The Times Advocate, 2006-03-22, Page 5Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Exeter Times—Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
10YEARS AGO
March 20, 1996 - The annual
Zurich and area figure skating club
carnival was a success on the
weekend. The theme was
"Holidaze on Ice". Solo skaters
were Shelley Miller, Jeff Miller,
Julie Semple, Sarah -Rae Lovie and
Krista Schilbe. Master of cere-
monies was Jim Chapman of CJBK
radio assisted by Jody Durand.
In her tenth year of singing, 15
year-old Meaghan Straw will perform as part of the
90 -member St. Marys Children's Choir in a Spring
Sing sponsored by Partners in Community Living
next week at Exeter United Church.
20YEARS AGO
March 19, 1986 - Officials of the Heritage
Museum at Grand Bend must have a good informa-
tion pipeline with the weatherman. For weeks now
a sign has been posted proclaiming the return of the
tundra swans would be Sun., March 16. Saturday
afternoon only about 200 of the white feathered
friends showed, but on the exact date on Sunday,
Terry Crabe of the Ministry of Natural Resources
estimated the amount of swans and geese at about
3,000.
An oddity happened in Saturday night's Exeter
Mohawks game against New Hamburg. As referee
Hugh Devin raised his arm to call a New Hamburg
penalty, Exeter goalie Louie Arts rushed to the
bench. Dale Gibbons of the Mohawks passed the
puck from behind the opposing net out to the blue -
line, but, the puck went down the middle of the ice
and into the empty Exeter net. It counted, as no
New Hamburg player touched the puck after the
penalty was called.
35 YEARS AGO
March 22, 1971 - At a recent meeting Grand
Bend council ratified the appointment of two new
officials. Cam Chapman becomes a member of the
Grand Bend Public Utilities Commission and Harry
Hamilton is the new fire chief.
45 YEARS AGO
March 21, 1961 - Anne Grayer was crowned
Queen at the annual 'At Home Dance' at South
Huron District High School Friday night.
March 19, 1956 - The Hirtzel brothers of
Crediton, Harry and Maurice purchased Donald
Domino 20H, a $3,000 bull at the Bull Sales in
Calgary last week. It was one of the highest priced
brills ever to come to Huron county.
The "Dear Departed" a play directed by W.G.
Cochrane won first prize at a one -act drama festival
held at SHDHS Wednesday night. The cast included
Anne Hockey, Alma Godbolt, Bob Dinney, Len
Dilkes, Lyall Riddell and Gwyn Whilsmith.
60YEARS AGO
March 26, 1946 - Bandsman Gerald Skinner
arrived home Sunday after several months over-
seas.
Norma E.G. Cook of Hensall has been successful
in the final year of examinations of the University of
Western Ontario Medical School. Dr. Cook was one
of a class of 38, three of whom were girls.
After carrying the Dashwood mail for more than
44 years, Henry Hoffman Sr. has retired. During the
early years, Mr. Hoffman made the trip twice daily
and brought pupils from Dashwood to Exeter High
school.
At a community gathering at Hurondale, A.W.
Morgan on behalf of Usborne township presented
an address and gold rings to returnees Edgar
Wurm, Allison Morgan, Gerald Glenn and Wesley
Abram.
85 YEARS AGO
March 22, 1921 - Mr. E.J. Wethey is in Toronto
this week attending the Teachers' Association meet-
ing.
Mr. Edward Fanner is taking over possession of
the hotel at Crediton this week.
Mr. Ezra Willard who bought the old 100 acre
farm on the Thames Road about two years ago, has
disposed of the property to Mr. George Armstrong.
Mr. Latimer Grieve has purchased a drug store
business in Strathroy and will take over shortly.
1 I OYEARS AGO
March 21, 1896 - J.Thompson who recently sold
his farm on Concession 10 of Stephen township to
C. Stade has left this station with his household
effects, implements, etc., on Tuesday last for Sanilac
county, Michigan.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR
A PRAYER... Dear Lord I pray for wisdom to under-
stand my man; Love to forgive him; And patience for
his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for strength, I'll beat
him to death. Amen.
Coming Events:
Exeter Seniors are sponsoring a Spring Euchreama
on Fri., March 31 at the legion. Games start at 10 a.m.;
Delicious lunch will be served around noon. Prizes and
share the wealth draws. Cost: $5 for the day.
Annual Chili Lunch:
Exeter Lioness is hosting their annual Chili Lunch on
March 31 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lions Youth
Centre, 125 John Street, West Exeter. Take-out is
available. Tickets available from any Lioness member
or call Mary Lou 228-6878 Advance Sale Tickets only!
Mitchell Legion break-in
Through the thoughtless acts of unknown individu-
als we find it necessary to organize a break-in recov-
ery day to open house on Sat., March 25, 4 p.m. to
close. Free will donation at the door, enjoy in-house
entertainment, beef on a bun, meat draws and fellow-
ship. For more information call (519) 348-9064.
Exeter Oddfellows 1 35th Anniversary:
Plan to attend the Lodge's Annual Friendship Night
on Sat., March 25 at Kirkton-Woodham Community
Centre. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and a dance will follow.
For more information contact Bob Coates 235-2787 or
Harold Parsons 235-2224 Exeter Branch Library
News:
The Exeter Library Book Club met recently to dis-
cuss "Until I fmd you" by John Irving. Members all
agreed that this book began with an interesting
premise and recommend the first chapters. Discussion
of the book lead to bouts of hilarity but in spite of this
members do not recommend this read.
The group will meet again on Fri., April 7 at 12:30
to discuss "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini.
Bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and tea are provided.
New members are always welcome.
New items arrive weekly at the library. These
include books on CD, DVD's as well as books in print.
Toddlertime will resume Fri., March 24 from 10:15-
10:45 for children 18 months to 3 years and their
caregivers. Call 235-1890 to register for stories songs
and crafts.
The Library will be closed April 14, 16 and 17 to cel-
ebrate Easter.
How Time Changes Things!
• Remember when you had to wind the clock and
put the dog and cat outside before retiring?
• Remember when you had to fill your fountain pen
before you could do your schoolwork and what a love-
ly mess it made?
• Remember when you had to bring in wood for the
stove and keep it hopefully stoked up enough not to
freeze the pipes overnight?
• Remember when you had to beat a hasty run
through the snow to the outdoor shanty for a final
evening toilet break?
• Remember when you dried your snow-covered
mittens behind the woodstove on a metal rack?
• Remember when you were issued a Mason jar or
hot water bottle of hot water to put in your bed to keep
your tootsies warm at night in your unheated bed-
room?
• Remember how cold it was in the morning?
• Remember when the snow fences built up
huge drifts of snow in the fields?
South HuronAdultTrade Fair &
Information Expo:
The 4th Annual Adult Trade Fair & Information
Expo is again planned for Wed., June 7. List of
vendors coming to fair, at present are: The Jim Bearss
Jewellery Box, Gary Bean Securities, Scotiabank,
breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John
noticed a film like substance on his plate, and ques-
tioned his grandfather asking, "Are these plates
clean??" His grandfather replied, "They're as clean as
cold water can get them. Just go ahead and finish your
meal Sonny!" For lunch the old man made hamburg-
ers. Again, John was concerned about the plates as his
appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that
looked like dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these
plates are clean?" Without looking up the old man
said, "I told you before, sonny, these dishes are as
clean as cold water can get them. Now don't you fret, I
don't want to hear another word about it!" Later that
afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and
as he was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to
growl, and wouldn't let him pass. John yelled and said,
"Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car."
Without diverting his attention from the football game
he was watching on TV, the old man shouted
Coldwater Go lay down!!! "
The Deadly Flu was Really Scary in 1918:
It's hard to look back in this day of wonder drugs,
and picture the terror that a worldwide epidemic
could cause when it could not be prevented or cured.
In 1918, Canada's population was about eight mil-
lion souls. From that population, 60,000 were killed
during the first Great War, which was just about to
end. As this war drew its final months, another killer
appeared, and between 30,000 and 50,000 more lives
were lost. This was the deadly flu, named at that time
as the Spanish Influenza.
Reports of the flu had been circulating for most of
1918 throughout much of the world, and as early as
March of that year, some cases appeared in the United
States. It was fall however, before Canadian civilians
were struck in Quebec. Soon this killer moved into
Ontario and by October 14, about 2,500 people were
sick in Brantford, and it was racing through Toronto.
Then, the panic started.
Some western towns instituted total quarantines and
no one could enter or leave without a medical check.
The disease was most severe among young people
between 20 and 30 years old. One out of six contracted
the disease. Soon, public gatherings of any kind were
forbidden. Churches were closed, school classes can-
celled and no dances were allowed. Hospitals became
so overcrowded that schools and dance halls became
temporary hospitals. This of course, led to a terrible
shortage of doctors and nurses.
Some provinces decreed that gauze masks, soaked
in hydrogen peroxide, had to be worn on all trains and
street- cars. Bank clerks and telephone operators
came to work with their faces covered, as did many
storeowners, clerks and other public workers.
The ravages of the sickness showed no favour. Poor
and rich alike all fell victim. King George V was strick-
en, as was Frankin D. Roosevelt. The flu started with a
bad cold and cough, followed by a fever as high as 104
degrees. If immediate bed rest was taken, one could
regain health in a few days. But, too often young -par-
ent's kept fighting the sickness and pneumonia set in.
Sometimes a person would be fine in the morning and
dead before nightfall.
In an effort to stall the spread, vaccines were pro-
duced for doctors to experiment with, but they were so
controversial that their use was not widespread.
Throughout the world, 22 million people died. The
German army alone reported 180,000 cases among its
troops in October 1918.
John Lobsinger who lived in Walkerton
still had five of his family at home when the
epidemic struck. John was a firm believer
that good whiskey could fight colds and sick-
ness, and in his cellar he made his own.
When all his family was stricken, John
administered healthy doses of hot whiskey
and honey. Mr. Lobsinger believes to this
day that the whiskey saved their lives.
This worldwide calamity proved the com-
passion of people as all barriers fell, and
rich and poor went to each other's aid.
Information from Western Producer Prairie Books
from a recently published book titled, "The Silent
Enemy", by Eileen Pettigrew, publishes much of this
information included above.
Perspectives: by Syd Fletcher.
Maybe you remember Chris. He was the little fellow
in Grade 1 with tight, almost kinky blonde curls who
was the con man in disguise. When he wanted some-
thing done he'd turn on the charm and one of his
classmates would fight to do it for him.
Chris was the little guy who went around a couple of
weeks with his front pockets turned inside out. At first
the teacher thought it was just sloppiness but day after
day the new pattern of dress appeared.
Hopper Hockey Funeral Home, Crest Centre,
Right Path Consulting Group, Huron County Pork
Producers, Municipality of South Huron (Cemetery
Division), Jennifer Regular, Total Energy, Heartland
Credit Union, Queensway Retirement Home, Exeter
Villa, Huron Patient Transfer, E -Vert Energy, Wuerth
Shoes, Partner's In Learning, Probus, Welcome
Wagon, RSD Sports Den, Edward Jones Financial,
Pints Unlimited, The Centre for Employment &
Learning. Co-operators Insurance.
Can cold -water clean dishes???
This is for all the germ conscious folks that worry
about using cold water to clean. John went to visit his
90 year-old grandfathers in a very secluded, rural
area of Georgia. After spending a great evening chat-
ting the night away, John's grandfather prepared
Si57.
See PERSPECTIVE page 6