Dipping into the past…

September 13, 2013 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO

Thursday, September 10, 1863

• rom The Sun, Orangeville:

MONO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY – We are requested to state that meeting of the Directors of this Society will be held at the South Simcoe Hotel, on Monday next at 3 0`clock p.m. for the purpose of appointing the time for holding the first Agricultural Show, arranging the prize list and transacting other important business. We trust there will be a full attendance present.

NEW POST OFFICE – Our readers in the east of Mono and the west of Adjala will be glad to learn that a Post Office has been opened at the village of Hockley on the County Line between these townships, Mr. Thomas Martin being appointed postmaster. We complained some time ago of the want of proper postal communication to Hockley, and we are happy to find that, whatever the faults of the Government, its action in this matter has been prompt and praiseworthy. A better selection could hardly have been made for the office of Postmaster than Mr. Martin.

VOLUNTEER REVIEW – We understand that Brigade Major Barretto and the officers of the various Volunteer Companies of Wellington and adjacent counties, intend holding a Military Review at Guelph about the end of the present month. The Guelph, Orangeville, Fergus, Elora, Mount Forest, Arthur, Galt, Morriston and Alton Volunteer Companies, we believe, are all favorable to the project and will turn out to a man. The move is a good one, calculated to give the different companies an opportunity of perfecting themselves in Battalion Drill, and under the able management of Brigade Major Barretto, will no doubt lead to a satisfactory result.

THE AMERICAN WAR – The latest news from Charleston is discouraging for the South. Forst Wagner and Gregg and Cummings Point Battery have been abandoned by the Confederates after a stout resistance and occupied by the Federals. These position lie on the south side of the entrance to the harbor, and command Fort Sumter. Fort Mutrie and Sullivan’s Island batteries on the north side of the harbor are being closely invested, and should they fall, the remaining defences consist of earthworks of a formidable character, which, if at all subdued, could only be after a long and vigorous bombardment. The defenses of the city will doubtless be reduced, but at a cost to the North in men and military stores for which the victory will hardly be a recompense.

Grant is reported to be advancing on Mobile, while Banks has gone to Texas Though the cause of the Confederacy looks dark at Charleston, it is successful in Tennessee, and to the impartial observer, it appears to require greater efforts than any that have yet been made to conquer the South. Is the North capable of putting forth such efforts?

NEW CABINET WAREROOMS – Thomas Torrance begs to announce to the people of Orangeville and vicinity, that he has just commenced business in the above village as a Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and Undertaker and that having many years’ experience in the business in all its varied departments, he flatters himself that he can give universal satisfaction to all who may favor him with their patronage. He would also intimate that he is now manufacturing a large assortment of Household Furniture consisting in part of sofas, lounges, bureaus, cupboards, tables, stands, etc. such as will be found suitable both in price and style of finish to the wants of the community generally, and which cannot be excelled elsewhere. Any article of household furniture made to order at the shortest notice and at reasonable prices. All orders executed with neatness, cheapness and dispatch. Remember the Stand, one door east of Fletcher’s Watch & Clock Store.

125 YEARS AGO

Thursday, September 13, 1888

• rangeville’s Paisley House stables, used by Jones & Glover as a livery stable, were burned to the ground at 1 a.m. last Thursday. The fire broke out near the roof, the whole of which was destroyed before the fire alarm was sounded. In the stables were seven horses, four buggies, the Fergus Beer Wagon, a passenger bus, a large quantity of fodder, harness, etc. Everything was destroyed except two buggies, the beer wagon and one horse which broke loose and escaped. The six horses, four belonging to Jones & Glover, and two from the Fergus Brewery, perished in the flames. J. E. Duffy’s stables were also burned but as they were empty the loss is not very great. John Witter’s stabling had a close call, but escaped with a slight scorching. When once the alarm was given steam was up in eight minutes and the firemen all on the spot. But it was an impossibility to save the building — the fire had gained too much headway. They did good work, however, in confining the fire and saving the Paisley House, which at times seemed certain to fall to the prey of the devouring flames.The fire has every appearance of being the work of an incendiary. Accidents, of course, will occur, but we can assign no cause to an accident that would set fire to a livery stable at one o’clock in the morning. There is a bare possibility that it caught accidentally from someone who might be spending the night in the hay mow. But we attribute the fire to design rather than to carelessness, and suggest to the Mayor that he takes steps to investigate it.

A young man named Richard Wilson met with a terrible, and what may prove fatal accident, about 11 o’clock last Thursday morning. He was exploring the ruins of the Paisley House stables when one of the brick walls fell, burying him in the debris. When rescued from beneath the bricks he was insensible and blood flowed freely from two frightful gashes in his head. A stretcher was procured and the unfortunate young man was taken into the sample room of the Paisley House. Drs. Henry and Smith, when summoned, found both of the patient’s legs broken and other injuries which it is feared may prove fatal. The victim has been stopping at Rev. Father Jeffcott’s for some time past.

• rom the Toronto Empire: Last evening there arrived at the Exhibition Grounds three massive, live sturgeon to be exhibited by the Natural History Society. They were caught in Georgian Bay near the mouth of the Nottawasaga River by fishermen and teamed to Stayner on the Northern Railway in a tank 11x3x4’ where they were place in charge of Mr. Noble, representing the society. When they arrived at the station it took 12 men to lift the tank from the car to a dray and to be taken to the grounds. Mr. James H. Pearce, president of the Natural History Society, says the giant fish are nearly six feet long and weigh about 75 pounds each. The Vicars Express Company charged $45 to ship the tank from Stayner to the grounds. The Society will have 19 tanks of live fish on exhibition this year. This exhibit will be one of the most interesting of its kind ever shown in Toronto.

• he members of Shelburne Council, with the exception of the Reeve, who is in Detroit, met at the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening to examine the agreement drawn up by the Clerk between the Ontario Pump Co. and the Corporation. The agreement is a very lengthy document and the interests of the Corporation are carefully guarded in every particular and put in a concise and intelligent form, which is readily understood. Says the Shelburne Free Press: “Mr. Dunbar deserves credit for the efficient manner in which the agreement is prepared. The Council discussed the matter for a short time but were not unanimous. Messrs. Skelton and Madill were in favour of forwarding the agreement to the Company for their signature. Messrs. Mason and O’Flynn wanted a little more time to consider the matter. The agreement is all right, and if the company will sign it, let them have the contract at once. Too much valuable time has already been lost by useless discussions and disagreements.”

• crazy character named Falls has been around Shelburne for the past few days. On Tuesday night he was creating a disturbance and Constable Dean put him in the cooler. Yesterday afternoon he took Mr. John Jelly’s horse and buggy and drove off at full speed. He drove to Primrose, then two lots south and came back to Shelburne by another road. Several parties were in pursuit, but he was too swift for them. The horse was tired out when he reached Shelburne. The authorities should look after such characters.

• bout 1:30 a.m. Sunday, fire was discovered in the Dundalk store owned by John Connor and occupied by James Edgerton as a liquor store. Despite the efforts of the people the fire spread and soon J. D. Morgan’s store and dwelling, C. H. Jewell’s furniture work shop, the Hanbury block, occupied by Johnston, jeweller, and James Connor’s store and dwelling were in flames. The total loss is about $10,000, partly covered by insurance. Jewell’s Furniture and Hanbury’s store, being of brick, were saved, though badly damaged at the back. The fire was undoubted the work of an incendiary.

100 YEARS AGO

Thursday, September 11, 1913

• young man named Bert Stephenson, son of Mr. Robert Stephenson, of Corbetton, met instant death at Streetsville Tuesday of last week while engaged at his occupation as a lineman for the Ontario Hydro-Electric Commission. His remains were taken to Corbetton for interment after an inquest was held by Coroner Dr. Martin, of Dundalk, on Thursday. The funeral took place Thursday afternoon. The Brampton Banner says the fatality occurred on the Main Street of Streetsville and involved a fall from a pole that resulted in his neck being broken. The linemen were putting up a line for the Hydro-Electric Commission that will tap one running between Milton and a new brickyard in Streetsville. The new line runs with the municipal plant’s wires. During the daytime in Streetsville the local current is on only Tuesdays and Thursdays. At 11:30 a.m. Stephenson climbed up the 35 foot pole to reach its cross arms. As he was making his way around the municipal lines those who were watching saw him start, then pitch forward, head-first, to the ground. It is supposed that in making his way through the wires in his perspiration-wet shirt, he got a jolt of electric current that stunned him and caused him to lose his grip. If he had delayed his climbing half an hour the municipal current would have been off.

• mong the library workers of Ontario an effort is being made to bring about legislation whereby every library in the province will be under municipal control and free to every resident. This would, it has been stated by the library authorities, build up a library system in this province which would have no equal the world over. The present system, where the libraries fail to get municipal support, has proven discouraging. During the past six years 90 libraries had quit business and this means that 90 districts are placed without the library privileges which have done much to put country life on a better plane.

50 YEARS AGO

Wednesday, September 11, 1963

• andidates have been chosen in both Wellington-Dufferin and Dufferin-Simcoe ridings for the September 25 Ontario election. In Wellington-Dufferin Conservative incumbent John Root will be opposed by Liberal Peter McTavish, of Arthur and Donald Fletcher of Conn representing the NDP. In Dufferin-Simcoe Conservative MPP Rev. A. W. Downer, of Duntroon will face Liberal James L. Cooke, of Orangeville. There are rumours that there will be last-minute nominations of NDP and Social Credit candidates.