HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-06-22, Page 8Bruce History: Bruce
Peninsula Bush Fire
of 1908: Part Two
I am writing this story
from memory. I was five
years old. The fire burned
across the northerly half of
Amabel Township, Albe-
marle, Eastnor, Lindsay,
and the southerly half of St.
Edmund Townships. It
came from the west, start-
ing near the Lake Huron
shore and crossed to the
waters of Georgian Bay. It
was a hot, dry August day in
1908.
At about 11 o'clock on
that morning, the smoke
began to reach our farm,
blotting out the bush and
the sky. Our mother put
wetted cloths over our faces
and had us lie flat on the
ground in the dooryard. We
could hear timber crashing,
occasionally a frenzied ani-
mal rushing madly by in the
smoke. All this added to the
sense of impending doom.
As the heat and smoke
increased until it was
almost unbearable, with
embers falling around, fir-
ing our clothes at times,
with the ground covered
with ash as a light snowfall,
we began to have difficulty
in breathing.
At this time a very pecu-
liar happening took place, a
freak of nature or what you
will. A wave of cold air rose
off the Georgian Bay, con-
fronted the wall of fire to
the west of us and rolled
back the heat and smoke.
As I look back to that day, it
seems as if that breeze
might have saved us. Soon
after, the heat and smoke
came down again and
closed us in, but with less
intensity. Shortly after this,
the fire crowned over us,
leaping forward as in an
explosion, travelling over
the clearing and catching
on to the bush beyond to
the east, racing toward
Georgian Bay.
Now to view the dam-
age ---the loss of most of
the fences, many hay-
stacks, some buildings,
many animals, and most
serious, the loss of pasture
for the surviving animals.
Even the birds were scarce
for several years after.
With fences gone, grain
and root crops so much
needed for the winter, had
to be protected from starv-
ing, roaming animals. I
can remember, even at my
age, having to herd our
own animals, fire -driven
strays and wild animals. At
all costs, they must not be
allowed to destroy the fod-
der, which would be in
short supply for the com-
ing winter.
Often we would step in
hot embers as we rushed
over burned areas. Our
bare feet would be blis-
tered and our mother,
before putting us to bed,
would rub them with
grease. There were lost
animals to hunt and bring
home. Many animals,
while running in the
smoke, had plunged over
the cliffs, to die on the
rocks below. Now we had
to prepare for winter. (to
be continued.)
Adapted from an article
written by Gordon H. Hep-
worth and published in the
1969 Yearbook of the Bruce
County Historical Society.
nwmo
NUCLEAR WASTE
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION
SOCIETE DE GESTION
DES DECHETS
NUCLEAIRES
NWMO Learn More Centre
Everyone is welcome.
Drop in and learn more about Adaptive Phased Management
(APM), and ongoing work in the area. APM is Canada's plan for
the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is
working collaboratively with Huron -Kinloss to consider the
project and advance preliminary assessment studies. The
Township of Huron -Kinloss is one of nine communities involved
in this learning process.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 9
Point Clark woman named president
of Ontario Dental Hygienists Association
Registered dental
hygienist Margaret Detlor,
a business owner and resi-
dent of Point Clark, is the
new president of the
Ontario Dental Hygienists'
Association (ODHA).
Detlor's term of office is
for one year.
She also served as
ODHA president in 2008,
heading one of the largest
health-care professions in
the province, which cur-
rently represents close to
8,000 members.
A 28 -year veteran dental
hygienist, Detlor owns
and operates Bluewater
Dental Hygiene, a mobile
dental hygiene practice
serving the homebound
and residents in rural
long-term care homes
throughout Bruce, Grey
and Huron counties.
She looks forward to the
year ahead, advocating for
the profession, continuing
to build partnerships with
government and health-
care agencies, and sup-
porting access to afforda-
ble oral health care for
underserviced groups in
Ontario — the elderly, the
sick, the uninsured, low -
incomes families and
those living in remote
areas.
Another important
focus for the ODHA is
NWMO Learn More Centre (Huron -Kinloss)
46 Queen St., Ripley ON
(across from Lewis Park)
519.386.6711
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
increasing public aware-
ness about the link
between oral infections
and the rest of the body.
"This makes our ser-
vices as prevention pro-
fessionals and educators
essential for improving
oral health and helping
Ontarians live healthier
lives," she said.
An entrepreneur and
pioneer in the profession,
Detlor was one of the first
dental hygienists in
Ontario to start an inde-
pendent mobile practice
in 2002.
Today she has a thriving
business with a large cli-
entele at several long-
term care homes and
makes time to mentor
other dental hygienists
who are considering a
similar career path.
An active and long-time
ODHA volunteer, Detlor
serves on several commit-
tees including chair of the
Long -Term Care Advisory
Committee, and in her
outreach activities has
developed valuable rela-
tionships with other
health-care professionals.
After completing the
dental hygiene program at
George Brown College in
1988, she worked in a per-
iodontal and then a perio-
dontal office in the
Submitted
Point Clark's Margaret Detlor
has been named president of
the Ontario Dental Hygienists'
Association for a second time
in her career.
Kitchener -Waterloo area
until moving to Point
Clark to start her mobile
practice.
Established in 1963,
the ODHA represents the
needs and interests of
member dental hygien-
ists across the province.
In Ontario, all dental
hygienists are registered
with the College of Den-
tal Hygienists of Ontario,
which regulates the pro-
fession to ensure the
public receives safe and
comprehensive oral
health care.
NATIONAL DEFENCE
POLICY ROUNDTABLE
HOSTED BY HURON -BRUCE MP BEN LOBB
Have Your Say!
MP Ben Lobb invites the residents of Huron -Bruce to join as
we review the current Defence Policy and shape the future of
the Canadian Armed Forces. Roundtables will be taking place
at the following dates and times:
WINGHAM LEGION, July 6th at 10am
KINCARDINE LEGION, July 6th at 7pm
EXETER LEGION, July 7th at 10am
GODERICH LEGION, July 7th at 7pm
For more information or to RSVP call the Goderich office at
1-877-524-6560
WWW.BENLOBB.COM