100 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 1, 1909

• Dufferin County is to have a crest and motto of its own. Permission has been received from the present Lord Dufferin, son of the former Governor-General of Canada, after whom the county is called, to use his Excellency's crest and motto, with a slight variation, as according to ancient usage it is not permitted to have two crests identical. Lord Dufferin has been good enough to forward sketches. The motto is "Per Vias Rectas," or in English "By the Right Ways," which ought to be a pretty good maxim for this county. Lord Dufferin had a brother killed in the Boer War and the county council passed a resolution of sympathy at the time, which was gratefully acknowledged by the late Lord Dufferin, probably one of the most popular and brilliant governors' general ever in Canada.

• Joseph Grasley, a well-known citizen of Orangeville, appeared before squire Pattullo on a charge of theft and was given a sentence of two years in Kingston Penitentiary. Some time ago Mr. Grasley and Charlie Burch were arrested but let off on a suspended sentence on the condition that they go away and never come back.They both left for a few weeks and imagined the thing would blow over, but it didn't and when they showed up again the long arm of the law scooped them in again. Burch was again given his liberty and he immediately left for Winnipeg, but Grasley was given the stiff sentence.

• At the June meeting of Dufferin County Council Tuesday of last week there was quite a time over the selection of a solicitor for the County. J. L. Island, barrister, of Orangeville, applied for the position. Reeve Riddell moved that C. R. McKeown, MP, be appointed. On a vote of 7-6, Reeve Reith in chair not voting, the council decided to take no action.

Rev. J. R. Bell and George Robb of the Orangeville High School Board addressed the council with reference to taking advantage of the provincial legislation establishing a course in agriculture in connection with high schools. There addresses were received with attention, but action was deferred until the next session of council.

• The contract for the new bridge over the Grand River, between Proton and Melancthon was let a few days ago. The successful tenderers were Corbitt Ironworks, Owen Sound, for steel work, and A. C. McDowell, Dundalk, for cement work. There were 15 tenders for the steel work and six for the cement work.

• An important decision in the interest of coal dealers has just been given by the Railway Commission in Ottawa, to compel the railway companies to be responsible for the weight of coal imported from the United States. An order an been issued that the railways must weigh all coal at the point of entry free of cost to the consignees, and shall also weigh the coal at the point of destination if demand is made. In the latter case a fee of 5 cents a ton is to be charged, not to exceed $2 per car, and if a shortage of 500 pounds is discovered no charge is to be made. The order applies exclusively to Ontario.

• The Dufferin Light and Power Co. expect to have their line completed to Orangeville in a few days. It is understood that the contracts have now been let for the construction of the power dam at Horning's Mills. The following are the officers of the company: President, W. D. Wilson, Toronto; vice-president, F. H. Silk, Shelburne; managing director, K. F. Dewar, Orangeville; directors, A. H. Clarke, Niagara Falls and H. H. Hastings, Toronto.

75 YEARS AGO Wednesday, July 6, 1934

• Some 40 boys between the ages of 12 and 20 are this year participating in Dufferin County Calf Club activities under the direction of Ralph C. Banbury, the local representative of the Ontario Department of Agriculture.

• The official returns from last week's provincial election show that Dr. W. D. Smith, Liberal, had a majority of 1,126 over J. Edgar Jamieson, Conservative, in Dufferin- Simcoe riding. In Wellington North, which includes Amaranth, East Garafraxa, East Luther and Melancthon Townships and the villages of Grand Valley and Shelburne, Dr. George McQuibban, Liberal, had a majority of 5,027 over Conservative Edward G. Boyd.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, July 1, 1959

• Although it is not yet ready for a formal opening, the 108-acre Earl Rowe Provincial Park is already being used by people of the district. The park is one mile west of Alliston and a short distance north of Hwy 89 in Tosorontio Township, on land presented to the province by Hon. Earl Rowe, veteran MP for Dufferin- Simcoe. The Boyne River, which runs through the property, is reported in danger of a beaver invasion.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, July 4, 1984

• A plaque mounted on a brick cairn at Orangeville's Town Hall recognizes restoration work on the old Town clock.