Ten years ago — 1999
A hardworking committee of the Harrington Community Club are thinking ahead to what might become of the Harrington Mill, which was originally opened in 1846 on a small tributary of Trout Creek. The mill was the final parcel among several pieces of property bought by the Upper Tames River Conservation Area, as it originally amassed the 10-acre conservation area. That was in 1964, the same year the Harrington mill last ground grain into livestock feed for local farmers.
Town council is reaching out to the community to show its support for keeping schools in the town open. This is a result of an earlier announcement by the Avon Maitland School Board that some schools may have to be closed because declining enrolment has left them underutilized.
25 years ago — 1984
Pictured in this week’s Journal are Alison Brown and Chris Cumming, after receiving the Harold White awards for their contributions to school life at St. Marys DCVI.
Mrs. R. B. Johnson of Cochrane, president of the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario, attended the London Area convention held at the St. Marys Community Centre and brought the 427 delegates and members up to date on Institute happenings and future plans. (Nettie Hogg, Thorndale)
50 years ago — 1959
We See — That Maxwell plant employees are now finished for the week at 4 p.m. Friday. This is one feature of a two-year union agreement signed at the plant recently. The hours of work will be reduced over a two-year period from 45 hours a week to 42.
Not all the collisions happen on the highway. Recently a CPR diesel engine pushing two empty cement cars collided with several loaded coal cars at the St. Marys Cement Co. The two empty cars were bounced around and toppled over. The front truck of the locomotive jumped off the rails and was slightly damaged. Auxiliary crews had it all cleaned up that night.
Otto’s Speedy Repair, the White Rose Station on Queen St. West, has purchased the brake drum machine from Ray Bondy which many local garages have made use of for some time now.
75 years ago — 1934
Our village is undergoing several improvements. The new occupants of the General Store have renovated the building by putting up a new front, with glass doors and large windows. Mr. King is having his kitchen fixed, and Mr. Dyke’s new home is being painted. This is a modern home and when the ground are fixed up, will add much to the appearance of the village. There are two Delco plants, and so we have street lighting. (Prospect Hill)
St. marys Public School Board Report — The Musical Instructress, Miss Grace Maxwell, in a letter to the Board, asked permission to spend from 50 to 75 cents from the Music fund account on supplies for the music classes during the next term. The  money does not come from school funds but from the funds raised by the school children at their annual concert and from the department grants. Trustees Millson and Mitchell moved that Miss Maxwell’s request be granted.
100 years ago — 1909
The new classrooms in Mr. John Welland’s bank on Wellington St. N. will be taken over by the Public School Board shortly. The opening of the new room will relieve the congestion in Miss Hamilton and Miss McCammus’ classes.
Mr. Joseph Fair has sold his bakery and confectionery to Mr. A.H. Zurbrigg of Markham. Mr. Farr has been in business nearly 20 years. At first he was located in the Davey block opposite the old Post Office, and for the last few years in the present stand. Mr. and Mrs. FArr have taken the home at the corner of Queen and Robinson Street, West Ward, opposite the Registry Office.