Dipping into the past…

July 16, 2014 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 7, 1864 • From The Sun, Orangeville, compliments of Dufferin County Museum and Archives: THE FEDERATION SCHEME – To public men, the Federation of the British American Provinces will open out a large sphere in which to display their abilities and statesmanship. In our Federal Legislature and Council our politicians would rise from the obscurity of Provincials to the status and dignity of the statesmen of an empire; while to the numerous and lower order of those gladiators of the political arena who delight in strife and agitation, and who perform the drudgery of party, taking pleasure therein, sufficient rewards would be found in the smaller offices and emulents of our Provincial Legislatures. The Nor’-West Territory already desires to unite its destiny with ours, and to bring its exhaustless mines, its boundless and fertile valleys to enrich the proposed Federation; while the fisheries of Newfoundland, the stately pineries of the Ottaway, the copper mines of Lake Superior, the furs and sables of the territory bordering on Hudson’s Bay, the gold of British Columbia, and the teaming resources of the Saskatchewan valley would prove an inexhaustible source of wealth and revenue to the United Provinces. Then in one unbroken chain, binding together the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific, would the British American possessions arise, and already a nation, destined to show on this continent the superiority of British rule over the vain-boastings of a fallen democracy, would be born, and soon might we expect to see our fleets carrying our name over the seas, and the heart of Old England rejoice to see herself renewed in her gigantic offspring. For those and other reasons we prefer the general to partial Federation – a Union of all the British American Provinces to the Federation of the Canadas alone, – the one bringing immense advantages, the other doubtful and uncertain results. We trust that the government will apply itself to the task and bring statesmanship worthy the importance of the subject to bear on the great changes contemplated. THE TRAMWAY – In compliance with a numerously signed requisition, the Reeve of Caledon, T. Hunton, Esq., has called a public meeting of the ratepayers to be held in Charleston, on Saturday next at 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of constructing a tram from Orangeville to some point on the Grand Trunk. As the subject is one of great interest to every ratepayer in the township, we trust that the meeting will be largely attended. THE AMERICAN WAR – The siege of Petersburg still lingers, and the taking of Richmond by that channel appears to be as distant as ever. Gen. Ewell, leaving Lee to defend the approaches to Richmond, has made a formidable advance up the Shenandoah valley, driving Siegel’s force before him in confusion, and capturing Harper’s Ferry, from which place it is expected he will invade Pennsylvania. Old Abe is in a great state of trepidation at this bold attempt of the South to transfer the war from Petersburg to Northern territory, and has called out the militia to defend Washington. We shall not speculate, but would merely ask whether the prospects of the South at present do not look rather promising.

125 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 11, 1889 • The members of the Loyal Orange Order of Shelburne village and Melancthon observed the 199th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne by attending divine service in the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon last, conducted by Rev. R. H. Shaw of St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The brethren met in their hall at 2 o’clock, and marched in procession to the Hall, headed by District Master Roberts. W. M. Thomas Clarridge was at the head of the Shelburne lodge, while W. M. William Gray led his Melancthon contingent. Their appearance was alike creditable to themselves and the Order they represented; a neat white satin badge was the only decoration worn. They occupied the front seats, and town and country people filled the remaining space. When the service commenced there was not a vacant chair in the Hall. The opening hymn was the Old Hundred, and the choir and congregation sang the grand old lines with fervour, after which Mr. Shaw read the 35th Psalm and offered up prayer. Rev. George Abbs of the Methodist church, who had been called to the platform, invoked the divine blessing upon the service and the society under whose auspices it was held. • A large excursion train consisting of nine coaches passed through Shelburne last Saturday from Woodbridge bound for Owen Sound.

100 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 9, 1914 • Shelburne will have a big Orange celebration next Monday, July 13. CPR will issue tickets at reduced rates on all regular trains from Toronto, Fergus, Harriston, Owen Sound and Walkerton. From the promises already received from outside lodges, the celebration bids fair to be one of the biggest the town has ever had — which is going some, for 43 lodges were present in 1911. Besides the lodges from the country surrounding the town, there will be two lodges from Brampton, one from Cooksville, four from Albion district, No. 857 from Toronto, and lodges from Erin, Grand Valley, Orangeville, Everett, etc. The hotels are making special arrangements to provide the accommodation of visitors and meals will also be served by the Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican and Congregational churches. • Official returns from last week’s Provincial Election give Conservative C. R. McKeown 2,094 and Temperance candidate, Rev. J. R. Bell 1,549, giving Mr. McKeown a majority of 545. • Orangeville had a municipal election on Monday to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. L. Island from the mayoralty to take the job of County Crown Attorney. J. J. White resigned from the reeveship to have a try for the mayoralty. Walter Fairbairn then got the reeveship by acclamation. On Monday Mr. White and Dr. G. H. Campbell allowed the people to settle the mayoralty by the ballot, which was in Dr. Campbell’s favour by a large majority.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 13, 1939 • The members of L.O.L. No. 1321, Shelburne, took part in the 12th of July celebration at Arthur on Wednesday. For the first time in many years they did not take the Citizens’ Band along to head them in the parade. We understand the lodges in this immediate section were going to Arthur while to the east the trend was to Barrie. • At its meeting on July 10 Shelburne Council passed a motion: “That notice of the opening of William Street northward, as per plan for the village of Shelburne, be sent to parties concerned, and that the Clerk be instructed to prepare bylaw for same.”

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, July 8, 1964 • The tender of Greenwood Construction, of Grand Valley, has been accepted by the Bruce County Highways Committee, for the paving of County Road 8, from Hepworth to Sauble Beach. Their tender of $38,920.55 was the lowest of five bids received. • The Ontario Department of Education has announced that the contest of Grade 13 courses in high schools, starting with next year’s term, will be made lighter, and the student’s term mark will be considered in the final standings. The changes are the result of recommendations by a special committee. Education Minister Bill Davis said the Department was also implementing a recommendation that most grade 13 examination papers be shortened to two, from 2.5 hours by the use of fewer questions and more options. • Shelburne area residents were shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing on July 1 of Frederick Oswald (Os) Fleming, veteran hardware merchant as the result of a heart attack at the family cottage on Lake Eugenia. He was in his 65th year.

10 YEARS AGO Friday, July 11, 2004 • The source of a bag of radioactive garbage picked up in Shelburne last Monday, has been identified after a truck load of wastes was refused entry into the United States last week. The bag contained cat litter, which was emitting low levels of radiation, but further investigation revealed the source to be of human nature. The offending bag bore an orange Town of Shelburne sticker. Town employees began working with local medical and veterinary practitioners and by Monday a Shelburne doctor came up with a possible connection involving a patient whose identity was protected due to confidentiality regulations. While the source has now been found, the Town is facing fines and other costs related to the investigation.