Times-Advocate, 1981-09-02, Page 1Started in day of four -tent
I was blessed with terrific
employees.
That was the comment of
Harvey C. Pfaff who retired
as Exeter's Postmaster
Friday after more than 35
years of service.
Pfaff actually completed
35 years and five months of
service Friday afternoon. He
started In the Exeter Post
Office on April 1, 1948 as a
clerk after being discharged
from the Canadian Army
three months earlier.
He took over as Post-
master from the late Milton
Pfaff in August of 1953 and
has held the position ever
since.
In talking of his valued
employees Pfaff said, "I am
proud to have put out six
Postmasters from our
staff."
The six who have moved
on to Postmaster potions
elsewhere are his'brother
Wallace who started at
RCAF Centralia and is now
at Rodney, Murray McAdam
at Zurich, Gar Johnston at
Grand Bend, Don 'Ladd at
Blenheim, Bev. Rabbetts
in St. Marys and his son
Steve 'in Forest. •
During Pfaff's 35 years in
Exeter, the Post Office grew
from a revenue operation to
Church put
on market
There's a "For Sale" sign
on the Exeter Pentecostal
Tabernacle. but the con-
gregation won't be making
any definite plans until they
determine if there is a buyer
for the property, which also
includes two houses.
Reverend Keith Gonyou,
the pastor at the church said
a definite price has been fix-
ed. and the congregation will
not deviate from it. "0 we
don't get that price," he
said. then we will take it as
from God that He wants us
to stay here."
The building is now too
small for the size of the con-
gregation it serves.
Reverend Gonyou says "Our
building is dictating our
program".
Members of the congrega-
tion are hesitant about sell-
ing the church because of the
sentimental feeling they
have about the building.
The congregation has
grown as a family in the 15
years since the building was
purchased from the United
Church. Reverend Gonyou
said.
If the church is not sold,
several renovations as .well
as an addition will be under-
taken at the present site.
Problems that will arise if
renovation is necessary are
the style of architecture of
an addition and where to
locate off-street parking for
the members of the con-
gregation.
A refugee family, current-
ly residing in one of the
houses owned by the church
is being relocated in order to
provide office space.
The area currently being
used for the church offices
will then be used as ad-
ditional Sunday School
rooms.
•-if'• the bmttitng-ts—so1d,
Reverend Gonyou said, the
congregation would prefer to
sell it as a church.
There would be bad
feelings. he said. if it were
sold to a licensed restaurant
because of the church stand
regarding alcohol.
Among the 'renovations
that would have to be made,
he said are new exits,
washrooms and a meeting
place.
As the spiritual leader of
the church. he said he is try-
ing not to be the motivating
force. What happens to the
building is up to the con-
gregation. Reverend Gonyou
said. He will try to stay out
of it and will cope with the
facilities.
If the church is sold, the
congregation hope to build a
new church in Exeter or
close proximity.
GETS AUTOGRAPH — Doug Kells gets an autograph from
Hollywood Hilda when the California Cuties were in Exeter
Monday night. T -A photo
SS board trustees
say no to
Trustees of the Huron
Perth Roman Catholic
Separate School board turn-
ed down an increase in their
honorarium in an in camera
session at their meeting last
week in Dublin. Board vice
chairman Vince Young of
Goderich said the proposed
raise. to $200 a month from
the present $180, was
defeated by a large vote,
with only four trustees in
At the sante meeting
trustees reviewed copies of
a provincial report on the
role of the school trustee.
One of its conclusions is that
the minimum pay for
trustees should be $400 a
month. funded by provincial
grant and local taxes. The
report continues local
boards have the right to pay
themselves more than $400 a
month but the extra should
be charged against local tax-
es.
Trustees . did however
agree to a mileage increase
for themselves...from 25* to
28 per mile, effective in
September. The same
mileage will be paid newly
hired speech pathologist
Mary La Berge, who starts
September 1.
Board members recon-
sidered and rescinded a mo-
tion from the June meeting
giving a leave of absence
without pay for a year to
Sister Teresa Mader, former
principal of St. James'
Separate School, Seaforth.
She will now receive a year's
leave of absence.
In other business Director
of Education Bill Eckert
reported the board's conven-
tion and meeting fund is
about $1800 over budget.
Because trustees John
O'Leary and Tim McDonnell
were absent the board didn't
hear a full report on the
Congress of Education
meeting they attended in
June with vice-chairman
Young.
Mr. Eckert suggested
some trustees try to attend a
meeting on the challenges of
the province's new bill 82
which requires boards to
supply special education,
which is sponsored by the
Ontario Catholic System Of-
ficers Association in Toronto
next month. It should
Whelan
will visit
The new fertilizer tower
blender constructed recently
by the Exeter District Co -
Operative will be officially
opened on Friday, Sep-
tember 11.
The facility will be of-
ficially oned by Federal
Ministi .''dt Agriculture
Eugene Whelan. it is located
about one mile south of
Exeter, just west of Highway
4 in Stephen township.
The event will be
highlighted by a beef bar-
becue from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
With the opening ceremonies
following immediately af-
terward.
raise
proviae "a particularly
Catholic point of view, with
implications for Catholic
schools as opposed to
schools in general," he said.
Superintendent of educa-
tion John McCauley told
trustees he has been in touch
with the Lambton separate
board which is one of the
pilot projects in the province
for the implementation of
the special education
provi$konso.the.new .law. A.
province -wide conference on
implementing the program
will be held in Toronto Oc-
tober 1 and 2.
The director suggested a
member of the board's
assessment committee at-
tend a meeting on planning
with assessment in Toronto
September 17 and 18.
Three hurt
in collisions
Exeter OPP report three
accidents last week
resulting in minor injuries to
three area people.
Jeltjg Knit), Hensall, was
treated and released from
South Huron Hospital after
the car he was driving collid-
ed with one driven by
Leonard Smale • at the in-
tersection of Richmond and
Albert streets, Saturday in
Hensall. Damage was es-
timated at $7,000.
Minor injuries were suf-
fered by Antje Penninga of
Exeter when her car left the
road after hitting a pot hole
and dirt build up in the cen-
tre of Con. 2-3 of Stephen
township. Damage has been
estimated at $600.
David Hartman of Lucan
received 'minor injuries
Saturday when his vehicle
left Con. Rd. 12-13 in Hay
and rolled over in the ditch.
Damage was estimated at
$2.000.
semi -staff to its present staff
Post Office position.
When Pfaff started his
postal department career
the Post Office was located
in the building on Main
street presently housing
Exeter municipal operation.
An addition to the original
building was built in the late
1950's.
The retired Postmaster
talked about the changes in
the Post Office during his 35
year career.
When he took over as
Postmaster in 1953, there
were two other inside em-
ployees. They were Eva
(Pearce) Schwalm and the
late Norma (Wilson) Dennis.
The two rural carriers were
Frank Wildfong and Murray
Scott.
In the early days all mail
came to Exeter by train and
was brought to the Post
Office by Earl Guenther,
"We would never get the
mail in before 10 a.m. in
those days when Earl met
the train from London. Now
the mail is in the lobby by 3
a.m. Our early shirft em-
ployees come in at 5:30 a.m.
and most of the mail is in the
boxes by 8 a.m., added Pfaff.
When Pfaff started his
career first Class postage
was four cent and Christ-
mas cards went through for
two cents.
In talking about proposed
increases in first class
postage Pfaff said, "I don't
think it will go to 30 cents as
some people predict. 1 would
think it. will be closer to a
quarter."
Asked about some in-
teresting happenings over
the years, Pfaff said, "There
was one resident in town who
liked to write letters of
complaint about my work.
Three times over a two or
three year period I saw a
letter addressOd to the
Postmaster General. I
recognized the writing and
knew I would have a visit
from an inspector within 10
days and I did."
Pfaff talked -about the Post
Office robbery in 1953. He
said, "It was the only time
we had. any trouble of that
kind. Someonebroke into the
safe which is not as surdy as
the one we have now and
took about $1,500 in cash,
stamps and blank money
stamp, postmaster retires
orders. The cash box and
money orders were found
south of Elginfield but the
guilty persons were never
apprehended."
During the interview with
the T -A Pfaff was reminded
by his wife Dorothy of the
Christmas Day he sat at the
Post Office all day waiting
for a train which never
arrived. 1t was stuck in a
snow drift near Kippen.
In recent years in addition
to his postal duties in Exeter
Pfaff has been supervisor of
post offices in Kirkton,
Woodham, Centralia, Huron
Park, Crediton, Dashwood,
Thedford, Port Franks,
Grand Bend and Hay.
During his 35 years in
Exeter following four years
of overseas service in the
army Pfaff has been in-
volved in many community
activities.
He has held many
positions with the R.E.
Pooley Exeter branch of the
Royal Canadian Legion
including the presidency in
1951, Zone Commander in
1960.
A member of the Exeter
planning board for 18 years,
Pfaff was also a Scout-
master when the group
reorganized in 1948, co-
chairman of the Ausable
Valley Nomads and
president of the Exeter
Minor Hockey Association.
He is a life member of
EMHA.
Pfaff's leisure life of
retirement will be short-
lived. He starts a new job
with the Corps of Com-
missionaires at Centralia
College in September.
POSTMASTER RETIRES - Exeter Postmaster Harvey C. Pfaff retired Friday after 35 years of
service. Above, from the left Pfaff is being congratulated by Aylmer Postmaster Wayne
Brooke and Morley Pollen, the Postmaster at Tillsonburg. T -A photo
4
imes
dvoc
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex
& North Lambton Since 1873
i y..
i{
WET BE LATE
Due to Labour Day, Mon-
day. The Exeter Times -
Advocate will be published
one day later than usual next
week. It will be printed
Wednesday night for Thurs-
day morning delivery.
Advertising deadlines will
be extended to Tuesday. The
display advertising deadline
will by 2:00 p.m. and the
deadline for classified
advertisements will be 4:00
p.m.
1
One Hundred and Ninth Year
EXETER, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 2, 1981
Price per copy 40 Cents
Delegates enthusiastically
endorse three-year terms
Representatives from Ex-
eter and Stephen Township
were among those attending
the founding convention of
the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario in
Toronto last week which
overwhelmingly endorsed a
suggestion by the Hon.
Claude Bennett to extend
terms of municipal councils
to three years.
Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw
said the convention voted
almost 75 percent to extend
the term from two to three
years. but noted some small
urban and rural delegates
did oppose the move. fearing
it may discourage prospec-
tive candidates faced with
BIBLE CRAFTS - - Taking part in a crafts project at the Peace
Lutheran Church Bible School were (from left) Tom Rqlph,
Brenda Balsdan, and Doug Kelis.
Fewer numbers
will answer bell
When area school bells
ring Tuesday morning,
enrolment in elementary
schools will be down only
slightly from a year ago.
The number . of students
attending the seven district
public schools which feed
South Huron District High
School will be 1,975, down
only 25 from September of
1980.
At South Huron District
High School the student
population Tuesday will drop
to 940 from 1,001, at the
same time a year ago.
Huron Board of Education
superintendent Bob Allen
told the T -A regarding
•
r
f arc tc,
NATURE COLLAGE -- Children taking part in an art seminar at the Exeter branch of the
Huron County Library worked on nature collages. Shown are (from left) Becky Farquhar
seminar leader, Stratford artist Mona Mulhern; and Christine Walker.
enrolment, "The elementary
panel is stablizing, but, there
is still a decline to work
through the high school
system and there will be a
significant drop for the next
two years."
The enrolment is up by five
students at each Stephen
Central School and J.A.D.
McCurdy at Huron Park and
two students at Hensall
Public School.
Very slight decreases will
be seen at Exeter, Usborne
Central, Huron Centennial
and Zurich Public Schools.
There will be only two new
faces on staff in South Huron
schools when classes open
Tuesday morning. Catherine
Madill replaces Doris
McKinley at Huron Cen-
tennial and Ralph
Wareham is being replaced
as the science head at South
Huron District High School.
Wareham is taking a one
year leave of absence.
Asked about any changes
in curriculum Allen replied,
"We will be putting forth a
real thrust to make good use
of the available resources
particularly improvements
in curriculum areas such as
physical and health
education, French and Social
Studies.".
M the separate school
level in South Huron,
enrolement at Our Lady of
Mount Carmel school will be
down by 10 students while
Precious Blood in Exeter,
the figure is up by 10.
Principal Gary Bir-
mingham reports only one
change in teaching staff at
Mount Carmel with Terry
Boland of Bayfield replacing
Marj Glendinning who has
retired.
The staff at Precious Blood
will remain exactly the same
as last year according to
principal Laurie Kraftcheck.
Hughes to
consolidate
A few famjlies may be
moving into: Huron Park
area from Orangeville,
following the lay-off of some
workers at Hughes Boats in
Orangeville.
A spokesman for Ilughes
Boats, Gerry Williams, says
that the company offered to
relocate some families in
Huron Park ter cut backs
at the Oran eville plant.
However, he dos not know
just how many employees
will opt for relocation.
Williams explained that
there will be no more boat
building at Orangeville.
Until now the company was
making a 36 foot boat in that
plant. However, they do plan
to continue an upholstering
operation there. Staff at
Orangeville will be reduced
to about five from 20. At
present there are about 180
employed at the Huron Park
plant.
Williams explained that
Hughes Boats had "grown
rapidly in the past two
years." He said that the
company needed to con-
solidate the plants, because
the two separate operations
were "financially taxing".
longer commitments.
However. urban centres
said the complexities of
their job were too great to
learn in two years and also
noted that some municipal
candidates spend large sums
of money on their election
campaigns. some running as
high as $25.000. A three-year
term makes that a better in-
vestment.
Shaw said that only two
provinces have terms vary-
ing from the three-year
period being suggested. and
the other one is Quebec.
where terms are four years.
He said he expected the
Ontario government would
change the term this fall to
become effective with the
1982 municipal elections.
"1 really enjoyed it."
Shaw said of the convention.
which dealt with over 200
resolutions. He added that
he would make a complete
report to council next week.
Accompanying Shaw to
the convention was Coun-
cillor .lay Campbell.
Representing Stephen
Township were Doug
Russell. Tom Tomes and
Wilmar Wein.
It was the founding con-
vention of a new association,
formed by the amalgama-
tion of the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario.
the Association of Counties
and Regions of Ontario. and
the Rural Ontario Municipal
Association.
Municipal elected
representatives have for
some time been asking for an
extended term of office,
Bennett noted, and "I
therefore personally support
the request for a three-year
municipal term."
"Unless I hear differently
from you in the next few
months, I plan to introduce
legislation changing that
Please turn to page 2
Vehicles flunk test
The traffic safety check
operated in Exeter for two
and as half days last week
resulted in about 25 vehicles
being taken off the road.
The check operated by the
Ontario Ministry of Tran-
sportation and Com-
munications with the
assistance of the local town
and OPP detachments in-
spected 86 vehicles.
Officers on the street
issued orders to operators of
older model vehicles to
report to the safety lanes set
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r NMI 1111111111111111111111/ MIMI Ilan4iii NM 111111.
up behind the Exeter police
office.
On about eight occasions,
when receiving a slip to
report for the safety
checkup, licence plates were
immediately taken off and
voluntarily surrendered to
police.
Those vehicles found to
have minor and easily
repairable defects were
ordered to have the repairs
completed within a certain
time period and report back
to any police department or
safety check lane.
inn
1
LEGION AIDS COMMUNITY PARK - The R.E. Pooley Exeter bronch of the Royal Canadian
Legion mode o recent donation of $1,000 to the Exeter Community Pork redevelopmrn"
fund. Above, Don Cameron receives the cheque from Legion treasurer Vero Armetroro and
president Sam Bower. T A nco'e
Host TV draw in Oct.
NEW POSTMASTER - Ken
Dobney assumed his duties
Monday as the Postmaster at
the Exeter Post Office.
Dobney, assistant Postmaster
in Clinton for the past six
years takes over from Harvey
C. Pfaff who retired Friday
after 35 years of service with
the postal deportment.
Wintario is
Nave you ever had a
dream of winning a big prize
in Wintario and possibly see-
ing yourself on television?
Your chance is close at
hand
Wintario will be coming to
Exeter for a live broadcast
from the South Huron Rec
Centre on Thursday. October
The Wintario visit to town
is being sponsored jointly by
the Exeter lioness club and
the South Huron Rec Centre
board
Lossy Fuller. who is chair-
man of a joint committee of
the Iwo sponsoring groups
received a phone call Mon-
day afternoon confirming
the October 1 date.
Mrs. Fuller said the idea
coming
for the Wintario visit started
a couple of years ago when
Rueben Haetz. Minister of
Culture and Recreation was
in town to open the Old Town
Hall
At that time. Hartz said a
letter should he written to
him personally and be would
get the hall rolling and that's
exactly what happened.
Personnel from Global
Television were in Exeter
about a month ago to check
signals and a Bell of Canada
signal was confirmed only a
week ago.
The program is to start at
7:30 p m on the night of Oc-
tober 1 with one hour of local
talent entertainment.
The doors will close at 8:30
and television technicians
will check equipment for the
next half hour and the show
goes on live
Ttie %Vint .trio ,tr.rt;rarn
here volt he hosted by Faye
Dance ,irnt Greg Beresford.
Ticket, to he :old by the
organi/•nit: committee will
he available in Exeter and
thrfinehout the .area within
the next couple of weeks
Mrs Fuller added. "The
tickets will he sold at a
reasonable price «'e want
to make this a fancily night
where mother and father
ran bring their children
without paying high
prices
The committee will be
meeting this afternoon.
Wednesday to continue with
plans for the gala evening