HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-09-20, Page 1GUEST SPEAKERS — Some well-known people showed up to help open
'at the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels fair on Wednesday. Standing left to
right are fair board president Ross Procter, Bob McKinley,
Huron7 Middlesex M.P., Bill Elston, reeve of Morris Murray Gaunt,
M.P.P. for Huron-Bruce, and Simon Hallahan, reeve of East Wawanosh
Township. Although he can't be seen in this picture'. Don Pullen,
Agricultural Representative for Huron County also spoke at the fair.
(Brussels Post Photo)
ru sse s Post
BRUSSELS
ONTARIO .
107th Year — Issue No. 38
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1978
BMG ready, thanks to volunteers
Each day makes the Brussels, Morris and.
Grey Catering tent on the top of the hill at
the plowing match site appear more like an
eating establishment than an acrobats
paradise. Hard work and lots of plans
turned cement and hill into a neat level .
working area, Hank Ten Pas, -Willis Knight
Henry Exel and Al Nichol helped numerous
volunteers t urn this area into a kitchen with
countertops 'and shelves to work on. The
fridges, freezers, and, stoves arc working
thanks to Gord and Frank Workman.
The volunteer hours are over whelming!
The snack bar will open Sept. 21 to serve the
people setting up displays at the site. The
first dinner served will be Sept. 25. All
volunteer workers have been arranged for by
community co-ordinators The minimum age
for,workers at the site is lb. Meals eaten at
the tent by workers will be given for half the
regular price. This seemed the , fair way
considering the number of people involved,
both working and donating items to the
Brussels, Morris and Grey Tent.
The B.M.G, catering tent is located on top
of the hill just east of the headquarters
Building in the blue and white striped tent
on 4th Street,,
Several area businesses have helped to
organize the tent. Brussels Stockyards,
Bowes Electronics, Howick Mutual, Bridge
Motors, Nicholson Haulage, J.L. McCutch-
eon Motors, Brussels Legion Ladies
Auxiliary, J.M. McDonald Buildall, Phil's
Appliances, Brussels Lions Club, Cardiff
and Mulvey Insurance and Carl's' Auto
Body. and Stewart's Pharmacy.
In the afternoons and evenings during the
Plowing Match, people are needed at the
Community Centre to prepare the next day's
vegetables. People wanting to help should
come " and bring' a paring knife. The
community centre will also be the dispatch
centre. Callsshould be made there if any
prOblems arises .A volunteer is needed for
`night watch duties at the site.
•
ting°1"11111114144%\mm ESTABLISHED
1872
Three school fair
Held in Begrave since 1920
Brussels students walked away . with at
least 60 prizes from the 58th annual
Belgrave, Blyth and BriisSels school fair held
in Belgrave on Wednesday. Details• con-
cerning prize winners appear elsewhere in
this issue.
Officials and dignitaries taking part in this
year's fair program included Murray Gaunt,
M.P.P. for Huron -Bruce; Bob McKinley,
M.P. for Huron - Middlesex; Don Pullen,
Ag'. Rep. for Huron; Bill Elston, Reeve of
Morris Tonwship; Fair, Board president Ross
Procter and the man who officially opened
the fair -- Cliff Robb, CKNX farm 'director.
Belgrave correspondent, Mrs. Lewis
Stonehouse has provided some of the
History of this children's fair out of a book
called the East Wawanosh Township which
was written by a committee of people from
East Wawanosh. Chairman of the commit-
tee was Walter Scott of. Wingham.
To explain the school fair it is necessary to
go back to the first agricultural fairs which
were held in Belgrave. An agricultural
society was first formed in Belgrave in 1886
for the purpose of holding an annual fair and
building a hall in which to display the
Heavy rains, cold winds and falling
leaves tell us summer is gote. Fall is here.
Winter is not far away. Now we can start
worrying 'about those mammoth fuel bills. To/
cut the money grabbing cost of those bills, we
will have to make a determined effort to
refrain from turning up the thermostat.
Bundle up in warmer wear'to keep the frost
bite out. Hope for an early warm spring.
******
Drivers should take care when they see
a young pedestrian waiting to cross the
street. When a'motorist knows a child has
seen the vehicle he feels the child will wait
for it to pass. The reverse is often true.
Studies•show that when a young child knows
a driver has seen him he expects he will stop
to let him cross. Take care.
******
Although Christmas is three months
away there are folks Who are already looking
forward to that festive season. The ladies of
the C.W.L. are busy now preparing for the
their Christmas Bazaar to be held in St.
Atilbrose Church basement on December
2nd.
products shown. The first president was
Charles Procter. The directors were Robert
Scott, Finlay Anderson, James Oeveus and
John Coultes. George Procter built the hall.
Smaller farm products were displayed in
the hall while the animals were tied up on
the fairgrounds and brought into the ring to
be judged.
THe fair which was shared by Morris and
East Wawanosh Townships stopped in 1904
and the building only remained standing for
a few years after that.
This fair probably led to the interest in
forming the Belgrave School Fair. In 1920,
school trustees from the vicinity of Belgrave
met with S.B. Stethers, the first agricultural
representative of Huron County and or-
ganized the Belgrave School Fair.
Richard Procter of Morris Townships was
the first president and John Wightman of
East Wawanosh Township was the secret-
ary.
Teachers, councillors and others con-
tributed money for funds for prizes.
The Forester's Hall now the Women's
Institute Hall and the Prebyterian and
United Church sheds were all used to display
A Ministry of Transportation and
Communication report tells that fatalities
and /injuries continue to decline. Motor
-vehicle accidents for the first half of 1978
showed an 18 per cent drop in fatalities.
They have dropped 34 per cent from 1975,
the last year prior to seat belt legislation.
This is yet another reason to "buckle up"
and save lives. They also tell drivers to
practice the -three C's , Care, Caution and
Courtesy.
******
The U.C. Evening Unit will hold a*Bake
Sale in Novetnber. Watch for the exact date
so you will not miss the opportunity to get
sotne of:their delicious home niade goodies.
* * ****
Racing pigs, Horse races, vehicle races
etc, en frog
ev races we know Abaft. Now we
read that a 52 year old advertising executive
in the has five racing pigs he has
trained. He states three things people:
believe about porkers are false. He claims
they are not dirty, dumb, or slow, but are
very smart animals. ******
the entries. About eight schools took part in
the fair.
The fair was held every year except 1937
when an outbreak of polio forced a
cancellation of all fairs in the county.
In the early years of the fair each student
was given a packet of vegetable or grain
seeds and ten packets of flower seeds went
Clark ts/latheSon
to each' section (school). The sections also
received three settings of barred rock hen
eggs but this was soon discontinued.
The Department of Agriculture withdrew
its financial assistance from the fair in 193()
and the Department of Education which
financed seed expenses from 1932 to 1939
followed suit and withdrew its help in 1940.
For this reason many school fairs were
closed but Belgrave kept on with the fair
funds being used to purchase seeds. Each
student then received one packet of flower
seeds and one packet of vegetable seeds.
The fairboard continues to provide this
service today.
Concerts, recitations and public speaking
were held throughout the years of the fair
but this was discontinued in 1966, as a move
into big central schools was planned. This
was also when it became the Belgrave, Blyth
(Continued on Page 42)
Lodge honors
C. Matheson Short Shots
by Evelyn Kennedy Members of St. John's Lodge No. 284,
A.F. & A.M. presented to very Worshipful
Brother Clark Matheson his Grand , Lodge
Regalia which he received 'by special.
appointment as a Grand Lodge Officer at the
July meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ontario
at a recent meeting.
Grand Master Robert Davies Mount
Forest, made the appointment in recognition
of Mr. Matheson's faithfulness and loyalty
the Craft in general y always ready and'
capable to take part in all the degrees and
offices fo the Lodge at any time. The
presentation of Regalia was made by Right
Worshipful Brother Grant Elliott, D.D.
6.M., Blyth.
Mr. Matheson replied fittingly..with words
Of sincere appreciation. Right Worshipful
13rother Gordon Hazelwood presented 50
year Past Master's Jewel. Mr. Matheson has
been a member of St, John's Lodge for 55
years.
There was a good attendance of St. John's
lodge inernbetS, also visitors from Sarnia;
Wingham, Wto xeter, ForclWich and Blyth
lodges. Mr. Matheson continues as a Very
active member of the lodge and his friends
wished him many more years of enjoyment
t in Massonty, - -