Yesterday And Today, A Salute to Blyth's 125th Anniversary, 2002-07-31, Page 20C/00 raija1494d on your
125th Anniversary
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- you're always
welcome at
Atitchett'a Caunttg,
Zed dZtealifaat
We welcome guests
to our 1889
4 bedroom home. Experience a
full country breakfast.
Open year 'round
Reservations Preferred
Wheelchair accessible, reasonable me.
R.R. #3 Walton
887-6697
An historic structure
Built in 1876, St. Michael's Homan Catholic Church has
continued to serve the residents of Blyth and surrounding
area for more than 125 years.
Roman Catholic parish
moved from Moms Tivp.
Congratulations Blyth on your 125th Anniversary
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Iliteage of Keith
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, YESTERDAY and TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2002.
• AO,. 44 • ,
William Thuell honoured for
voting in tavour
service to village
in Blyth comes from an article in
The New Era newspaper, Nov. 4.
1892, which stated that electric
Begun in Morris Twp. (now
Morris-Turnberry), in 1852, St.
Michael's congregation moved to
Blyth in 1876, when the
congregation outgrew the confines
of the original log church.
It had begun on the 7th line with
the arrival of John Kelly and his
family. The first services were held
in the Kelly home with masses
conducted by Father Wassereau of
Ashfield.
The original log church and
cemetery were built on Kelly's land.
The cemetery still remains on St.
Michael's Road.
Prior to the move, services were
also conducted by Fathers Arnsboro,
Commons and McGraw of St.
Columban Church.
St. Michael's was constructed on
Drummond Street. in Blyth in 1876.
The total cost was approximately
$4,000.
The official opening for divine
service at St. Michael's took place
on Feb. 11. 1877. Bishop Jamot of
Sault Ste. Marie led the service.
In 1880, St. Michael's joined the
newly-formed parish in St.
Augustine. The following priests
served the parish: Father O'Connor,
1880-1884'; Father West, 1884-
1889; Father McGee, 1889-1892;
Father Quigley, 1892-1896; Father
McKeown, 1896-1899 and Father
McMenamin. 1899-1901.
In that year. the Blyth and Clinton
parishes were joined by Bishop F. P.
McEvay with Father McMenamin as
the first resident priest in Clinton.
Father Pinsonneault served from
1903 to 1905, Father Hanlon from
1905 to 1910 and Father Dunn from
1910 until his death in the influenza
epidemic of 1913.
Father Dunn was known for his
wit and humour. In response to a
very meager collection on one
extremely cold and blustery winter
day, one of the few parishioners who
had braved the weather commented
to Father Dunn that there weren't
many out. To that. Father Dunn said,
"And those who were out weren't
out very much."
Father John Hogan arrived in
1913, followed by Father Bart
Gaffney in 1921 who did much to
break down the barriers of religious
prejudice.
The first indication of electricity of electric lights would soon be available in the
village.
A public debate and vote was held
on Nov. 25, 1892, with villagers
During Father McDonald's 12
years, many improvements were
made in the parish.
Other priests were: Father 0'
Rurke, 1932-1934; Father Sullivan,
1934-1953; Father Graham, 1953-
1958; Father Reed Lewis, 1958-
1962 (died in a car accident); Father
McGuire, 1962-1965; Father Kelly,
1965-1972; Father McMaster,
1972-1974; Father J. Hardy, 1974-
1980; Father John Fluter, 1980;
Father Ray Renaud, Father Mark
Poulin and Father Dino Salvador.
In the fall of 2001, St. Michael's
and St.-Joseph's in Clinton marked
the 100th anniversary as a joined
parish. A special mass, presided over
by Bishop Grecco of the London
diocese, Was held at St. Joseph's.
The current priest is Father Lance
Magdziak who arrived in 2001.
The Catholic Women's League
was formed in 1952 and has been
very active in the community. A
current project is to replace an angel
which was stolen from the cemetery
entry a few years ago.
streetlights.
By December the lights were
being placed along the main street.
The six arc lights were to provide_
lighting for the village from
"darkness" to 11 p.m., 12 a.m. on
Saturdays, SepteMber through April.
The streetlights were not to be used
if the moonlight proved to be bright
enough, according to the village
council
During the week of March 8,
1893, the lights were finally turned
on.
Stores, hotels' and some private
homes were also using incandescent
lighting by this time.
By late summer of 1893, the
Methodist Church and Presbyterian
Church had lights.
The first electric plant was owned
by J.B. Kelly and located at the
flourmill. It was moved to Dinsley
Street in 1896 then Livingston's
sawmill the following year.
Livingston's mill was north of Blyth
Brook on the west side of Queen
Street.
The village purchased the plant in
1911 for $2,500. Mr. J. Nivens ran
the plant at that time.
Bill Thuell took over operation of
the plant from Walter Taylor in 1919.
The cost to provide lights to
homes in 1920 as approximately $1
. to $2 per month.
In 1924 Blyth contracted with the
Hydro Electric Company of Ontario
to provide the village with electricity
from its Niagara Falls generating
plant. In the decade to follow, three
lines were eventually brought into
the village. •
By 1948, Blyth was running into
problems, using electricity in excess
of its quota. The village was
doubling the 1,375-kilowatt per 24
hours allotment.
Pleas went out for residents to
reduce usage or risk Ontario Hydro
shutting down•output. A trial run of
cutting power occurred from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The Blyth commission offered
suggests on how to cut usage such as
turning off lights, using lower
wattage bulbs, washing on Friday
and ironing on Saturday.
Mr. Thuell ran the hydro and
water systems in Blyth for 53 years
and now has a park at the
pumphouse north of the creek named
in his honour. It was dedicated in
2001.
When he retired in 1972, he was
the only person to have received a
50-years-of-service certificate from
the Ontario Municipal Electrical
Association.
The Blyth Board of Trade also
named Mr. Thucll the first Blyth
Citizen of the Year.
There were major upgrades to the
lines in 1997 and 1998, prior to the
sale of the utility to Hydro One in
February, 2001. The sale brought the
village $796,000.