50th Anniversary Celebration Was a Grand Success!

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Sowers, an Ontario founding fathers who operated a barbershop, said the two asked him to talk to people about becoming a village.
 

 "We would not be here if it weren't for Rolla Elliott and Roy Mitchell, and nothing has ever been done for those two men in this village," Sowers said. "We have all kinds of buildings and streets and  everything named after other people, but not those two men. ... Those two men spent  their time, their money, everything else they could think of, to get the village started."

On June 25, 1958, a special election for incorporation took place. Only landowners could vote.

Stumbo said the early days were challenging.

"We didn't have any money. We didn't have a bank account. We didn't have a credit rating. We had absolutely nothing," he said.

Stumbo joked about his days presiding over the mayor's court he formed.

"It was a good thing I was watching 'Perry Mason' at the time," he said.

The village's first police cruiser was a Ford stationwagon lent to the village.

"At bid opening, lo and behold there was not one General Motors car," he said.

Stumbo said he was paid $100 a month for the part-time job.

He noted GM helped develop the community, flying in seven of its top engineers to answer questions about everything from sanitary sewers to infrastructure in 1959.

Stumbo recognized many leaders -- including Elliott, Mitchell, Sowers, Cleo Taylor and Bill Naylor. Mayor Ken Bender presented honorees with an engraved clock.

The celebration continues today at 10:30 a.m. with a parade in Marshall Park. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., there's a "Party in the Park" sponsored by the Ontario Growth Association. The celebration ends with fireworks at 8:45 p.m.