Dipping into the past…

September 17, 2014 · 0 Comments

150 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 15, 1864
• rom The Sun, Orangeville, compliments of Dufferin County Museum and Archives:
CRICKET – On Tuesday last, the 13th inst., a Cricket Match took place at Erin Village between Orangeville and Erin Clubs. The Orangeville club won the game by a majority of 2.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT – On Tuesday last, a son of Mr. Thomas Reid of the township of Garafraxa, about sixteen years of age, while out shooting, met with a very distressing accident. It appears that while in the act of climbing a tree with a gun in his hand, by some means or other, unfortunately exploded, and the contents consisting of a heavy charge of shot passed in an oblique direction upwards and backwards, in the direction of the collarbone, where a considerable part of the charge lodged, causing thereby a frightfully severe wound on the left breast, laying bare the ribs and removing the flesh to a considerable extent. Medical aid was immediately procured, and every means used to allay the sufferings of the unfortunate youth, who still lies in a very precarious situation; hopes, however, are entertained of his recovery. – We trust that this sad occurrence will have a tendency to render our juvenile friends more cautious in the use of fire arms.
TRAMWAY MEETING AT ALTON – On Saturday the 10th instant, a public meeting was held in Meek’s Hall, Alton, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps for a survey of the proposed tramway. The meeting was well attended and the subscription list speaks for itself. It shows how nobly the people of Caledon have come forward to support the project, in spite of the opposition of those who are doing all they can to prevent the scheme from being carried into effect. We trust soon to have good news from another quarter to cheer our tram friends.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION – The present position of politics is very much the same as when the leading generals of hostile armies having withdrawn from the fight, every one contending on his own account. There is now no regularly organized ministerial or opposition party. The great political leaders have withdrawn from the contest and are now mutually engaged in endeavoring to settle for ever our long-pending difficulties. In the meantime, however, the fight is still carried on as may be clearly seen by a reference to the isolated contests which have been waged in the recent elections necessary to fill up the vacancies in the House of Assembly. These have been contested with a good deal of spirit … and may have been decided on personal grounds, or another still more powerful cause may have influenced the electors – the distrust which many persons have felt with regard to the propriety of the late extraordinary coalition between Mr. John A. Macdonald and Mr. George Brown … for it may be observed that all candidates professed to support the present Coalition, and give the government an opportunity to mature the Confederation scheme. … We trust that the country will support the Coalition and that for a time, at least, there may be a truce between parties until the scheme of Confederation, upon which depends, in our view, the weal of the colonies of British North America, shall have been perfected and completed. … We are glad to see the earnestness and sincerity with which they have set about their difficult task, there is no display of what our neighbors call bunkum, there is harmony in the councils of the country and if the people be true to themselves and to their best interests, great and incalculable benefits will result to the whole of British America from the successful completion of the Ministerial programme.

125 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 19, 1889
• r. Archibald McKinnon, of Orangeville, has been appointed a Magistrate for the County of Dufferin. Says the Orangeville Advertiser: “The appointment is a good one, Mr. McKinnon having the advantage of seventeen years’ experience in a similar office in the County of Peel.”
• he case of assault preferred by Mr. W. Fountain, tailor, of Orangeville, against Dr. Bonnar, of Mono Mills, came up for hearing before Police Magistrate Pattullo on Saturday. Counsel for Dr. Bonnar entered a plea of guilty and the Dr. was fined $1 and costs.
• he tower of the windmill for the Shelburne Waterworks is about completed. The workmen are busy pushing on the work as fast as possible. Mr. R. Blain, in addition to securing the putting-in of the Shelburne Waterworks mains, has been awarded the contract for extensions to Newmarket’s system. These contracts amount of $5,000 each and the last one is expected to be increased to $3,000 more. Shelburne gets its water from a well on the top of a high hill. The windmill will pump the water into a large elevated tank, much like a railroad one.
• r. R. Hewitt, the contractor for the new Melancthon Agricultural Society hall in Shelburne, has been delayed for want of lumber. The lumber was shipped at Waubaushene on the 7th and only arrived in Shelburne on the 18th of September. The work will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible now.

100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 17, 1914
• fter September 12 (last Saturday), any alien enemy of Canada who has found in his possession firearms, ammunition, dynamite, gun powder or other dangerous explosive, shall be liable for a fine of $500 and imprisonment for three months. In suspected cases, officers have the right of search without a warrant. It is not yet known when the Canadian contingent will leave Valcartier for the front. On Monday it was announced in militia orders that all applications for the organization of new units of the active militia are to be held in abeyance until after the Canadian Expeditionary Force leaves Canada.
• onstruction work at the big Eugenia development is now in full swing and concrete is fast being laid on the south end of the big dam. This is known as No. 1 Dam, being constructed by the Ambursen Hydraulic Co. No. 2 Dam, a mile north, which the Hylands are erecting, has been at a comparative standstill for a week, the big stream shovel having been broken on a large boulder. It was sent to Owen Sound for repairs and returned on Thursday of last week. The Ambursen people hope to have their big dam completed by Christmas.
• lf. Boppell, a young German reservist, was arrested Monday, September 7, by Orangeville Police Chief Marshall, acting under special instructions following his report to Inspector Sherwood, of Ottawa. Boppell, who has been employed at the Melville stone quarries, recently reported to the German Consul in Toronto, having been called home to the colours. He was unable to get out of the country and returned to Orangeville, where he was discharged from his position and has since been under surveillance under the regulations respecting foreigners. Having refused to sign the necessary papers entitling him to his parole, he was therefore taken into custody, taken before Magistrate Pattullo and remanded to jail. Tuesday morning he was taken to Kingston by two officers of the Tenth Royals, where he will be entered at Fort Henry.
• he managers of the Dufferin Central Fair are making some improvements on the Fairgrounds and have built a new wire fence to replace one blown down in a windstorm a few weeks ago.
• ev. Canon Alex Henderson, rector of St. Mark’s Church, Orangeville, for forty years, died at Bowmanville Hospital on Monday. He was 79 years of age and leaves two daughters, Miss Mabel Henderson, of Toronto, and Mrs. Wood Smith, of Minneapolis, and one son, Ernest, an architect in Vancouver. The funeral will be held from St. Mark’s Church today.

75 YEARS AGO
Thursday, September 21, 1939
• o maintain its “power at cost” policy, the Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission last week announced substantial refunds and rate reductions for the current year. As a result of the recent analysis of the financial position of the enterprise, the Commission has estimated that during the year consumers in the Niagara system will receive this year a benefit of $204,215. Of this, $50,051 will be direct refunds by deduction from monthly bills, while $52,904 will represent reductions in rates.
• rior to the formation of the local War Service Committee, the Earl of Shelburne Chapter, IODE, was given the task of collecting children’s clothing in the community, to be placed at the disposal of the British Government for distribution among the English children separated from their parents on being evacuated from the cities, away from the greater danger of air raids. It is desired to secure new or unused clothing suitable for children aged 4-14 years. New and warm clothing is particularly needed, also blankets. Every house in Shelburne is being canvassed by the IODE and the opportunity is also open to folks residing outside the village to make similar contributions. Persons not having the necessary children’s clothing may make contributions in money, which will be used to purchase necessary articles. Time is short. All goods must be ready and in the hands of the IODE by Saturday of this week. Persons living outside the community may leave donations at the Fleming Hardware store.
• ffective September 24, important changes in the timetable of CPR passenger trains between Owen Sound and Toronto will be made. The afternoon train out of Owen Sound will leave at 5:00 o’clock instead of 3:30 and arrive in Toronto at 9:30 instead 8 p.m. The train now leaving Toronto at 5:30 p.m. will not leave until 6:30 and arrive in Owen Sound at 10:55 p.m. instead of 10.00. The changes will give more time in Toronto for anyone going down in the morning while also giving those going to Owen Sound on the morning train an extra hour and a half there. The changes also provide better connections at Toronto.

50 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, September 16, 1964
• helburne Postmaster Ron O’Reilly and his staff will move to their new quarters at First Avenue and William Street in time to open up for business on Thursday morning. The old post office will end service to the public at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, by which time it is hoped that everyone will have gotten their mail.
• ttendance at Centre Dufferin District High School has been rising each year since the school was built and opened 10 years ago. The increase this year is only six students, but indications are that next year the present building will be bursting at the seams unless more room is provided. Enrolment has risen to 371 this year from 313 in 1962.
• onstruction is to start Monday on a 200-foot-high Ontario Hydro communications tower on Primrose Hill replacing an old antenna in Melancthon.

10 YEARS AGO
Friday, September 17, 2004
• ufferin County Council was chagrined last week to learn that the cost of the bridge over the Credit River along the Orangeville south bypass has jumped to just over $2 million from $1.5 million, due partly to a sharp increase of the price of steel.
• consultant’s report presented to Orangeville Council Monday night predicts that Dufferin County’s population will nearly double by 2031.