December 17, 2014

Ten Nights in a Bar-Room

From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)
The Women’s Christian Temperance Union will hold an Entertainment in aid of the Patriotic Fund, in the Erin Town Hall, on December 29, 1914, at which the play entitled “Ten Nights in a Bar-Room” will be given. Full particulars in Bills later.

Mr. G. Arnett of Erin received a letter on Monday from his son, who is on the firing line with a detachment of the Royal Horse Artillery, in which he says, “I am well. This is different from the Boer War. It is only the big guns we care for. We call them ‘Jack Johnsons’. Where they burst it tears up the ground making a hole large enough to put four horses in. We are losing a few men.”

From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)
Students from Erin Public School took the first prize Co-op trophy for their float in the Santa Claus parade, with an entry called Christmas in Mexico. Second was Hillbilly Christmas by “The Gang” and third was the Erin Boy Scouts float. The parade featured 20 floats, new model cars, snowmobiles, comic characters, Alton’s new band and majorettes and of course Santa, surrounded by elves.

The responsibilities of Wellington County Council are being whittled away by the Ontario government, according to Warden Norman Roszell. The province recently took over property assessment. With many nearby areas planning to switch to “regional” government, and a study of the same concept between Guelph and Wellington, Roszell said the county would have to prove its validity if it hopes to remain intact.

From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)
A Toronto-based electronics firm says it could provide Erin residents with 24 channels of high-quality colour television using the space-age technology of satellites. Since Erin village is not served by cable TV, the company would install a satellite receiver for about $50,000 and broadcast the signal through the village, if enough residents are interested to make it viable. Terry Howes said 200 families could maintain the system for $6 to $8 per month, about the same cost as cable. He said once the debt is paid off, the service would be free. Many communities use such satellites, even though they are illegal. More liberal regulations are expected soon. Howes said a community group would have to operate the service, and he warned that “freeloaders” tapping into the system without paying could hurt its viability.

The Erin Church of Christ held a special reception as a Christmas gift to the Ly family, which arrived recently as refugees from Vietnam. Annie Cook chaired the service of songs and messages, which included a talk by Mrs. S. Spencer of Marsville, who had come to Canada from Holland unable to speak English. A musical program was provided by Marj Sinclair, Jean Robinson, Kathleen Kirkwood, Maureen Wood and Darlene Fallon.

From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)
Erin Township has applied for 50% funding of community projects through the provincial PRIDE (Program for Renewal, Improvement, Development and Economic Revitalization) Program. Residents have been given a list a possible projects and are being asked to indicate their priorities. It includes replacing the façade of the community centre ($35,000), burying overhead wires ($150,000), decorative streetlighting ($50,000), retrofitting light standards ($10,000), replacing concrete sidewalks with paving stones ($20,000) and cleaning up the river front and developing parkland ($25,000).

Township Council unanimously rejected a suggestion from Erin resident R.E. Oliver that it investigate the use of depleted gravel pits as possible dumpsites for Toronto’s garbage. He referred to an ad in the Toronto Sun from a company looking to buy pits for that purpose, and said the coming waste management crisis could be an opportunity for industrial growth and tax revenues.