The Huron Expositor, 1972-02-24, Page 2'Roxboro Bridge About 1918
The Roxboro bridge shown here, in this public Archives
of Canada picture is familiar to several generations of
area residents.
The picture was made available by Harry Hinchley, now
of RenfreW, but for many years a well known Seaforth and
area resident. In notes accompanying the picture Mr. Hinchley
says:.
"This Roxboro bridge, made of steel, was built in 1910
to replace a wooden structure made of planks and timbers
and reinforeed With steei rods. These rods were' loose
enough to rattle with fast driving so notice boards were
placed at each end of the bridge forbidding, under threat
of arosecution, any crossing at faster than a walk. In turn
the "bridgeshown here was replacee with the present rein-
Sorced concrete structure in 19 • ttst. ,
"Originally at thrsbuthern end there had been a, shorter
span of about 25 .feet. This part was made of unpainted
timbers slanted to meet at the tonpi the form of in inverted
V. This short bridge was removed in '1907 ,and replaced
with a concrete abutment with ' side wings. which contained
a fill of earth to form' an approach to the main bridge."
"During the construction of the steel bridge in 1910 '
all traffic was routed through the river which was shallow
and which had a solid, though. rough, stoney bottom. To,gnide- ,
nocturnal travellers, driving, in buggies, of which there
were fortunately few, coal oil lanterns were 1=4 •out to •
mark the way, to the ford. That is, they were supposed to
be hung out but the .young man whose duty it was to bang•
the. 'lanterns hereby makes public confession the on one
occasion he fergdt. That night the drivers, if any, had to
find ,the ford as best they could in darkness and get through
the river by deed reckoning and their own good horse sense."
In the Mars Agone
Since 1860, Serving the Community. First
.INthishol saAroRni, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by MeLEAN 413.06„ Publishers Ltd.
ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Editor
Member Canadian Weekly NewsPaper Association
Ontario Weekly -Newspaper Association '
and Audit Bureau of Circulation
Newspapers
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SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, February 24, 1972 •
•
rpoxiitior
yearr---- -----
James Robb and his class • of
swingers purpose giving a public enter-
tainment in the near future. "
• Mrs. John McCowan of Brucefield
intends adding an additign to his. home.
A team of horses belonging to.Mr.
Sparrow took fright and started off down
the road'. 'On the way they overtook
R. Murdock and he was thrown out of
the. sleigh*, He escaped with a scratched
face and a bad shaking up. . •
Between 400 and' 500 people wit-
nessed the hockey match in the _rink
here between London and SeafOrth, and
cheered the home team on Ito victory.
grown Jackson, Cresswell and Baldwin
ahone 'most brilliantly among the. home
players. After the game the Lopdon boys
were entertained by the home boys at
an oyster supper in Stewart's Restaurant.
Meeting Will—Dikeilss •Abgrti on
The recent annbune-
ment by Robert Nixon' that
he would step down as
Ontario Liberal, Leader
was a cause for regret to
his followers, the public
and—the opposition alike
who had admired his many
and obvious qualities
during the year he has lid
the party.
While 'the party failed
in its effort to gain sup-
port from Ontario voters
the contribution which Mr.
Nixon made during his
leadership is one that
will continue to be appa-
rent after he Has gone.
He contributed a sense of
purpose and a consistency
to the party which had
been lacking on the several
previous cocas:ions it' had.
faced the voters.
Mr.-,Nixon -realized On-
tario voters could. not be,,
convinced of the merits
of the Liberals as an al—
ternativp as long as they
were content to fight el-.
FEB, 26,1897,
A sleigh load of young people drove
out to John Scotts, at Roxboro. They
' report having a jolly time, though it was
cold coming home.
James Norris Jr. of Crotnarty while
splitting wood had the misfortune to cut
his foot.
Joseph Spears of- CroMarty has the
material on the ground for the purpose
'of remodelling his barn.
' The annual At Homeof Britannia
Masonic Lodge was held *h. en a pleasant
and sociable time was spent brthe
members, their wives and friends.The
following took part in the progr,am: Miss
Ewing, Master - Neelin, James willen, W.
D. Bright, Master Hodgins, Mrs. J. C.
Greig and F. G. Neelin.
John Thompson and Wm.'Sclater are
attending a meeting on the' High Court
of Canadian Order of For/esters, as
delegates from the Seaforth,Lodge.
The contract for the County, printing
has 'been awarded to W. H. Kerr of the
Brussels Post..
While ,running with the hose cart,
-M. Broderick 'slipped -and fell and the
cart passed over his foot.
Misi Minnie McKay Of •this town has
been,. engaged as 'teacher in the CITriton
Public SchOol at a salary of $275.00 a
FEB. 24, 1922 ,
This 'issue of the Expositor is four
days late in reaching • the subscribers,
the cause being the failure of hydro
power owing to the Wednesday's sleet
Storm. The mechanical equipment IS
entirely dependent upon hydro, and When
it leaves us there is nothing to do but
,,,yeadt until it returns. However, this es
-tie first Mimi in 50 years ap issue oflhe
ExpeSitor has so long been delayed.
- The storm of the past week, was the
worst in a generation. On Sunday after-
noon there was a violent hail storm
steeoMpenied by thunder and lightning.
on Ttleadity a heavy rain came on, frees-
-
edtions on an eXpedient
basis, Through a series
of policy conferences,
which he arranged in re-
cent years, the party,. J'
under his leadership.and
encouragement, developed a
comprehensive program
"Blueprint for Government".
While the public showed
continuin,g7interest in the
program and in the party'
*as a viable alternative
to the lonventrenched
Tories,by the time elec-
tion day had'arrived con-
cern over possible NDP
gains had overridden all
other.considerations. The
Liberal program was ignored.
True the .Liberal,s under
Kr. Nixon were un,success-
ful.and it 'will be, perhaps'
small comfort to hire to
know that no other leader
could have done as,well.
' Mr. Nixon can retire'
without regrets and in the
full knOWledge that he
had given to his party his
best in dedicated and
faithful service..
itig as it 'fell. On Wednesday morning
everything out, of doors was covered
with ice. The rain and freezing con-
tinued, when the electric light, telephone
and telegraph wires and• shade trees•
began to fall, taking the poles with them,
On Thursday morning the ice had all
disappeared but the vast destruction was
almost appalling„ From Tuesday night
until--,Saturday evening* the town was with-,
out hydro power or light. It was the
first experience With candles-and lamps
for marry of the -rising generation and
not a:pleasant one for anyope.
• , Miss Hazel Thompson, milliner at
J. MacTaviSh store has returned for
the season.
H. Hamilton, who recently disposed
of his farm in Tuckersmith, has pur-
chased a house in the south part of
EgmDndville from Adam Hays of I,S'ea-
forth.
Gee. Walker, who recently sold ill's
farm at Silver Creek to Geo. Lowery,
hp.s purchased the farm of the late R.D.
Bell of Tuckersmith,
FEB. 21, 1947. ,
Damage in excess of $3,000tas caused
when fire destroyed 'a large modern
chicken house owned by Baden Powell ,
haiding-at_the- time--
were 1300 five week old chicks and 300
laying hens. The fire was discovered by' -
a a neighbbr, Hartman Huisser 'at 5:30
in the morning.
Mary Lou Sills, daughter of Post-
master C.P.Sills and,. Mrs. Sills was
declared winner of the Seaforth Lions
Club oratorical contest. Other con*: '
tants included Lorna Ellis, second and
Peggy Willis third,• The judges were
P.D,McConnell, D.L.Reid and Alvin W.
Sillery.
Robert E. Jackson of town, well known
Seaforth resident, pasSed away Thursday
evening.
Zan MacTavish of town, retired R.C. A. '
F. Squadron Leader, has left.on the first
leg of a trip to Am .3terdani, Holland, where
he will be employed by Royal Dutch
Airlines.
C. W. Ironside of town,, has purchased
the residence on GoderIch Street formerly
occupied 'by Mrs. R. M, Jones.
G. D. Ferguson, of town, has leased
'the first floor and basement of-the I.O.O. F. 4`
Hall and will' move, his hardWare store
April 1st.
Firemen answered an alarm when a
stove' pipe at the home of Mrs. H. Cleary •
became overheated and caught fire.
Ray McGeoch of Egmondville was in
Toronto Saturday attending the
Canadiens and Maple Leaf hockey match.
Thursday night was Archie Hubert ,
night at the Palade Rink, Seaforth, when
Seaforth Beavers and "Home Brews."
played a benefit game. An amount of
$250.00 was presented, to Archie Hilbert
who broke his leg playing softball' last
sum 'ner.
In a nostalgic-Mood today, I've been
• thinking that, with the onslaught of the
Speed Age, many' of our fine old Canadian
traditions have fallen by the wayside,
died on the vine, or simply lain down
and curled up their toes. •
One of the first to go, of course, was
the blacksmith. It hurts me to face the
truth: that most people to-day under thirty
have never known the sensory joys, of a
blacksmith's 'shop.
.At this time, of year, small, boys
used to squeeze through the ramshackle
door, and edge as close as they could to
the fire, freezing their bums and roasting -
their cheeks. There was a 'fine acrid
stench of horse manure and, scorched
hooves. There was the leaping flame as
the bellows There was the ringing -
clang as the smith beat out the whiter'.0.
hot metal betweekhammer and anvil, and •
the satisfying higs when the hot metal '
was ,plunged free the cold water.
At a certain age, most male kids would
haye settled happily for the life of a
blacksmith„ a free 'soul who spent his
days doing the most fascinating work.
in the world.
The decline of the smithy, of course,
was brought about by the gradual phas-
' ing out of another tradition --the horse-.
drawn vehicle. •
I wonder how many kids of this gener-
ation have ever spent a winter Saturday
" catching bobs"; This was our term for
jumping on the backs of farmers' sleighs.
All day long the fai:mer s came and
To the Editor
Sir:
Is our "Abortion Law!! understood
by all?
"Abortions up to 24 weeks ,of preg-
nOey are available withOut wait at, reas-
onablet cost. in hospital's and hospital
affiliated clinics. Cost range from $250
to $400 for ,a D and C up to 14 weeks
and $700 for saline evacuation 15 'to
20 weeks," •
This is an ad from a New York
travel agency.
• it offers package dealS on how to
terminate unwanted pregnancies. Can-
ada's "Abortion Law" has changed too.
Our laws are often changed. We have
the right and the duty to do so. Most
laws are there to protect us, so nat-
urally we agree and obey them. How-
ever not ail laws are made with full
understanding of all our people. If the
subject does not concern us directly
we merely shrug it off. The "'Abortion
Law" is something we can not shrug
off. We must study this law and see
whether this is truly the 'best solution
we can code bp with. Our next genera-
tion,may well blame us if we have not
searched for the right answers to this
acute problem in our society.
When We heard of butchers in back
alleys, takilig 'large sums of money to
abort our young girls and women, we
were shocked. Had the, question been
put to' us whether we agreed to any of
this, our answer 'would have been a flat
410. But are we pew satisfiled to have
this,., same act performed under bright
lights and with every one's consent?
went to and from town.. And"all day long
We hopped on behind a load of grain, left
that for -a load of supplies going the
other way, picked up 'a sleigh piled with
logs for the return trip, and shivered
with delighted fear as the farmers shouted
at es, and even sometimes flourished ',
their whips in our directiOn.
r As we grew a little older, about 12,
we graduated to catching on the wing a
cutter. 'This was more daring and more
! dangerous because they could really fly, •••;1
the runner was much smaller, and the
farmer could' turn around and belt you one
on the ear.
Most of them, of course, were pretty
decent. I know now that they were more
worried about us getting hurt in a fall
than they were about the .extra. weight their
horses had to pull.
Then there were the butchers' cutters.
These cortsistec,di a sort of box. with,
••
runner beneath, and a-step at the back •
for the driver to stand on. The horses
Were not plugs', but real road-runpers
that • went like a bat out of, hell., They
were every. bit as exciting ail' Roman
.chariot, and the drivers were, the envy
of every boy, In fur caps, reins in one
hand, whip . in the other, as they tore
through the, to*.vn
' And I wonder how many 'boys have
played hockey all day on a frozen river,
when a hard shot the goalie missed might
slide for a quarter ola mile. We never had
to worry' about ice-time, or 'changing
lines. we could play untif,we were pooped,,
Perhaps the unsanitary conditions have
been eliminated but the act itself re-
mains the same. •
Medical experts can tell us of cases
where pregnancy had tee be disrupted for
reasons of insanity or threatening of
life for , the mother or other valid reas-
ons. But we-are talkipg now of unwanted
-pregnancy simply because it not con-
venient to have a child. Either the moths
is not married or wants to continuelier
oducation, cost will be involved, shame
ee, to the family, etc. Human problems like
poverty, unwanted pregnancy and over
popelation, should be solved in positive,
construetive ways, without doing violence
to the human life.' Abortion is a short
'1( cut solution Atoll cheapens life and poi-
sons society. •
If the unborn Child 'is le be killed
because he is an unwanted burden,' Why,
not also the aged and the .deformed?
According 'to an embryologist an unique
human life -is created at the moment
when a human ovum is fertilized by a
human sperm. All that is needed for
it to become a fully developed human
is . nutrition, a suitable environmeet and
time. Once a life" has started are we big
enough to decide whether it shall live or
not? (141i
Did anyone eVer think of the "Rights"
of the unborn child? --,
Let's look at the Bible where we
read: "For Thou didst form my inward
parts, Thou didst knit me together in
my mother's womb. I praise Thee, for,
Thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonder-
ful are Thy works! Thou knowest me
then sit by the bonfire until rested, and
have another go. And there were always
twenty or thirty playing at once, so
everybody got a whack at the puck. Some
great stick-handlers came out of that
era. • •
Think of the depths to which we have
sunk. The smithy , with its light and
shadows, its reds and blacks, its earthy
smells,_ its sense of life, has been re-
placed by the garage, a sterile thing with
its cement floor, its reek of gas and oil,
and its unspoken assurance that this-ise
gonna-cost-you-plenty-buddY.
\-__ The cutter, swife and light as a bird,
no, longer skims the snow. It has been
replaced by a stinking, snarling-,'skidding
beast that only modern man could abide -
• the _snowmobile.
No more" meat -cutters, careening
around' the corners on one runner, deliver-
ing in any weather. Now, we plod like
zombies' through,the 'supermarket,
to moronic piped-n music, and pick up
the odourless, antiseptic, .cellophaned
packages the. great gods Dominion, Lob-
law of Safeway have assigned to us, and
carry them humbly to 'our' cars, three
blocks away.
Our kids have to get up at five a.m.
to play hockey, and 'if they're not real
"killers",, get about four minutes ice-
time.
Ah, those were the° days? And I
haven't. even begun on the most vital of
all, winter equipment •-•'' the puck consist-
ing of a frozen hdrse-ben. •
Law
right well; my :frame was not hidden
from Thee, when I was being made in -
secret, intricately' wrought in the depths
of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my un-
formed substance; in Thy Book were,
written, every one of them, the days
that were Permed for me, when as yet
there was none of them. How precious
to me are Thy thoughts 0 God! How
vast is the sum of them?" Psalm 139:
13-18.
DO we dare now to tamper wittelife
once it hie started and is written in
His Book? The problem is real all right
and this time we 'may not shrug it off.,
If we do not want to feel equally guilty
With the bick-alley butchers, we have to
educate ourselves. Make it a point to
,find the proper -solutions to this 'very
serious problem. Let it not be said of
us in the next generation that we ptit a
stop to slaughtering and inhumane treat-
ment of Piet born "Sealpups" off Can-
ada's east coast, but somehow we Just
never got around to the "Humane Rights"
of our unborn children. •
On Tuesday, February 29 at 8 p.m.
Dr. Hart Breznar of Waterloo will be at ,
the Clinton High School Auditorium to show'
slides and_he Will speak to us regarding'
the "Abortio n Law" • in Canada. There
will glee ample time to ask questionse Also
there will be fists we can sign tad sent
to the government to' chenge, this law.
This is, a community program free of
charge.
'Roos Bakker
Sne.Reloitrt2h, Ontario
Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
Robert Nixon Retires As Leader
•
•