From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)
The British Empire celebrated “with just and proper pride” the 99th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, “which settled the fate of Europe and flung Napoleon from his throne.” About 50,000 men died that day, when French forces unsuccessfully attacked a coalition made up of British, Prussian, Belgian, Dutch and expatriate German troops.
From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
The large barn and drive shed owned by Paul Freer on the 8th Line was destroyed by fire. A number of market hogs were lost, along with 1,500 bales of recently harvested hay and eight tons of feed purchased on Saturday. The cause is not known.
A fine of $1,500 was levied against the Sangama Company of Guelph after the death of George Robinson of Erin. He was fatally injured when crushed between a truck and a forklift. While no direct blame was laid, investigation showed that the forklift was in poor condition, with no maintenance program.
Rev. E.J. Sewell, Rector at All Saints Anglican for the past five years, has been transferred to Saint Mark’s in Hamilton, with no replacement named as yet. The church will also be losing the services of organist Faye Longstreet, who will terminate her duties at the end of August before marrying John Shaver in September.
Ed Stewart of Ospringe won the Ninth Race on Sunday at the Acton-Ospringe Speedway, a quarter-mile paved oval on Highway 25 on the farm of Ron White.
From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)The water has been tested and found safe for swimming at Hull’s Dam – named after the Hull family that operated the Erin Advocate for three generations and owned land near the upper pond on the West Credit River. The danger level for bacteria is 1,000 total coliforms, with 100 fecal, per milliliter of water. The west side of the upper pond had readings of 4 total and 2 fecal, while the lower pond behind Steen’s Dairy had readings of 200 total and 96 fecal.
Jeanette Cox, Chair of the Committee for Better Service, is not happy with the feasibility study done by the Community Telephone Company of Ontario, which provides the phone service in Erin and Hillsburgh. For an extended toll-free calling area including Guelph, Erin customers would have to pay five times as much as a similar plan offered to Acton residents by Bell Canada.
Virginia Kennedy has expanded her business, which started out four years ago as a craft shop, but is now planning to sell it and move to a new venture in St. Catharines. She branched out into books, stationery and framing, then later a floral service that became the largest part of the business, which was renamed Erin Village Craft and Greenery.
From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)A 13-year-old student has graduated from Erin District High School with a 90.6 per cent average, but cannot legally get her diploma. Brenda Allen of Ballinafad, daughter of Jan and Phil Allen, has only 18 of the 30 required credits. EDHS Vice Principal David Euale has appealed the Ministry of Education rule, without success. Despite the lack of a diploma, Brenda has been accepted into the Honours Mathematics program at the University of Guelph.
Abbie McKinnon, leader of the Hillsburgh Meals for Friends group, is appealing for help from local cooks. The group has about 10 people preparing hot, full-course meals that are delivered to seniors, but could use some more help to ensure that the service can be offered weekly.
The Erin Township Tennis Club held a singles tournament last Saturday. Jeff Davison was tops in the men’s division, while Gail McGregor leads the women’s division.
