The Huron Expositor, 1975-08-14, Page 1Seaforth's two members on the
Are Fire. Board asked council for
advice at Monday , night's
meeting. Appointee Bill Dale told
councillors that McKillop
Township, one of the area
members, had pulled a portion of
their township out of the Seaforth
Fire protection area, contrary to
the agreement that all member
municipalities signed when the
area was formed in 1970.
The agreement says that the
boundaries of coverage areas
can't be altered for ten years,
'from the forming' date. McKillop
withdrew part of its township and
•got fire coverage for it from the
Blyth Fire Department, deputy
Dale said. ,
The deputy reeve said that he
has learned that no delegations
asked McKillop to make the
change 'in coverage. he said the
township pays Blyth $500 for the
covereage.
"tDo we go by the agreement or
by-pass it?" he asked council.
Reeve John Flannery asked if
McKillop's partial opting out had
ever been officially approved.
• It can't be' approved because
it, would counter the agreement,
deputy reeve Dale replied.
keaforth's other member of the.
fire board, councillor George
Hildebrand said that apparently
McKillop got legal advice that the
agreement isn' as binding as it
looks.
Deputy reeve Dale said that
when McKillop withdrew
Seaforth's share of expenses went
up four per centage points,
Tuckersmiths by two points and
14Illett and Hibbert:s by one
each. He said M illop didn't
take any of t creased costs
that resulted fro part of their '
township droppin out.
•"What do you want us to do?"
councillor Hildebrand asked, 'Re
said ,he felt that the other three
members on the fire board were
letting Seaforth battle McKillop.
Council decided to get a legal
opinion on whethetx McKillop
could 'Change - it's ) coverage .
boundaries. "We could have
other municipalities' pulling out.
We have to follow the agreement
or where would it end?' Mayor
Betty Cardno said.
Clerk Robert Franklin and the
deputy reeve will get a legal
opinion on McKillop's move.
Town hail
is hazard,
The basement of Seaforths
town hail is in very bad condition
and presents a fire hazard,
according to a letter to 'town
council read Monday night from
Brian Garratto of Kyles, Kyles
, 'and Garratt, Stratford Architects.
Mr.' Garratt, who toured the
building at the end of July said
that improvements should be
made to the basement soon.
Council decided to ask town
building inspector Wilmer Cuthill
to prepare an application . fee
funds for a Local Initiatives
Project to make repairs to the
building this winter.
It will depend on what happens
with the arena whether or 'not
council applies for the grant but
lifr.F'ew people really expect that
important historical finds be
unearthed in their own backyard,
but this is exactly what is
happening in the backyard of Mr.
and Mrs. William Huggett of
Egmondville.
David Newlands from the Can-
adiana, department of the Royal
*Ontario Museum Toronto, with a
crew of volunteers is uncovering
some'of the original potters' tools
used at the Huron Pottery, which
operated from 1852 to 1910.. The
tools he suspects, ate the first ,fo
their kind to be found Catnip. ,
4
Huron Pottery was
known forjts' yellow grazed pots-
and crocks. ,
• Mr. Newland said _h istorians
wipould have to apologize to those
potters, for believing they were
flower-got makers, instead of
craftsthen.
The ROM crew which includes
about eight or nine_ volunteers is
finding intricately designed
molds for ceiling and, fireplace
tiles and examples of fine art
work on pieces of pottery.
Last summer, Mr . Newlands
,and crew excavated the old kiln,
1" He returned this year with
volunteers to dig ',the cellar of the
pottery building, long demolished
and his work should be completed
Thursday. Although the field
girl bruised
*in accident
"It's kind of a freak accident,"
Loretta Bennewies said of the
accident that left her daughter
bruised and shook up.
The incident occurred on
Monday about 1:45 p.m. when
six-year old Lisa was walking
along North Main Street and
stooped to pick up a gop bottle,
• At this time, a light truck
owned by the Big 0-Drain Tile
Company was slowing down for
the stop light on its way back to
Hensall.
A wheel came off the empty
truck which normally carries light
plast is piping, crossed the road,
jumped the curb and knocked Lisa
down.
Mrs. Bennewies said the wheel
was lying on top of Lisa, and her
shoulder was badly bruised.
No charges were laid.
work will be finished in a total of
six weeks, he doesn't expect the
final report on the Pottery to be
completed until 1977. Not only
must the objects found be cleaned
and repaired, but they also must
be analysed.
When the ROM archeological
crew returned this year, some
people in the community shook
their head, for last year's dig was
less than spectacular.
• Some said why .bother digging, '
,broken pottery, there 'is better.„,
stuff right in area homes
When 'first interviewed,. David
'Newl'atids, formerly a'teacher,
and an archeologist, With ROM
'fin three, years, said ,he didn't
expect to 'find whole _pieces of
PdttelY".
They would be finding things
that weren't 'sold, and people
don't throw out good stuff. If the
ROM was interested in collecting
pottery, it could have bought it.
he said. Fe
Last year, 'the 'ROM" bought a
collection of Huron Pottery from
local collector, Bill Hart. The
collection.-is to sit in the ROM,
and be Called the William M. Hart
Collection. •
Right now, the Canadiana
department has been interested
in excavating pottery sites, since
little is known about the early
industry.
Mr. Newlands said the ROM is
concentrating on the pottery
industry, now, because conceri-
industry now, becauSe it has
always focused on the decorative
arts which are pleasing to'the eye
as well as easily stored.
Over a coffee. Mr. Newlands'
'face turned red, when he remem-
bered the quips he suffered when
co-workers learned he was digg-
ing a pottery cellar this summer.
They said "not another cellar"
for two years ago, he dug a cellar
at a pottery site, in New York
State that only uncovered modern
"junk".
"Cellars aren't the most prom-
ising." he said.
The Egmondville site was
chosen for excavation because it
operated more than 60 years, and
was known to offer a standardized
product.
Huron Pottery was an interm-
ediate sized shop founded by a
German potter, Valentine Boehlet
which has been reported to
employ five full-time workers in
1880.
THE BARRICADES ARE UP — The sign says
caution because reconstruction started this week on
James St., from North Main to West St. Ken Gerber
Construction Ltd., of Stratford has the $55,000
contract and completion date is October 25.
(Staff Photo)
Whohrio. 5605'
116th Year
10,00AIrc41.11,AdVageP 2
Si4le DOPY-5.04tS SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, AUGUST -14, 1975 — 16 PAGES
DOWN TO EARTH PEOPLE — Mrs., William
-N•bluggett said members of the ROM crew were down
to earth people and from all appearances that is
exactly what they are. At tile, top, Lynne Kelley is
digging tier block and below.Bob 'Parnell, a public
school teacher, is finding a metallic partition. A few
bottles have been removed from his square but
mainly he had been coming across ash., (Staff Photo)
From PUC
ouncil forms commit
to study water take over
Town to see if McKillop
fire area move -is legal
Important finds in Egmondville pottery dig
Arena
LIP grant
The ' high cost of issuing
debentures to pay for arena
'renovations plus the possibility of
a LIP grant being available to
'help pay for the renovations this
winter, led council to discuss
several .ways , of finatking the
Ouch needed repairs at their
meeting Monday night.
If a LIP grant were received,
the work would have to be done
during the winter months. A
report from Seaforth recreation
director Clive Buist
recommended against this
because the arena would have to
be closed while the work was
done. Mr. Buist said the need for
heating, change rooms, toilets,
fre escape from the upper story
and other conveniences meant
that the arena couldn't possibly
continue to operate while
construction was going on.
Council's arena committee has
called a public meeting for
Wednesay night, August 20 at 8
p.m. upstairs in the town hall to
get citizens' opinions on what
`4.bould be done.
"Should we close the arena for
three months, if we can get the
work done?", arena chairman Bill
Bennett asked. "What do people
Letters have been sent to all
area municipalities asking them
to attend and Mayor Bitty
Cardno said "every organization
that has something going on at
the arena should have someone at
*the meeting.
"It's either forget the arena
and forget sports this winter or
get behind it and help raise
funds", councillor Wayne Ellis
said.
Councillor George Hildebrand
wondered if a lottery to finance
arena repairs could be run tight
here in Seaforth or if Wintario
funds would be available. "This
is what we want to know. What
should we do?" councill?.ir
Bennett replied.
Council learned that the cost of "
raising $79,000 for the first stage
closed
considered
of - arena renovations is about
$50,000. Final approval for the
town fo issue debentures has
been received following passage
of private member's bill through
the Ontario Legislature.
When the cost of raising
$79,000 is so high, and the total
renovations at the arena will cost
at least $230,000 "how can we go
ahead without some! assurance of
another way to raise money?",
Seaforth and area residents are
'going to have a unique
opportunity to attend professional
stage production, of Hello Dolly,
right here in Seaforth.
The Huroo Obuntry Playhouse
of Grand Bend Will bring the play
to Seaforth for one night on
Tuesday where it will be
performed at SDHS.
Invited by high school
principal, Bruce Shaw, this will
give the HC Playhouse a chance
to tuage the response of the
community to live theatre.
This season the company has
usually performed four out of nine
days in Grand Bend, and the rest
of ;the, time on the, toad in
Kincardine, Meaford, hanover,
Fergus and Owen Sound.
Chris Covert , the road
manager •for the company said
they are trying to be a regional
theatrical, group and this summer
have played more performances
outside than inside. Grand Bend.
A special performance' will be
held both in Seaforth and Sarnia
to see whether there would be a
sufficient audience base to add'
these towns to next year's road
tour.
Mr. Covert said it was decided
on rather short notice, but he
sairt. "We „didn't know ifswe. had
the capacity, it's a rather lar ge
undertaking to put so large a
show on the road."
Hello Dolly he said "is
for repairs
Mayor Cardno wondered.
pecause of the cost of
borrowing through debenture,
council decided not to issue them
now butt to continue borrowing_
month by month from a bank. The
interest rate there is lower than
what the town would have to pay
on the debentures, which would
be issued for ten years.
Permission to debenture won't
rim out, councillor Hildebrand
commented.
extremely expensive," because
there are three set changes,a
large bast, and , Dolly is
continually changing costumes.
(Continued on Page15)
Fourth
at
in
at.Weight's
Another break-in and theft
occurred at Wright Chev Olds
here.
The incident occurred early
Saturday morning when two cars
were taken and abandoned a little
later on Highway #8.
Chief of Police John Cairns said
he remembers at least three
break-ins at the dealership that
used the same method of entry,
left the car in about the same
place and took'the same cars. The
last bredk-in occurred in June.
When asked if it was 'just a
question of joy-riders, he said it
could be more serious.
The cars were found I;iy the
Goderich. OPP while on patrol
about 6:30 a.m. and they notified
the Seaforth town police.
The police said the case was
still und6r investigation.
Mr. Newlands said this means
they were making a lot of pottery,
because one English potter re-
ported that he could make 60 pots
an hour, while others in the shop
could make more.
He said it was probably one of
the largest clay pottery plants,
'and the next size would have
handled stoneware.
Last May, the ROM under the
direction fo Mr. Newlands dug
the David Burns site near Holme-
. fi^urns had a part-time
,v operatiotwthking. pottery .in the
winter months for 40 years until
1900.
The ROM decided the' ch_arac-
teristics^ of ffie;Egroondvilfe —sjte
would contribute-16 its knowledge
of the_pottery industry which died
with: the-introduction of modern
containers and mass production.
In 1906, HurotrPottery was the
last of eight potter plants still in
operation in Ontario.
Besides, the Huggetts 'were
willings to allow the ROM to dig
in their yard. Under this agree-
ment, the owners agree to allow
the ROM to keep anything that is
uncovered.
People like the Huggetts allow
the ROM to excavate because
they know anything that is found
by the ROM will be kept and
preserved in a safe place for
future generations, and won't be
sold, Mr. Newlands said.
Clare Pretty, niece,. 4,of F.
Burgard, the last potter, visited
Huron Pottery as a child and. a
drawing was sketched Bolt -her
memories of the place. Last year
this was the ROM's only indica-
tion of the size, dimension, and
shape, of the building.
'Over the winter, however, a
picture of the plant was found in a
book published in 1906, by the
Ontario Department of Mines. Its
not too surprising 'the actual
picture differs from the drawing
since 60 years is a long time.
Ethel Beattie, an antique col-
lector for 30 yers, said she
remembers visiting the potter
plan as a child of seven. It
inspired both her and her cousin,
as childred, to make their own
clay articles and to leave them in
the sun to dry.
She went with her mother, and
believes the turning wheel was at
the east end, and behind that a
room where they sold the finished
pottery.
Miss Beattie has several crocks
and jugs from the plant, and said
Bill Hart, a local collector was
interested in buying one.
She said he asked her if she
was willing to sell one item, and
she said no. When he asked her
why she wanted it, she said: "For
the same reason you- want it."
Mr. Newlands said the ROM is
not out "Treasure-hunting". Not
only lids, and pottery' are collect,
ed but also samples of the soil,
old' shoes, pans, and pipes,
anything that could .help tell the
story of the industry.
He said he was digging in Fort
Yorke, in a mess hall, where he
James St.
Work started Monday on the
reconstruction of Jame s St.,
from North Main to West St.
Sewers have already been
installed there and council
decided that dwelling and new
curbs and gutters at the street
would finish one more section of
town streets.
Low bidder on the project was
Ken Gerber Construction Ltd. of
Stratord. The Gerber company
was awarded the job at a council
meeqng July 28, but information
was released at Monday night's
regular council meeting.
The Gerber hid at $55,143.70.,
was one of three received. The
other two were from
C.A.' McDowell Ltd., Certralia,
$56,764 and LoobS' Builders
(Dublin Ltd.,. $03.751.35.
PubliC Works committee
chairman reeve John Flannery
reported that the termination date
for the job is October 25, Bell
Telephone wilt be asked to instal
underground lines along the
north side of the street, he said.
50% of the cost of the project
will he paid by provincial grant.
he said. The new street will have
wide corners like West William.
The reeve commented that the
West William work only a few
years ago cost about $28 a foot
while James St. will cost about
$40 a foot.
Also in his committee report,
reeve Flannery said the town will
bill Carl Dalton for rent for the 12
acres of town owned land where
he grazes his cattle.
A sign will be placed at the
dump asking people to dump
types of refuse in specific areas
value for the one third of PVC
employee's wagei that it pays, A
take over of the waterworks might
not •involve more than -hiring a
man or two and additional help
for the town clerk's office to do
billings, he said.
„ Councillor Charles Campbell
noted that the Stratford lawyer's
letter gave no opinion on' the
legality,of the back dating, just on
the rate decision. Councillor
Hildebrand suggested getting
opinions from a lawyer and from.
the editor of Municipal IWorld.
Mayor Betty Cardno 6ominent-
ed that there is no press coverage
of PUC meetings although they
are open to the public. The PUC
meets thrs/second 'Wednesday of
each month at 3 p.m. Several
councillors said they were not
sure just what percentage of what
PVC expenses, that council does
pay. It was suggested that the
new committee find this out.
At the council meeting, Clerk
Bob Franklin said the responsib-
ility for water could perhaps be
separated from the PUC's other
job, running Seaforth's' hydro
system, but he pointed out that
the PUC.commissioners are elect-
ed to run the whole operation.
Reeve John Flannery said per-
haps a plebiscite would be
needed.
Clerk Franklin said Tuesday
that the town never has had
authority over the PUC according
to the Municipal Act they can only
control the remuneration to 'be
paid PUC members and the
issuing of debentures to pay for
capital debt.
basement
architect
Mayor Betty Cardno felt it
wouldn't' hurt to get a submission
ready. The deadline for LIP
applications is early in.
September.
"It's about time we ,spend
some 'money to keep this building
up" Councillor Wayne Ellis said.
Mr. Garratt found the first and
second floors of the town hall in
good condition and Called it a
"significant building (that)
should be retained and restored."
He' said that the upper floor
needs some work but that any
money spent in anywhere but the
basement df the building should
be part of an overall renovation
program aimed at making the
whole building useful.
reconstruction s arts
and the new dump hours are
Saturdays from 9 — 5 and
Wednesdays from 1— 9, he said.
A letter from CN told council
that it is Lorne Whittaker's
responsibility to level and clean
up the Site where he demolished
the old CN station.
A by-law naming Wilmer
Cuthill as building and trench
inspector at a salary of $8 per
hour was passed, subject to
adjustment from time to time.
Finance chairman Jim Crocker
said that in July Mr. Cuthill
worked eight and one half hours,
John C. Ward. the Listowel
accountant who has received
CRTC approval.to bring cable TV
to Seaforth wrote council that he
cannot tell yet what channels will
he available to cable customers
here. Mr. Ward said he couldn't
give a definite time on when ,.
construction will start to service
Seaforth.
Councillor George Hildebrand
favoured asking Mr. Ward to
come and talk to council but
councillors Ellis and Crocker said
he probably couldn't say anything
more than what was in his letter.
The Ministry of Transportation
and Communications told council
that because of a heavy workload,
they could not maintain
Seaforth's new traffic lights.
Council will ask the PUC to
maintain them.
No parking signs will be poited
on several Seaforth streets, in
accordance ,,with an already
existing bylaw. They include the
west side of North Main froth
Goderich St. to the town limits
and in front of the Senior Citizens
apartments. Wright Chev. Olds
were given permission to
purchase old lightingstanaards at
$15 each.
Town police worked a lot of+
overtime in July because the
Police Chief was on holidays and
one man was away for three days
on compassionate leave, ,
Councillor Ellis, chairman of the
police committee said. "Do you
want all the details?" he asked.
"You bet", said reeve
Flannery. The councillor detailed
26' hours for Constable Lauzon,
23' , Const,Burton, 32 1/2 ,
Const. Dale, 25, auxiliary Const.
'Ford and 19 hours for the other
auxilliary, Const. Desjardines.
Councillors thought citizens
should be warned that itinerant
salesmen should have a peddler's
licence issued by the town. A
letter from Maclean-Hunter Ltd.
advised 'that an organization
called Centennial Plus One has no
connection with them and is not
authdrized to solicit subscriptions
for its magazines.
Ed. Taylor was hired to do
caretaking at the itown
library and police station at
$58.50 per week.
Council accepted a
recommendation from the finance
committee that they get in touch
with sales tax consultant
Headley Tulloch whose staff will
examine invoices to look for
overpayment of federal and
provincial sales tax.
The charge for the service is,
one third of the amount.
recovered. No charge is levied
unless some taxes recovered, Mr.
Tulloch said in a letter to council.
found all kinds of items like
buttons, that had' fallen off and
been imbeded into the floor. All
these items, with information on
where they Were found, help
reconstruct history, which is what
the dig is all about.
The Egmondville excavation
site, could easily be by passed
because it looks like little more
than a group of young people'
camping in a backyard. Several
tents are erected on the site, as
well as rented trailer where' the
crew take turns in cooking.
Expositor Reporter Joins ROM
dig, see page '13 '
Angered by a letter from PUC
manager Walter Scott, Seafdrth
council Monday night set up. a
committee to look into taking over
responsibility for the town's
water supply from the Commis-
sion. In the letter Mr. Scott told
council that after receiving legal
advice from Stratford lawyer R.E.
Mountain, the Commission has
decided to take no action on
Council's request that. increases
for' water used before July 1 be
credited to PUC customers. .,
In June council voted to double
Seaforth's water rates as of July
1. The Plis9 sent their July bills
which in some cases were for
water used in May and June, out
at the doubled rate. At their July
meeting council voted to ask the
PUC to give credits 'to customers
billed at the doubled rate for
water ,used before July 1.
The Stratford .lawyer told the
PUC that the PUC, not council
has control of management and
"having' decided that new rates
would be effective with the July
1st billing, has made a manage-
ment decision which council
cannot reverse."
The committee that council
formed will also get advice about
whether the PUC's back billing of
the rate increase was legal.
Councillor John Sinnamon chairs
the committee and members are
Councillors George Hildebrand
and Bill. Bennett and Deputy
Reeve William Dale.
"We'd better form a committee
and look at taking over'7the water
works ourselves", said Councillor
Hildebrand who suggested that"
council Wasn't getting a lot of
Hello Dolly comes here