Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-08-12, Page 10Al() — THE BRUSSELS POST, AUGUST 12, 1981 New street signs in Belgrave Correspondent MRS. LEWIS STONEHOUSE 887-9847 New street signs have been posted in Belgrave -recently. Some bear the names of early Morris Township settlers as: Corbett, McCrea, Hamilton, Brandon, Parker and King. Others of unknown origin; but not less worthy of men- tion are Jane and John; "Queen" designates "The Queen's Highway". These markers are a con- stant reminder to the Bel- grave residents of the debt we owe to our courageous fore- fathers. A number of Belgrave area residents enjoyed the Insti- tute bus trip to Milton last Wednesday where they tour- ed the Ontario Agricultural Museum. Mrs. Jean Mills of Milton spent the holiday weekend, with Mr. and Mrs. Ross Anderson and attended the 125th Anniversary of Morr is Township which was held at Brussels. Mrs. Carrie McGuire re- turned home last Thursday after visiting with her daugh- ters and sons-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Norman Hill of Willow- dale and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cantelon of Tweed. Visitors over the holiday weekend at the home of Mrs. Sara Anderson were Mr. and Mrs. William Schreiber of Milton, Mr and Mrs. Keith Anderson of Rexdale, Mt and Mrs. Thomas Moy of Erin Mills, Mr. Jim Anderson of Guelph and Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Davies of Mississauga. Congratulations to Morris Township on its 125th An- niversary, The parade on Monday wasp a huge success with many fine floats entered including several from this community, A large crowd thoroughly enjoyed the open air Com- munity service which was held at Victoria. Park, Brus- sels, Sunday evening August 2 where choir members from the three churches in Bel- grave along with members from other churches in Brus- sels, Walton, Bluevale and Blyth sang in a Mass choir of 60 voices accompanied by Mrs. Bill King of Brussels and conducted by Rev. John G. Roberts of Knox United Church, Belgrave. The choir sang three beaut- iful anthems "Glory to the King of Kings" Crimond" and "King All Glorious." Rev. Allan Johnston of London was guest speaker and other ministers taking part were Rev. Kenneth Innis of Brussels and Belgrave Presbyterian Church, Rev. Daniel Sargent of Brussels and Blyth Anglican Church, Rev. Eric Le Drew of Brussels United Church and Father Jim Higgins of Wingham and Brussels Catholic Church. 4-H Exchange visitors for a week from Huron County, Michigan are Shelley Nichols of Bad Axe, Michigan who is visiting with Lisa Thompson, Lynn Holdwick of Harbour Beach, Michigan who is visit- ing with Meribeth Scott. They returned home last week and were accompanied by Lisa and Meribeth who will be spending a week with them. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Arm- strong of Thorndale spent the holiday weekend with Mrs. Helen Martin. Dinner guests with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston of Blyth Friday evening were Mr. and Mrs. Nicole Faint- acre of Ottawa and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Stonehouse. Following the dinner they all visited with other cousins Mrs. Frank Edgar and Shirley of Wingham, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Gibson, Wingham where they met other cousins from Teeswater and Gorrie. This community extends sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fear and Mr. and Mrs. Alf Nichol in the loss of their sister Mrs. Letta Smith. Friends and neighbours of this community extend sym- pathy to the Walker families in the loss of their father and grandfather Mr. George Walker. Mrs. May River, Lois and Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Cartwright and family of London returned home on Monday after spending a couple of weeks at Fanshawe Park, London. Peter Kunty of Kitchener is holidaying this week with his grandmother Mrs. May River. Miss Reta Mathers of Woodstock spent the holiday weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Vincent. Mrs. Walter Scott returned - home last Thursday from a ten day visit with Mr. and Mrs. Alan Scott and family of the Sebringville area. Scott and Crystal Hoegy of Dublin visited for a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Murray Scott. (Intended for last week) Arrangements of multi-col- oured flowers in the vestibule and sanctuary of Knox United Church, made an attrractive setting for the joint service of the Calvin-Bricks and Bel- grave charges on Sunday as they commemorated the 125th Morris Township an- niversay. A prelude of organ-piano numbers was presented with Mrs. George Procter, organ- ist and Mrs. George John- ston, pianist. Rev. Scott G. Roberts con- cted the service, assisted by Mr. Ross Procter; Mr. Procter gave a short dis- course on the "History of the Belgrave Community". He believes that Morris has never experienced a crop failure in its 125 years. Bodmin was the first Morris settlement. William Harris, a native of Cornwall, England was the first settler. Other settlements were Bethel and Sunshine. Ross concluded the history by reading a letter written by an anxious mother Mrs. Frances Stubbs in Eng- land to her son at Bodmin wishing him health and safe- ty. Rev. John. G. Roberts based his remarks on Dent.: 8 Septic Tanks Cleaned Phone Louis Blake R.R. 2, Brussels, Ont. 887-6800 which describes a good land of brooks, pools, gushing springs, valleys and hills, a land of wheat etc. A descrip- tion applicable to Morris Township, but Scripture warns "Beware that you don't forget the God who led you through the wilderness." To the pioneers the land was their salvation. They left a homeland torn and crushed by the Industrial Revolution not unlike the Feudal system. The possession of land gave them salvation, hope, pro- mise and fulfillment. The In the 1880's Belgrave was a thriving little village. A government road connected it with the larger centres of Clinton and Wingham. Then it became a railroad centre in the late 1870 s. These two factors were great assets to the stores, its industries and the farming community and led to its outstanding growth in the 1880's. Early builders laid a good foundation. Donald Robinson was one of them in the 1860. s. He is remembered for build- ing the first Presbyterian church on the southern out- skirts of the village and the present Orange Hall in 1865. Most building of that time was a!sisted by volunteer labour. We do not know who built4the store of Ross McEw- en or the 'hardware store of Ross Anderson, but we un- derstand they are the oldest remaining structures left. Many homes in the village now were erected in the 1870 s. The Methodist and Anglican churches and sheds were also built in that period. It was the coming of the railroad in 1876 that brought about \far greater expansion and thkonstruction of many fine buildings. Many of these are still here and have contri- buted much enjoyment and service to village life. A CHEESE FACTORY In the 1880 s Belgrave really advanced. In 1881 a cheese factory was built by the creek west of Harold White's house. On the north- land was their heritage; but the warning "Don't pretend, Beware! Don't squander your land it is your salvation, was ever present." Today we, as they did, owe to. God our obedience and total involve- ment. No one can separate the spiritual from the material possessions. Each of us must respond to God's love with spirit and grace. Ones whole • existence must be offered to God. The large choir of mixed voices rendered two anthems ern outskirts on the Morris side was the new saw mill of Cornelius Bell where furni- ture and coffins were made. This was on the site of our Co-operative Mill . South of it was a tannery, two black- smith shops and the hard- ware and general.store men- tioned before. On the corner Henry Morley built the Queen's Hotel. He was an important Belgrave builder in the 1880 s. Near it was a flour and feed store with a dress- making shop which was ent- ered by an outside staircase. Belgrave also had a tailor, a harness maker and a resident doctor in the 1880s. On the Wawanosh side of the village was the new' big general store owned by Mr. Tufts and built on the site of the village tavern. The post office was transferred here in 1882. A stairway on the north side led to aportments in the upper storey. At one time there was a dressmaking shop here. South of the store was a new open shed for the horses of farmers. It had an upper floor reached by an outside stairway. This room was called Morley's Hall and was used for concerts and meetings. Next to it, a new hotel was put up by Charles Blakesley. ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL Mr. Donald Farwell, Principal 169 Beech Street Clinton, Ontario 482-7035 "Brother James' Air" (an arrangement of the Twenty third Psalm) and "Blessing with Mrs. George Procter, accompanist. A large congregation was present. Many friends came from distant areas to cele- brate the Anniversay with relatives and acquaintances of childhood days. Following the service the members of the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, with their friends assembled at the W. I. Hall to enjoy refreshments This is now the residence south of the arena. On the southern outskirts of the village to serve the interests of the farmers of the area, a fine agricultural Hall was built by George Procter in 1886. It was a frame eight- sided structure with glass windows and was called the Shaw Hall. Two other buildings were added to the village in the closing years of the decade. The Belgrave Wood Working on the northern outskirts of the Wawanosh side was built in 1890. Then a need was felt for a new hall for meetings and concerts, as Morley's Hall was destroyed by fire so the Foresters constructed their large hall in 1888. Many changes have taken place in our village. Our industries and population have varied. Now, in 1981 the number of stores had declin- ed; but in the Seventies a housing boom in the south eastern section made a great change in the size of 'Bel- grave. The population has increased from 126 in 1953 to 265 in 1979. We hope this along with the erection of new street signs will indicate progression in the history of our village. Composed by Mrs. Walter Scott. Opening new doors to small business See our Stratford Office Representative PETE HUXTABLE AT: The Wingham Motel, R.R. #4, Wingham ON: The 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of each month [Next Visit Date: August 18 If you require financing to start, modernize or expand your business and are unable to obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions or if you are interested in the FBDB management services of counselling and training or wish information on government programs available for your business, talk to our representative. FEDERAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK For an appointment or further information on the Bank's services call 271-5650 [collect] or writs 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford, Ontario. Belgrave was thriving in 1880s SILK WEDDING BOUQUETS Any style, any colour. Reasonable prices. Levina Yule R.R. 1, Monkton 356-2427 HURON-PERTH COUNTY ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE' 8 REGISTRATION September 1, 1981 2 p.m. 5 p.m. Kindergarten children need to be 5 years of age on or before 31st December, 1981, Please bring proof of age [Birth Certificate and Baptismal Certificate]. School Will begin on Tuesday, 8th September, 1981, and the first day of attendance for Kindergarten pupils will be Wednesday, 9th September, 1981.