HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-07-23, Page 23HOMECOMING '97, WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1997 PAGE 3.
Brussels School Board boasts of success About this issue
From the March 18,1887 of The
Brussels Post
With the object of calling
attention to the effective working
of this body and the success
attending our school we have taken
the trouble to prepare a short sketch
of each of the members of the
board. It is not disparaging to the
persons sitting at the school boards
in past years to state that, probably,
a more representative body has not
filled the chairs for years.
Brussels has the honour of setting
the example of electing a lady
trustee and when in January 1885
Mrs. J. R. Smith was elected, after
a warm contest, our enterprising
village was brought very noticeably
before the public by the fact of a
lady being placed in the position.
Mrs. Smith was born near
Newcastle and received a good
education at the High School of
that town, and afterward put in
some time at the Normal School,
the government at the latter place.
In 1865 he visited England and on
his return lived at Brantford for two
years. From there he removed to
Lucknow where for eight years he
attended to the Montreal Tel. Cos.
business and acted as Deputy
Postmaster in addition to his own
business. He came to Brussels in
1878. Mr. Fletcher was at the
Council Board for a year. He is
unassuming but level headed and
trustworthy.
Last election was the first trustee
election by ballot and when the
ballots were counted it was found
that J. Hargreaves headed the poll.
Mr. Hargreaves was born in
London, Ont. in the year 1855. He
afterward removed to Chatham
where he managed a business for a
while and in August 1883 he
purchased his present business
from Dr. Graham. Mr. Hargreaves
has made a large circle of friends in
and around town and his genial
we are safe in predicting that he
will make a number one trustee and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
manner has done much for him.
Although only a few months have
elapsed since his election we think
■ *' ■
Homestead — This is a photo of John William Kerr, one of
Brussels' earliest residents, taken beside his home on the comer
of Thomas and Elizabeth Streets at the location currently
occupied by Lome and Jane Draper. (Photo submitted by Jack
Bryans)
Editor's Note: While
researching the Brussels 125th
anniversary history book "Our
Story — From Ainleyville to
Brussels", we discovered a
number of interesting, and in
some cases colourful, stories from
old editions of The Brussels Post.
As the book contains as
extensive a history as we could
produce in the time allotted,
which we would not want to
duplicate in this commemortive
issue, and as space did not allow
for the inclusion of all of our
discoveries we decided to publish
some of them here.
May your "Stroll Through the
Past" with "Memories of
Yesteryears" be an enjoyable and
enlightening experience.
Toronto, and the Ladies' College,
Hamilton. Out of a family of ten
children seven were school
teachers. Mrs. Smith taught about
twelve years, and her experience
gives her a great advantage in
filling the position of trustee. She
has been an energetic worker in
school affairs and has purposed a
number of improvements that have
worked admirably and we believe
this new era enacted in our school
board of having a lady on the board
has been productive of good.
The oldest member of the Board
is Finlay S. Scott. He first gazed
upon Canadian scenery on Nov. 14,
1848, at Harpurhey, Huron Co.
Shortly after this his parents moved
to Morris township and "Fin" was
sent to SS No. 2, Grey and
afterward attended school in Hullett
Twp., his teacher being Principal
Shaw of the Brussels school. Mr.
Scott taught two years and came to
town in 1870. In 1879 he received
the appointment of bailiff of the
Fourth Division Court and he also
holds a number of other positions.
He has sat al the Board for five
years and is now filling the
honourable position of chairman.
He makes a splendid trustee and
has taken a lively interest in the
management of the school.
At the trustee election of 1886
Harry Dennis was one of the
successful candidates and by his
straightforward, unbiased course
has given the ratepayers no
occasion to regret their choice. Mr.
Dennis claims Goderich township
as his birthplace and counts his
years from 1854. After receiving a
good common school education he
went to Clinton in 1871 where he
served his apprenticeship to the
harness making. He came to
Brussels in 1882 and purchased the
business of Geo. Davison, now of
Winnipeg. He is of a very
independent turn and will not be
lead by anyone and on account of
this qualification has made an
efficient trustee.
Thos. Fletcher was elected the
same year Mr. Dennis was and the
minutes of the School board give
evidence that he is not only
generally in his place but does his
part in furthering school affairs.
Mr. Fletcher is an Englishman by
birth, being born at
Nottinghamshire in 1845. He came
to America in 1855 and located at
Brantford where he learned the
watchmaking. He lived for two
years in Cleveland, Ohio, and
Tennessee, filing a position under
Brussels Council welcomes
everyone to Brussels to join in
celebrating our 125th birthday
Back Row: Mary Stretton, Councillor; Greg Wilson, Councillor; Joe Sell!, Councillor
Ralph Watson, Councillor.
Front Row: Donna White, Clerk-Treasurer; Gord Workman, Reeve.
Special thanks to the Homecoming Committee and the many, many volunteers
who organized and participated in making this fun-filled weekend possible.
It's a great opportunity to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances.
Thanks to our friends and neighbours in Grey and Morris who helped make our
weekend successful. Brussels & area businesses and residents need to be
applauded for their decorating and flag flying endeavors. It's great to see Brussels
all spruced up, for this special occasion.
COME AND HAVE FUN!