Muriel Sheldon
Columnist

Ten years ago – 2000
We See – that St. Marys Taxi’s owner Joe Fenz, at his own expense, will take donations of water and money to Walkerton to assist residents there.
The channels and tributaries of the Thames River that flow through St. Marys have joined 27 other waterways in Canada – and just eight in Ontario – on a list of officially designated Canadian Heritage Rivers.
The roads committee of Perth County has made a motion to make repairs to Trafalgar Bridge. The recommendations will now go before the County, meeting at the beginning of September.
25 years ago – 1985
NOTICE – St. Marys District Collegiate Night School Fall Programme. Pre-registration, Sept. 24 from 4-8 p.m.
Dawn Bennett, Teddy Bears Reunion organizer, picked up a few ideas during last Saturday’s even that she plans on putting to practice next year. Approximately 1,000 people of all ages brought their teddy bears to the Flats for the first annual reunion.
We See – that the CP Railway made repairs to the crossing one kilometer west of Highway 19, forcing Highway 7 to be  closed for a period of time recently.
Construction is underway on an 18-hole miniature golf course at the corner of Perth Road 28 and Highway 7, near Wildwood Conservation Area. The golf course, which will be open next spring, will be operated by Kel Thomson and his wife Bev.
Spectators at this year’s St. Marys Fair parade were treated to a viewing of the restored water wagon, which was used to keep the dust down on the town streets during the first quarter of the century. The water wagon, with its yellow, 500-gallon tank and red trim, was jointly entered in the parade by the St. Marys District Museum and the town’s Works department.
50 years ago – 1960
We See – that Tippie the faithful collie dog of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Bain, who recently moved to town, refuses to come to town to live. Tippie is 19 years old and Mr. Bain goes to the old farm each day to feed him. That old saying “there is no place like home” certainly applies to Tippie.
Also: Mr. and Mrs. Clare Odbert of the Canadian Tire Associate Store have purchased the S.W. Brown Block, corner of Jones and Water streets. This building was originally the second post office building in St. Marys but more recently was used by Mr. Brown as an auto showroom and garage.
It has been suggested in some quarters that the fine stone wall on the west side of Cadzow Park be removed. The reason being that the wall is in need of repair and pointing, and it is felt that it would be easier and less expensive in the long run to have it removed. Ontario is one of the older parts of Canada and we are continually hearing it deplored that old landmarks are being changed and destroyed. If this wall is removed we are sure that it will only mean one thing – that another piece of pioneer beauty has vanished.
It might be noted that the wall does serve a very useful purpose as protection for the children playing in the Park, keeping them from the nearby roadway along which much traffic travels at times. (Editorial)
75 years ago – 1935
From the Journal Letter Box: Knowing your fondness for fragments of pioneer days I’m passing on the following incident.
Soon after I came to Goderich to teach in the High School I was invited to the home of Rev. Charles Fletcher, a retired Presbyterian minister who saw service in both Perth and Huron in the early days. He told me of an experience he had when following the blazed trail from St. Marys to the Downie appointment. It was rather late on a Saturday afternoon, and he began to feel he was lost, and would have to spend the night beside a log. He was not, however, the only anxious one, for the man of the house where he was to spend the night began to fear he had missed the trail and so he set out to look for him. A “hoo-hoo” fell on Mr. Fletcher’s ears and he replied and the two “hoo-hooed” until they met face to face.
But the name of his good friend has escaped his memory and he said, “I would like to recall it.” Then it was I who spoke up and said, “Was it Adam Oliver?” “Yes, Yes! But how did you know?” Well, he was my father and I have heard him tell of you being lost in the bush and him finding you. (Isabel Hamilton, Mrs. (Rev.) James Hamilton, Goderich, Ont., Aug. 3, 1935).