100 YEARS AGO Thursday, March 22, 1906

 Ernest Thurston, of Honeywood, was killed in a railway collision at South River,Wednesday of last week. Thurston was on his way to the west, having started from Stayner in charge of a car of settlers' effects. A Barrie despatch of Thursday tells of the story of the collision: A bad tail-end collision between two freight trains of settlers' effects occurred on the GTR last evening at South River and Ernest Thurston, who was looking after a car of effects, was killed. An extra freight, in charge of conductor J. L. mcDougall, and engineers Wisdom and Campbell, ran into another double-header in charge of conductor Hunt and engineers Patton and Northgrayes which was standing at the station. Conductor Hunt saw the second train some distance away, and seeing a collision inevitable with the speed at which it was travelling, hastened to the van and warned several settlers riding there. Then he ran along the side of the train calling to the other men in the cars. While he was doing so the collision occurred and his own train was driven past, and the first engine, the van and five cars toppled over on his side of the track, a few yards in front of him, the engine being a total wreck. The second engine kept on the rails, stopping right beside Mr. Hunt. One of the settlers was driven clean through the top of a boxcar and escaped with a few scratches. Had it not been for the prompt action of Conductor Hunt, nine men would almost certainly have been killed.

 Herbert Rutledge, Shelburne agent for Massey-Harris, had a big delivery of machinery on Wednesday of last week. Although 135 loads were ready for delivery, only 90 loads were taken away on that date. A number of farmers were at a sale and failed to attend, but have since taken away their implements.

 H. P. Clarke, of Shelburne, who came home from Saskatoon a few days ago, sold his 400 acres of land in Proton Township to Jno. Large, of Shelburne, for the sum of $10,000. Mr. Clarke takes in payment some land in Manitoba and the balance in cash.

 The hearing of the charges against Rev. J. A. McConnell, of Creemore, at the meeting of the Presbytery of Barrie, last week, resulted in the complete vindication of the clergyman on each and every charge. Rev. Mr. McConnell, denied that he was selling shares in the Saskatchewan Co. and the Presbytery were unanimous that he was right in voting on the manse property, as many of the ministers of the presbytery vote in the same way.

 Joseph McBride, a wellknown East Garafraxa young man, has got into a peck of trouble that will not be easy to escape from. Early last summer he bought a swell rubber-tired buggy from Mr. Dick, of Alton, and afterwards sold it to A.W. Reilly,V.S., of Grand Valley. In making the deal he represented it clear of liens and encumbrances of any kind. Last week Mr. Dick came to town to collect the balance due on the rig, which was covered by a lien note, and Dr. Reilly had to pay out $50 more to retain the rig. The legal machinery was at once put into operation, and a warrant issued for the arrest of the gay Joseph, but he cannot be found. Borrowing a friend's rig, he drove off, leaving the outfit down in Erin and Joseph apparently intends giving Grand Valley and neighbourhood a wide berth for a time.

 The expert drillers from Leamington who have been drilling on Simon Jelly's farm in Shelburne for some weeks, quit work on Monday last having reached a depth of 1,500 feet. They will resume drilling in a few weeks, or as soon as the foreman returns from Moosejaw where he has gone to give figures on a proposed contract.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, March 26, 1931

 Shelburne Cemetery Commission plans to erect a modern mortuary in the Shelburne Cemetery to replace the present "dead house,' which is an eyesore. The cost is expected to be about $3,500.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 21, 1956

 Honour was paid to Miss Myrtle Stewart and Dufferin County last week when she was one of four delegates chosen to represent the Ontario Junior Farmers Association as guests of the Young Farmers organization in England, Scotland and Ireland. She attained the award through her contributions to and promotion of Junior Farmer activities in the province.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 25, 1981

 In last Thursday's election Ontario Conservatives, led by Premier Bill Davis, obtained their first majority in six years, winning 70 seats to the Liberals' 34 and the NDP's 21. Locally, George McCague had a clear majority in Dufferin-Simcoe with 18,173 votes to 6,721 for Liberal Larry McKenzie and 4,030 for the NDP's Ed Robinson. In WellingtonDufferin-Peel, Jack Johnson won with 16,647 votes to Liberal Elbert Von Donkersgoed's 8,127 and 4,650 for Marion Chambers of the NDP.