100 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 7, 1905

 There is a genuine smallpox scare on in this section of Ontario just now. If all of the reports were true — which, of course, they are not — there would be a large chunk of country completely under quarantine. The chief rumours are in connection with Dundalk, Corbetton and Melancthon, where schools and churches have been closed under orders from Boards of Health. Although there are many rumours about the prevalence of the disease at Melancthon, it is, as far as we can ascertain, confined to one household. At and near Corbetton, there are several cases, but not nearly as many as the wild rumours state. Although there are wild rumours about Dundalk being full of smallpox patients, so far as we can find out the disease there is pretty well confined to one hotel, which is now, of course, under quarantine. A Provincial Board of Health officer has been up the line for several days investigating.The Mono Township patients were last week reported to be fully recovered, with most of the houses freed from quarantine.

 A meeting will be held in Shelburne’s council chamber on Saturday evening of this week at 8 o’clock for all those interested in the submission of the question of Local Option to the village’s electorate. A full attendance is requested of all those who think this question ought to be settled by the electorate.

At Monday’s meeting of Shelburne council, a motion calling for passage of a bylaw “to prohibit the sale by retail of spirituous, fermented or other manufactured liquors in every tavern, inn or other place of public entertainment in the Municipality of the Village of Shelburne” failed for lack of a seconder. The motion was put after two petitions were presented. One, signed by 121 persons, called for council to submit such a bylaw to the electors. The other, bearing 59 signatures, was in opposition to the proposal.

 William McKim of Orangeville, registrar of deeds for Dufferin County, is the latest victim of the axe. Mr. McKim was appointed to the office in 1882 or 1883. His office was the choicest place in the county, and will go to David John Hunter, son of W. H. Hunter of the Maples. Dr. Lewis is doing well — so well, in fact, that he soon will be out of a supply of heads to cut off.

 From the ORANGEVILLE SUN: “On Tuesday, Judge McCarthy and a jury will decide a couple of actions arising out of the local band fracas. The long-delayed replevin suit brought by Capt. Albertson is against Messrs. Henderson, Henry, Hughes, Gillespie and Chief Speers, for seizure of the Citizens’ Own Band instruments last June. The three first-named are members of the town council. It will be remembered that the captain secured several instruments by order of the court pending trial of the action. At the request of the defendants, the trial has been postponed three times. After the first court a very fair offer of settlement was proposed by which all the instruments would be turned over to the council on Dec. 1 and that would have settled the band difficulty forever, but the defendants would not do so, and now they are still without the instruments and court is not until Dec. 5th. At the time, The Sun strongly urged all parties to accept the terms and thereby bring harmony and good fellowship out of the chaos and strife, but the councillors were incapable of exercising common sense and the opportunity was allowed to pass. Capt. Albertson has also sued the council for $100 salary, and this case will also be tried by a jury.”

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 11, 1930

 A recent amendment to the Public Schools Act provides that councils are to pay the moneys over to school boards only on the warrant of the proper inspector. The Department of Education has made a ruling that under the amendment the inspector is not required to prepare in detail a statement of the purposes for which the money is to be spent by a board of trustees. The only requirement is that the requisition of the trustees to the council should be submitted to the inspector for approval before the council takes any action.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 7, 1955

 To welcome Santa Claus for his visit to Shelburne last Saturday there was the largest and best parade of that nature that the old town has ever had. Headed by the Citizens’ Band, the parade included a number of really good floats — a new feature — and a host of children.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 10, 1980

 In his second bid to become Dufferin County’s warden, Grand Valley Reeve Bill Young won the seat yesterday by acclamation after his only opponent, Mono Township Reeve George Reid, withdrew from the race.

 Shelburne Mayor George Morden told a Melancthon delegation visiting council Monday that construction of the town’s new fire hall is likely to start in the spring.