Dipping into the past…

September 10, 2014 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 8, 1864
• rom The Sun, Orangeville, compliments of Dufferin County Museum and Archives:
We understand that Mr. W. R. Jelly, of Laurel, has, in obedience to the wishes of a large number of ratepayers of Amaranth, has consented to become a candidate for the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late James Spence. Mr. Jelly is eminently fitted for the office and will, we doubt not, be returned unopposed. The election takes place at Farmingham, on Monday.
TRAMWAY MEETING – A public meeting of the ratepayers of Caledon will be held at Meek’s Hall, Alton, on Saturday next at 6 o’clock, p.m., for the purpose of completing the arrangements for a survey of the Orangeville tramway through that township. We trust that the attendance will be large.
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY – Three candidates – Messrs A. Lincoln, J.C. Fremont and G. B. McClellan – have at length been nominated for the American Presidency, and throughout the loyal states there prevails unusual election excitements. Messrs. Lincoln and Fremont are the nominees of two sections of the Republican Party, and have been brought out more on account of their “availability” than for any recognized merit, or well-earned popularity that either possesses. Their nomination was received with stolid indifference by the nation, partly for this reason, and partly because the war policy of the former was disapproved by the country; while the fusion of the parties advocated by the latter, no less than his general effeminancy of character renders him distasteful to the great mass of the people. Both Messrs. Lincoln and Fremont have requested to retire, but neither seems to obey the mandate. If both persist in their candidature, there is every probability that the Democratic Party, uniting on Gen. George B. McClellan, will achieve easy victory over their divided opponents.
THE AMERICAN WAR – Late dispatches from the seat of war bring intelligence of the capture of Atlanta, after a well-sustained siege of more than five months. If the report be true (and it appears to be so) the Federals have gained an important advantage – but not as important as would at first seem – as it will not exert any great influence on the final result of the struggle.

125 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 12, 1889
• he Shelburne Council held a special meeting on Wednesday of last week and sold $12,000 in waterworks debentures to Mr. R. T. Haun, of Orangeville, at 106. The debentures bear interest at 5 per cent, payable half-yearly. The price received was a very good one, and allows that the credit of Shelburne stands pretty high.
• he Household Troops Band, in connection with the Salvation Army, arrived in Shelburne by the noon train on Monday. The band boys in their handsome uniforms attracted a good deal of attention and they were highly complimented on their good playing. In the evening a meeting was held in the Town Hall, which was crowded to the doors. On Tuesday the band left for Alliston.
• ays the Shelburne Free Press: “The names of a number of boys who were out shooting in the woods last Sunday have been sent to this office. Were it not that the parents of some of them are very respectable people we would publish the list given us this week. We have been told that the names were given to the constable, and it is very likely that the whole party will be prosecuted. We hope the thing will not occur again, but if it does we will give the whole particulars, names and all.”

100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 10, 1914
• meeting of local militia officers and representative citizens was held in Orangeville last Saturday afternoon to consider the organization of a regiment in the County of Dufferin and the adjoining portions of Peel, Grey and Simcoe counties. Warden T. C. Dryden of Riverview presided and every part of the county was represented. A resolution was unanimously adopted to proceed with the organization of a regiment, with headquarters at Orangeville, to include, if possible, the three northern companies of the 36th Regiment, and five new companies to be raised in the county or contiguous thereto, along lines settled at the conference with the Minister of Militia at Ottawa last winter.
The Warden and members of the County Council present promised generous support, and a strong committee, including local militia officers, was appointed to take charge of details and arrange recruiting. The name of the new regiment suggested is the Dufferin Light Infantry. Organization meetings will be held at the various company headquarters, and enrolment and active training proceeded with at once.
As the County possesses several very efficient rifle associations and has enough qualified officers within its borders and contiguous districts to take command, it is confidently expected that the Minister of Militia will give the necessary sanction, and that Dufferin County will have its own detachment in the next Canadian contingent to go overseas.
From the spirit manifested it is clear also that the dependents of those who go to the front will be abundantly cared for. The intention is to try to have the necessary companies formed with the following places as their headquarters: Orangeville (2), Shelburne, Grand Valley, Mono Road, Dundalk, Maple Valley and Durham.
• ufferin County Rural School Fairs will be held at Horning’s Mills Sept. 15, Laurel Sept. 22, Mono Centre October 3 and Marsville Oct. 6. Everybody is invited to see the children’s work at the said fairs. Admission free. H. A. Dorrance, Dept. of Agriculture, Orangeville.

75 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 14, 1939
• estined, it is believed, to be one of the greatest Canadian war bases, Camp Borden is now a hive of warlike activity. Heavily guarded, with information strictly censored or not divulged, it is impossible for anyone to enter the great military camp, so close to Barrie, without a special permit from the Officer Commanding. All entrances are guarded, armed military sentries being on duty at all points and barricades being placed across the roads. To enter, a motor vehicle must produce a permit, after which the licence number, names of the occupants, and time, are carefully recorded. Sentry posts are connected by telephone to headquarters. Other agencies used to guard the camp include tanks, motorcycle police and barbed wire entanglements. Special attention is being paid to water supply and public buildings. Members of the Irish Regiment of Toronto are on guard at the RCAF station. This area is particularly well guarded.
• harges laid for breaches of the Liquor Control Act played a prominent part in Dufferin County police court proceedings last Thursday. Five convictions were registered by Magistrate William F. Woodliffe – three for illegal possession, one for possession in other than a private residence, and one for being intoxicated in a public place.

50 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 9, 1964
• ufferin County’s community Tuberculosis Testing Survey came to an end Sept. 4 with a record of 6,470 persons tested. More than 1,100 individuals lined up at the clinics to get under the wire on the final day of the program, which began August 18th. Results of the campaign to detect unknown cases of TB will be made public as soon as possible.
• he 97th annual exhibition of Dufferin Central Fair last Friday and Monday encountered dull, damp weather on Monday, shortening the parade to the fairgrounds from downtown but enjoying crowds close to last year’s record.
• helburne’s new post office on First Avenue East is open for boxholders to get their keys.

10 YEARS AGO
Friday, September 12, 2004
• all it the rebirth of the old railway – a quadrupling of the traffic in it, for starter. Although the Orangeville to Brampton railway was never really dead, it will get a dramatic new lease on life starting early next year. That’s what Copperweld Canada, which makes structural steel tubing, plans to start moving about 2,000 carloads of steel from the Streetsville connection with CP Rail to its Brampton plant near Highway 10. Copperweld will start moving big coils of steel from mills in Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie to its plan near Bovaird and Highway 10 as soon as its new siding is built. Other extensions are hoped for if the cost is right.
• mall motorcycles are becoming a big problem, according to Orangeville and Shelburne Police. The vehicles are mini-motorcycles or “pocket bikes” which are light enough for an adult to carry under an arm, but big enough to ride, at speeds of up to 55 km/h.
• he final results have yet to be analyzed, but an official of Orangeville Agricultural Society says the value of admissions was up by about eight per cent from last year. “I don’t know how many children and adults attended,” said Sandy Sanderson, “but the gate was up 8%.”