Dipping into the past…

September 23, 2015 · 0 Comments

125 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 25, 1890
• he front page of the Shelburne Free Press has a letter to the editor from a “Jennie June,” which describes some goings-on in two Toronto suburbs, West Toronto and Mimico. It says the CPR has commenced construction of machine shops in West Toronto and predicts that the Junction “will at once be incorporated a city.”
“I have frequently heard leading gentlemen in financial circles speak in very flattering terms of its prospects and beauties as a site for a large city, so a spin to Mimico having been promised by my escort, I, of course said ‘I shall be delighted.’ Swiftly we whirled down the ravine which winds through Nature’s picture, High Park, down to the Lake Shore Road, then across the classic Humber, and we were at Mimico. But what a surprise here awaited me. In my mind I had even associated Mimico with a railway station, some market gardens and a few comfortable homesteads. But behold, what a transformation a few months can accomplish. Today, everything is bustle and activity in the suburb. We found four large factories nearing completion. They are composed of the very large Brass Works, The Ontario Tin Works, Sheridan & Co.’s large factory for the manufacture of Pea’s furnaces, a factory for the manufacture, on a large scale, of office furnishings, etc., and another huge concern just preparing to build. One of the proprietors told us that five more of a similar plan will follow within a year. The same gentleman said they will construct an Electric Railway between Toronto and Mimico and light the town with electricity, a company having been formed and a charter secured for that purpose.”
• The Town of Orangeville has a grievance against the Canadian Pacific, the outcome of which will be watched with interest. It appears that by the terms of the bond by the Credit Valley Company, whose line has been taken over by the CPR on the receipt of the first bonus of $15,000, the company was to erect and maintain a free grain elevator and a separate passenger station at Orangeville for an indefinite time. Under the conditions of a similar bond made in favour of Orangeville when the second bonus of $15,000 was voted, the same company bound itself not to amalgamate with any other railway company, and not to extend its road any further west or east than Orangeville. Not one of these covenants has been kept. The Canadian Pacific has offered the town the old Credit Valley road bed, between Orangeville and Melville, as well as the old station grounds in settlement of the claim upon it for the non-fulfillment of the contract. But the offer is not acceptable.

100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 23, 1915
• ne of the Toronto speakers at the Patriotic Meeting, held in Shelburne Town Hall Wednesday night of last week, held up Collingwood’s contribution of $12,500 to the Patriotic Fund as a brilliant example for Shelburne to follow. Collingwood’s population at the last Dominion census was 7,090, so that the contribution averaged $1.76 a head. Taking Shelburne’s population at 1,113 as given by the last Dominion Census, Shelburne’s contribution of $5,1051.75 averages $4.63 per head, or more than three times Collingwood’s.
• It was announced Wednesday of last week that when troops return to Toronto Exhibition Camp from Niagara-on-the-lake they will not go by boat but on foot, the biggest and largest route march ever attempted in Canada. For weeks, Lt. Col. Bickford and staff have been working on the scheme. By November 4th, the whole camp of 15,000 men will reach Toronto.
• People of this district who may be approached by a man representing himself to be a Greek Catholic priest, asking aid for this country’s refugees in Armenia, had better beware. Such a man has been collecting money in cities and towns in Western Ontario for the avowed purpose of helping the needy refugees in Armenia. It is said he is a fakir and that the money he collects goes no farther than his own pocket.
• The Women’s Patriotic League of Shelburne will hold a flag day on Friday, September 24, Shelburne’s fair day. If you are approached by any of the young ladies to buy a flag put up your money, as it is for a good cause. The ladies of the league in Shelburne are doing a great work in sending supplies for hospital work and clothing for the soldiers.

75 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 26, 1940
• he weather for Shelburne Fair, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, was all that could be desired — from the standpoint of those who could attend. But it militated greatly against the attendance, as the fine days, following the unsatisfactory harvest weather that had preceded, meant that many of the farmers had to stay home to make up lost time in the fields. This unpreventable drop in attendance, coupled with a drop in the County grant, gives the Fair’s directors a greater problem with finances than usual.
• A Dominion-wide Red Cross drive for funds started Monday and next Tuesday, canvassers of the North Dufferin Branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society will start out to gather not less than $2,500 from residents of Shelburne and the Townships of Melancthon and Mulmur.
• This section of Ontario within a few miles of Camp Borden, is facing an immediate housing shortage. As far as is known, Shelburne has only one vacant residence and it is temporarily empty while arrangements are being made for its sale. When the home in which he was a tenant was sold, Traffic Officer Fred Kirk was obliged to vacate and move 15 miles south to find a home in Orangeville. Although Shelburne is 28 miles from Borden, soldiers, some of whom are instructors, say they prefer driving the distance daily for the sake of less crowded accommodation.

50 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 22, 1965
• aturday afternoon of this week should prove to be a highlight in the history of Dufferin Central Fair at Shelburne when the society stages its 98th annual exhibition since, for the first time, the program will include a competition to select Dufferin County’s 1965 Dairy Princess.
• A 15 per cent rebate to members of the premium paid to Dufferin Co-operative Medical Services, for the year ending April 30, 1965, was declared at the annual meeting, held in the basement of Tweedsmuir Presbyterian Church, Orangeville, on September 13. The meeting was the 20th annual gathering of the co-operative, which started as a hospital plan, expanded to a hospital-surgical plan and now, with hospitalization taken over the by the Ontario Hospital Commission, is operating a Surgical Medical insurance plan. The future of DCMS and 40 other medical co-ops was discussed with considerable interest following an address by Ed Schofield, of Co-Operative Medical Services Federation. In his opinion, medical co-ops should not assume that the introduction of government “Medicare” will end the usefulness of the co-operatives. There were areas such as dental care, psychiatry, optometry and chiropractic care could operate prepayment plans.

10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 22, 2005
• ne of the Ontario tourist industry’s best kept secrets entered its second year of operation last Saturday when a diesel engine and two packed passenger coaches headed down the Credit Valley to the north end of Brampton. Having enjoyed sold-out excursions in its first year of operation with a single coach, the Credit Valley Explorer will soon have three classic coaches available for the 70-kilometre round trip, which features all the comforts of rail passenger service in the 1950’s plus catering by the staff of the Orangeville Train Station, located in downtown Orangeville in the former Canadian Pacific station.
• Dufferin County has been offered three choices of waste diversion methods, including composting and the choice of the County’s Community Development Committee would be a combination of two of them. Following a Tuesday afternoon presentation by the Synxx Energy Solutions Inc. and an evening meeting at Dufferin County Museum, the committee reached a consensus to have Synxx and a second proponent, Jemev Waster Recycling, make presentations directly to County Council.
• Mono residents have been given a first look at proposed changes to the Town’s Office Plan, some of which required by the new Provincial Greenbelt Legislation. About 100 residents of the Town of 7,000 were on hand at the Municipal Offices Tuesday, some to express concerns about what might happen to their quiet, green countryside.