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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1954-03-17, Page 1Subscriptions $2,50 per year, 6c per copy —BHjM— ALONG THE MAIN DRAG By The Pedestrian FAITH AND BEGORRA!—Today’s j the day for the wearing of the green, j While green hats, ties, ribbons, socks and greeting cards look nice on this 17th day of March, the nicest sight j in our humble opinion would be a patch of nice, bright, beautiful green | grass. ‘0-0-0 AQUATIC VIEW—When the county ( jg courthouse burned down in Goderich,! Clinton was quick to jump in and || ask that the location be changed to; Clinton. Sihbe then Bayfield and a' b couple of other places have put in bids for the honor. Latest suggestion is that Wingham should offer a choice location on the prairie for the new court house. Should be no prob­ lem to get water there. 0-0-0 DELAYED THANKS—Members of the Wingham Figure Skating Club have asked us to thank all those who contributed in any way to this year’s “Holiday on Ice’L We do, herewith. 0-0-0 FARTHER AFIELD—The . Wing­ ham Midgets are gqing farther afield next week—to Port Perry, in- fact. Anybody who would like to tag along, (bringing a car, of course) is more than welcome. Contact Manager Bill Conron if you’d like to get in on the fun. 0-0-0 BIT OF A BORE—Fishing enthusi­ asts and those who were heralding spring, a month ago are getting a bit tired of the long wait. Seems the spring .breezes must have got lost somewhere along the way. Meteor- ogical experts note that whenever the forecast is cloudy in the Lake Huron area, Wingham ends up being delug­ ed with snow. ENGAGEMENT. Mr. and Mrs. William Latronica of Molesworth, Ontario, wish to an­ nounce the engagement of their dau­ ghter, Laura May, to Mr. William Wesley Harrison, son of Mr. ahd Mrs. William Harrison, of Gorrie, Ontario. The wedding will .take place the latter part of March. F17* DIAMOND WEDDING Mr.-and Mrs; Erp^t, K^ng^wi.11 "At Home” to their friends from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon and from 8 to 10 o’clock in the evening, on the occasion of their (60th) sixtieth wed- , ing anniversary on Saturday, March '.20th, at the home of their son, Wil- .ford King, Gorrie.F17b PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE AT WROXETER The Howick Lions Club will hold a progressive euchre on Friday evening, March 19th, at 8.30 in the Masonic cents. F17* dub rooms. Admission 25 Ladies please bring lunch. ST. PATRICK’S EUCHRE PARTY At Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Wing­ ham, Wednesday, March z 17th, at 8.30 p.m. Lunch served, good prizes, admission 35c. Everyone welcome, sponsored by the H. N. Society.F17* WHITECHURCH EUCHRE The' Whitechurch Women’s Institute is holding a euchre in Whitechurch hall, Friday, March 19th, at 8.30 p.m. Gents 50c, ladies with lunch Everyone welcome. free. F17b ST. PATRICK’S DANCE Dance to be held in the Blue vale. Community Hall, March 17th (tonight) to the music of Don Bobertson and the Rancht Boys. Admission at popu­ lar prices. Sponsored by Wingham Oddfellows. A lunch booth will be in the hall. Proceeds for C.P.T.- Fund.- ■ F17b BAKE SALE . > . . The Catholic Women’s League is holding a sale of home baking in the council chamber, on Saturday, March 27th, at 2.30 p.m. F17b NOTICE To the people of Morris, Grey and Turnberry Township, I will be calling on you in the near future to represent “The Fuller Brush” products. Jack Pym F17* TEA AND BAKE SALE The Ladies’ Aid of St.’ Andrew’s , Presbyterian Church'are holding a tea and sale of baking in the Sunday School room of the church, at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, March 17th. F10:17b CONCERT AND DANCE The Kansas Farmer and his enter­ tainers Will present their annual'.con­ cert and dance' in Brussels Town Hall, Friday evening, March 19, also March 22, auspices of Lions Club band. Ad­ mission, children 25c, adults, 50c, (includes concert and dance)• F10.17b NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS Dog taxes are now due. Tags may be procured at the office of the Chief of Police Or at the town clerk’s office. < 7 With which is amalgamated the Gorrie Vidette and Wroxeter News WINGHAM, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1954 No School Today! ■ the nine o’clock bell, causing damage estimated over $40,000 to the 50-year old schoolhouse.5 Children in the school escaped to safety, but some' of them had to leave coats and. rubbers behind. —Staff Photo. Children of' the Wroxeter- Public School watch the efforts of the Wingham Fire Brigade as they try in vain to combat the flames enveloping the schoolhouse. The fire, of unknown origin, broke out shortly after k v .'/i • Pupils Reach Safety as Fire Razes Public School Building at Wroxeter The Wroxeter Public School was completely gutted by fire on Monday, when a blaze of undetermined origin broke out in the basement, and within two hours left only the bare walls standing. Fifty-six pupils and two teachers escaped from the flames and smoke,, which enveloped the 50-year old building shortly after nine o’clock on Monday morning. Damage has been estimated at between $40,000 and $100,000. With only one line of hose, fed from the Maitland River several hun­ dred yards away, firemen were handi­ capped in their struggle with the flames. The Wingham and district fire truck, which normally carries enough water in its tanks for twenty minutes, had just returned from an­ other fire in Lower Wingham, and in any case was unable to get close to the burning school because of a school yard covered with snow. It as evident that the fire was well under way by the time the Wingham fire depart- One hundred and scribers attended the meeting held by the Wroxeter Tele­ phone Company in the town hall on >^r|d|iy.aftgrnopp.>iQyv;ing to. the recent, ice storm,’the worst in the history of the company, immediate action had to be taken. Knowlston Hueston was ap­ pointed ' chairman, arid by show of hands at least five to one were in favour of rebuilding the line. On a motion that for each telephone sub­ scribers would pay $15.00,'122 voted in favour, 44 against, and before the meeting closed $1,485.00 was paid to the secretary-treasurer for this pur­ pose. sixty-nine sub­ emergency Founded 1909 The history of Wroxeter Telephone Company dates back to February 1909, when a meeting was called at which Conrad Reese was chairman and the minutes signed by A. Munro. At that meeting a board of commissioners was appointed as follows: A. Munro, W. S. McKercher, Matthew Sanderson, Al­ bert Gallaher, T. R. Bennett, W. E. Vanvelsior and Peter September that same meeting was called and appointed president of T. R. Bennett vice- president, W. E. Vanvelsior, secretary-treasurer, Peter MacEwen, W. S. McKercher and Mat­ thew Sanderson, directors. These men went out' into the country vassed for funds to build Matthew Sanderson was the man and it is. interesting to he received $2.25 per day and provid­ ed his own transportation which was a horse and buggy. z R. J. Rann First Manager • In 1914 W. C. Hazelwood became secretary. For many years the yearly rent was $10.00 per year. Mr. R. J. Rann was the first manager of cen­ tra:! .and held that office for many years. Of all the men responsible for the building and maintaining of the line in,its early years only two are now living, Albert Gallaher and R. J. Rann. Officers who will have the task of re-building the line are: president, Charles Cathers; vice-president, Wil­ liam Dettman; directors, Gordon Rae, Gordon Gibson, Wilford King; secre­ tary-treasurer, John K. McTavish; lineman, Bruce Chambers, telephone office staff, Miss Annie MacNaughton, Mrs. George Westlake, Miss Hazel Sanderson. Farmers have shown their willing­ ness to co-operate in a very practical way. Last week dn different lines they repaired the damage enough to get at least part service, the lack of which must bring to the mind of every sub­ scriber the debt we owe the public spirited men of 1909. MacEwen. In year another A. Munro was the company, and can- the line, first line­ note that LOCAL WOMAN WINS STEAM IRON Mrs. Norman Shlell, Victoria St., WinghUm, was the lucky winner of a Westinghouse steam Iron on the Mo­ ther Parker’s radio program on Sat- Fl0:17b urday, March 6th. Wingham firemen had a busy morn­ ing on Monday. Just before the out­ break of the disastrous fire in the Wroxeter Public School, firemen were called to a blaze in the wood-working plant of Cecil Walpole in Lower Wing­ ham. Fire from the chimney pipe had ignited • the inside of the roof of the plant, but prompt efforts of the fire department quickly got the blaze under control and saved the wooden building from destruction. Firemen got their water supply from beside the house, Some difficulty was experienced in combating the blaze between the rafters. The loss is ex­ pected to run into several hundred dollars. DRAMA FESTIVAL SHAPING UP The dates for the local one-act drama festival have now been defin­ itely set. They are Thursday and Fri­ day, April 1st. and: 2nd. Casting has been completed for ,the three plays, and they are now in.jrehearsal a num­ ber of nights each^^Tek’tatl th^L^Wft! hall. The three plays chosen are of three different types. There comedy, “j sented by the edy, "Sunday Costs Five Pesos”, by the Kinette drama, "The by the Presbyterian Young People. The three directors are Margaret Brophy, Lillian Overend and Vin pittmer. An adjudicator to decide the winner of the Lions trophy is being arranged for. -Tickets are available from any members of the three organizations. Mils. Reg Mills of the Kinettes is in charge of the ticket sales. WROXETER PUPILS WILL ATTEND FORDWICH SCHOOL The fifty-six pupils of the Wroxeter Public School will have only a short holiday as a result of the fire which destroyed their school on Monday. At a meeting of the Wroxeter Pub­ lic School board yesterday aftex’noon, it was decided that the pupils of the school would be transported by bus to Fordwich, where accommodation exists in the public school for two extra classrooms. The transfer will be effected as soon as transportation can be arranged. Previously there had been consider­ ation given to the idea of using the basement of the United Church in Wroxeter or the rooms of the Masonic Lodge, both of which were offered to the school board as a' temporary accommodation while a new school is being built. At their meeting yester­ day the school board thought that the arrangement with Fordwich would be better for all concerned. The Fordwich school was at one time a continuation school, similar to the Wroxeter building which was burned. It has more accommodation than is needed* for the public school children now in attendance. Plans were also discussed at the meeting for the building of a new school in Wroxeter and results of the discussion will be made public al; a later date. ‘ all members of the school board as well as School Inspector J. M. Game. on OPEN HOUSE HELD AT PUBLIC SCHOOL Many parents and others interested in education in this community, were present at the Wingham Public School on Friday afternoon from three to four o’clock, for Open House, i'n con­ nection with Education Week. Those who attended were free to visit all grades, and particularly those which their own children attend. This annual visit to the school provides an opportonity for parents to meet the teachers arid discuss the school’s methods and any problems concern­ ing the children. Work done by the pupils was on display and the visitors showed in­ terest and enthusiasm in the present system, For some it was the first visit to the school since the new addition was erected last year and they found the verybright, cheerful atmosphere pleasant. Accident Victims Treated at Hospital Albert MacDonald, 54, of R.R.2, Bluevale, was treated in hospital last week for a fractured right clavicle, sustained in a fall from a stoneboat, while working in the bush. He was al­ lowed to go home after treatment. James Doig, eleven years old,, of Fordwich, Was admitted to hospital on Monday morning. He disclocated his kneecap while playing in the school yard. Mrs. Mary Seddon, 83, of Wingham, was admitted to hospital suffering from a fratcured wrist caused when she fell out of bed at her home oh Catherine Street. is a farce- 'Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow,” pre- CYO; a dramatic com- Club; and a serious Bishop’s Candlesticks” Trail Rangers to Build Model Boat The Trail Rangers commenced their meeting last week with trie usual opening ceremony. Mr. Heney read the Scripture and dues were collected and business discussed. Visitors at the meeting Campbell, Bobby Deyell Merkley. Following a lively game ball in the gymnasium, the boys re­ turned to the Sunday School room where Danny Stuckey gave an inter­ esting talk on the new model boat the Trail Rangers have purchased and have started to build. were Bill and John of basket- A delegation of teachers consisting of Frank Madill, Miss K. MacGregor and Bob Ritter were present at the regular meeting of the Wingham Dis­ trict High School Board last Wednes­ day, and presented an accumulative sick leave plan which they asked the board to institute for the benefit of the staff. Under the plan teachers would be allowed to accumulate up to 120 days sick leave at the rate of 5 days a year. At the present time 20 days sick leave are allowed per year, but are not accumulative. Mr. Madill, in presenting the plan, explained that it would be beneficial to the school as well as the teachers in that the board would find it easier to attract teachers to a school which has a sick leave plan in force. He also pointed out that there would be less turnover of staff if the plan were in force, and that attendance amongst teachers might be improved, since any time taken off cannot be accumulated. The board approved the new plan with the exception of one clause which stipulated that benefits would go to the teacher’s estate in the event of death before retiring, if no immed­ iate family survived. Discuss Hiring Board members discussed the hir­ ing of two new teachers to replace Mrs. Mary Williams and Miss Marg­ aret Nimmo, whose resignations are (Conitnued on Pago Six) Wingham Lions Midgets turned the trick again at the on Saturday night, behind a four-goal ond period, rifled in the last frame Nelson 6-4 on the game and 12-8 on the round. The Wingham youngsters now go into the Ontario Midget "C” play­ offs against Cannington with the first game to be played in Wingham on Saturday. The second game will .be played in Port Perry on Tuesday, with the third game, still undetermined. on foot to bring the teams back to Wingham for the third game, but de­ finite word has not yet been received. Fifth Straight Win Saturday’s victory represents the local boys’ fifth straight win in the playoffs. Starting in the best-of- three series with Kincardine, the lo­ cals tied the first game, won the sec­ ond, lost the third and came back to a victory in the sudden death game that wound up the series. This was followed by two straight victories over the Seaforth Midgets, ending with Wingham four goals up, and a similar victory over the Port Nelson team, which, oddly enough, also end­ ed with a four-goal lead for the lo­ cals, Wingham Arena and coming from lead in the sec­ home four goals to trounce Port if necessary, A move is now No ‘ Strangers The Cannington team which the Midgets will meet this Saturday will be no strangers to the Wingham boys. Last year, with both teams playing as bantams, Wingham and Cannington tangled for the Ontario Bantam Championship, with Wing­ ham 17-11 In first capturing the title by-a score of . on the round. that home-ahd-home Series the game was played In Wingham, (Continued on Page Twelve) Meeting in the council chamber Friday evening, the Wingham Busi­ ness Association got down to real plans for the 75th Anniversary cele­ brations which will be held here on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, July 31, August 1st. and 2nd. Mayor DeWitt Miller was present and assured the association that the council is appreciative of the leader­ ship which is being given in this movement and that the council would provide financial backing to any ex­ tent within reason. The meeting was presided over by the president of the association, H. P. Carmichael, and Secretary Barry Wenger read the list of suggestions which had been received at The Ad­ vance-Times office up to that time. The public was asked several weeks ago to offer their suggestions, for pro­ gram for the three-day event. Consid­ erable discussion followed and several more worthwhile ideas were brought forward. In order to get into action as speed­ ily as possible committees were named to take charge of various aspects of the celebration, Since it: was/necessary to • name many •1 who were not ‘ present “the.names committed-members -will■ be withheld until their support has been confirmed. According to original plans the Business Association was to hold its annual Dollar Saving Days on dates which all but coincided with the Anni­ versary. After some discussion it was decided to advance the sales promot­ ion one week so that there would be no appearance of commercializing the anniversary. The new dates for the Dollar Saving Days are July 22, and 24. ment arrived on the scene. Started in Basement The fire is said to have started in the basement, A new furnace had been installed in the school last summer, and at the time of the fire a fan motor was reported to have been taken off the furnace to be repaired. Pupils of the school said there had been some smoke in the nails when school opened at nine o’clock. Princi­ pal Campbell Brown, of Gorrie, said that he had noticed the smoke, but thought at first it was due to the fact that the fan had been removed from the furnace, When the smoke continued to get worse ne ordered the children out of the building. Many of them left their coats and books be­ hind in their hasty exit. Almost all the school equipment was luost in the fire with the exception of the school register, which Mr. Brown managed to save. The book, cuontains records contains a record of government grants to the school board. Former Continuation School The five-room school was formerly used as a continuation school, and was taken over by the public school six years ago. Only two rooms were being used, the junior room, with Mrs. Mary Wearring as teacher, and the senior room, taught by Mr. Brown. The school was built in 1905,* and an addition was added in 1939* to the original building, at a cost of $7,000. Hold Emergency Meeting An emergency meeting of the Wrox­ eter Public School board was held in Wroxeter on Tuesday afternoon, to determine what course of action should be taken to accommodate the pupils of the school. ... 23 HOSPITAL BOARD TO CALL FOR TENDERS ON NEW WING SOON The possibility that the Wingham General Hospital board will be ing for tenders on the proposed 50-bed hospital wing within the couple of weeks was voiced week at a meeting of the hospital board on Friday night. It was un­ derstood- yesterday that one of the last obstacles to the construction of the wing had been removed and that the board is now ready to go ahead with plans for the new addition which have been in the making for the past two years. At Friday’s meeting, R, H. Lloyd, chairman of the building committee reported a meeting with Mr. Fair- field, of Fairfield and Roundthwaite to discuss costs on the new wing. Mr. Fairfield had previously been told by the board that money was not available out the plans as drawn, and asked to scale down the meet the amount of money at present within view. Can Cut Costs Subsequently the architects ed the board that they would to effect certain economies construction of the building which would bring the cost within the limits set by the board. The board had previously estimated that they could afford to spend approximately $500,000 on the new wing, including the boiler room and laundry rooip now under construction. H. C. MacLean, president of the board, said that there should be enough money in sight to cover the cost of the new building, on a basis of the revised plans of the architects, and the opinion was voiced by one of the board members that the board would be in a position to call for tenders “within the next ten days”, Hours hospital rules board at the the maternity call- new next last sufficient to carry had been plans to iftform- be able in the New Visiting A new group of 12 was approved by the meeting. Visitors to Please Turn to Page Seven , .IdrtilihwUiiuillduftaMM i LIONS CLUB HEARS OF BERMUDA TRIP Lion Barry Wenger was speaker at' held in the Hotel Brunswick on 'Fri­ day evening. Introduced by President Stewart Beattie, he recounted the more interesting highlights of a re­ cent trip to Bermuda by air. Apprecia­ tion was extended by secretary Bill Con r on. Second vice-president, Hugh Car­ michael presided for the major por­ tion of the meeting and guests were Tony Virag, of Waterford, .Bill Dick, of Toronto, L. M. Wedd, Wingham and Russell Hopper of Exeter. The Lions were reminded of an out­ standing evening on April 9, the oc­ casion being the annual ladies’ night. Speaker for this year is Lion Walter C. Fisher, past president of Lions In­ ternational. Members of other clubs in this district will also attend. The president reported a letter of thanks from a family in town which had been assisted by the club when one of the children was injured. Lion Hugh Carmichael gave a play- by-play account of the hockey game in Burlington on Thursday night when Wingham Lions Midgets defeated tha Port Nelson boys by a two-goal edge. Many of the members were unaware of the calibre of team the local boys are meeting in the Ontario semi-finals, for Port Nelson has remained unde­ feated all season. Lion Hugh urged every Lion to be in the Wingham Arena on Saturday night when Port Nelson plays the return engagement. The Wingham team is the one which won the All-On tario title last year as the Kinsmen Bantams and are still operating under Coach Vic Loughlean. Lion Frank Madill stated that the final results of the Christmas Seal Campaign had just come in and that already the letters and seals are ready to go out in the Easter Seal campaign for Crippled Children. Lion Whitney Grose said that ar­ rangements have been made to have the Planters peanut float and parade here on June 26th. Both music and fines for the even­ ing were, if anything, better than the usual high average. Tail Twister Tom Currie seemed to have a special meth­ od of encouraging the members to donate for all and sundry reasons. Harold V. Pym at the piano, with song leaders Jack McKibbon, Jack Reavie and Omar Haselgrove provided plenty of room for vocal activity and the highlight of the song session was a trio by Lions Russ Hopper, Tom Currie and “Doc” Irwin. HURON MLA RAPS “DANISH” LABEL Members of Ontario Legislature*^ agricultural committee today Criticized processors who sell Canadian bacon labelled "Danish”. 0. F. Villeheuvo (P.C. Glengarry) said the product is cured and should bo Tom Prydo (P.C. it was an attempt public*'. simply Danish- labelled ad such. Huron) charged th “mislead the .■ ....