Winter Fun - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster
Have you ever wondered what folks did in the winter in a small village about 140 years ago? Let’s travel back to 1880 and see what the folks were up to at that time.
The Huron Post was a short-lived newspaper published in Blyth by Edward Floody, who later moved it to Clinton. In perusing the Record in that era, we see the admonition to “Keep your skates well sharpened!” At that time, this is what skates looked like according to J. S. McKinnon. “There were the wooden skates that had a steel blade and the steel was turned up in almost a semi-circle at the toe. In the heel, there was a screw that would be screwed into the heel of the boot – this was quite the job.” Then, endless straps were used at the heel and toe to make them secure. Other kinds of skates required various knobs, screws or springs to attach the blade to the boot.
Very few people owned skates that had blades integrated into boots. A favourite place to skate was on Blyth Creek from the bridge on Queen Street east to the grist mill. There were some indoor rinks too, such as those run by men by the names of Steven and Orr as well as a Mr. Potts. Townsfolk had a winter skating carnival, set for Dec. 21, to anticipate. Local athletes would have to wait a few more years for hockey to come on the scene.
Another form of entertainment was that of the Quadrille Assemblies. These consisted of assemblies of four couples that would dance predetermined figures. The formation was similar to modern-day square dancing. At one event, 32 couples took part in the dancing.
The Quadrilles were offered in “Watson’s new hall”. Watson’s Hall was in the upper level of the building that houses the offices of the Blyth Festival theatre in 2022.
Billiard tables were to be found at R. J. Cook’s Hotel. Some clergymen were concerned that their presence in the village would be “injurious to the moral welfare of young men”. A few concerned citizens were circulating petitions to have the billiards tables banned. Sounds a little like their own little “River City” of Music Man fame.
There was a “grand exposition” of the Sciopticon held at the Temperance Hall in December of that year. This device, also known by the term “magic lantern”, shone an external light through semi-transparent painted slides. The topic that evening was scenes from the Bible, as well as “popular and thrilling views” with accompanying lectures. Admission was 10 cents and over 70 people came to see this modern marvel.
Professor Salter, from Clinton, was inviting people to sign up for singing lessons at Button’s school, which was located at Lot 20 Concession 8 of Morris Township.
Perhaps some people would be enjoying the outdoors by hunting, like Mr. B. Ruttan, of Morris Township, who had killed a large wildcat.
On the religious scene, interested parties from all over Huron County were in Blyth to attend the Huron Sabbath School Convention. A revival meeting was held in Sunshine, a community northeast of Blyth. As well, the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints held meetings on a Saturday and Sunday in December, but failed to attract many citizens. For those taking trips out of the village, the good news was that the London, Huron and Bruce Railway was expanding its service in Blyth and that an additional express train would be arriving from the south at 10 a.m. every day and arriving from the north at 3:28 p.m. every afternoon.
If shopping was on a person’s mind, there were varied choices, such as a child’s sleigh that could be purchased for the sum of 75 cents at the Lawrence and Gracey store. A good overcoat was being offered by W. Southcott, tailor, for $10 and for a food choice, T. Senior was vending oysters.
The Huron Record itself, an eight-page paper, provided items for varied interests. Only the first and last pages were devoted to local and regional happenings while the rest of the edition brought local citizens up to date with Canadian and world happenings. The trial for six prisoners involved with the Donnelly tragedy was slated for the following January and many readers would have likely been interested in following that news story.
Farmers would have been glad to hear that Mr. P. Kelly was travelling up and down the rail line, busy purchasing poultry and butter that he intended to ship to Manitoba. The next week, it was reported that the same gentleman was interested in purchasing pork.
Participation in local politics was also a possibility because there was the opportunity to attend a meeting to choose three local school board trustees.
Finally, the Huron Record made frequent mention that young men of the area could soon be breathing a sigh of relief because the end of the year was close by. You see, 1880 was a leap year, and it was the custom in such a year that young women could “do the asking” and propose marriage.
So, all in all, in December of 1880, there was a great variety of activities to take part in, if one so wished.
Correction: To the Feb. 17 edition of Glimpses of the Past. The correct author of Windings: A History of the Lower Maitland River is Margaret S. Beecroft.