Dipping into the past…

July 16, 2015 · 0 Comments

125 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 10, 1890
• ursuant to the instructions given by Shelburne Council, Mr. C. J. Wheelock, P.L.S., is now making a survey of Main Street with a view to the construction of sewers, and will proceed to prepare plans and estimates, and make an assessment of the real property to be benefited by the work. An attempt by Councillors Riky and Mason to “have Main and Owen Sound Streets watered as far as may be required, provided that the ratepayers on the portions of streets watered are satisfied to pay two-thirds of the cost by special assessment, and petition the Council to that effect,” was voted down in Council by Reeve William Jelly and Councillors Madill and Whitton – and the dust is flying yet. Reeve Jelly is having the necessary connections made for water service to the stores of Messrs. R. J. Thomas and A. B. Noble.
• By the 8 p.m. passenger train from Toronto last Thursday arrived the Rev. H. W. McTavish, who is to take charge of the Methodist flock in Shelburne for the next conference term, which may be five years. Officials and a number of members of the church were at the depot to receive him. Usually the reception is tendered to the incoming minister at the parsonage, but it was thought better to hold it in the spacious basement of the church on this occasion. A grand reception and hearty welcome was accorded Rev. Mr. McIntosh, who comes highly recommended and is well spoken of as a pulpit orator. About 200 members and adherents assembled. Tables were ready bending under their load of good, rich things prepared by the ladies, and soon all were seated, partaking of the abundant refreshments and tea. Next on the programme was the presentation of an address, accompanied by a beautiful and costly ring set, with three precious stones, to Miss Minnie Willson, who has left Shelburne — it is hoped only for a short time — to pursue further studies at Toronto Normal School. Since Miss Willson came as a teacher in the public school she has been an energetic and zealous worker for the Church and cause. She was organist in the church, a teacher in the Sabbath School, and held other offices which she filled well and efficiently.
• The directors of the Dufferin Central Fair met on Saturday last in Shelburne to make arrangements for the fall exhibition. The directors are quite enthusiastic in their work and the exhibition this year will no doubt be a grand one. The date of the exhibition is October 2 and 3.
• Owing to the wet weather in Orangeville on July 1st, Prof. Bready was unable to make his balloon ascension and parachute drop, and the splendid exhibition of fireworks was not given. The committee has decided to have these and a game of lacrosse on the evening of July 12, on the exhibition grounds, also a men’s half-mile foot race for a medal and a bicycle race for a medal. The grounds will be brilliantly lighted with electric lights. Open-air concerts by Shelburne and Orangeville bands. Gates open at 6 p.m., balloon ascension at 7 p.m. sharp. Admission, adults 15 cents, children 10 cents.

100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 8, 1915
• uly first was duly honoured in Shelburne on Thursday of last week. The weather was the main factor in not bringing the attendance and entertainment up to the expectations of the Driving Club, who had spared no efforts to put on an excellent programme for the day. The morning train from the north brought a large number from Dundalk and vicinity, as well the Durham lacrosse club, who were scheduled for an O.A.L.A. game. The morning train from the south also contained a heavy contingent. The morning was fine and clear and everything looked lovely, but as the day advanced and the crowd began to gather, the sky became cloudy and by noon a heavy downpour fell. It then cleared away for an hour, but returned and the rain continued for most of the afternoon. Shelburne won the lacrosse game 6-5.
• The 36th Peel Regiment has been instructed to raise an additional 150 officers and men for the three additional active service battalions now being raised for the Fourth Contingent. Any person in this district wishing to volunteer can have the necessary arrangements made by applying to the editor of the Economist, who will see that they are put in touch with proper authorities.
• r. M.D. Bechtel, of Horning’s Mills, submitted the following letter to the Shelburne Economist: “There has been a report circulated in Horning’s Mills and district, that I, the undersigned, am a German by birth and pro-German in sympathies. This I absolutely deny. My forefathers have lived in Canada and the United States for the past two or three centuries, and I am willing to swear to this before a magistrate if necessary. If this report is not stopped immediately, the necessary legal steps will be taken to punish the persons responsible for it.”

75 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, July 4, 1940
• he Department of National Defence announced last week that authority has been granted for formation of 11 Territorial regiments into which will be grouped all rifle, machine gun and tank units of the Canadian Active Service Force and the Non-Permanent Active Militia. The object is to give the opportunity to the MPAM units that have not been mobilized, to participate more actively in the war effort and help to furnish reinforcements for units overseas. One of the 11 units is the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton) Regiment, based in Brampton.
• Shelburne Platoon of the Lorne Scots Regiment is now in need of a bunch of recruits to “fill up the ranks,” and for a very good reason, for during the past week 17 members have signed up for active service. They went down to Brampton on Monday for medical inspection. The 17 are: Willis Armstrong, James Banks, Milford Doyle, Stewart Gilpin, John Harrison, Samuel McCauley, Hugh McConnell, Carman McKibbon, Thomas Madill, Carl Rombourgh. Harold Rutledge, Alvin Silk, Reginald Silk, Fred Smye, Kenneth Twitchett, Robert Watson and George Yokom
50 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, July 7, 1965
• dvance sale of reserved seats for the Saturday, August 7 Finals of the 1965 National Fiddle Contest will go on sale at the Albrecht Department Store in Shelburne Thursday morning.
• Several streets in Shelburne, among them First Avenue East and Andrew Street, have been given a new hardtop surface, thereby smoothing out some pretty rough concrete pavement.
• A late thaw is having its effect on Luther Marsh. The Department of Lands and Forests says the first observation of waterfowl was delayed about one week until April 27, when 30 Canada Geese were seen resting and feeding.

10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 7, 2005
• ext weekend promises to be one of the biggest of the summer in Orangeville. Events will include the 7th Annual Busker Streetfest on Broadway, the 26th Annual Lions Lobsterfest at Tony Rose Arena and the World Electronic Music Festival at the Fairgrounds.
• Canada’s “most poisonous weed” is not identified as a “toxic weed” in the manuals, says Dufferin County Weed Inspector Grant Ferguson, although it’s described as “most poisonous” in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Publication 505. Deputy Mayor John Ince of East Luther Grand Valley discovered the growth early this week while cutting grass along the Grand River opposite his Water Street home. He says it was a painful discovery as he unwittingly handled the weed and soon broke out in a rash. The weed — Poison Hemlock — somewhat resembles wild carrots, but some of it has grown to a height of about two metres. It’s on both sides of the Grand in Grand Valley, including the popular Hereward Park.