LOOKING BACK - March 12, 2008
Muriel Sheldon, Columnist Ten years ago — 1998
We See: That the St. Marys Lions Club is announcing that they will be
erecting their sign at the Lions Park at the north end of the Flats. The
work party will be on Saturday and the Town Works department is allowing the
Lions the use of their wood chipper.
The Lind Sportsplex will officially open on March 14. Curlers have been
throwing rocks and sweeping at their new home for some time.
The Grand Opening of the Thames Valley Carwash at 357 Queen Street, St.
Marys is announced for March 14.
25 Years Ago — 1983
Two metal fabricating companies, which will be locating in St. Marys within
the next few weeks will employ about 100 people. One of the new companies to
be called the St. Marys Tube Company, Ltd. will be located in a new plant to
be built immediately north of the Shur-Gain Plant. The other company, no
name yet, will be located in the former Scovill Industrial plant in the
north end of town.
Lakeside Summer Resort advertises their Saturday, March 19 Dance - Music by
Royalaires.
50 Years Ago — 1958
The time seems to have come when the St. Marys Memorial Hospital is in need
of enlargement. Although the average patient occupancy has not grown a great
deal through the years, the number of times when the hospital has been
filled or over-filled in the medical department, is growing more frequent.
In January, a real peak was reached when the medical wing recorded 98 per
cent occupancy for the month.
Several St. Marys members of the Stratford Auto Club attended the monthly
meeting held in the Tavistock Public Library. Accounts of the recent Winter
Rally were related by participants Geoff Arkell, Ken Sippel and Russ
Houghton. These three drove cars as a Club team in the rally and two of them
finished the event, which was considered quite a feat since less than half
of the 170 entered did so.
St. Marys Rotarians have addressed and mailed over 2,200 envelopes to people
in town and countryside requesting funds for the Easter Seal campaign.
75 Years Ago — 1933
The time for gathering the first harvest of the year has arrived for those
who have sugar maple trees at the back corner of their farms. Not many at
Uniondale are so favoured, but to those of us who have memories of the sugar
woods, these sunny days awake the seasonal craving for the delectable
product of the forest, and the old thrill of getting out into the woods to
boil sap. (Uniondale)
From Town Council — A deputation from the St. Marys Horticultural Society
composed of the president, Mr. P. Hepburn and Mr. Wm. Hardy told council
that the Society was thinking of establishing a town nursery for young
trees, and were present to ask the council for the use of an acre or so of
vacant land for the purpose. The trees of the town were 97 per cent soft
maple and those were not a good tree to plant along the streets. Hard maple,
elm, white oak and ash are what they could get from the Department of Lands
and Forests free for the asking.
100 Years Ago — 1908
The Royal Edward Hotel has taken over the building adjoining their property
lately occupied by Fenwick and Son Grocers, and will convert it into sample
rooms. Fenwick & Son have removed to the stand occupied by McLaren Bros.
Mr. A. W. Haines was the victim of an accident, which might easily have been
of a more serious nature. He was working on a scaffolding in the new St.
James’ Hall for which he is contractor, when he was taken with a faint spell
and fell against a plate glass window breaking it and tumbling to the floor.
(Mr. Haines is of the opinion that he was overcome by coal gas.) He received
a number of bruises and was somewhat shaken up.
Whelihan’s hill has been a popular resort for tobogganists during the past
two weeks.
A resolution was passed at the meeting of the Collegiate Institute Board
that the doors at the school be made to open out.
The janitorship of the new post office has been offered by the government to
Mr. Wesley Hoyt. (News About Town)
A complaint about the almost impossible roads as one enters the town from
any direction has been made. Would it not be in the interest of the town of
St. Marys that the abominable pitch holes that have existed during the past
two weeks or more be levelled?
125 Years Ago — 1883
Property has begun to change hands in St. Marys early this week. Last week
we mentioned that the Messrs. Weir had purchased Dr. Harrison’s farm. They
have also leased the Doctor’s flax mill for a term of years so that they
will run both flax mills in town this coming season.
Mr. Finnie, of Courtright, has purchased the National Hotel from Mr. James
Clark. He takes possession immediately. Mr. Clark bought the beautifully
situated residence of Dr. Harrison, on Church street, adjoining the
Episcopal Church, paying therefore $8,250.
Mr. George Garner has purchased his father’s residence Peel Street south,
and takes possession immediately.