Rebecca (Culbert) Whiteford - Oldest Woman in the Exeter Old Home Week Parade

Rebecca Ann (Culbert) Whiteford (born about 1845) was the daughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward. For a full biography of Rebecca, click here.

When they retired in 1907, Rebecca and her husband, William Whiteford moved to Exeter, Ontario, Canada.
 

Exeter is about 20 km (13 miles) north of Lucan, Ontario.

If you're a descendant of John Culbert & Mary Ward, you have relatives who lived in Exeter. 

Residents of Lucan often went shopping in Exeter. Exeter offered a variety of stores, and it was closer than driving to London.

Main Street, Exeter in 1916.

The summer of 1935 was an exciting time for Exeter. The town was celebrating a "Century of Progress." It was over 100 years since the first settler built the first log cabin.

The Founding of Exeter. Photo by Alan L. Brown at Ontario's Historical Plaques.

A year ahead of the "Old Home Week" event, invitations began going out all over the world. Exeter's "Old Boys and Girls" were invited to attend "Old Home Week" from July 27-31, 1935. 

Even the local businesses got caught up in the excitement. This hair salon advertisement invites you to "Look your best for Old Home Week with a Shelton Permanent Wave"...

This schedule promised five days of entertainment including music, dancing, a baseball tournament, horse races, a street carnival, a fiddlers' contest, and fireworks...

A highlight was a Grand Parade of floats, cars, and calithumpians on Monday, July 29th.

The photo below shows some of Exeter's aged residents who took part in the parade.

Among the most enthusiastic of Exeter Old Home Week were some of Exeter's aged and esteemed residents who appeared in the parade on Monday ... No. 5: Mrs. Wm. Whiteford, aged 91, oldest woman in parade.

A closer look...
 

Rebecca (Culbert) Whiteford, oldest woman in the Exeter Old Home Week Parade.

The following is a truncated description of the "Monster Parade." Rebecca (Culbert) Whiteford won the prize for oldest woman, along with James Handford, age 96, who won the prize for oldest man.

Highlights of Old Home Week:

It sounds like a good time was had by all!

Click here to read more about Rebecca (Culbert) Whiteford and here to read about her children.