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25 YEARS AGO
Tillsonburg News
December 30, 1987
THOUSANDS CHEER OLYMPIC FLAME
It was like the parting of the Red Sea. The cheering people, cheeks and noses rosy from subzero temperatures, miraculously divided into two walls as 10-year-old Wendy Howse, fatigued from her 1 km run, appeared holding high the Olympic Torch. Literally thousands of people had surrounded Tillsonburg’s downtown platform waiting for the arrival of the torch on Day 42 of its 88-day 18,000 km trip across Canada to the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games.
South Ridge PS student Jennie Palen, 11, spoke of Tillsonburg’s patriotism and the infectious Olympic spirit. “When I looked out, all I could see was millions of heads looking back at me. It was scary,” said Palen.
In Courtland, that same Monday Dec. 28 night, the Torch was carried through Courtland where 500 people gathered to celebrate. “Fantastic,” was Norfolk Township Councillor Hector Verhoeve’s description of the event.
STORES BUSY ON SUNDAY
Most of downtown Tillsonburg was closed Sunday but those businesses that did take advantage of the opportunity to operate reported good sales.
“Sunday was super,” said Linda Poirier, secretary for Norfolk Mall, which had all but five businesses open for shoppers. “People had a lot of Christmas money to spend.”
“From what I understand, it didn’t hurt anyone that didn’t open Sunday,” said BIA’s Carol O’Neil. “Personally I had my best Boxing Day ever.”
50 YEARS AGO
Tillsonburg News
December 27, 1962
FREIGHT DERAILED
Twenty-two freight cars from a 76-car eastbound freight train were derailed on the NY Central railway line near the Tillson Avenue depot on Monday, Dec. 24 at 7:15 p.m. About 500 feet of double-track main line and three switches were damaged. The railway station itself came close to being demolished when one of the derailed cars careened within 10 feet of it. All of the crew were from St. Thomas, and there were no injuries.
A westbound passenger train arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the derailment and screeched to a halt 300 feet from the jumble of twisted steel. Passengers were taken on to Detroit by bus.
Cause of the derailment is unknown but it is believed that it was caused by broken trucks under the lead hopper which was filled with sand. Some of the cars contained automotive parts, but most of them were empty.
Damage will likely amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
THIEVES CRACK MOLNAR’S PIGGY BANK
A break-in occurred at the home of George Molnar, 51 Parkwood Drive. Entry was gained by breaking the glass in the French doors at the rear of the house. Investigation revealed the culprits searched the house and broke open a child’s piggy bank containing approximately one dollar in change.
Tillsonburg News
January 3, 1963
OFFICER BLAMELESS IN ROAD DEATH
OPP Constable Walter Baguley, 23, of the Tillsonburg detachment was absolved of any blame in the highway death of Charles Norman Mayo, killed near Burgessville Dec. 12 when struck by a police cruiser.
A coroner’s jury at the inquest in Norwich found that Mayo, a former hockey great, was walking on the traveled portion of the road and on the wrong side when hit. Evidence showed the cruiser had pulled out to pass another vehicle when the accident occurred. Driving conditions were not good.
Thirteen witnesses were called.
FULL SLATE OF HOCKEY GAMES
David Prouse sparked the Tri-County TV squirts to a 3-1 win Saturday with two goals while Barry Graydon added a single. Donny Kendricks scored for the Accountants.
Jack Chapman and John Dunn scored for The Cruisers in a 2-0 win over Rotary.
In mite action, David Soper, Bruce Coulthard and Dennis Fairall tallied for Georges Coffee Bar in a 3-1 win against Lions, who got a goal from Fred Smithers.
Second-place Tigers blanked last place Sanitones 2-0, Carter Hutchison scored both goals.
Tillsonburg Shoe remained in top spot in the peewee league winning their fifth game in seven starts. Randy Ball and Allan Dennis scored two each, while Charles Laister, George Fulop and Danny Lamb added singles. Ed Myer scored for Scotts.
Bobby Reid led Honsbergers with two goals in a 5-0 shutout of Anglo Canada. Sergeant, Hutcheson and Chute also scored.
Heath’s also shut out Little C’s 5-0. Albright had two, and Percy Stubbs, Brad Thompson and Martin Powell one each.
In bantam, front-running Tillsonburg Tire and Battery edged Arlington 3-2 on goals by Jack Starr, Kirk Hunter, and Tom Corbett. Wayne Rooke and Harvey Tribe scored for Arlingtons.
Walter Homick’s two goals were all second-place Ostranders needed as they nipped Vances 2-1. Mike Fedoruk scored for Vances.
There were no midget games this week. Next week Cowells face Stauffers and Legion takes on Mabees.
90 YEARS AGO
Tillsonburg News
December 28, 1922
PETTMAN LOSES PRIZE PERCHEONS
W.L. Pettman of Dereham had the misfortune to lose a pair of four-year-old Percheon colts last Saturday. The horses broke out of the field in which they were confined, and wandering on the CPR track were killed by a passing locomotive. The colts were well matched and were prized very highly by Mr. Pettman.
DIES AT GREAT AGE OF 103
With the death of Frank Barsotta, Toronto has lost one of its oldest, if not the oldest, citizens. Mr. Barsotta was born in England in 1819, four years after the Battle of Waterloo. He came to Canada at the age of 16, in of the oldtime sailing vessels, the trip taking 71 days.
His first residence was in Tillsonburg, Ont., where he was employed in a vineyard. After some 30 years, he moved to Cooksville and in 1906 moved to Toronto.
94 YEARS AGO
Tillsonburg Observer
Thursday, January 2, 1919
OPEN MANHOLE
Mr. J.A. McKay has received a judgment of $500 and costs in his suit against the Town for damages on account of injuries received, last winter, through stepping into an open manhole.
109 YEARS AGO
Tillsonburg Observer
January 7, 1904
HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday evening, Jan. 11, between Hagersville and Tillsonburg for the championship of the Southern Counties Hockey Association and silver given by W.R. Hobbs.
SLEIGH INJURY
Wilfred, a son of Mr. H. Forben, MCR freight agent, fell off a sleigh on Broadway on Tuesday afternoon. The sleigh passed over his right leg just above the knee. No bones were broken but the limb was badly bruised.
WALSH KICKED IN THE ARM
Mr. G.N. Walsh met with a bad accident in St. Thomas yesterday. He was at the station shipping hogs for C.H. Mabee and was carrying a bundle of straw under his left arm. As he passed near a farmer’s horse the animal kicked him, breaking his arm just above the wrist. The straw prevented him from receiving the kick in the abdomen, which might easily have proved fatal.
DENTON WINS ELECTION
Voting on Monday resulted in Mr. C.H. Denton being elected mayor by a majority of 32 votes. There were 530 votes polled, 13 less than at the last election. This year’s town council is as follows: Mayor C.H. Denton, Councillors W.H. Jackson, W.B. Hogarth, John A. McFarlane, Thos. Fero, L.H. Sinden, and A.S. Stilwell.
DEATH OF BAYHAM PIONEER
Captain Samuel Livingston, the last of Bayham’s pioneers, was laid at rest in the family plot in the Dobbie cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 3, after having passed the unusual great age of 91 years. He was born in Monehan County, Ireland, on Nov. 14, 1812, his mother being a Dane and his father being of Scottish extraction.
In the year 1816 he crossed the ocean with his parents and settled in Rochester, NY, but not reaching the degree of prosperity expected, moved by wagon to Bayham. Samuel, then a boy of 11, walked the entire distance with his father and elder brother.
When they arrived at the Otter River they were unable to cross with their wagon, and had to fell trees across the water over which they carried their belongings.
Here, they engaged a man with his wagon to convey their effects to the farm now owned by James Elliott, and here it was that Mr. Livingston’s boyhood was happily spent with his brothers and sisters.
It was no unusual occurrence in those days for them to find a sheep partly devoured by wolves, or to see a bear running away with a pig in its embrace. The howling of wolves disturbed them not at all. Samuel shot a bear when he was a young boy.
Upon reaching the age of 21, his father gave Samuel a yoke of oxen, a cow and an axe, as well as his first seed grain, and one year’s board when he started out to hew his home from the forest, purchasing from the crown 100 acres of land on the 10th Concession of Bayham, cornering from his father’s homestead.
This land was densely covered with hardwood and some grand pine. During the first year he cleared almost 10 acres, and set out the present orchard. He assisted in surveying what is now known as the Forge Road, and erected a log house where he lived by himself until 1840, the year he married Miss Sarah Borbridge.
A few years later he had a substantial dwelling built, which was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1894.
During the troubles of 1837-38, Mr. Livingston took up arms on the Government side and held the commission of captain, and spent several months in camp at Gosfield (near Kingsville) on the shore of Lake Erie.
Livingston helped organize a Presbyterian congregation in Tillsonburg in the early 1840s, and took a leading part in the erection of the first Presbyterian church in Tillsonburg.
He had a family of one son and four daughters, all of whom, with his wife, have passed away except for Mrs. Dr. McLean of Hartford, Mich., and Mrs. John N. Baker, who lives on the homestead.
He is survived by three brothers and two sisters, including Edward of Delmer, Josiah of Tillsonburg, Dancy of Delhi, and Mrs. Bothwell in Aylmer, all over the age of 70.
Tillsonburg’s A.L. Baker, general freight and passenger agent of the TLE&P Railway is a grandson of the deceased.
ANOTHER SLEIGH INJURY!
Thomas Leighton met with a very serious accident last evening. He was crossing the White Bridge and stepped aside to let a team pass. As he did so, he slipped and fell in front of the sleigh.
One of the runners struck him in the centre of the head cutting a gash nearly five inches long. He was taken to his home and Dr. Reid was called. Eleven stitches were required in the wound.
SCOTT FAMILY REUNION
Among the persons who spent the holidays in Tillsonburg and vicinity is Mr. Robert Scott of Trout Lake City, British Columbia, brother of A.L. and L.A. Scott and Mrs. W.T. Boughner of North Bayham.
Mr. Scott was well known in Tillsonburg more than 21 years ago when he left this district. His homecoming was a complete surprise to his relatives.
Mr. Scott is an enthusiastic advocate of British Columbia, believing it will be the leading province in the Dominion in the future on account of its great timber and mineral wealth, its rich agricultural and fruit lands, and its fish. Mr. Scott thinks he has some valuable mining property and intends opening it up next season.
LATIN TO BECOME OPTIONAL
The Minister of Education has made proposals for changes in the public and high school courses. Latin is to be made optional in high schools. In public schools, English spelling and derivation of words will be more extensively taught.
PORT BURWELL NEEDS A BREAKWATER
(From the Port Burwell Packet)
Nearing completion as it is, the Port Burwell harbor is still not what it should be in the way of a harbor of refuge or as a protection for the unloading of boats.
This was amply demonstrated two weeks ago during the unloading of the Westfort and the Sophia Minch. Day after day the harbor was so rough that the work of unloading had to be suspended, and the boats were damaged considerably by being dashed against the dock.
The Laurier Government has been liberal indeed, in its grant for the building of our harbor; they have shown they are anxious to have at least one good harbor on the north shore of Lake Erie. But they must now go further and protect this harbor – in fact complete it. The one thing needed is a breakwater, and without it traffic in and out of the harbor is practically out of the question.
Next week, general manager Teall of the TLE&P will visit Ottawa and appeal for a further grant with which to build a breakwater.
FACT OR FICTION IN 1904?
• London has 2,300 miles of sewers and Paris only 400.
• First-class railway fare in India is less than half a cent per mile.
• Holland’s colonies are 60 times as big as the mother-country.
• Few people in India eat more than twice a day, and thousands only once.
• The hide of a cow produces about 35 lbs of leather, that of a horse about 18 lbs.
• Russian railways are the most dangerous in the world. Thirty persons in every million passengers are either killed or hurt.
• Railways in Holland are so carefully managed that the accidental deaths on them average only one a year for the entire country.
• The Turkish postal system has only 424 pillar-boxes for the use of the public.
• An Austrian colonel has just died leaving to the Army Museum, Vienna, a collection of 50,000 papier-mache soldiers in the uniforms of most armies, past and present.
• The largest carpet in the world is 40 ft in breadth and contains 58,840,000 stitches. It took 28 men more than 14 months to make it. It is now in Windsor Castle.
• Some of the cod lines used in the British fishing industry measure 7,000 fathoms long (about 8 miles) and have 4,680 hooks, the whole costing in some cases $1,000 to $1,500.
• Life assurance (insurance) companies reject about three-quarters of the applicants who have been gymnasts because it has been found that most of them have strained their hearts by excessive exercise.
• The population of Great Britain has doubled in the past 58 years, and at the present rate will double again within 60 years. That is to say, in 1961 it will be just under 83,000,000.
• The average peasant of Macedonia has a net yearly income of only about $50, of which about a third goes in taxes. It is a common incident for villagers to cut down their fruit trees to avoid the tax on them.
• Kisses given in public are actionable by law in Russia. A kiss in the open street is penalized with $3.75; while a kiss in a tramcar is under a fine of $6.25. Declarations of love on a post card make the sender liable to a fine of $2.50.
• A company of 30 actors can be engaged for the equivalent of $30 in China, to play as many dramas and comedies as may be desired for two days at a stretch. Ordinary seats cost about one cent, the best run to three or four cents.
OFF THE TRACKS IN SPRINGFORD
A freight train running off the track at Springford delayed the traffic about two hours last Wednesday, Dec. 30. The Woodstock and Port Dover train was sent to meet the Tillsonburg train, taking the eastbound passengers to their destination.