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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. Hamlet of Cranbrook Residents keep community hall, church busy Home of Henry Mueller, local business man, built 1868 Until 1878, the post office was called Grey. In 1885, when the railroad had bypassed them, residents did not see a prosperous future for the hamlet. At that time there were four church­ es, two stores, a sawmill, lime kiln, post office, school and cider mill. Park Lot 1 of The Plot, the north­ west corner of South and Albert Streets, was the site of the first tav­ ern in the township, built by James Tuck in 1854. Though called the Montreal House it was known local­ ly as Tuck’s. The site for many meetings,. con­ certs and gatherings, Tuck’s shared council meetings with Dame’s Hotel to the south in Tannerville. Tuck’s burned in 1895 under suspicious cir­ cumstances. A German Lutheran Church offered services in Cranbrook until the early 1900s when membership declined. The Methodist Church was con­ structed in 1864, west along 5>outh Street. The building was not used after Church Union in 1925. In the early days, there was „also a Wesleyan Methodist Church which united with other Methodists in the 1880s. Knox Presbyterian's first services wer£ held in 1866. The building was moved to the north part of the lot along Albert Street, enlarged and bricked in 1888. The congregation decided against union and remained Presbyterian. It continues today. The community hall was built in 1950, south of Knox Church. The Tannerville plan, surveyed in 1857, was on part of Lot 15, Cone. 12 and named for its owner, William Tanner, who owned a store and was postmaster in 1855. Dame’s Hoteh known also as Saurer Kraut, Union and Longs, was rebuilt after a fire in 1889. The Mueller plan was on Lot 16 of Cone. 11 and 12. Many of the small lots once sur­ veyed for Cranbrook disappeared from 1880 to 1900 when elderly res­ idents sold the lots to farmers eager for more land. This has resulted in some unusual lot lines. Over the years there was also a flax mill, baker, stone quarry, slaughter house, pump shop, cooper shop, wagon and carriage shop, brick yard, chopping mill, blacksmith, body shop and broiler bams. Cranbrook is a quaint little com­ munity with a collection of houses around an intersection as well as a community hall and church kept busy by local residents. However, when first laid out in the 19th century, Cranbrook consisted of the original plot, Tannerville and Mueller plans resulting in several hundred lots. The majority of the lots were sur­ veyed between Sideroad 10/11 and 15/16 (McNabb Line) on Cone. 11 (Cranbrook Rd.), in 1855. The Mueller plan was east of Sideroad 15/16 (McNabb Line) and Tannerville was to the south, on Cone. 12. Five hundred acres surveyed in the middle of the concession were known as the Plot or Town Plot for 50 years. Cranbrook was original chosen to be the dividing line between Morris and Grey Twps. but county council decided to move it north to Brussels. Knox Presbyterian todayPresbyterian and Methodist Churches circa 1900 LIFE AND TIMES OF A 1928 MODEL A FORD By Don McNeil This old 1928 Model A Ford was traded in at the J.C. McNeil Shell Service in the early 1950s. It soon became useful for hauling garbage, oil cans, and mufflers and discarded car parts to the town dump. Also in the wintertime it was used for plowing snow in the front of the old Shell garage on Turnberry St., North of Brussels. With an old board plank blade and tire chains it could push a lot of snow. In the later 50s I pumped gas for the day to customers so Dad would pay me 35 cents worth of gas for this old car so that I could to go driving in the fields for a little while. That was a whole gallon back then. The car had no special treatment as it sat outside all of the time. In 1959, though too young to 'drive legally I managed to persuade my parents to let me decorate the car for what was possibly its first parade, the Brussels Fall Fair. From then on it became History. One year I did a 1967 Centennial parade, another year I did 8 parades advertising for Whitechurch Sand and Gravel. I have also floated this car to Barrie, Ont., one year for a very cold Santa Claus parade. I very much enjoy getting the old relic out, buttering up the old buddies to ride down the street and make a little noise. Thanks to those people over the years who had enough courage to ride or play the drums and see a few smiles and laughter along the way. In my mind this is the ULTIMATE PARADE MACHINE! Owned and operated by Don McNeil of Brussels. P.S. Thanks to the riders and helpers who find room for a little more. We also over the years, have done weddings as requested by the bridal parties. These have been appreciated by all. YEARS McNEIL's 6° in ° GARAGE BUSINESS BRUSSELS, ONT. Family business started in 1946. J.C. McNeil's Shell Service operating in the garage business for 35 years. This took place in the Philip Ament building on the north end of Brussels, that was built in 1904 and carried on as a factory as the Little Red Wagon Co. producing wagons, rocking chairs, butter boxes, etc. into the 1930's. Jim McNeil returned from the air force in 1946 and started his garage business and built living quarters above the shop for his family. In the late 70's the building was leased to the Dominion Chain Co. as a factory for about 8 years. In the 90's it became storage for Don McNeil’s antique cars and parts. On August 14, 1999 the building was transformed into a wedding place for Dan McNeil and his bride Jennifer Cox from Teeswater. In 1976 Don McNeil started McNeil's Auto Body on Mill Street west in Brussels. This was out of the shop that previously was Frank's Auto Body. McNeil's Auto Body has been operating now for 23 years, doing collision repairs for insurance company claims, refinishing and antique auto restoration. With ever-changing government regulations and stricter requirements, it has been a challenge to keep our small business competitive against larger operations. We would like to thank our customers for their continued trust in choosing McNeil's Auto Body through our many years in business. It is our hope that support of small business into the new millennium will sustain our communities. Bus. (519) 887-6833 Fax/Res. (519) 887-9216 We Specialize in Collision and Refinishing Classic & Antique Car Repairs Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 ■