10 years ago - 2000
A portion of the Grand Trunk Trail from Ingersoll Street to the Sarnia Bridge will be paved after it was washed out by heavy rains.
Lakeside, Brooksdale and surrounding area, almost to Embro and Hickson, felt the brunt of Nature's fury as a hailstorm hit the area. The result was devastation on fields, beans and gardens, broken windows in homes, barns and vehicles. (Lakeside)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Marys Memorial Hospital, the St. Marys Museum is preparing a book to celebrate its history as a vital part of this community. This book is almost finished, and the last chapter deals with the dramatic events in 1996 when the Huron-Perth Hospital and related Health Services Task Force proposed restructuring options that would change the role of St. Marys Memorial Hospital.
25 years ago - 1985
We See - that a new part-time worker will be hired at the ST. Marys Day Nursery and eight new places for children will be created.
A planned 12,000 sq. ft. addition to the Shur-Gain plant on James Street south could provide jobs for six or seven people on each new shift, town council was informed at the last council meeting.
Marie Tyler, formerly of Avonbank, has been visiting her parents, prior to her departure for Ottawa and then London, England for her new CUSO position as provincial nutritionist in the North Solomon Islands, Papua, New Guineas, in the Soviet Pacific. (Town News)
A request from Staffen's Market for a zoning amendment that would permit expansion of the parking lot on the east side of the supermarket has been referred to the town planning and advisory committee.
50 years ago - 1960
We See - that truckloads of garden peas are being hauled through St. Marys to the Exeter Caning Co., pea-shelling plant on the Blackler farm in Blanshard.
Also - that Orville Mache, an employee of the St. Marys Post Office, has started the construction of a new house on the White Bros. farm, Queen Street West.
Town Council News - Reeve L.J. White and Road Supt. John Dunnell of Blanshard attended a town council meeting to take up a new road proposition with council. It is proposed to straighten out the dangerous right angle turn on the Junction Road north of town near the Roy Sheldon residence b y closing the present roading and acquiring a new straight right-of-way through the Fox, Kilgiallin and CNR lands, thus cutting off the angle. Town Council will go along with the township in this matter.
75 years ago - 1935
From Blanshard Council - A communication from the Unemployment Relief Board was read, “that after August 1st all relief to single men between the ages of 21 and 60 inclusive is discontinued. The single woman situation may also be considered and action taken. There being no relief given to anyone in Blanshard, the above edict does not apply.”
From Fullarton Council - Resolved that the Council, realizing the great difficulty, due to heavy rains, the farmers are having in getting their harvest work done, request their co-operation in connection with road-side weed cutting.
100 years ago - 1910
Jack Maclean, Arthur smith, Hugh Stewart, John Alberts, Frank Wilson, D.C. Baird, Bert Stricker, Leonard Wilson, Douglas Tuer, Bartley Northgrave, Roy Riddell, Harvey Taylor. These are the 12 stalwart lacrosse players - all “homebrew” - who won the district championship in Mitchell by a score of 10 goals to 4, and defended the name for the Stone Town so nobly by carrying home the laurels.
During the thunderstorms recently, lightning struck the barn on the Donald farm about a mile east of town. The building was set on fire and wholly consumed. Messrs. Weir and Weir have the farm rented and had that day finished drawing in their hay crop. There were about one hundred tons of hay in the barn.