The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 29e 9 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973
NEW CHURCH - One of Exeter's newest churches is the Bethel Reformed Church on Huron St. east. It was built in 1961.
Retarded workshop underway
First service
was in Dutch
By H. DeVRIES
In October of 1951, a group of
New Canadians from Holland had
a Church Service in their native
tongue in the basement of James
Street United Church.
This service was led by Mr.
C.M. Eelman who was field man
for the Reformed Church of
America, The Reformed Church
in Holland had asked the
American Reformed Church to
look after the spiritual welfare of
the New Canadians arriving from
Holland,
After a month, this group
moved to the Legion Hall and
used this building for their
church services until November
of 1953. At this time, they were
invited by the Main Street United
Church to use their building.
During these years, the group
was very active; looking after
new arrivals' housing and work.
They would stay with another
family until their own furniture
arrived and Mr. Eelman would
be their translator when they
applied for jobs. Later an
apartment was rented and fur-
nished for this purpose.
The group organized them-
selves as a congregation of The
Reformed Church on July 7, 1952
in the Legion Hall. This meeting
was attended by Reformed
Church Dignitaries from
Michigan, Rev. J. Van Kuiken
from Holland and Rev. D, Sin-
clair of Caven Presbyterian
Church in Exeter,
The first church board con-
sisted of: Elders - B,H. Van
Steeg, John Bregman, and M.L.
Dykstra; Deacons -P. Van Arkel,
S. Dykstra and A, Witteveen.
The Reformed Church stayed
as Guests in Main Street United
Church until November 1961.
Ground was broken in the
spring of 1961 for a church
building on Huron Street, East.
This building was dedicated on
November 21 and a community
Night Service was held on
November 24. At this time Rev.
R. Van Farrowe was the pastor of
the congregation while on the
church board were: Elders - J.H.
Broeze, L. Dykstra and G.J.
Nagel; Deacons - John Bregman,
Fred Kleinhaar and H. DeVries,
Treasurer.
On the Building Committee
served - Rev. R. Van Farrowe,
G.J. Nagel, John Bruls, H.
Brand, Sr., W. Van Amerongen,
G. Wynja and H. DeVries.
Similarly, as this congregation
was helped by Main Street
Church, they also opened their
doors for the Baptist Church to
use their building until their new
church building was completed.
Two sons of the Congregation
have entered the Ministry. Rev.
S. Wilts, who is pastor in
Harriston Ontario and Rev.
Simon Nagel, who, after working
as a printer at the Exeter Times
Advocate, decided to become a
minister and is now pastor in
Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A new parsonage was built
across from the church in 1969
and at the time, this was written
is occupied by Rev. F. Verheul
who is helping the congregation
out until the arrival of their new
pastor, Rev. H. Van Essen on
July 1. '
During the years, the ministers
of Bethel Reformed Church have
been:
Exeter Times-Advocate Feb 16,
1933
Mr. Bryn Cousins WAS heard
over the radio from C.J.G.C.,
London, during the Monday Night
Hour singing a couple of solos,
By MRS. ALMA GODBOLT
In the fall of 1967 Mrs. Don
Purdy, now corresponding
secretary moved from London to
this district and brought with her
a background of service to the
London Association.
In November 1967 she
presuaded Mr. Frank Wilkinson,
then Public School Inspector for
South Huron to bring forward to
the public the idea that those
who, in our area were mentally
handicapped, deserved the help
of the community at large.
In contact with many other
people of the District, who were
also sympathetic to the same
cause, he organized an ad Hoc
committee to sample public
opinion. The response was in-
stantaneous and overwhelming.
In January 1968 South Huron
and District Association for the
Mentally Retarded was formed
with Ron Heimrich now of
Newmarket as the first
President. Vice presidents were
Ivan Sharrow and Mrs. G. R.
Godbolts; corresponding
secretary, Mrs. Don Purdy;
recording secretary, Mrs.
Charles Smith; treasurer, Mrs.
George Dobbs.
Other members of the first
Board of Directors were Rev. A.
C, Blackwell, Walter Fydenchuk,
Douglas Gould, Raymond
Hartman, Mrs. James Kneale,
Harold Knight and Terry
McCauley.
The first task was to form a
school. This was accomplished
despite many problems and
difficulties. The school named
Huron Hope was shifted from
place to place and at last a
suitable location was found at the
J, A. D. McCurdy scliool in Huron
Park.
The County Board of Education
took over the administration of
the day school in September 1969.
Then a pre-school Huron Hope
Nursery was started, Through
the generous assistance of the
local Alhambra Caravan, the
nursery is located now in the
former St. Damien School south
of Grand Bend. •
In April of 1971, the Nursery
became licenced and therefore
was eligible to receive an 80
percent Provincial Operating
grant with the home municipality
of each child helping to defray
balance of the expense.
So from nursery to age 21, those
handicapped physically or by
mental retardation are given
assistance.
The third group needing the
assistance of the Association is
the handicapped adult. Many of
these people never attended
school, some of course, have a
limited experience, but many
have never been away from
home.
It is these people that the
Association has now dedicated
their efforts in the establishment
of a workshop and rehabilitation
centre which will be known as
A.R.C. Industries (Adult
Rehabilitation Centre).
In 1972 through the generosity
of Dashwood Industries Ltd., the
property in Dashwood, being the
former planing mill was
acquired by the Association.
One of the buildings was
declared surplus, sold and is now
occupied by Tillotson Plastics
Ltd. formerly of Toronto,
The centre part of the old
complex has been torn down to
make way for some additions and
a grassed area. The steel storage
building will be remodelled to
house the Workshop, the new
section being washrooms, offices,
cafeteria, library etc.
Work is now underway and it is
expected that completion will be
by early September.
An integral part of the
Association is a group of teen-
agers, known as Y.A.C.M.R.,
"Youth Across Canada with
Mentally Retarded," who are a
powerhouse of strength. It is to
these young people that the
Association turns for help in
conducting various recreational
and service projects. They are
competent, willing, eager and
very successful in their efforts
to assist.
Rev. C.M. gelman, 1951-1952
I.C. Rottenburg, Student Pastor,
Summer of 1953
Rev. Carl J. Schroeder, 1953-1955
John Moerman, Student Pastor,
Summer of 1956
Rev. Richard Van Farrowe, 1956-
1965
• Rev. Harmen Heeg, 1965-1972
Rev. F. Verheul, 1973
Rev, A. C. Blackwell, Zurich is
now president of the Association
with vice presidents Bill Gilfillan
and Doug Riddell; corresponding
secretary Mrs. Don Purdy;
recording secretary Mrs.
Lawrence Wein; treasurer, Mrs.
Harry Klungel.
Other members of the Board of
Directors are Mrs. Carfrey Cann,
Mrs. G.R.Godbolt, Mrs. N.
Hemingway, Louis De Kort, Mrs.
J. Kneale, Mrs. J. Nychay, Bruce
Shaw, Case Van Raay, and Miss
Adrianne Van Raay representing
Y.A.C.M.R.
From the left, Grant Smith, Don Rodgers, Gerry Lawson,
Ray, Marilyn, John, Marg and Laverne Hamilton