100 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 3, 1907

• The jury empanelled at Caledon East by coroner Allison to inquire into the causes contributing to the disaster on the C.P.R. at the Horseshoe Curve were particularly annoyed at the suggestion that in view of the verdict of the jury in Toronto they should be dismissed, and insist on hearing all the evidence and rendering a verdict in accordance with their oath. They state that they inspected the roadbed, visited the wreck, and viewed the remains of six of the killed, and do not propose to be an "echo" of another jury, especially as there are other reasons besides excessive speed suggested as the cause of the dreadful fatality.

Mr. William Stubbs, V.S., ex-M.P., voiced the dissatisfaction in no uncertain manner, he intimated that the attempt to dismiss the Caledon jury looked like an effort to thwart justice, and they wanted no repetition of the Orangeville bungling in Peel County. The jurymen refused to be snuffed out, and the inquiry will go on on October 7th, when very sensational developments are promised.

Mr. Stubbs said he was in a position to give evidence himself, corroborated if necessary by four other witnesses, that the roadbed was in a condition which would contribute to the accident, stating that for some rail lengths on the now-famous horseshoe curve, the outside rail was actually lower than the rail on the inside of the curve, and that this condition existed at the point where the train left the track. It will be seen that this has a very important bearing on the fate of the engineer and conductor. The coroner and jury are much impressed by the emphatic statements of the late member for Cardwell. Thomas Smith, county constable, still has charge of the valuables and effects of those killed in the accident, and refuses to hand them over, even at the direction of Crown Attorney McFadden, until the jurors have rendered their verdict.

• Afew weeks ago, James Bolger, proprietor of the Mansion House, was fined for breach of Shelburne's waterworks bylaw. It appears that Bolger was keeping the old leaky well in the yard supplied with water by turning a hose from the town tap in it at night. Now there is another charge lying against him for repetition of the offence. The last offence is all the more heinous because it was committed at a time when water in the tank was very low and there would have been very serious consequences in case of fire.

• William Manning of Amaranth saw a meteor Tuesday evening, shortly after six o'clock. It looked quite large, had a long tail, and was moving from the north to the south, as the old gentleman puts it: "It just seemed as though it was going right down the townline between Amaranth and Mono."

• Orangeville Fair scored a big success Friday of last week, the weather being of a really good variety. The management claims that over 3,000 admissions were paid.

• Another typewriter has been added to the equipment of Shelburne Continuation School. The purpose is to have the school thoroughly equipped to meet the needs of those who desire a good business schooling without going abroad for it.

• Recently the Central Dufferin Telephone line was connected with the Bell Telephone line in Shelburne and the central office changed from H. White & Co.'s store to the Bell office. This week, the Amaranth Telephone line is also being changed and connected with the Bell office.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 5, 1932

• Speaking to the Rotary Club of St. Marys on Monday of last week, R. M. Smith, Deputy Minister of Highways, made an announcement in regard to the standard of construction that will be good news to motorists. He stated that shoulders will be 10 feet wide instead of five feet, so that a car in trouble can drive completely off the paved roadway. Also, the ditches will be 20 feet from the pavement, thus lessening substantially the danger of a car going into the ditch. We are authoritatively informed that the new section of Highway 10 from Melancthon north will conform to the new standards.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 1, 1957

• Shelburne, and most other communities in this part of Ontario - but not Orangeville, Grand Valley and Caledon township - will remain on Daylight Saving Time until Sunday, Oct. 27. The decision to stay on "fast time" was made at a Chamber of Commerce meeting last Thursday.

• Don Steenson, proprietor of the Phoenix and Steenson funeral home, Shelburne, will become executive secretary of the Board of Administration of the Ontario Funeral Directors' Association, with headquarters in Toronto, on Nov. 1.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 6, 1982

• Dufferin County Board of Education may increase the teaching staff at Orangeville District Secondary School, where 1,654 students have enrolled, compared with an expected enrolment of 1,574.