The Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 36t By Harry Hinckley
Batt in the far-away days..
before World War 1, the boys"
from the nearer parts of Seaforth
used to do their swimming at the
Maitland. River. There were two
places we used to go - one at'
Roxboro, just above the bridge
and the other, which we called
"The Mait" in the ealm Water
just behind the Maitlandbank
Cemetery.
Roxboro was' probably the
better place but we preferred
"The Mait" and used to use it
more. For one thing it was not as
deep and, unlike Rox boro we
could stand on bottom anywhere
to get our wind. But perhaps the
main reason was that at "The
Mail" we did not have to wear
bathing suits. Aft er all, a bathing
suit was only an unnecessary
piece of impedimenta whengoing
swimming.
our swimming season used to
start not later than the 24th' of
May although some years we had
been known to be in around the
24th of April. But on the 24th of
May we went fishingin the
morning and ended the day with a
swim in the afternoon. The
season used to end with a big
swim on Labor Day, the last day
of the holidays,
When we went •for a swim there
used to be a race to see who got in
first. One reason for this was that
it was good to be immersed and
hardened to the water
temperature, so to speak, and
then to be all ready to splash the
more dilatory members of the
gang as they made their way to
the water's edge.
And after the swim there used
to be another race to see who
could be first dressed or, more
particularly, to see who could be
first to don the straw hat which in
those days used to be an essential
part of a young man's attire. it
warded off sunstroke because to
go out into the sunlight without a
hat was to invite disaster. We
were careful in such matters and
before entering the water we had
another precaution we -used to
take to ward off danger from
cramps.
When getting dressed the first
one to don his hat had-the right to
lay claim to the title of ;`King".
and the next one would proclaim
himself "Queen". The third one
had to settle for amuch lower rank
but he was still .a member of the
court.
But the fourth one to put on his
hat was a complete outcast and
had to be satisfied with a title
which was the ultimate in
degradation. Fortunately it was
only of a most temporary nature
and once assumed the holder
immediately abdicated and his
rank at once ceased to be held or
even to exist.
One time at "The Malt': we
built a dam across the river. We
worked hard and long carrying
stones to construct a wall across
the shallow part of the river below
the gwimtning hole. Then we dug
up sods and used them to plug the
holes between the stones., The,
dam served its purpose very well
and raised the water about a ,feet.
Then someone came up with
the idea that to open the• dam
would give a great display' of
running water. So we broke it ani:1
had our display as the water all
ran out. But perhaps this
discouraged us because we never
repaired the dam.
We.used to live, in mortal dread
of Tommy flays, or more properly
speaking, Thomas E. Hays. He
was the owner of the land at the
."Mait" and he was really a man
of some standing because he had
been elected or appointed to
many positions of importance.But
to, us he was always "Old Tommy'
and we saw him driving in his
buggy we fled in all directions.
He had really never harmed
any of us but we feared what he
might do. One time he - had
"hauled up" a couple of boys
before Magistrate John'
Beattie. Their 'crime had only
been going into his barn and
nailing his monkey wrench to the
wall and' nailing down the lid of
his oat box.
Magistrate Beattie had
assessed a small fine which the
fathers paid. - But he let it be
known that boys had no business
around "Old Tommy's"
buildings. But for us there were
always plenty of things to see
around the old barns and houses
and in spite of the warning we
.used„.te visit them, regularly. ,
One time we had even pried up
a plank frorthe floor of the old
houses and carried it drwon to
"The Mait" to make •-• a diving
board. But we needed a diving
board. Without it we could not
learn to dive properly as we could
only go into the water by jumps or
"belly-floppers" or by some
other variety of immersion said to
be of Chinese origin.
Another time we took one of
Tommy's hens to boil into a stew
in an old honey pail. But the stew
had not turned out very well as
one of our number who was
utterly devoid of all culinary
qualifications had surreptitiously
dropped in a few fishworms.
However, we really forgave him
because, the damage having been
done; we all proceeded_ to• add
other ingredients to our stew.
Finally the pail became so heavy
that the support broke and all the
stew was completely lost by being
spilled over the fire.
* * ** * *
Many years of ter the events
related about I happened to go
swimming with some of the boys
who were now becoming the
swimmers. I meant to show them
how it should be done. But the old
skill was gone. Nothing seemed to
go right.Soon I realized the boys
were showing me.
1 had my lesson. I have never
been swimming since.
STROLLING IN THE PARK ONE DAY These wins were dressed up for a stroll
somewhere in this brand new buggy when \they were phdtographed against this
lavish background sometime in the 1880's. The t ins are Frank and Agnes Smith,
children-of Mr. and Mrs.Richard Smith who..lived in the North Main St. h ouse
where Mr. and Mrs. Roy McGannigle live now. Agnes, who went on to become
Mrs. Harry Scott died in 1959 and her twin • brother some years earlier.
On Its
1 Nth Anniversary
We're proud to have been
able io do business with
many Seaforth residents in
the past and look forward to
serving you in the future
Best Wishes
To
Seaforth
THE
FATHE STEPHEN ECKERT
COUNCIL OF SEAFORTH
. DISTRICT
Extends congra admits to the town and
'Citizens on the occasion off their Centennial.
14—THE 1-141110N !EXPOSITOR, JUNE 23, 1975