HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-06-29, Page 2i iltlt
11111101 a i1Mn 29,1994
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The careful craftsman
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Staff
Carpenter, auto -maker, farmer,
furnace -builder - Robert Kerr of RR
1 Seaforth is a jack of all trades.
Kerr has done woodworking and
furniture -making for about 25-30
years. But when he sold his farm in
1981 his hobby became his liveli-
hood. His sisters, for whom he has
made furniture for over the years,
encouraged him to -get into furniture
repair.
Repairs are the majority of Kerr's
present work but he shows his
greatest talent when given the chal-
lenge of a custom-made piece.
Recently Robert Kerr was hired
by Peter and Patricia Nott of
Wilson Si, Seaforth to reproduce
an original fireplace mantle -piece
that was once in the house they live
in. Having no luck finding the piece
they were looking for in antique
shops, the Notts hired Kerr after
hearing praise for his work. They
tracked down the present location
of the original mantle and Kerr
worked from photographs and
sketches to reproduce the intricate
designs in cherry wood.
"I saw the original and figured I
could get close to it. Cherry is nice
to work with...Pine is so soft, unless
you have a very sharp chisel it tears
more than cuts," said Ken.
Kerr painstakingly reproduced the
floral designs on the fireplace with
a hammer and chisel and notched
the entire length of the mantle with
careful precision. After 110 hours
total on the project, the result was a
beautiful reproduction that quite
accurately resembles the original.
"We're so happy with it. Every
half hour I walk in and look at it.
We're thrilled," said Patricia Nott.
The Notts are impressed with
Kerr's craftsmanship, something
that's difficult to find these days.
"We say today, 'they don't make
things like they used to.' But Bob's
work is an exhibit of what they
used to make. A lot of himself went
into it. It's good to see these kind
of craftsmen are still around," said
Peter Nott.
However, Robert Kerr's work
isn't limited to wood. In 1985, the
Huron Expositor carried a story
about Kerr's homemade Gatsby - a
classic collector car from the late
1920s, early '30s. He bought the kit
for about $5,000 dollars and spent
about $13,000 more in a search for
parts as far away as San Jose, Cali-
fornia.
Kerr's Gatsby is a hybrid of parts
from a Honda Civic, Honda motor-
cycle, MG Midget, 1934 Ford and
several other sources. Many of the
parts could not be located and Kerr
was forced to make some by hand.
He made the hood out of 16-gguge
sheet metal. The grill is from a
1978 Cougar. To buy a ready-made
Gatsby from the United States
would have been a little easier but
would have cost approximately
560,000.
DAVID SCOTT PHOTO
FINISHING TOUCH - Robert Kerr sprays the finish on an old
school desk in his workshop that he's fixing up for a customer.
GREAT GATSBY - Robert Kerr of RR 1 Seaforth searched
across North America for parts to piece together this collector
Gatsby. It includes parts from Hondas, Fords, an MG and a
Cougar. He made the remaining parts by hand. (file photo)
"Once I got it made it took the
fun out of it. It was more fun mak-
ing it," said Kerr. -
Kerr also built his own furnace to
heat his workshop out of 45 -gallon
oil barrels. He advertised the plans
for it in a western Canadian farm
publication and had replies from
across Canada and the United States
for the blueprints.
Over the years, he has built
chairs, dry sinks, tables, fireplaces,
doors, a canopy bed, rocking chairs,
a cedar -strip canoe and repaired
many other pieces made of pine,
oak, elm, cherry and more.
What does he do with his spare
time...if he has any?
"This is my hobby. If I get sick
of furniture I'll do something in
metal for a day or two. A change is
as good as a rest," said Kerr.
One of his ongoing projects is a
hovercraft with a Volkswagen
engine.
"I can't tell you what I'll be
doing next," he says. But the
wheels are definitely turning in
Robert Kerr's head.
REPLICA FIREPLACE - Robert Kerr put many hours into this cherry wood fireplace and mantle for Peter
and Patricia Nott of Wilson St. Kerr worked from photographs and sketches of the original piece.
Duck race raises $3,000
The General meeting of Br. 156 Seaforth
was held on Thursday, June 16.
David Watson presented the branch Legion
with a cheque for $3000, the pro-
coeds from the Bill Pinder Memor-
ial Duck race. Thank you for a fine
job, David.
Any Legion member who would
like to play slow -pitch in Lucknow
on July 16, sign up by July 2.
The Branch received a thank you
from Parkwocxl Hospital for the
pleasant afternoon provided, when
the Harmony Hi -Liter sang and the
Seaforth members visited with the
veterans.
In retrospect, hostilities broke out
on June 25, 1950 in the Korean
BY JEAN ROSS
conflict, and now, so many years
later, there is still unrest between
the North and South and we hope
and pray they can resolve their
di fferences.
Donations approved at the Gen-
eral meeting were 55000 in trust to
the CHUMS Mobility Bus; $100 to
Heather McMillan who is represent-
ing Seaforth District High School at
a World Fair Seminar at the Uni-
versity of Wisconson; $350 to the
Huron county Junior Achievement
Program; $460 to send two children
to the Children's Aid summer
camp; and $200 to $t. Columban
minor soccer. - and our Minister of
Defense, David Callinette says
'Boycott the Legion'!
President John Lansink and Past
President Errol Skillender gave a
rcport on the Convention in
Calgary.
P.R.O. Barbara Scott should be
home the end of June to keep you
up to date on Legion affairs.
'At the going down of the sun
and in the morning, we will remem-
ber them.'
Walton
by Patty Banks
887-6860
Busload fed
The community of Walton
extends its sympathies to Val
Pethick and family for the loss of
her father, Douglas Strasser, front
Sebringville, on Thursday.
The Walton WI ladies prepared
and served dinner to a bus load of
people who stopped in Walton on
their way to the Blyth Theatre on
Wednesday, June 23. Since moving
to this area I have learned that any
excuse to have a party will do. So
having said that, the party I am
reporting about happened at the
new home of Paul, Dianne, Cindy,
Colleen and Kenny McCallum.
Actually it was a community party
for the people on the 17th line and
boundary. Friends and neighbours
gathered to play cards and visit and
eat and Dave Bann gave a most
interesting address, noting how the
community has changed through the
years.
The talk of the town in Walton
this past weekend was, of course
the McGavin wedding. Jeff
(Smiley) McGavin and Shannon
Rice exchanged vows Saturday,
June 25. The church was filled with
friends and family as Shannon
walked down the aisle. Graeme
Craig played his guitar and sang
before the service started and
Margaret Whitmore played the
organ. The Strong sisters sang
throughout the service as well,
After Rev. Banks introduced the
newly-wed couple and as the two
were beginning their exit we could
hear laughter. I learned later that all
of Jeffs attendants had put on
'Nerd' glasses. The bell at the old
Walton School rang many times
and if you happened to notice the
sign in front of McGavin's you
would have read 'Jeff McGavin,
under new management.' It was a
beautiful wedding and the reception
was one to remember. Congratula-
tions, Jeff and Shannon.
The weather couldn't have been
more perfect for Bill and Marjory
on the 26th as they held a
Humphrie's family picnic at their
home. About 35 family members
attended the event and had a good
time and visit.
July Birthdays: July 1 - Brette
Dietz; July 3 - Hope Williams, Jeff
Linton, Mert Hackwell, Ken
Pethick; July 10 - Devin
McCutcheon, Gerald Watson; July
11 - Neil Mitchell, June Johns; July
12 - Janie McEwing; July 15 -
Doreen Hackwell; July 16 -
Anthony Bacher, Gloria Love; July
17 - Harvey Craig; July 18 - Gary
Godkin, Lee Ann McDonald; July
19 - Ernie Stevens; July 20 -
Sharon Godkin; July 21 - Andrew
Van Vliet; July 23 - Allan McCall;
July 24 - Shirley Lyons; July 26 -
Ruth Thamer, Bill Coutts; July 28 -
Teenie Achillies and Alberta
Stevens; July 29 - Donna Godkin;
July 31 - Bryanna Adair, Marg
Bennett.
Wedding Anniversary's - July 4 -
Marion and Laverne Godkin; July
13 - Jim and Linda McDonald; July
15 - Rollie and Teenie Achilles;
July 19 - Doreen and Mert
Hackwell; July 24 - Bill and Val
Shortreed; July 31 - Graeme and
Helen Craig.
On June 26 Rev. Banks welcomed
worshippers at Duff's United. The
ushers for July will be John Gillis,
Fred McClure and Sharon Godkin.
Congratulations to Walton stu-
dents who graduated from grade
eight at Seaforth Public School,
June 24: Tanner Banks, Jason
Badley, John Cook, Matthew
Shortreed, Tama Smith, and Lorne
Wcrnham.
Perfect score
Congratulations go to Debbie
Vanden Henget on receiving 100
marks in her recent Theory examin-
ation. She is a student of Ms Carol
Carter.
Huron County's Complete
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OPEN 9 to Mon. to Fri., 9 to 6 Sot. & Sun.
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NEW FOR '94
Our Perennial Display Garden is a must to see at
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La Fete CANADA DAY La Fete
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"Y Oe"aye CELEBRATIONS
IN SEAFORTH
FRIDAY - JULY 1ST
7 - 11 a.m. - Firemen's Breakfast at the Firchall
11:30 a.m. - Heritage Walk Poker Rally
starting from Victoria Park
Dark (9:30 p.m.) - Fireworks Display
at the High School
$5.00 per car or $2.00 per walker
FINANCIAL. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY:
TOWN OF SEAFORTH SEAFORTH LIONS CLUB
SEAFORTH OPTIMIST CLUB
SEAFORTH LEGION BR. 156 SEAFORTH. CURLING CLUB
ONTARIO CANADA DAY. COMMITTEE AND
HERITAGE CANADA
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