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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 18Congratulations to Brussels Fire Department Cl-AOICE Ar0' Store Hours r We Deriver Brussels 519-887-6294 Tues -Sat 9:00 - 6:00 Congratulations to.Brussels Fire Department on the completion of your new building. CHECK OUR GREAT SELECTION OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES • Feed • Animal Health Supplies • Pet Food • Boots • Canes • Ear Tags • Prods • Shovels • Forks • Gates (made to fit) • Feeders • Fencing Supplies • Cedar Posts Masterfeeds BRUSSELS AGRI SERVICES R. R. #3 Brussels 519-887-9391 Council of the Village of Brussels would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Fire Chief Murray McArter and the members of the Brussels Fire Department for their co-operation and hard work during the construction of the new fire hall. your Family 9-lair Care Centre' Brussels 887-6751 Wingham 357-1932 Page 6 -- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 -- Transportation historti Changing vehicles mark passing years PRESERVED After an auspicious beginning with the Brussels Fire Department this 1953 pumper is still a part of the hall. Purchased in the early 1970s the pump was found to be broken due to freezing. It had been used by a farmer to pump liquid manure, prior to coming to Brussels. From the horse drawn fire appa- ratus of the early fire department to the shiny red pumper of today, the Brussels Fire Department has come a long way. Chief Murray McArter tells of how in the early days when the siren sounded the team of horses had to be harnessed where they were kept at the one end of town then brought to the wagon at the other end to be hitched. By the time they arrived at the fire, it was, on many occasions, to drown the smoldering embers. The first truck owned by the department was a 1926 Chevrolet chemical truck tank that had had a high pressure chemical to replace the hand pulled chemical hose reel. The truck was later sold to Wellington Marks and converted into a farm truck by Tom Gamiss. A 1929 Chevrolet pumper was purchased in 1947 from Bickle Seagrave, Woodstock for $2,960. It was sold in 1982 for $5,200 to make room for the delivery of a new fire truck. In 1994 a former Brussels firefighter, Jack McCutcheon bought the truck, which had been used as an antique in Shriner's parades in St. Thomas for a time. In the early 1970s, the depart- m.ent ran into a bit of bad luck when it acquired a 1953 Chevrolet pumper from an Uxbridge farmer. The truck was apparently used to pump liquid manure. After the pur- chase it was discovered that the pump was broken due to freezing. In the late 1970s, a blue Chevro- let step van was purchased in Donegal and converted into a res- cue van. Body work and interior modifications were done by fire- fighters, while the paint (fire engine red of course) and materials were donated by Carl's Auto Body, which also did the refinishing. Support was also received from the local Lions and Optimists Clubs. The van, which was used to carry extra resuscitation equipment and a stretcher, was sold in 1982 along with the pumper to make room for This commemorative issue was published for the Brus- sels Fire Department by The North Huron Citizen. It was compiled and researched by Bonnie Gropp from informa- tion contributed by members of the community and the Brussels Fire Department, past and present. Special thanks goes to The Huron Expositor for their assistance. the new fire truck. The van was purchased by Graeme MacDonald. Morris Twp. purchased a GMC water truck to supplement the exist- ing fire protection equipment. The tanker was housed at the Brussels fire hall, but was available for use by brigades from Wingham and Blyth. The 1,200 gallon tanker was purchased for about $1,000 and negotiations were done with neigh- bouring townships for its use in emergency. It was later moved to the Blyth Fire Department. A fundraising campaign raised enough to assist with the purchase of a 1981 Ford F900 pumper on March 15, 1982. After three weeks of extensive canvassing in the village, a cheque in the amount of $31,682 was pre- sented to the village towards the payment of the truck. Approxi- mately $17,000 was in a special reserve fund which was used towards the total purchase of $51,682. By the time the fundraising cam- paign ended in June of 1982 a total of $53,000 had been raised, exceeding the purchase price. The balance went towards the purchase of a new hose, radios and miscella- neous equipment. In August of 1983 the Brussels fire department purchased with funds from ticket sales and a dona- tion from the Lions Club its first car rescue gear. The gear included a plastic air splint kit ti immobilize fractures prior to transporting a vic- tim as well as a metal and wood cutting power saw. PART OF HISTORY After incorporation a wide range of industries were set up in the village of Brussels. A subsidy of $20,000 was offered to J.D. Ronald of Chatham Agricultural Works, which supplied a "Centennial" fire engine and "Vibrator" separator made famous all over Canada and the world. This Brussels industry employed 40 to 50 people. This picture is of thee Ronald Steamer, circa 1890, which was operated by the Liverpool Fire Department until the 1920s. It is housed in the Firefighters Musuem at Yarmouth Nova Scotia.