Clinton News-Record, 1970-07-23, Page 1After 33' years in Clinton
Epps Sporting Goods sold
An era in Clinton ends this
week when Elwood Epps
begins a sale to dispose of
stock gathered over the
33-year history of Elwood
Epps Sporting Goods.
Elwood is selling his
Clinton business so he can
have more time to pursue the
hobby that lead his name to
be well-known around the
world to sportsmen. One of
the things he is most looking
forward to is the chance to
do a little hunting,
The sporting goods
business has been purchased
by Eric Collins and Phil
G e meinhardt who will
continue to operate it in the
same location.
But closing his Clinton
business does not mean that
Elwood is retiring. He will
still continue Elwood Epps
(Orillia) Ltd. on Highway 11,
north of Orillia and Elwood
Epps Guns Ltd., his
importing firm. He and his
wife' will continue to live in
Clinton.
More spare time will also
allow him to do more work in
another sideline, writing for
gun and hunting magazines in
Canada and the United
States. He sold his first article
in 1942 to the magazine Rod
and Gun in Canada and has
been asked to contribute
articles ever since.
Born in. Varna in 1909; he
went to school there and at
Clinton Collegiate. His father
operated a trucking firm and
for five years after finishing.
high school he worked on the
trucks.
Then it was off to the West
Indies where he worked for a
time before returning , to
Ontario where he took over
the Owen Sound end of his
firrri, -While in Owen
Soiind tie itiatried Kennena
McKay of Kincardine and a
year later he moved back to
Clinton where he managed his
father's transport business.
That is where the amazing
story of his growth and fame
began. In 1946 on the
opening of his present
building he told the story to
the News-Record.
"In 1937 I was looking
after my father's transport
Elwood Epps fondles a rifle and looks to times ahead when he
can find more time for his hobby, hunting. Starting Thursday,
a giant sale will dispose of the stock he has built up over 35
years in business here in Clinton. Behind him on the wall,
hangs the head of the first moose he ever shot. —staff photo.
,business. This left me a little -
spare time, and I was always
interested in guns, having 15
of my own at the time and a
few spare dollars to invest, I
brought the guns down and
slightly remodelled the office
we used for the transport and
bought a little sporting
equipment. This was
displayed on card tables and
the guns were hung on the '
wall.
Manufacturing companies to
buy direct, After some
trouble convincing them that
he was not just trying to
boost his profits but was
crested in helping other
dealers too by distributing to
them, he finally succeeded
with some and eventually was
accepted by most companies,
The hobby was becoming a -
busin ess, A travelling
salesman went on the road to
sell the products he
distributes. The showroom,
became a little small so it was
enlarged. Six or eight months
later it was too small again so
another enlargement was
made, After five such
enlargements he decided to
start from scratch' and built
the present store which
opened in June 1946.
Two things were important
in those days he said. One
was his treatment of
customers. He said he always
treated his customers as he
would like to be treated in
someoneelses store. Then too,
when things were moving
slowly in the late thirties and
early forties he began
advertising in gun magazines,
on the radio and in the
News-Record.
A year after he began
running the store he helped
organize the Clinton Rifle
Club which won many
provincial titles and he
himself won provincial and
national titles with rifle and
pistol.
In the late forties he
purchased equipment for
gunsmithing and hired a
smith to build guns. He
gained prominence in this
field when one of his guns
was used to shoot the first
buffalo in the first legal
buffalo hunt in Canada. He
constructed the whole rifle,
* even the shells.
All tnis activity haS 'Spread
the name Epps across the
continent and around the
world. Today he receives
orders from such places as
South Africa and New
Zealand.
But hunting is still his first
love and he and his wife who
is also an excellent hunter,
try to get away as much as
possible. Which may be more
often in the days ahead.
"I-purchased a few bicycles
and can well remember the'
first bicycle that was sold.
This was sold to' Jim
Lockwood and I can well
remember how tickled he was
and how' pleased we were at
the time."
In 1939 he found guns that
were not of the most
common type hard to get so
he tried to make
arrangements with
1,000 acres bought in Hullett project 25% of total
three elapprooMa and a.library at
Seaforth to accommodate the
McKillop students would be
financed 1,00 percent by the
department, Any other move
made without department
consent, could be costly at this
time.
One McKillop resident asked
the board to consider the. Walton
situation at the same time as it is
deliberating about the McKillop
problem.
"Walton deserves equal
education," he stressed, "They
have every right to ask for it,"
Elliott said it was his belief
that the department was
endeavoring first to phaSe out
all the one-room schools in the
province and then work'toward
(Continued on page 2)
Weather
1970 '1969
HI LO HI LO
July 14 83 61 84 53
15 83 70 88 57
16 78 58 89 67
17 82 55 83 69
18 74 58 76 63
19 70 57 83 57
20 69 55 83 58
Rain 2.42" Rain Nil
Mrs. Larry Wesenberg of Seaforth was the winner of $500 at the giant Fish and Game Bingo held
last week. She plans to use• the money to buy a freezer. Seen with her are George Wise, President
of the Huron Fish and Game Conservation Association', (left) and Bryan Marriage who organized
the bingo. —staff photo.
There's a tot Of talk this summer about the number of students unemployed but not so for young
Peter Anstett, son of Mr. and Mrs, John Anstett of Clinton. brr Tuesday of this week the seven
year Old was very busy running his own business selling jewellry in ftont of his fathers store. —Staff
photo.
Clinton ecord
05th Y E AR No. :17,), CLINTON, ONTAT-11Q• 211:970 p IC pg13 COPY 159.
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,.he first.
column
Survey shows majority of McKillop
parents favour school union.
Next week is Farm Safety
eek and to bring farm and
ome safety to the forefront,
he Huron County Farm Safety
d Huron County Junior
Farmers are sponsoring' two
safety nights. The program will
commence with a safety film, a
talk by the County Coroner, Dr.
R. W. Flowers and a
demonstration put on by the
Ontario Farm Safety Council of
the Uniyersity of Guelph,
The first will be held in Huron
Centennial School, Brucefield on
Monday, July 27 and the second
at Belgrave Public School,
Thursday, July 30. Both
meetings will commence at 8:30
pm.
* * *
Until this spring, no golfer
had scored a hole-in-one at the
Bayfield Bluewater Golf. Club.
For five years. .
Then, on July 2, Ralph Nevill
of Goderich aced the 134-yard,
par-three third hole at ' the
course.
After .a five year famine it
didn't take long for the next ace.
On Saturday Frank Cummings
of Clinton achieved the same
feat on the same hole.
Both men used five irons.
Both used the same brand
golfball and will receive an
award from the company that
made them and another award
from a softdrink company.
For Frank it wasn't a new
experience. He also aced a hole
back in 1962 on the same
course.
* * *
We feel this is no time to
discuss our editor's escapades on
the golf course last week.
* * *
Town council decided its
meeting last week to install a
new firehydrant on Huron Street
near the Elm Haven Motor Hotel
after receiving a letter from W.
G. Fleischauer of the motel, Mr.
Fleischauer pOinted out that a
hydrant Within 500 feet of his
eiitiibliShinent would greatlY
reduce the cost of his fire
insurance, He also pointed out
that a water line ran through the
area at a suitable distance at
present, and that installation
should be relatively inexpensive,
* * *
Design for Development —
The Midwestern Region Phase 1,
the government's grand scheme
for our area will be unveiled
next Monday at the Twin Gables
Hotel in Listowel at 8:30 p.m.
The News-Record will
attempt to give as full coverage
as possible to the new plan. We
urge you to read everything you
can in weekly and daily
newspapers after it is released.
Your future and the future of
your town and county depend
on what the plan says. Learn as ,
much about it as you can and be
prepared to voice any opinions
you may have on the subject.
In the past we have acquired
many gifts from the Ontario
government that we didn't really
want, because we sat quietly by
and let these things go into law.
This time let's be prepared, If
there is something you don't like
in the plan, let it be known. If
you like it, let that be known
too. But don't just sit on your
hands and bitch after it goes
through.
* * *
Another plan, of more
immediate interest will also be
coming up for public
consideration soon.
The Planning Act for Clinton
has been given preliminary
reading by town council and will
come before a public meeting
later this year. No official date
for the meeting has been
announced but we understand it
Will be in late August or early
September.
When the subdivision control
by-law pasted earlier this year,
there were virtually no questions
asked by the public about what
it would mean. We hope there
will be a little more interest in
this by-law,
* * *
All right, for those of you
who mush know how our hero
did at the golf tournament
Weekly newspapermen in
Goderich last week here are the
gorey details, S last btit
he was much closero to that end
of the list then the othet,
but he did come out ahead in
one area. fle started out 'with
three bank lost thoSe but found
three others and ended up
coming home with One ball.
Well, that's par tot the course,
To date over 1,000 acres of
the future Hullett Public
Hunting Area have been
purchased, representing
approximately 20 per cent of
the total area to be acquired,
according to the Ontario
Department , of Lands and
Forests,
Property officers from the
Department of Public Works are
negotiating future land
purchases which are to be
phased over several years.
Meanwhile, plans for
development of the future
public hunting area are
underway.
R.N. Alexander of
Londesboro was awarded the
Robertson Associate Award by
the Canadian Seed Growers'
Association at their annual
meeting at London on July 11.
A graduate of the Ontario
Agriculture College Extension
Course in 1937, farmer, seed
grower and operator of his own
seed cleaning plant, Mr.
Alexander has served agriculture
and the farmers in his area for
the past 21 years.
Ile became a member of The
Canadian Seed Growers'
Association in 1950, specializing
in the production of barley,
wheat, Century peas, and Climax
timothy.
lie is Past President of the"
Huron County- Soil and Cu*
Improvement Atsociation and
was an exhibitor at the Royal
Winter Pair, a Director old
Hullett Township Pederittiot of
Agriculture, and a 4.14 Club
Leader, He soved at a Public
gchool Trustee and is en titter in
the Londesboro United Churth.
The itObettson Associate'
award is the highest award to
A dam on the South Maitland
River will impound a maximum
of 13,820 acre-feet of water
when built. It is expected that
downstream users can benefit
from the storage reservoir,
especially during times of
extreme drought. Water depths
will be from 12 and 30 inches
over a large proportion of the
management area. Waterfowl are
best managed when water levels
are within this range.
Islands will be constructed
throughout the future wetland
in order to provide ideal nesting
sites for waterfowl. Nesting
boxes for wood ducks will be
erected. A goose enclosure will
any member of the Association.
In commemoration of the late J.
W. Robertson LLD, founder of
R. N. ALEXANDER
The Canadian geed Growers'
Association, the labhertseti
Associate award is made to
members who are Or Who have
been regular members producing
Pedigreed Seed Stedk and' who
have rendered distinguished
service to the Aasotiation,
be created to hold the captive
breeding flock of Giant Canada
Geese which will form the
nucleus of a future breeding
population on the area. Parking
lots will be built at strategic
locations.
The public hunting area
should not be regarded as a
sanctuary, but a refuge will be
an important component;
neither should it be considered
as a hunting area exclusively
since other forms of recreational
BY WILMA OKE
Dobson Roofing Ltd„ Exeter,
was awarded the contract by the
Huron-Perth Roman Catholic
Separate School Board at a
meeting in Seaforth Monday
night, for repairs to the roofs of
St. James School, Seaforth, and
St, Aloysius School, Stratford,
at a cost of $7346.00. The firm
is also to make minor repairs to
the roofs of St. Boniface School,
Zurich, and St, Patrieks School,
Dublin. The Dobson tender was
the lowest of three tenders.
Friss Painting and Decorating,
Stratford, was awarded the
contract for painting the
exterior of St. Aloysius School,
St. Ambrose School and St.
Michael's Scheel, and the
basement of ImMaculate
Conception School, all of
Stratford, at a total cost of
$180000, This was the lowest of
three tenders.
Trustee John McCain, R.R.3,
Anse Craig, is to get three
tenders to paint three
classrooms, a hallway and a
Washroom at Out Lady of
Mount Carmel School, R.R. 3,
DashwOOd, With the Building
and Maintenance Committee
authorized to accept the lowest
tender.
The new windows at Ste,
Marie' School, Si. Joseph, are to
activity such as bird watching
will be encouraged; and, it
should not be considered an
economic liability to the
township, since it will help to
generate revenues to local
residents in a number of ways.'
The program will increase
wildlife populations in the area,
will provide better hunting and
other recreational. pursuits and
will use land to its fullest on a
multiple-use basis.
be delivered by August land are
to be installed by August 15, by
Fentiman Windows, Toronto.
The Board appointed TruStees
Arthur Haid, R.R. 4, Listowel,
and Howard Shantz, Stratford,
to represent the Huron-Perth
Board at a combined meeting
with two representatives of the
Perth Board of Education on a
discussion on transportation for
Perth County students,
The City of Stratford is to be
advised that the Separate schools
in Stratford may be used as
polling places for the municipal
election on December 7, in reply
(Continued on page 2)
Money stolen
from purse
BY MRS. MAUbE HEDDEN
Mrs. Anti Ross, owner of the
5 cent'—$1. Variety Store On
Main Street in flensail had
between $70 and $80 stolen'
ftom her purse on the weekend.
Two men Walked into the
store and while she waited on
one near the front, the other
apparently opened her mate at
the teat of the dere and
removed the money.
Constable E C. WilcOX Of the
txeter Ontario Provincial Pence
is investigating.
R. N. Alexander wins award
Separate board awards contract
BY SHIRLEY J, KELLER
About 65 McKillop township
ratepayers, a large percentage of
them parents with children
attending elementary schools in
McKillop, attended Monday
evening's meeting of the Huron
County Board of Education to
voice concern for the
educational future of, the
children in McKillop.
Although the delegation's
spokesman, Art Bolton, claimed
that the group present
represented the segment of
c K illop ratepayers who
favored joining with Seaforth
Public School for, educational
purposes, it was evident there
was some discord within the
group.
While no one in the group was
opposed to closing the
township's six one-room schools,
there was disagreement about
the type of facilities which
would be best for McKillop
youngsters.
Results of an incomplete
survey taken in McKillop
recently showed that out of 130
homes visited, 91 families were
in favor of the McKillop-Sea-
forth union.
Board chairman John Lavis
learned that '130 homes '
represented about 'two-thirds of
the total number, and after some
quick mental arithmetic
estimated that 91 signatures
showed that about half the
McKillop ratepayers favored the
union.
Bolton explained that if the
entire township had been
surveyed, the results would be
much more favorable. He
suggested that a full canvass
should be completed if
signatures were the determining
guide for the board's decisioo
about McKillop schools.
Board member Dan Murphy
told the delegation it had to be a
board decision and that, to a
certain extent, the board was
bound by the dictates of the
Ontario Department of
Education in this matter.
One McKillop ratepayer
suggested that it would possibly
he more satisfactory to "leave
things the way they are for a
year or so" until it is clear what
the best solution will be.
"If we're making a change,
make a right move," he
cautioned.
Vice-chairman Robert Elliott
noted that it had been the
experience of some board's that
if changes were not made when
they were approved by the
department, they were very
difficult to achieve at a later
date. He said that an addition of