The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

COLBORNE CHRONICLE SUCCESSOR TO THE COLBORNE EXPRESS (Established 1866) THE COLBORNE ENTERPRISE (1 Vol. 3 -- No. 5 Thursday, February 2nd, 1961 $2.00 per year in Canada--$3.00 .. I REMEMBER Reminiscences of Colborne THE OLD MILL I have always been Intrigued by the Old Mill. Ever since the first time that I visited the creek to fish I remember it standing there a gaunt old ruins, a silent reminder of days long gone by. I think practically every boy in Colborne knew it intimately, partly because it held considerable romantic interest and also because there was a swimming hole in the creek right near it. There were fish in the creek too, even if they were only chub, but we had great time catching them. I have been trying to get son authentic information about the Old Mill but it is hard to get anything definite. We know of course that it was built by Joseph Keeler, Sr., who practically settled this part of the county in the early eighteen hundreds. Although Mr. Keeler J#iilt and owned the mill, it w# operated by a Mr. Christie and was known as Christie's mill. The mill pond occupied the whole field that lies between the mill and what is now Ontario Street. It was large body of water and supplied plenty of power to run the big mill which did a thriving business. I often wondered just where the road came in to the mill out of curiosity, I traced it to the Base Line and then across country of which the marshy flats to No. 2 High-1 proud. way near the Kelly Homestead. From there it ran up through the hills back of Kelwood and joined the old Percy road at the top of the hill just a short distance south of the Union Cemetery. This old Percy Road went out to Percy, now Warkworth, which was the nearest settlement to Colborne at that time. Sometimes wagons, many drawn teams, would be lined up mile waiting their turn at the mill. This reminds me that, boy spending some of my holidays at my Aunt'i Mrs. McMurray's, who lived in the first house north of Purdy' mill in Castleton, I sometimes saw yokes of oxen drawing big loads of grain to the mill there. They were considered quite a novelty even at that time. In the old days of the pioneers, it was a common thing to see a man or boy on horseback with a bag of grain across the horse's shoulders in front of him, taking it to the m ground. I have heard my father tell of being followed by a lynx for over two miles on his ret from such a trip. Lynx were ways cowards however a would never attack a human less cornered. But coming back to the Old Mill. Its crumbling walls still stand, a monument to the indomitable spirit and industry of our forefathers who made this land, this Canada of ours, justly Highways Department, Municipalities Discuss Road Signs On 401 Highway Rex Wakely Chosen President Of Counties Mutual Aid Association Rex Wakely of Port Hope's Fire Department is the new President of the Northumberland and Durham Mutual Aid Association. He succeeds Jack Record, Port Hope fire chief, in the post. Mr, Wakely was elected at the first meeting of the association held in Cobourg at the market building on Thursday night. There were two nominees Vice-President of the assc tion and an election will be held at the February meeting of the association scheduled to be held in Millbrook. They are Chief B. Mercer, Orono Fire Department, and Chief Edward Boes, Brighton Fire Department. One other officer was elected. He is Albert Naylor, Newcastle Fire Department, who will fill the post of Secretary. Big Attendance Over eighty members attended the election meeting. They were from Cobourg, Port Hope, Bowmanville, Brighton, Camp-bellford, Orono, Colborne, Baltimore, Hastings, Bewdley, Millbrook and Newcastle. Others who attended were several members of the Harwood Fire Department. Harwood is not yet a member of the association. Guest speaker was Art Duncan, public relations officer of the Bata Shoe Company, awa. Mr. Duncan chose as subject "Humour". A presentation of a smoke stand was made to Walter Hackney, retired chief of the Bowmanville Fire Department. The presentation was made by Jack Record. Guests Present The guests included H. Mal-lory of the Fire Marshall's Office, Toronto; Fire Chief J. Acquinas and Captain Farrell O'Neill of the Batawa Fire Department. Also present were Mayor J. A. Heenan, Councillors J. R. Cooper, F. J. Miskelly and E. Prosser. Councillor Prosser is chairman of the Fire, Water and Light Committee. Mayor Heenan welcomed everyone to the meeting on behalf of Cobourg. A visitor to the meeting was Councillor J. Cochrane, Colborne. Fire Chief of Cobourg, K. R. Baird, who is thft Counties coordinator for Mutual Aid, was also present. COBOURG--In addressing a number of representatives of various municipalities in the Town Hall this afternoon, for he purpose of discussing road signs on the No. 401, W. Macnee, traffic engineer from Toronto said, it would be impossible to satisfy everybody, nor could the Department put up signs f ery municipality. The first imperative object the safety of the motorist and signs needed for that purpose get Al priority -- regulatory signs are vital, they keep people alive, he said. Signs are not provided foi those people who do not make any attempt at carrying a highway map, or who do not know where they are going. "Many municipalities look on signs as advertising and we think it is too late when the motorist is or the highway to try and encourage him to come into a municipality," he said. Other signs are assurance signs which indioatn to a mo torisl that he is on the righl road. Highway No. 401 is divided into four, Quebec to Kingston, Kingston to Toronto, Toronto to London, London to Windsor. An assurance sign is just beyond an interchange which tells a motorist the end of the route, the other name on it being the name of the municipality adjacent to the Highway. Accommodation, food and fuel signs are very necessary for motels, etc., but these are not put up for an isolated operator to advertise his location. Drop in Business Just Temporary Mr. Macnee said that when a Highway by-passes a town there tends to be an instantaneous drop in business and in a very short time this is right back where it was -- in all probability within a year or two business actually increases. Tourist traffic appeared to be back on highway No. 2 almost in its entirety. Tourists come to see the country and would not see a great deal of it from No. 401, he said. Forrester of the traffic section, Toronto, gave a commentary on coloured slides showing different types of signs already erected, following which plans were shown of the various interchanges, copies of which will be sent to each of the municipalities. Comments from the various municipalities present were very favourable, one complaint being voiced by Councillor W. Anderson, Port Hope, regarding the fact that traffic moving ' easterly direction on N Highway is on the top of the interchange before it recognizes it is there. Mr. Macnee said it was one of the toughest interchanges. The sign looked as ii it was to welcome people tc Port Hope. It had been hoped that people at Welcome would recognize it as Welcome Corners, but they did not want to do so Highway Patrols? In answer to a question from E. L. Fulford, Port Hope, garding long stretches of road without means of communication, Mr. Macnee said that it became increasingly obvious that something would have to be done, possibly in the form of patrolling the highway. Some private organizations were ready experimenting in this direction, he said. For Cobourg, Mayor J. Heenan said there was very little to criticise. He because "to us the sign means enticement to the town and also prosperity in which we are vitally interested." One sign will indicate entrance to the town from the west to the business section via No. 45 Highway (Division St.) the other, from the east to the business section via Burnham Street. Mayor Heenan did however raise the query of illumination on the overpass. "When driving along you see something dull and poorly lit and it is no incentive to come off the Highway there. If it is something quite bright you know at least people are breathing," he declared. In answer to this question, Mr. Macnee said there was something new in lighting adopted in October last year which sets up certain conditions under which the Department of Highways will illuminate an interchange or section of road perhaps on a cost sharing basis with the municipalities. This could be worked out. Agree Signs Adequate Colborne, Brighton, Cramahe, Haldimand and Hamilton townships representatives all agreed that the proposed signing was adequate, all of them however agreeing with Mayor Heenan on the necessity of good illumination. As far as parks were concerned the Department will only sign Provincial Parks from the King's Highway, the signing of Municipal Parks would only bring grading problems, it was stated. In conclusion Mr. Macnee said he was pleased there were no violent opposition to the plans. Should however, difficulties appear, they should be referred to the Department immediately, he advised. \ Asked for a progress report, the meeting was told it was expected to open the 401 from very pleased] Port Hope to Trenton approximately in August. It would be open some time this year from Marysville to Lambeth west of London, approximately 240 miles. Those present from the Department of Highways: W. G. Macnee, Traffic Engineer, Toronto; J. L. Forrester, N. Seely and B. Karneg; G. Wetherall, District Engineer, Port Hope, and J. A. McKillop, Maintenance Engineer, Port Hope. songs. Charlie was in very good voice and sang all verses of our favourite song, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"??? Reg Pacey presented us with the financial statement for 1960. Reg explained he could show a larger balance if all the dues were paid. Lets pay a visit to our Treasurer fellows. Al Smith gave a splendid report on his visit to the annual "Sportmens Banquet" held Toronto. Alf Dove accompanied Al. to the banquet, they reported a very good time. COLBORNE It was moved and seconded ROTAPY that we Purchase another wheel chair. This will bring us up to number five, which use. Bruce Spencer also report-Queen's Hotel for their regular! ed that he had purchased a new weekly dinner meeting. The j pair of crutches and presented meeting opened with Rotary them for the club to inspect. At Grace and the Queen. President i the present time our hospital These were presented by Gid-Jim was in the chair. | bed is not in use. Anyone that is eons Matthew Austin and Earl In the absence of Alf DoV?, in need of such a bed should Thompson who are members Charlie Wood led in the sing- contact Bruce Spencer. i the Cobourg-Port Hope Gideon A film on "Water Conservation was shown, which was obtained from the Cities Service Company. After the showing of the film the meeting was brought to a close. Please remember to turn in your tickets on the Suit Draw as the winner will be drawn next Monday night. Present Gideon Youth Testaments To Puttie School Gideon Youth Testaments, to the number of 56, were given to the pupils of Grades 5 and 6 of Colborne Public School afternoon of February There are/143 Gideon Camps in Canada and this year, they will present about 200,000 Youth Testaments. Other phases of the Gideon work is the presenting or placing of Testaments or Bibles in hotels, motels, hospitals, penal institutions, to nurses-in-training, etc. The Memorial Bible plan is also helping in the financing of Bible placements. This is done by friends or relatives of a departed Christian loved one, given in memory of him or her a donation for the purchase and placing of these Memorial Gideon Bibles. Gideon work started in the United States sixty-two years ago and followed in Canada in 1911. This year the Canadian Gideon Golden Jubilee Convention will be held in Toronto in July. The Gideons International Convention will be held also at the same time and place.