The Citizen, 1997-08-27, Page 11w=The news from \
51’TH&emfcEN, WBDNfiSDAUfJ AUGUSTl27,]m99Z PAGE 11.
Historic inn gets new owners
Compiled by Patty Banks
Mitchells celebrate 25th
On Sunday, Aug. 20 friends and
relatives of Gordon and Julie
Mitchell Cone. 12, Grey Twp.
gathered at the home of Emerson
and Phyllis Mitchell, Walton to
celebrate the formers’ 25th wedding
anniversary.
While visiting, music was
enjoyed when Alice Brothers, at the
keyboard and Phyllis with violin,
played from the verandah, as a
preview to a humorous mock
wedding that was performed which
recalled many events of that day
with organist Alice of 25 years ago.
Doug Mitchell presented his
parents with a gate sign on behalf
of the Mitchell family and cards
and gifts from those present.
Gordon and Julie expressed
thanks to everyone.
Many went the short distance to
the pit where well-cooked roasts of
beef were uncovered from the hot
Residents travel west
for summer holiday
If anyone went away this summer
for a holiday and would like to let
others know about it, please give
me a call. My children and I went
to the land of bears and moose and
bush — Vanderhoof, B.C. While
horseback riding we saw signs of
bear but luckily that was all we
saw.
Residents have had a very wet
and cold spring and their summer
hasn't been so hot either.
Heidi and Fred McClure and
family, Gloria and Keith and family
Phone 887-6156
stones that Gordon's brothers Koss,
Doug and Neil had prepared earlier.
A delicious supper was served by
Julia Ann, Janet and Marie.
Gordon and Julie served cake and
ice cream.
Present from the wedding party
were Julie's father, Don Street,
Bluevale; Linda Street McCannell,
Guelph; Donna (Bush) Broome,
Collingwood; Elaine (Jacklin)
Armstrong, Brussels and Ross
Mitchell, Brussels. Unable to attend
were Stephen Street, Vancouver,
B.C. and Stuart McCannell,
Guelph.
Gordon and Julie were married at
Trinity United Church, Listowel by
Rev. Bellon Aug. 11, 1972.
Gordon is a customer service
representative at Bruce Tractor,
Walkerton and Julie is a Huron
County Homemaker.
and Bill and Vai Shortreed and
family took a week off and spent an
enjoyable time at Rice Lake where
they rented a cottage.
All the way from Assendelft,
Holland are the parents of Gerry
Rijkhoff. They try to get to Canada
every three or four years and enjoy
seeing the sights. Enjoy your stay
folks.
The Walton UCW meeting will
be Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. Guest speaker
is Jim Papple from the Food Grains
Bank. Everyone is welcome.
From The Huron Expositor, Oct.
22, 1875: "Auction Sale of valuable
property in Walton. Mr. V. P. Brine
has received instructions from Mr.
Chas. Sage, to sell by public
auction at the premises on Tuesday,
Nov. 2, 1875 that valuable property
known as the Walton Hotel,
situated in the village of Walton on
the Northern Gravel Road 10 miles
from Seaforth and five from
Brussels. The hotel building is two-
stories high with seven rooms
downstairs and seven rooms
upstairs. There are on the premises
two never failing wells of water.
The property also consists of a
stable 60 x 40 capable of holding
30 horses and a new open shed 50 x
16, also another stable with five
double stalls. Sale to commence at
1 p.m. sharp. Terms two thirds of
purchase money to be paid on day
of sale, the balance on time to suit
purchaser at 7 per cent interest per
annum. - Chas. Sage, Proprietor."
Well the property is still valuable
and it is still on he same sight but
with fewer buildings and it has also
now changed hands. Last week
Walton said goodbye to Karl and
Annie MacNaughton who have
owned the Inn since 1988, and
welcomed the new owners Graeme,
Helen, Michael and Shannon Craig.
This is a new venture for them and
they recognize that they have a lot
to learn about the business. But
they welcome everyone to come in
and enjoy all that the Walton Inn
has to offer.
By the looks of all the flowers
and cards and the great number of
people who have come through the
door since they opened I'd say the
Inn has lots to offer. Good luck.
We also welcome Grace and
Debbie Campbell who will be
running the restaurant during the
week and a catering business on
Saturday.
A lot of you will know Grace
from the Gymbag restaurant in the
Seaforth Hotel where she ran the
restaurant and her successful
catering business. Debbie, you have
seen singing with the Seaforth
Harmony Hi-lights and also with
the women's barbershop quartet,
'Carousel.' The mother and
daughter team know a lot of people
in the Walton area and thought it
would be a great place to try their
new business venture.
On opening day there were three
generations of cooks busy in the
kitchen as Jean Mathers, mother to
Grace and grandmother to Debbie,
was there to help. At least 100
customers came through the doors
that day.
Right now they plan to be open
five days a week Monday to Friday
from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. They
specialize in homemade cooking,
from sandwich filling to soup to
delicious pies and tarts.
New on the job
Grace Campbell and her daughter Debbie are now taking
orders at the .Walton Inn restaurant. The inn has been
purchased by the Graeme Craig family.
Grace says that she hopes to keep
Saturdays open for their catering
business. She does a lot of
weddings, anniversaries, parties,
business meetings, etc. I suggest
that you keep them in mind when
you think of having your Xmas
parties this year.
Helping them to serve the public
is Lois Schneider from Brussels,
Christian VanPoucke of Seaforth,
Karen Braecker, Winthrop and
Irene Finlayson of Seaforth.
They have a few ideas on how
they would like to'expand but right
now they just want to settle in and
get the feel of the business before
they bring about any new changes.
So welcome to Walton folks and
good luck.
Women undertake pilgrimage to Graceland
On Aug. 16, 20 years ago, Elvis
Presley died. To some people that
is an insignificant date, but to Judy
Poland of Winthrop and her friend
Janet Taylor, that date means a lot.
In fact these two women just got
back from a week-long trip to
Memphis, Tenn.
Judy has been there four times
before and this was the fifth time
for Janet.
The highlight of the trip the
women said was the tour of
Graceland. This year they opened
the bedroom of Elvis’s parents and
also the kitchen area, to the public.
There were 12 tours a day and
everyone of them was full.
Another momentous time was
their participation in a vigil held on
the Friday night Aug. 16. There
.were 40,000 fans that went through
the gates that evening and it was
quite a sight to see all the candles
in the night as they passed the
grave of Elvis.
Judy said there were mounds of
what she called, 'tributes of love'
laid on the grave. Janet said that
they had to wait five and a half
hours to get in, but she said it was
so special that she should have
waited 12 hours if she had to.
There were eight different
countries of fans that week and it
was great to meet old friends and to
make many new friends. She said it
wasn't unusual at all to meet a
stranger and then talk for hours
about Elvis. She said that there is
no friend like an Elvis friend.
They have been fans of his from
the very beginning and both have
been writing to Graceland for the
past 15 years. Judy once wrote to
find out when the song Judy was
written and found out that it was in
1961.
Another part of their tour took
them to Beal St., the home of the
blues. There the new statue of Elvis
was unveiled (which has security
guards around it 24 hours a day)
and the new Elvis restaurant
A tribute to the king
Judy Poland of Winthrop and Janet Taylor of Stratford
made a pilgrimage to Graceland recently to visit the home
of their idol, Elvis Presley.
Tuploe, Mississippi, the birthplace
of Elvis. They viewed his home
and visited the chapel there.
Being such fans of Elvis they
always wore clothing that had his
picture on it and maybe it was that
or perhaps their bubbly enthusiasm
that caught the eyes of news
reporters and photographers from
Germany, Sweden, France and
Mexico. They interviewed them
and took pictures of them posing
beside cars of Elvis and other Elvis
exhibits. Their pictures were in the
London. Toronto and Gueioh
GRADUATION
Judy is planning to go back in the
year 2002, the 25th anniversary of
Continued on page 12
Jen PierceJodie E. Hugill
daughter of Wayne & Joyce
Hugill, graduated June
27/97, from Conestoga
College receiving her
diploma as Registered
Practical Nurse.
She previously attended
Seaforth District High
School.
Jodie is employed with Para
Med and Farm Credit Corp.
Congratulations Jodie
love, Mom, Dad, Jennifer,
Harold & Mike.
On June 23, 1997 Jen Pierce
graduated from Princess
Elizabeth Public School.
She was the recipient of the
Arts award, Service award,
Lawson Essay award &
Student of the Year award.
She will be attending
Westminster S.S. in
September.
You have made all those who
love you most feel so proud
of you!
Love,
Mom & Dad
Brendan & Chip
Grandma & Uncle Paul