Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 16THANK YOU After a service record of 30-plus years with the Brussels Fire Department, retiring Chief Howard Bernard, right, received recognition from the village in 1993. Reeve Gordon Workman presented Mr. Bernard with a watch in appreciation. Grants aid construction 881-3424 R.R. #3 Walkerton speclal vioatAatly We welcome Brussels Fire Department to the Industrial Park VALMETAL Huron Feeding Systems Joe Seili Brussels 887-6289 Best wishes to the Brussels Fire Department Brass& Country Inn Brussels 887-9035 CONGRATULATIONS on the GRAND OPENING of the Fire Hall We are pleased to have done the foundation Doerr Bros. Construction Inc. • concrete foundations • excavating • crane service Bodco FARM EQUIPMENT INC. We were pleased to have done the pfumbing, heating and electrical workfor the new Brussels Fire Half. Congratulations DALE MACHAN PLUMBING, HEATING & ELECTRICAL Brussels 519-887-6107 Page 4 -- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 -- Bernard stays involved This year, thanks to infrastructure money from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, Brus- sels built a new fire hall at the north end of the village. Before making a decision to pro- ceed with the building, council held a public meeting. The purpose was to determine whether the ratepayers felt the fire hall was a necessary project, and how they would feel about having the facility built to incorporate, either in the future or immediately, space for the clerk's office and council chambers. While the public expressed a negative view regarding moving the municipal office from the downtown core, there was 100 per cent support for the new fire hall. Earlier this year, the work was complete and the fire department made its move to the spacious new structure. Over the years the Brussels Fire The War II Brussels Fire Department used an upright steam pumper to battle blazes. The pumper was equipped with runners in the winter to get through the deep snow. Fire wood was ready in the pumper's boiler at all times, to be lit when the the fire bell rang. The horses were kept in the hotel livery barn, where The Ark is located, on the east side of Turnberry St. Water was supplied by under- ground cisterns placed in various places throughout the village. By the late 1920s there were a few watermains and hydrants in the village. The pumphouse was locat- ed by the river, behind Charlie Pope's machine shop, where JR's now stands. In 1952, the Brussels Fire Department went through a refor- mation. The previous department had been disbanded following an incident where the fire truck got stuck in a manure pile. The new department began with Hartley Fis- cher, Orrie Elliott and Gordon Stephenson, members of the past department. Some years ago the police were Continued from page 3 ment. It was fairly short-lived. A just getting too much. I'm getting to the point I like to relax on week- ends." Bernard also noted how the administrative end of being chief had changed in recent years, with so much paper work and govern- ment legislation making the job a burden, even for a small depart- ment such as the 14 person Brus- sels one. In 1983 a Huron Expositor story stated that Bernard had retired as fire chief of the Brussels Depart- ment. It was fairly short-lived. A few issues later, he was back fight- ing fires as chief. "Someone convinced him to stay on," his wife Joan, explains when asked about it today. "h was such a brief retirement, I had forgotten it happened." In July of 1993, a committee selected Bernard as The North Huron Citizen's Citizen of the Year. Though there were many nominations, the committee felt that "the retirement of someone who has been so dedicated to com- munity service made Bernard a nat- ural choice at this time." Department has been housed in various buildings throughout the village. The first known fire hall was in the old town hall, locat- ed on what is now the Royal Canadian Legion property from 1875 until the early 1960s. The old town bell served double shift, summoning the fire men to calls. Then the hall was moved to what is now JR's Gas Bar and Take Out. After so many years in the same place, this move resulted in a bit of confusion for the brave volunteers. One story tells of Howard Bernard and Bill King running in opposite directions, heading for the hall. The department was then moved Early Brussels fire hall to a building on the south edge of the downtown core until 1962 when the department purchased its most recent home, the building on Thomas St. West for $1,000. In 1975 a meeting room addition was constructed on the old fire hall. called in to investigate a false fire alarm that was phoned from Brus- sels to Seaforth reporting that the new American Hotel was on fire and help was needed. Seaforth Fire Brigade was called out but the hoax was discovered as they began their trip. Pre-war dept. on Turnberry St.