125 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 2, 1884

• Writes editor W. L. Smith in the Shelburne Economist: The ECONOMIST has repeatedly taken exception to the manner in which the headmaster of our public school is permitted to engage in other callings, to the neglect of his responsible charge as teacher, and we now beg to draw the attention of our school board to a like evil having been summarily corrected in Mount Forest by the Education Department of the Province.

Mr. Reid, headmaster of the high school, had a majority at the board who winked at all his side transactions (if the equally responsible position of an editor can be classed as such), and who countenanced the neglect of his school duties which inevitably followed. Several gentlemen interested themselves in the matter and the result was that the high school board received notice from the Education Department that Mr. Reid had the choice of relinquishing either the school or the newspaper — that one or the other must be given up and that at once.

Now, what do the people of Shelburne think of the situation here? In which does Mr. R. L. Mortimer display the greater amount of interest — the public school and the responsible duties connected therewith, or the newspaper in connection with which he has to do so much wire-pulling and bulldozing? We hope we have drawn attention to this matter for the last time.

• A petition was presented to Melancthon Council at its meeting Monday last from John Allen and 34 others, asking that a grant be made to improve the hill immediately north of the post office in Horning's Mills.

100 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 30, 1909

• The 42nd annual exhibition of the Dufferin Central Agricultural Society, held in Shelburne Tuesday and Wednesday, bumped up against the worst dose of wet weather the Society has been "favoured" with for several years. The only redeeming feature about Wednesday was that it did not rain all the time, the intermissions being plentiful enough and lengthy enough to give people the idea maybe the remainder of the day would be alright after all. It was really surprising the number of people who turned out in spite of the weather, and it is quite evident that if the weather had been favourable all previous records for attendance would have been totally eclipsed.

• The Dufferin Light and Power Co. is now giving all- night service in Orangeville and Shelburne.

• Mayor A. D. McKitrick, of Orangeville, is calling a meeting for Monday next for the purpose of discussing the advisability of organizing a businessmen's association or board of trade for the general advancement of trade in Orangeville.

• A local option bylaw is almost certain to be submitted to the electors of Orangeville at the municipal elections next January.

• Melancthon Township claims the distinction of having a postmaster holding office longer than any other public official in this or adjoining counties. James Brown has been postmaster of Melancthon since the year 1854. He was also one of the earliest mail carriers in the county and is still on duty taking the mail from his office to the CPR station. From October 1, 1854 to September 30, 1859, Mr. Brown carried Her Majesty's mail from Mono Mills to Chatsworth one day each week and never missed a trip during the life of his contract.

75 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 4, 1934

• A number of teachers from the Dufferin-Peel Inspectorate met at Orangeville Public School Sept. 27 at the call of Inspector Liddy to arrange for a musical festival to be held in conjunction with the teachers' 60th annual convention. It was decided to confine the scope of the festival for this year to vocal music taught in the public schools. Upward of 500 contestants will participate.

• Traffic Officer Kirk, who was stationed in Shelburne a few years ago, has moved back to the town. His beat is on Highway 10 from Orangeville to Owen Sound and Highway 9 from the Wellington County border to Cookstown.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, September 30, 1959

• Two projects to be built east of Shelburne will cater to the motoring trade and summer visitors. Work is in progress on the former John McQuarrie farm on Highway 24 by Mr. Joe Blake of Kleinburg, who expects to have an interesting ninehole golf course in operation by next June. Mr. Jeff van Wissen, of Toronto, has purchased two acres on Highway 10 just west of Primrose, and plans to begin construction next spring of a motel and restaurant.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 3, 1984

• Orangeville Council has reaffirmed its opposition to making central Broadway a four-lane artery.

• Dufferin County Board of Education will hire an additional kindergarten teacher for Shelburne Junior Public School.