Dipping into the past…

May 1, 2014 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 21, 1864 • From The Sun, Orangeville, compliments of Dufferin County Museum and Archives: THE AMERICAN WAR – For the first time in several weeks, we are enabled to publish important news from the contending armies in the United States. A terrible battle was fought at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, on the 8th instant, between a portion of Gen. Banks’ troops moving along the Red River on Shreveport, and a large Confederate force. The Federals after a short but stubborn resistance were ignominiously defeated and fled panic-stricken from the field, leaving behind them upwards of 2,000 of their number either dead, wounded or prisoners. The Federals also lost several guns, as were some army stores. The arrival of reinforcements checked the pursuit of Confederates, but the Federals continued to fall back at the latest accounts. The attack on Shreveport is, of course, abandoned for the present, and ere long we shall doubtless hear of the entire failure of Gen. Banks’ expedition on the Red River. On the 12th, Gen. Forrest, an active Confederate officer, attacked Fort Pillow in Tennessee, and after a short engagement capture the garrison, putting its defenders to the sword. About 400 Federals were killed on the spot, including several officers. The Confederates, after destroying the fortifications, abandoned the place, taking with them a large number of guns and an immense quantity of army stores. At all points the Confederates appear to be in a position to repel attack and assume the offensive wherever a favorable opportunity presents itself. Their cause never looked brighter than it now does, and every day only makes it more apparent that the Washington government must, in the end, recognize the Southern Confederacy. ORANGEVILLE COUNCIL – The Council met at Witter’s hotel on Monday evening. The special committee to whom was referred the bylaw respecting pound and pound-keepers handed in its report, recommending several amendments. The Council then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the bylaw. After a tedious discussion on the Bylaw, the committee rose and reported progress. On the Reeve resuming the chair, the bylaw respecting pound and pound-keepers was referred back to the special committee for further consideration. THE WELLAND CANAL OPEN – The Welland Canal was opened yesterday for the season. Two vessels put through, the first was H.H. Brown of Detroit and the second the Josephine of Toronto. A number of scows laden with wood passed down.

125 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 2, 1889 • The Orangeville Presbytery was in session for two days and one night last week, and during that time disposed of business of as varied a character as can readily be conceived. The first day’s sitting was occupied by the ordination of the new pastor of St. Andrew’s with all the honour and glory which such an occasion entails; the second day and succeeding night witnessed the degrading of one of the members of one of the same body, who had disgraced himself and the church to which he belonged. It was 2 p.m. Tuesday when the final investigation into charged against Rev. J. J. Dobbin, of Caledon East, was commenced. Dobbin, his wife and child and a few admirers were on hand, but, with the exception of the members of the Presbytery, the accused and those directly concerned in the scandalous affair, none were given admittance and the investigation was carried on with closed doors. Even the reporters were excluded. The work of taking evidence was commenced at once. A score or more witnesses were examined for the prosecution and as many for the defence, Dobbin conducting his own case. The evidence firmly established the moral guilt of the accused and, going even further than the exigencies of the case demanded, disclosed other acts of immorality in which he was involved. It was 5 a. m Wednesday when the Presbytery concluded the case, finding Dobbin morally guilty of the offence with which he was charged, and he was accordingly expelled with loss of all connection with the church. • The horse show at Shelburne last Thursday was quite a success. The number of people in town was not as large as last year, which may be accounted for by the very unfavourable appearance of the day. The show of horses was good in each class and in some the competition was very keen. Those who secured prizes have reasons to be proud of their good fortune, while those who failed have the consolation of knowing that in many cases their animals were not inferior to the prize winners. • Somewhat of a sensation was created last week when it was learned that Constable J. J. Hall had arrested Bill Gilkinson, the bus driver, on a charge of having set fire to the Queen’s Hotel last March 15. The arrest was quietly effected in the bar of Gordon House. At six o’clock a further surprise was created by the arrest at the CPR station of Jack Longeway, who drives Gilkinson’s dray. This arrest was also made by Constable Hall, who swore out the warrants against the two who now lie in jail. It is said that the case has been worked up by a Toronto detective and that Constable Hall has also been on the alert for several weeks. Says the Orangeville Advertiser: “What the evidence is it is hard to conjecture but we understand that the officers of the law feel that they have a strong chain of circumstantial proof against the accused. It is also whispered that there is likely to be another important arrest in connection with the affair . . . The Ontario Government seems determined to put an end to the incendiary fires that have long been Orangeville’s disgrace.” 100 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 30, 1914 • A terrible fatality occurred in Orangeville Saturday afternoon in which Robert Harrison, a young sawyer, was instantly killed. Mr. Harrison owned the sawmill at the corner of East Broadway and Wellington Street and had a large business in cutting up logs. The belt was running loosely and he placed his foot on shafting to tighten it up when the bottom of his trousers caught on the belt and he was whirled around. His neck and back were broken and his body fearfully crushed. The day was dark and foggy and the accident occurred as the mill was about to be shut down for the day. Deceased was about 33 years of age and leaves a wife and infant child. • For the first time in two years Shelburne’s Mansion House was lit up Monday evening. The hotel has been closed on account of local option being in force. W. M. Berwick moved into rooms on the second storey Monday and will reside there until his new home is completed. It is understood that two shops being fitted up in front of the building have been leased to James Gilpin, barber, and Hugh Ferguson, butter and egg dealer. • The northbound CPR passenger train met with a mishap at Crombies Monday evening. The tender and baggage car left the rails by some means unaccounted for, while the engine and two passenger coaches remained o the tracks. Fortunately no injuries were sustained by passengers or crew. The Walkerton branch train came down from Saugeen Junction and took all the passengers for that branch and stations north to Saugeen. Those for the main line north of the junction remained at Shelburne until Tuesday morning. The cars were got back on the track about 5 o’clock in the morning but repairs to the engine detained them until nearly 8 a.m. • Stanley Child, a young English immigrant aged 20, was arrested Monday afternoon after being chased by High Constable William Marshall in an auto. It is alleged that last Thursday, while employed by Mono farmer George McKenzie, he took a gold watch and a valuable rifle while his employer was absent at the Shelburne Fair. The loss was not discovered until Monday, when it was learned that the alleged thief had passed through Caledon Village. The constable secured an auto and caught up with Child as he endeavored to secure employment with a farmer there. Child was brought to Orangeville and taken to Police Magistrate Puttullo who remanded him to the County Jail.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 4 1939 • On Saturday evening two young men stopped at Ed Anderson’s in Keldon and had supper with him. They explained that they had shipped a canoe by rail from Toronto and planned to put it in a municipal drain near the village and follow it to the Grand River as the first leg of a trip down to Lake Erie. The travellers said that if their novel journey was a success another party would take the same trip next week.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, April 29, 1964 • On Wednesday of last week in the Cedar Room of Shelburne arena, the Shelburne Kinette members were hosts to the annual Spring Inter-Club meeting of Kinnette clubs in Zone B, District 1, with 150 delegates from 14 clubs present. The guest speaker, Rev. L. E. Sparks, of Shelburne, gave an interesting and educational talk on his work as a missionary in India. He related the work of Kinette Clubs to the parable of the Good Samaritan.

10 YEARS AGO Friday, May 2, 2004 • Shelburne Councillors are considering cutting back services to bring down a 25.5% increase in spending projected in the 2003 draft budget. • Chris Holdroyd has announced he will run for Mayor in the Town of Mono in the November elections. The other declared candidate is Deputy Mayor Keith Thompson. • Orangeville Council has approved in principle a proposal to accept Dufferin County’s alternate waste diversion and disposal plan.