Dipping into the past…

August 8, 2013 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO

Thursday, August 6, 1863

• rom the Orangeville Sun:

THE INCORPORATION OF ORANGEVILLE – A public meeting of the ratepayers of Orangeville was held at Bell’s hotel on Monday evening last for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of Incorporating Orangeville, and annexing it to either Wellington, Simcoe or Peel. There were about 200 persons present. W.E. Thompson, Esq. occupied the chair, and Maitland McCarthy, Esq. acted as secretary. Addresses were delivered on the occasion by Messrs. T. Davison. S.H. McKitrick. F.C. Stewart, H.A. Penfold, F. Irwin, W. Parsons, T. Davidson, W.S. Hewat, J. Foley and others, all of whom were of the opinion that Orangeville had reached a degree of progress that rendered Incorporation necessary both for the convenience of its inhabitants and the protection of its interests. Mr. S.H. McKitrick then moved, seconded by Mr. H.A. Penfold, that this meeting believing that Incorporation would promote the interests of Orangeville, pledges itself to use every legal means in its power to secure its Incorporation and annexation to the county of Wellington. The resolution having been put by the chairman, was carried unanimously. A committee was then appointed to take the necessary steps to get the village incorporated and the meeting adjourned, having voted its thanks to the chairman and the secretary.

The TROUBLES ON MANITOULIN ISLAND – The Indians on the Great Manitoulin have adopted violent measures to put a stop to the operations of the Provincial Government on that island. Ever since the treaty was made by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, great discontent has prevailed among the portion of the Indians who occupied the eastern section of the island. They refused to be parties to the bargain and were told by the Commissioner to withdraw and leave the settlement of the matter to the remainder. The Manitoulin Island is in the Catholic diocese of Hamilton. A priest named Kohler attached to that diocese has been the main cause of the difficulty by instigating the Indians to these acts of violence and resistance to the civil authorities. A detachment of soldiers is to be sent to the island immediately and the consequences is likely to be that both Kohler and the Indians who acted on his advice will have to pay the penalty of their wickedness.

THE HUDSON`S BAY COMPANY – The negotiations for the acquisition of this territory by the Imperial Government have been unexpectedly broken off, and the rights of the Hudson`s Bay Company transferred to the Intercolonial and Financial Company for one million and a half sterling. The fur trade is to be continued, but the country lying between Canada and British Columbia is to be thrown open to settlers, and roads are to be built from Canada to the Pacific and telegraphic communication established through the territory. With all the Crown Lands fir for settlement in the Province in the market, and our spare population looking to the Northwest for settlement, the apathy of our Government in permitting the transfer of so large a tract of country, rich in gold, minerals, etc. from one joint stock company to another, without even a remonstrance merits universal condemnation. The country of the Red River and Saskatchewan should be annexed to Canada and the indifference of our Government, in allowing it to pass under the monopoly of a new company, promises to cause much trouble and expense in this Province at no very distant day.

PROGRESS OF THE WAR – The war news of the past week is not of much importance. The siege of Charleston still continues but progresses very slowly.

125 YEARS AGO

Thursday, August 9, 1888

• bylaw passed by Shelburne village council provides for a waterworks system costing $12,000, which will be paid for by a debenture that will run from 1889 to 1918, with annual payments averaging $780. The same bylaw deals with the existing indebtedness of the village totalling $16,625, which will be retired over the same period but at annual rates ranging from $180 in 1889 to a peak of $782.25 in 1917.

• ufferin’s License Commissioners met in Orangeville Wednesday of last week and concluded their business so far as the granting of licenses was concerned. Mr. Perfect appeared before them requesting a license for the Perfect House. His request was refused. Mrs. Smith was there asking for a wine and beer license. This was also refused. Mr. Longeway again applied for a shop license. The commissioners thought one shop license enough and would grant no more. William Ryan will be allowed to retain the license granted P. McCabe for the Royal Hotel. Mr. Thompson, of Shelburne, was granted a license and all other applications before the board were refused.

• t the meeting of Orangeville Presbytery, held last Monday, the call from Erskine Church, Toronto, to the Rev. W. A. Hunter, of Orangeville, was discussed and sustained. The commissioners, on behalf of the Toronto congregation, presented a strong case in favour of Erskine Church. The Orangeville congregation also made a strong appeal against his removal, as they are much attached to him and his removal is keenly felt by them. Erskine Church is to be congratulated upon securing such a worthy and able pastor as Mr. Hunter. The reverend gentleman laboured successfully four years in Parkdale and has entered on his fifth at Orangeville. Mr. Hunter is a gold medalist of Toronto University, 1877. He is also a graduate of Knox College and Union Seminary, New York.

• n Owen Sound bylaw to grant $15,000 to the CP Railway Company as a bonus toward the erection of a new elevator and the excavation of a slip was carried on Friday by a vote of 387-13. To carry this bylaw it was necessary to have two-fifths of the total vote polled, which was 206, but such a lively interest was taken in the matter that 181 more than that number were polled. The elevator and slip are the principal works contemplated by the CPR but it is also intended to erect lumber wharves and freight warehouses, which will probably involve at total expenditure of $300,000.

• ays the Brampton Times: “We stated that the Peel License Commissioners had granted the Dufferin Lake applicant a liquor license. Such was the case, subject to the inspector’s report. The inspector has since reported that there is no proper accommodation at the lake, as there is only one house there, 16×18; therefore the application has been dismissed.”

100 YEARS AGO

Thursday, August 7, 1913

• bout five o’clock last Wednesday morning a disastrous fire broke out in Ivan Fleming’s barbershop on Broadway and made rapid headway before the alarm was given. The fire was discovered by some visiting bowlers who were staying at the Queen’s Hotel. The fire must have been going for quite a long time before it was discovered. It quickly ate its way through the partition into the Adamson Hardware Co.’s store, which is in the same building to the west. They occupy both flats. The next building to the east is occupied by Ritchie Bros. drygoods and grocery store, and A. E. Annis has his office on the second floor.

Orangeville firemen put four streams of water on the blaze, two in front and two in the rear, and it is owing to their good work , supplimented by the assistance of volunteers, that the fire was kept from sweeping the whole of Broadway. The absence of wind also helped to confine the fire to the building where it started and the adjoining one to the east. The fire was pretty well under control in half an hour but the building, which is owned by G. A. Campbell, was badly gutted. It is insured. The Adamson Hardware Co. will be heavy losers. They had only $6500 insurance on $14,000 in stock, which was badly damaged. Ritchie Bros. had $10,000 insurance and Ivan Fleming had $400. The building in which Ritchie Bros. are situated is owned by F. J. Marshall, of Calgary and the damage to it is covered by insurance.

The new auxiliary electric pump at the Fire Hall over which there has been so much adverse criticism, worked well and gave excellent satisfaction and fully justified the claims of those who installed it.

• arry Brown, a self-confessed thief and firebug, was brought before Police Magistrate Pattullo last Saturday. On the night of July 26 Brown set fire to the fine residence of the ex-Reeve of Mono, Hilliard Anderson, during the absence of the family. There was a large assortment of jewellery recovered by High Constable Marshall produced in court, which was crowded to the doors. The evidence of Marshall, Anderson and the hired man, Walton, was taken and the charges of theft and arson were clearly made out by Crown witnesses. The accused, having been duly warned, stated that he had fired Anderson’s house by putting a match to the hiredman’s bed upstairs, and to Anderson’s bed on the ground floor. He is 18 years old and is a Barnardo Boy who has been in the country nine years. Anderson’s loss is a heavy one. The prisoner was comitted for trial, as the Magistrate had no jurisdiction to sentence him. Dufferin is at present without a county judge, as Judge McCarthy has been compulsorily retired owing to the age limit and no successor has been appointed. The prisoner was examined by doctors and found sane. He was remanded to jail.

• fire that started in a stable at the back of the Queen’s’ Hotel on Erin’s Main Street Friday morning, swept the block to Homer Avenue and destroyed one-third of the town’s business section. Damage will run to over $50,000.

• he Ontario Government has appointed a commission to investigate and study all matters relating to the construction and maintenance of public roads and highways. The purpose is to formulate a comprehensive scheme for the improvement of the highways of Old Ontario. The objective is to establish a system of provincial highways.

50 YEARS AGO

Wednesday, August 7, 1963

• our provinces and four states will be represented this weekend at the 13th annual Canadian Open Championship Old Time Fiddler’s Contest. For the first time the U.S. will have a lady entry in the person of Ramona Jones, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

• Dufferin Historial Society used the Orangeville Curling Rink last weekend to display an extensive exhibit of antiques as part of Orangeville’s Centennial Celebration. The items, many from private collections, included automobiles dating back to 1901, buggies, democrats, a stagecoach and household articles too numerous to mention.

10 YEARS AGO

Friday, August 8 2003

• helburne Council is considering passage of a bylaw to manage and control activity in the Town’s municipal parks by prohibiting “loitering” on municipal property between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.

• ufferin County Council has approved an agreement under which the Ontario Government will contribute $7.2 million from its Super Build fund for the planned south bypass of Orangeville. The roadway is designed to reduce traffic caused by large trucks on Broadway and will run from Highway 10 to County Road 109.