Ten years ago — 2000
Influenza has replaced Y2K as the top “bug” these days, and St. Marys is no exception. St. Marys Memorial Hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Fred Jewson says this year’s version of the flu seems to be causing typical symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat and aches and pains all over.
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25 years ago — 1985
A couple of St. Marys people recently received special mention in the Toronto Star. One of the Sports writer jury members to help choose the Athlete of the Year for Canada was Milt Dunnell, premier Star columnists who is a native of the Stonetown and and spent his early years here. Also noted in the Star was the fact that Pat Galloway, who has been a resident just north of St. Marys for some years now, will be back at Stratford for theatre in 1985. She will play Ruth in the Pirates of Penzance. (The Rambling Reporter)
Country Line Eggs Ltd., an egg-processing company which utilizes the entire egg in its product line, is expected to start up operation in town within the next two weeks at the former Gold Yolk Eggs Plant. The company is expect to hire 25 to 30 workers in their west-end plant.
50 years ago — 1960
Like the old-time stage coach robbery of old was the circumstances which resulted in three bandits holding up Arthur Reeves, Thamesford to Port Dover mail truck driver in front of the Thamesford Post Office at 5 a.m. recently. They drove off with 11 bags of 1st class mail. the truck was found abandoned near Dorchester after the driver had been released. About $1,500 in cash and money orders were stolen.
We See: that members of the St. Marys Fire Brigade have ben issued amber “flashers” for use while driving to fires. Firemen will simply plug the light into their cigarette lighter socket, toss the blinker up on the roof of the car and take off. the letters VFF, printed in black on the amber globe, will identify them as Volunteer Fire Fighters.
Headline: 3255 In and Out Patients were cared For At Hospital in 1959. Board Learns At January Meeting. Some figures were: Operations, 466 (525 - 1958); X-ray procedures 2952 (2886 - 1958); births 235 (212 in 1958).
75 years ago — 1935
Kirkton Public School Report - V. Malcolm Howe, Marion Tufts, Wilma McCurdy; Sr. IV, Leon Paul, Joan Parker, Violet Ruston, John Brown, Mary Hanns; Jr. IV, Ross Tufts, Lois Watterton, Ervena Brown, Preston Morrison, Ivan Doupe, Jack Bibby; Sr. III, Edwin Tufts, Marjorie Pearson, Leona Doupe; Jr. III, Ethel Blackler, Humphrey Brown, Norma Watterton, Harry Doupe; II, Edith Fletcher, Harold Hanns, Ray Morrison, Lorne Francis; I, Helen McNaughton, Melvin Doupe, Sidney Pearson; Premier, N. Tufts, Betty Howe, Leona Dobson, Garet Watterton, Bobby Bibby, Bobby Robinson, Donna Brown. E. Walkhom, Teacher.
One of the oldest landmarks of the district, the stone school two miles north of Kirkton (SS No. 3, Usbourne) was burned down recently. The school was built about 65 years ago, and many hundreds of folks here and now scattered throughout Canada got their early education in the old school.
100 years ago — 1909
A team belonging to the J. D. Moore Co. broke through the ice on Trout Creek and, with some difficulty, got to shore. The team was being used to work a scraper to clean off the snow preparatory to cutting the ice.
The Curling Club has a membership of over 60 this season.
The St. Marys Fire Brigade now ranks among the best in the smaller towns throughout the Province of Ontario.