100 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 6, 1906

 The charred body of Allen Parks was found in the ruins of his burned house, about four miles from Flesherton, Wednesday morning of last week. A batchelor, deceased was known to many Shelburne people, and was a brother of the well-known bandmaster, Joe T. Parks.

His revolver, which he had accused an Italian named Patrick with stealing Tuesday afternoon, was found in the roadway opposite his barn, with one chamber out of a full five discharged. Blood marks in the trampled snow from this point to the front gate of his home were traced by neighbours. They were lost in the muddy surroundings of the ruins.

Parks' body, when found, was lying flat on its back with the head crushed in, as if from a frightful blow. The charred remains of several hundred dollars in bills were found on the body and more in a corner of the ruins.

Neighbours are firm in the belief that he was shot outside his home, dragged into it and the house and body burned to hide the deed. The county Crown attorney, now at Owen Sound, will call on provincial authorities to investigate the death.

On Thursday, a coroner's jury rendered the following verdict: "The jury say that Allen Parks came to his death on the night of March 27th by being burnt in his dwelling house, which on said night was destroyed by fire, and the jurors are of the opinion that there were circumstances in connection with the fire which lead to the conclusion that said death may not have been caused by accident or natural causes."

 The corresponding secretary of the Victoria Literary Society has received a communication from the secretary of Shelburne school board granting permission to place a bell in the school tower and the executive was asked to select a suitable inscription.

 John O'Brien, fresh from serving a term in Owen Sound jail, appeared before Magistrates Rutherford and Silk at Shelburne, charged with having burglarized the store of N. Fisher & Co., on or about Jan. 4th last. Committed to stand trial, he and co-accused Elizabeth Nicholson of Corbetton appeared before Judge McCarthy of Tuesday. Mrs. Nicholson, who had been charged with receiving stolen goods, was set at liberty. O'Brien goes to jail for another three months.

 The ratepayers of Amaranth are surprised at the action taken by Councillors T. F. Reid and J. J. Hall, who opposed the bylaw for the purpose of granting a bonus for the erection of wire fences along the public highways in Amaranth township until there is a vote of the ratepayers taken in 1907. The reeve voted with them and the bylaw was not introduced. Messrs. Durkin and Curry were in favour of the bylaw.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 9, 1931

 The COLLINGWOOD BULLETIN has come out in opposition to Simcoe County council supporting a call by Dufferin County for the county road between Primrose and Cookstown or Fennels to be made a cross-country provincial highway. Although agreeing that the highway would be "a great convenience for the motoring public and would afford a good farming section a modern outlet," the newspaper said it could not be afforded "in the face of the depressed state of trade and the almost overburdensome taxation which, it is expected, the Dominion Government will increase."

 County Judge J. Carlyle Moore of Orangeville died in Toronto General Hospital Friday morning, aged 49. A native of Toronto, he was practising law in Wiarton when appointed judge of the County Court of Dufferin in 1927.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, April 4, 1956

 An OPP highways report for February prepared by Corporal Bill Pinder of the force's Dufferin Detachment, covering No. 7 District with headquarters in Barrie, states that during the month there were 108 motor vehicle accidents, one of which was fatal, with one person killed. Another 19 persons were injured.

 Orangeville's 1956 tax rate will be 67 mills, while the town's garbage collection fee will go up to $9 per year.

 The Orangeville Artificial Ice debenture vote will take place on Monday, April 23rd.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, April 8, 1981

 George Miles, at 81 Shelburne's oldest barber, opened his new Centennial Barber Shop two months ago at the rear of Fabric Shelf on Main Street East. Each Monday, he takes a trip over to Dufferin Oaks to cut hair for some of his fellow seniors.

 Dr. Harry Zinn of Shelburne has been named Dufferin County's Senior Citizen of the Year. Born in February 1893, he practised dentistry in Shelburne from 1920 to 1964. His is currently a resident of Dufferin Oaks.

 School taxes in Dufferin are now expected to go up nearly double the 15.47 per cent previously forecast.