100 YEARS AGO Thursday, March 4, 1909

• Says Publisher R. L. Mortimer, former principal of Shelburne public school, in his column in the Shelburne Free Press: The trouble in the Orangeville public school is creating considerable interest in the county town. A well-known resident of the town claims that the trustees are to blame for the whole trouble. The standing of the school is not good and the reason is that pupils have been promoted that should really be two forms below instead of where they are. We do not know that the present Board is wholly responsible as we do not know how long each one has held office. The trouble is that the Principal has not been allowed to run the school, but the trustees were doing it for him. Whenever a promotion examination was held usually a number failed to pass. The parents of pupils who failed would rush to the Board and as a result the Principal would be ordered by the Board to promote the pupils against his will. Any school board who interferes in the promotion of pupils is making a serious mistake. The Principal should have full control of the management of the school and the promotion of pupils from one class to another and should be held responsible for the success of each department.

• George Ernest Stewart, perpetrator of the Melancthon township tragedy of Feb. 7, in which John and James Spanhouse were shot to death, will become an inmate of the ward for the criminal insane in Hamilton Asylum. Following an investigation by Attorney-General Foy as to Stewart's mental condition, in which three doctors examined him at the Orangeville jail, a governor's warrant was issued for his committal to the asylum. There he will remain at the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor, and a judicial trial for his terrible crime will probably never be held.

• Andrew Carnegie has promised to give Grand Valley $7,500 to build a public library if the village guarantees a free site and by resolution the council agrees to spend $750 on its maintenance.

• Dundalk school trustees reached the conclusion last week that in the best interests of the schoolwork the Principal's services should be dispensed with without waiting for Easter as had previously been arranged. The school was suffering on account of the trouble which had been going on since last year. Mr. Alex Wilkins, now attending Hamilton Normal School, has been engaged as principal to begin duties after the Easter holidays. In the meantime, Miss Hall, of the present staff, is taking the principal's form, and Miss Eva Rundle is in charge of the primary form until Easter. Principal Urquhart was paid his salary until Easter and relieved of further duties.

75 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 8, 1934

• Ben Covell, of Orangeville, formerly of Shelburne, who started housekeeping last fall, got the surprise of his life when a hot fire in his stove melted the grates, allowing the fire to fall to the ash pan. While awaiting repairs Mr. Covell has taken up his residence at the town hall, and is among those engaged on the town wood pile, the introduction of which was responsible for his starting housekeeping.

• Some time ago, Mr. George Watson, of Back Line, Melancthon, was injured while drawing logs from near Corbetton. While he was unloading the timber at his farm, a log rolled off the load and fell on his foot. Mr. Watson made fairly light of the injury, believing the damage to be only bruises. However, the foot began to give trouble. Last Thursday, medical assistance was enlisted and it was found bones of the foot were badly crushed. He was sent to Toronto for further examination and treatment.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 4, 1959

• While about 30 members of Listowel's Minor Hockey League were practising in the town's arena Saturday morning, rain-soaked snow caused the roof to collapse. Seven boys and their instructor, Ken McLeod, were killed and 10 required hospital care. This winter's exceptionally heavy snowfall has created hazards which could be easily overlooked.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, March 7, 1984

• Plans to repave Highway 10 from Caledon Village to Orangeville this year have local officials concerned about the timing of future improvements to that stretch of highway. "Any expansion to four lanes would appear to be quite far off," Mono Clerk Keith McNenly says. And that's how Council members view the project. They are afraid it will mean a further delay of any plans to widen the highway.

• The Town of Orangeville has received 50 applications for the position of Recreation Director. Last fall, Council voted against hiring a replacement for the former director, Al Downs, who left for a similar position in Tillsonburg. Mayor Gord Courtney has struck a selection committee.