The Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-06-29, Page 72Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 29, 1983—Page 20b
Lucknow's History by Robert Graham...
• from page 19b
Although by birth a Yankee son.
The Rookledges then, Frank and Tom,
Kept the hotel and best of rum,
Bill Henderson and Uncle Dan
Gave cheer and joy to every man.
First teacher here, one Middleton,
The scholars chased and made him run;
MacCrimmon then from Glengarry,
With law and order gained the day,
A stalwart, noble Highland Scot,
That into order school he brought,
And prospered then the public school,
By wisdom of MacCrimmon's rule.
Of oldest yet, D. Murchison,
That lightly walk the streets upon
And ever ready with a joke,
To tell of days the forest woke.
Remember well the spring and fall,
With new made books did frequent call.
The doctors first were Garnier John,
That now some years are dead and gone,
And left behind his pedigree,
By which his name remembered be.
And Tennant came soon after him,
Of stature tall and rather slim,
All the profession seemed to scan,
A jolly, cheerful, pleasant man.
But first of all that come to town
Were a MacTavish with his hound,
With dog and gun would hunt the stag,
And set James Webster's 'broken leg.
Now all of them have away,
Residing here of early day.
Remembering well old Bill MacCall,
Tobacco mouth then called by all.
The chairs and tables he had made,
For that was said to his trade.
No lumber then could buy or see,
For want of it he hewed the tree,
Of saw and axe such tools he found,
To smooth the chair and table round.
Of coffins made then quite a few,
With lampblack painted fresh and new,
Then polished oak and silver plate,
In early days was out of date.
Sandy Murray and Trel-a-ven,
The codfish sold to Highland men.
From Erin's shores then did appear,
The Boyles, the Flynns, and Patrick Clare,
With the "Tip Jim", and Jim the Tip,
That row and ruction never slip.
Pat O'Rorke, with Mike and Jerry,
Had oft got drunk on Miller's sherry.
Brian MacCabe, old Ireland's son,
From a straight fight would never run.
Then many a race through logs and brush,
The boys and men all speed would rush,
Through swamp and creek where bullfrog
swim.
And pay the drinks, the last one in.
Athletic games were practiced then,
By Highlander and Irishmen,
When blood was heated out and in,
A fight for fun would then begin.
And oft then on the public street,
When Dan and Mick would chance to meet,
Which off each one the shirt he tore,
Seldom a coat had any wore.
A ruction then seemed the delight,
To witness an approaching fight;
When battle won by Mike or Dan,
The drink went free to every man,
Then whiskey drank to ease the pain,
And all were drunk soon then again,
Some that in bush lay over night,
To wander home in broad daylight,
Then tender hands the wounds would dress.
A bandage round the bleeding press,
To ease the pain, keep out the cold,
Around the cut would neatly fold,
With handkerchief around the skull.
Of red design, the fighting rule.
And next day or soon thereafter,
That to fight again would barter,
Defying foe then far and near,
When whiskey did their spirit cheer.
That all deemed then the best of fun,
And from a fight would never run,
Of Mike and Dan, both very good,
While that companions by them stood,
Of early days the fight and war
Had left behind its living scar.
While jumping them by men and boys
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE PEOPLE OF
LUCKNOW
ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR
125TH ANNIVERSARY
FROM MANAGEMENT & STAFF
Dar -Lyn Pools
728 Queen Street, Kincardine
396-3388
The modern athlete would surprise,
Of feet thirteen, one single jump,
That boys to -day would make to hump,
Back in the year of fifty-six
Three standing jumps was thirty-six.
Jack Tracydone the trick so neat,
Then backward sprang eleven feet.
Of jumpers that we know behold
Are far behind of those of old.
Then no Lacrosse played in the trees,
But baseball common as the bees.
Club then in use a big handspike,
That knocked the ball clean out of sight.
Perhaps many think I exaggerate,
Of facts that here to you relate,
If that you doubt, Jim Webster see,
Had it done at many a bee,
That west of village still reside,
The boundary line, on Kinloss side.
Whom that still hope alive and well,
Of bygone days delight to tell.
As boys those days were also men,
Killed bear and wolf in wood and glen,
Through summer's heat and winter's air,
Health gave them strength then everywhere.
Brave Highland men from Scotland's shore,
Their equal now we see no more,
To wilderness had made their way,
And in the forest often lay,
Where beast and Indian prowl'd around,
In camp and den, oft both had found,
The home had made where wolves had been,
While sun and moon but seldom seen.
So thick and dense were brush and trees,
That light could scarce peep through their
leaves,
There dwelt for years their humble cot.
On history's page can't be forgot;
Then fathers too, from Erin's Isle,
To west had come, then was the style,
Their home to make far in the west,
From rent and tithe to get a rest.
Then to the thick and gloomy bush,
With haste and courage onward rush,
Their hardship we of little know,
When tramping through the frost and snow.
Whose memory still admire and love,
For independence ever strove,
Of cheer and counsel gave each day,
When we were prone to go astray,
Which that no more their face we see,
That with the axe had fell the tree.
Their work yet see throughout the land,
Where house and barn conspicuous stand,
Once trees had grew upon the soil,
That fertile made by work and toil,
Their labor by the hand we cheer,
The working, brave, bold pioneer.
In eighteen and sixty-seventh year
A fire in Lucknow did appear,
Which started in Ralph Millen's shed,
By force of wind had quickly spread.
Twelve houses and believe some more,
Including Campbell's barn and store,
Across the street had made its way,
That goods and store in ashes lay,
The greatest that had Lucknow seen,
Before or since that's ever been.
The business part then of the town
Was laid in ashes on the ground,
And years then after by the shock
The merchants had been cramp'd for stock.
Then soon again of wood and stone
Erected more that better shone,
Then ever onward village grew,
With buildings high, complete and new,
And forward since had paved the way
In art and progress of to -day.
As last year Joynt and Anderson
Erected blocks that's number one.
None Netter elsewhere can be found,
Of towns and people that astound,
While that we roam upon the street,
The heart within begin to beat,
When think of time the chopping axe,
From morn till night did not relax.
The ringing chime, think hear it still,.
Which that the bosom ever thrill,
That of the sight still here admire,
Of beauty's garb, the towns desire.
In buildings rich that's high and gay,
The modern structures of to -day,
Their beauty that delight to see,
Turn to page 21b•
CONORATULATIONS
LUCKNOW
ON
JAMBOREE '83
HODGINS
BUIIIDALL
&SSC' LA
sires d
11 NORTH ST. E. WINGHAM
357-3650
STORE HOURS:
MON. - FRI. 7:30 - 5:30
SAT. 8:00 - 4:00
All male prices are cash and carry
Delivery available
THE BEST BUYS ARE AT HODGINS