The Wingham Advance-Times, 1966-10-20, Page 1ALONG THE MAIN DRAG
By The. Pedestrian
LOSS WAS ESTIMATED at $40,000 when fire destrZiyed
this large barn of Maurice Hallahan in East Wawanosh
Township on Friday.
—Advance-Times Photo.
Board of Directors Meets
Expect Original Hospital Building
Will Be Demolished by End of Month
bt iltrAvet
FIRST SECTION
Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Oct 20, 1966. Single Copy Not Over Fifteen :eves, I
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Business Assoc. Agrees on
Christmas . Shopping Hours
The Cubs of A and B packs
will meet at the Scout House
tonight (Thursday) at seven
o'clock for registration. Each
Cub is asked to take his regis-
tration fee of $1.50 with him.
New boys must be at least
eight years old. It may be
necessary to place new boys on
a waiting list but they should be
at the Scout House tonight to
give their names, addresses,
etc.
Apple Day is on Satutday,
October 22. There will be the
usual competition for the best
decorated besket,
The Wingham Business As,
sociation held its fall meeting
at Danny's Restaurant on Tues-
day evening and under the
chairmanship of President Lorne
McDonald a broad agenda was
discussed.
Chief topic was store hours
for the Christmas season and a
suggestion for a full day closing
instead of Wednesday half holi-
days as at present,
With only 1'7 business places
represented it was felt that a
proposal for Monday closing
should not be settled at the
meeting. Jack Hayes, who was
delegated with a committee
last March to look into the sug-
gestion, reported that he had
talked to a good many business
people from other centres where
Monday closing is in effect and
Cadets Again Win
Strathcona Award
Word was received by the
Wingham District High School
Cadet Corps that it has again
won the Strathcona Efficiency
Competition.
The Corps posted a mark of
86.7 per cent and led all
schools in its division, which
includes a wide area of Western
Ontario. In three other divis-
ions only London topped the
Wingham mark with a score of
90.
The Wingham boys held the
award for three consecutive
years, somewhat of a record,
but lost out in the 1965 compe-
tition.
MUD TALK--
That was about all we heard
on the main street last week --
stories about the mud at the
plowing match. The tales were
many and varied. Like the one
about the old gent with a full
beard that slipped and fell face
first in the mire. It sounded
funny and probably was to eve-
ryone except the victim.
0--0--0
CHURCH PARADE--
The firemen attended Wing-
ham United Church in a body
on Sunday morning. Fortunate-
ly there was no recurrence of
excitement such as their last
church parade, when they made
a hasty exit before the service
ended to respond to a fire call.
0-0-0
WET DAY FOR DRIVE--
The Cubs and Scouts who
worked at the paper drive on
Saturday got soaked to their
hides in the day-long downpour.
However they did collect a
sizeable shipment of paper --
about 11 tons, which will net
them roughly $60. Pickups
were in Belgrave, Bluevale and
Whitechurch as well as Wing-
ham.
0-0-0
APPLE DAY--
Don't forget to save your
loose change for the Boy Scouts
and Wolf Cubs who will con-
duct their annual Apple Day
next Saturday.
NIPPY MORNING--
This fall has been an un-
usually warm one. The first
destructive frost of the season
was apparent on Tuesday morn,
ing -- the first time this au-
tumn we have seen car owners
scraping their windshields.
0--0,-0
ANNUAL MEETING,-
Sports from all over the Wes-
tern Ontatio area will gather in
Winghani on Wednesday eft-
ning, nett week for the annual
Meeting of the W.O.A.A. The
town hall is the place arid the
meeting is seheduled for 8.30
p. m.
found the holiday is received
with mixed sentiment, lie said
he was not in a position to
make a recommendation, as
many stores felt Monday closing
Is bad, but grocery stores tend-
ed to like the day off,
This subject was left to the
executive who, as the result of
a motion, will prepare a ques-
tionnaire which will be distrib-
uted to all places of business in
the community. The question-
naire will determine whether or
not a majority of merchants are
in favour of the Wednesday half
holiday, Wednesday all-day
closing or Monday all-day clos-
ing. On the same question-
naire the merchants will be ask-
Fire gutted a 70 ft. square
barn of Maurice Hallahan in
East Wawanosh last Friday. The
blaze was discovered about
8.30 a.m. when Mr. Hallahan
was preparing to join his father,
Simon Hallahan, at the Inter-
national Plowing Match at Sea-
forth, and noticed smoke pour-
ing from the roof of the build-
ing. Fire could have also tak-
en the house, 100 feet away,
had the wind been blowing in
the right direction. A short in
the electrical wiring was be-
lieved to be the cause.
Twenty-two years ago, in
1944, the Hallahan family lost
the previous barn by fire.
Included in the loss, which
could run as high as $40, 000,
were an adjoining driving shed,
a large amount of baled hay,
3,000 bushels of grain, 175
chickens, a silo unloader, all
the milking equipment and a
separator.
In making his report to the
Wingham District High School
Board last Thursday evening,
Principal F. E. Madill announc-
ed that seven new scholarships
have been set up and will be
awarded for the first time on
Friday evening.
The list includes: Hospital
Auxiliary $100 (nursing); La-
dies' Auxiliary. Royal Canad-
ian Legion, Branch 180, $50.00
(child of a veteran); Fry &
Blackball Ltd. $25.00, (Grade
XII technical course); Western
Foundry Ltd. $25.00 (technic-
ian training); Ideal Supply Ltd.,
$25.00 (proficiency auto me-
chanics); Hodgins-McDonald
(Wingham) Ltd., $25.00, (pro-
ficiency woodworking); Dr. and
Mrs. P. Hemingway $25.00
(Linda Mahood Memorial prize).
The principal also presented
an enrolment analysis as of Sep-
tember 30th which showed 980
students on the roll with an av-
erage daily attendance for the
month of 942. The analysis
showed the number of students
in each grade and stream which
listed Grade IX as 291; Grade X,
265; Grade XI, 200; Grade XII,
164; Grade XIII, 60. It showed
67.3 per cent of the students
enrolled invocational courses.
proving the value of the new
system, the principal said.
Mr. Madill recommended
that tun curtains be obtained
for the three rooms of the 1959
wing facing north and this was
approved by the board. He al-
so reported that all agricultural
students who otherwise could
not have attended the plowing
match were taken by bus oe Oc-
tober 12.
The board approved a legal
school closing for November16
Fifty-three head of cattle
and 11 calves were out of the
building in an adjacent pasture
when fire broke out.
The Blyth volunteer fire de-
partment arrived within 15min-
utes and put out a call for a
tanker to the Wingham fire de-
partment.
Mr. Hallahan said he plans
to rebuild the barn and hopes to
have it completed before the
end of the year. He added that
insurance will cover half the
cost.
He was able to save about
2,000 bales of hay, enough to
last until the end of the year.
In the meantime, his cattle
will be housed in a neighbor's
barn.
The fire department was
called to the same farm again
in the afternoon when embers
ignited a milk house near the
site of the barn.
so that the staff can attend a
professional development con-
ference at Clinton.
A Grade IX parents' night
will be held on October 28.
Transportation chairman
Ross McRae reported on a meet-
ing his committee had held with
the bus operators. The need of
having busses stop at all railway
crossings was discussed at the
meeting and Mr. McRae said
that although legislation does
not require stops at protected
crossings, the board passed a
motion requiring busses to stop
at all crossings.
Mr. McRae, who also heads
the building committee, report-
ed that he and the principal had
been to Toronto to meet with
Department officials regarding
grants for the new addition. He
said their reception was favor-
able and further word on the
subject is expected shortly.
In the correspondence a let-
ter from the Fire Marshal's of-
fice indicated approval had been
given for building plans.
The board approved payment
of travelling expenses for staff
member Ed Anderson who has
been appointed as a counsellor
with the Association of Mathe-
matics Teachers.
The secretary reported that
a claim for a sales tax rebate
in the amount of $8,289 on the
last building program had been
forwarded to the Department of
National Revenue.
Mr. Cardiff, chairman of
the management committee,
reported that a number of ap-
plications had been received
for part time office help and
recommended hiring Mrs. Marg.
aret Underwood of Gorrie. The
board concurred.
Because of the lateness of
the season paving of the drive
will not be done until spring
and official opening of the new
building has been postponed un-
til spring as well.
Some trouble with the elec-
trical service had been experi-
enced. Fuses were blowing out
so frequently that an overload
condition was indicated. The
board therefore authorized a
change in the 208-volt service
from 300 to 400 amperes,
which should provide ample sup-
ply of power for the hospital.
Some complaints had been
received that rooms in the new
wing were not heating properly
and the architects and contrac-
tors agreed to investigate and
correct the trouble.
SEPT. FIGURES
The hospital administrator,
Mrs. I. E. Morrey, reported
that the daily average of pa-
tients for the month of Septem-
ber was 76. There were 186
admissions in the same period; '
170 discharges; 7 deaths; 110
operations; 350 x-rays; 52elec-
tro-cardiographic examinations;
77 .at cancer clinic; 212 physio-
therapy examinations; 1 coron-
Wingham firemen made an
inspection of business premises
on Josephine Street Friday night
and found the businessmen very
co-operative and keenly inter-
ested in fire prevention.
The inspection is made in
the interests of property owners
and the firemen are in some
cases able to make suggestions
to eliminate fire hazards.
The firemen are pleased to
report that the business street of
Wingham is in exceptionally
good condition and improve-
ments have been made since a
similar inspection was made a
few years ago, A report of the
findings is sent to the Fire Mar-
shal's Office.
Some of the minor faults
found on Friday were as follows:
Fuel oil barrels under out,
side exits from second floor
apartments, making the staff-
way useless in ease of fire.
Electric wiring and recep-
tacles loose; extension cords
used for long distances of over
steel beams, nails, etc.; fray-
ed wiring; outlets overloaded
er's report; 1 post mortem ex-
amination; 190 outpatients and
3155 laboratory tests.
It was also stated that the
new fence around the hospital's
parking lot on the east side of
Carling Terrace will be enclos-
ed by steel link fencing by the
Frosst company at the same
time that similar work is being
done at the public school.
A complaint that patients'
meals were arriving cold at the
bedsides was mentioned and
Mrs. Morrey said that inquiries
are being made at present in an
effort to secure some type of
insulated or heated carts which
will assure delivery of hot
meals to the patients. She ex-
pected this equipment would be
in use by the end of the year.
REBUILD ELEVATOR
Mr. Cousins reported that the
approximately $35, 000 requir-
ed for rebuilding the original
elevator in the hospital build-
ing had been approved by OHSC
and that both federal and pro-
vincial grants on this expendi-
ture had been increased by con-
siderable percentages. It is ex-
pected that the work will take
about 20 weeks for completion.
with octupus connectors.
One apartment hallway con-
taining oil drum between exit
and stairway leaving no escape
in case of fire except windows.
Cartons and refuse left under
stairways -- always a threat if
a cigarette or a match falls be-
low.
Furnace rooms and area
around furnace pipes used for
storage of wooden boxes, car-
tons and paper that make a
good place for a spark or hot
soot to ignite.
"These hazards may look in-
nocent enough at the present
time," reports Deputy-Chief
Dave Crothers, "but they could
create irreplaceable loss of
property, and perhaps lives.
With the excellent co-operation
of those concerned, these
threats will be eliminated."
The firemen remind citizens
that an inspection of residential
or business property will be
made at any time of the year at
the owner's request. Just call
Chief Jim Carr and he will see
that the inspection is made.
It should be done by May 1st.
Mrs. English said that the
Ladies' Auxiliary will hold their
semi-annual rummage sale on
Saturday of this week. She also
stated that the Auxiliary has es-
tablished an annual cash award
for a girl from Grade 13 of the
Wingham District High School
who enters registered nurses'
training, The award was won
this year by Jo-Anne King.
Mrs. Mdrrey also pointed out
that the tuck shop at the hospi-
tal, which is operated by the
Auxiliary, is providing a need-
ed service for the patients. It is
showing a good profit which will
be used for assistance in various
hospital projects.
She announced that the new
ambulances will be painted
white and green. The first of
these new vehicles is expected
shortly.
The report of the public re-
lations committee included the
information that Mrs. Morrey
had addressed the Wingham
Lions Club, where she outlined
the history of the hospital and
the changes and improvements
which are being completed at
the present time.
The board authorized an im-
mediate start on construction of
a garage to house the two am-
bulances. The structure will be
placed at the rear of the hospi-
tal building, adjacent to the
workshops and the work will be
done by the hospital's engineer-
ing staff, with the assistance of
professional block-layers.
Kinsmen to Plan
Centennial Event
While definite plans have
not been formulated the local
Kinsmen Club has decided to
stage some sort of a Centennial
celebration next summer, and
has set June 24th as the date.
Just what form of celebra-
tion the day will see is not yet
known but club members will
be working on details in the
near future, It is possible that
an antique cat wilt be raffled
and that in the interval it will
be used to advertise the big day.
This is the first organization
in Wingham to indicate that an
effort will be made to mark the
centennial year with any sort
of public activity.
•
M.
Demolition work has already
started on the south wing of the
Wingham and District Hospital,
Board Chairman R. B. Cousins
reported to the regular meeting
of the directors on Friday eve-
ning. He said that a meeting
with the executive committee,
architects and contractors the
day previous, had been given a
progress report on the building
and renovating program.
Windows, doors and similar
fittings had already been torn
out of the original hospital
building. It was expected that
stripping of the structure would
be completed this week and
that the building would be torn
down by the end of the month.
The basement area under this
wing, which contains the es-
sential plumbing, heating, wa-
ter and electrical tervines, will
be covered by a concrete slab.
NEARING COMPLETION
The renovations in the 1946
wing are now nearing comple-
tion and it is expected that the
final inspection and architect's
approval will be given in a
week or ten days. The new
operating room, located in the
same wing, has been in use
since last week, as has the new
x-ray room.
The board authorized the
construction of a 40-foot wall
to project south from the end of
the hospital building. This will
flank an elevated and paved
ambulance driveway up to the
emergency entrance in the new
south wall. It will support a
canopy-type covering over a
portion of the ambulance drive.
The $10, 000-plus cost of this
drive and canopy has been ap-
proved by OHSC authorities in
Toronto, said the chairman.
Registration for
All Cubs Tonight
ed for their opinion regarding
Friday night closing during the
months of January, February
and March,
CHRISTMAS HOURS
The group approved the ex-
ecutive's recommendation that
places of business remain open
all day Wednesday on Decem-
ber 7, 14 and 21 and will close
the afternoon of December 28th
in the latter case the grocery
stores are excepted.
Stores will remain open eve-
nings on Friday the 16th through
December 23rd until 10.00
p.m. and will close Christmas
Eve, Saturday, December 24th
at 6.00 p.m.
(Please turn to Page Eight)
Heavy Loss in East
Wawanosh Barn Fire
W.D.H.S, BOARD MEETS
New Scholarships to Be
Awarded Friday Evening
Firemen Inspect
Business Properties