HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-02-11, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016.
McNeil, Gray team to restore historic Brussels sign
THE FOUN r i
4CS: fir�`SELS
In 1854 William Ainlihy: puri a , wir hundred acres of
land here ell the Middle13raneh of the Maitland River.
The following year he laid out a village pint which he
named Ainleyville Apost office named Dingle was opened
in 1856 The community flourished and by 18h5 contained
a sawmill; a grist -mill, blacksmith shops. a woollen mill
and several other small industries. In anticipation of the
rapid growth that the expected construction of a branch
of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway would bring,
Ainleyville, with a population of 780, was incorporated
as a village and renamed Brussels on December 24,
1872. Within a decade the population had increased
to about 1,800.
t +.d Ar 6. A....1.0ml and Hr.66.&n.. L.K.
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Back in action
After a bit of a rough ride, the historic sign celebrating the founding of Brussels has been
restored to like -new condition thanks to Brussels residents Don McNeil, left, and Peter Gray.
The men took on the project after the sign suffered a catastrophic lawn -mowing accident and
was badly damaged. The pair presented the sign back to Huron East Council at its Feb. 2
meeting, hoping it would soon take its rightful place by the Brussels Library once again. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
A legal matter was put to rest at
Huron East Council's Feb. 2
meeting, as a historic piece of
municipal property was finally
returned.
Mayor Bernie MacLellan joked
about the return of a historic sign
being a "legal matter" when Brussels
residents Don McNeil and Peter
Gray presented the historic sign
commemorating the founding of the
village back to the municipality after
it had undergone significant
improvements, including welding
and hand -painting.
Months ago a lawn mowing
accident, McNeil told councillors,
led to significant damage to the
sign's metal structure.
McNeil and Gray took it upon
themselves to refurbish the piece of
history, Gray through his welding
talents and McNeil through his
painting abilities.
Gray fixed significant damage to
the sign, while McNeil spent dozens
of hours hand -painting, over 50
hours in total, to bring the sign back
to its glory years.
While the pair weren't looking for
recompense at the meeting, McNeil
said he hoped to have his expenses
covered, with perhaps an additional
$250 of "beer money".
MacLellan thanked the men for
their hard work and initiative in
taking on the project and said
reimbursing McNeil was the least
the municipality could do.
The sign will soon be returned to
its home location, beside the newly -
renovated Brussels Library.
In his letter to council, McNeil
joked that he would hold the sign for
"ransom" until he was paid for
expenses. He also jokingly requested
a tax write-off for Gray, as payment
for the time the two spent together in
Gray's welding shop.
Council approved compensating
McNeil without the passing of a
motion. Chief Administrative
Officer Brad Knight said staff could
simply take care of footing the bill
and paying the men.
Bolger recounts
baking challenge
Continued from page 19
didn't help those concerns, Bolger
said, as the bakers are whisked away
after they have finished cooking.
"They taste and judge and you're
not there so you don't know until
you are brought back out," she said.
For Bolger, a former make-up
artist, being in front of the cameras
was a completely different
experience.
"I don't think I've ever done
anything like that before," she said.
"I've worked on competition shows
doing make-up, and live TV doesn't
scare me, but having to make those
products in such a short time was
tough. You do the best you can."
Bolger said she and Thompson
were working on cupcakes and
finished with less than 10 seconds
left.
"Sharon was cutting the fondant
hearts and I was throwing them on
the cupcakes and time was running
out," she said. "It was difficult, and it
was a challenge especially because I
haven't been on a baking
competition like that before."
Bolger's episode of Sugar
Showdown is available to view
online on the Food Network Canada.
For more information, visit
thepinkflamingobakery.com or look
for the Pink Flamingo Bakery and
Boutique on Facebook.
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