The Huron Expositor, 1979-12-20, Page 1570A,: .;F,,.zr: F^...3,p^MM ,m.mn.w <&
Serendipity
by fl u.. Gibb
rist
"Tse toq'.ittie to make a speech
To speak a piece l'se too sinal-,
Can't .say anything a tall
But;(Calls out loudly) Merry Christmas toyou All"
Christmas For Little Lads and Lassies, one of the books;
my uncle used to ' guide him through the hazards .of
preparing the atnnuai Christmas concert* recommends the
above poem for students spending their first year in class.,
The recitations in the book were on subjects varying from.
how to, butter up Santa, bow to persuade people, you'd:
been s: good boy all year to those On ,the more serious.
sptritu{at meaning of Christmas,
The concert; 'guidebook neo includes. _drills, like The
Parade - of The Elves for sitnall bays, -pantonines on.
hanging 'OP the Christmas stocking to dialogues and short
plays..ltnshort,itof'sefl nethingforlustabaiuteveryonet
no matter what their talents.
With, my uncle's and mother's; collection of concert
books,, once stored in our spare 'room, 1 'could keep
occupied for at least 3.0 minutes at a stretch as a kid. When
a cousin graduated as a teacher;, and the collection of
concert boob was donated to the cause, I felt one of my
major sources, of entertainment had been unthinkingly
tossed away,.
Now a teacher who taught in the Kinburn and Hullett
Township schools for over 20 years, told me at the start of
eagh school year, the concert was one of the first things on .
her mind and she: started planning for it almost:
immediately. Her rationale in concert planning was to
divide; the evening's entertainment into some lighthearted
material on the Santa Claus theme and in the later stages of
the concert, bring in the religious significance "to give
them something they couldgo away with,
Music period was used to learn and rehearse the musical
numbers in the concert,' dialogue and recitations Were
practisedover and over again. in English class and recess
and noon hours were devotedto general rehearsals.,
The teacher said'the trustees traditionally looked after
locating the tree for the front of the school and students:
•
' took on the decorating chores, often covering the
blackboard* and windows with stencilled: Christmas..
designs. .
.THE CHILDREN'S NIGHT
The concert was' undoubtedly the highlight of tbe.school
year events, and "it was the children`s night'Laccording to
the teacher. Later, when rural schools were closed, and the
centra school became a fact of life, the teacher said the; . ,
concert tradition was. continued, However, with a larger
student body to, consider, each class only had about 10 •
minutes to perform their share of theevening's:
entertai'nmeat. -
RenaCaldwell of Kippen also has some lively memories
'of: the ;concerts between 19551959: inl.S. No. 7 Hibbert.
Mrs. Caldwell said, growing up in Egtnondville, she came:
from abackground;of excellent school .concerts directed by
that school's teacher; Miss Chesney.
In S.S.No. 7. she said with a smile, there was a saying
"we; Weren't awful smart in Hibbert, but my, we have
wonderful feet.'!- The wonderful feet refer naturally to the:
stepdancing, long &tradition in the'Staffa4aomarty neck of
the woods. h - .
When Mrs. Caldwell was teaching, in S.S.No. 7, she had'
an average of 26 pupils, and like all rural school. concerts,
every student had to have. a part. She said she collected
material as she went along,until shehad something that
F• worked in each student .
Rena Caldwell belieies tads in the Country get a bigger
kick out of things like concerts than their counterparts in
town, She said the senior students in Grade' 7 and 8
• performed a play, while the younger children took part in
rhythm band numbers', Music' students and dancers in the .
school performed solos and of course, there' was the
flddlin' and stepdancin".
• When asked' for.. some stories about' the Hibbert
concerts,. Rena. Caldwell rescued a carefully preserved
program from, her scrapbook, a program that lets tis step 4
back in time.
. It. was the year when Robert Munn took on the duties of
emcee, and conducted the concert: ,in the style of the::
popular Ed Sullivan Show. ;.�
CONCEIt3T AT SS. NO. 7
Mr. Munn opened the concert with, "I am very glad to.
aitiyou all here tonight. I' also want to `thank Ed for letting
me M.C. this show here it S.S.47,.:Hibbert. We have quite
a program lined up for you and w. e hope you, enjoy it."
Now just like any television show, the concert had to
have sponsors -the difference was that these sponsors all; w -
lived in the school neighbourhood: Here • de just a few •
examples- "Want your hair waved? Want to look your best' '
for'Christrnas? Cai1' Mrs. Jack Kinsman br Mrs. Ross
Hoggarth for the best in hair styling." or "Hens quit
laying? Sell them and get your eggs from Lloyd McLean,
phone Henan 670 r 22 or from Tom ;Drover, phone Hensel -
670r 41." or "Now is the time. when that lane needs:
' .cleaning Out, just give Ed Chappel or Ross Hoggarth a call.
Service with a smile; is their motto."
Now the entertainment part of the concert opened' with
the :choir, under the "direction Of Mrs. Harold:Sturgis, who .,
emcee Munn called', `aur flower . of the musical world,"
' singing Now 1 Wonder, followed' by an appropriately
Scottish number - Wee Cooper from Fife. • .
Rena. Caldwell: recalls that no ;matter how 'stormy the.;, ..
lads and 10551
•
• t at at in CfrriSirrillat shows .
Tuesdey, :cember 2S .
• 8: 0pon.on Touch the ,
Christtaa• week bring*
three prms 0 locals
broads ec-Karl &buessler
' m C.i3.0 iistepers
to
night, the parents, relatives and friends of the ,students
Armed out in, full force for the concei .
One year, she said, the three Staffa area; school* - :S.S.
jointt►
No 4, andl7' combined eff4r�•tSl bola a ca ceck in 'the
l.
But now, to 8et back to the S.S. No. 7 concert.
In true concert tradition,, $onnie Dick andWilma
• enteitainedd with recitations, while the waltz: country dance
was performed by Ruth Ann Coleman, Peter and Nancy
Faircloth, Reg and, Ronnie Rick,. ,!moue Wr gbt„ Patricia,
Harris and Karen Ssrarlet.
The Grades One and Two pupils entertained with a joint
recitation, and Nelson Howe brought out one of his famous,
fiddles. The rhyth m band tapped their way through the
nationalt anthem and the. choir performed :Santa's
Laughing Song, 1 Want A.'Hippopotamus for Christmas
and the ever -popular cbidiren's song, The Tattle Engine;
That Could.';
The Hig.hland Schottische a Margaret Hoggarth,
g Nance
_ 8
Margaret Boa, Carol , owc and Adeline el e Chappela c
to show off some toe tapping and Bob Munn ;took, a break,
from his emceeing duties to play a violin solo.
Finally, atthe end of the concert, Wayne Coleman, the
emcee the year before, was asked to stand up and take a
bow,
The concert ended with the choir singing Merry
Christmas, ;and of ,course, the appearance of. Santa.
Once again, the Christmas' concert had been, a
community reminder of the joys of the holiday season.
While rural schools have disappeared, and town: schools
have swelled, fortunately the tradition of Chrisimus,
concerts is still alive and well in this part of Huron County.
oaesoosss
I would like to add a note, of very special thanks to the
former teachers andstudents who helped recall some very
special Christmas concert memories. These people. include;
Mrs. Walt Webster and ',Mrs. Bill Livingstone of Clinton, '
Art Finlayson and Bob Aberhart of Seaforth and Mrs.
Rena Caldwell of the Kippen area. 1 only wish time had.
permitted me to talk' to more people about concerts in the''
past.
I hope . everyone_ :has a. very enjoyable and relaxing:
holiday season.
HURON -BRUCE FEDERAL
LIBERAL.
NOMINATING.
CONVENTION .
WILL U NELD AT
1
Blyth and District
Community Centre,
Blyth, Ontario
a 'NURSDAY,JANUARY, 3rd ,19
AT 11:15 P.M.
for the purpose of selecting a candidate to represent
the Liberal party n the Federal' riding of
Huron-Brece in the nest Federal election.
..GUEST`: SPEAKER
Hofl.Eigene .Whelan
Fortier. Minister of Agriculture
MEMBERSHIPS
The constitution provides th t only paid upmembera
of the Hpron BruceLberal Association shall be.
entitled to vote. Seth memberships, mist,.be
obtained not less than 72• basis.. ,prior to". the
commencement of the convention. Renewals of
,previoui membership however, may be;obtained up
to the dine of the commencement of the conventlon.
Membershipt wills' cost 52.00 tach and may be
obtained' teem. the Lberal• Association Chairman in .t
va
the rlous msoicipslities within the hiding r from
JACK HORAN, SECRETARY
RR. NO 4 WALTON. ONT.
TEL. 34S-2$2
STUDIO 12
PRESENTS
s 1) [)t UMBER
8:00—p. tn..
TV NEW
s:00-6: O p -m- VIDEO TAPE
of_ Norman Mcleon's log . co btn; .
in Seaforth
-st305•i:0o p.m.' STRATFORDJAIL
Christmas Show
featuring John Sinclair,
Poul McDougall, & Ted Schinbein
1:00 p m. LIONS TV BINGO
ti -30 p m: GABLE TV BOWLING
Heather Ake vs tom' Meyers
CABLE T.V. 345-2341
On Monday December 241
in the third hour .of ikon
fn's; Morningside
11..011. a.n yo
Vain, bear .document erlt
"The Virgin Wry."
A former Rrodh area
resident Joanne Elligspa
Bender is featured ' on
T HURON EXPOSITOR,. DEC
9,71:00
Music by Solid Ivory
$5.00 per.couple
Proceeds for the. Building,
iFund.
►s:
O'%F%HH4I L.
111)'1 Ei
This week at. d ,$aturdayNlatlne
Darcy North.
Show
Next week $: Sat. Matinee,
Graefrs Harris
F i \ l• 1•001)
i" iNt1•. 1• ti 11'.1{ 1 `I\'411.\
As the season of good *ill comes to
us' once -again, .we take the opportunity
to. bid our frieaasds, a Merry Chrstmasi'
�EAFCRTI I OPTIMISTS
baby. . yr
otoh gen
Ss. ars
mtev -
%sc. to
DOS-": d04mieo's'p1x.^'•
C' t
Tickets available from Jack McLlwain, Ron.
Driscoll, Bob & , Betty's Variety.
THE VAN EGMOND
FOUNDATION
extends to you and your family,
Christmas
Greetings.
For those special';Aifts,
consider:
• Von Egmond Hastinotes $1.00
Von Egmond House Sketch S 2.00
(notal and sketch illustrated
by George Daly)
• "the Price of Liberty" $3.00 t
( a biography of Col. A. Von Egmond)
• Personale ed• Canada Company
Land Eeasefor 1 sq.. foot at the
Van Egmond Heritage property
$10.00
Until Christmas only. Tickets 'to the
"1837 farmers* Revolt"
a professional •theatre presentation at
SPS, Jan. 11 by Young, Peoples' Theatre,
Toronto. meg, 53. per seat.)
2'"for SS,
. Orders token at Larone`s ,„
-or shop' by•teiep' fl i 127.1860_..
GREAT:
LAST
MUTE
GIF,
•
IDEA
,Vouchers for
the, 1980
Myth
Summer.'
Fe civ f¢
Book of 4: out hof$
lobe exohtrld:
for tickefe
next suoppor.
Adults $6.Oo
Senor
Citizens $13.00
Children. -$8,00:
Order
ttoda
Send a cheque or
money order to
,Blyth Centre
' f or the Ar
Box 219, Blyth
or Call 523.9300
•
'Seaforth
Next Week Wed. to Sat...
Krazy, Bey
OPEN NEWYEARS E
ns
o. n
ase
'ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE.
$4.00 PER PERSON.
" DICK( 'm the. DONUTS "
50'sRock do Roll
y,
anuai
Vojens (Denmark)
vs.
Seaforth (Lao,F) Midgets
Advance Tickets. -
$2.00 Adults -
$1.00 Students .
PublicSchool Free.
Game Time 3:)6p m:•
Seaforth Arena
TICKETS, AVAILABLE FROM ALL PLAYERS AND
Seaforth Arena, Bob . & " Betty's Variety, Roth's Food Market;
Canadian Tire, Sill's Hardware, . Triangle . Discount, •
, Huron
Expositor, Stedmans, The Forge.
Ot 11e
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