Clinton News-Record, 1986-07-23, Page 81What will tomorrow bring?
Editor's Note: This essay was a
winner in the Stanley. Township
Essay Contest held at Huron
Centennial School. The author is
14 -years -old.
By Nancy Webster
As I sit here, in my rocking
chair, waiting for the tea kettle to
boil, my mind wanders back to
nearly 80 years ago, when I was a
young girl living in Stanley
Township. Oh how times and ways
0 life have changed!
Every Christmas, I was always
so excited about getting that
special gift: a Cabbage Patch Kid
or a Barbie Doll. Now, for
Christmas, my great-
grandchildren ask for robots that
resemble humans and do almost
anything you demand.
I can still see my first, bright
green bicycle. For the first while,
I had training wheels to steady
myself. Now children ride around
town on motor -scooters with elec-
tronic gadgets that even tell you
how many times the wheels go
around!
Back in my days, we used to
ride a bright yellow school bus.
We'd go around the countryside,
picking up all the farm kids. Let's
see, there were the Turners, the
Hayters, the Keys and ... , oh
well, many more. We all went to
Huron Centennial School in
Brucefield. The school that the
children attend now is located
right near the Stanley Township
Complex.
Some students are still bused to
school, while others ride their
motor -scooters on a special path
which parallels the road. The
students are taught by computers,
with one supervisor for every 50
pupils. Most of the subjects are
taught in the French language!
All the residents of Stanley
Township worship together in one,
large church under one denomina-
tion. My, how different it is from
that little church I attended.
And how the population of Var-
na has exploded! ! ! Why, there
are nearly 2,000 people residing in
what was once a small hamlet. At
all hours of the day, there is traf-
fic moving through Varna.
Maybe the reason for this is
because there's . a four -lane
highway running through Varna
now, connecting to Highway 21
and Highway 4.
In my days, we always went to
London or Stratford for special
shopping. Now you can just call a
I faintly remember the sod -
turning for the new Stanley
Township Complex. But I do
recall all the great times we had
celebrating Stanley Township's
1-5-0. That was the year of ...
19...86. Oh, how the Community
Complex has grown! The
ratepayers of Stanley Township
have added indoor and outdoor
pools, saunas, tennis courts, golf
courses and a large curling rink.
Page 33
a January day, with all the sun
shining in 'my window. The
climate in my area has changed
so much. We barely get snow in
the winter. Our growing season is
much warmer and longer.
Therefore, the crops are more
abundant.
Years ago. women would have
their healthy, green gardens. I
don't know whether it was all
vegetables or not. There may
"Oh how times and ways of life have changed!"
taxi and go shopping in downtown
Varna. There are a great variety
of stores. There is a large shopp-
ing mall with grocery Stores,
clothing stores, banks and many,
many more.
Every three years a mayor is
elected from Varna to serve on
Stanley Township Council. The
council consists of a reeve,
deputy -reeve, six councillors and
a clerk with three assistants, PUC
commissioner and two road
superintendents. Speaking of
roads, all the gravel roads in
Stanley Township are now paved,
with many intersections having
traffic lights.
There is also a large fitness room
with computerized equipment.
Town people and local farmers
spend many hours at the
Complex.
Since farming has become more
computerized than in my day,
farmers have more leisure time.
Farmers do most of their chores
from the house by computers. By
punching the correct keys, the
computer sends the orders to a
robot which follows them
through. Just think, they can hit a
couple of keys, and the cattle and
pigs are fed! The smallest farm
today consists of 500 acres.
It's hard to imagine that this is
have been a few weeds! ! ! Today,
many' women work outside the
home and go to the supermarkets,
buying vegetables and fruits
markedwith that DREADFUL
sticker: Radiation. Some doctors
believe that this is a factor behind
new diseases.
Just think, less than a century
from now, in 2086, there will be
another great township celebra-
tion. It won't be 1-5-0, but it will be
2-5-0! I wonder what changes will
have taken place by then?
Oh dear, I hear the kettle whistl-
ing; I must run. It sure was nice to
reminisce about those good old
days.
Best Wishes
0 our many good friends
in Stanley Township
We at Durst Farm Centre
are proud to play a role
in forming the agricultural
history of Stanley Township.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
• Complete Line of Purina Chows
—Bags & Bulk
•Purina Health Products
•Purina Pet Chows
•Hyland Seeds
* Gallagher High Power Fencing
•Farm Hardware
•Feed Analysis
•Livestock Record Keeping Systems
•Garden Supplies
Bryan Len
Tony
Dic
i
PURINA
CHOWS
DURST FARM CENTRE
Highway No. 8 West Clinton
-482-7706 -
STORE HOURS: Monday to Friday 8am to 5 pm
Saturday 8 am -12 noon