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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. Village of Brussels Community originally named forfounder,./I inlay Brussels train station Incorporated in 1872, founded by William Ainlay, by the turn of the 20th century, Ainleyville had under gone a name change. The small town, now called Brussels continued to be a growing, bustling community with industry, commerce and serv ice. Boasting one of the most impres sive architectural streetscapes its downtown centrepiece was the Queen's Hotel. In the early 1900s there were four banks, two jewellers, several clothing stores, a carpet and linoleum business, grocery stores, hardware stores, a butcher, a drug gist. a piano factory, flour mills, monument company, evaporating factory, marble works, carriage shop and horse breeders to name just a few- businesses. The centre of community life was the town hall, built in 1872. The Brussels Post, which began telling the village news in 1873 was still in business with the Kerr family running the presses. What had attracted Ainlay to the area in the first place was its water power. Brussels’ place as a booming industrial community carried through into the dawning of the new century. Saw mills, woolen mills, grist mills, furniture makers, fire engine manufacturers, salt works and carriage factories employed many Brussels residents through the years. With no fireproofing or modern Looking north along Brussels Ttirnberry Street in the early 1900s firefighting equipment, the biggest threat to the prosperity of early Brussels were fires. Prior to the 20th century, no less than three blazes had levelled the entire business section, followed by another devastating one in 1905. While building the community, the community also worked together to provide the services necessary for growth. Until 1910, mail was deliv ered to Brussels by stage. Telegraph was the first long-distance means of communication. The lines of tele phone first opened in Brussels in the spring of 1885, when a switchboard was installed at the drug and sta tionery store. With the turn of the century, Brussels acquired a system capable of handling 30 lines with 46 tele phones in the village. For anyone not interested in having their own phone, a messenger service was established with a charge according to the dis tance. A quarter mile was $.05. More than a quarter, but less than a half mile cost $.10, while over a mile was $.20. In 1908 Findlay Scott formed the Brussels, Morris and Grey Telephone system. Doctors have served the town since its first days. Among those at the turn of the century were Dr. Graham, Dr. Kalbfleisch and Dr. McNaughton. By the mid-century the village had its own maternity boardinghouse, run by Dr. Myers and his wife, Anne. A hospital stay for new mothers was $5 per day for five to seven days. The cost of delivery that in the first year was $15. Ten years later it had increased to $56. Brussels residents could also visit their local dentist and have their ani mals treated by a veterinarian. Small communities in those days had a regular town constable. One of the first to be remembered by long time Brussels residents was Robert Oliver, who was followed in the 1920s by Gordon MacDowell, a big man, who maintained the peace in a no-nonsense manner. A story in an old Toronto Star Weekly said if Brussels was a one-man town that man was Const. MacDowell. “If city slickers start cutting up around the town, Chief MacDowell appears as the instrument of law and order.” If fire broke out, MacDowell appeared in the role of adjutant of the volunteer brigade. He was caretaker of the municipal buildings, truant officer, dog catcher and streetsweeper. His title was utility officer. As the village approaches a new millennium, amalgamation is once again altering its identity. With the provincial government pushing for restructuring, Brussels is working with the Town of Seaforth, and the Twps. of Grey, McKillop and Tuckersmith to form a new munici pality. Its once busy main street now' dis plays both a quiet dignity and a sense of abandonment. New owners have come to spruce up some structures, while others sit vacant. Transportation and larger shopping centres have challenged small retail owners. Yet, while its downtown strug gles, Brussels is still a thriving community. Many service and agricultural businesses support it. The medical/dental centre which opened in 1967 has offices for doctors from Seaforth, as well as a dentist office. The town hall has long since dis- appeared, having been tom down in 1962 when it was deemed unsafe. The bell, which rang 60 times four times a day, has been given a place of honour at the newly constructed Brussels fire hall. Today, the Brussels, Moms and Grey Community Centre, built in the late 1970s after the old arena failed to meet new provincial codes, is the hub of village life. In addition to the ice surface, the facility also boasts a large banquet and dance hall and a smaller upstairs meeting room. The village also has a swimming pool, ball diamonds and soccer fields. The public school for Grades kindergarten to 8 was constructed in 1961 and currently has an enrollment Continued on pg. 5 Brussels Town Hall prior to 1962 East Huron Produce Emporium C itizenTheNorthHuron Aocna (♦CNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS. Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil M*mb«r Ontario Prm Council E-mail norhuron@scslnternet.com The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign coun tries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement wifi be credited. Advertising Deadlines; Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 Fall Fair Building