This Week In Brooklin History


110 years ago this week
August 12, 1887
Consequences of hot, dry weather

From the Ashburn column in the August 12, 1887, Whitby Chronicle:

ASHBURN.

Everything very dry! Much need of rain! Pasture getting very poor; as a consequence, milk is not so plentiful and butter is rising.

Many farmers are getting through harvest, or are so already, but quite a few have a good deal to do yet.

Quite a "shaving" mania is going through this locality. Many are displaying more "face" and "cheek" than usual, on this account.

Col. W. Warfield, from Lexington, Ky., U.S., after looking over several herds in the township and other places, purchased a bull-calf from Jas. I. Davidson, Esq., of Balsam, to show at the head of his herd during the Kentucky fairs. This makes ten animals sold in four different states of the Union, within the last six weeks, all to old customers. As soon as quarantine is open to receive them, Mr. Davidson intends having as large an importation as usual from Mr. Cruikshank, of Aberdeen, Scotland. At the present time nearly all his shorthorns are sold.

From the Local Laconics column in the same paper, we read of problems with nude swimmers in Whitby and further consequences of the very dry weather:

LOCAL LACONICS.

THE Mayor has issued notices forbidding all parties swimming in waters bordering on the corporation without clothes in the day time. That is the parties must not strip themselves naked -- not the waters. This is rather hard luck for the boys, but decency must be observed in order that all who have a mind to may enjoy a little boating around the harbor.

DURING the past week the section men along railways have had no end of trouble in putting out fires caused by sparks flying from locomotives. The parched grass cut down and lying along beside the railway tracks is easily ignited and soon it carries the hungry flames to the fence. A friend who reached here from Belleville on Saturday states that the fences were on fire more or less all along the line.

IN travelling by rail from here to Port Perry few people could have failed to notice a very fine field of oats on the farm of John Dryden, M.P.P. This crop looked spendidly all summer and was cut and shocked last week. Passing on Monday it was burned black as a coal. The places where shocks of grain had stood could be easily distinguished by the extra amount of ashes. It was a great pity and most likely the railway company will have to pay the loss.


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