HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-07, Page 20-- Brussels Fire Department 1903 - 1995 -- ei 014 ei 014
Page 8
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
July of 1991, a fire at a house on Catherine St. broke out about 9 p.m. Volunteers
extinguished the blaze, then returned to the fire hall, only to be called back to the scene a
half hour later after the fire flared up again. The cause was undetermined.
Brussels fire levels downtown
With the progress of man and machine, the Brussels
of today, has fortunately not seen the devastation of
major fires too many times.
Over the years it has had its share, however.
In 1968, Mrs. Clarke Matheson compiled a historical
sketch of Brussels, which contained an excerpt
regarding its pioneer days.
"Between 1860 and 1875, Brussels had disastrous
fires, which levelled the business part of the village. I
can remember my father telling of the last fire which
started in the J.D. Ronald foundry. It was a hot dry
season and hope for saving the factory was gone. It
was felt that the river would prevent any damage to the
business section. Suddenly, the fire jumped the river
and practically every store in the village was burned to
the ground. Rather than discouraging them, these
reverses seemed to spur them on to build better and
more substantial buildings. Many of the business
blocks erected after the last major fire are still
standing."
Man burned in garage fire
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
P.O. Box 30,
Wroxeter, Ontario
NOG 2X0
Congratulations
to the
Brussels Fire Department
on the opening of the
new fire hail
Quality Used Cars & Trucks
"We not only sell cars - we service them"
Brussels 887-9269
TODD'S BAKERY
887-6666
Brussels
Best wishes to the
Brussels Fire
Department
• Fresh Bread • Donuts
• Party Orders • Rolls
TOO D'S
13AKILRY
"muss. 4.5 env
SO, 461,1
Congratulations
-to the Brussels Fire Department
on the completion of their
new fire hall
Blyth
523-9681
1-800-276-4163
Brussels
887-9661
Wartime house fire
still vivid memory
Local resident Charlie Thomas
recalls a time in the early 1940s
when the efforts of the Brussels
firefighters and the support of the
community were invaluable to his
family.
Verna Thomas and her four chil-
dren were asleep that night. Her
husband was with the armed forces
overseas. Charlie says that the fam-
ily was awakened in the wee hours
of the morning by a passerby, who
had seen that their home, located
near Melville Presbyterian Church,
was on fire. "It was because of him
that we got out. They never did fig-
ure out what caused the fire, but it
appeared to have started under my
bedroom. I know I was the closest
to it; I got my feet singed going
downstairs."
When volunteers from the fire
department arrived, a group of
them ran in and carried out some of
the furniture.
The fire completely destroyed the
roof of the home, while the down-
stairs rooms sustained water dam-
age. The basement was completely
flooded.
"In today's world they probably
would have torn the house down,
but the community scoured around;
Doug McDonald, the owner of the
lumber yard, found some nails and
lumber and we rebuilt it."
For a youngster it was a memory
never to be forgotten. "It's as vivid
today as it was that night 50 years
ago."
his arms and face. He had been
working around a gasoline tank of a
car when an electric light bulb on
an extension cord broke, exploding
the gas. Brussels firefighters, led by
Chief Gordon Stephenson arrived
at the scene within five minutes and
had the blaze under control in a
nearly destroyed. A car and truck
that had been in the building were
also lost.
half hour.
The top half of the garage
escaped with light damage. One
new car, two used cars, equipment
and stock were lost. The garage
office sustained smoke and water
damage. Total loss was estimated at
$50,000
Mr. Graber eventually rebuilt the
business, which is now the site of
Brussels Auto Sales.
Fire guts auto body shop
A flash fire at Bridge Motors in
Brussels in 1966 damaged the inte-
rior of a two-storey garage and sent
one man to hospital.
Glen Bridge, the son of the busi-
ness's owner, George, was taken to
Wingham after suffering bums to
In the 70s, fire gutted Carl's Body
Shop, located at the south end of
Brussels on Tumberry St. at about
10:30 a.m. Damages were estimat-
ed at $40,000 and the shop was
Train brings engine
Continued from page 7
of the Ross mill and Cober factory
with their thousands of dollars
worth of machinery and stock will
be no small loss to the town and
vicinity as well as the owners.
A horse and rig belonging to
Joseph Whitfield, of Grey, were
burned in the Queen's stable and
new buggies, the property of
Joseph Clegg, of Morris, and one
owned by Joseph Querin met the
same fate.
Mayor Watson, of Listowel, was
in town and telephoned Chairman
Hay of the Fire and Water
Committee, to send their fire
engine which was soon dispatched
by a special train from Palmerston.
It was set to work in drowning out
smouldering ruins. The service was
prompt and the Mayor and Mr. Hay
are well deserving of hearty thanks.