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22 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 20, 1991 Church celebrates 125th anniversary In 1866 Prince Albert, Ontario was a busy community. Lawyers, doctors, merchants, shoemakers made this village their home. In 1866, the June 1 invasion at Niagara by the Fenians became the main topic of concern. Public meetings were hastily arranged and the Prince Albert Volunteer Company was formed to "defend their country. Every person in the village and for miles around was present to cheer and encourage our noble boys on the path to glory and honor...to sweep érom our beloved Canada the last man who shall pollute our soil with hostile intent." Less than a month later the '"'Volunteers" returned, welcom- ed home even though their "ranks were full and they were without honorable scars". Complimen- tary supper to be given on Friday evening with a presentation of Fife and Drums if one can be pro- curred! Praise was given for their "appearance, their efficiency in Company and Battalion drill, and for good behaviour while on duty." In 1866 Joshua Wright's Boot and Shoe Store offered cheap, home-made articles, if the workmanship gives out, it will be mended free of charge. And if you want a good stove "come to No. 1 Tinker's Terrace, Prince Albert, where you can have your choice from the largest stock of cooking, parlor, and box stoves in the coun- try. A.E. McCaw Prop." Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Bible Chris- tians united regularly at Mis- sionary meetings, each taking a turn as host. There were two churches under construction, one of which was the Wesleyan Methodist, to replace a previous building destroyed by fire. In the late summer of 1866 heated discussions on the merits of a railroad were part of the dai- ly gossip and the town was an- ticipating the arrival of the Thayer, Noyes and Co. CIRCUS, complete with 100 animal acts, in- cluding monkeys, horses, dogs anda "MASTODON! Admission 25 cents. The Wesleyan ladies were holding a Bazaar in the store rooms of Currie and Ross's General Store, with the proceeds devoted to paying part of the cost of building the new church. Finally the big day arrived. September 30, 1866 was the dedication of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. It reported to be "far ahead of any church in North Ontario County," although some felt it was not right to wor- ship God in such a fine edifice, preferring something more modest. Details of the architec- ture on every level were reported, and the masons, carpenters and painters were singled out for their excellent workmanship. Mr. Jackson from Toronto furnished the "heating apparatus." Total cost for the building was almost $4,000. Worship began at 10 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 30 and for some "unforeseen and as yet unaccoun- table circumstance' the advertis- ed speaker, Dr. Jeffers failed to apprear. Dr. Taylor spoke at the evening service and Dr. McFad- den filled in for the morning and afternoon lectures. The Uxbridge choir '*added much to the beauty of the occasion."" Monday there was a 'sumptuous' feast follow- ed by a lecture by Dr. Taylor. One hundred and twenty-five years later and the Wesleyan Methodist church is now called Prince Albert United Church, but still the ladies of the church hold feasts and events to assure that worship will continue in this fine old building. The committee for this special anniversary have arranged to host The Dofasco Male Choir on Monday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the church, tickets $8 in advance, and on Sunday, Sept. 29 there will be a free pancake breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. Anniversary service will be held at 2 p.m. with special guest Dr. Anne Squires, former moderator of the United Church of Canada. At this time two impressive quilted banners, done by the women of our congregation, and designed by Nancy-Lou Patterson of Waterloo, Ontario will be dedicated, in honor of this 125th anniversary. The banners are 12 feet by five feet and depict seed- time and harvest, the promise God gave after the end of the flood. Supper will be a "sumptuous' salad buffet, tickets $8 and this will be followed by a free evening of musical entertainment under the direction of Darryl Linn- ington. The music will range from broadway show tunes to fiddle music and old favorite hymns. A special event for the whole fami- ly. Welcome or welcome back to Prince Albert United Church on this her 125th Anniversary. For more information contact Doug McMillan (416) 985-3143 or Sarah Elliott, (416) 985-3017. Weekly euchures to begin August 22 Mrs. Shirley Garvey of North Carolina has been visiting with her mother Florence Smith and other members of her family and friends. Belated to Jack and Elva Brain who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on August 11 with a family dinner in Lindsay. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cummings attended the graduation for their niece Tracy Cummings from Metro Toronto Police Auxiliary. Tracy received an award for firearms proficiency with 98 per cent. The weekly euchres will start on Thursday, August 22 at 8 p.m. in the community center. All ages welcome if you like to play cards. Prizes and light lunch will be served. Come on out and meet III rt a Prince Albert by llean Pugh ERR your friends or make some new ones. If you need gas or food supplies be sure to stop at Prince Albert Jug City as early as 7 a.m. or later till 10 p.m. The new ownersare to be congratulated with all the im- provements. It is nice to see all the improvements at the corner. Reminder to all members of the Anniversary Committee of the meeting to be held on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the church hall. Harold McLaughlin shows his horseshoe pitching style while brother Roy looks on. Come to the Blackstock Fair on Saturday and see the champion pitchers in action. Resuming family tradition Horseshoe pitching way of life for local brothers For Roy and Harold McLaughlin, horseshoe pitch- ingis a way of life. As young lads growing up on a farm near Burketon, the McLaughlin brothers watched from the sidelines as their fa- ther William and uncle Russell pitched their way to horseshoe pitching champions. But the brothers didn't stay on the sidelines for long. Roy, the older of the two brothers, picked up his first horseshoe when he was 10 years old and although he could only throw the shoe half way down the 40-foot court he failed tobecome discouraged. He practised at every availa- ble moment. "I took the shoes to school and played during recess," he says. Roy recalls his father saying to him "If you don't have any work to do (after school), you practise your horseshoes." "He was very encouraging of the sport," Roy says. By the time he was 12, Roy was able to beat his father in horseshoe pitching. He started pitching competi- tively against the seasoned pro- fessionals at the Toronto Exhi- bition and the Agricultural Winter Fair. Roy remembers one tourna- ment when he "hardly had enough room to throw because the people were crowded around me so much." That event is recorded in a newpaper clipping Roy has pasted in a scrapbook recording the McLaughlin's horseshoe pitchinglife. "The boy actually had the crowd cheering by the coura- geous way in which he stood u to the test and met ringer with ringer," the article stated. Roy eventually lost the game to Donald Tiffer of Toronto but he won the hearts of those in at- tendance. Roy's younger brother Har- old couldn't remember off hand when he started competing but jokingly said he got involved in the sport "when he (Roy) need- ed a partner." Many of their competitors Sp BREE La Horseshoe pitching Is a way of life for Harold and Roy McLaughlin. The two Blackstock-area men are capable of throwing ringet after ringer and when the shoe hits the post that many times it begins to wear down the spike in the mid- dle of the shoe. Take note of the difference in the two shoes the men are holding. have pegged them the "barn- yard pitchers" in reference to their agricultural backgrognd But together, the brothers have rung their way to the top in competitive horseshoe pitch- ing, winning numerous cham- pionships. "As soon as they hear we're the McLaughlin brothers, that's as good as 10 points right off the start," Harold says in reference to their reputation. In fact, the walls at their Blackstock-area homes are lit- erally lined with the trophies the two men have won over the years at various tournaments. One of their most memorable wins came at the International Plowing Match. (The McLaugh- lin brothers have represented Durham at the International Plowing Match for the last 40 years and picked up first prize - for the last 14 yearsin a row.) "The biggest thrill of my life was when we beat Elmer Hohl at the International Plowing Match," Harold says. "He was a hard fellow to play against," Roy says, adding Mr. Holh was the world champion from 1965 to 1977. It's not the trophies or a com- petitive streak that keeps the men involved in horseshoe pitching. It's their love of the sport. "There's no dickering or fighting," Harold says, adding that the Players shake hands before and after the matches. Anyone wishing to see the McLaughlins throw ringer af- ter ringer after ringer can do so this Saturday. The brothers are convening and playing in the annual Blackstock Fair horge- shoe pitching tournament. PON mre A SURE RN SE See) _------ adi