100 YEARS AGO Thursday, June 25, 1908

• A horse and buggy worth nearly $300, belonging to Allen Macdougall, of Hillsburgh, was stolen from the shed of the Alexandra Hotel in Orangeville Saturday. Later that evening Harry Thomas, hailing from New York State, was arrested and lodged in jail. He was brought before Police Magistrate Patullo on Tuesday afternoon and pleaded guilty. James Johnston, a Caledon farmer, said he was offered the mare for $50, Macdougall explaining that he needed it for his wages as a farm laborer, but finally the whole outfit was offered for $25. Thomas Harrison, a neighbour of Johnston, said he could of purchased horse and rig for $40, but he, too, was suspicious. The prisoner stated that he had been in Canada since May and had been a CPR operator, but had been laid off. He had never been in trouble before and was drunk, he said, when he took the horse. The Magistrate said it was a most serious offence and sentenced him to three years in Kingston Penitentiary.

• After being in session all week, Dufferin County Council concluded its business last Friday afternoon. Having been formed in 1881 from parts of the counties of Wellington, Simcoe and Grey, the county has managed its affairs so well that it today has not $1 of debenture debt and adjoining townships are seeking admission. The Crown Attorney addressed councillors at some length, advocating a salaried County Constable be appointed to assist in securing evidence under his direction, the existing fee system and the assistance furnished by the Provincial detective force not being adequate. No action was taken.

• James McManaman, of Melancthon Township, was sentenced by His Honour Judge McCarthy on Monday to three months in the Orangeville jail for assault. He was tried on Friday for a midnight assault and robbery upon Moses Wolfe, a Toronto produce dealer while Wolfe was stopping for the night at the home of the accused's mother. Wolfe testified that at about midnight McManaman came home with two companions, somewhat under the influence of liquor and assaulted him, and that during the mixup $140 disappeared from his trousers. A large number of witnesses were examined, including the accused's aged mother. The judge found the prisoner guilty of a gross assault but suspended sentence on the charge of robbery.

• Jacob Law, hosteler at the Royal Hotel in Shelburne, was fined $1 and costs by Police Magistrate Rutherford on Saturday evening last for fighting with two umbrella peddlars who had arrived in town on Friday. Constable Laverty was on the job and arrested one, but he made good his escape. A large mob went in pursuit of the other one, who was captured about a mile down the CPR tracks and was brought back and lodged in the lockup. He was released about an hour later and there was no fine put upon him as there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove he was in the wrong.

• Writing from the militia camp at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Shelburne Economist editor T. F. E. Claridge said the camp is believed to be the largest held there in 36 years with 6,065 men under canvas. A new tract of 350 acres that has been bought for camp purposes will be used for next year's camp.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, June 29, 1933

• Next Tuesday will be rather momentous in the history of the Police Village of Horning's Mills, for on that date the electorate will decide whether they want power and light from the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario or to establish their own system.

• Last year, a large number of apples in Dufferin were infested with the apple maggot or railroad worm. The larvae of this insect burrows through the apple so that when cut in two the flesh appears filled with brown streaks. All those having any trouble from this insect are urged to spray the trees well with a mixture of water and arsenate of lead no later than the first week of July.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 25, 1958

• Howard Hardaway, the "old hiker" from Louisville, Kentucky, who walked from Toronto to Shelburne on the first day of the National Fiddle Contest last year, is planning on doing it again on Thursday of this week. He will be unable to be at the contest this year due to a walking tour commitment.

• John Root, MLA for Wellington Dufferin, was elected president of the Ontario and Quebec Baptist Churches at their 70th annual convention.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 29, 1983

• Mono Cliffs area is the site of a proposed $1 million residential field centre for the North York Board of Education, which is slated to begin operations in 1985.

• A Ministry of Transportation and Communications official has advised Orangeville council to eliminate angle parking on Broadway.