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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 13THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. PAGE 13. Hamlet of Bluevale Moms side of^luevale known as Gardner Survey 1920. The Bluevale and District Recreation Association was formed in 1962 to try to provide a skating area for residents. The land was given to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority in 1963, though the ball park and skating rink were main­ tained by the association. Creation of the ice surface stopped in 1967. The park received a facelift in 1979. Bluevale is still an active commu­ nity with churches, sports teams, car dealerships, a restaurant and com­ munity hall. The Turnberry Twp. office is located in Bluevale.Knox Presbyterian Sitting on the Turnberry and Morris Twp. boundary, Bluevale was first settled in 1854 by Alexander Duncan and Jacob Cantelon. The Morris Twp. section of the hamlet, south of the Maitland River, was known as the Gardner Survey by Market day at Bluevale 1875 as the land was o<vned by John Gardner. With the township contributing $10,000 towards the construction of the Wellington Grey and Bruce Railroad, it was stipulated the station be built in Morris. It was at the cen­ Saw mill/grist mill The mill today tre of Lot 31, Cone. 1, at the south­ ern end of the hamlet. The first train passed through Bluevale in 1874. The track was leased to Great Western Railway in 1882, merged in to the Grand Trunk in 1893 and became the Canadian National in 1923. The Listowel to Wingham line was abandoned in 1991 and lifted two years later. A sawmill, shingle mill and dry hotel, The Clyde, were established near the station. On the Turnberry side of the community, there were two general stores, the post office, grocery, butcher shop, boot and shoe store, grain buying business, tele­ graph office, two tailors, three black­ smiths, a wagon maker, grist mill, planing mill, butter factory, furniture business, tannery, two more hotels and three churches. The Biuevale bridge was con­ structed in 1877. Bluevale had two Methodist churches in the early days, but they eventually joined in 1884, and were part of a three-point charge by 1890. A white brick building was con­ structed that year, serving the com­ munity until church union in 1925. The structure was tom down and the foundation used for the community hall in 1945. The original frame Knox Presbyterian Church, built in 1866 was replaced by a brick structure in 1907. It became the United Church in 1925. The Presbyterians built a new church in 1927 and continue in 1999. The cheese and butter factory opened in 1887. When it was threat­ ened with bankruptcy in 1878, the farmers formed a joint stock compa­ ny. After an explosion in 1889, the original building was replaced with a brick structure. Arson was suspected. By 1897, butter was the main prod­ uct. It was sold to H.H. Hammond in 1918 who intended to expand the. creamery business. Through several owners, the creamery continued until 1971. Due to the tremendous business being carried out by Joseph Leech's sawmill, pollution of the Maitland River was a concern in 1879. The mill was struck by fires in 1883, twice in 1893 (one was suspected as arson) and again in 1908. With the lumber business declining, the own­ ers turned to bridge building. The dam was equipped with a steel top in 1914 and the mill was removed from the site in 1918. A flax mill operated from 1879 to 1907. The building was removed in Gore's Home Hardware has been in business since November 15; 1974 owned and operated by Gene and Nan Gore, It was purchased from Tom and Cheryl Cronin who also had it as a Home Hardware for 9 1/2 years. Before that it was owned by Harold and Myrtle Vodden as a hardware store and at one time a bakery and Helen Gowing owned it as a Millinery Shop. Gore's Home Hardware Queen St., Blyth 523-9273 Luann's Country Flowers Blyth 523-4440 While Luann's Country Flowers & Gifts has only been part of Blyth's streetscape for about five years, the building which houses the shop has a long history in the village. Built as a frame structure in the early days it changed hands many times prior to 1882. In that year it was purchased by druggist James Hamilton. According to a newspaper report in 1887, Mr. Hamilton had a flare for advertising. To publicize new dyes he was stocking, he dyed three pigeons, one orange, one blue and one pink, before releasing them in the hamlet. The business was transferred to James M. Hamilton in 1895. Five years later, the building was heavily damaged by a fire which started in the neighbouring furniture store. A brick structure was constructed. In 1923, Robert McKay, converted the shop to a jewellery store and optometrist office. It was a drug store from 1929 to 1969, run by Del and Ruby Philp. Jim and Thelma Wilson purchased the shop, operating Wilson's Health & Gift Centre until 1995. Luann Taylor and Ken Hesselwood, who opened Luann's Country Flowers & Gifts in the summer of 1995, customized the building for that purpose. Always emphasizing customer service and quality products, Luann offers a wide variety of Victorian to country gifts, along with a large selection of fresh and silk flowers, ribbon and helium balloons. Luann's is also the local Sears outlet.