Clinton News-Record, 1985-07-10, Page 126m.
Although the harvesting . of the first
reported wheat erop in the Huron Tract in
1829 is suggested by some as the beginning
of agriculture here, it. should . be
remembered that our native people (the At-
Flrst silos
were wooden
The earliest upright silos were ;wooden
(few and far between), to be replaced by
concrete after the turn of the century, and
more recently have come the glass -lined '
steel Harvestore silos of,the 1970's. The Clin-
ton News Record reports our pro-
gressiveness in this area in a March 1890
edition - "Mr. H. Elford is making prepara<
tions to build a silo. This is to be the first
building of this kind in the vicinity we
believe. Mr. Elford usually keeps abreast of
the times."
The introduction of electricity after 1900
marked the beginning of a new era in all
buildings. William Lobb's was the first farm
in Huron County, situated away from an ur-
ban area, to have electricity, according to
his daughter, 011ie Jervis. The generating
plant, imported from England in 1911, was
located in the milkhouse, and consisted of
Lister 3hp gasoline engine, a dynamo, and
rage cells. The initial cost of this ap-
ratus was $750. - exclusive of wiring the
ouse. Fuel costs fer this ran to about $,28,
per year, and with the electrical system
they were able to run lamps m both house
and barn, a four -unit milking machine, an
electric iron, a rip saw, an emery wheel, and
a churn. Electricity also pumped the entire
)water system for the house and barn.
tawandaron Indians, or Neutrals unto 165.0
and later the ,Ohippewas) were known for
their cropping; abilities', According to James
Scott, these natives grew tobacco, corn,
pumpkins, squash, beans and other
vegetables. Today we can still find evidence
.of the. Indian presence of long ago. One Clin-
ton newspaper report of 1881 notes that S.
Cantelon • picked up a tomahawk while
ploughing, David and Stephen Lobb of Lot ,
19, on. 15, found a variety of stones on that .
property which were identified by the Royal
Ontario Museum as centuries-old Indian
tools - a skinning stone with clear finger in-
dentations, a grinding stone, and a •
tomahawk head. These were made of a type
n on
of stone which was not coour area
and must have been carried here from quite
a distance,. The Don Middleton faintly (Con.
10) also have such a .collection, and surely
there are others.
The. first settlers were limited in their
.cropprp uction by the: number of acres they
managed to clear, Certainly for many years
after removing the timber, they would be
forced to contend with stumps and roots and
yields would be lower accordingly. Despite
such limitations, a variety of crops. were
grown as can be proven bi an early diary
found at the Weldon. Library, London.
root
abilities
a,
1835: Wheat - 3.5 acres of spring wheat -
yield, 94 bushels. Of this,19,5bus. were sent
to the mill from September to June; 4 bus.
were `paid' Gleasure for timber; 4 bus,
were paid to Townsend for harvesting; 2
bus. were used as seed; 1 bu, kept for fowls;
and 3.5 bus. destroyed by the pigs,:
Barley -1.5 acres - yield 25 bushels.
Oats - 1.5 acres. Oats used for "the White
Polish and blacks"; feed for sheep (1.5
bus.) ; for sale (21.5 bus.) ; home conSuirip-
tion (6.5 bus. ); and seed (8 bus:).
Mengel Wurtzels - 30 bushels used for pigs.
Turnips - 50 bushels used for the cows and
pigs.
Congratulations
To The
TOWNSHIP
of
GODERICH
on Your
150th
ANNIVERSARY
FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, HEATING &
AIR CONDITIONING NEEDS SEE...
"Bert" "Harry"
Worsell
Bros. Ltd.
152 The Square
GODERICH
524-7952
Our roots
in Goderich Township
and Huron are
eighteen years deep.
We at Fleming Feed Mill are proud to have served the farmers
of Goderich Township and Huron County since 1967.
We also wish our many friends and customers in Goderich
Township all the best with your upcoming' Sesquicentennial
Celebrations. ,
R
OUR SERVICE INCLUDES:
•Manufacturing pelleted and crumbled feed in bulk
!Contracting laying Hens
•We handle Wheat, Corn, Oats, Barley, Mixed Grain, Soya Beans
FLEMI
:.
FEED
MILL LII,
"Serving Huron County since 1967"
IRWIN ST., CLINTON (JUST OFF HWY. NO. 4 SOUTH) 482-3438
CALL TOLL FREE 1-801-265-4204
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