HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-07-25, Page 18THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 1, 1984
A WINNER—The Cronin Transport float
was a winner in the recent Hibbert Township
SEIGEL'S SHOES
MEN'S SHOES DRESS
GOOD CHOICE IN THE GROUPS
$1994 to $2998 ..
LADIES' DRESS -UP SHOES
PLENTY TO CHOOSE!
$1998 to $4498
JOGGING TYPE SHOES
VERY GOOD SELECTION
OF STYLES & SIZES
MEN'S $1198 to $2996
LADIES' A BOYS' . to 2998
ert'i
R N'S
SELECTI
•Safety Shoos *Rubber foots
•OVERSIZES MEN'S -LADIES' *WIDE SHOES
•MEN'S•LADIES'
rate 2498
129 DUNDAS
AT MARKET
330 CLARENCE
AT YORK
Summer
Tops
$6. to $10.
SHORTS
$6.00
to
$ 19.95
SLACKS
1/2
PRICE
bicentennial parade. Over 80 entries partici-
pated in the best ever parade In Dublin. The
Smurfs
were
a hit with spectators.
(Wassink photo)
" /. PP
taCUall t
y
BULK FOODS
3ohn and Lorri Anne Moore July 18.21
27 MAIN STREET, SEAFORTH White Quantities Last Aug. 1-4 s27-04611
WHITE SUGAR
.36 Ib.
PICKLING SALT
.20 lb.
Heinz
WHITE VINEGAR
■ 25 Ib.
MIRACLE WHIP
.99 lb.
Heinz
KETCHUP ,
•69 Ib.
Heinz
SWEET RELISH
.89 Ib. '
STORE HOURS: Mon.-Thurs. 9-5:30 We reserve the right to '
Fri. 9-9, Sat. 9.5 ' limit quantities
SUMMER WEAR
IN OUR MENS DEPT.
Mens Size 29 to 42
L€VIS & G.W.G.
JEANS
Values to 29.50
Slim or
Regular Fit
$22.
M ens
Dome Front
Long Sleeve
SPORT SHIRTS
Reg. 17.95 to 25.00
All Sizes '12. 12■
CLEARANCE
Mens Summer Weight
WIND
BREAKERS
Good Colors
Asst. Sizes
TO CLEAR
20%Off
OUR ENTIRE STOCK!
Mens Short Sleeve
SPORT SHIRTS
Values to
32.00
All Sizes
$14
OUR ENTIRE STOCK OF
MENS SUITS
SPORT JACKETS
DRESS0/0
PANTS 2U Off
SUITS
SPORT JACKETS
DRESSoo
PANTS 20 Off
Mens & Boys Sizes
Cotton Twill
RUGBY PANTS
Reg. 22.50 to 27.50 i
Size Range
incomplete 15.
All Mens & Boys
SWIM SHORTS
CASUAL. SHORTS
RUGBY SHORTS 250Oft
STORE/ CL .ED
AUG. 6 • CIVIC HOLIDAY
Railway school car to be restored
BY ELIZABETH WILLMOT
Celebrations galore are being planned this
year for Clinton .s historic railway school car
which stands so proudly in Sloman Memorial
Park.
Not only is it the 70th birthday of this
'particular railway car...,(built in 1914), but
hopefully, late in the" summertime, the
restoration committee of "Origin4I CNR
School on Wheels #15089" will reach the
half -way stage of its objective. To celebrate
these events a traditional historic Gold Spike
Ceremony is planned for Saturday, Sept. I at
the park. CN Rail who moved the old school
on wheels to Clinton on Oct. 22,' 1982, and
who have • continued their interest by
supplying a collection of rare photographs
and historic records, will be donating the
Gold Spike for the ceremony. CNR will be
presenting a commemorative plaque ac-
knowledging the remarkable work of the
school in the far ,forth.
Residents of Clinton, and indeed all of:
southwestern Ontario •should be proud to
have this historic railway school car brought
home where it can be preserved, and its
story passed on to interested visitors..
Mr. and Mrs.. Fred Sloman and their baby
daughter :loan were on Ontario's first
railway schoo car when it was taken from
Toronto to Ca reol in September 1926. The
old wooden co' ch was donated by CNR and
the teacher was chosen by the Ontario
Department of Education under Premier
Howard Ferguson, and Dr. J.B. McDougall,
Chief Inspector of the Department of
,Education for the travelling schools.
At that time, there were. hundreds of
families living in tiny pockets along the 4,500
miles of railway lines built in northern
Ontario. As the railway was their only access
to the outside world, there were no available
schools for the children to attend.
In the early 1920s Fred Sloman had taught
school in northern Ontario, and was aware of
the plight of the great numbers of children
who might never have an opportunity to
acquire schooling. He requested permission
to pack school books on his back and hike
along the rails to meet these children.
A plan was created which put schools on
wheels for the first time. Both CNR and CPR
donated cars in 1926, and with some doubts,
sent them out for a 6 months trial. So
successful was the trial, that soon, five more
railway cars were put into the service
travelling through remote areas of northern
Ontario to the Manitoba border.
The original railway coach used 'by the
Slomans soon proved to be too small. Half of
it had been converted into a school room,
and the other half was home for Mr. and
Mrs. Sloman and their five children. In 1940,
Canadian National Railways replaced the
ancient wooden cqach with an 80 foot
' converted dining cal', and this became the
f#15am089ous"",Original CNR School on Wheels
Its unique history is presently being
written for publication, and will relate
stories of the families who regarded it, not
only as a very special school, but a
community centre; a place to find comfort in
time of trouble, and a place where light, love
and laughter were constant.
Parents of the pupils were mainly
European- immigrants employed by the
railway. Many had never attended schools,in
their homeland, and were unable to converse
In English. The school car became a refuge
for these education -hungry people. They
lived in tiny settlements made up of one or
two shacks in locations unknown to most as
where Raphoe, Laforest, !fuel, Stackpool,
Kakatush where there were no street lights;
no pavement; no 'shops; no churches. The
arriyal of the school car on rail, sidings at
those minute settlements became a joyful
interlude in their lonely, monotonous lives.
More highways were built into the heart of
northern Ontario following World War 11,
%thus making its'
possible for buses to
P
transport children to town schools.
After 39 years of teaching on their school
on wheels. the Slomans retired in 1962 and
returned to the old family home in Clinton.
They left in place all the school room
equipment and furnishings so that the school
car could be used as a permanent display, as
planned.
Many conflicting stories are reported
regardi9g its whereabouts for the next 20
years, but when it was discovered in • the
Mississauga yard of the Ontario Rail
Association in July 1982, it had been the
victim of vandals. Not even the windows
Tasty Nu BREAD
MID -SUMMER SPECIALS
DELUXE SOFT TAVISTOCK
FRESH
DAILY!
•
DINNERONION & PARSLEY
ROLLS f99 doz CHEESE ndals,b
Reg $1.29
Try Our Delicious
DANISH APPLE FRITTERS or TEA BISCUITS!
Tasty,
Bakery &Cheese House
14 Main SI. SEAFORTH
527-1803
r WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR
FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN SEAFORTH
WITH OUR
9181.e p ER'S
MAN ECS AloN�Y
Sp
THIS WE PKR MASE A
vivezee
ECONOMY
BOX
9 pieces of
tender GOLDEN, 599
CHICKEN
(plus tax)
FREE
BALLOONS
FOR THE KIDS!
Plenty of
chicken for
3-4
people
•
4 DAYS
ONLY!
AUG. 3, 4, 5, 6
SEAFORTH LOCATION ONLY
HOURS:
FRIED CHICKEN SUN.DAILY AT
THURS. closed at 9 p.m.
and SEAFOOD FRI. & SAT. closed at 12 midnight
"The Best of Both from Dixie Lee"
Owned and operated by DOUG RHUDE
65 Goderich St. E. SEAFORTH 527-0220
remained; just charred rubble covered the
floors. A sad sight for Mrs. Sloman and
Margaret when they recalled how ,in had
been a model of perfection and efficiency
when they last saw it.
When ClintotOs Town Council heard that
the school on wheels was for sale, they
realized its historic value, - and voted
'unanimously to purchase it. The way -freight
train from Strafford was appointed its escort,
with instructions to travel with caution. A
large white banner fastened over the front of
the locomotive announced the news, in
bright red lettering, "CN Takes School Car
Home to Clinton - #15089".
Clinton public school children were
brought down to the tracks, and at the first
sound of the trait) whistle, their cheering
began, and continued until the old historic
coach came to a stop on the rail siding. None
of these children had ever seen' a school on
wheels, and it's certain they will not forget
that moment.
A month later it was possible for Fred Sole
and his son -to transport by float the 55 ton
school on wheels to its permanent residence
three blocks south of the CNR tracks in
Sloman Park.
A Board of Directors was appointed with
Ron Young as chairman. Plans for ' an
authentic restoration were drawn up, and
soon generous donations, began arriving'
from former students, friends, and many
concerned residents of Clinton. Material
from a similar type of railway coach was
made available to the Restoration Commit-
tee, and this good fortune saved a great deal
of expense:
Most of the labor has been carried out by
Ron Young, Margaret Sloman, and Stanley
Bodaly, a retired CN ear man who had
worked on school car restorations in the CN
London yards. Their plans for the completed
car are to make it a place where school
children can experience a day of learning on
a school on wheels. It will also serve as a
unique museum, promising great interest
for all tourists and residents.
To complete the restoration, the Board of
Directors of Ontario's first railway school car
requires additional funds. All purchases
have been paid through previous donations.
'One donor who was physically unable to join
in the manual work, went from door to door
in his neighbourhood and collected a
welcome donation in dimes and dollars. Your
donations can be made by subscribing to an
annual membership to the "Original CNR
School on Wheels #15089"; the fee is just
$5,06. Donations of $10. or more are income
' tax deductible, and receipts will be issued.
Donations and membership fees should be
made payable to: "Original CNR School on
, Wheels No. 15089", P.O. Box 488.
Clinton, Ontario. NOM ILO. .
Newly designed membership cards will be
mailed to new members, and all donations
will be accepted. A lifetime membership will
be presented to donors of $100 or more.
i
GUARANTEED TO 560,000.
No Foos - Rates Subject To Change
3Y4% 11334 %
1 YEAR 5 YEARS
Contact ABC ANNUITIES
53 WEST ST., GODERICH
CALL 524-2773 (Collect)
We're going on
vacation Aug. 4-12
Come in for a
SALEj
Dn plants
Pre -Vacation
Sale starts
WED. AUG. 1 to SAT. AUG. 4
at noon
('PMacLean
t
Flowers
90 Main St.
527-0121
tirr-ri- -r: rrrr�r •.-ri-se"- l ��(
Pauline's Hair Care
Seaforth
Welcomes
GFA)RGE
LANGLOI5
to its staff
George will be pleased to welcome
former and new customers to the shop.
George brings years of experience in all
phases of ladies and gents styling.
For appointment call
527-0470
Highlighting (Streaks)
SPECIAL $17.95
(Reg. $25.00)
Now Open Saturdays
PAULINE'S
Hair (:are Seaforth