Dipping into the past…

September 9, 2015 · 0 Comments

125 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 11, 1890
• n extensive smash-up took place on the CPR about three miles from Owen Sound Friday afternoon, in which great damage was done to the property, although no person was seriously injured. A freight train, consisting of 19 carloads of heavy freight, with two engines, left the Owen Sound yard about 3:30 p.m. and reached a heavy grade known as Black’s Cut when it broke into three portions. The rear and centre portions of the train ran back and those who were aboard were unable to check them with the hand brakes. The afternoon express, leaving Owen Sound at 3:55, had just rounded a curve when engineer Connors of the passenger train noticed the freight cars rapidly approaching. He stuck to his post, however, until he had put on the brakes, reversed the locomotive and alarmed those aboard of the danger by vigorous use of the whistle. The baggagemen on the train also saw the impending crash and jumped. The engineer and firemen then left their posts and just as they jumped the freight caboose struck with great force, shoving the tender half-way through the baggage car. The caboose and three cars containing flour, corn and ice, were piled upon the locomotive and caught fire. Although there were many passengers on the train, none was seriously injured, although a large number were bruised by being knocked against the seats in front of them. Some who heard the whistle had time to put their heads out the window and see the cause of the trouble and in their attempt to escape were thrown down in the aisles and injured in the fall. The afternoon train to Toronto was cancelled and no passenger train left Owen Sound until Saturday morning.
• Some thought when J. T. Parks, leader of the Shelburne Citizens Band and other members of the band, left town last week with Mr. John Jelly, that the band would collapse. Nothing of this kind will happen, as all the horns have been taken up and soon the band will be a “corker.” Last Saturday evening the boys, though considerably handicapped, pluckily gave a concert on Main Street and also played on the march with Walter Perkins as leader. The playing was very creditable.
• There was an exceedingly lively time one evening last week in Mr. Joshua Reid’s field, west of Shelburne. Mr. Reid sold a steer some time ago to S. F. M. O’Flynn and the said steer was pasturing along with other cattle and a cross bull in the field. Mr. O’Flynn took W. C. Richardson, Harry White and Jonathon Sleightholm with him to secure the animal and get it out of the field. Messrs. O’Flynn and Richardson took a roundabout way to evade the bull and secure the steer, while Messrs. White and Sleightholm were ready to lasso the animal when it came within their reach. Unfortunately, they had a bloody rope with them that attracted the other animals to such an extent that two old cows made a raid on them and ran them out of the field. The bull attended to Messrs. O’Flynn and Richardson and treed them on short notice. It is said that they were both brave fellows while up the tree and called to the others not run away as the cows would not hurt them. However, the steer is still at large in the pasture field.
• There is yet hope for Orangeville in the matter of manufacturing industries. Mr. Thomas Stevenson will commence at once the erection of a large three-story brick foundry with moulding shop attached, at the foot of Broadway. The new building will be utilized for the manufacture of the Turnbull self-binder, about 50 of which have been turned out this year and of which it is expected to place 200 in the market next season. Erection of the new machine shops will be commenced at once.
• Fourteen Shelburne businessmen have petitioned the Village Council concerning construction of a drainage system on Main Street. The petition criticizes the bylaw authorizing of sewer line, stating: “we deem the terms of the proposed bylaw, copy of which has been served upon us, most inequitable and unjust, as well as extravagant.” The petitioners asked that their names be stricken from an earlier petition seeking the drainage system and said, “we repudiate all authority of the said Reeve and Council to proceed upon and under said petition and to pass said bylaw under and by the authority of said petition so far as we are concerned.” The bylaw required all Main Street merchants to contribute to the cost of the proposed system.

100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 9, 1915
• elancthon Station: We would like to remind some of the parents of the neighbourhood that it is time they begin to bestir themselves and lend a hand towards building up the Gravel Road Sunday School and not leave all the responsibility of such a worthy cause on the shoulders of the few that are good enough to attend and keep it open every Sunday. We understand that years ago this was a strong Sunday School with a large attendance and there is no reason why it should not be as large at the present time.
• Lorne Deuvall and Edgar Reburn, young boys aged 14 and 11, respectively, from Shelburne, appeared before Judge Fisher on Monday afternoon in Orangeville. They had already appeared before Magistrates Falconer and Hall in Shelburne, and pleaded guilty to the charge of burglarizing several stores in Shelburne and stealing cash from the tills. On Monday, Inspector C. W. Norton, of the Children’s Aid Society, told the court he had investigated the home conditions and surroundings of both boys. On his recommendation Judge Fisher made Lorne Deuvall a ward of the Children’s Aid and directed that he should out of his first earnings reimburse all monies stolen. The CAS inspector has already secured a good home for him. Edgar Reburn was handed over to his sister, who has agreed to take charge of him for three years. In the opinion of the inspector both children are bright and intelligent, and with care should develop into good citizens.
• Under the signature of the Reeve of Dundalk, the following notice appeared in last week’s Dundalk Herald:
“Users of electric light, and those who contemplate using when the Hydro installation is completed, are hereby notified that it will be necessary to have a sealed service box, conduit entrance (where required by regulations) and meter installed before being connected with the new system. It will also be necessary to have the wiring gone over and made to comply with the new Provincial Regulations. The Village Council will secure the services of a competent electrician to take charge of the work for those who desire to have the work done by them at actual cost, but the work may be done by any competent person. A permit from the District Inspector W. H. Croydon, of Palmerston, is necessary before commencing the work, and a fee of 10 cents and the inspection charges are payable when the application is made.”
• The election in Orangeville on Saturday last on the Hydro question went decidedly in favour of the provincial system, the question, “are you in favour of hydro?” being answered by an affirmative majority of 99, while the other bylaw, proposing to issue $23,000 debentures to install the system, was carried by a 23 majority. A strong fight was put up by the Cataract Light Company, which has a franchise for 15 years. The Hydro brought out the rival Pine River Power Co. a short while ago for $6,000. It was the warmest election contest for some time. Power from Eugenia Falls will be used by the Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission .

75 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 12, 1940
• helburne has as its child war guest pretty 10-year-old Frances Anderson Pitkethly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Pitkethly, of Edinburgh, Scotland, whose Canadian “parents” are Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Fleming, Main Street East.
• The Dufferin Central Fair, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, will be the 73rd annual exhibition. Proceedings on Wednesday include and grand parade of school children, headed by Shelburne’s Citizens’ Band, from the school to the Fair Grounds. The parade is open to all schools formerly exhibiting, including Honeywood, Corbetton and Rosemont school fairs, and those in the parade will be admitted free.
• Shelburne High School will be partially marking time until the end of the harvest season, which is expected within one to two weeks. According to principal Gordon V. Thornicroft 14 boys are now absent at harvesting operations.

50 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 8, 1965
• he auditorium of Centre Dufferin District High School was the centre of interest last Thursday when the North Dufferin 4-H clubs held their Achievement Day for home garden clubs on the theme, “use of vegetables.” Thirteen clubs, sponsored by local Women’s Institutes, participated under the direction of Bruce Matheson, Dufferin agricultural representative, and Catherine Collins, home economist.

10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 8, 2005
• n the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the price of regular gasoline has soared to $1.25.9 for regular grade and $1.36.9 for premium.
• The Orangeville Fall Fair, held all Labour Day weekend, drew approximately 18,000 visitors, up about 1,000 from last year. Harold Sanderson, spokesman for the Agricultural Society, thought the nice weather was one factor for the good turnout, but also wondered whether the high price of gasoline had kept people closer to home.
• The Melancthon skyline is dramatically changing as the first of 45 wind turbines begin to take their place in the township’s landscape. Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. began construction of the windmills in June and with the foundations poured the actual structures are now being erected. The company plans to have all 45 turbines operating by next February.