HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1969-01-16, Page 3•.1.•ta• •••
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HISTORY OF THE
VILLAGE OF BRUSSE
Compiled by
Mrs. 1/, C. MtllIketion
tronliuned from last tveelr.1
A. few days previously Thomas
Halliday had moved in and occup-
ied a lot on the 'Morris side of the
road (explanation, re the main
street which separates (troy and
Morris) but had not got Ills.
shanty erected. That fall, Mr.,
.\inlay and Mr. Halliday were,
joined by about 20 tamiliet3 who
moved in and settled at greater'
Or I0:4-; d ist upos from. thorn but,
they were the only ones for a long
time, within what is now the pre-
se n t villa c',
Less thatt tWo years tater the
flotilla]. occupation, the place Ii id
the. air or a promising settlement,
and .William Ainlay laid off what
is now the south east earner ii
the village in a town plot which
be named Ainlayville after himself'
Not overYono in the settlement
agreed with the name ',HUI Hie
next year when a Post orrice was
established it was officially farri-
er "Dingle". 'Ph(' first Post-
Master was William (ti-ant who
was also the first general merch-
ant in the settlement.
The ensuing five years sow the
area, around Brussels cleared very
rapidly amt the village kept grow-
ing. In 18511, Vanstone,
native of Devonshire but raised in
Colborne Township came to rims-
sets and established its first
major ludastry --- a, floor
grist. Mil ) and first
It W:1:4 NW by water power suit,
Pli"d by the 'Maitland river but
one year later switched to steam.
lly [Slit, Brussels was a flourish-
1104' village. In addition to the
\%thstone operation, there •was a
earding mill operated by ,lohnicay,
two tanning mills, one operated by
Ireland and Dodds,, and one by
John Kneontel, nod a fanning mill
operated by Thompson and Grant.
In addition there wero a number
of enriotts types or shops and
general store, the largest of
which. was operated by N.
myingsl.nne, 'Mere Wore tWO
hotels, .and it saloon. The (list
doctor was Isaac I.la•wks who had
a young' assistant, 141;dward
The fi rs t j u ,t1„0 U t'Lim p eace ,VaS
David Evans and Rev. J. Wilton
•R,"err was Queen's Boneh COM-
MiSSioner who oarided on a gen.
oral i»suranee ituSiness till the
side,.
John Leckie who had
come to Cirey Township to clear
land with his tabiter pioved into
Brussels and corded on as it grain
dealer, lle was given Credit for
persuading^ the Wellington, (troy
and lftnee diViSion of the Great
'Western Poilwty to 'build their
railway through Brussels and
establish a station here, Builders
were given permission by Ottawa
to name the stations they erected,
and when the station was built
they named it Brussels station, So
they had. Brussels station where
it :now is, the Village at AinlaY-
villo 2' blocks south across the
riv'er' and the Post. Office Dingle
all designating 11), plaee
There was confusion and losses ot
midi and goods, shipped to
Ilingle Post. Office Aintayville,
arriving al Brussels station and
ithe situation became 80 accute
and confusing that the village of
tasked postal and jud-
icial authorities to change the
name of the POst, Office and
village to Bassets, Ott Oeccinbctr
21th, 1872 Brussels became an •In-
corporated village,. The first 111001-
or till' ittuniciva council was OW
(m Jan. 20th, 1571, John .1,0ekle
was elected Reeve, With J. C'.
HanidaY, 1.3011jd (t'err'y, Thomas
llalltintyne , and charles Wrigda,
councillors, The first •clerk was
It, C', Cooper, the first • assessor
i‘oaald Stewart and the first tax
eolleetor James Knox,.
After incorporation It wide
• range o small industries deve-
loped in Brussels. 13y 1880, besides
the Van:italic Mills, there were n
custom foundry, three other saw.
mills, • a planing' mill, a carding
mill, • furniture factory and two
pump factories, six blacksmith
shops, three tailor shops, hoot
riud, ..shoo factories. At this time,
Brussels was the site 01' Huron
Coonty's first —• and only
cw•set factory. Quote: "The style
itnd quality Or :wboso, inalFo up
gave the establishment a wide re-
pti (.Z1 ti on and enviable poptlarity."
A subsidy of $20„0(10 was or(orted
to J. D. Ronald of Chatham to lure
him to establish the "Brussels
.SLeam, Fire Engine and Agricul-
tural Works" which, supplied a
"Centennial" tiro engine and a,
"Vibrator" separu!er 'xhicli were
famous all over Canada and oven
the world. 'Phis industry wa.,
varried on in the building's now.
being used by the Huron Prodnets.
forty to fifty 111011 Were, enpioyed.
In listing the induscries which
helve contributed so 11111(.11 to Lao
growth of the village in years
none by I.\ 11111St I i nit of •bl•ii-
"Carriage Works- which was
owned and c.iried on b:‘, Iitlniel
li:wan on (lie 'leper Y. where
ilsorge :11cfltitCheolr's now
stands. • The finest, of f'arrimr,os
and racing sulkies were built
here.
• • •
the AlliOnt Brothers, Jolla and
John and Phillip, .operated a busy
7,tunher and Planning Mill in the
huililin IlOW 1.1:;ed by James .Me-
as a garage. Quantities of
high quality finished lumber were
produced for the community a ced
shipped all over -Canada, Titirly
Or. SO Men were steadily employed.
A tal:-‘y, tVtiflIVI) 111111 W;IS Olier -
,IIP11, bill the' prop orty whore the
Alodical Centre is DOW
,';1111fl l I'd I>y 3011.11th011 T. 1Vood.
apple butter tactory twos situated
1:m Mill street berv,-,,F,i) the corn('['
chopping HIM flaw carried tin
1)3' To 1) t feeds. and at one
time an apple evaporator was in
.sPas,f)ii operation \Otero J. M.
Mellonald 1,tintinT is now situat.
The struill romintinity settled
down to the inisinet4..: of grtnvititii
end _,ra:cio well. tikinOti masons
scud rijont PI'S with.
Of her in tile 01'001011 of sub.
stalithit and. eoinfortaide, seine.
intes elegant. homes.
(To be eon:tit:mod veek.)
(It Is suggested that studo.nts
and other interested persons Blip
these installments for future
reference.)
LET US PREPARE YOUR
1968 INCOME TAX FORMS
Reascnnable Rates
Guaranteed Services
Phone Early For An Appointment
RONNENBERG. INSURANCE AGENCY
Coil us on Tuesdays. and Fridays.
Phone 65 Brussels, Ont.
BruFseltre Vim
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For Only Year
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