Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth December 2, 2013
What is found in the old Sachem files contribute, and always will, to Caledonia's history. Items long forgotten or perhaps never known most often reveal an account that connects one to something else in history either happening at the time or to what exists today.
On October 26, 1933, the upstairs Town Hall Assembly Room went through a re-opening with a grand concert. Weeks of alterations to the hall included a long list of improvements. Walls were redecorated in buff with ivory ceiling and brown trim, woodwork was refinished, a fine hardwood floor was laid, a new lighting system was put in place along with new fixtures and two new circulating gas heaters were added.
The Cozy Theatre was getting rid of its chairs and were confiscated along with other new seats to increase the seating capacity. A piano was purchased and a kitchenette was put in for the convenience of the Women's Institute.
What about the first television set in Haldimand County? It was in October of 1948 that the Sachem reported a television constructed by Laurie Dunstall of York was just in time for watching the World Series via television.
"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first set in operation in Haldimand County," said the Sachem.
Debutante balls are still part of high society, according to the internet, but don't often make the news as they did in the past. In 1958, Gail Whittaker of Caledonia, daughter of Brig. Dennis and Mrs. Whittaker, who lived on the farm now owned by Ron and Nancy Clark, was one of 27 young debutantes presented to the Lt. Governor of Ontario Keiller McKay at the year's Artillery Ball held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The ball was preceded by four weeks of parties and social functions.
Now living in the US, Gail returned to Caledonia a year ago to meet old friends and to take a look at the homestead of her youth.
The beginning of a family-owned business that spans three generations today, came with an announcement in 1937. Owner of the new Miller Funeral Chapel, Harold Miller said, "I wish to take this opportunity to announce to the public of Caledonia and district that I have purchased the funeral business of the late J.H. Howden. It will be the continued policy of this long established business to provide a sympathetic dependable funeral service, performed with quiet dignity. Mr. Alex Howden will remain associated with the business for the next few months."
The Caledonia High School enrollment figure in 1973 was 322 students. There were 284 enrolled just the year before in 1972.
A notice in a September, 1933 issue said, "There will be sold for auction at Caledonia bridge on October 6th at 2 pm about 8000 feet of 4x8x13 pine stringers, also about 20,000 feet of Oak plank and some inch lumber, all of which have been taken off the Caledonia bridge. Planks and stringers will be sold in small lots. Signed J.F. Martindale, Chairman of Road and Bridge Committee. Fred Forster, Auctioneer."
Were these auction items from the old bridge following the rebuilding in 1927? If they were, they didn't get them all according to this past summer's find of stringers at the south end of the bridge.
