June 04, 2014

Looking Back

As published in The Erin Advocate

From the Advocate – 100 years ago (1914)

The German flag, which for many years has flown beneath the Union Jack at Victoria Park in Berlin, Ontario, was recently torn down and mutilated.

From the Advocate – 45 years ago (1969)

The loss was estimated at $50,000 when fire destroyed the barn on the farm of Grenfell Wright, on the Ninth Line just south of 5 Sideroad. He lost 27 head of cattle, 60 pigs, 40 tons of hay and various implements.

A diver has recovered the body of Walter Kurtz of Terra Cotta, who drowned while swimming with friends at Cataract. He slipped from a rock and fell 30 feet to the Credit River at the Old Mill site. The next day another man, David Oliver, fell at the same spot and broke his back.

Bob Trimble of Erin showed off his 1928 Chevrolet, originally purchased from the dealership of W.A. McLachlan and Son of Hillsburgh by Peter McEachern of RR1 Terra Cotta. It has been serviced since new at the Trimble Garage in Belfountain.

The Erin Advocate advertised its extra services, including thermo-engraving for wedding invitations, with the slogan, “We print everything but money and postage stamps.”

From the Advocate – 35 years ago (1979)


Connie Stewart, daughter of Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bob Stewart, caught a 23-inch speckled trout last Saturday in the Hull’s Dam millpond.

Erin village Fire Chief Jim Evans has resigned, and sold his south-end J-P Gas Bar to Jim Warner, who also operates the north-end Gulf station. Evans and his family are moving to Calgary. Former Chief Wib Scott will take over until the firefighters elect a new chief later this year.

Bill Dalley, owner of the Fergus-Elora News Express, and former publisher of the Orangeville Banner, has been named publisher of the Erin Advocate after the retirement of Bill Doole. Bryan Hayter, now a reporter in Fergus, will take over as Editor in August, supported by editorial staffers Ursala Walford and Colleen McEnery. Kevin Marsh will move from Erin to the Fergus newsroom.

From the Advocate – 25 years ago (1989)

Kate Hale, a member of the Business Improvement Area (BIA), has been busy planting flowers in the downtown plant boxes supplied by Mundell Lumber. The BIA is considering installing benches along Main Street, and colourful flags on the light poles.

Gary Sykes and Sara Denison were named Prom King and Queen at the Erin District High School Prom Night.

Three teachers from the school were honoured by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation: former Vice-Principal Eric Holmes and current VP David Euale got an Awards of Merit for contributions to the profession, and English Department Head Joan Davidson, who is retiring, was recognized for her 28 years of teaching.

The Hillsburgh Bantam Girls baseball team has a four-game winning streak going. They beat Orangeville 22-16, with pitcher Teriann Bratton getting her first win of the season. Janice Root led the offence going 6 for 6, and Laurie Killam and Teriann Bratton each got 4 hits. There were also strong performances by Sharon Ellis (2 home runs), Christina Tilcox, Robin Lacombe, Kelly Van Sickle and Kim Watson (a grand slam).