Dipping into the past…

May 21, 2014 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 19, 1864 • From The Sun, Orangeville, compliments of Dufferin County Museum and Archives: His Excellency the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Canada has issued an order commanding the several volunteer corps to assemble at noon on Tuesday the 24th inst. and fire a feu-de-joie in honor of Her Majesty’s birthday. The anniversary of Her Majesty’s birthday will be celebrated at Caledon Falls with considerable élan – in the morning by a military parade and review of the Alton Infantry Company under Capt. Riddall, and in the evening by the usual games and sports, in addition to fishing, boating &c. The Falls are a favourite resort of pleasure parties, and will, we doubt not, be visited by a large portion of the pleasure-seeking community on the 24th. TRAMWAY TO BRAMPTON – We imagine that no more important subject can be brought under the notice of a large number of our readers, than the construction of a tramway between here and Brampton. As a cheap and ready means of communication it would be incomparably superior to a gravel road, and following the valley of the Credit southward to the base line of Caledon, thence along Hurontario to Brampton, would cost little more for construction than a gravel road and would be much easier to keep in repair. The grade thus obtained would, it is believed, enable one horse to draw from five to six tons over it with ease, making it the cheapest, readiest and most convenient means for the transportation of produce that could be devised without the agency of steam. In the United States, as well as in Ireland, England and Wales, tramways have proved a profitable investment, and wherever they have been tried they are preferred, even to railroads. THE AMERICAN WAR – From the conflicting and contradictory dispatches from the seat of war in the neighbouring States, it is extremely difficult to form a correct idea of the operations of the past two weeks in Virginia. From the North, South and West, the Federals have advanced and concentrated on Richmond, deeming no sacrifice of human life too great to overcome the obstacles that impede their progress. When Grant’s army, numbering about 200,000 men, crossed the Rapidan in three columns, Lee, who was entrenched at Mine Run, was compelled to fall back in order to intercept the advancing column under Gen. Hancock, which had taken the direct route to Richmond and would, if unopposed, have outflanked him. This accomplished, three days’ fighting took place, and the Confederates fell back to their entrenchments in the vicinity of Spottsylvania, where a series of battles have been fought with varied results. In Georgia, a victory is claimed for the Federals. The siege of Charleston has again commenced, but as yet with no better result than last fall. 125 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 23, 1889 • Death claimed another inmate of the County Jail on Friday last. Robert Ritchie, hailing from Mulmur, fell prey to consumption, and death ended his earthly troubles at the time mentioned. He was 35 years of age and had nearly completed a three-month sentence for vagrancy. Coroner Henry and jury viewed the remains and found the usual verdict of death from natural causes. • The Shelburne Cheese Factory will commence operations on Monday, May 27. Patrons will please take notice. • Shelburne Council, meeting last Friday evening, passed a motion that Reeve Jelly and Councillors Riky and O’Flynn be a committee to enquire into the advisability and practicability of having property taxes paid in installments and giving a discount for early payment, the committee to report at the next council meeting. The Ontario Pump Co. made a submission asking for an extension of time to finish its waterworks contract with the Village, and to have the well excavated six feet in diameter instead of 12 feet. A considerable discussion of the matter led to the following resolution being passed: That whereas the Ontario Pump Co. has offered to release the Corporation of this Village from their contract for waterworks, the Council is of the opinion that it is in the best interests of the Village that the said offer be accepted. The motion carried 4-1 with only the Reeve in opposition. 100 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 21, 1914 • R. L. Mortimer, proprietor of the Shelburne Free Press, in his weekly column The Notebook, comments on the current state of politics locally: “The Liberal Conservatives of this county will meet in convention at Shelburne on Friday, June 5th at 1:00 o’clock to select candidates to represent the county at the next General Election for the House of Commons and the Local [Ontario] Legislature. As far as we can learn John Best, MP, the present member in the House of Commons, will have a walk-over at the convention and will be the unanimous choice of the party. This will be but a just and deserving tribute to Mr. Best, who has filled the position with ability and in the interests of his constituency. For the Local Legislature, now ably represented by C. R. McKeown, K.C., MPP, there is said to be a number of aspirants who are anxious to fill the position. This is quite natural in a one-sided constituency like Dufferin, but we see no reason why Mr. McKeown should not again be the choice of the convention. He is a good platform speaker, able to defend his position or that of his party, in any debate either in the local legislature or elsewhere. He is now one of the party whips and stands a good chance for further promotion. It is the general opinion in this part of the county that Mr. McKeown deserves the support of the delegates at the coming convention and that support means his re-election as MPP for Dufferin.” • The Bell Telephone Company has a number of men at work in Shelburne putting on another cable so they can do away with a number of wires entering the village from outside points. They are also putting the cables underground across Main Street to the Central Office from Owen Sound Street. • The stone walls of Shelburne’s new Post Office will be completed this week, ready for the roof. The contractors for this part of the work, Messrs. Greer and Lethbridge, of Owen Sound, have done a very credible piece of work. The carpenters have the inside of the building ready for lathing. R. A. Jelly, who has the contract for the roof work and plumbing, has been engaged on the latter for days past. • Orangeville Mayor J. L. Island, will be Dufferin’s County Crown Attorney. Mr. W. J. L. McKay, who has been Crown Attorney and Clerk of the Peace, for more than 22 years, has forwarded his resignation to the Ontario Government to take effect immediately and Mayor Island has been appointed to succeed him on the recommendation of Dufferin MPP C. R. McKeown. 75 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 25, 1939 • The number of Dufferin County residents who went to Toronto Monday to see King George and Queen Elizabeth probably numbered in the thousands. From Orangeville and vicinity about 1,000 are said to have gone by train alone. At the Shelburne CPR station 543 tickets were sold, about equally divided between children and adults. Included among those went by train from Shelburne were pupils from Honeywood, Horning’s Mills and Primrose, as well as Shelburne, schools. The only disappointed ones from this area were those who tried to get a look at the royal couple as their train passed through Alliston Monday evening. A big crowd was on hand there but the Royal Train, which was an hour late leaving Toronto, did not slow up at Alliston at all. Said one disappointed Shelburneite: “Oh well, I saw the Royal Train anyway and maybe some of the people who went to Toronto didn’t see the train.” The special train from Hanover, which picked up the Shelburne passengers, stopped at 8:15 a.m. and was back in Shelburne at 10:30 p.m. Other special CPR trains ran from Owen Sound, Orangeville and Brampton. 50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, May 20, 1964 • About 20 Dufferin-area Girl Guides enjoyed their first camp of the season at new grounds acquired on the Saugeen River, several miles west of Riverview. The camp commander was Mrs. Russell Tweedy and Guides with their adult leaders were present from Shelburne, Dundalk and Orangeville. • A delegation from Simcoe County has urged the federal government to provide funds for the immediate dredging of Collingwood harbour, which has been seriously affected by low water on the Great Lakes. 10 YEARS AGO Friday, May 23, 2004 • Melancthon Council was told last Thursday that attempting to control activity at a proposed gravel pit will lead to an Ontario Municipal Board hearing. More than 30 people were in the council chambers to discuss changes in the township’s Official Plan and zoning bylaw to permit a new gravel pit and processing facility proposed by Strada Aggregates Inc.