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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-09-07, Page 1t M. incprPO stint russeis Post f5013 pl3r cop.Y; F, ONTARIO, 'WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7; 1883 20 P udent are numbers down slightly Student'enrolment is down slightly from last year in Huron county with elementary schools down 10 students from last year's total of 6,202 and secondary schools down about 20 students from 3,844.' The number of students at Seaforth District High School is 382 compared to 402 last year. The high school's new principal Harry Scott will be replacing Bruce Shaw who takes over as principal in Exeter, Jim Moore is the new vice principal. Mr. Moore transfers from Clinton high school. Three new teachers include John Ball, who is back from his exchange in England, Harry Dougherty, from Exeter, who replaces Brian O'Connell in the commer- cial department and Linda 'Walsh , the new staff member of the phys. ed. department replacing Deb Dawson. At Seaforth Public School, the new French, teacher is Mrs.>FIo Keiller who is replacing Margaret *opt'. Mrs. Cathy Elliott is replacing Ron Ritchie as the grade 7 and 8 teacher. •Enrolment at SPS is upby five students from last year's total of 361. Staff members remain the same at CIES Walton Public School where enrolment this year is 87 up from last year's total of 83. Al Beattie and Donna Shaddick are the new teachers at Huron Centennial in Brucefield where enrolment isdown by eight to 467. The two new teachers -at ,St. Columban Separate School are Mrs. Marg Rowland who is replacing Mrs. Joan 'Murray as Grades 1, 2 and 3 teacher and Miss Joanne Roks who will be teaching French both at St. Columban and St. Patrick Separate Schools, This year's enrolment is 57 down from last year's 62 students. At St. Patrick's Separate School, there are four new teachers as well as a new principal, Ennis Murphy who is replacing Larry Cook. Mrs. Helen Van Bakel is the new kindergarten teacher taking over from Mrs. Doreen Nogalo and Mrs. Joan Murray is replacing Mrs. Joan McIver as tirade 2 and 3 teacher. The new grade 3 and 4 teacher is Ralph Weiser replacing Mrs, Marg Rowland. At St. James Sep�arate School, Joan McIver is replacing Sister Eileen as grade 3 and 4 teacher. The enrolment has decreased by 10 students from last year's total of 145. Run in Marathon of Hope ALL TIED UP—Mike Betties will never forget, his 14th birthday. So will many main street shoppers who sympathized with Mike when he was tied to a chair and set on the sidewalk for public display. Assisting Mike in his predicament was Art McNaughton, left and Bob Watson..,,,- ‘. (Wassink pJioto)..•- Honey, how sweet it is BY RON WASSINK Curiosity was the reason Elgin Young of RR1, Seaforth got involved in beekeeping. His 14 hive apiary is operated more as a hobby than a business. A retired Topnotch Feeds employee, Mr. Young first became interested in beekeeping when he farmed, "1 had a kid working for me who caught a swarm of bees. His father wouldn't allow him to keep them so 1 bought them off him for $15. It was my first hive and 1 probably did everything wrong with the bees I could." Beekeeping and honey is nothing new. There are 68 biblical references to bees, honey and honeycomb. One is, "a land flowing with milk and honey." Mr. Young's book on the ABtatld XYZ of Bee Culture, an American doct recorded that he lived on a diet of milk and honey for three months - a diet whereby he neither gained or lost weight. He was also able to complete all his daily duties. "Bees are one of the most interesting things to work with," says Mr. Young. "1 learn something new every day. "l don't know of anything that is as self-sufficient as bees, They do everything themselves, even air-conditioning the hives." Bees are able to keep temperature inside the hive relatively the same winter and summer. In hot weather, Mr. Young has seen the front of the hive clustered with bees. Some are facing out, others are facing in. "They grab hold onto the sides of the hive and have their wings going, forcing air into PLEASE SEE HONEY ON PAGE 3 The third annual Terry Fox Marathon of Hope run -fox cancer will be held in Seaforth starting at the Van Egmond House on Sept. 18, Last year, 51 Seaforth and area runners raised approximately $1,900. It was one of 900 marathons held across Canada which raised about $1.6 million for cancer research, Two years ago, the marathon was set up as a tribute to Terry Fox, the one -legged runner from Port Coquitlafn, B.C. whose Marathon of Hope run raised 524 million for cancer research. His effort to run across Canada ended in Thunder Bay when it was discovered that Fox, who had lost a leg to cancer, again had the disease. It claimed his life. Runners, joggers, or walkers who wish to participate this year in the 10 kilometre run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 18 should contact the Seaforth recreation department at 527.0882. NURSERY SCHOOL IS FUN—Brian Derbyshire is obviously enjoying a trial run at the Seaforth nursery school. While his mother enrolled him In upcomipg classes, Brian was more Intent on playing with some of the many toys at the school. (Wassink photo) Seal of Grange found in Kinburn house Nobody really knows why the seal of the Constance Grange "Patrons of Husband- ry" with its beaver shape, was put in a hole in the wall in the house near Kinburn. The house was builtenore than 100yye$rq ago by - Raphael Stephenson, village founder. Larry Dillon, who found the seal, an old battered notebook written in pencil and a tattered 1887 fair prize list, when he was tearing down the house doesn't have a clue. Larry, wife Linda and their children, Michelle and Bradley, lived in the house since they bought it from her parents, Ken and Velma Preszcator about five years ago. The Preszcators had lived there about 25 years; a MacDougdll•family for a few years before that. From its construction, until it was sold by Raphael's great-grandson Leo Stephenson, about 1950, the house and the farm (with the exception of its northeast corner which became the village) , remained in the Stephenson family. Like most area residents, Larry Dillon had never heard of "the Grange" in Kinburn. (The original name that Raphael Stephenson gave the village was changed to Constance when it got a post office. There was another Kinburn near Ottawa. Locally, though, people still use both names interchangeably.) The Grange, a general tarm organization founded in 1867 in the U.S. had chapters in both countries. According to Larry's res - search in Encyclopedia .Americana, the Orange was part eta ''rtlrat uprising tfiat Sought to reduce the power of the Middlemen, establish the right of the public ter regulate the railroads and other business- es, and regain for the farmer the dominant place in society he had once enjoyed." No one Larry talked 16 remembered eve . hearing about, a Grange chapter in the Kinburn area. But frpnb ack fssues of L. Xiuraii°Ez(;dsitaiit�'ji'Pe-e�'R't�gt+thbf')iaA'ts�df'�� a story. In late winter 1872, Larry says the Expositor suggested in an editorial that farmers, instead of sitting around all winter, should join clubs, and presumably cooperate and learn from each other. Farmers are "too idle during the cold season", the editor: said. AFfeartatYdtiikigterthetoils'fhircerie*s trt40-4- t e Expositor reported that the Kinburn PLEASE SEE KINBURN ON PAGE3 Cemeterytells story of settlement The stones in Kinburn's cemetery, gathered together in the centre of the site now for easier maintenance, tell the story of the settlement of the area. One of the earliest inhabitants. died in 1861. The original settlers came from Yorkshire, others from Scotland and Ire- land. Most of the 50 or so tombstones are still in excellent shape, despite the fact that the cemetery hasn't been used for burials for perhaps 50 years. The oldest are plain white stone, ornately carved with trees, doves or lambs. Nearer the turn of the century, fashion and prosperity, meant that Kinburn people could put up taller, more elaborate red marble or granite monuments over their loved ones' graves. Many of the stones are those of young children, dead at "three months," "10 years, eight months and 15 days." Young wives, who probably died in childbirth, are also remembered in large numbers. Some of the surnames are those of families who came to Hulled at the same time from Yorkshire. Many are still heard around Convent closes after 70 years For the first time since 1913, students of St. James Roman Catholic School, Seaforth, will go al'out their school studies without the presence of nuns. The Sisters of St. Joseph convent in Seaforth closed in July. The closing is the second and probably last time. The convent was closed briefly in the early 1970's, when the teaching nuns commuted to the St. James school from a convent in Zurich. The convent was opened 70 years ago in order that nuns could assist with teaching duties at the nearby school. The last nun to vacate the convent, Sister Mary Louis, said this was how separate schools got started. "The school couldn't afford regular teachers and nuns could teach at a lower salary." In 1913. the two room school boasted 50 students. The convent had two teaching nuns, a music teacher and housekeeper. Today, there are eight teachers on staff and a student enrollment of 135. GAVE PIANO LESSONS While in Seaforth, the Sisters of St. Joseph. in addition to assisting at the school and parish duties, provided holistic care. visiting residents in the Seaforth community hospital and the two nursing homes. Many Seaforth residents, Catholic and Protestant alike. recall taking piano lessons from the nuns. "They used to tic little sandbags to my wrists to keep my hands down during piano lessons," says Frank Phillips. "And if you didn't. you'd get a rap on the fingers with a long black pencil. 1 took lessons for two years but all I can play now is, God Save the Queen." A student at St. James for one year. 1926, Leo Hagan recalls that all the teachers were nuns. Having received public and separate school education, he said there wasn't a great difference in the two syr•tems. "We usually had SUnday School at St. ,lames. All schools had the same curriculum. It all ends up that you got your education." Although times have changed, religion was, and still is a part of the separate school education. "We had a hptf hour of catechism each day and the first Fr:day of the month we had confession at the church," said Mr. Phillips. "1t was a must." "The nuns were terrific teachers. They were strict. but good." A graduate of St. James school. Frank Sills recalls he got the strap for talking in class. "You learn not to talk. I never got the strap again. But that was norptal for all schools." "Students respected the nuns. They taught courtesy. I never found them to be had," says Mr. Sills. "The ones 1 had did a good job. They were anxious to do well, but that was the same in all schools. They did a wonderful job. They were perfect." LACK OF NUNS The loss of the teaching nuns will not increase the workload for the present staff at St. James school. Joan Mclver, a former teacher in Dublin and St. Columban will replace Sister Eileen. "When Sister resigned, the closing of the convent never entered my mind," said Ray Centois, principal of the school. "It's unfortunate to lose the Sisters. It's a very personal contact between the church, con- vent and the school. Students will not lose religious instruction. It will continue." "A lack of sisters caused the convent to close." says Father Caruana, St. James parish priest. "Chances are very slim that the convent will ever be reopened as onvent. In 1913. the Sisters caste to help o fi ncially. The parish couldn t afford? o ppy sa ries of regular teachers. Although they re not paid as other teachers. that has all changed. Everyone is now equal." A LOSS FOR SEAFORTH There was nothing members of the parish or students could do when it was ann minced' the convent would be closed. Saddened by the fact, they could only watch and hope the nuns will someday return. PLEASE SEECONVENT ON PAGE 3 here; others, Pease, for example, are no longer common. Some of the first names seem unusual to us in 1983...Semanthy, Shaddrach, Lanse- lot and Solomon. The cemetery is a quiet corner of a village that once had a tavern, mechanic's shops and two general stores. It's across the road from the old Methodist Church. And it has a message, carved on one of the stones: "Behold and see as you pass by, As you are now so once was 1 As 1 am now so you must be Prepare for death and follow me." STUDENTS OF ST. JAMES separate school will be. without the presence o1 nuns for the first time In 70 years. The Sisters of St. Joseph convent was closed In July. It was the second time the convent has closed, this being the last. Future use of the convent is unknown, but chances are that the school will have first choice. It is located near St. James church, background and the school at the far right. 1164@n Lions pool closed Sunday /A17 Firemen collect overt 2100 for M.D. /A6 Thirteen Queen of Fair contestants in Brussels /A10 Nursery school students registered /A6, 7 - Births /A6 Brussels news /A10, 11 Classified /A16, 17. Community Calendar /A 17. Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A 12 Family /A6 Farm /A18 Hensail 1,419 Kids /A7 Londesboro /A11 Obituaries /A6 People /Al2 Roulston /A2 Smiley 1A2 Sports /A8, 9 4 i 1