1943

Radio was the main source of entertainment, along with fairs and plowing matches.

Ingersoll Tribune Sept.30, 1943 pg.9

Radio inspector A.G.E. Argue of London stated last week that a number of charges have been laid against persons in the villages and rural areas of Thamesford, Kintore,and Embro for not having a current radio license prior to the inspectors call.

Ingersoll Sentinel Review Oct.8, 1943

Over 200 head of Holstein cattle arrived at the championship show of the Ingersoll Fair,some from more than 100 miles distant.Accomodation for them was taxed,-filling two large tents,the cattle barn,and the horse barn.

Of special interest was a display in the palace by the Consumer Branch of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, provided by James Nancekivell.It consisted of household necessities and was most impressive in the arrangement of these to emphasize the difference in their prices during the First Great War and in 1943 under the price ceiling. A bag of potatoes, bag of sugar, and a bag of rice which sold at $50 during the first war sold at the same price in 1943.

That evening, Friday, Oct.8th, the public were invited to tune in to CFPL London radio to listen to Borden's Canadian Cavalcade.(Ingersoll Sentinel Review pg.9)

Sentinel Review, 19th Oct.1943

COUNTY PLOWING MATCH TO BE HELD FRIDAY AT TOM DENT'S

More Than $500 in Prizes - Horse Show and Exhibit of Farm Labor Saving Equipment

There will be five or more prizes in each of the seven horse drawn events on sod.Four classes for tractor plowing-One event is open;one is for three furrow plowing,and the other two are for two furrow plowing;five or more prizes in each of the tractor classes.

All animals entered in the horse show must take part in one of the plowing events.There were prizes for the best team, best plow team,and best single horse.

Competitors within a radius of 10 miles of the match are expected to arrange for their own teams. Competitors wishing teams to be provided must make application at least three days before the date of the match.

Clarke Young of Milliken will judge the plowing and Wallace Munro of Embro will judge the horses.

LABOUR SAVING EXHIBIT

G.R.Green, secretary of the match, has arranged for the following exhibits of labor-saving devices. From the farm of Alex Muir-home made corn harvester, home made two row tractor cultivator for corn, self feeder for hogs.

From the farm of Dan McKay-Home made corn loader, one man hay rack, milk can carrier operated in the barn on litter carrier track, a lawn mower with home made attachment for using electric motor taking power by cable from the house.

From the farm of Erle Kitchen-One row tractor corn cultivator, grain elevator operated by quarter horse power motor for carrying grain from the threshing machine to the grainery.
From the farm of John Hargreaves-two ordinary two horse two row cultivator hooked up to a tractor for cultivating corn. From the farm of Bud Karn-four fan grain blower;from the farm of G.R.Rowe-a corn loader; From the farm of Gordon Ratz- a pickup hay baler;from the farm of Charlie Scott-a corn picker.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The honorary presidents of the plowing match are Tom Dent,M.L.A.and Warden Kenneth Wardell.Other officers are Past President A.D.Robinson,President,L.M.Gardiner;Vice President,Wilfred Grenzebach;Secretary,G.R.Green;Treasurer,Leslie Curry;Agricultural committee of county council,Elton Townsend,M.Betteridge,John W.Smith,Jackson Clarke,James A.Murray.

Donations from the following have been received for the annual match:Oxford County council,$200;Salada Tea Company,$10;Ontario Dept. of Agriculture,$50;T.Eaton Company,crystal bowl and candlesticks;John Hargreaves,five bushels of registered oats;Howard Lefler,$10;Ed Fowell,$8;L.M.Gardner,$5; In addition there was a surplus from last year that will be used to make up the full prize list. The contest will begin at 8.30 a.m. At noon Bonds UFWO (United Farm Womens Organization) will be on the grounds to provide hot coffee and lunch.The afternoon program will begin at 1.30. Tom Dent, M.L.A. will speak on the results of using a permanent pasture mixture.Warden Kenneth Wardell will speak and following this there will be a demonstration with a draft gauge.This gauge indicates the difference in draft power necessary with proper and improper hitching for plowing.Then there will be a tour of the labor saving exhibit.All plowing must be completed by 4 p.m.

The Ontario Milk Producer magazine printed this history of Bordens,reprinted in the newspaper. They sponsored Class 16 at the IPM after the war.The 1951 group photo instigated compiling of "The Oxford County Plow Boys and Girls".

S.Review, Wed.Oct.20, 1943

MILK MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN CANADA BEGAN AT BROWNSVILLE by H.G.Webster
Back in the 1880s, Brownsville, like many other progressive centres, had a cheese and butter plant.The Brownsville factory was one of a chain including Culloden,North Bayham,and Cambletown. In 1903, the Canadian Milk Products Company was organized in Toronto with B.A.Gould as president and general manager.The Brownsville plant was purchased and milk powder rollers installed.Thus began the first milk manufacturing plant in Canada, the first powder being made in the autumn of 1903.
In 1903 equipment was installed to make spray process powder.The business flourished particularly the war years,skim milk powder,butter,and sweet cream were sold.In 1920,the after war slump closed on industry and the Brownsville plant closed as a processing factory from September 1920 until May 1921.
At this time the C.M.P. amalgamated with the Merrell Soule Co. of Syracuse N.Y. but continued to operate under the name of C.M.P. from 1921 until 1928.During this period a large sweet cream trade was developed with the New York market.In 1928, the Borden Co. of New York bought over the C.M.P. division.In 1929, Brownsville was closed for manufacturing purposes and converted as a feeder station for the Tillsonburg and Belmont plants.
The New York market demanded the plant and farms to come under strict health inspection rules.All cows were regularly inspected by a licensed veterinarian.Milk houses and farm premises had to be standard construction and maintained according to rules.The patrons received a bonus of 15 cents per cwt.which amounted to over $15,000 yearly to plant patrons.
As a result of this training and the vigilance of plant manager M.H.Kerr,Brownsville plant patron of 1942-1943 produced first class quality milk that was unequalled by any milk manufacturing in the province.

Sentinel Review, Saturday, Oct.23, 1943 page 12 the women's page had a photo of Margaret Erb of Gadshill, the only girl who participated in the Oxford County Plowing Match.Winning third place in the open competition, she drove the team of Herb Cody, that won second prize.She has been in other competitions in the province, and is one of the many Ontario girls who are rendering valuable assistance on farms in 1943. Over 3000 spectators attended Oxford's First County wide Plow Match.Cars were lined up and down No.2 highway on both sides near Springbank Farm,along the roads leading back to the plowing field and there were several hundred cars inside the 30 acre field. Clarke Young, of Milliken, judge of the plowing, remarked that 22 years previous, the Provincial plowing match had been held near Woodstock and he had competed in the match with a team loaned by Mr.Dent. The ladies of Bonds U.F.W.O.had not anticipated such a huge crowd and were quickly sold out of hot dogs, sandwiches, and coffee.
Harry Blackman was the big winner-he won $10 for first prize in the class open to plowmen of Oxford,$10 for the Salada Tea Special for best land in jointer sod class,and $18 for the T.Eaton prize(winner in the largest class). The prize for the youngest plowman was won by nine year old Lloyd Alyea of Woodstock, who handled a two furrow plow on a tractor.

PRIZE WINNERS

Class1-sod,horse drawn,open to farmers outside Oxford- 1 R.G.Brown,Galt;  2 Elmer Armstrong, St.Paul's; 3 Margaret Erb,Gadshill; 4 Wilbert McFadden,Millbank;best crown and finish-R.G.Brown

Class2-sod,horse drawn,open to Oxford county plowmen-1 Harry Blackman,Ingersoll; 2 Murray Budd,Ingersoll; 3 Albert Roberts,Woodstock; 4 Fred Howard,Woodstock; 5 George Jakeman,Beachville; best crown-H.Blackman; best finish-Murray Budd

Class3-sod,horse drawn,for oxford plowman who have not competed in open matches- 1 Harvey Norrington,Woodstock; 2 Verne Cuthbert, Ingersoll; 3 Reuben Hyde,Beachville; 4 Fred Bertrand, Woodstock; 5 Max Franklin,Ingersoll; 6 Lorne Wilson,Ingersoll; best crown-R.Hyde,best finish,Harvey Norrington.

Class 4-sod, horse-drawn, Oxford boys, 20 years and under:- 1 James Heeney,Ingersoll; 2 Russell Carter,Woodstock; 3 George Dakin,Woodstock; best crown, J.Heeney; best finish, J.Heeney

Class 5-sod, horse-drawn, Oxford boys, 16 and under;- Raymond Sutton ,Innerkip

Class 6- horse-drawn, amateur class, first attempt for plowmen,20 years and over:- 1 Gordon Taylor,Woodstock; 2 James Lattimer,Woodstock; 3 Ed Lazenby,Woodstock; best crown,G.Taylor,best finish,J.Lattimer

Class 7- horse-drawn, amateur class, first attempt for plowmen, 19 years and under;- 1 Don McKay,Woodstock; 2 Jack Thompson,Woodstock; best crown and finish, Don McKay.

Class 8-Tractor plowing,sod,open class:- 1 Glen McFadden,Millbank; 2 J.Ferguson,Crotten; 3 John Welsh,Ayr; 4 Lorne Richardson,Woodstock; 5 Ken Rath,Mossley

Class 9-sod, tractor plowing,two furrow,residents of Oxford: 1 Jack Hargreaves,Beachville; 2 Gilbert Barron, Woodstock; 3 James Richardson,Woodstock; 4 E.M.Nethercott,Woodstock

Class 10-tractor plowing,three furrow,residents of Oxford:- 1 Harry Ellery,Mt.Elgin; 2 Ralph Swartout,Mt.Elgin; 3 Wilfred Gray,Woodstock.

Class 11-tractor plowing, two furrow,first attempt:- Lloyd Alyea,Woodstock(9 years old)

Best plow team: 1 Albert Roberts,Woodstock; 2 Herb Cody,Woodstock
Best team: 1 Murray Gray,Woodstock; 2 Frank Shelton,Woodstock; 3 W.W.Murray,Woodstock; 4 A.D.Robinson,Ingersoll
Best single horse-Murray Gray,Woodstock;Salada Tea Prize for best plowed land-Harry Blackman; T.Eaton prize,first in class with the largest entry-Harry Blackman;John Hargreaves prize,-best land by a beginner,-Donald McKay,Woodstock;Howard Lefler prize,best land with tractor-Jack Hargreaves,Beachville;George Calder prize for youngest plowman-Lloyd Alyea,Woodstock(9 years old).Oldest plowman,James Lattimer,Woodstock.

Ingersoll Sentinel Review, Nov.4th, 1943

Junior Farmers Hold Ninth Annual Plowing Contest

The ninth annual plowing match was held sponsored by the Ingersoll Junior Farmers Club was held yesterday at the farm of W.B.Blancher, West Oxford.Rain fell intermittently all day.Norman McLeod of Galt acted as judge.Refreshments were served by the West Oxford Young Peoples Society.Awards were won as follows: Oxford county junior trophies, Albert Roberts: Oxford County Farmers Club and Norman Shelton, Innerkip Club; best plow team, Max Franklin, youngest plowman, Cecil Batten. In the open class, Harry Blackman, Ingersoll; Albert Roberts and Norman Shelton were the winners with Harry Blackman winning the award for best crown and finish.
In the Junior Farmers class, for general plowing, Murray Budd and Cecil Howard, Ingersoll, won the awards, and for best crown and finish, Murray Budd.
In the class for 21 years and under, the awards went to Verne Cuthbert, Ingersoll;Russell Carter,Woodstock;James Heeney,Ingersoll,and Max Franklin,Ingersoll.
Best crown,Verne Cuthbert,best finish,Max Franklin. In the 17 years and under class, Don McKay won for best crown and finish. In the 10 inch tractor class,the winners were Ken Rath,Ralph Swartout,and Murray McBeth,while in the 12 inch tractor class the winners were Jack Hargreaves and Harry Ellery.In the amateur class,winners were Gordon Sandick,Frank Caffyn,and Cecil Batten.

Annual Meeting of Oxford Plowmen

At the Annual Meeting of the Oxford County Plowmen held Dec.11th, 1943, the match at the Dent farm was claimed outstanding of all plowing matches.It was just like a provincial match.
A.D.Robinson motioned, seconded by J.R.Hargreaves that secretary G.R.Green write to each township and asked them to appoint a representative and that twenty men be appointed directors.

Wilfred Grenzebach moved up as president,Harper Hammond,Route 8,Woodstock,vice president.The twenty-two directors nominated were:

John Hargreaves,R.R.1,Beachville-West Oxford
Murray Gray,R.R.1,Beachville-West Oxford
E.V.Kennedy,Oxford Centre-East Oxford
Norman Shelton,Woodstock,R.R.7-East Zorra
Jas.Livesey,Woodstock,R.R.2-Blandford
Ben Ball,Woodstock,R.R.5-Blandford
Doug Start,Curries,East Oxford
George Innes,Woodstock,R.R.4-East Oxford
Murray Armstrong,Oxford Centre,East Oxford
H.E.Longworth,Woodstock,East Oxford
Fred Howard,Woodstock,R.R.3-West Zorra
Albert Roberts,Woodstock,R.R.2-Blandford
E.M.Nethercott,Woodstock,R.R.1-West Oxford
A.D.Robinson,Ingersoll,R.R.4-West Oxford
Fred Bertrand,Woodstock,R.R.3-East Zorran
Ralph Swartout,Salford,R.R.1-Dereham
Irving Gehring,Otterville,R.R.2-South Norwich
Sam Banbury,Burgessville,R.R.1-North Norwich
Bill Sutherland,Thamesford,R.R.3-West Zorra
George Matheson,Thamesford,R.R.3-East Nissouri
Alex Muir,Woodstock,R.R.3-East Zorra
Calvin McKay,Lakeside,R.R.3-East Nissouri

The treasury book then listed 24 directors (including president and vice president) for the year 1944.