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Ernie Marks has his own memory lane by Terry Grubbc Taking a stroll down memory lane is nn ion used when wo recall the past Recently however it was discovered that there really is a memory lane In Acton Ernie Marks has lived on Mill street for years Until he operated a grocery business at that location Always wonting to own a business of his own Marks purchased the business In 1947 from Mr Kingshott and moved wife Mary and five children into the residence behind the store Although he knew the building and business had been in existence since 1880 at that location It was not until a time ago that he learned of the historical significance of the lancway beside the property Recently while his grandson Greg was helping Marks trim the bushes in the lanewoy he dis covered names and dates carved in the bricks It seems thai as early as the earliest date recorded on the wall some of Acton youth hung out at this location Some of those who felt com pellcd to record events for history were Jocque Ted Clifford 1924 and Tyler among other names and Initials During his early years In business Marks recalls customers arriving on horseback filling their potato sacks with purchases Not many did their shopping in this manner but preferred to have them delivered which Marks did as far away as When sewers were In stalled in Acton Marks recalls there was mud everywhere and delivering around town wag quite a problem Still today kids who bought his penny candy and suckers return with their families to visit Mr Marks We never hod any problems with van or damage said Marks Sure the kids soaped the windows on en we expected lhat but we always got along with tho kids Once when Marks taught a young man stealing an orange he told him if he really wanted it he could have It free That same person Still recalls tho and often stops by to visit Marks Besides supplying Acton residents with their daily needs Mary Marks now deceased ran Acton first florist shop In a corner of the store Cut flowers were brought from Georgetown to make the corsages and arrangements For those without a green thumb Mary would also sell Acton first boxed plants Through Mary s involvement with the local IODE chapter the Marks dining room for at least two weeks before Christmas was full of the Christmas hampers being prepared for delivery by the Rotary Club Much of the work had to be done at the last minute to avoid spoilage One individual who really stands out In Mark memory was Old Mr the police chief According to Marks not only did ho patrol the streets but also handled the duties of public works assessor Through his own Involvement as chairman of the committee of adjustment Ernie Marks was named first building Inspector The annual salary was or the total of the building permit fees whichever was higher Although he was very involved in many local clubs and activities such as the Lions Holy Name Society and the Legion his real love was minor sports Besides coaching and managing for IB years he was president of the first League Then we had no artificial ice or blue lines he says and often it was five below in that arena before the addition When the lee was too soft to play on we headed for Georgetown where there was the artificial Ice Many hockey games were played on the lake had its Casey but Acton had Its Ryder and we won It took 14 innings in 1947 with Don Ryder pitching the wholo game but Acton won the Ontario Intermediate Hardball Championship by one run What a day recalls Marks Hardball was a big spot In Acton once One thing Marks misses today in Acton is the train station One time when the Prime Minister Louis St Laurent travelled through Acton on the train a days holiday was declared Although he t remember if the same happened when the Queen Mother graced the rails he does recall her waving to the crowds from the platform For three terms Marks sat on the school board for Acton During his time on the board the addition was made to the Robert Little School and his name plus those of the other trustees are on the corner stone As a boy of eight Marks Immigrated with his family from England in 1913 one year after the Titanic sank Soon after his father would be called to war and at the age of to help the family he entered Ihe work force For ten cents an hour at the Campbell Hour Mills in west Toronto he would work a 12 hour shift After working for United Cigar Stores for 15 years Marks decided to purchase and run his own Cigar Store However his wife uncle who was a butcher offered to assist in starling a grocery business and teach him the trade They first located In but because of the war could not find housing saw the ad for the business In Acton one mid An Inland Community Newspaper I irnJr and Sixth ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY DECEMBER tog Mill meet Harding Dec 18 Acton new regional councillor Dave Whiting will lead a delegation of Acton business men to Regional Police headquarters in Oakville on December for a meeting with Chief James Harding Whiting says he has been talking to the chief about complaints about police service from Acton businessmen as well as other residents He has talked to a number of people of late about their police concerns After talking to Harding he has arranged a meeting al the police headquarters for a week this Thursday all 30 He has also contacted representatives of the Ac ton Business Improvement Area Acton Chamber of Commerce and Lome who raised the and this paper few weeks ago Most policing com plaints arc coming from businessmen Whiting explained by going to police head quarters it is hoped wilt learn more about the total operation of the regional force He also invites any concerned residents who wish to attend the meeting to contact him Whiting there is a possibility a public meeting will held later in Acton dealing with policing Noting Policing is a regional concern and there ore complaints about the force in other areas of Hal ton too Whiting says he will urge the regional council meet with Harding and the Hilton Police Commission to discuss the issues There has also been talk Ihls week of Acton businessmen and residents forming a delegation to go to the Police Commission in the future Saturday received a lengthy reply lo his letter from Ihe Chief newspaper also Girl hurt hit run Regional Police ore investigating a hit and run accident Monday evening on Main Street in Acton which sent a young Li chouse girl Claudia Kra use to hospital Police say the 13 yearold girl was riding her bike on the shoulder of the road when a car left Main Street hitting a municipal sign and knocking the girl off her bike Without stopping the car fled the scene of the accident The was taken for medical help in Acton and then transferred to Georgetown hospital with an injured left leg lacerations and bruises Police are continuing their investigation a copy of the letter turn inside for the text as well as an editorial on page In he letter Hard Continued on Letters bolster guilty farmer Oa of most unusual aspects of Eramosa farmer Keith Black who was convicted of stealing more than 300 cattle is the degree of community support he has received That was Ihe observation of defence layer David Smith as he presented Guelph County Court Judg J Sutherland bound letters from more than Acton and area people who offered support for Black Black who has taught at Acton High School for about years pleaded guilty Thursday The judge registered a conviction and remanded Black out of custody unul December forsentenclng Smith offered the letters lo the judge for purusal until then Meanwhile a presentence report is being prepared According to Crown Attorney Chaloner Black owned a farm on which hq fed the of other partners Earlier this year a number of Ihe cattle belonging to Jack Arthur were discovered to be missing There was a contract Smith said the Judge however it deviated in what was normal in the cattle business There was obviously from day one loss lo Black which he did not see said Smith In Crown evidence which the defence agreed was substantially correct Block sold about worth of cattle at auctions Some would have beenBlackslegltimatcsharc said Chaloner A great deal of accounting remains between and Black according to Chaloner who went on to say lhat there are three civil court on the books between the two men The court dealt with the case without taking restitution into consideration because as the crown said it s so complicated The money from the auction according to Smilh went right back into the farm operation The Ontario Provincial Police investigated from October 1978 until last January were laid in February One of the two Black farms plus the equipment has been sold There have been difficulties selling the larger farm because of high bank interest Black Is In effect with years of investment wiped out Smith told Back at work Halloa council got back to work Monday night after a few weeks Three George Ward Two Terry Ward One Ross Miller break from regular Front row left to rfghl Sheldon Ward Ward Two Roy Booth Ward Three John McDonild Ward Three Dove Two Mayor Peter Pom troy and Marilyn SerJeanUon Ward Four Back row Whiting Ward One and Ros Knechlel Ward One Mike Armstrong Ward Foot Harry Levy Ward Four Walter Ward Photo by Judge raps public schools Family Court Judge James Fuller levelled some criticisms at Board of Education which were brushed aside by education director Em Lavender Judge Fuller speaking to trustees during the boards inaugural meeting Thursday urged them to Improve Ihe identification of learning disabilities Lavender agreed with the judge call for such improvements however he stressed that they are not easy to make I think we all agree we must improve our identification of learning disabilities replied Lavender but that is like saying doctors need to cure cancer As there Is good will with the medical profession I hope there is good will with the teaching profession continued the education director Judge Fuller prefaced his comments by saying I think it Is fair to say all of us would agree- all young citizens have the right to be educated to the maximum of their potential The Judge expanded his view by using the example of a Burlington high school where it was reported that per cent of the students were about behind in their reading abilities It is my view essentially to identify these disabilities earlier and correct them 1 seen many of these young people who have potential for further education but they leave without knowing why they arc frustrated and we lose the benefit of a who could have been more worthwhile The judge also indicated that he was happy with a return to a more structured form of education In He wondered however if the board can balance that structure stability and consistency with the need lo perform intelligent experiments We make mistakes In offering them students too much freedom without responsibility he said The Judge said it is his feeling lhat in Ihe 60s and 70s there was less structure less consistency and less stability which resulted in a loss of respect for teachers Why do I see in court practically no people from Ihe separate school system or from private schools There are children who in the 60s and 70s who would have been In detention centres who are In public schools because we can t refuse them replied Lavender Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation District Nine President Ron Ness agreed with Ihe education director comments There were some disagreements with some of the Assumptions which the Judge made Indicated Ness One of the assumptions Ness mentioned in a later interview is the students in the private and separate school systems are model citizens New Acton trustee Arlene Bruce took her place at the table round a Board of for first time Thursday It the boards Inaugural meeting The previous representative for Acton Betty Fisher representative Consider special education class for new St Josephs Separate School Boards planning and property committee wonts to have a special education classroom in new St Joseph School opening in 1962 New Halton Hills Trustee Irene who sits on the committee which will plan the new Music for all tastes The Acton High School band and Acton Band will combine forces Sunday Dave Sale conduct the super orchestra at night to present a seaion concert at the high school at Here nlgbl of many rehearsals for the big inside Sunday a Boar Head dinner a s success Turn to page for picture and a story Acton Baptist minister Rev Sydney will be leaving town the end of this year Details on page Three area children are being treated for suspected rabies and testa on a dog haven t been completed Seepages school said the committee held its first meeting Monday night and decided to ask the board to In elude a special education classroom in the new kindergarten lo grade eight facility said she plans to contact Hills Mayor Peter to sec if he can assist in speeding up municipal approval of of the school site on Mill St West The board solicitor told the committee he took the rczoning request to the town a couple of months ago but council dealt with Ihe mailer yet The architect for the new school M J Torscney was advised by the committee to start working on the design of the new school McCauley sold veyors are out at the site working this week and the architect is expected to come up with several designs Because of the lay of the land the com mittee expects the new school will have to be level even If it turns out to be a modular building McCauley noted