Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-06-08, Page 2xpHuronoe �itor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating The Brussels Post Published In Seaforth, Antarlo Every Wednesday Morning The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Amies, Hell Corbett, Terri -Lynn Dale, Dianne McGrath and Bob McMI lion. ED RYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union international Press Institute Subscription Rates: Canada '20.00 a year, in advance Senior Citizens - '17.00 a year in advance Outside Canada '60.00 a year, In advance Single Copies - .50 cents each Second class mail registration Number 0696 Wednesday, June 8r 1988 Editorial and Business Offices - 10 MainStreet, Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Meiling Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO June is Seniors Month Garage sales an exercise in creativit I love a sale! And it was quite a sale I attended Satur- day. Yep, it was thne for my mother's getting -to -be famous, twice -yearly garage sale. I'd been looking forward to it for months. Why? Well, to begin with there's something about garage sales that seems to appeal to my sense of thrift - must be because of my Scottish ancestory. I can honestly say I en- joy the opportunity to seek out quality merchandise from the piles of 'crap' one encounters at a standard garage sale. I guess that means I'm an advocate of the old adage that equates someone else's trash with your treasure - no matter how disgusting it sounds. I also enjoy being given the opportunity to see just what kind of 'crap' it is that peo- ple collect over the years. If only the junk people sold in garage sales, could talk. What a myriad of tales would be told. But, since they can't and since their owners are generally reserved about the more per- sonal items in their sale, garage sales become excellent exercises in creativity, as you try to envision the circumstances behind each and every unique item. SWEATSOCKS by Heather Mcllwraith My mother's sale was no different. In fact it not only raised a lot of questions, but dredged up a few memories as well. And as always, I managed to conviscate a few of the goods before they were bought up by the public. It seems this year that mom was pretty zealous in hee attempt to clear out the garage - so zealous in fact, I think she would have sold 'the garage if she got the right offer. (She almost had the oppor- tunity to sell dad when he sat down in a reclining lawachair in the garage, then un- wittingly`% fell asleep). Actually, garage sales can be very .in- teresting events, and Saturday was a par- ticularly interesting day since practically everyone my parent's street, got into the act. You wouldn't have believed the stuff for sale - and you wouldn't have believed the stuff people bought. In fact, if I r'dn't like to participate in garage sales so much, I could see them becoming a very popular spectator sport. I got quite a few chuckles out of watching my mother give the 'ole pep talk' about some item I knew she absolutely deplored. And dad was even funnier. I laughed when he got repeatedly tangled up in his own sales pitch, but I thought I'd choke when his two -for -the -price -of -one deals ended more in the price range of one -for -the - price -of -two. I guess his mouth was mov- ing faster than his brain. Whether or not they had professional sales tactics or not, mom and dad unload- ed a pile of junk on Saturday. In fact I can hardly wait for the next sale, to see them in action again. And there's no doubt they'll have plenty to unload then either. Because really, isn't there a bit of packrat in us all. Although the elderly are major consumers of health care, most of the are not sick, says a report of the Canadian Medical Association's committee on Health Care of the Elderly. Of those aged 65 to 74, fewer than two per cent are in long-term facilities at any one time. This figure increased to more than 15 per cent of those 75 or older. About one third of those 85 or older are permanently institutionalized. According to the report, "Aging is a normal process that leads to a slow- ing in physiologic adaptation. The consequences of this are decreased ability to cope with the stress of disease or trauma. There is no evidence that aging causes a decline in intelligence." Whereas 85 per cent of elderly people report at least one health problem, so do 57 per cent of those 15 to 64. The 65 -plus age group accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the Canadian population. Their health care currently cost about $17 billion a year, or 40 per cent of all health-care spending in Canada. Projections are that the proportion of elderly in the Canadian population will increase to 13 per cent by 2001 and 18 per cent by 2021. These are percentages already experienced in several European countries. Obviously the increase in the senior populace will create a need for more health care, and meeting that need will take a concerted effort at all levels of government, and will require a major change in the way society thinks of the elderly. For a long time the emphasis has been on the young, and aging was equated with sickness or senility. As we grow older we may have more health needs, and some of those might not be met. But our need to be appreciated and loved as a human be- ing first, should never go neglected. June is Senior Citizen's Month. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Rock'n'roll hearse offensive bear Editor: Complaints are being received concern- ing a hearse -like vehicle being driven on Sundays and other days along Seaforth and area streets at a maximum speed and with radio blaring. We at Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home wish to stress the fact that we neither own nor operate this vehicle and are in no way responsible for the manner in which It is being operated. We share with the people of Seaforth their concern that a vehicle normally used in a respectable and respon- sible fashion is being desecrated in this way. Ross J. Ribey Whitney-Ribey funeral Homes Ltd. Seaforth, Ontario Cancer Society thankful Dear Editor: many called upon to donate to the Cancer All our planned fund raising events for Society. Not to forget the people who helped 1908 have been completed. The Seaforth in any way to prepare the mailing mate als Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society for the mailing -in campaign in the rural wishes to express its sincere THANK YOU areas of Hensall, Kippen, Brucefield, to the many willing volunteers involved in Seaforth, Blyth, Walkerton, Brussels and various projects undertaken this year. It is Dublin for all those within our Branch area because of the cooperation and dedication of and the responses of donations received in so many spontaneous citizens of our town return. You have all been very encouraging. and area that we are able to boast the sue- Our last event was just completed this cess of the 1988 campaign. past Sunday. This first -tried event was a We prepared a display window to inform perfect ending to all the campaign efforts of about the Seaforth 30th Anniversary and the this year. The Seaforth Bike-a-thon and Canadian 50th Anniversary of the Cancer Walk-a-thon was due to the compliments of Society and the April -Cancer -Campaign- Rod Lyon and his hard working staff. We month through the generosity of the Mayfair are also indebted to the many who pledged Shoppe and Flower Magic. for the five bikers and 10 walkers on this We took part in Daffodil -Sales through the beautiful afternoon and to all who took part willingness of Mr. Don Renshaw and his in fulfilling the requirements through ex - marketing class students. They wish to cellent physical exercise. We do hope that thank all those that purchased these flowers 'BOW' (bike or walk) for Cancer may for the occasion. become an annual event for Seaforth. For the first time we tried a Daffodil - The extensive support received through Desert -Euchre for which we owe Kathy the Editor and Staff of The Huron Ex - Elliott and the Seaforth Lioness group for you, their willingness to host this successful positor has contributed in publishing all the event. Fran Hook and her staff opened the above mentioned events so willingly for the cause of the Canadian Cancer Society, as doors at Maplewood Manor to let us all in at their pleasant facilities. Hildebrand always, was much appreciated. Flowers donated the centrepiece for this Last but not least the many generous peo- evening endeavor and all that attended en- plc who supported one or all of the above joyed a pleasant social for the good cause. mentioned endeavors and proved that all ef- Thank you all. fort in this year's campaign have been very As every year, we could count on the ef- precious. THANK YOU ONE AND; ALL, forts of the many persons to be Captains and YOU WERE ALL GREAT! Canvassers for the door-to-door campaign Else DeGroot, in Brucefield, Seaforth and Walton and they President 1987/88 encountered the hospitable generosity of the Seaforth Branch Cancer Society. County science fair receives support Dear Editor: ty wide participant. Another great sup - Now that the Science Fair is completely porter of the Science Fair was the Ausable over for Huron County and Canada Wide we Bayfield Maitlarid Valley Conservation look back and see what a great success it Authority. They supplied us with excellent really was. It was great to receive such judges, a conservation award and participa- tremendous support from so many areas. tion certificates. They have been great sup - The Wingham Optimists and both the porters for such a worthy event. Also of ladies' and mens' teachers federations of great assistance were all of the towns, Huron County as well as the Huron County villages, townships and county govern - Board of Education were a tremendous help ments. They supplied our Canada Wide par - with their financial assistance. Randy Hut- ticipants with several lapel pins to trade chinson and the Howick Mutual Insurance with other participants from all across Company, Wroxeter, need to be thanked Canada. greatly for supplying first aid kits as gifts The Clinton Legion and the Legion Ladies for the judges. Mrs. D. Graham also spent Auxiliary made our Science Fair day com- many long hours doing a wonderful job of petition excellent. The ladies supplied us lettering the certificates given to each coon- Turn to page 2 4 Years Agone more than historical facts Every week I spend at least a couple hours putting together the "In The Years Agone" which appears under this column. After almost a year of digging through The Expositor archives for a few hours a week, you get a pretty good idea of what things were like 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. The style of journalism was a lot different back then, and people were interested in dif- ferent things -like accidents. Every week in The Expositor of old there were chronicled several accidents which befell people in Seaforth, Wingham, Clinton, Goderich and all Huron County. And not just the big ac- cidents. I've read about people who hit their faces on cupboard doors, slipped on the ice on the streets :n Goderich and sprained their wrists, and cut their faces in falls from wagons. There are some tragic but unusual ac- cidents that befell the people of old Huron. Barn doors seemed to claim their share of victims, as heavy doors were caught by high winds and slammed into unsuspecting farm hands, knocking adults unconscious and do= ing serious damage to children. And like we have auto accidents, the travellers of 100 years ago had at least one runaway a week, wherein buggies were wrecked and people were often "badly shaken, but came to not serious harm." The advertisements, while we don't put them in the Yedrs Agone, are generally pretty amusing. Ads are sometimes put right inside stories, so one can be reading along the town briefs and come across an ad for a cure for the cold. In the 1880s the wizards of medicine claimed they could FMY TWO BITS by Neil Corbett cure all sorts of maladies -fits, "the falling sickness", insomnia, and popular liver ailments which it was believed many people suffered with. Cocoa was hailed as a wonder -beverage which would ward off all disease. One product seems to have survived 100 years and is still around today, battling a complaint one doesn't seem to talk about as much today as in the years agone. I read - "My brother and I were both taken ill with a severe attack of diarrhea, having tried other remedies, we tried Dr. Fowler's Ex- tract of Wild Strawberries, which gave im- mediate relief." Doctors, lawyers, and moneylenders put their ads in right beside the local merchants. Only 50 years ago one could buy a suit in Stewart Brothers of Seaforth for $15, $18.50 or $20, and a boy's spring suit sold for $4.95 - $9.50. The most expensive dresses carried at the store were $25. Daly's Garage had Ford V -8s on display which could be had for $30 per month. When writing up the Years Agone, I try to throw in some of the small things that aren't necessarily of big news interest, but which show how different times were years ago in Huron County. Like the brief story about Hensall residents who wanted to allow their cattle to graze in the village streets, and hired a herder to watch them. I also try to follow certain issues from start to finish. Like the Scott Act of 100 years ago, which banned the sale of liquor, and eventually led to an armed uprising in Brucefield in which police constables were beaten and even shot at. Another thing which amazes me is how scientifically people thought their society was even 100 years ago. And, Hike to report inventions and medical "advances" as they come along. Sometimes I like to show people the dif- ference in journalism today compared to what it was like in the past. 100 years ago The Expositor's writers got away with say- ing things that would have today's jour- nalists sued before they could say "retrac- tion." For example, it was acceptable, and probably expected, for publishers to say of a wife beater -"it would do him some good to get back some of what he gives." This kind of journalism likely led to a few tar and featherings. So now that you, the reader, have an idea of what I've got in mind when I choose passages for the Years Agone, you can hopefully get a little more out of our weekly presentation of a portion of The Expositor archives, and the County's history. Clerk's head JUNE 8, 1888 Mr. A.C. Robertson has sold his residence to Mr. George A. Sills for $1,000 cash, Mr. Sills has secured a comfortable and conve- nient home. Mr. Robertson leaves for Orillia on Monday. A sturgeon was caught near Maitland bridge at Goderich on the 24th May which weighed 74 pounds. The lucky fishermen were Patrick Dean and James Webb. Another weighing 44 pounds was caught on Monday last by Robt. Ellis. The Women's Christian Temperance Union of Brussels distributed about $83 in money to the deserving poor of the village during the past season. The money was ex- pended in purchasing wood, flour, groceries, articles of clothing, and paying rent. Only in a few instances was cash paid. These societies do an immense deal of good in the country. The Seaforth firemen are practicing for the Brantford tournament to be held on the 20th inst. The appearance of Main Street has been greatly improved by having the dust scraped off. Mr. Querngesser has commenced erec- tion of his house in Beattie's Grove. The early closing bylaw which comes into force next Monday requires all stores to be pushed through car roof IN THE YEARS ALONE from the Archives closed each evening at 7 o'clock, except Saturday evening when the hour is 10 o'clock. The town time having got ahead of time, the town clock will be put back about ten minutes on Monday next. This will be good news for early risers and Sunday morning church goers. At a meeting of the town council held on Wednesday evening of last week, Dr. Camp- bell, T. W. Duncan and John Dorsey were given the privilege of tapping the water pipes. The Mayor and Deputy -Reeve were instructed to have the town hall and council chamber thoroughly repaired. The early - closing by-law was finally passed. After passing accounts to the amount of $37.50 the council adjourned. JUNE 6, 1913 As a result of a number of dogs, cows and cattle having been bitten by a mad dog in Wingham, special government inspectors have ordered all dogs tied up. A number of the animals bitten are under quarantine and are being closely watched. The mad dog ap- peared very unexpectedly on Sunday, and has bitten a number of animals before it was chased auolahot. A rather peculiar accident occurred to William Lane, of Goderich, county clerk, while riding around the county in an automobile on Thursday last. He was sitting in the mat seat alone and as the car was forging ahead at a high speed, in striking an ele\thtion in the road Mr. Lane was thrown with such violence against the roof of the cat that his head protruded, and only through the efforts of the young man who was driv- ing the car, was he rescued from his perilous position, suffering nothing more than a slight contusion on the top of his head and a strained neck. Mr. Miller, mathematical master in the Collegiate Institute, has resigned his posi- tion here to pursue his studies at Harvard University, where he has obtained a scholarship. Mr. G.F. Ross has been engag- Turn to page 22A 4 0