Clinton News-Record, 1984-09-05, Page 27allahans
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The Rallahan name is snynonymous with
the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby
Association.
It was back in 1862 when the Hallaiian
brothers - Simon, John, Billy Joe, Dan and
Dennis : - met with some friends and
developed the reunion concept:
That first show brought out 400 people.
This year President Ray Hallahan hopes to
attract 15,000 people to the 23rd annual reu-
nion..
RayIallahan, Billy Joe's son, is one of the
many Hallahans who is carrying ,on the
family tradition.
His cousin Frank Hallahan is following in
his father Dan's footsteps and also plays an
important role on the association executive.
His wife Marian married into the threshing
family and she has proved•herself to be one
of the most vital people involved, as the
association secretary.
One of the men who started it all - Simon
Hallahan, and his wife Beatrice are also ac-
tive members in the organization.
Although health problems have limited
Simon's involvement in recent years, his in-
terest and leadership in the Thresher Reu-
nion follow a tradition of community in-
volvement.
By Margaret Arbuckle
East Wawanosh's .grand old man of
municipal politics, Sam Hallahan, may be
out of the limelight, but he certainly has not
lostinterest in local and national affairs.
Mr. Hallahan first was elected to
municipal government in 1958 and has serv-
ed as both councillor and reeve until his
retirement in 1982.
Le was born March 10, 1899, a few months
short of the turn of the century. The
Hallahans were of sturdy Irish stock who
left County Cork, Ireland, in 1846 to escape
the great potato famine.
As a boy Mr. Hallahan attended Union
School No. 3. His first day of school is among
his earliest and happeist memories because
he loved school, but his education was inter-
rupted.
An early experiment in beef farming very
nearly bankrupted Mr. Hallahan's father
and he was forced to withdraw his son from
school. He was in Grade 7 at the time.
\ After a brief stay at home to help his
father get the family finances rolling again,
Mr. Hallahan was able to return. to school
and finish Grade 8.
However going on to high school was out
of the question because he was needed at
home.
Once he had completed Grade 8, Mr.
Hallahan went to work on his father's dit-
ching machine and then at Dominion Roads
in Goderich before taking over the family
farm in 1920.
His interest in community affairs was
sparked in 1921 when he started working for
the Belgrave Farmers Club. During those
early years of community involvement his
mentor, Robert Scott, a local farmer and
orator of some renown, took the young
Simon under his wing and taught him the
ropes.
For the next 30 years Mr. Hallahan was
active as a promoter of pork and milk pro-
ducers' boards, secretary -treasurer of the
East Wawanosh Federation of Agriculture
and was a 4-H club leader for over 40 years.
It seemed only natural that when a seat on
East Wawanosh council came open in 1958,
Mr. Hallahan would fill it. He won the seat
by acclamation, but.lost the election in 1960.
Never one to be daunted, he ran again in
1966 and was successful in his bid. In 1975 he
became reeve of the township and served on
county council also until December of 1982.
Mr. Hallahan loved his public life. Admit-
tedly, he said, he went on council because he
"thought the other people were always
wrong". But he soon became more open-
minded and learned to realize that others
usually had good points to offer if only you
listened.
He is proud of his years on East
Wawanosh and county councils. Township
historians probably will remember him as
the fatlwr of the East Wawanosh Secondary
Plan, something he supports wholehearted-
ly to this day.
He also is proud of the response his coun-
cil got at thetime of renovation project at
the Belgrave arena. All the funds were col-
lected by a canvass of the 'outlying area and
there still was $12,000 left to spare which has
been used for other community improve-
ment projects, like at the Belgrave Kinsmen
Park.
At the county level the was involved with
the Goderich museum and the Goderich air-
port, the Auburn garage, the Clinton library
and the construction 'on the division- line
between East and West Wawanosh
townships.
He loves being active so much that he
can't understand how some people can sit
back and be apathetic. But so many people
are like that today, hesays, and it bothers
him a bit. •
In fact, he ,swears it is his involvement
that has kept him well and fit for so long. At
85 years of age, he could pass for a man 10
years younger easily and says it is because
he keeps active, plus he does not drink
heavily nor does he smoke.
Granted, he has slowed down in recent
years, mainly due to a heart attack he suf-
fered near the end of his term on council.
But he is still the major shareholder in
Hallrice Farms, the other partner is his son
Maurice, and he likes -to keep a grip on the
family business.
As a staunch Liberal he was very in-
terested in the recent leadership race and as
a Roman Catholic said he was in favor of
Premier William Davis' recent decision to
extend funding to separate schools.
The Hallahan brothers were the main thrust
behind the development of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association,
back in 1962. SinionMallahan still plays an
• active role in the annual showing. ( Shelley
McPhee photo)
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The Hallahan name is synonymous with the Thresher Reunion and the gang took part in
the parade at the 1983 show. ( Shelley McPhee photo)
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