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The Huron Expositor, 1968-10-31, Page 5(0. • • ki( wo -r - A illop .insurance Established 90- Years ,Agg . . _ • The Mc -1(1110p Mutual Fire 'Insurance Company originated at a meeting of interested per- sons held in the Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, on Wednes- day March 1, 187P,. The pur- pose of the meeting was to con- sider the formation of a farm- -. er's fire insurance company. When it appeared sufficient interest was present the com- pany was formed and given the name that for 92 years has been familiar in this area.Later the same month at a further meet- ing more than the amount of insurance iequired for organiz- ation, Was secured. The company •becarne• - 'official with the election of directors on April 3, five from each Of the tewnships of McKil- lop, Tuckersmith and Hullett. A few days 'cater the following officers were elected: preaident, G. E. Cresswell; vice-pretident, W. J. Shannon; secretaryatreas- urer, M. Y, McLean. The first agents appointed were David Sproat, Robert McMillan and Thomas Neilands. McKillop directors were: Robert Gov,en- lock, T. E. Hays, John Thomp- son, James Scott, W.J.Shannon Tuckersmith - G. E. Cresswell, James Landesborough, Robert Fowler, Sr., James McDouald; Hullett- John McMil- lan, George Watt, Thomas Moon, Robert McMiclaae,l, T, Neilands (later MIAMI Y.,190u Britton). In a short time applications for insuranct totalled $160, 000. In four months this had doubled with a42 members and no losses' by fire. Nine months later the first fire loss was given as $115. For some timelive direct- ors, all from one township , re- tired annually. The second pre'sident was W.J. Shannon followed by John McMillan of Hullett., James „Interest in Lacrosse in Lacrosse was one of the earliest games played in Seaf- orth. It shared with cricket and baseball the interest of the sporting community in 1869. But like football, lacrosse did not really meet its heyday until later. Interest in the sport began to grow after this exhibit- ion match described in the Aug. 18, 1876 Expositor. ' "Thel.acrosse match be- tween a team of the Six Nations Indians and the home club was played on the Agricultural groundsonTuesday last. There was quite a large number of spectators and the game created considerable interest: Some - very good play was made by the Seaforth boys but they can- not match the Indians, who play a thoroughly scientific game and with great,ease, The home team took two games and.the Indians three, thus winning the gam& Playing was kept up for about two hours. There are some very good players among the Seaforth boys ar4with good practice they will saion be able to hold their own with any club." • They even had night games in those days as the report of The Expositor for Aug. 24, 1877 tells. "The lacrosse carnival in the Agricultural grounds on Tuesday evening last was only a •partial success. There was a very fair attendance of spectat- ors, and the night was most pleasant, but the illumination was not what was anticipated. There were no calcium lights nor magnesium balloons, and but tw,o c,olored lights. were dis- pl ayed„,during the evening. This defect, however, is not charge - 69 able to the lacrosse club, but is due to the fact that the per- son who agreed to furnish the illumination failed to properly darry out his agreement. The costumes (players were dressed in masauerade costumes) were all that could be desired, and the playing was very fair, and had the lights been as good as expected, it would have been a' very brilliant affair. The club, to make up for the partial dis- appointment of Tuesday night, intend giving a free exhibition of this exciting and interesting game at an early day, of which due notice will be given." • But it was in the late 1880's and early 90's that lacrosse really became great. The July 26, 1889 Expositor carried the following story. Ke r of McKillon followed and wa pres'dent for four•years,; T use of steam operaa- etr reshers caused the cornp- arly'WPM e.911cerfl and by 1884., the farmer who was having threshing done was obliged to have a ladder long enough to reach at least two feet above the barn eaves tinting the whole time threshing was in progress. Membership fee was reduced from $1.50 to $1.00 and live- stock belonging to the insured was to be rated as contents of a building struck by lightning. T. E. Hays was president in 1884 and membership reach- ed, 1656. In 1892 he was suc- ceeded by D. Ross of Stanley Township, who died in 1895. Directors were now from Stan- ley, Hibbert and Goderich town- ships as well. George Watt was president for three years follow- ed by J. B. McLean, Kippen from 1898 to 1916 (18 years); aaa James Connolly of Goderich township was the next president, unti1.1926 at least, perhaps longer. Robert Archibald was president in the 1950's andlohn L. Malone in the 1960's. The 1968 officers are: president Wm. R. Pepper, Brucefield; Wm. S. Alexander, R. R. #2, Walton; Mrs. Keith Sharp, R. R. #2, Seaforth is secretary -treasurer. A unique feature is the facr that from 1876 to 1966 -1)90 years -• there were only six secretary -treasurers. They were: M. Y. McLean, two years; W. J. Shannon, 1878 - 1900; T. E. Hays, 1901 - 1923; D. F. McGr- egor, 1924 -1932; M. A. Reid, 1933 - 1958; W. E. Southgate, 1958 - 1966; Mrs. Keith Sharp is the present secretary- treasurer. • a,a0osata ,carati Naas, In 1876 the McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed to serve the rural areas, rticularly the farm policy holders. The company • protects more farms this year than ever, but also many urban homeowners ha.ve also found it a good company There's a reason Why so many are switching to McKillop Fire. Find out what . we can do for you. , YEARS 0 SERVICE McKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE _ INSURANCE 0 3SGC17',A.1•1-3r. Instituted the ard of April, 1876, BEAPORTH, ONT.: Me..1.101 Boyns,Ormod Puterms, Expolirro• Omen, 11388. 1.1 VA .I1 V PAP At ft LIMTg.K"'"C • PficKILLOP MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPAN President William R. Pepper .. Vice -President Wm. S. Alexander ' Secretary -Treasurer Mrs. Margaret Sharp Robert Archibald DirectorsC. W. Leonhardt W. R. Pepper N. Trewartha -ft , Agents James_Keys William Leiper, Jr. .Harold Squirre • Donald G. Eaton ' V. J. Lane . Selwyn Baker ' George Coyne J. H. McEwing Harvey Fuller A. Broadfoot John Moylan afOrth HEAD OFFICE Serving Since 1876 — Phone 527-0400 ; (I A THE, 140R014 10Syr it( EAORTH, ONT,,OT U-4 From Harpurhey to-Seaforth One of the first merchants to move from Harpurhey to Seaforth was James C. Laidlaw, who in 1869 occupied the south store in the block built that year by Samuel Dickson. The store has been occupied since 1923"by Phillip',s Whole - Beginning of Booth Salt . The above cry heralded , the beginning of Seaforth's first primary industry. A salt company, formed by Drs. Cole- man & Gouinlock-started drill- ing in the vicinity of the rail- road tracks in Maich of 1870 • and salt was' struck in June of the same year. The Expositor reports the discovery of salt "About 10 a. m. Wedne,sday last,. our village went into ecstacies by the report 'Salt Struck in the Seaforth Well'. The propriet- ors contemplate erecting salt blocks, immediately and if all ' goes well, the Seaford] Salt Works will be in full blast by the Ist. of September next. At -an Amen!". „ Xlle,11.4.t. igt.re; JO -Y:1; ia70athe)allicouery it heralded , asi"TiwiGieateir Salt'Disovery in' North America." ' The Expositor continues with a great deal of optimism. "the salt strike in the Seaforth well is unparalleled on the North American Continent, At the time of .going to press, the tools are working in solid salt, to a depth Of over 100 feet, and no signs of being nearly through the stratum. We under- stand that it is the intention of the proprietors to drill through it, if they can do so without letting in the Indian Ocean. We are looking forward' to the time when Seaforth will be the great salt centre of the World." Alas, the salt mine did not quite live up to the editor's ex- pectations! In 'late 1872 a second block Seaforth 's First Citizens (continued from page 4) who attend this school. And 1 say with the utmost conviction' that the overwhelining majority of the Young people in our school to -day can hold their heads high. Their conduct and their attitudes towards life-- are at least as responsible, if not more so, than that of previous generations ofacen-agers, in- cluding my own. The manager of Skinner Bus Lines of London, who have taken our students (3 bus -loads) to Expo and one bus load to Washington, took t h e trouble to phone me to congrat- ulate me on the conduct of our students, as reported to him by his bus drivers. He also told me that the lady in Washington (an - American) who takes ,the students gp a conducted tour of Washing- t6n, also mentioned specifically to him the courtesy and matur- ity shown by our students. Re- ports such as this make a Prin- cipal very proud of his students and certainly make some of the things said about these young people appear malicious and stupid. Let all of us who a r e adults be boosters of our young people rather than knockers. sale and Retail Fruit dealer's. When the Cardno block was completed ii 1877 the firm - now Laidlaw and Fairley - moved to a store in the new block. Here shown infront of the store are (left) Mr. Fairley, Mr. Laidlaw and Mr. Haxby, in Seaforth was set up south of the railway tracks on the east side of Main Street. It was described in the December 27 issue of The Expositor. "The new salt block erect- ed...by th-F-Merchants Salt Com- pany, of this village, is now in successful operation. This block has been constructed on • an entirely new -and improved plan, under the immediate . supervision of Mr. M. P. Hayes, to whom is due the credit of in- venting and introducing these new improvements." In May 1873 the Carter salt block was begun. The in- dustry flourished for some time in the town. • In September 1874 there was a boiler explosion at -"the Gray, YOUng"and Sparling block. Much danaage was done • but no sne was ,hurt, and the operatih carried on. In May, 1874, bulk ship- ment began from the Seaforth station, The Expositor said: "We understand that the salt manufacturers of this vill- age have made arrangements with the authorities of the •Grand Trunk for the conveyance of salt in bulk from Seaforth to Chicago. These arrangements are So favourable that our manu- facturers can,sell their salt in the American market upon as idvantageous terms. as in the Canadian market. A few days ago, Mr. Armitage, Manager of thevierehant's Salt Company here, effected a sale of 150 tons of coarse salt, to an extensive Chicago packing house, at $O...— per ton, delivered. This is the highest price ever realized for Canadian salt in Chicago market, and speaks well fOrpthe superior quality of Seaforth salt." But the next year the mark- et slowed. The February 5,1875 EXPositor says: "Owing to the extreme dull- ness tithe salt market and the lew,priee efatheaart4a1e," 'the several wt.:kiln town -have -been closed for some time. This has been an unfortunate occurrence for the town, as a large number of men have been out of em- pldylnent, and the effect on the meicantile trade must have been considerably felt. We understand that all the salt' works in the county, as well as those of Kincardine, have been closed up tor the same reason." It was an omen of things„ to come for although the salt ' business did pick up again it was eventually to die in all the. area wells but those at Goderich. In 1882 a salt association was set up to help market salt. The' April 7 Expositor reported: "The Salt manufacturers of Huron, Perth and Bruce have at length succeeded in completing - arrangements for the formation of a Manufacturer's Association. The new organization is to be called 'The Canadian Salt Association'. A regular scale of prices has been fixed and all the aalt to be shipped has to be sold through the central office., which; we linderstanci:'' is to be, loc a ted z bt-Chn tona Each manufacturer.binds himself un- der a penalty of $500. not to violate the rules of the Associat- ion. The price in the meantime has been fixed at 80 cents on board cars. " aa• When this association banded in 1885 it signalled the . beginning of -the end for the salt industry in Seaforliaa,_ FOR THE FINEST SELECTION OF DIAMONDS WATCHES N JEWELLERY FREE GIFT WRAPPING ANSTETT JEWELLER PHONE 527-1720 GIFTS SEAPORM ;,-"Ver..:,`.-",