HomeMy WebLinkAboutHomecoming '87, 1987-07-01, Page 12PAGE A-12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987.
_Homecoming '87_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Dam’s restoration provides parkland
■ ■
than a general clean-up of the area
was accomplished until 1984.
In that year, the federal govern
ment announced a grant of more
than $260,000 to the village of
Brussels under a special employ
ment program sponsored by the
Department of Employment and
Immigration. The grant enabled
the village, in co-operation with the
MVCA, to rehabilitate the old dam
while creating 24 jobs for a period
of 22 weeks. Brussels contributed
$64,596 toward the total cost of the
project.
The major work items in the
project consisted of the construc
tion of two 20-foot spillways at the
west end of the dam, concrete
capping of the old wooden dam
structure, construction of a walk
way and an overflow weir at the
east end of the structure, removal
of silt from the bed of the pond, the
creation of an artificial island using
these dredgings, the construction
of erosion control structures along
the river, park landscaping, and
the addition of increased parking
space and a picnic shelter for public
use.
As well as making the area one of
the most attractive spots in the
Maitland Valley watershed, the
new dam proved its worth just last
fall, during the record rainfall that
deluged the county in late Septem
ber and throughout most of
October. Although a roaring mass
of water cascaded over the entire
400 feet of the dam and overflow
weir, during much of this period,
very little temporary, and no
lasting damage resulted from one
ofthe worst autumns in Ontario
history.
Happy Birthday
Brussels!
AITLAND
ALLEY
- INSURANCE
BROKERS LTD.
Before the funding was provided by the federal government in 1984 for the re-building and upgrading of
the old Logan dam at Brussels, spring flooding and heavy run-off was a major problem, as seen in this
photograph on loan from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.
For visitors returning “home”
to Brussels for the first time since
the 1972 Centennial, the new
parkland at the old mill dam will
come as a pleasant surprise.
Officially opened in September,
1985, the four-acre property has
become the focal point of “On
tario’s prettiest village,” as well as
the hub of many of the activities
planned for this week’s Homecom
ing celebration.
In April, 1971, the village of
Brussels secured an option to
purchase the property known as
the Logan Mill and dam on the
Maitland River, and immediately
requested the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority (MVCA)
to consider the acquisition of this
property as an Authority project.
Since the dam and mill pond
could not be classified as flood
control facilities, a major mandate
of the MVCA, because of their
limited size, the Authority submit
ted the proposal to the provincial
government as a greenbelt or
conservation area acquisition. In
order to receive a provincial grant
for the project, the Authority had to
make several concessionstothe
province regarding the proposed
development.
Mostimportantly, the MVCA
had to guarantee that it would not
request provincial monies for the
repair or reconstruction of the dam
for a period of five to 10 years; it had
to also agree that it would acquire
the land that would be flooded
above the dam following the
proposed restoration.
In January, 1972, title to the mill
and dam was purchased by the
MVCA from James A. Logan, a
relative of the family who had
purchased the property in 1911,
after the old Vanstone flour and
grist mill on the site was destroyed
by fire. Soon afterwards, several
property owners upstream from
the dam generously donated the
flooded portions of their land to the
MVCA (and therefore to the
public), while several other land-
owners agreedto ongoing ease
ments.
The cost of the acquisition was
$14,000, a figure which included
legal, survey and appraisal fees, as
well as the actual cost of the land. A
provincial grant from the Ministry
of Natural Resources covered
$9,100of this, but as the MVCA
was unable to allocate any monies
toward the development of the
property in 1972, nothing more
Murray Siddall,
C.L.U.
7 INSURANCE .
8ROKIRS i
AssociAno\ 1 Monkton - 347-2241
Stratford - 271-1522
We extend
and 'WidAeb
to the
Village of Brussels
We extend our
“Recollections Group. ’’ It is avail
able from the Seniors’ Studies
Continuing Education Division of
Toronto’s Ryerson Institute, and
may be ordered by mail.
1929
523-9501
Westfield R.R 3, Blyth Elevator523-9511
Manual provides tips
on collecting memories
At Homecoming time, memor
ies of bygone years are always
uppermost in our minds, and
invariably someone says, “We
should write all this down.”
Well, nowyou can; and there is a
boo,k just out that will make the task
easier, better organized, and more
enjoyable.
Called * ‘The Recollections Man
ual for Those Who Wish to Write
their Memories,’’ the book is
edited by Grace A. Milne for a
senior citizens’ group called the
To order, send a cheque or
money order for $10 per copy to The
Recollections Manual, Seniors’
Studies, Continuing Education
Division, Ryerson Polytechnical
Institute, 350 Victoria Street,
Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3.
Postage and handling is included.
to everyone attending
Brussels 115th Birthday
Celebrations.
SNELL FEED
and
SUPPLIES LTD
ww.
WWl
We are proud of our tong
association with the people of Brussels and
look forward to continuing to serve our
many friends and customers in the years
ahead.
MCDONALD
HOME HARDWARE
Building Supplies
Brussels 887-6277
Serving Brussels and area for 58 years