HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-07-23, Page 34PAGE 14. HOMECOMING '97, WEDNESDAY, JULY23,1997
Memories offesteryears
Industry in Brussels started on big scale
From the September 20,1939 issue
of The Brussels Post.
By Harry J. Boyle
Of all the villages of Huron
County, for which high hopes were
held out in the last century, the one
which ranked foremost from the
standpoint of optimism for its
future was Brussels. Everything
pointed to Brussels becoming a
great industrial centre by the way in
which it gained importance shortly
after it was incorporated as a
village in 1872.
Hard luck played a big part in
dashing Brussels' hopes because
three of the town's most important
industries fell prey to flames on
different occasions.
Perhaps the most important
industry was Brussels' Steam Fire
Engine and Agricultural Works,
established in the village's earlier
days by J. D. Ronald, of Chatham.
Being anxious to have industries
the municipal councillors had
approached Mr. Ronald with the
offer of a bonus. After accepting
the manufacturer moved into newly
erected premises in 1879.
Previous to this he had been
engaged in the manufacture of fire
steamers and heavy agricultural
implements, his partner being Mr.
Hyslop.
Many of the older readers will
recall the famous old "Centennial"
engine made by the Chatham works
of Ronald and Hyslop. This was an
attraction at a great exposition and
it was later purchaser for use by the
Town of Paris.
Farmers will, of course,
remember Ronald and Hyslop for
their grain separators, the first in
Canada being the "vibrator" type.
Dominating the industry of the
prosperous Village of Brussels, the
works were conveniently located
on the main street, a feature being
an upright steam hammer made
according to specifications by a
famous Glassgow firm.
Mr. Ronald was of an inventive
turn as was shown by the fact that
the motive power for his works was
a machine of his own construction.
It was of the compound and
double-action pattern, of 40
horsepower.
The Brussels works sent their
products to many parts of the
world, one of the finest engines
they build going to Newcastle,
N.B. The price range was from
$3,000 to $5,000.
However, steam fire engines
passed from popular use and as the
main industry for the town faded
away so did many of the other
factories.
* Fire wiped out the business
section on several occasions and
Brussels today is a quiet village, a
mere shadow of what she might
have been had fortune not handed
her industries these set-backs.
Crank, crank, crank for operators
G. Gibson uncovers relic
From the August 3,1939 issue of
The Brussels Post.
An interesting relic was brought
to light one day recently when
Gerald Gibson was hoeing turnips
on the farm of Jno. Armstrong.
Although we have not had the
opinion of an authority, we believe
it is undoubtedly a flint arrowhead.
While the surface is uneven and the
edges jagged it is smooth to the
touch and polished. Whether this is
its original state or due to the effect
of being buried in the earth for
years we cannot say. It is an
interesting specimen of a North
America Indian fighting weapon.
Exactly how it came to be where
it was found will of course never be
known. It may have been left lying
by some long ago abandoned
campfire or it may have been aimed
at one of our early ancestors by a
red-skinned warrior who believed
in fighting for his rights. How it
came there doesn't matter at this
date it is the fact that so interesting
a relic of primitive life has been
found that counts.
From the October 13,1948 issue of
The Brussels Post.
It’s crank! crank! crank! for the
telephone operators on the local
exchange for every hour the hydro
is off these days. The noon hour is
always a busy one on the local
switchboard.
We can imagine that the
operators would appreciate it very
much if subscribers would confine
their calls to the minimum during
the hours the hydro is off. The girls
have to use the hand crank for
every call. Try turning the crank on
your phone for two hours straight
and we think you'll get what we
mean. Almost as bad as the fanning
mill, only on a smaller scale.
Happy 125 th
Rev. says agent not a Nazi
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
brought to my attention which
should be placed before the public.
In abnormal times such as confront
us these gravely critical days it is
easy to accept as true the most
incredible stories no matter how
fantastic or grotesque. Often these
rumours are absolutely groundless
and frequently verge on libelous
scandal which in Canada is a
criminal offense and punishable by
exceedingly heavy fines.
Certain current rumors have been
broadcast about Mr. Payne the
Rawleigh agent stationed here in
Brussels. He has been accused of
being a Nazi agent and a carrier of
Hitler propaganda. I have
investigated these fantastic tales
concocted by irresponsible people
and there is not a particle of truth in
these widely circulated rumors
which naturally have had a very
detrimental effect upon Mr. Payne's
business. Mr. Payne has made for
himself and his company a very
substantial business in the
Townships of Howick, Grey and
Morris. Il seems almost incredible
that the public should be so gullible
in accepting such stories.
Mr. Payne comes from an
honorable family in Stratford
whose integrity is unquestionable.
He is a loyal member of Centennial
Evangelical Church and for many
years has superintended their
Sunday School. His brother saw
three year's active service in France
and Russia fighting for the allied
armies. I happen to know Mr.
Payne's uncle quite intimately in
Guelph and he is a staunch
Canadian. Here is a quotation from
The Globe and Mail, of July 23,
1929. "Mr. Payne (that is Mr.
Clemens Payne's uncle) was
Private Secretary to three Prime
Ministers of Canada and a number
of Cabinet Ministers. Mr. Payne
was also a noted newspaperman
and an outstanding authority on
Canadian railways. He also was on
the editorial staff of The London
Free Press."
I am writing all this, Mr. Editor,
in the hope that the people of
Brussels and surrounding
community will be fair and
manifest reasonable judgment in
such matters. If they do not I can
only suggest that more stringent
measures will be taken to sift this
whole unfortunate affair.
Thanking you for your valuable
space, I am,
Yours sincerely,
Harry J. Mahoney
Minister Brussels United Church
Best Wishes Brussels
for your 125th
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