100 YEARS AGO Thursday, March 7, 1907

+ A Fergus dispatch of Monday says: While a train of empty flat cars was backing down the G.T.R. spur which runs through the middle of town today, one of the cars left the rails on account of the ice, and ran into a stone house alongside the track, knocking in the wall. The brakemen jumped, thus saving themselves, but one of the women inmates of the house, a Mrs. Fletcher, was not so fortunate. She was sitting in the front room when the crash came, and was caught by the debris and her dress bound between the car and the wall. She fortunately escaped with a broken ankle. The car was thrown directly across the track, and required the Palmerston auxiliary to get it in position and repair the car breakage.

+ A special meeting of the directors of the Dufferin Central Fair was held in the town hall, Shelburne, last Friday afternoon. An interesting account of the proceedings at a recent meeting of the Fairs Association in Toronto was given by President McDonald and Secretary Watson, after which the advisability of holding a spring stallion and bull show was discussed. A committee of R. H. Galbraith, W. J. Dynes, A. McDonald, R. J. Watson and H. White was then appointed with full power to arrange for a spring show. The directors also decided to make an effort to secure three expert judges for the fall fair this year. The revision of the prize list for the present year was then proceeded with.

+ A special meeting of the shareholders of the Dufferin Telephone Company was held in the Council Chamber, Shelburne, on Saturday last. Dr. A. T. Steele, president of the company, presided. The subject of private telephones being put in to accommodate those who require them was discussed. It is expected that an additional wire will be strung to accommodate those who wish to put in a telephone. So far, this company has had very little damage done by sleet storms this season.

+ J. E. Crone, formerly of the F. T. Hill & Co. store in Markdale, has purchased the Shelburne stock of R. H. Benson & Co. of Owen Sound and will open for business on Saturday, March 9th. He has come to Shelburne to stay and has already ordered a large assortment of new goods which will be placed into stock at once. He hopes by honest and courteous treatment to receive and retain the patronage of the people of Shelburne and surrounding districts. He has secured the services of a firstclass milliner and will continue that branch of the business. People can rely that business will be conducted on the "square deal" system.

+ Dr. Frank, of Orangeville, has sold his 300-acre farm on the Prince of Wales Road, Mono, to Joseph Kendrew, of Primrose. The price paid was $12,000.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, March 10, 1932

+ In Shelburne last Thursday morning, when Judge W. T. Robb opened his first Division Court session in the town, there was a little impromptu reception ceremony for him. Mr. D. E. Dean extended welcome on behalf of the bar on Judge Robb's first official visit to the town, and Shelburne Reeve T. F. Brown spoke on behalf of the municipality. Judge Robb expressed his pleasure at making his first visit to Shelburne, saying he heartily appreciated the welcome he had received, not only in Shelburne but in the county as a whole. He said he had heard many good words about Dufferin County before he came here. One of the things the county had to be proud of was that no municipality in it had applied for government relief.

+ From the ALLISTON HERALD: That many young fellows in Toronto are abusing the generosity of people in the towns between here and the city came to light in the course of an investigation made by some C.P.R. detectives, who discovered that Toronto young men jump C.P.R. trains, and doubtless C.N.R. trains running in other directions, and on getting off at the outlying towns, beg their meals for a day and sometimes more while they are picking up all the cash they can with a hard luck story. Going back to Toronto they visit the theatres and see the hockey games as long as the money lasts.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 6, 1957

+ At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Dufferin Area Hospital, financial statements showed there had been an operating loss of $10,430.93 in 1956, but that the building is now clear of debt, with $3,500 to $4,000 to good in the building fund. Officers for 1957 are chairman, Orme A. Sharpe, of Orangeville; vice-chairman, V. G. H. Phillips, of Shelburne.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 10, 1982

+ AMinistry of Natural Resources crew is test-drilling for oil shale on John and Mike Welch's farm in Melancthon, near Corbetton. Southwestern Ontario is known to have vast quantities of oil-bearing shale.

+ Mono Township planning board has put a hold on discussions concerning a $10-million health spa proposed by Therafields.