News from the Mapleton area in 1907, 1982

The following is a re-print of a past column by former Advertiser columnist Stephen Thorning, who passed away on Feb. 23, 2015.

Some text has been updated to reflect changes since the original publication and any images used may not be the same as those that accompanied the original publication.

July 1907

119 years ago

Fine summer weather characterized July 1907. A major problem was an epidemic of sow thistles, which seemed to be indestructible. Agricultural experts recommended that the stalks be severed with a hoe just below the surface in early July. 

Farmers began the harvesting of wheat during the last week of the month. Dairy farmers were happy too. Cheese factories gladly accepted all the milk offered by farmers, and the price of cheese held up all summer in the range of 11 cents/pound.

Drayton council convened on July 8 for a short summer session. Councillors accepted Charles Hood’s bid to cut the weeds at the sides of the streets in the village for $7. Deciding on some additional road work, council decided to advertise for tenders for hauling and spreading 200 cubic yards of gravel from Sander’s pit at Stirton. The gravel was for Wellington and Main Streets.

A decision earlier in the year to pull up some of the wooden sidewalks in the village and substitute gravel was turning into an unpopular one. The gravel was proving to be soft and difficult to walk on, and had washed away in some locations. Nevertheless, councillors defended the decision, claiming it eliminated dangerous portions of sidewalks and avoided the continual expense of replacing rotting and broken boards.

Peel councillors also met on July 8, at the township hall in Goldstone. Much of the meeting was spent discussing various road projects and paying bills associated with them. The township had an ambitious program of road repairs and improvements in 1907, and council added to it at the meeting. They appointed a committee of council to examine the bridge at Lot 15, Concession 7, near Winfield post office, which was in need of repair, and to consider the elimination of the span and an adjoining one by rerouting a small creek.

Peel council voted to open the side road between Lots 14 and 15, Concession A, at the eastern side of the township, and at the other end of Peel, Richard Boyle was awarded a contract for a small bridge on Concession 1 for $165.

The big Orange Order celebration in the area in 1907 was in Arthur on July 12. Hundreds from Peel and Maryborough attended, along with the Drayton Lodge and their friends. The Sunday prior to the event, Rev. W.A. Archer preached a special Orange sermon at the Moorefield United Church. About 200 Orangemen attended in full regalia. The minister preached that Orangeism was based solidly on the scriptures, and that King William of Orange was one of the greatest men in history. Afterward, several of the Orangemen said they felt like jumping up and offering three cheers for the minister.

Impromptu horse racing late on the night of July 13 up and down Main Street caused much alarm and complaints. The noise awakened nearby residents, and there were calls for council to do something to prevent a recurrence of the event.

On July 16 the Palmerston lacrosse team visited Drayton, and was defeated 8-3 to the hometown favourites before a large crowd. It was the first year for organized lacrosse in Drayton.

Also on July 16, the Methodists from the churches in the Moorefield circuit in Peel and Maryborough – Moorefield, Bethesda, Rothsay, Zion and Parker – held their annual picnic at Egerton Oxby’s grove near Rothsay. Events began with races and games at 2pm. Organizers asked everyone to bring a picnic basket.

July 1907 was an active month for contractors. Several farmers in the Drayton area added to their buildings. The most common projects were additions to existing barns.

In Drayton, the firm of Washburn and Greene of Arthur secured the contract for a new Presbyterian manse on Wellington Street. In Glen Allan, contractors were busy with renovations and improvements to the Methodist manse. Parker’s Methodist Church held a fundraising lawn social on July 22, at the home of J.M. Clark, to finance the organ recently installed in the church. A couple of stands sold food, and there was a full program of entertainment. Admission was 10 cents.

Severe storms on July 24 brought hail to the Yatton area, accompanied by strong winds. One farmer lost a dozen windows, and there was severe damage to crops.

Drayton’s small industrial base suffered a major blow early in the morning of July 25, when a fire broke out about 1am at John Peel’s shoe and legging factory. Firefighters could not to save the building, and concentrated their efforts on stopping the spread to an adjoining livery stable and the village weigh scales.

Noise on the night of July 26 woke up W.H. Elliot, and he went to his henhouse to investigate. A half-dozen weasels had invaded the building, and showed little fear of Elliot or his son. He managed to kill one and injure another before driving them off, but by then he had lost more than 40 hens.

July 1982

44 years ago

A request by Canadian National Railways to disconnect seven sets of grade crossing signals between Fergus and Palmerston angered county council. 

The railway had applied to abandon the line, but the county and others had filed objections, and a decision had yet to be made. Councillors thought the railway was showing contempt for the process by trying to jump the gun on abandonment.

The committee planning the 1984 Plowing Match at Teviotdale, chaired by David Craig, was making progress with arrangements. The event would centre on the farm of J.D. Ross and Sons, and would require about 700 acres, spread across a dozen farms. A large sign was erected on the site at the beginning of August.

Drayton and Peel councils continued to wrestle with the fire hall issue, and how costs and responsibilities would be divided. The latest move was to appoint a Fire Hall Board, with two representatives from each municipality. Another joint meeting of the councils was scheduled for Aug. 30.

Marilyn Schieck, hired by the Moorefield Park Board, ran a successful eight-week summer program for youngsters from kindergarten to Grade 4, with about 25 attending regularly. The group enjoyed an overnight camp-out in its activities. Marilyn also co-ordinated the various activities at the park: horseshoes, volleyball, tennis and shuffleboard.

Hesselink’s grocery store in Drayton organized a well-publicized sale in August during renovations at the store. The work included the installation of new coolers and freezers. 

At their Aug. 4 meeting, Maryborough councillors discussed planning for future development in Moorefield. They intended to designate some of the land surrounding the village as industrial and residential. A delegation asked for the sidewalk to be replaced in the retail core of Moorefield. Council replied there were no funds in the Moorefield Police Village budget for the work, but they instructed building inspector Art Ott to undertake minor repairs.

Donna Green, who had been Drayton’s bylaw officer enforcing the contentious parking bylaw, handed Drayton council her resignation prior to moving to Guelph. Council was in the midst of revising the bylaw and they intended to enforce it by advertising immediately for a new bylaw officer.

Drayton council met Aug. 9. As was often the case in the early 1980s, the water and sewer question was at the top of the agenda. With escalating costs, provincial subsidies uncertain and sky-high interest rates prevailing, councillors conceded that they would be unable to install both systems at once. Estimates put the water system at $1,083,000, and the sewer installation at $2,558,000.

Three contestants entered the competition for the title of Miss Drayton Fall Fair: Isabel Hetsler, Betty Ann Wilson and Marilyn Schieck. The winner would be selected at the Drayton Old Tyme Jamboree on Aug. 27 and 28. The event featured two days of fiddling and step dancing competitions.

The new restaurant in Rothsay, Barb and Wendy’s, opened in early August. The women wanted to operate a full scale dining room with a liquor licence. That would require a zoning amendment, application to provincial authorities and a referendum to allow the sale of alcohol in the township. Three residents filed objections immediately on learning of the plans. Maryborough had been dry since before the First World War. The issue of the expanded dining seemed destined for a Municipal Board hearing.

Drayton’s Kinsmen gave $500 to the Arena Board, for the purchase of roller skates for the rental booth, provided the Arena Board matched the amount.

The 4-H Dairy Calf Club organized a mini-fair at Orville Brodhaecker’s farm on Aug. 9. There were some demonstrations on the care of calves, and a competition judged by Everett Oxby. The day ended with a potluck supper. 

Moorefield’s annual Slo-Pitch tournament came off successfully on Aug. 20 and 21. The last game was penciled in for 9pm on the second day, a Saturday, and a dance followed.

Drayton council decided to hold a liquor referendum in conjunction with the municipal election at the end of the year. The action resulted from a request from Al Ostner, who was developing a retail strip on the edge of town. He wanted to include provision for a combined liquor and beer store. Council was less sympathetic to the inclusion of a bank as a permissible business. Ostner said that the Royal Bank was considering new premises, but most councillors preferred the existing downtown location. The matter was deferred.

Al Kiers and Sons moved their business, operating as Moorefield Equipment Limited, to Teviotdale, and held an official opening on Aug. 19. The business specialized in equipment for dairy farms, and was the local outlet for the Patz-Berg and Badger lines. A steady stream of farmers dropped by for a look, a chance at a draw, and a donut and cup of coffee.

*This column was originally published in the Drayton Community News on July 20 and 27, 2007.