535-03 Page 144rank R. Flood Retires Just Shcrt of 50°ar�
Tillsonyburg Postmaster To Conclude Servic
TILLSONBURG, Jan. 17 —
Frank Roland Flood, a lifelong
resident of Tillsonburg and dis-
trict who has been postmaster
in Tillsonburg since November
17, 1948, retires tomorrow just
a few months short of 50 years
service in the postal depart-
ment.
P ♦ R
Mr, Fined is the eighth man
to hold the postmaster's posi-
tion since the post office was
established in Tillsonburg 116
years ago.
Since Mr. Flood entered the
Festal service department on
June21, 1907, he has been with
the local office and took over
as. acting postmaster in Novem-
ber, 1948, when his predecessor,
W. Wilfred McGuire, died. His
appointment as postmaster was
,made retroactive to November
17, 1948, some months after he
took over the reins as acting
postmaster.
r
Succeeding Mr. Flood as head
of the local post office is J. O.
Cairns, London, who has been a
member of the staff at London
Post Office for many years,
Mr. Flood is a life lodge
member of King Hiram Lodge
No. 79, A.F. and A.M., Tillson-
burg, and has been with the
lodge for about 32 years. He has
been a member of the Tillson-
burg Lawn Bowling Club for
more than 40 years, although In
recent years has not been able
to devote much time to his fav-
orite hobby. He intends to pur-
sue his lawn bowling activities
as a full time member as from
today.
Tillsonburg Postmaster Frank Flood took his last
stint at sorting yesterday. He retires today after 50
years _ job. (Photo by Seldon).
He has also taken a keen in-
terest in other sports, including
hockey and baseball. He was
several times secretary of the
old Pan Drieds Hockey Club
and has regularly attended local
hockey and baseball games. He
was also president of the lawn
bowling club for several years.
Frank Flood was born in a
tiny hamlet of South Middleton
on January 19, 1892. South Mid-
dleton was a typical four -corner
Intersection with a post office,
general store and a few other
buildings used as homes, and
business establishments, from
time to time.
P
His father, William Flood,
f2rnKd in that area several
This huge office and store building taking shape at the corner of Broadway and
Rikut streets in Tillsonburg, will house a Woolworth department store on the first
floor, while offices will occupy the second floor. A large new addition has also been
started to Livingston Wood Manufacturing Co. Ltd., on Tillson avenue. (Photos by
Seldon)
years before moving to Tillson-
burg. The family later moved
to the country again, only to
return to the town a few years
later. Besides Frank, the family
consisted of a sister and broth-
er, both of whom died some
time ago.
• r +
Mr. Flood attended public
schools in Middleton Township
and Tillsonburg. He went to
work at an early age, and ap-
plied for a job in Tillsonburg
post cffice when he was just
15. William McGuire, postmas-
ter at the time, hired the young
applicant.
"At the time I applied for the
job, I figured the job tempo-
rary" recalls Mr. Flood. "I was
looking for any kind of work
and I didn't dream at the time
that I world be with the de-
partment for nearly 50 years."
He recalls that at the time he
started in the post office, there
were just a postmaster and two
clerks to serve Tillsonburg and
the surrounding area. Now the
local poet office has seven full
time employees in addition to
the postmaster, plus many part
time helpers during the rush
season.
P
The Tillsonburg Post Office
serves, besides the residents of
the town, 800 boxes and approx-
imately 90o families on six rural
routes. The post office moved
to its modern present location
on November 15, 1954.
• • r
During the 118-year history
e Today
of the Tillsonburg Postoffice,
there have been eight men who
held the top job. Benjamin Van
Norman, who was also the first
warden of Oxford County, took
over when the service was in-
augurated.
The post office staff present-
ed Mr. Flood with an engraved
wrist watch at a dinner in the
Arlington Hotel. Miss Eva Bar-
rie' made the presentation on
behalf of the staff and the re-
cipient expressed his apprecia-
tion.
♦ r ♦
Following Friday, his last of-
ficial working day, Mr. Flood
says he plans to take it easy
and travel a bit although he ham
made no definite plans. He will
continue to make his home at 1
88 Harvey street, Tillsonburg.
With several large projects under way the value of new construction in Tillsonburg
is within a few thousand dollars of the million mark. Here the new Bell Telephone i dial exchange structure rises on Harvey street.
Letter Adds Three Years
To Tillsonburg Fair Age
TILLSONBURG, Oct. 9 — A for the gates along with a, v
letter from the Ontario.Depart- plaque and the grant would Ff f
e
come along so the gates couldp
ment of Agriculture read at a�be officially opened at the 1958�-,
onto..
regular meeting of the Tlllson- fair. The letter' from Tor
burg District Agricultural So- said the local society was;.,.
ciely added three years to its formed in 1854 an e r eIdl�.4`�
history making it 103 years old on Rolp street was listed In -
instead of l0eare_oo d. It also their records as Dercham Fair
cleared up a misunderstanding which was quite correct. Till -
when the usual $1,000 grant was sonburg was Incorporated as a
not received from the Depart- town in 1872 hit -in 1865 It was
ment of Agriculture to erect) elevated of the dignity of a
centennial stone gates. police village and previous to
The letter authnrizrd local that date had been known ms
lrectore to prneerd with planIDercham.. Force