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4 - Orono Weekly Times 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Looking Back... Gleaned from past editions of the Orono Weekly Times 25 Years Ago.... Derek Barnett, chairman of the Clarke Museum and Archives, addressed council on Monday night calling for council to make a decision one way or the other as to a proposed expansion at the Kirby School Museum which has been on hold for the past two to three years. He said if the expansion could not start this year the Museum board would have to spend at least $20,000 for a new furnace and other repairs and maintenance to the school building. He said to undertake the expansion proposal at this time would save some of these costs. Upon questioning of some members of council Barnett said that Clarke Museum Board had been operating for eighteen years and the board had initiated the plan to buy the Kirby School House. He said many of the members had been on the board for a good number of years and they were getting impatient to proceed with their plans. He informed council that the board had tentatively selected a new curator and was awaiting council approval of such hiring. Without any discussion council acknowledged the presentation to council by the board chairman. underpass under the road from the present dressing rooms to the swimming pool. The Board are also to meet with representatives of the Health Department in connection with the regulations governing the operation of a wading pool. 75 Years Ago... For several weeks past, while going down Main St. in Orono, past a certain house, we have heard peculiar noises, sometimes it was the song of the saw, other times the tap of the hammer, then one day we were horrified at the odor of heated glue, next time we passed the more pleasant smell of varnish greeted our nostrils. "Flu" laid me low for a while, but the next time I passed you can imagine my surprise and delight to hear "The Irish Washerwoman," "The Devil's Dream" and "Turkey in the Straw"' pealing forth in true form and tone from Ed. Morton's handmade violin. Upon enquiry we find Ed is not expecting to take on any more help at this season of the year, by possibly later on he might hire a fellow to keep away the curious minded. It a funny thing, he says, you can't even make a bit of a violin but everyone wants to nose in and see what it's all about. 50 Years Ago.... A sure sign that summer is on it's way was established Wednesday evening when the Orono Park Board held their first organisational meeting of the year. Preparations are underway for the opening of the park and the swimming pool. The Board is to advertise the facilities offered at the park in an endeavour to increase its use and thus the revenue during the coming year. Mr. John Stone was authorized to make arrangements for the operation of the booth and the operation and maintenance of the swimming pool. Miss Alma Cutttell and S.B. Rutherford were authorized to complete plans for lifeguards at the pool. Discussion centred on the debt against the new pool which was left over for the time being. Future plans for further facilities at the park were discussed and the Board is to seek plans and prices for a wading pool and also for the construction of a This genetically mutated Gray Squirrel, with his light tan coloured body and blond tail has taken up residence in Orono much to the delight of area residents. Commonwealth Day In 1973 the National Council in Canada of the Royal Commonwealth Society in a letter to Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau suggested that the idea of Commonwealth Day to be observed simultaneously throughout the Commonwealth be included on the agenda for the Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Ottawa that year. The proposal was not included in the agenda of that meeting but did appear as a Canadian item on the agenda of the 1975 meeting. At that time the heads of Government agreed that the Commonwealth Secretariat be asked to select a date for such an observance that would not have any untoward historical connotations. At the meeting of senior officials in Canberra in May 1976, the Canadian proposal that the second Monday in March be set as Commonwealth Day was adopted. Until 1977 it was the practice in Canada to observe Commonwealth Day on an ad COMMONWEALTH DAY see page 7