's lot
from C. Sperling and had it surveyed
at once into a town 'plot. ,
They were indeed enterprising men
with fine ability as salesmenand
builders. Stores and hotels were op-
ened, private dwellings were erected
and occupied and the railroad comp-
any was approached, asking for a
station. Patton, Bernard and LeFroy
offered a free site and the company
accepted on condition that the sta-
tion be built for them also, free of
expense. Egmondville and Seaforth
united and built the station.
Harpurhey novo saw it was useless
for them to eontiuue the fight for su-
premacy and many from that village
moved to Seaforth. Among those
proving- were Dr. Coleman, William
Ballantyne, James Hatt, Edward
Hickson, Knox, Grassie and others. 4)
These newcomers meant much to
Seaforth. The post office was moved
from Harpurhey and changed to
Seaforth; Mr. Patton's 'brother being
the first postmaster.
The large and -prosperous 'Egmond-
ville With .1f0 to 112 stores attd various
manufacturing concerns continued the
struggle but soon her business men
saw the advantage of moving and
they did so. Among the first was
James Dickson, \I.P., later registrar
of the County of Huron.
These events contributed greatly to
the rapid growth of Seaforth, In 0)60
it was little more than a name. In
1867 it was incorporated as a village
with more than 1,900 inhabitants and
in 1474 it was raised to the status of.•V,
a town. Dr. Coleman was the first
reeve of the village, A. Armitage was
the first mayor of the town and. D. D.
Wilson the first reeve.
Some enterprising produce dealers
began to buy grain and this business
grew in a marvelous way. Individual
firms handled ,aver $1,000,000 worth
each in a year. Grain was teamed in
from a distance of S0 miles to the
north. This continued until the open-
ing of the Wellington, Grey & Bruce
R. R, in 1'875 and the Huron & Bruce
in 11876.
On September 4, 11877, the town ex-
perienced the 'greatest 'disaster in -her
history. A fire broke out that left
about 12 acres of the business part
of the town in ashes. This may have
been a blessing in disguise since
frame business blocks and homes
were re=placed by substantial brick
ones. Thus, we have a town that is
oomparatively new and up-to-date
Besides 'the large grain trade ,of
the town. there were in her pahniest
clays over 70 business stores, three
salt blocks with a comlbined capacity
of turning out more than 14000 •barrels
a day, three large flour milling plants,
a large oatmeal still, three pork pack-
ing establishments, two foundries, 116
factories, 110 :blacksmith shops and a
flax mill. D. D. Wilson did a 'large
'business in buying eggs in a large
territory in 'Western Ontario with do-
zens of large .wagons, drawn by ;beau-
tiful teams :of horses. He was a splen-
did ,business' man and there were
many others like him in the town.
Because of them Seaforth was a veri-
table 'hive of industry in the heyday
of her prosperity. Like many rural
towns much of the 'bustle is lacking
today but still there is a fine degree
of successful 'business 'seen every-
where.
"That's a fine girl you've married,"
said the old friend.
"Yes," said the Angler, absent-
mindedly, "but you should have seen
the one that got away."