The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1943-04-01, Page 3THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL Jtf, 1943
FROM
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Va-tro-nol is so successful because
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R.N-, who
her sister,
family, for
F'inkbeiner and family
relatives and
of neighbors
Mrs. William
(Continued from Page 1)
plement). In this week’s supplement
another aspect of our Station life is
featured.
Frdm time to time we have men
tioned pertinent facts concerning
our Pipe Band. The London Free
Press carries a most interesting and
comprehensive account of the Pipe
Band, Jn the belief that some read
ers of this column may have missed
this article, I shall give you some
of the highlights. Those who view
our Pipe Band for the first time are
impressed 'by the novel tartan.
Surely, the pattern is unusual. So it
is. The tartan’’Worn by our band is a
weave of the official R.C.A.F. colors
of maroon and dark and light blue
Group Captain E, G, Fullerton de
signed this tartan, which has been
approved by the Air Council, and is
registered in the archives of the
Court of the Lord Lyon in Edin
burgh, Scotland, .and is now the of
ficial R.C.A.F, tartan. The poem
which heads the article is, I beleive,
worthy of repetition and 1 include
here;
Here’s to it:
The fighting sheen of it:
The yellow, the green of it:
The dark red of it:
Every thread of it:
The fair have sighed for it:
The brave have died for it:
Foeman sought for it:
Honor the name of it:
Drink to the fame of it:
The Tartan!
it
EXETER, OCTOBER 1927
The following history of the ear
ly days in Exeter was compiled in
1927 by Mrs, B. W. F. Beavers,
daughter Qf Exeter'S first municipal
clerk. Mrs. Beavers prepared the
paper for the Exeter Womep’s In
stitute, At the time she was the
convener of the Historical Research
Committee for this district, It ap
peared in the London Free Press,
Mrs, Beavers recently gave the ad’
dress to the students in Canadian
History at the Exeter High School,
If will no doubt be of interest to
many of our readers.
SHIPKA
The community of Shipka has
donated and quilted forty quilts for
the Red Cross to be sent in 1943,
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Keyes vis
ited on Thursday with relatives and
friends in Sarnia.
Mr. Prance is at present confin
ed to bed at the home of his daugh
ter, Mrs. Major Baker.
Miss Nellie Hudson,
has been visiting with
Mrs. L. Finkbeiner, and
the past three months, left for De
troit on Monday,
Little Nancy Clarke, of Thedford,
visited last week with her grand
parents, Mr. and Mrs. William
Sweitzer.
Mrs. L,
visited on Sunday with
friends in Sarnia.
A large gathering
and friends of Mr. and
Sweitzer met at their home last Fri
day evening and presented them
with a chair. The address was
read by Milton Ratz and the presen
tation was made by Chris Baumgar
ten. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweitzer
thanked them for the gift and all
joined in singing “For They Are
Jolly Good Fellows”. Also a hearty
welcome was given to Mr. and Mrs.
Guenther, who have purchased
Sweitzer’s farm. The evening
spent in amusements.
Mr. and Mrs. iA. G. Webb
family visited Mr. Webb’s father
in the hospital in London on Sun
day. Mr. Webb, who has undergone
a serious operation, is getting along
as well as can be expected.
Mr.
was
and
CREDITON EAST
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Sims and son
Harold and girl friend of London,
spent Sunday with Mrs. Job Sims.
Pte. Alvin Sims, of London,
spent Saturday at his home here.
Mrs. Wilson Anderson is visiting
with her daughter and son-in-law,
Mr. and Mrs. George Hay in Ex
eter.
Mr. Murray Neil and
are visiting with Mr.
James Neil and Mr. and
field Neil at Centralia.
Mr. Mervin Ryckman,
Mich.,
Mrs.
son
her
■ hijm.
daughter
and Mrs.
Mrs. Gar-
of Flint,
spent the week-end
H. Kuhn. Mrs. Ryckman
who have been visiting
mother, returned home
with
and
with
with
• ■;'Tell it well and it will sell. For
Exeter and district the telling is
best done through the Times-Advo-
cate.
Movies last week included “Power
Dive”, starring Richard Arlen and
Jean Parker.
Now”, with
Jane "Wyman,
ring George
Lane. •
“You’re
Jimmy
“Silver
Brent
in the Army
Durante and
Queen”, star-
and Prisilla
*T
Our regular Tuesday evening
dance was exceptionally well attend
ed, Music provided by the Station
orchestra made for excellent danc
ing enjoyment. Our musical library
has been augmented by some new
records. The dancing • element are
frequently requesting the latest
tunes. The new records received will
in some measure satisfy these de
mands.
5S
Sgt. Gelber continues to conduct
“Thursday Night Town Hall”. Keen
interest is evidenced at these meet
ings. In fact we are told discussion
is carried on for many days follow
ing the Thursday evening talks
On Monday evening some of our
boxers and wrestlers journeyed to
T.T.S., St. Thomas, to take part in a
boxing show at the Station. We
understand St. Thomas is to recip
rocate when the next boxing show
occurs on this Station.
❖ * * *
Workers have been busy this past
week in clearing up the debris which
accumulates during the winter seas
on. Unsightly spots are being clear
ed and the grounds are being made
ready for warmer weather—an out
door spring housecleaning so
speak.
Until next week.
Harris Weber,
Y.M.-C.A.
to
M. F. U. A. Convention
annual convention of
Fire Underwriters’ As-
Ontario was held in
“Advertising as a
Prevention.” The
Association, W. R.';
his report on the
The 61st
the Mutual
sociation of
the King Edward Hotel, Toronto,
recently, at which H. K. Eilber,
secretary-treasurer of the Hay Town
ship Mutual 'F'ire Insurance Co., pre
sided as chairman. The convention
was one of the best in years. Over
20 0 delegates representing the 67
Farm Mutuals were registered.
Group reports 'by group secretaries
were read and discussed. W. J.
Scott, K.C., Fire Marshal, delivered
an address on “Farm Fire Preven
tion.” Russell T. Kelley, of Hamil
ton, spoke on
Means of, Fire
Secretary of the
Cross, in giving
British Aid Fund, stated that to
date $75,000 had been contributed
to this worthy cause by the mem
bers of the Association and read a
letter from the Hon. Winston
Churchill, thanking them for their
support. It was decided that the
different companies should make a
decided effort to increase their con
tributions to $100,000.
S. S. McDermand, Of Port Bur-
Well, spoke on the “Supplemental
Reinsurance Plan”. So far 21
companies had decided to join the
Pool and from the favorable dis
cussion, there is no doubt that this
plan will be adopted as soon as the
different Boards of Directors have
come . to a decision. Throughout
the past year, a decided effort Was
made to reduce the losses by 25
per cent, based on the average of
the previous five years. Some com
panies Were particularly fortunate’
and Inspector Gibbons, in present
ing his report Oil “Loss Experience
of 1942”, showed that the campaign
had resulted in a 15 pei’ cent loss
reduction. The convention went on
record that they would continue
their efforts to reduce the losses for
the present year. H. D. McNairn
K.C., superintendent of insurance,
spoke on “By-laws of a Farmers’
Mutual”, and Inspector Gibbons on
“The Results of the Year 1942”.
At the present time the total net
risk of all farm mutuals is $606,-
655,000, an increase of $23,525,000
for the year. The total losses for
the year were $882,40'5.00, a de
crease of $90,642.'00. • At the pre
sent time $3,000,000 is invested in
Government
ji the total
officers for
as follows:
President,
non; first
Drury, C.A.,
president, H.
say; executive, A. A. Bowes, Perth;
F. G. Moffatt, Tees water; S. S. Mc-
Dermand, Port Burwell; H. K. Sil
ber, Crediton; Allan Stewart, Ham
ilton.
Oh Wednesday evening Professor
watsen Kirkconnell, M.A., profes
sor of English at McMaStei‘ Univer
sity, Hamilton, was the guest speak
er at the banquet) Oh Tuesday, pre
vious to tine opening of the conven
tion, a secretaries’ meeting Was held.
Addresses were given by E. W. J.
Sutherland, secretary of the ‘Caradoc
Mutual on “Loss Cost Records’* and
by B. W. F. Beavers, secretary of
the Usborne & Hibbert Mutual on
"Our Neighbors”, which Was follow
ed by a very interesting discussion
pertaining to the duties of a secre
tary.
Bonds or 56.5 per cent
assets. The election of
the year 1943 resulted
N. A. 'Fletcher, Han
vice-president, Oliver
Chatham; second vice-
H. McFadden, Lind-
Probably you noticed an item in
the daily paper of September 13,
giving an account of the shortest
presidential address in the history of
a Canadian trade organization, giv
en by President S. B. Qundy, of Tor
onto, at Vancouver at the annual
meeting of „the Chamber of Com
merce. This was the address in full:
“Let us put aside Provincialism.
Let us think of Canada as a whole”.
In affect and almost literally that
was the complete annual address.
Let us reverse. Let us not think of
Huron as a whole, but just Exeter
as the most important part of it.
Now mine is not going to be quite
that short as it is not to be an ad
dress but a talk; on partial history
of our village dating back to the in
corporation of Exeter as a village in
the year 1873,
This is what the records give us.
This important and prosperous place
which wears more the air of a pros
perous town than a village, hut late
ly incorporated, is situated on the
London Road, almost midway in a
nearly direct line between London
and Goderich, being 31 miles north
by west of the former city and 31
miles south by east of Goderich. It
was about the first in point of settle
ment of the .Huron district. James
Willis and wife, who located on the
London Road survey, were the first
settlers within its present limits, in
deed first between Clinton t and
where the London Road left the
Township of London. This was in
the winter of 1832 and the log house
built by Mr. Willis was the first
white man’s habitation in a section
of country extending ever 20 miles in
every
In
built
near
gentleman was the contractor who
built, or
Road for
built the
section of
and the first grist mill at the same
place.
Mr. Willis was a native of Ireland
On his way up he came through Lon
don, then the most primitive back-
wood’s village, containing but some
half dozen log shanties and where
he left Mrs. Willis suntil he had
cleared off a bit of land and put up
a shanty for himself. This old lady,
resided in Exeter, where she lived
to see a vast wilderness transformed
into a country now entirely covered
with the evidence of higher civili
sation.
Willis
Willis
live in
turned
chase a hoe to plant .his potatoes
with. He had exactly one English
shilling left in money and finding
on his return to London that the
cheapest hoe would cost at least
three times that amount, he returned
without one and planted his pota
toes with his axe among the stumps.
It is satisfactory to know that this
method of husbandry was followed
on that particular occasion by most
flattering results, the crop being at
least equal to any Mr. Willis has
ever seen up the auld sod of his nat
ive country, Armagh. All kinds of
fish and game were very plentiful in
those days, the latter ranging in size
and Value from the squirrel to the
deer. So also were bears and wolves
Those at times did a great deal of
damage to the stock.
On one occasion while Mrs. Willis
was roasting a piece of venison over
the fire with the door open and
while changing the position of the
roast, a huge grey wolfe bounded in
to the apartment, snatched the sav
ory morsel and disappeared with
his prize. Mr. and Mrs. WJillis to
gether cleared off 5 acres of land,
the first clearing within the village.
For a long time after the first
settlement of what is now Exeter
there were absolutely no improve
ments in the place or locality ex
cept tile mill built by Mr. McConnell
The cause Was the low land and a
great portion near the Aux Sables
under water nearly all the year
In 1847 Isaac Carling arrived,
and seeing prospects in this part of
the country to make improvements,
erected a tannery and also started a
store. This was the beginning of
brighter days and prosperous ones
through Mr. Carling’s interest in the
village at largo. Mr. James Rickard
was also another man who came to
Exeter in 1842 and started a small
store * which gradually developed
into oho of the busiest places for
miles around.
direction from the centre.
18.33 Mr. and Mrs. McConnell
a shanty on the Usborne side
the “Rivier Aux Sables. This
chopped out, the London
the Canada Company. He
first sawmill in all that
country in the fall of 1S3 3
It was stated that when Mr.
got the shanty up and Mrs.
had come from London to
it, it being springtime, he re-
all the way to London to pur-
Mr. George McLeod was another
of the early settlers, coming here in
1843. Records say he was the oldest
free inason in the County of Huron,
Exeter had a Post Office at the early
date with William Sanders as first
postmaster and among the early
settlers. He originally came from
Exeter, England',, and was .one of the
earliest magistrates in the county,
The mail was carried from London
to Goderich by John Rattenburg,
•Exeter was. incorporated by spec-
ial act of the Ontarion Parliament in
the year 18'73, Isaac Carling being
its first reeve. W. H. Verity, John
Trick, Edward Drew and Jas. Pick
ard were councillors. Michael Eac’
rett was appointed clerk at the first
meeting and held office for over 25
years until his removal to Brantford
in 1898, Wharton Hodgson was
elected reeve in 1876 then Lanceion
Hardy for the next ten years, he be
ing the first warden from the village
During this period the London, Hur
on and Bruce railroad was built. It
was a great day for the village folk
when the first train passed through.
One is reminded of the children
played ’hooky’ from school that
to see the wonderful iron horse
Who were severely punished,
market also was erected that year,
that land and also the land for the
railroad station and buildings being
presented to the village by Mr, Car
ling.
The principal business part of the
village is on the old London Road
and extends one and one quarter
miles from the south end of
town to the old village of Frances
town, the post office
ed Hay 'Post Office,
companies belong to
ing the hand pump
business houses comprise 7 general
stores, 3 hardwares, 6 groceries, 2
drug, >2 book, 2 jewelry, 5 boot and
shoe, 3 tin and stove, 4 furniture, 6
harness, 4 merchant tailors, several
millinery stores, 6 hotels, 2 liveries,
liquor store, several barbers, but
chers, bakers, confectionery shops,
music store, two photographers, 2 f
lawyers, 6 doctors, 2 chartered banks
1 private bank, 2 post offices, 2 tele
graph offices, weekly paper, - public
school, 5 churches, (Methodist, Epi
scopalian, Bible Christian, Presby
terian and Roman Catholic), 2 large
grist and flour mills, 2 planing mills,
steam hub and bending factory,
foundry and agricultural implement
factory, woolen mill, flax mill, 2
cooperages, steam sawmill, 5 wagon
and carriage factories, and a large
number of blacksmith shops. The
sawmills were situated one west of
the railroad bridge and the other
just east. Next to it to the east was
a woollen mill owned by Mr. Kilpat
rick. Later there was a woollen mill
and a grist mill erected where the
pumping plant now stands. At that
time the dam was much higher and
the river was an attraction to rowing
and skating. There were no rinks
until years later.
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now being call-
Two good fire
the village, be-
pattern. The
Western .Ontario and the facilities it
offers for shipping taken in connect
ion with the really magnificent
stretch of country by which it is sur
rounded on all sides have already se
cured for it a local ascendancy which
ir, seems bound not only to maintain
but to increase. It is natural and ac
quired advantages promoted by the
enterprise of a most public-spirited
class of citizens, stands Exeter in
good stead as the present nucleus of
a future good commercial centre.
The population of Exeter in 1877
•was 1,452 and in 1927 about 1,500,
an increase of nearly fifty in 5d
years. Exeter has seen many chang- ( heard of, leaving no living relatives
es. The population about the year ( and bis end remains among the mys-
1890 was almost 2000, but decreased\ teries which will sleep until the
after the Verity foundry moved to' resurection.
Brantford, taking with them thirty
families.
At the present time we have what Case and his ten sons from County
I
borne were on the London Road
north of Exeter, the former being
the Presbyterian church at Roger-
ville and the latter the old log school
erected at Francestown in 1838, In
this latter Thomas Taylor was the
first teacher. This gentleman was a
character in his way. He was sent
from England purposely to teach
this school. He was an old bachelor
and very eccentric. His residence
was the old log schoolhouse where
he taught the young ideas during
the day and attended domestic dut
ies at all other times. He subsequent
ly disappeared and was never more
no living relatives
The earliest settlers towards the
north of the township were Thomas
offices in pro-
and business
I might name
Saskatchewan,
practiced medicine here for over
fifty years died only a few weeks
ago. Many of our boys and girls
whose early education was begun
here are now out in the world where
they are holding high
fessional, educational
life in the country. .
Judge Martin, o f
Prof. Currely and many others,
■Our public school was built over
fifty years ago, Some of the seats are
the same as were used then.
>Our town has kept pace with other
places in the matter of roads, our
Main street being among the first in
the county to be paved in 1920'. Our
town hall was built about 1887 and
while we as Institute women stand
for progress, we would like to see
our community with a building that
could be used not just occasionally
, but as a place where our people
is considei ed one of the prettiest and "Wicklow, Ireland, who settled about could hold community gatherings cleanest villages in Western Ontaiio.l three miles north of Exeter in the I T,vitli rooms fitted up for banquets,
concerts etc. Why not boost and
work for such a place at this meet
ing typifies most of our progressive
men and women? Where there’s un
ion there’s strength, so let us work
together for the building up of our
community life.
The old trails along the river bank spring of 183 6. One of the sons, I
and Riverside Park and Victoria1 John, had come out in 1834, taking
Park and in fact there are beauty up land and subsequently returning
to Ireland where he induced the
whole family to return with him. On
more than one occasion the Case
brothers have been aroused from
spots in any part of the village. One
of the reminders of the old days has
been silent for nearly a year and is
sadly missed by the older boys and
girls. It is the old town bell, which their’beds to yoke up their oxen and
has been rung for many years and as
in Hamilton this Jubilee, the old
boys and girls of 6 0 years ago were
called to their old school by the
ringing of the old bell, which had
been removed when improvements
were made. For the occasion it was
put back in place and rung again as
in the early days. It was a cheerful:
note to some while others did
care to hear it. (The ringing of
bell has since been resumed).
v___ ____ a. tannery then I The one great drawback to
stood where Mr. Elliott’s house is.' community life here is the lack of
The first churches were built at the a suitable building to hold public
north end of town. The Wesleyan and social gatherings, but we are
Methodist” church was built on the hoping that something may be done
south-west bank of the river, the about this in the near future,
meetings being held in part of a’ In looking over the sketch of the
boarding house. Later the Main Township of Usborne we noticed
Street church was built and burned that the first wagon in the settle
down about 46 years ago, being re
placed by the present one. The Bible
Christian church amalgamated with
the IMethodist about 5 5 years ago
and the Church of England stood on
the corner just one block west from
where the arena now stands. It was
later moved .and remained there un-!1843>
not
the
our
1 ment was as great a curiosity as the
seven wonders. It was owned by the
Case family who also owned the first
pair of horses in the township. Oxen
and jumpers were the only means of
travel for many years. Municipal
history of the township begins in
at which time Stephen and
til torn down a number of years ago. Hay were united in Usborne. In 1843
There were three hotels between( William Sanders, William Wilson,
here and Centralia and six in the mid James Balkwill were wardens
village The first school for young and Hugh Balkwill was clerk. From
children was held in the house which I the minutes of the township meet-
is now used as a residence behind lnS of that year held in Stephen
the grist mill on. Main street. Bothj s(,,koolhOuse we extract the following
boys and girls attended. This __ 7
the property of Mr. Elston and.e^ by Hugh Balkwill that no dogs
‘Granny’ Elston, the teacher, __
great-grandmother to Mr. Pickard, > that the second offence be 5 shillings
our present town clerk. The children currency. Carried. We could see no
were taught to read, write, knit, I records of any dogs having been sub
crochet and tat. Boys could knit I sequently fined under the operation
and tat as Well as the girls. Parents I of this by-law which shows that the
paid a penny a day for each pupil, the dogs in those days minded their
Later school was held in another! F’sjtnd Q’s.
house for more advanced training.
This was where L. J. Penhale's resi
dence now stands and later the pres
ent school was built and has grown
until we have our present school and
fine staff of teachers. The Presby
terian church was built north of the
river on the hill and was later pur
chased by Mr. Phillips, a lawyer liv
ing here, and used as a Catholic
Church. When the present Presby
terian church was built, the church
Was again sold and moved to the
farm property just north-east of the
gas station and used as a barn. It
was toim down a few years ago.
The buildings are of exceptionally
good Class for a place of this stae,
being1 such as would be an ornament
to any of our best cities of 10,000
inhabitants. Exeter is the seat of the
Fifth Divison ’Court of the County of
Huron, of which Thomas Trivitt is
Clerk. His old residence is now the
modern home of L Pedlar,
Exeter was admittedly one of the
best grain and produce markets la
was' Moved by William Balkwill, second-
was'do come to divine worship and
pull horses and rigs of the London-
Goderich mail coach out of the al
most bottomless mud holes, which
occurred between the long stretches
of corduroy. The first of the coaches
was driven by William Geary and
the way he handled the ribbons of
four-in-hand was said to be a won
der even to the Jehu profession.
Michael Eacrett with his wife and
seven sons and one daughter also
came out from Ireland in the year
18153 and he died the following year.
He purchased 100 acres of land not
far from the Case homestead where
his grandson, Robert Eacrett still
resides, the farm being named Vic
toria Park farm. The bodies of a
number of these pioneers rest in the
beautiful little cemetery at Roger-
ville, now a part of the Hensail Un
ion cemetery.
We notice among the first names
of the births recorded in the village
the name of.a
of town, tne
whose parents
early settlers.
R. IN. Creech and Ed. Dignan,
former husiness man
late Saxon Fitton,
were also among the
Among others were
, We
must not forget Dr. Browning, who
..... ' ... i
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THE TIMES-ADVOCATE
Kills Many a Romance
The lives of many young people are made miser
able by the breaking out of pimples, and you probably
know of cases where a promising romance lias been
spoiled by those red, white, festering and pus filled
sores on the face.
The trouble is not so much physical pain, but the
mental suffering caused by the embarrassing disfigurement which very
often makes the sufferer ashamed to go out in company.
The quickest way to get rid of pimples is to improve the general health
by a thorough cleansing of the blood. <■
Burdock Blood Bitters helps to cleanse the blood and with the blood
cleansed the complexion should clear up.
Tho T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont.The first church and school in Us-