Historic old Eden Mills United church celebrates anniversary Sunda By Norm Marshall Historic old Eden Mills United Church will celebrate its 115th anniversary this Sunday Sep with services In both the morning and evening Rev minister of the church which has roots going back Into the early pioneer days will speak at both services The church sits In picturesque valley beside the River among large shade trees so sedately It has been referred to as the Church In the Wildwood First records The first record of this congregation Is dated April AD It was connected with the Ebeneter Woslcyan Methodist Church the minister being the Reverend John Walker Those whose names were on the original membership roll were Mrs Henry Hortop John and Elizabeth Williams Mary Meadows Joseph and Elizabeth Harriet Calvin and Jane William and Mary Rouse David Fielding John and Mary Millard David Bard well Meshack Bardwell Sarah Barwell Thomas and Anna Morris John and Elizabeth and Henrietta Barker In IBM the congregation was transferred from the charge In and connected with the circuit Erect church The present church building was erected in and hi congregation was again put bad Into the circuit Twentytwo years later Eden Mills congregation was again transferred to the Rockwood circuit and remained there until In the congregation numbered 100 members Reverend W J Freeman was minister In T Coulson was superintendent of the Sunday School and Mrs was church organist and choir leader The Wilson and Boles choir of that time was quite famous throughout the district The church in those days held an annual garden party on the grounds of the farm now owned by William MacDonald Dedicated Christian Following Mr Coulson as Sunday School superintendent was Robert Tuck It should be noted that Mr Tuck was one of the most sincere and dedicated Christian gentlemen that ever lived Shortly before Church Union in the congregation fell away and eventually the Church was closed and the building sold to A D Burrows After Church Union In 1925 the congregation was reorganized and again was put into the circuit along with Ebenezer and churches First minister of this new charge was the Reverend A Marsh and the Sunday School was under the direction of Mr Auld The church building was purchased back from Mr Burrows and was rededlcated early In List of ministers Ministers who have served this congregation Mowing Mr Marsh are Rev M C Gandler Rev Sommerville Rev D CarkRev Mr Klppln Rev Mr Rev Rev Ken Griffiths Rev Robert Hadcock Rev W and present minister Rev R Finley TheSunday School has been led since Mr Aulds time by W Frood Henry Leslie Alec Mcintosh N S Marshall John Mcintosh Fred Gardiner Mrs Dorothy Townsend Mrs Mabel Parker and Mrs Freda Thomp son Eleven years ago the congregation Installed a Pipe Organ in the sanctuary which Is played by the very competent and talented organist Edwin Watson It Is claimed the Eden Mills Church is the smallest church in Canada to be equlDoed with a pipe organ The pews in use at the present time were the gift of the rJinKiey United Church In Hamilton when they built a new church Add atone porch In 1062 a new stone porch was added to the front of the church replacing tthe old wooden one which had served for years This summer after Years of service the celling plaster began to loosen and a new ceiling had to Installed In the last 15 years the church has tripled in attendance and also in its financial glvings All renovations in the church have been done by the members themselves a fact which gives them a great deal of pride in the church and Its achievements Sundays services will be held at am and p m Old friends and new friends are In vited to attend They will be heartily welcomed The Acton Press Wednesday September ftj Health Unit rules on new subdivision draw councils ire A letter from Eden Mills STUDY CURVES Highways Minister George Gomme told Council In a letter this week his department was investigating complaints about an unusual accident toll on a part of Highway The Investigation is to cover possible need of shoulder stabilization further shoulder maintenance curve warning signs and the banking of the curves STEELESAVE Nassagaweya Council In dicated to Milton Council Monday it had no objection to the suggestion the Base line Rd be called Ave across the width of the county Milton Council noted some confusion on the naming of the road and sought the townships views INDUSTRIAL APPOINTMENT Former Clerk J C Mclntyre submitted his resignation as township representative to the Halton County Industrial Com mittee Monday The resignation was accepted and the townships appreciation for his services recorded A new representative is to be named at the next meeting Clerk Campbell Thompson asked members to consider naming someone other than himself PLAN OPPOSITION Council went behind closed doors Monday to prepare its case against the current application of Clovcrleaf Quarries to rezone its land from Quarry Holding to Quarry The OMB hearing Is scheduled for September 22 and may last tor three days It is expected ratepayer objections may be beard on September 23 ac cording to the township solicitors Street lights for Ballinafad At Monday nights meeting of Esquesing council clerk- treasurer French reported be attended a meeting with Ontario Hydro officials at last Thursday night concerning street lights for the village Eight lights are to be installed on the Erin township side of the village and five on the side Mr French told council This week the Free Press starts something different In the way of a column Miss K Barrow who has lived at Eden Mills for the past five years found it a delightful place to live She told the editor she would like to pay same sort of tribute to a community where there was an abun dance of good will a friendly feeling for neighbors as well as being picturesque So Miss Barrow has composed a series of letters describing life in Eden Mills which the Free Press will publish This Is the first episode Dear May I have just bought a 130year old house I told you I was going to move down here didnt I Well this afternoon there was an ad in the paper for this house and It was In a lovely little village Id driven through In the morning so I phoned the agent and we went out to see It Isnt it exciting cottage that la its all on one floor the grey limestone walls are at least IB inches thick It has a sun porch kitchen livingroom and three bedrooms The house Is rectangular about feet by feet overall dimensions I should say The kitchen is about 14 feet square and a bathroom has been made out of the old pantry Just off It What a funny little window it is in the bathroom Then the livingroom is feet by IB feet and two of the bedrooms run along the back wall Actually at one time there were three rooms there but a wall was knocked down to make a bigger room I hear that years ago there were seven children in one of the families which lived here The builder seems to have had trouble with the molding in the bedroom because there is a slice out as if with a broad axe so the door will shut At the far end of the livingroom from the kitchen Is a huge front door and beyond that again a lovely big bedroom feet by feet the 12foot pine board floor looks to be in good condition And then in the far back corner Is a room about feet square which I suppose was a dressing room At the moment you can walk right through to the long bedroom but I think Ill have cupboards built in there eventually because of course in these old houses there are few builtin cupboards One of the things which sold me on the place was the windows ills Inches wide and then the twelvepane windows and view The house is quite high on a hill and looks right down the main street from which it Is separated by a cedar hedge And down at the bottom Is the old mill still operating on water power they make celery crates and flats And of course the I pond All very pretty not quite as magnificent as our beloved Gatineau But the lot Is quite large and gives a feeling of freedom The pump was overhauled last year and they say a tile has been replaced in the septic tank drainage area so I hope it is This is really a lovely part of the country rolling hills with lots of trees and several good woodlots Some of the fields ore fairly small and In places it reminds one of England and also parts of Kentucky There is a surprising amount of swampland caused I suppose by the limestone for mations The river bank is lined with old cedars and there Is a tremendous line of very old and tall spruce trees lining the road for a good eighth of a mile on the way Into the village One sees lots of these spruce around here used for windbreaks And I guess they make excellent ones because the lower branches spread wide and reach down to the ground Well my dear youll be hearing a lot about this place We get possession on the 30th After that date my address will be as above that Is all that Is needed I do hope things go well with you With love Silverwood Ben Case W I in news By Mrs HScott Ben Case Day That was what the sign said and it proved to be right A large crowd of friends and neighbors gathered at the home of Mr and Mrs G on Sunday at 2 to show their esteem for Mr Ben Case a good neighbor and sincere friend to all in the community and also in the larger community outside Silverwood The Silverwood Womens In stitute decided to honor Mr Case and no better time than the present bo a picnic on the grounds at the Ironsides seemed the best way since his friends are numerous The weatherman cooperated and it was perfect by Mr Charles neighbor was capable MC an old school bell called the group to order Mr Gordon Smith was the first to speak He is an old friend of Ben a He gave an biographical sketch along with anecdotes of Bens life up to the present Variou speakers Mr Doug Cole president Horticultural Society spoke next then Mrs Keith Barber Museum board Mr George Currie Council Mrs George Henderson County President WI Mrs Marchington Branch President WI also curator history Dr an old family friend was in the crowd and came to the platform to congratulate Ben and wist him well Mrs John spoke for friends and presented Ben with a beautiful scroll the work of artist Dorothy Stone Womens Institute presented Ben with a guest book signed by the guests Mr Stewart Scott said a few words and presented the Iron sides with a patio planter filled with gold and yellow flowers Institute colors Thanks every one Mr Case then came to the mike and thanked aU for their kindness and goodwill Mr Case has Just recently finished his history of county and it is appearing in the Acton Free Press Now was coffee tea sandwich and cookie time served by Silverwood WI and a social hour of visiting old friends and neigh bors was enjoyed by all Mrs Ethel Hay sister of Mr Case visited with bim on Sunday Sept meeting Womens Institute and Womens In- Health Unit requirements for Eden Park Subdivision proposed at Eden Mills drew the Ire of Councillor Alan at Nassagaweya Township Council meeting Monday virtually the entire village of Eden Mills is on rock If six feet of soil is required over the rock nothing would have been built there he declared System archaic Why do we restrict our thinking to archaic systems There are systems which eliminate sewage Why arent these being considered The councillor was com menting on a letter from the County Health Unit to Harold Williams regarding a Eden Mills WilsonBruce wedding area pollution in news proposed village subdivision The unit required a communal water supply approved by the and the township engineer which would be taken over by the township on completion of tho vision It was also pointed out on rock areas or rock In field tile beds six feet of soil would be required Preparation of an area which would permit later doubling of the size of the tile bed would also be a requirement of the subdivision the Health Unit noted- Pretty expensive A MacArthur suggested it looked like the subdivision was going to be expensive for the township If theres a gravel pit In the area It should be used for a sanitary land fill site and forget he subdivision she observed At the suggestion of Councillor A Gibson Councillor will discuss the requirements with Health Unit officials By Mrs Wright Eden Mills United Church was the scene of a pretty wedding recently when Carol Bruce eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Bruce Eden Mills was united In marriage to Bradley Wilson son of Mr and Mrs Norman Wilson Rockwood Rev Russell performed the ceremony The bride was attended by her sister Elsa Bruce and the best man was Bob Doyle The reception was held for 60 guests at the German Canadian Club In The happy couple will reside In Guelph The ladies of the United Church held a bake sale and rummage sate In the church education room Wednesday evening Various articles were on sale for the many buyers The monthly meeting of Eden Mills district Community Club was held Wednesday evening in the hall Minutes of last meeting were read and approved and the treasurers report was very gratifying after the recent Fun Fair and Boll tournamenl A dance at the Rod and Gun Club is to be held in October with Committee for same selected Several members of the wood and area ratepayers association attended the meeting with John Clark as guest speaker He enlightened the Community Club members on the situation In regards to water pollution In our LOOK A husband wandered nervously about a doctors waiting room while his wife underwent a complete checkup After some time the doctor stuck his head out of he door summoned the husband and said To be blunt I dont like Hie looks of your wife Neither do I responded the husband but shes great with the kids area An open meeting Is to be held In Eden Mills Hall Monday the Mrs Violet Williams of Dan ville Illinois US A was a visitor for ten days with Mr and Mrs Floyd Neville I S HOLDEN OfTOMftTRIST Cork St East GUELPH Phone INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Night School Course ADULT PROGRAMME As part of its to the Community the Acton Citizens Band is prepared to offer a Night School Course in Instrumental Music for interested adults For further Information contact George Elliott at between the hours of and 7 pm any evening before October combined efforts and held their Joint September meeting Thursday evening September 3 in the hall at The meeting opened with the Ode and singing of The more we get together the happier well be Mrs Brown president of W I welcomed ladies and Mrs replied we were all happy to be there It was a public relations and resolutions meeting Mrs Brown public relations for the country explained many aspects of this part of Institute work Mrs Scott branch PR officer read a paper on creating public image by each and every member Resolutions by Mrs Anderson Limehouse were then explained- how why and the way to draft a resolution with much serious thinking beforehand Meeting closed with the Queen and a social half hour was en joyed by all Hazardous driving Mr and Mrs J Bailey Susan and Kim a weekend at their Parry Sound cottage Work is progressing on the highway and the driving is hazardous That lone dead elm Is still standing north of oil tanks Were putting all the hard facts about drug abuse in free pamphlets at the drugstore The only people who could end up paying are the ones who dont take them home Ihmi Omul J know he rid in SO Speed iliul puk up he hey tree And ihc mc 1 iiiWUcinrNttiisniiinMiihclp Do you know what youre doing CODA Covad On Drag Abase Drop into Acton Pharmacy and procure pamphlets and information on drug abuse Published in the interest of the community by THE ACTON FREE PRESS and ACTON PHARMACY