Clinton News-Record, 1979-08-23, Page 3Jtistorically s,
tttenbury street ap
kin':
The Farran-Rance House -
1882
This fine old Clinton house,
situated at 40 Rattenbury Street
Fast, has long been a well-known
landmark of the town. The house
was built in 1882 by William
Wallace Farran.
Farran was born in Canada in
Stormont County. Educated as a
civil engineer, he worked for a time
with the Grand Trunk and Prescott
Railroad in the Brockville area. In
1858, he was appointed, to construct
120 miles of gravel road in Huron
County. After a brief sojourn in
Lambton County, where he was
engaged in oil refining and
speculation, he returned to Clinton
r stuck in
the middle p.4
Bob Dylan once sang the the now
famous words, "And, the times,
they are changing."
Of course he was making a
reflection on the whole of society,
but that statement seems to be also
coming true in my own little
sphere.
Yes, "the times are changing,"
for better or worse I have not
firmly decided, but I have noticed a
change in myself. I think I'm
becoming domesticated.
Now, there's no real need for
alarm, I haven't completely
reformed. Those miserable dishes
still go unwashed, my iron rarely
gets hot and my odd pieces of
furniture are still safely protected
under a coat of dust, but lately I've
noticed myself undertaking some
unusual tasks.
Instead of relying on dear friend
Campbell's, I made my own
tomato soup one day, from scratch.
Much to my amazement and my
wary taste testing guineau pig, the
concoction,,didn't taste half bad.
in December of 1864.. He was a man
of great activity, being involved in
numerous business activities.
In 1868, he constructed an oat-
meal mill but sold this five years
later. He was heavily engaged in
private banking, being a partner of
Farran and Tisdale of, Clinton and
Farran and Archibald of Elora. In
1882, he became involved with
manufacturing of agricultural
implements, in partnership with
Macpherson and Hovey. After 'the
death of Macpherson, the company
was reorganized under the name of
the Clinton Foundry and Thresher
Company, with Farran as
president. Farran was active in
town politics, serving as Reeve and
Earlier this summer, I became
uncontrollably ambitious and
planted flowers in the front beds of
my apartment building. Me,
Gangrene Thumb planting
flowers? But they seem to be
growing just as well as the weeds.
A more recent outburst of
domestic energy left me with paint
can and roller in hand for my first
attempts at interior decorating.
Despite my unsteady painting arm
and uncertain choice of colors, my
bedroom and bathroom now look
much brighter with the previous
mud green and turquoise walls
covered.
Instead of sitting down to my
usual evening of reading ' or wat-
ching television, one night I was
ambitious enough to clean out my
oven, with some directorial
assistance . from Mum and Mr.
Muscle.
Being domestic isn't an easy
thing., It's tedious, boring work, a •
job I would preferably avoid.
Living by myself, I don't mind
being a slob, nobody has to look at
the place besides me, but when
company comes, especially
unexpected company, quick action
has to be taken.
With a few hours warning, and a
burst of Wonder Woman-like
speed', I can usually fool my
visitors into thinking that I'm a
meticulous person. Fool everyone
except my Mum and boyfriend,
there's no point trying, they know
the real me.
Rather than try to break my
habit, I have adapted my domestic
laziness to suit myself. To com-
pensate for my fault, 1 have
developed a number of "foolproof"
excuses to give unknowing visitors.
First of all, despite being caught
off guard, I must stay in control
and welcome my company!
"Oh, I'n *so glad you dropped in.
Just excuse this mess." I say of-
fhandedly
Then come the reasons why the
place looks like a disaster area.
Knowing that they would probably
not go for a tale that I was just
struck by a tornado or earthquake,
I must sound convincing.
In an exasperated. voice I reason,
"Oh work's been so busy lately. I
don't think I can take much more of
those late nights and • now I've
gotten---ms-o 'behind in my
`housework."
(Good, a sympathetic response
from my company.)
Or, "Gee you caught me at a bad
time, hope you don't mind all the
junk around here. I'm right in the
middle of spring cleaning and I'll
tell you, I can't wait until I'm
finished."
(Ah ha, the dummies fell for that
one, and it's the middle of sum-
mer.)..
In times of true desperation I'll
mention in our conversation, "Did
you know that I went to the doctor
the other day and he says that I'm
allergic to dust. Told me not to go
near the stuff."
(Hmmm, I'm riot sure whether
they really believe that line. I sure
wouldn't.)
Or, to gain further sympathy, I
might claim, "This has been a wild
week. The plumbing's all screwed
• up and they're just fixing it now."
( There, that gets the dishes off.
the hook.)
I might ask, "Do you know
anyone who fixes vacuum
cleaners, mine's on the blink?"
And on, and on, it goes.
I'm not really anout and out liar,
and my pocketful of reasons rarely
go beyond my own thoughts.
With any luck, the times will
keep on changing, and someday I
may be able to confidently invite
people into my home without
having to stuff everything into the
closets in last minute desperation
or worry that my visitors might
have to use the bathroom and
notice the ring around my tub
PART-TIME AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES
FALL 1979
CLINTON CAMPUS
The following courses are'being offered this Fall semester. Students are
already enrolling. To ensure yourself' a place in the course of your choice,
please telephone 482-3438 Monday to Friday from 4:00 a.m. to 4:00, p.m.
and Monday and Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 pan. or visit our campus at
Venastra Road, Clinton, Ontario.
Home Study (Mathematics and English)
Office Practice
Basic Bookkeeping
Advanced Bookkeeping
Do It Yourself Plumbing
Do It Yourself Carpentry
Bartending ;techniques •
Driver Training
A Systematic Approach to Patient Care Planning
Psychiatric Nursing for Registered Nursing Assistants - Part 1
Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Dimensional Metrology
Took Jigi and Fixtures
'25.00
'27.00
'23.00
'i3.00
'33.00
'30.00
'48.00
'27.00
'32.00
'33.00
'20.00
'33.00
'33:00
PICK UP ONE OF OUR FALL 1979
TABLOIDS FROM OUR CLINTON CAMPUS
Conestoga College
o_plied Arts
;,TTE:hnoIogy
inte gotalottashare.
° ,.
•Y
rt.n. CJIL t
once owned by
wxiayor. His major hobby was his
horses, and he was instrumentalin
introducing a good strain of horses
to Huron County; through his stocl
farm, Atholeat.
Farran died in August of 1908.
The house passed to, his wife Ellen
Farran-and in turn was left to their
only daughter Eva and her
husband Harry Torr Rance.
Rance, born in 18,64, was the son
of S.H. Rance and the grandson of
William Rattenbury, the founder of
Clinton. For some years he was
involved in private banking ,with
James McMurchie in Blyth and
later returned to Clinton to manage
the Sovereign Bank. After this
bank's closure, he was appointed
Division Court Clerk, a position he
held for 22 'years. During the First
World War, he served as
Lieutenant-Colonel with the 33rd
battalion.
After .the death of Mrs. Farran,
Colonel and Mrs. Rance resided in
the house for many years.
This house, constructed in a late
Italianate style, has the typical L -
shape main block with rounded
windows and wide overhanging
cornice. The exterior of the house
has been remarkably well
preserved, retaining its original
Victorian decoration. Included in
this are the elaborate cornice
brackets, gable wood tracery, the
porch and the sun room hbove it,
the slate roof and the iron roof
cresting, the paired high chimneys,
and the heavy carved stone lintels
Off-street
parking...
• from page 1
house on the corner of Gibbings 'and
Rattenbury Streets from the rest of
her holdings.
The severance required minor -
variance and council passed a motion
recommending the change to the
committee of adjustment as well.
Council gave their approval for a
minor variance application from Tom
Chuter. He wants to enter the 48 foot
front lawn limit at his James Street
property, by two feet. This is to make
an enclosed entrance at his four unit
apartment building presently under
.construction.
Council agreed to a minor variance
application from Sidney Hooley on
James Street. Although the front wall
of his house is already two feet closer
to the street.than allowable, Mr.
Hooley plans to build a porch onto the
structure, which wouldadd another. 10
feet. Instead of being 48 feet from the
middle of the road, he would only be
36 feet and only three feet from the
street line.
All minor variances are subject to
final approval from the committee of °
adjustment. the weekend.
comer th,.. windows.
Howe ` er, the interior of the
house h.` s been altered due to the
division of the house into apart-
ments. The main exception to this
is the rnain.floor hall which retains
its original woodwork,, cornice
CLINTON•
N WS- : CU,,RA, THURSDAY, AuQu T 23, 1979,PAQg 3
Fealthy c
molding, ceiling medallion and the
impressive walnut balustrade on
the stairs. Other original features
include the unique window shut-
tors, and the handsome black
rn.arbelized fireplaees, An in-
teresting feature of t`he house is the
t
treatment of the doorways, which
are ,all arched, reflecting the ar-
ches of the windows.
Although altered by time, the
house has, ;adapted to the 20th
century while still retaining its
irnpressive.exterior facade.
Curling . . .
!from page 1
have offered to negotiate a new
agreement, Seaforth has refused,
even though last month Seaforth,
mayor John Sinnamon stated "It's
unfortunate things have gone this far,
I don't feel there's been enough
communication".
Applications for building permits
were approved for: Peter Swinkes lot
9 cons. 5 HRS, milk house and silo;
Laird Finlayson lot 20 cons. 3 .LRS,
grain bin:; Norman MacLean,
Egmondville, porch; Randall Wilson
lot 11 cons. 4, grain bin; James
McGregor, Kippen addition to house;
Robert Walters, Kippen alterations to
house; Bruce Rathwell, Brucefield
renovations to an industrial building;
and Thomas Bender; Kippen silo.
Road Superintendent • Allan
Nicholson in his report to council
stated over 14 road signs on township
roads, mainly concession 2, were
stolen or destroyed by vandals over
G.WG.. JEANS
from our regular stock
Boy's - size 8-12 (regular '17.98)
Student's - size 14-20 (regular '19.98)
fretful& '25.98) Now
h Men'S - size 26 - 44 $ 1 799
NOW •
$1 399
NOW
si 59 9
•
LEVI'S CORDS
Gi'rl's
SWEATERS
A complete style range, including
velours. Sixes 7.14.
Now V0
�� off
from our regular
stock, colours of
navy, grey, brown,
camel, and some blue.
Boy's - size 8-12
Regular or slims. Reg. '1.1.98
NOW $1399
Student's - size 14-20
Regular '19.98
NOW $1599
Men's . size 26-38
Regular '23.98
NOW $1799
LADIES'S. GIRL'S WEAR - MAIN FLOOR
MEN'S & BOY'S WEAR - SECOND FLOOR
E
R
RD
SH PPING CENTRE
Victoria Street
CLINTON
1
tiJ_- si;•t12
FCI41S
PURINA
PET FOOD SALE!
Purina - 20 KG. Bag
DOG CHOW
Regular '13.75
$
r NOW
Purina - S KG. Bag
PUPPY CHOW
•
Regular $7.25 49'
NOW •
Purina - 10KG. Bag
CAT CHOW Reg. '10.50
�;,�• ,: Purina - 10 KG. Bag
SEANIP DINNER
Purina - 4 KG. - Your Choice of
.v CAT CHOW OR
~: DAIRY DINNER
Purina - 4 KG. - Reg. '4.99
SEANIP DINNER
Reg. '10.50
Reg. '4.99
SALE
SALE
SALE
SALE
$0• 5
• .
$9 65
•
$42s
INTRODUCING,:
Purina
MEOW MIX
in new 4 KG. size
our regular '4.99
$25
NOW 4D ,
"Owned and Operated by Alex and
2 ISAAC STREET, CLINTON
!I i
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