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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-07-22, Page 20A railroad town Grand Trunk Railway was built in Bluevale in the early 1870s to provide goods and services for the locals. (Photo Get Your Message AROUND THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY If you have important papers that need to go somewhere FAST ... use THE CITIZEN'S FAX MACHINE! Our Fax machine can contact any other Fax machine, in the world, instantly. We offer this service for a cost of $4.00 per printed sheet for the first one and $1.00 per additional sheet. (And the long distance charges are free in North America) Our Fax Number, is also your number, so use it to receive your messages at $1.00 per sheet. HERE ARE OUR FAX NUMBERS... BLYTH 523-9140 BRUSSELS 887-9021 WE CAN RECEIVE 24 HRS. PER DAY! PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2004. Remembering Bluevale 's 150 years submitted) Probably many of its residents have been asked. "Bluevale, where's that?" Bluevale is unknowmto fame but it has been home for. many during its 150 years of history. Those who have left it have cherished the memory Of the Maitland RiNier and its surroundings. A London Free Press reporter in 1938 Wrote "Bluevale is one of those charming and picturesque villages of Western Ontario." Railway: In the early 1870s with villages springing up all over -the township. the Grand Trunk Railway was built in Bluevale to provide goods and services for the locals. The early farmers no longer had to trudge 20 miles to have grain ground into flour at a grist mill. The roads. though undependable in wet or snowy weather, were the only developing links between the- settlers and the market until the railway in 1872. Teamsters drove great loads of grain and sawlogs by sleigh or wagon down the Northern Gravel Road making this railroad line Canada's most prosperous within 10 years But the people. wanted more convenient and closer access to the railway. seeing in it a means of getting their produce to market efficiently and also a closer bond with other communities in the young country. Aware of the profits to be made by the extension of the railway through the rich farming townships to the north, the railway companies were also eager to advance into the area. The Grey and Bruce Railway Company was one of the major rail corporations of the -day and was affiliated with the Great Western Railroad Company. This company planned to build stations at Ainleyville. Bluevale and Wingham. which would then be 'accessible to the grand Trunk line. The- provincial government withheld aid for this project but in April 1872 the municipal council decided to push the line through Bluevale even without subsidy. A work crew of only 200 men pushed the line through between the area of Ainleyville (now part of Brussels) and Bluevale at a wage of $1.25 per day. Morris council prepared to advance a $10,000 bonus toward the railway as part of their agreement. Shops and Stores: It is said that with the mills and homes," taverns were built. There were (bur at one time, the owners being Jack Paterson, Henry Pugh, William and Mr. McCullough. The last one went up in flames in 1913 on the lot where the Presbyterian manse is now. Bars were abolished that year and hotel keeping was no longer profitable. The first storekeeper was John Messer. John died a young man and the store was taken over -by his brother William who managed it until a short time before he died in 1910. Across the street was the Jacob Cantelon store on the site where John and Margaret Thompson now live..There was also a grocery store in the dwelling that was owned by the Mann family. It later became a music store with a musician, Ross Mann, who ran it and sold instruments. In -early times the general stores sold everything from molasses and dned herring in barrels to dry goods. groceries. medicine and tools. It was very convenient after the days of homespun to buy cloth, thread and buttons at Messer's store and take them next door to William Gray's tailor shop to have a suit made. Mrs. Finley -Bailey had a dressmaker's shop on Duncan Street. . In early days nearly all purchases were made right in Bluevale. The post office came early to Bluevale, before 1860, and the mail was carried by stage. The post office was always in one of the stores and was moved from one store to the other. The first separate post office was built in 1956 by A.D. Smith. There were little shops in pioneer days as the need arose. The • old Lowry house was once a candy store and before that at sboe store. There were two blacksmith shops, almost opposite each other, the proprietors being Frank Scott and. Wat Davidson. Frank Scott's brother, Dr. Scott, was an early doctor in Bluevale and later -practised for many years in Seaforth. After Bluevale was without a doctor for a long time, a doctor came from Toronto with his wife in the early 1890S. They rented rooms on the top floor of a house on the corner next to the Mann residence. That house had formerly been a hotel, but was then a residence, with a barber shop at the front run by Bob McPherson. The shop had the first telephone in Bluevale early in 1900. Reid and Disney families: Two of the most noteworthy families- living in north Huron were the Reid and Disney families. Adam Reid settled. near Marnoch and later took up a farm on the first line of Morris (where the golf course is now). He later retired to Wingham. Adam's son, George, became one of Canada's eminent artists. It is said that he took no interest in the farm but he walked from the Morris farm to Seaforth to receive instruction in art from one of the first Canadian artists, William Cresswell. The Disney family first settled _at Holmesvilte and later moved to the first line of Morris. Keppel Disney had a family of 11 and the children attended Bluevale School. The family moved to Kansas and later to Chicago where Walt Disney, son of Elias, was born-, It was there, Walt first made a drawing of Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney never saw Canada until 1949 when he and his wife made a brief visit. Bluevale Shivaree: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smith were living in Bluevale and. on their wedding night -they were shivareed by a mob demanding $5 (a fair sum in those days). Members of the mob were armed with circular saws, tin boilers and every other form of noise makers. The bride and groom refused to pay the $5 and the mobsters began to stone their house. One stone hit Mrs. Sriiith between the shoulder blades. The noise from the shivaree was so great that the neighbours from over a mile away were aroused and a call was sent to the police who were informed that a riot was in progress. As soon as the constable was able to access a car, he hurried to the scene of the disturbance. When the mob caught sight of the constable they quickly ran from the scene except for a young man named Churchill who was captured by the constable. The names of a number of the gang members was secured and prosecution followed. Did you know? The first telephone line to come to Bluevale was the Bell Line in 1890 which extended from Fordwich to Bluevale. On July 24 and 25 Homecoming 2004 will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Bluevale. This celebration will bring together old neighbours, family and friends to be reunited and make new acquaintances. Call 1-866-734-9422 or visit wwwmedicalert.ca. Medic Alert Lets You Live Life. TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST The Canadian Pharmacists Association reminds you that there are important steps you can take together with your pharmacist to help you enjoy better health: 3 Choose a pharmacy that meets your needs and continue to use only that pharmacy. 1' Keep your pharmacist up to date on any prescription, nonprescription or herbal or natural health products (NHPs) you are taking. - .1 Ask your pharmacist to help you choose nonprescription medications or herbal and NHPs. 3 Take your medications as directed. 3 Talk to your pharmacist if you are unsure about how to take or store your medications or if you are having any problems with your medications. 3 Never leave the pharmacy b8fore you know the answers to all your questions. For more information, talk to your pharmacist. - News Canada