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WATER/SEWER

Blyth’s first water lines were installed in 1906 for fire protection only.

Steam pumps supplied pressure for the system, which drew water from Blyth Brook.

That steam pressure was also used to power a sawmill on the west side of Queen Street, which was owned by Livingstons, then later the Geddeses.

In 1947, village residents rejected a call for a town water supply. However, a residential water system did arrive in 1953, at almost twice the cost had the job been done six years previously.

The system came from the Radar School in Clinton. The water storage tanks were made of wood and had a problem with leaks.

The installation of a large underground tank and the drilling of more wells was one of the last jobs supervised by William (Billy) Thuell who had run the water and electric system in Blyth for 53 years, beginning in 1919.

After provincial concerns over water quality and safety struck in 2000, the Blyth water system included a chlorinator for the first time in its history.

Other upgrades were also made at that time, at a cost of $450,000.

The waste treatment plant was constructed in the early 1980s with almost all homes in the village now using the sewer system rather than septic tanks.

BLYTH'S FIRST WATER LINES INSTALL IN 1906 FOR FIRE PROTECTION

Blyth’s first water lines were installed in 1906 for fire protection only.

Steam pumps supplied pressure for the system, which drew water from Blyth Brook.

ST. MICHAEL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Begun in Morris Twp. (now Morris-Turnberry), in 1852, St. Michael’s congregation moved to Blyth in 1876, when the congregation outgrew the confines of the original log church.

It had begun on the 7th line with the arrival of John Kelly and his family. The first services were held in the Kelly home with masses conducted by Father Wassereau of Ashfield.

The original log church and cemetery were built on Kelly’s land. The cemetery still remains on St. Michael’s Road.

Prior to the move, services were also conducted by Fathers Arnsboro, Cummons and McGraw of St. Columban Church.

St. Michael’s was constructed on Drummond Street, in Blyth in 1876. The total cost was approximately $4,000.

The official opening for divine service at St. Michael’s took place on Feb. 11, 1877. Bishop Jamot of Sault Ste. Marie led the service.

In 1880, St. Michael’s joined the newly-formed parish in St. Augustine. The following priests served the parish: Father O’Connor, 1880-1884; Father West, 1884-1889; Father McGee, 1889-1892; Father Quigley, 1892-1896; Father McKeown, 1896-1899 and Father McMenamin, 1899-1901.

In that year, the Blyth and Clinton parishes were joined by Bishop F. P. McEvay with Father McMenamin as the first resident priest in Clinton.

Father Pinsonneault served from 1903 to 1905, Father Hanlon from 1905 to 1910 and Father Dunn from 1910 until his death in the influenza epidemic of 1913.

Father Dunn was known for his wit and humour. In response to a very meager collection on one extremely cold and blustery winter day, one of the few parishioners who had braved the weather commented to Father Dunn that there weren’t many out. To that, Father Dunn said, “And those who were out weren’t out very much.”

Father John Hogan arrived in 1913, followed by Father  Bart Gaffney in 1921 who did much to break down the barriers of religious prejudice.

During Father  McDonald’s 12 years, many improvements were made in the parish.

Other priests were: Father  O’  Rurke, 1932-1934; Father  Sullivan, 1934-1953; Father  Graham, 1953-1958; Father  Reed Lewis, 1958-1962 (died in a car accident); Father  McGuire, 1962-1965; Father  Kelly, 1965-1972; Father  McMaster, 1972-1974; Father J. Hardy, 1974-1980; Father  John Pluter, 1980; Father Ray Renaud, Father Mark Poulin and Father Dino Salvador.

In the fall of 2001, St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s in Clinton marked the 100th anniversary as a joined parish. A special mass, presided over by Bishop Grecco of the London diocese, was held at St. Joseph’s. In 2001 the two congregations shared Father Lance Magdziak as their priest.

Christmas 2004 marked the final service held at St. Michael’s Church. The congregation, which numbered about 20 in the church’s final days, was combined with St. Joseph’s, but by June 2007 that church too was closed.

St. Michael’s was demolished soon after its closure.

The Catholic Women’s League was formed in 1952 and was very active in the community during the remainder of the years the church was in operation..

Begun in Morris Twp. (now Morris-Turnberry), in 1852, St. Michael’s congregation moved to Blyth in 1876, when the congregation outgrew the confines of the original log church.

BLYTH SCHOOLS....

The first schools for Blyth students were much like the rural schools, which first educated students in all of Ontario. They were ill-ventilated, one-room log structures with little more than a teacher’s slant-front desk, box-stove or Quebec stove and benches for the students.

In the beginning Blyth students attended schools located in Morris or East Wawanosh. Unfortunately it is difficult to tell exactly where the local students were going.

SS No. 1 Morris included the eastern half of the village. When the first village school was opened SS No 1 moved one and a half miles east and became known as Ebenezer School after the Methodist Church across the road.

SS No. 10 East Wawanosh was opened in 1860 and its second teacher was George Quinn of Blyth who taught there from 1865 to 1875.

The first truly Blyth school was the result of a petition of Dr. Alex Thomson and others asking the council of East Wawanosh for the establishment of a union school in 1867. It was on Dinsley Street in the Orange Lodge building. It was probably not opened until 1868 at the earliest, as the petition is reported to have been made in August.

The history of Blyth compiled for the centennial celebrations reported that the new school was a one-storey frame building, 30 feet by 40 feet, seating 100 students. This was replaced by a new frame school on the hill at the north end of town.

According to The Huron Expositor that school was superceded by a $2,200, three-room, brick structure on the same property in 1877. At that time Mrs. Lovatt was added to a teaching staff consisting of James Scott and Joshua Tenant. She was paid the princely sum of $250 for her work.

By 1895 the school on the hill had become too small and it was decided to build a new school at the site of the old fair grounds. The old school was later transformed into an apartment building.

In 1910 a continuation (secondary) school was added to the system and Blyth students no longer left town to continue their education.

The 1920s brought a need to expand the facilities and in 1923 a two-storey addition was added to the school with the second floor being dedicated to the activities of the continuation school. A room specifically designed for science classes was part of the new addition.

In 1946 it was decided to close the continuation school and students were bused to Clinton to further their education.

The school got a new lease on life in 1958 when one of the downstairs classrooms was remodeled to serve as Blyth's first kindergarten. However, by 1965 the building was considered beyond repair and was condemned.

The decision to build the new school on the same property just north of the old building caused some controversy as it was felt the playground might be too small for the number of students attending.

The new school did initially face some crowding problems but recent years have seen a decline in population which had the school examined for possible closure in the last year.The first schools for Blyth students were much like the rural schools, which first educated students in all of Ontario. They were ill-ventilated, one-room log structures with little more than a teacher’s slant-front desk, box-stove or Quebec stove and benches for the students.

In the beginning Blyth students attended schools located in Morris or East Wawanosh. Unfortunately it is difficult to tell exactly where the local students were going.

RUTABAGAS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED FROM BLYTH SINCE

While other industries have come and gone, rutabagas which have long played a part in Blyth’s history are bigger than ever.