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The Citizen, 1996-07-31, Page 1566006 (.01 JS 1 ory o CMG Provides a full range of banking services Blyth, Ontario 519-523-4247 to Morris Township on your 140th Birthday Proud to be serving the residents of Morris Township CARDIFF & MULVEY REAL ESTATE & INSURANCE LTD. BROKE R • Farm • Residential • Commercial Phone 519-887-6100 Fax 519-887-6109 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1996 PAGE 15. Morris Kicks in '96 140 YEARS 140 YEARS Belgrave struggles to save businesses in Depression During the Depression years, the Belgrave community struggled to save the business section of their village by bucket brigade, when fire burned out the Hardware and Feed Store owned by Robert McKenzie, and spread to the nearby hotel, before it was contained. From a slow beginning, the village quickly increased in population and development, with the establishment of the London, Huron and Bruce Railway station here in 1876, as merchants and businessmen moved toward the railway facilities. Belgrave on Hwy. 4, halfway between Blyth and Wingham, is divided between the townships of Morris and East Wawanosh. Edward Foley purchased a 1/4- acre lot on the Wawanosh side of Belgrave in the 1850s, and set up a tavern known as Haggerty's Corners, as it was managed by Dan Haggerty. By this name, the whole settlement was known, until 1868 when the church treasurer decided that it wasn't fitting, and started to use the name "Belgrave" in the church records. Some say that this was in honour of an English lord, while others say that a settler named Bell was buried here, hence "Bells Grave". But the name suited everyone, and so it was adopted as the permanent name for the village. One of the earliest buildings on the Morris side of the village was the Presbyterian Church. Known as Knox Church, Morris, it was Belgrave's only church from 1865 to 1873, when the Methodist Church was erected. In 1875 the Anglican Church was also built in Belgrave. Trinity closed its doors last year. Knox remains open. The first general store, built in 1865, is on the Morris side. It was built by Simon Armstrong and the post office was opened here with Mr. Armstrong the postmaster, that same year. In 1865, Belgrave also had two hotels to accommodate travellers on the trail between Clinton and the northern part of the Queen's Bush. One was built on the East Wawanosh side by Charles Blakeley, and on the Morris side, William Scandrett managed the Queen's Hotel, built by Christopher Morley. A hall in this building was used for early public meetings. By 1882, there were four general stores in the village, two tailors, two blacksmiths, a tannery, a hardware and a wagon maker. An early shoe shop was operated by L. Pearson. A lumber shipping business had been started before 1879 with logs being sent to London from Mr. Agnew. In 1883, gangs of Frenchmen from Quebec were brought in by Mr. Badore to produce the timer and the square oak that he shipped out at the station. Tom Brandon was the postmaster after Mr. Armstrong until 1882. The store was sold to Charles McClelland, whose sisters opened a millinery in part of the building. By 1882, the Queen's Hotel was owned by John Scandrett and this was Salesmen sell in Queen's where commercial travellers would often display their wares. In 1883, a town meeting was held in Morley's Hall to arrange the building of a grist and flour mill. over en a strategic the wnship bridge was built allow ingpeople Maitlando Wawanosh, that eatpctioorl rce large quantities re timber being access to with Belgravef, of the village grew to thesta"n:, iiaa Or. of grain, wood ties, trieallivibietairrtekodnanads theirsgua 'medical doctor and Dr. Henry Kirkby as the resident veterinarian. J. A. Brandon operated a shingle factory, with Messrs. Gillespie and Westbrook cutting and packing 99 bunches of shingles in 11 1/2 hours here, on one exceptional day. In 1910, the village ladies had a baseball team. William Geddes, who had purchased the saw mill from E. Livingston, and changed it to a grist mill, was erecting a new smoke stack of 65 feet on his building. Between 1900 and 1901, the Belgrave General Store had passed to A. E. Erskine, and then to David Sproat and W. K. Whaley. A 1912 addition to the Forester's Hall by contractors, George Procter and W. G. Geddes, enlarged the seating capacity of the building greatly. With prohibition a reality in the Township of Morris, William Geddes purchased the Queen's Hotel on April 2, 1914, and declared that he was going to run it as a good temperance house. A branch office of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was established in a section of Queen's Hotel by 1916, under the management of Cameron Geddes. It was closed during the Depression. On Nov. 13, 1915, the chopping mill owned by George Jordan was burned to the ground. Mr. Jordan immediately rebuilt and since that time, the property has passed in turn from George Cook, to Frank Sturdy, to Alex Mowbray, Alex Manning and today belongs to the Belgrave Co-op. Belgrave today has two churches: Knox United and Calvin-Brick. There has been a great development in the residential section of Belgrave during the past 10 years. In 1973, responding to a demand for more housing in the village, the Morris Township Municipal Council purchased the first of a series of land areas for development. Both the first and second purchase was made from John Thomas Rinn, on Jan. 8 and Sept. 30 of that year. On Aug. 2, 1976 an additional land parcel was purchased from Sam Pletch who later developed separate sections for sale in 1976 and 1979. The Taylor subdivision was set up in July 11, 1979 and a last strip of houses was developed by John Rinn, soon after on the south side. In July 1973, a plan to build storm sewers that would service these lots was tabled, and streetlights were being added to the development. In the 1950s, the population of Belgrave was 125; by 1979 it had increased to 265. In 1970, the number of houses on the Morris side of Belgrave was 60, increasing to 74 in 1976 and 100 in 1981. Four apartment buildings owned by Jack Van Camp, are also located in the village. Belgrave seems to have grown into a "sleeper" town where people who commute/elsewhere for their employment make their homes. Cortgratuttations .W4461 COZ., edossaiwA Glenn, John and families are proud and pleased to have served Morris Township and area for over 45 years in the construction business. JOHN MCKERCHER CONSTRUCTION LTD. • Backhoeing • Bulldozing • Loader & Truck Rental SAND, GRAVEL AND TOPSOIL R.R. #2, Bluevale (519) 887-9061 (519) 887-9999