Clinton Park turns 100, Queen sends special greetings

Ken Johnston
Editor

Everyone wants to live to be 100, but very few can say they have made it to that incredible milestone.
Rainy River’s Clinton Park is one of those people. He turned 100 last Friday and woke up to a special sign in his front yard. His son-in-law, René Hogue made him a Happy 100th sign featuring a horse and buggy on it!
Couple the fact that Clinton has reached this milestone in the same year that Rainy River is celebrating its 100th birthday and the party thrown in his honour on Saturday at the United Church had extra special meaning.
Unlike many people who reach 100, Clinton is not living in a old folks home and is not unable to do the things he likes to do. In fact he still makes the daily walk up town from his 2nd Street home to get the mail for his household and René and Carolee Hogue’s household. He also still shovels his own snow, has been seen climbing ladders to put up Christmas decorations and has wielded a hammer in recent years to help make home improvements at the Hogue home on 3rd St.
On Saturday many members of his and wife Doris’ family were joined by many Rainy River residents at a come and go tea celebrating his birthday.
His granddaughter Lori (nee Park) Dewar was Master of Ceremonies. She read a card from Queen Elizabeth and a letter from Canada’s Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. Both offered congratulations and Clarkson commented on how many things Park must have seen in the past 100 years. “You have seen hemlines go up, down and back up again. You have seen horse and buggies replaced by automobiles and seen man go to the moon.”
Clinton’s grandson Gary Park wrote a poem about his grandpa. It spoke of how amazed everyone is to see him out shoveling snow and doing so many of the things that he does at his age. “It has been a glorious 100 years and we love you grandpa.”
Rainy River’s Deputy Mayor, Larry Armstrong, presented Clinton with a special certificate recognizing his milestone, noting that there will likely be more pomp and circumstance around Clinton at the official centennial celebrations in August.
Carolyn Kreger lead everyone in the singing of “Happy Birthday” to Clinton.
Then Clinton and Doris officially cut his birthday cake which was made by his granddaughter Anne-Marie Hogue. It was decorated as a one hundred dollar bill, but featured Clinton’s photo on it.
The afternoon saw many people visiting and sharing memories of the past 10 to 100 years with the guest of honour.