125 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 13, 1885

• About 600 or 700 persons went on the Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW) excursion to Owen Sound and Wiarton on Tuesday. There were quite a number of Orangeville people in the party along with about 300 from Shelburne, while Laurel, Crombies, Melancthon, Corbetton, Dundalk and other stations to the north contributed their respective shares. The cars were considerably crowded going up but this unpleasantness was avoided on the return journey by the addition of two more passenger coaches.

Considering the heavy train, the run to the Sound was made in good time, and the steamer Pacific, of the Great Northern Transit Company line left the dock with the excursionists about 11 a.m. There was a great rush for seats at the dinner table and the boats supplies of grub were soon devoured, many being compelled to go without dinner until they reached Wiarton at 2 p.m.

Immediately upon arriving, the Shelburne lacrosse boys proceeded to the grounds of the Wiarton club. The game was called about 3 p.m. and three short games were all taken by the visitors. The ground, said to be the only level piece of land within 10 miles of the village, is located on the shore of the bay, bounded on one side by a hill and the other by a marsh.

Wiarton was left at about 4:45 p.m. and Owen Sound reached at about 7:30. There, there was an hour and a half to do the town. Returning home, the train left at about 9:15 and did not arrive at Shelburne until 1:40 a.m.

• At the further hearing of a case against Thomas Jennings on Friday last for violating the Scott Act, no material evidence for the prosecution was elicited from Mr. Perry, the witness who had failed to appear the previous Wednesday afternoon. When no evidence in rebuttal of that given by Mr. John Murray was offered for the defence, the magistrates reserved decision until Saturday, when they imposed a fine of $50 and costs — in all, $60.85.

100 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 11, 1910

• Preparations have commenced in earnest for the wheat crop of Western Canada, and the farmers are suffering on the account of the scarcity. To meet the demand for farm labourers, the CPR has put in a rate of $10 from all points in Ontario to any point in the company’s lines east of Moose Jaw. Trains will be run direct from all points in Ontario to Winnipeg, and the men will be reticketed there to points where they engage to work without charge. After at least one month’s work in harvest fields, the labourers will be issued tickets back to their starting point for $18. Tickets will be issued to women but no half rate tickets for children. The excursion days will be Friday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 16.

• The rural schools of Dufferin will receive legislative grants to the amount of $6,675.20 this year. The General grant, based on salaries and certificates, amounts to $5,465.20.

• Reginald Cooper and Frank Logan, who were in charge of the gasoline-powered launch in which two Shelburne women, Mrs. Melrick and her sister, Emma Carlaw, met their death by drowning in Toronto Bay on June 17, were in Toronto Police Court last Wednesday to answer charges of criminal negligence causing death.. Their lawyer, Mr. W. A. Henderson, entered pleas of not guilty and secured an adjournment until Monday, when the two were committed to trial but released on their own bail of $200 each.

• Shelburne Council is removing the windmill from the well at the south of the village and will erect it at the new well, recently drilled, at the rear of the electric light building, near Shelburne Roller Mills. A gasoline engine has been installed at the well from which the windmill was taken.

75 YEARS AGO Wednesday, August 15, 1935

• A Decoration Service, sponsored by Shelburne Cemetery Commission, was attended by a crowd estimated at between 600 and 800 persons on Sunday last. Shelburne Citizens’ Band furnished a short sacred program before and after the service, as well as accompanying the hymns.

• A federal election is expected to be called for Monday, September 20.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, August 10, 1960

• Al Cherny, 27-year-old Wingham radio and television artist, gained the height of country music fame in Shelburne Arena Saturday night when he won top honours in both classes of the 10th Anniversary Canadian Open Championship Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest. The weekend included a Fiddlers’ Parade and Fiddle Queen Contest, both sponsored by Shelburne Kinsmen.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, August 14, 1985

• Destroyed by the May 31 tornado, Mono Marketplace is back in business, one step at a time. Owners Carl and William Edelbrock have restored the north section of the retail plaza and expect to have most of the units re-occupied by the end of August.