HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-04-13, Page 22OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
22-THE BRUSSELS POST, APRIL 1.3, 1977
Finds poem of 30's fire in BeIgrav
Correspondent
Mrs. L. Stonehouse
The enclosed poem, was found
while housecleaning a desk
drawer, since the recent fire in
the general store in Belgrave. It
deals with a fire in Belgrave that
happened in the "heart of the
depression" in the early 30's.
The fire burned out the
Hardware and Feed Store, owned
by Robert McKenzie. It spread to
the Hotel next door and for a time
looked like it would perhaps
spread to other buildings and
burn out the heart of the business
section of Belgrave.
The poem was copied word for
word from a clipping from a local
newspaper of the era. The
identity of the paper is not known,
the original author , who signed a
Pen name "Red Clover" is the
late George Jordan of Belgrave.
However the poems ring loud
and clear of the struggle of
mutual help by "The Bucket
Brigade" and of fireman, in their
deperate and in some cases
amusing fight to successfully
contain the fire.
Because of the depression, the
struggle to save the business
section of Belgrave, was perhaps
fought with the desperate energy
of those who knew that they could
not afford to lose those services
from their community during
hard times.
The Belgrave Fire
T'was the ninth day of March and
a bitter cold day,
When a bad fire broke lout down
in Belgrave they say,
The clock just struck six when the
fire alarm rang,
Causing people to gather in a fire
fighting gang.
Some came with long ladders
while others brought pails,
To carry the water and cool off the
nails,
They pumped the old pump how
the water did flow,
Ackey Bruce pumped away he
SLEEPING PILLS
Sleeping pills work by
decreasing brain activity so you
can't worry and keep yourself
awake. According to the Ontario
Safety League, a group of British
doctors, who have formed the
"Campaign on the Use and
Restriction of Barbiturates"
(CURB), find that the effect can
linger into the next day and make
driving dangerous. The pills are
especially dangerous if mixed
with alcohol.
They emptied the store, the hotel
and the bank
Of all their contents and drained
the gas tank.
They carried out sugaf, flour and
cigars,
Claw hammers and pliers and
tires for Ford cars.
They climbed up the ladders
and wet the roof top,
Chopped away the south cornish
to make the fire stop.
They wet all the windows in
spite of the heat, A big box in the hallway we,
As dandy fire-fighters they thought should go down,
cannot be beat. For it looked like the fire would'
burn all the town
I helped with the box 'till I near
died with laughter,
Men came from all corners they Some good work was done by
jc/ame near and far, Charles, Herb and Sandy,
And never once. thought of the In saving the house that used to
expense of their car, sell Brandy.
They seemed really willing to
do what they could,
To help out a neighbour as good
fellows would.
It was icy all over and we h ad to made little noise. sure done his part,. Neither
in
out in the suburbs or o0
go slow. He pumped to the tune of the And lucky the lady who gains his the ma street.
Protestant Boys. heart.
We called the Blyth Firemen who Billy Cole caught the pails he got He worked in the attic where Now to each individual I
came at top speed, hit on the cheek, smoke was so thick. every one,
And brought their equipment to He's been wearing "Court I wonder he and Norm Keating Accept of our thanks for the goN
meet every need, plaster" for over a week. were not both real sick. work you done.
We also called Wingham but to Now I'm going to close but thisl
our despair, Rev. Grant is a hero a man you Now I can't name them all but can will say,
A car load of Firemen was all we can't tire, say they worked good, We want no more fires here fol
got there. And being a preacher knows how And put out the fire as Fire- many a day.
to fight fire, Fighters should. ("Red Clover")
Let's hope that a fire like this George Jordan
won't repeat, B e 1 g r a y e
George Fowler I'll mention he
Dave Armstrong went head first
and the box it slid after
Where Personal oar.trtice still 887
-0000
‘41
The hotel stairs was slippery and
covered with ice,
Which when carrying water was
not very nice.
Alex Manning he fell like a
thousand of brick,
Harry Shane slid downstairs with
a big feather tick.
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UNITED CO-OPERATIVES OF ONTARIO
'BELGRAVE BRANCH
Belgrave, Ontario.
Wingham Brussels'
357-2711 887-6453
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