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The Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 14Best Wishes to Brussels Fire Department on the opening of your new fire hall GOLDEN LANTERN RESTAURANT Brussels 887-6303 Best Wishes to the Brussels Fire Department on the opening of your new Fire Haff. Fertilizer, Seed & Crop Protection Products BRUSSELS AGROMART Brussels jar Terra kgromari Groul, 887-6273 Page 2 -- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 -- 1995 BRUSSELS FIRE DEPARTMENT Back row, from left: Ross Somers, Jim Oldfield, Albert Roetcisoender, Don Bray. Middle: Bill Aitchison, Jack Overholt, Brian Deitner, Carman Machan, Murray Kellington, John Pennington. Front: Doug Sholdice, Chief Murray McArter and Don Sholdice. Absent: Max McLellan. First firefighter did it all in town Members His name was MacDowell and in the Brussels of 1932, he was everything. According to a story in The Toronto Star Weekly, from Nov. 5 if Brussels was a one-man town, that man was Const. MacDowell. The article states, "If city slickers start cutting up around the town, Chief MacDowell appears as the instrument of law and order. If fire breaks out and one did four years ago, Chief MacDowell appears in the role of adjutant of the volunteer fire brigade. He is caretaker of the municipal buildings, truant officer, dog catcher and streetsweeper. His title is utility officer." The 60 years since have obviously brought a lot of change, most notably in the Brussels Fire Department, which has grown today to a 14 person volunteer operation. Since the first fire department was formed in 1903, it has been privileged to have had some commendable support from a number of men ready to provide this service to their community. Past members Don McArter, Archie Willis, Jack McCutcheon, Dave Hastings, Bob Younge, Gordon Stephenson, Jack Mitchell, Bill King, Howard Bernard, John Exel, Bill Wheeler, Bob Richmond, Ivan Campbell, Frank Workman, Harry Mooney, Jack Logan, Charles Pope, Don (Bun) Willis, George Somers, Alvey Higgins, Albert Ten Pas, Murray Lowe, Bill McWhirter, Elliott, Alvin McWhirter, Dave Boynton, Robert Gemmel, Tom Garniss, Charlie Davidson, Frank Thompson. Present Murray McArter, who joined the department in 1980; Ross Somers, 1979; Jack Overholt, 1981; Albert Roetcisoender, 11988; Brian Deitner, 1992; Don Crawford, 1986; Don Bray, 1988; Carman Machan, 1983; Max McLellan, 1993; Bill Aitchison, 1983; John Pennington, 1975; Murray Kellington, 1984; Jim Oldfield, 1982 and Doug Sholdice, 1981. Fire Chiefs Bob Gemmel, 1946; Mel Thompson, 1947; Hartley Fischer, 1952-1959; Gordon Stephenson, 1960-1966; Jack McWhirter; Howard Bernard, retired 1993 and Murray McArter, present. Russ Hall, Paul Mutter, Mel Thompson, Harold Bridge, George Mutter, Gary Pipe, Dick McQuarrie, Brian Sanderson, H. James, Forest Whittard, Gordon McDowell, Gordon Sanderson, Bill Stephenson, Louis Ebel, Jack Higgins, Neil McDonald, Wayne Lowe, Jack McWhirter, Hartley Fischer, Dale Machan, Charlie Shaw, Jerry Wheeler, Ralph Pearson, Orrie Chief Const. MacDowell, Brussels first firefighter Best Wishes to the Brussels Fire Department on the new Fire Hall BRUSSELS 5R's COMMUNITY THRIFT SHOP Brussels 887-9072