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The Huron Expositor, 1955-07-29, Page 7, v. 0 • A. • • it iY r )nf' z,T:1 1'1. • : For more, than three-quarters of "WELCOME, SEAFORTH QLD . BOYS" Seaforth has advanced a long way in a century.. One'hundred years ago this was a real luxury— To-day, your travelling luxury is DODGE The beautiful new Dodge is a pacemaker all the way ! Dodge Regent Suburbaa •ROWCLIFFE MOTORS DODGE — D,E SOTO DEALER Phone 267. Seaforth • "WELCOME BACK- HOME — ONE AND ALL" We hope you have a happy homecoming! GOOD •,LUCK ! ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY! We thank our many friends and customers for the confidence they have shown us — for the past twenty years. COME IN AND SEE US THIS OLD DOME WEEK 1 SHOE SALE ALL SUMMER - 'FOOTWEAR REDUCED 10% to 20% SMITH S SHESTQRE SEAFORT1I: CLINT SNI:ITH � ,; PHONE 97 • SEAFORTH has had many famous teams who have brought honor and .glory to the town. Among these were the Seaforth Beavers, who in 1941 brought to Seaforth the first Ontario Hockey Associa- tion Championship ever to come to Huron. Members of ,the victorious team are: front row, left to right: Frank Sills, Ralph McEwan, Archie Hurt, Al. Hildebrand and F nk McEwan. Back row left to right: Ken Pickett, Jack Nicholson, Cay. Proctor, Hal Stade, Len -Nichol, Ralph. McFadden and Bob Draper. New Impetus Given -Building • really fine business blocks, but ,none, so handsome or expensive as the above. Among the best 'may- be mentioned Meyers', Scott's, Kydd's, Kydd .& Mitchell's, Rob- ertsoh's, Stark's, 'Campbell's, Whit- ney's', D. D. Wilson's, the Consoli- dated -Rank, etc. There are -also a large number of good hotels, and some of them are well up to the standard of the times. "The Queen's," ,,as a building, is much the best in the place, and as a hotel is not a whit behind,the best in the country. - There are a large number 6f churches in the town, at least three of which cost between $12,000 and $20,000. The Roman Catholic{ built by Rev. Father Murphy, is the fin- est, and represents an outlay -close- ly approaching the latter figure. The very large amotmt of retail business of the place may be faint- ly judged from the following show- ing of the number of places of business, coupled with the fact that many of them are the most com- plete and extensive in their res- pective lines:. 11 dry goods stores, some of which are also general, in- cluding 2 merchant tailoring es- tablishments; 1 fancy goods, 1 sta- tionery, and 3 other book stores; 2 music stores, 3 drug stores, 3 jewellery stores, 3 -sewing machine stores, 3 furniture, 3 hardware,- 3 tin ,and stove stores; 11 groceries (exclusively), 3_ boot and shoe stores, 3 .butchers, 3 bakers, 4 confectioners, etc., and some half dozen seed and flour and feed stores, and 27 houses where gro- ceries are dealt in, besides ose a°century a factor in the economic .of' the district, the McKillop llIutual pre Insurance Company in 1951, observed its seventy- fifth anniversary with a dinner in St. T,jiomasParisi Hall, Seaforth. The 'then -president,` E. J. Trewar- tha, presided at the meeting, with M. A. Reid, as secretary. Present offieials 'of the company include: President, J. H. Mc - Ewing, Blyth; vice-president, Robt. Archibald, Seaforth; manager and secretary -treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth; Directors: E. J: Tre- wartha, Clinton; J. L. Malone, Seaforth; Chris. Leonhardt, Born- holm; Robert Archibald, Seaforth; John H. McEwing, Blyth; William S. Alexander, Walton; Harvey Ful- ler, Goderich; J. E. Pepper, Brucefield; Allister Broadfoot, Sea - forth; Agents: William Leiper, Jr., Londesboro; J. F. Prueter, Brod- hagen; Selwyn Baker, Brussels; Eric Munroe, Seaforth. The McKillop Mutual Fire In- surance Company stemmed from a meeting of interested persons held at the Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, on Wednesday, March 1, 1876, "for the purpose of consid- ering the advisability of forming a farmers mutual fire insurance company". After much discussion it Was resolved to form a com- pany, to be called The McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and to call a meeting for that pur- pose- in accordance with the re- quirements of the Insurance Act. At a subsequent meeting on Sat- urady, March 18, 1876, there was a fair attendance of potential members and considerably more than the required amount of in- surance for organization was se- cured. About a month after the original meeting, on April 3, 1876, the group met again to elect directors. It was first agreed to have five re- presentatives from each of the By Fire Of 1877> Townships of McKillop, Tucker - meted snoted was .. groceries exclusively smith ,and Hullett. Those elected There are also 3 liquor Stores (ex- from McKillop were: Robert Gov - (From the Huron Atlas of 1879) elusively), 7 hotels and 3 billiard enlock, Thomas E. Hayes, John Balls and 2 livery stables. Thompson, Jarfies Scott and W. J. The Fire Brigade consists of one hand engine company, of which Wm. H. Cline is captain, and a hook and ladder company, com- manded by, George Madden. There are a dozen tanks judiciously lo- cated throughout the town, all of large capacity, and coptaining 1,728 cubic feet of water. The value of the fire apparatus (exclusive of, tanks) is about $2,- 200. The town is aliout erecting a handsome fire -hall in keeping with the general attributes and surroundings and also discussing the advisability cf purchasing a steam fire -engine. Generally, it requires a costly lesson to. induce young and growing towns to shel- ter their citizens behind' an ade- quate system of fire protection, and it was thus with Seaforth. On the 4th September, 1877, about 12 acres of the business .portion of the town was laid in ashes. The present hand -engine was then as it is now, but the trouble arose from an insufficient supply of hose and entire absence of hose -reels. These causes, combined with the fact that the buildings were near- ly all of wood, resulted in the loss above described, representing a value in buildings alone of some $100,000, the fire literally burning itself out. This disaster formed another epoch in the history of Seaforth— first, by reason of the great mis- fortune itself; and secondly, by the new impetus which was thereby given to building operations, which the enterprise of the citizens has pushed forward to such an ex- tent; that now, after the lapse of little over two years, `r the burnt district is again covered with build- ings—not the cheap, wooden struc- tures of -the fatal 4th of Septem- ber, but splendid modern busi- ness blocks of brick, which com- pare favorably with the average of those of the very best towns in the country, and are far superior to those in most places of equal or even greater size. In Oct, they are almost enough to cause' resi- dents of some more antiquated places to desire some such acci- dent,to happen to their own town, provided property -owners were well insured. . Among the business buildings of Seaforth are many which Well merit 'a brief description, which however we cannot append, but will merely refer to the "Camino Block," built some two years ago by Alexander Cardno, one of the business mea of the town. In it is located the 'celebrated Cardno Music Hall. The building is of white brick, two full storeys, be- sides ..basement and mansard; it is of very handsome design, with brown stone trimmings, and slate - covered. The central part is sur- mounted by a beautiful tower of rectangular superficies, with truncated roof in two courses, in the upper one of which are circu- lar openings for clock -dial, and the whole is crowned by wrought iron cresting resting on an ornate cor- nice, adding materially to the gen- eral effect. . Mr. Cardno has placed, at great expense, a public clock in this tower; and a_ handsomer or more conspicuous one is not to be seen in any city or town in the country. The works are • from a celebrated Boston manufacturer, and cost about $1,000, packed and ready .for shipment; and the adjusting and - other -necessary works in connec- tion with its erection Cost an addi- tional $1,000. The whole structure cost over $30,000, and is' lighted throughout with gas matiufaotur- ed on the prethises. There are a large number 'of • Shannon; from T uclparsfl 4tb E. •Cresswell, James Laladsbor• ottgh,obert Elgie, F- FaWler„ r Sr4 , and james 'McDonald; from ma - lett: John McMillan, George Watt, Thomas Moon, Robert Mclyiichael and Thomas Neilands. Thomas Neilanda resigned at the next meeting and . was , replaced by John Britton. The first meeting of the new directors was held at Car~michael's Hotel (later the Royal Hotel), Sea - forth, on, Saturday, April 8, 1876. The first officers of the . company were: .Presidept, G. E. Cresswell; vice-president, W. J. Shannon, and secretary -treasurer, M. Y. Mc- Lean. Agents appointed were David Sproat, Robert McMillan and Thomas Neilands. The presi- dent, vice-president and John Mc- Millan were appointed a commit- tee to examine applications and grant policies. On May 26, 1876, less than three months from., the first meeting, applications to over • $160,000.00 were passed. The directors re- solved to meet the first Saturday of each month to consider and pass on applications. By July 3, 1876," the member- ship list had growl to 275, with insurance of over $260,000.00, and by September 2 there were 342 members with insurance' amount- ing to $320,425.00. No losses had been reported to that date. The first annual meeting was held in the Seaforth Town Hall on January 5, 1877. There were now over 400 members with insEkif ance totalling $462,545.00. One loss of $115..00 had been reported. The membership fee at this time was $1.50. According to the rules of the company, five directors were to retire annually. 11r 1877 the ones retiring were those represent- ing McKillop. The new officers were: _President, W. J. Shannon; vice-president, John McMillan; secretary -treasurer, M. Y. Mc- Lean. By 1878 the membership had grown to 857 and insurance total- led $783,504.00. Total losses for. the two years were $51500. By December 31, 1954, the com- any,'s. Rt e e, i t Orece t it "ha aur -$18.060,014iii r: Crce, .:.a cash surplus 'was. ;$1,31,939:32; Reid pointed out that w11 creased values it bad been;. essary to, reinsure with other panies as $0,0.00g,'„:.is .the 1 carried on any one rsk. `Total re insurance with other companies:' at' the end of -1954 was'$6,912,,647-50, and this was with the West osh, Hawick, Hay., and Emir panes. The McKillop Compiany'' is also a member of the reinsurance pool. In 1932 all records of the coin... pany were destroyed -by fire, and with them went most of the knowl- edge nowledge of the history of the com-' pany. Since the company wass, founded in 1876, there have been ;4 only five secretary -treasurers. M. Y. McLean was the first, serving two years (1876 and 1877). The second was W. J. Shannon, who..r, held office front 1878 to 1900, in - elusive. He was followed by Thos. E. Hayes in 1901, holding office until 1923. D. F. McGregor car- ried on from 1924 until 1932, " and M. A. Reid has been the secretary - treasurer from 1933 until the pre- sent time. Presidents of the company from date of inception to date are as follows: - 1876—G. E. Cresswell . 1877—W. J. Shannon 3879-83—James Kerr 1884-91—Thomas E. Hayes 1892-95—D. Ross 1896 -97 ----George Watt 1898-1916—J. B. McLean 1917 -27 -Jaynes Connolly 1928-31—James Evans 1932—John Bennewies, 1933—George McCartney 1934-37—Alex Broadfoot 1938-40—Thomas Moylan 1941—William Knox 1942-43—Alex McEwing 1944 -45 -LW. R. Archibald 1946-49—F. McGregor 1950-51—E. J. Trewartha 1952-53—John L. Malone 1954-55--J. H. McEwing browing With the. Community; Since that March day in 1876, when leading citizens of the commun- ity met "for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a farmers' mutual fire insurance company," The McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Company has played a leading role in the develop- ment of the district by contributing to its economic stability. - The Company looks forward to the future, confident that that same common sense and capacity for work,' which has character- ized the citizens of the district through the years, will continue to contribute to a community of which all can be proud. THE McKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office - Seaforth, Ont. J. H. McEWING .. President E. J. TREWARTRA J. L. MALONE - CHRIS..LEONHARDT JOHN H. McEWING ti Blyth ROBERT ARCHIBALD - Seaforth. Vice -President M. A. REID - -Seaforth Manager and Secretary -Treasurer DIRECTORS: - Clinton WILLIAM S. ALEXANDER - - Seaforth HARVEY FULLER - - ' Bornholm J. E. PEPPER - - - Blyth ALLISTER BROADFOOT ROBERT ARCHIBALD - Seaforth - Walton Goderich Brucefield Seaforth AGENTS: SELWYN BAKER - Brussels J. F. PRUETER - - Brodhagen WILLIAM LEIPER, Jr. - Londesboro ERIC MUNROE' - Seaforth alMerJ�EiAa�fsL:GM,ni:',r444xR��SI: nrlm �.:Nh.�7.ddi l„i1UASiL 0„T.rT,<Ln,iw11 •