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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1971-08-26, Page 16DINING OUT IS A PLEASURE AT THE Dufferin Hotel CENTRALIA Live Entertainment FRIDAY & SATURDAY THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT ODDS 'N ENDS * STARTING SUN., AUG. 29 Open for Sunday Dinners 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Specializing In Canadian Roast Beef Children's Portions Available A Very Large Menu From Which To Choose Your Favorite Dish EVERY MONDAY Steak Dinner Buy One At $1.99 And Get The Second For Only One Penny Includes Potato, Vegetable and Beverage Daily Businessman's SPECIAL $ 1. 25 DINING ROOM OPEN MON.TO SAT, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. AND 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Closed on Sundays until further notice: Take Out Orders — Phone 228-6648 Club Albatross Huron Industrial Park Phone 228-6733 Enjoy Summer With An Evening of Fun and the Finest in DINING AND DANCING Every Friday & Saturday AL HARVEY AND THE RUEBOYS Try Our Delicious CHICKEN-IN-A-BASKET We'll See You After THE AIR SHOW for the MOLSON AWARDS - Nature takes years to create what some men destroy in a few minutes "It kind of burns me up to see a man destroy in about five minutes what it took nature years and years to create," says Earl Dixon, semi-retired farmer living in Centralia, as he gazes up at a majestic hard maple in the thick of one of his two bushes, Rubbing his hand along the trunk he continues, "I don't say a tree should never be cut down but it annoys me when a fellow slashes down his bush with no thought of replacing the trees for future generations. "Some people just can't see ahead of their noses," he adds with disgust. Future generations on the Dixon farm, which is situated four and a half miles south west of the village, won't have to worry about not having trees, Earl's made sure there will be a sugar bush to tap and logs to cut for lumber for many years to come. The Dixons own two 20 acre bushes, one of which is made up of mature trees, Each spring Earl anti his son Douglas, who lives on 'the farm with his wife and three boys, tap the hard maples and every four or five years they harvest the trees that have ripened to maturity. Always they make sure new trees are coming along to fill the gaps, The other bush has been fenced up for around forty years. When Mr. Dixon took it over from his uncle "it had only big trees in it and I knew if we cut them down or let the cattle into it there would soon be no bush." Now, it's full of thousands of sturdy young maples, oak, basswood and many other kinds of trees. "I won't see the day when these young maples will be tapped but my grandchildren will," he says as he looks over the saplings and glances fondly at his nine year old grandson, Jeff, who has joined him in a walk through the thick woods. A hike through the bush with Mr. Dixon as guide is a study of nature as he points out trees he's been watching grow for many years. Looking at a huge towering, oak which measures around 34 inches in diameter he says, "I'd say that fellow's been growing there for at least 200 years." Young Jeff and this reporter stare in wonder. He talks about the trees like they were old friends. "See that young maple over there. I saved his life in 1939. A neighbor, working with me in the bush one day, was going to cut the little fellow down but I stopped him. He snapped out his ruler tape and measured the trunk. "About 22 inches across now — he's grown fast. We've been tapping him for several years." As the walk continues through the dense growth which, dappled with sunlight, resembles an enchanted forest he explains, "A man can make good interest on his money through proper management of his bush by cutting ripe trees and selling the logs, while allowing others to mature and produce seed for future trees, and by tapping his hard maples. At the same time the trees are holding the moisture level up on the land, Every time a bush is cut down the water level drops. As an extra bonus he can have the trees to look at to enjoy their beauty. "I've always liked the bush — someday I'll build a little cottage out here for me and my wife to come to." Mr. Dixon has taken part of his bush into his retirement home which he built in Centralia about five years ago. A hundred years ago it was the usual thing to build a house out of the lumber hewed on the owner's property but it's not common practice now. However, Earl was determined to use as much wood as he could from his bush.. The result is gleaming ash floors, solid oak window frames and sills, ruddy cherry stair railings, a glowing walnut room divider, basswood cupboards and beautifully grained butternut trim. All this beauty straight from the Dixon bush. Well, not quite straight from the bush. It took about five years to collect the choice planks which Earl planed at his own sawmill. These planks were stripped for a year, that is, piled with strips of wood in between to let the air pass through. Next, they were hauled to a factory to be kiln dried for about a month and consequently moved to the Exeter Furniture Plant for shaving and smoothing. Besides the lumber used in the house the home is graced with coffee and end tables and desks made in solid walnut or oak which Mr. Dixon constructs during the winter. Using com- binations of dark and light wood he has designed many attractive lamp bases as well. He says he enjoys working with the wood almost as much as he does looking at the trees it comes from. Joyce Kilmer may have penned the lines, "I think that I shall never see a thing as lovely as a tree," but they're Earl Dixon's sentiments exactly. Trying to span a giant oak which towers to the sky and is at least 200 years old are Jeff and his grandfather. Mr. Dixon believes a bush can make good interest on a farmer's investment if it is properly managed. Planks produced from the bush were carefully fashioned to make this beautifully grained, solid walnut room divider. M rs. Dixon shares her husband's love for trees and the lumber that comes from them. Fy "You'll tap this tree when you're forty, Jeff," says Mr. Dixon as he measures a young hard maple growing in one of his two bushes. A conservationist, he hates to see trees destroyed or cut down needlessly. Over 30 years ago Earl Dixon stopped another man from cutting down this tree which was then about six inches in diameter. He's been tapping the tree for the past several springs. CANADIAN AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS ".1 Grandson Glenn Dixon from Grimsby likes to turn out lamp bases and candle holders when he's visiting. Here, he shows his grandfather his latest piece of work. Samples of Mr. Dixon's creativity are in the foreground. ThoUsands of young trees are growing. for future generations, 4iraaaffniate BEAN ° 0 IN ZURICH SAT. 41,161416r28" ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT NOON ROME COOKED BEANS FAMOUS STREET MARKET Dance In The Arena Friday Night Bean Queen Contest easskamoiti ealeodainoteate iffitkarait lo4 ki44 IE SURE TO VISIT GREEN ACRES Competition 10 AM -2 PM • Al R SHOW starts 2 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY AUG. 28 & 29 Huron Air Park, Centralia, Ontario Admission- (Flying or Driving) • Adults $2 Children 504 Sponsored by The Canadian Aerobatic Foundation and Experimental Aircraft Association Sanctioned by The International Aerobatic Club f101-rial.d..