Loading...
The Brussels Post, 1975-06-11, Page 3The Smalldon house in Grey Twp. Where Annie Engel was born . She's the little girl on the steps with her hair in pig tails. ranbrook correspondent in 30th WEEKLY SALE BRUSSELS STOCKYARDS LTD. EVERY FRIDAY At 12 Noon Phone 887-6461 Brussels, Ont. Huron Recreation Your canoe outfitters at Jamestown, Huron Road i2 invites you on an exciting Two Week,Adventure We will travel by fur trade tattoo through the North Channel into :Lake. Superior to . Michipicoten Mend,reliving the life of a VOyageUr.. Gall Now or Write GREG Si ...COWAN' Huron Recreation Brussels' 88146420 8814342 THE BRUSSELS POST-'0' JUNE it 108 (Continued from Page 1)" sawmill and cider mill. She said the only public eetings she remembers ccurring in the town hall was hen Agnes MacPhail, Canada's rst woman M.P. came to town. `It was quite a thing for a oman", she said and emembers one man who was ather piqued saying "I thought he was out of her element". Railw ay bypassed • Cranbrook was supposed to ave developed into a town and as ac tually laid out into lots d streets, but like so many aces, the railway by-passed the amlet and sealed its fate. In place of the many private ntrepreneurs who had once lived Cranbrook, now many of the sidents hold jobs in urrounding towns. • Mrs, Engel moved to ranbrook with her husband who s then the blacksmith but who ater went into garage work. Her life and the history of ranbrook are so intimately twitted that it is difficult to ik about one without ttcuSsing the other. She first started with news terns for her church group that he mailed into the Post and later as asked to write local news. For is service, she was offered a ear's free subscription to the aper, and she remembered hvays getting a box of chocolates tome small gift for Christmas. "Everything wasn't SO onimercialized then," she said. heir she started she said there erefilt sO many organizations as ere are Way. Cranbrook Wettlidif titute was farmed in 1950 ound the time they built the °filinanity center, she recalled, When asked what Were the st important -events she vered she said: "It's been dttY Well ordinary happenings at anyone would Over:" teiltennitt1 l•alibrook'S Cehtdnillal was erhaApS A one or the Most eiteiting events she reported. There were crowds of people on that July 3 - 4, 1955, she said. There were activities out in the field, a real good parade, bingo and a dance one night. Other news events included the building of the community center in 1950 and the beginning of the library. The library was first started in the manse of the Presbyterian Church by Rev. I. D. McIver and Mrs. McIver. Later it was shifted to Lloyd Michel's store where one room was rented .for library hours and during the rest of the time it was used as an egg room. The library began with 100 books and later joined the Huron County Mobile Library which exchanged books every three months, In spite of this, there are some changes we could do without, she said. She remembers how she -Used to swim in the Maitland River, have church picnics by its bank, "it was so beautiful, but now' it's gone." The phrase, "Well, the date of that Must have been , let me see, that was the day or the year, Doris, or Susan died," is common when Mrs. Engel tries to remember the year some event occurred in Cra.nbtook. There could be no objectivity in a small hamlet for the news and history of Cranbrook are so closely tied with the life and death of friends. "I'm not against changes if they are for the better, I don' think any of us would want to go back to oil lamps and the horse and buggy days,' she said. `Teeple are very good in getting the news in, I don't like going around to ask too many questions or they'll think I'm trying to pry into their private affairs;'' the said. Get it Somewhere Mrs.Etigei said: ' 'If they like to read the paper they should realize you have to get it from somewhere", "Sometimes 1 think why do I bother, then some resident who' has moved away tells me he takes the Post just to look through it for familiar names. I often have people say they didn't know something until they read it in the Post, then I feel I'm doing something worthwhile", she said. Mrs. Engel belongs to the senior friendship club and worked for about six' years in the library from 1965 to 1971. She has been a correspondent for the Beacon Herald for a short period but she said that was phased out for they didn't seem interested in local news. Local History Her daug ,hter-in-law, Marilyn, who is working on the Tweedsmuir History of 'the area and who has gone through all but five years of the Post editions in search of area history, came over to verify some of the dates of events in the hamlet. As a last resort, her mother-in- law turned to her diary to get the exact dates of such events as when street lights were turned on or when the streets were paved. In spite of her many years in. the area she said: "It's surprising that people who have moved in three or four years ago know people I don't. A lot of property changes have occurred and a -Short Shots (Continued from Page 1) t happens when memory tends to be less accurate as age creeps up on us. The ladies teams last year did very well in the .games they played. By the scores reported So fat they are giving a good account of themselves this year, *144444444 Contact the Optimist dub theta, bets in your area, as listed in their ad, and they will gladly pick them up and be gtateful for your suppott,, My apologies to the gifts of fast year's softball teams for stating lititsselShad, net tAd a good girl's tearti for some time. that is 'what Heirlooms featured at UCW picnic Heirlooms, childhood pictures and half-century costumes were a special feature at the annual pica is of the Afternoon Unit, Brussels U.C.W. The special occasion was in honour of the United Church's 50th Anniver- sary. Nineteen members and fifteen guests were present including former members as well as those of the Evening Unit. Mrs. Steiner welcomed everyone and asked for introductions. An interesting history of Brussels Church was prepared by Mrs. W. Miller and read by Mrs. C. Hemingway. Pictures of "Flower Service" arrangements were on display as well as those of former officials in the church. In response to the roll call each member gave her name and church attended in 1925. Follow- ing a secret auction and game a short devotional period was held. The scripture Psalm 100 was, read .by Mrs. Hupfer. "A Tribute to our Ancestors" was prepared and read by Mrs. Steffter. She stressed the great responsibility that is ours in keeping alive our that heritage: Our hope is that we shall stand fast in our faith; that we will not fail to establish our belief in the Trinity and to proclaim our salvation through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The hymn "0 God our Help in Ages. Past" was sung by the ladies. An interesting journal was read by Mrs. Thomas. Many news items from the past brought smiles and fond memories of happenings in the community. Possibly the grocer's food prices were the most surprising - beef steak 16 cents; ice cream sundaes - 10 cents, A salad and ham supper was served by members of the executive, number of new homes have been built in the last few years." And so, even though Mrs. Engel has reported no world shattering events she's very important to readers of the Brussels Post. As the voice of Cranbrook she has earned the congratulations of her readers and the community who for thirty years she has served so well, and faithfully.