HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1966-06-30, Page 14of S.eaf�rth..
4-�TIi HURON EXPOSITOR, S ;O 'QiT1, 'Ott1T.F AWE 30, 1,966,
(Continued from last week)
SHOE FACTORY
Great oaks from little acorns grow, and so grew
the Seaforth Shoe Factory. William J. Duncan when
a young man learned his trade in Harry Willis' Shoe
Factory and when it closed in 1908, Billie started his
own business on a shoe string in part of a building
where the Post Office now stands. Here he specialized
in ..leggings and spats for children. He had One em-
ployee and in 1951 when he retired he was employing
almost fifty. After being here only a short time he mov-
ed to a store in the McGinnis block south of the Dick
Hotel. At this time he sold his products to retail out-
lets throughout Western Ontario. He canvassed for
his orders and returned after each trip and made up
the goods for shipment. By 1910 larger quarters were
needed. What had been in 1863 Thomas . Whiteside's
small grocery store, on the corner of South Main and
Railway Streets, was equipped for a factory. By De-
<,cember, 1912, the Seaforth Legging Company decided
to expand again. The. old Grip Hotel was purchased
and by February, 1913, all the machinery in the new
factory was at work. The making of leggings was
dropped in 1915 and soft soled baby. shoes was the
new line added. In the 1930's two other lines were
added, in 1930 the "Tiny Tot" and in 1938, the "Skip -
A -Long" children's shoes, which became the most pop-
ular line of all, These were sold from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. In January,' 1951, W. J. Duncan retired
and J. A. Johnston Co. Ltd., of Brockville, bought the
factory. Fred Peel was the manager. The business,
which has continued • to expand, has since the middle
'50's been known as Seaforth Shoes Ltd,
In 1958 an eight -acre site was purchased at the
-northwest corner o the town and on it was erected a
one -storey building of concrete and steel, 215' by 80'
with. 22,000 feet of flodr space. At the time -of the
opening in January, 1959, 2,000 pairs of shoes were be-
ing produced daily and the company had 135 employees.
In September, 1964, Genesco, with headquarters in
Nashville, Tennessee, purchased the interests of the
company. It still operates under its former name but
in 1965 the office and those in charge were transfer-
red to a newly erected head office building in Preston,
Ontario. _..
POP WORKS
The record of the first ginger pop works in 'town
was Franz A. Meyer's on the corner of North Main, and
James Streets. He was here in the late • 1860's. From
here in 1875 he moved just south of Railway Street on
land owned by Barney Burns. Ron Broome is the pre-
sent owner. Henry' "Colbert and Alexander Slemmon
. •bought Meyer out in April, 1877, after he had been in
this business . eight years. John Dodds, by. 1895, was
making pop on North Main Street on the west part
of Wilmer Cuthill's property, but before 1901 he had
built a home and pop works in Harpurhey. Dodds was
followed there by Frank Arnold in October, 1913, and
still later by George Hill. In the 1940's Hill finished
the making of pop in . Seaforth in part of his home on
James Street, which was later remodelled by Elton B.
Goudie, when he retired. in 1950.
MILK DELIVERY.
In the early days many people owned their own
cow or cows as is shown by an item concerning' the
Cow By -Law. According to the by-law no cow on or
after November 1st, was- to' be permitted to run at
large within the town limits. Yet late in November,
1881, the side streets were swarming with these ani-
mals and some of them, so it was said, even belonged
to councillors. Some cow owners• supplied others with
milk by the self service system. You took your own
container, to the home for your daily supply. Through
the years many dairies, as many as .four at one time,
delivered unpasteurized milk from door to door. It was
° 'not till August, 1938, that the Seaforth dairies arrang-
ed to dispose of their raw milk to a central • dairy to .be
built west of the Barber Creamery and to be operated'.
by W. C. Barber. When completed, he purchased, pas-
teurized, bottled and distributed the milk. Others who
carriedon later were Mrs. W. C. Barber, Harvey Tra-
viss and Exeter Dairy Ltd. Since September, .1958, the
milk has been pasteurized, and bottled in the Exeter
plant.'
DOCTORS
Many faithful doctors gave long years of service
to the citizens of Seaforth and the surrounding com-
' munity. Often in zero weather they bucked their way
through snowbanks and ,dipped and dived through
pitchholes at any hour of the day or night to win a
race with the stork or to relieve the pain and calm the
troubled mind of patient suffering from other ail-
ments.
Dr. T. T. Coleman came first. Others in the 1860's
were Dr. Charles Metherell, Dr. Henry L. Vercoe, Dr.
Robert Tracey and Dr. John ,Campbell. Later ones
were Dr. W. R. Smith, Dr. W. C. Gouinlock, Dr. H. J.
MacKid, Dr. Alex Bethune, Dr. R. W. Bruce Smith
and Dr. James G. Scott, who came from Bluevale, On-
tario in 1874, served long'and was hit by a car and
killed in 1923. Three others followed in the 1890's and
early 1900's, Dr. Charles MacKay, Dr. H. H. Ross and
Dr. J. F. Burrows. These' bore the burden of two ser-
ious epidemics, tyuhoid fever' in 1913 and influenza in
the fall of 1918, *hen several homes suffered the loss
of Loved ones.
In 1934 Dr. E. A. McMaster, an up and go young
doctor, blew in from Ethel, Ontario, and opened an
office on High Street, but in July, 1938, he established
the Seaforth Clinic in Dr. Burrow's office on Goderich
Street, with Dr.. John D. Colquhoun as his partner.
That same year Dr. McMaster bought the practice of
Dr. G. Jarrott, Dr. C. MacKay's successor. Later an ad-
dition was added to ,the clinic and it was here Dr. F.
J. Bechley did dentistry work. John Longstaff has • h'is
optomotrist office in it now. Since May, 1960, when
Dr. McMaster went to Grand Bend, Ontario, the clinic
has been in charge of Dr. Paul Brady and Dr. E. Mal -
lois, who had been connected with it for some years
before taking it over.
In 1940 Dr. M. W. Stapleton bought the practice
of Dr. William C. Sproat and Dr. John A. Gorwill, from
the 1980's, followed his father-in-law, Dr. H. H. Ross.
These two were still active practitioners till Dr. Got'
tvil1's recent Serious illness.
Many .of the early dentists stayed only, a few.
years each. An idng these `were Dr. D. W. Harris, ' Dr. ,
Merbyshire and Dr, W. J. Fear. Those who plrac-
tided longest Were Dr. G. r. Belden, ii ►r. P. W. Tweddle,
Dlr," I ; J. 'bodging' Dr, Ito R. Ross, Dr. r. s. • B'eehle
and Dr., /met{ A. Mtinn. After W. -Minn, re ed be .
cause of it .Montt Condition, the � V 1 about a
dentist for Mori than.' yea,. 41, Into,. tarsi Dire 'M
a History by Isabelle Campbell'
Buljubasie took over Dr. Munn's practice.
It was not till Kay, 1884, that a Board of Health
was established in Seaforth. Robert N. Brett, Dr. Wil•
liam Hanover and Dr. John CarnpbelI were the three
first appointed members of the Board.
Among the many veterinaries three practiced for
many years. Two had a horse infirmary and an office
at their . homes on Goderich Street. These were Dr.
James W. Elder and Dr. John Grieve. Dr. Foster Har-
burn was the third. His office was across from the
Dick Hotel, where his successor .Dr. J. O. Turnbull
has his veterinary clinic now. The three others con-
nected with the clinic are W. R. Bryan$, G. R. Gray
and P. D. Cullis.
HOSPITALS
Shortly after World War I, the local doctors felt
there was a great need for a hospital as nursing help
in the .homes was becoming hard to procure. Because
of this need when Alex A. McLennan sold the Com-
mercial Hotel in 1921, he purchased a large home and
opened Seaforth Memorial. Hospital on Victoria Street
in what is•now John Tremeer's apartment house. This
hospital served Seaforth and district for several years.
Miss Margaret Wilson was the superintendent.
A forty thousand dollar bequest from the Scott
brothers, William and Matthew, for the purpose of
establishing a hospital in or near Seaforth led to the
opening in a few years of the Scott Memorial Hospi-
tal. In 1927 the Hospital Board bought the former D. D.
Wilson home on James Street from W. E. Southgate
and commenced to make alterations and improvements
on the building. The official opening of Scott Mem-
orial Hospital took place on October 22, 1929. Miss Wil-
son was also the superintendent here from 1929 till
July, 1945.
After much negotiation between .Seaforth Mem-
orial Hospital and Scott Memorial Hospital,, it was
decided .finally in December, 1931, that A. A. McLen-
nan retain possession of the old hospital and equip-
ment and also receive a monetary consideration while
Seott Memorial was to take over the government license
held by the former hospital.
By the late .1940's the new hospital was in need
of snore' accommodation. In the spring of 1947 a pore
tion of a frame hospital building at the R.C.A.F. Sta-
tion at Port Albert .was purchased to provide material
for, the new wing . of brick and frame construction
with a slate roof, to be added to the west of the origi-
nal Wilson home built in 1883. The official opening
of this new wing took place on June 30, 1948. Over-
crowding in the early 1960's led to the turning of the
first sods on July 17, 4964, for a new hospital to be
built that year on 25 acres across from the Lions Park,
at the east end of the town. The cost was approximate-
ly $882,774.00. The first sods were turned by Malcolm
McKellar, honorary president; Mrs. F. Cosford, Hos-
pital Auxiliary president; James M. Scott, Board mem-
ber; and Miss Valeria Drope, Superintendent. Septem-
ber 14, 1965, was moving day from the old to the. new
modern brick building now known as Seaforth Com-
munity Hospital.. Early in September, 1965 the Scott
Memorial Hospital building was sold to Mrs. Jean
Henderson of Kincardine, Ontario. ..The price paid
was $30,000..
NURSES' RESIDENCE
By the late 1930's it was felt that more accommo-
dation was needed for the nurses.. This led to the buy-
ing in 1940 of the David Johnston property then own-
ed by Mrs. George D. Harn. The purchase price was
$1,200.00, but another $9,000.00 was spent on renova-
tions. By 1965 it had outgrown its usefulness and
was sold -by the Hos'ital Board to Ronald. Savauge for
$13,525.00, with possession given_ on July 1. In ad-
dition tohis own living quarters, he now has in it two
other apartments for 'rent.
HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
It was on February 8, 1933,.at a meeting held in
the ':Carnegie Library hall, that the .Women's Hospital
Aid came, into being, but is now ,known as the Sea -
forth -Women's Auxiliary. The first officers were.
president, Mrs. Charles Holmes first • vice-president,
Mrs. K. M. McLean; second vice, Mrs. W. P. Lane, third,
vice; Mrs. Ross J. Sproat;, fourth"vice,' Mrs. E. Apple -
yard recording secretary, Mrs. Reg Kerslake; corres-
ponding secretary, Mrs. E. Bell; and treasurer, Mrs.
E. H. Close. Many projects have been undertaken
through the years which have greatly benefitted the
hospital. Since 1957 the Auxiliary has given each year
a bursary of $125.00 to a student from Seaforth. Dis-
trict High School who is commencing her nurse's train-
ing course. The latest project is to raise $10,000 for
the new hospital. The 1966 president is Miss Gladys
Thompson.
(To be continued)
one ordinary penny
won't buy a single selection from the juke
box.
but...
one hydro penny
will operate your hi-fi for four hours'and
twenty-five minutes—or tet you listen to
your radibjfor eleven hours.
YOUR HYDRO PENNY IS THE BIGGEST
PENNY'S WORTH IN ONTARIO TODAY
SEAFORTH
PUBLIC UTILITIES
CRONIARTX: THS :WEEK
The 1-1 bberk Township Ce:t•
tennial Committee hid their
first meeting Monday evvnteg
in the township heti, Staffs.
Ross McPhail and Charles
Roney, township councillors,
who had been appointed to the
committee, co-chaired; the meet-
ing. Several of those present
had attended the centennial
workshop meeting sponsored by
the Department of Tourism
and Information at Goderich.
The meeting opened with a
perusual of the pamphlets and
information given out at that
time. °
Many suggestions and projects
for Centennial Year were dis-
cussed. Three committees: cele-
bration, project and clean-up,
were appointed. The next meet-
ing will be held July 11th.
Marian Ritchie Evening Aux-
iliary met at the home of Mrs.
Jim Miller who presided.
.-Scripture 1eeSen Wasp .ready 'by
'Mrs. Gordon Scotts The"`13`e
study was presented by Ml's„
Cameo Iterslake and 'Mrs, 0r40
Scott. k'ourteen members ans.
wered the roll call by remem-
bering their wedding music,
Mrs. Grace Scott was welcom*
ed as a WMS visitor to the
auxiliary . •
Mrs. Gerald Carey' reported
that a Canada Centennial Tree
the "Almy Crab" had been
planted at the church. The of-
fering was received and dedi-
cated by Mrs. Miller, An article
"My Neighbor's Light was.
read by Mrs. Duncan Scott. The
meeting closed with prayer by
Mrs. Miller.
Remember! It takes but a
moment to place an Expositor
Want Ad and be money in
pocket. To advertise, just Dial
Seaforth 527-0240.
lea
EARN FREE tilt INSURANCE
PLUS DIVIDENDS
Current Rate 5% -
At Your
CI:JNTON• COMMUNITY
CREDIT UNION LIMITED
WANT ADS BRING QUICK RESULTS: Dial 527-0240
Read the Advertisements -- It's a Profitable Pastime!
Township of Hullett Auditor's Report
May 26, 1966
The Reeve, Members of Council and Ratepayers
The Corporation of the Township of Hullett
Londesboro, Ontario.
Gentlemen:
I have audited the accounts and records of the Corp-
oration of the Township of Hullett for the year ended Decem-
ber 31, 1965, and have prepared therefrom the statements
listed in the index accompanying this report,
OPERATIONS
The operations for the year resulted in a surplus of
$8,987.07 compared with a surplus of $4,703.25 for the year
ended December 31, 1964.
Presented herewith is a condensed comparative State-
ment of Revenue and Expenditure for the three years ended
December 31, 1965, 1964,and 1963..
REVENUE
Taxation •
Prov. a. oft—Subsidies
Licenses and, permits . •.
Interest • and penalties
Other revenues .......
Miscellaneous
Surplus from prior years -
reduce levy
EXPENDITURES
General government
Protection - persons and
property
Roads
Sanitation and waste re-
moval
Social welfare
Education
Recreation and .. commun-
ity service.
Debt . charges
County rates
Police village rates
Provision ' for deferred
1965•,• 1964 1963
162,072.29 152,951.54 149,827.32
30,183.15 40,508.54 43,218.07
688.00 571.00. 632.00
4,078.33 4,087.556 4,208.25
787.65 72.31 596.08
809.64 456;88 2,184.43
4,700.00 340.00
203,319.06 198,987.83 200,666.15
7,935.55 8,346.19 7,258.11
6,403.38 6;151.13 3,638,76
43,848.63 53,479.02 59,133.97
25.00 25.00 25.00
2,131.70 619.96 274.08
79,653.39 77,351.04 81,915.13
1,705.30 1,479.83 1,758.14
8,114.33 7,016.53 7,054.70
42,987.31 38,838.56 38,638.04
978.00 916.20 626.10
revenue 311.59
Miscellaneous 237.81 6L12 6.00
194,331.99 194,284.58 200,328.03
Surplus for the year , .... 8,987.07 4,703.25 338.12
The results of the operations of the other Boards were
as follows:
Hullett Township School Area surplus $ 3,851.47
Hullett Township Community Hall:surplus $ 44.10
GENERAL -
There are still many • sundry accounts receivable for
grader work and materials sold by the Township which have
been outstanding for several years. Where , possible, these
accounts should be added to''''the collectors roll and if this i
is not possible, an effort should be made to collect them dir-
ectly.
There is no authority permitting prelevies for deben-
ture charge's' on drains.
The bank loan. is in excess of the amount permitted by
section' 329 (2) of the Municipal Act.
In order that bank borrowing can be reduced, it is
suggested that each year a -provision be made in the budget
to set up a Reserve for Working Funds as , permitted by
section 297 of the Muhicipal Act and the regulations of
the Department of Municipal Affairs.
AUDITOR'S OPINION
Subject to the foregoing qualifications; I ' hereby re-
port that in my opinion
• (1) the financial transactions which have come under
my notice have been within the powers of the municipality.
(2) the audit has been conducted in accordance with
the instructions of the Department of Municipal Affairs.
(3) the financial statements present fairly the finan-
cial position of the municipality as at December 31, 1965'
and the results of- its operations for the year ended on that
date.
(Signed) A. M. Harper
•• Licence number 3034
Filed June 2, 1966
Capital and'Loan Fund Balance Sheet
ASSETS
General fiked
' Due from schools (pub. and con.)
Due from schools (coll. and high)
Nott Municipal Drain
Storey Municipal Drain
Accounts receivable
LIABILITIES .
33,935.57 Debenture debt • 3,911.33
3,815.00 Drainage (Owners) —tile 26,368.33
91,481.40 Debentures (other municipal)- 95,296.40
3,279.52 Investment in capital assets 33,935.57
631.81
26,368.33
Total Assets -
159,511.63 Total Liabilities 159,511.63
Revenue Fund
ASSETS
Cash on hand 3,837.46
Cash . in bank 6,712,40
Accounts receivable (sundry) 1,201.71-
Accounts receivable (agreements) 1,473.62
Due from Prov. of Ont. '.15,238,66
Due:. from other municipal. 252,47
Due from school boards , 101.09
Londesboro street lights 1,422.13
Taxes receivable 77,980.92
Total Assets 108,220.46
•
Balance Sheet
LIABILITIES D
Temporary loans • . 57,000.00
Accounts payable - ' 6,998.34
Debenture (principal) 3,159.02
Debenture (interest) 1,231.62
Due to school boards' 7.65
Deferred revenue - 1,203.15
Prelevy Nett Drain 946.42
Prelevy Storey Drain , 63.18
Surplus 37,611.08.
Total Liabilities •.. 108,220.46
•
Revenue Fund Surplus Account"
Balance at January 1, 1965 33,324.01
Surplus for the year 8,987.07
Total surplus
42,311.08.,
Less surplus included in current budget 4,70020
37,611:08
Statement of Itevenue and Expenditure
For the Year Ended December 31, 1965
REVENUE
Total revenue from taxation ..
Long-term debt charges recov-
erable •
sides •
703,30
22,287.84
5,859.00'
445.35 •
.. 88.05
732.70 30,116.33 43,200.00
203.28 203,28
• 66.82 66:82
688.00 688,00 600.00
4,07833 4,078,33 4,400.00
33,06
754.59• 787.65 1,100.00
15.18
81.42 •
Contribution, rants and sub -
• Welfare assistance
Highway improvement
Unconditional per capita
grants
Warble fly
Retail sales tax refund ...,..
Londesboro street lights
Other municipalities
R. E. P. C.
Licenses and permits '
Interest, tax penalties, etc
Other revenues
Eines
Service charges
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Graee Petrie fund
Kinburn Cemetery fund
• Portion of taxes refunded and
charged to other Boards 144.01 374.18
Actual
162,072.29
232.18
Budget
155,000.00 General Government
Executive and legislative .... 1,170.00
Administrative 5,446.62
Other 1,218;93
EXPENDITURES
Protection to persons and property
Fire 1,085.00
Street lighting 2,322.43
Protective inspection 556.79•
Conservation,' reforestation, 1,3$8,66
Livestock claims 623.40
Warble fly control 427.10
Public Works,
Sanitation and waste removal.,
Social welfare
Welfare assistance 2,078.70
Welfare administration 53.00
Education, including debt
charges.
Recreation and community
services
Debt charges
1,000.00 Long term debt charges 16,994.84
Less own share of school
debt charges 11,670.42
,Gross Total Revenue. 198,619,06 205,300,00
Sitrp1u5 from prior years used
to raduce levy , 4,700.00 4,7.00.00
TOTAL REVENC)'E SECTION.,
203, 06 210,000.00
5,324.42
Short-term interest and oth-
er charges 2,789.91
Discount for taxes (refunded)„
Joint or Special Expenditures
County Rates
Police Village Rates
Actual Budget
7,935.55 9,000.00
6,403.38
43,848.63
25.00
6,000.00'
60,000.00
2,131.70 1,506.00
79,653.39 80,000.00
1,755.30 - 1,500.00
8,11423 8,000.00
187,81
42,987.31
978.00 43,965.31 44,000.00
Provision for defied revenue
Gross, . Petal Expenditttre
Surplus for the year ...:;>..y
Total Expenditure Seetlan
•
311.59 311.69
104;331.99 210.000.00
8,987.07 '
203,319.06 210,000.00
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