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by Hartley Memories memories What resident doesn remember the dances in the old town hall the concerts with minstrel men dramas meetings and even borrowing a book when it was once used as a library Maybe some unlucky people also spent a night in the jail cells or were pulled up In front of Acton one and only policeman for some breach of the peace It has always been the headquarters for the Acton fire brigade back to when the hand operated pumpers were pulled by fire horses My memories only go back to vhat seemed a few short years when it represented the village and then Town of Acton to a child mind They go back to before World War II when minstrel shows and stage plays were produced and directed by local people And the place was jammed to the rafters to see people they knew on stage Outside the Gregory Theatre where the latest screen thr Hers were seen on Mon day Thursday Friday and Saturday nights and a matinee thrown in Saturday the town hall was the other for en Jimmy Fox brought his travelling troupe to town and made the town hall his headquarters where some of the finest llveacling this side of the Rockies was seen Back in the days when Acton had only a Continuation School with four grades 9 10 II instead of a school the town hall was the place where the school At Home was staged It was most young people introduction to the dance and many first stumbling steps were taken across that floor with its pot bellied stoves at each end and stage across the middle There the orchestra sat and played fox trots waltzes reels and some pretty fast stepping square dances That old floor used to rock when the squares were called and the fiddles scraped and the men let out rebel war cries there was some trouble when some of the boys who stepped out the back to take two or three swallows from a bottle forgot their manners The constables would ask the objectionable ones to leave peacefully If they wouidn they grab them by the scruff of the neck and almost hurl them down the stairs to cool off in the jail cells which held only occasional prisoners When they sobered up they were allowed to go home with a warning The upstairs auditorium was always decorated for the fancy balls such as the firemen s annual the At Home or a spring frolic sponsored by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire bless them No one came to the dances in jeans You wore your best dress or suit for the occasion For most people it was their only one I remember also some of the more matters which took place in the town hall such as the time Charlie Millard who was international d rector of the United Steel Workers and later a big shot in the CCF g an impassioned plea for more help for Mother Russia during World War II Noticeable at the meeting were many of the local leftists then branded Reds Socialists were few and far between n those days and I went mostly out of curiosity to hear the well known Millard I remember his glowing references to Russia and the social justice he felt was there It was years before I knew how wrong he was He was heartily applauded by wartime workers who came to Acton from as far away as During the war years too they staged some of the best minstrel shows the town has ever seen They are out of fashion now but who can forget Jock Baloney Greer doing a fast shuffle across the stage while Joe Whltnam Scotty Burton George and others crooned barbershop and southern melodies for appreciative audiences fed up with the shortages or the war years Remember the soup stock ploys produced written and directed by Bob Parker Bob son Rob of course is a TV figure now known across the breadth of the country Remember some of the plays the YMCA and s Men used to stage with plenty of pretty girls They had such names as Charlie Aunt or something and always were sprinkled with humor Names I can remember that starred in these productions How about Charlie Kirkncss and George Mason a pair who came straight from Mason Knit to charm audiences with droll humor Things got more sophist after the war years and the era of the big bands Orchestras with such names as The Debonnalres with the emphasis on sax that was sax typesetter instead of fiddle played for new generations of moon struck teenagers But the old place is starting to lose its glamor It was even getting a bit shoddy despite efforts of the village mandarins to keep it painted and the stage curtains In repair It wasn t long before only occasional dances were there and few if any entertainments Gregory Theatre became the and films were shown every night of the week except Sunday at the brand new entertainment palace The occasional dance drew some ominous shudders from the town hall floor which resulted in an investigation by an Wasn long before they said the upstairs was not only unsafe but unsuitable for expressions of the dance used to shake the whole building Many of my memories arc also down stairs where many of the council meetings of the Village and Town of Acton enacted by laws and counted money to keep the taxes reasonable They had only local subjects to discuss and there was always plenty to do It surprised me when they decided a few more people could ad minister an area much larger w th eight times the population Of course they t counting municipal employees then They were relied upon to work at all hours and be good at their Jobs often without much formal training Never having belonged to the fire department it would take pages of type to recount some of their memorable nights in old town hall Mi NOTICE it BAKE SALE held by Town Hall Restoration committee drew an early morning crowd to their booths Saturday Where was it held Beside the town hall of course Sunburns Many people are now regretting their sunning and funning from the past weekend and are suffering from bad sunburns Sun bathers should always remember to use a protective lotion to avoid bad burns Even those who do not feel they are directly in the sun s rays should prepare for the worst The ALANON FAMILY GROUP moots at St Josephs Church Hall Church Mondays at Inform Ion Hour Effective Monday June twice weekly garbage pick up will take place until September 1978 Acton residents whose garbage is nor malty picked up on Mondays will have a Monday and Thursday pick up The normal Tuesday pick up will be changed to Tuesday and Friday Thank you TOWN OF HILLS Works Department DETERMINED to reach the all time high goal of this year cancer society campaign chair man Arlie White tries to sell a ticket to Hugh Patterson at the volunteers dinner Thursday Big Brothers plan Big Run Scout Guide Mothers plan euchre bake table A small group of mothers will be having a bake sale met at the Scout hall last booth front of Simpson- Tueeday evening Matters of Sears All donations of baked business were brought forth goods may be brought to the and discussed The Euchre booth Saturday July l night planned for Friday between 30 and a m night June 3 is In full swing Our next meeting will be Prizes have been donated for held June We plan to go the Euchre bo all avid players out for dinner and then back are most welcome A small to the Scout hall for our last lunch will be served at the meeting before summer closing of the evening For Please feel welcome to come further details please check out for dinner with the the Coming Events column mothers We will meet at the Back to Acton Days plans Scout hall at Hope to sec were discussed The mothers you there Golden Age Club is on picnic committee Acton Free Press Wednesday For Classifieds that reach call The Regular evening meeting of The Golden Age held at Hall May 17 Bert Davidson opened the meeting and all Joined in singing Canada followed by the theme song Secretary s report was read and adaption moved by Jean Precious seconded by Willa MorriBon rezone picnic to be held In July Everyone is to think about what can be done for the turn at entertainment The meeting then was turned over to Choir They entertained with selections by the men choir readings a duet and a solo also toetapping music and a For the first lime there will be a Big Run for Little Brothers in Halton Hills On Sunday June 11 there will be two runs one in Acton and one in Georgetown through the main streets These are held in conjunction the national Big Run for Little Brothers which starts in Victoria and St John Newfoundland and ends in Ottawa on June 19 of the national runners manual dance treasurer s report read and A luncheon of sandwiches by Cam pickles and tea closed There was discussion another pleasant evening Brothers are hoping to raise moved by Lena Mann see- in the project Mr CIg len says in their first try Jehovahs Witnesses all cleared to build NATURES EMPORIUM NOW OPEN SUNDAYS to pm COOL TOPPED WITH MAPLE SYRUP OR LARGE LAKE ROLLED OATS UNPASTUH1ZEO CLOVER WITH YOUR OWN CONTAINER MEATS FRIDAY IS BASING DAT With approval by Halton Health Unit of a private sewage system and the III be inllalton Hills on Se of on water day of the run here way from Guelph to Bramp ton The runners in each town will be getting sponsors for their runs There are two prizes in the province In which one runner and one sponsor may win each and distribution centre administration building and service building The residence designed with rooms projecting a maximum of persons in ten years has complete kitchen dining room infirm library swimming pool and tennis courts All the area except the chapel is taxable The existing dwelling and two barns on the Milne form will remain and be renovated and approximately acres supply Jehovah Witnesses had clear sailing at Hallon Hills planning board this week The by law allowing the project on acres on High way by Road was recommended by plan ning board Glen Howe solicitor for International Bible Students nftl Association of Canada was or the Hills Big d k bu Brothers they arc hoping for a good response from the more than foot frontage on High- Larry Ciglen fma regl0 The Georgetown run begins roa made up of two at school and the farms acres owned by the Acton run at the high school Lambert estate and now into lis second week from until 5 In the afternoon acres owned by Annette tempers are tested and The runners will leave at dif Milne patience worn thin Try to times and proceed a The buildings set back remember the guy beside you determined route through the feet from the road would Is Just as hot and as downtown This avoids con include a residence printing as you are on the highways Any person may part iclpate hut under the age of IB a participant must have parental consent and under be accompanied by an adult All the schools with senior grades and high schools are paling as well as some f tness groups The stance is about three miles and sponsors will pay so much a mile Big Brothers of Canada will bill the spon sors directly different from most sponsored events when the participant has to do the collecting The run should take about threequarters of an hour The route will be marked and there will be check points The Halton Hills Big Watch temper With the current heat CENTRE M St South GEORGETOWN Optical Plata Personals Fred Lemon a patient in Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto Having A Hearing Problem I Problems With Your I Hearing Aid I Mr F L Burks will I I Georgetown- Friday June am to noon Acton Friday HEARING AID SERVICE URGENT I URGENT I URGENT 1 1 Acton NEEDS YOU Anyone who could spare one hour over lunchtime 12 to m for one day a week or twice a month etc Please come to the meeting Wednesday May 317 pm at the Acton Community Service Centre YMCA Building or call Terry Grubbe 8533310 To Volunteer or Learn More about this Worthwhile Community Service Drivers and NonDrivers Needed 1 1 will be under farm cultivation or landscaped Tun Wed Sit Si Frl Closed Man 677 MAIN ST GLEN WILLIAMS FOODS CHEESES SPRING INTO SUMMER SAVINGS POOD VALUES k Royalo 2RollPkg Save 1 PAPER TOWELS Betty Crocker 18 SUPER MOIST CAKE MIXES Quench 4PakPouch Sav FRUIT CRYSTALS 89 79 Kraft Bottle Save BARBECUE SAUCE 69 Grade A Medium FARM FRESH EGGS 83 I 21b Jar TOMATOES 2J 1 PEANUT Save 30 I Ting CHOICE PEACHES CORNED BEEF Pkg of 100 Savo1 TEA BAGS Kraft MAC CHEESE DINNERS 389 fresh as spring PRODUCE ARRIVES DAILY AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES Canada No 1 Red Brand Beef ROUN STEAK 19 ROUND STEAK ROAST Top ROUND STEAK ROAST Boneless RUM ROAST SIRLOIN TIP ROAST Canada No FRESH MEATY SIDE SPARE RIB Swift Eversweot SIDE BACON Canada No 1 SWEET SOUR RIBS 1 lb Container POTATO SALAD or COLE SLAW PRICES EFFECTIVE MAY 31 3 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES AB SUPERMARKET Mill Street East Acton