1943:

O.A. Burley Proves Santa’s Helper with Useful Toys

Picton has a small toy making industry of which few are aware. True, it is only a one-man shop, but a lot of good articles have been turned out, finding ready sale not only locally but in Toronto and Belleville.

Proprietor, manager and staff is O. A. Burley, who despite his 81 years, still enjoys his hobby of making useful things.

In these days of shortage of metals, there is a demand for wooden toys and Mr. Burley is proving a real Santa Claus.

Small wagons, wooden animals attached to carts, ambulances, etc. all nicely painted are, turned out by Mr. Burley in the basement of his home.

Mr. Burley finds orders almost too great to fill but is doing his best to help make the children happy by providing these useful toys. His success suggests the possibility of a co-operative effort where war-time toys might be produced.

1983:

County wrangles over computer

With many councillors admitting their ignorance of computers, county council split over a last-minute request by the roads committee for authorization to buy the roads department a word processor and related equipment.

Some councillors felt a needs study was in order, but the majority side stepped the question of need and based their approval on the availability of government subsidies.

County Engineer Steven Carroll said it is not a “magic machine or anything. It replaces a typewriter and it has (memory) storage capacity.”

Hillier deputy Reeve Clare McFaul was concerned the purchase was premature. He felt council should consider it longer, “even if it means losing our subsidy.”

But Wellington Reeve William Green said council should take advantage of the subsidy since it already has a computer.

“The workload, especially in planning, has become almost unreal. I thought the request would have come from planning because we’re all going really crazy there.”