HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-08-02, Page 2>a-THtt HURON EXPOSITOR, August 2, 1995
J
Local
Priest writes history of factory
BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
A former priest of St.
Thomas Anglican Church, and
a member of the Broadfoot
family, has written a history of
the Broadfoot and Box Furni-
ture company.
The Venerable James R.
Broadfoot, of Kingsville, com-
pleted the book in the last two
months. He wants it to be a
lasting record for his relatives.
"The Broadfoots made a
significant contribution to this
community in times past," he
said.
J. R. Broadfoot was rector of
St. Thomas in Seaforth and St.
Paul's in Clinton from 1978-
1982. It was his first posting as
an Anglican priest and he
arrived to discover his roots
here.
"I found I was related to so
many people in the area," he
recalls. "I discovered a lot
about myself and the people
who were my family."
It was during those years he
e or; :roa•'oot a • :•
now part of a new local histo
started research into the
Broadfoot family history.
Although born in Stratford,
he is a descendant of one of
this area's pioneer families. His
parents were William Earl
Broadfoot and Cordelia
(Grieve). His grandfather was
William `Smokey Bill'
Broadfoot who lived in
Tuckersmith until moving to
Stratford in 1931.
The Broadfoot family was a
group of pioneers who moved
from their native Scotland to
Tuckersmith in about 1835.
The story of the Broadfoot
um re company (above) is
ry
and Box factory began in 1863
in Harpurhey when John
Halliday Broadfoot opened a
planing mill. In 1866,
Broadfoot and Adam Gray
bought property in the village
of Seaforth. Their enterprise
evennudly became the area's
sole planing mill.
Broadfoot operated a large
furniture factory which, unlike
any others in the area, used
steam power. The factory
gained a coveted reputation
nation-wide, according to the
new history.
The Broadfoot and Box Fur-
niture Company Cabinet Manu-
facturers were in . existence
from 1876 to 1901. The furni-
ture store, as Broadfoot and
Box, was open from 1876 to
1913.
John Broadfoot was one of
Seaforth's prominent citizens.
He was elected Mayor in 1901
and died in 1903.
The original Broadfoot and
Box Furniture Factory was
located on the corner of Jarvis
and Market Streets near the old
town hall. The factory
expanded over the years.
The Ven. James R. Broadfoot
is a family historian who also
wrote a historical sketch of St.
Thomas Anglican Church from
1855 to 1980. As well as writ-
ing family histories the Angli-
can priest is Archdeacon of
Essex.
A copy of the local history
will be located at the national
archives, he said.
The Broadfoot and Box Fur-
niture Store history is available
for $20 at Box, Furniture Store
in Seaforth.
Phillips records history in photos
BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
When former residents of
Seaforth arrive for Home-
coming '95 they'll likely flock
to see the hundreds of historic
photos taken by Frank Phillips.
The photos will be on display
on Seaforth's Main Street
duting the district reunion.
The •Seaforth photographer
has recorded the visual history
of this area for close to 50
years.
Since 1947 he has taken
pictures of 2,000 different
weddings. He has also taken
pictures of almost every
Seaforth Fair Queen. He also
took pictures of many Seaforth
Councils.
As a young man taking free-
lance photos . for the daily
newspaper in Stratford, he even
photographed Queen Elizabeth
II and'Prinae Philip. A youthful
photo of the. _Royal. couple
hangs on the wall of his
George Street East home.
As a freelance photographer
for both the Beacon Herald and
the London Free Press, Philips
w leave cards thanking
photo ubjects for their cooper-
ation.
"That was in the 'days when
photographers were gentle-
men," he recalls. "You didn't
just barge in like they do '
today."
Today, little short of an envi-
ronmental disaster would bring
a daily newspaper to Seaforth
for coverage. In those days,
however, Frank would take a
picture of a Women's Institute
meeting and immediately driv8
it down to London or Stratford
that night for $3.
"That's when you had fun,"
he remembers.
That's not to say he is not
having fun taking photos now.
In fact, he says he is having as
much fun this year as he has
ever had.
COUNSELLING
• Marriage
• Family
• Personal Growth
• Learning Disabilities
BRIAN O'REILLY, D.S.W.
CUNTON X482-9249
Did You
Know?
We are fully
Air Conditioned
at
Seaforth
Manor
We also offer:
• RESPITE CARE
VACATION STAYS
CONVALESCENT CARE
in a home like atmosphere
Call 527-0030
100 James St., Seaforth
Frank Phillips -
"I do this all for fun," he
says. "I'm having the time of
my life."
There are no visible. signs
that the photographer is slow-
ing down. On his desk at home
there are numerous messages to
be followed up and the phone
• rings almost continually.
Recently, he took pictures of
two weddings in one day.
There was a time when it was
not uncommon for him to
photograph three weddings, in
one day.
The wedding at St. James
Roman Catholic Church would
take place in the morning and
he would shuttle back and forth
between Northside United and
First Presbyterian Churches in
the afternoon.
There was a time when vows
of matrimony 'were exchanged
on Wednesdays. All the stores
in town would close and the
entire community would attend
a wedding.
When contacted for an inter-
view with The Huron Exposi-
tor, Frank Phillips tells the
reporter he doesn't want a
story written about himself. But
when it comes to his thousands
of photos, the former freelance
photographer loves to talk
about the many pictures he has
taken over the years.
He has taken so many, in
fact, it's hard to pick a favour -
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Chev-Olds Ltd.
13 Main St. Sealed -527.1140
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WE'RE
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Do you want a
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Sorry. We don't
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Call us if you
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properly.
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As he sorted through a pile
of photos he points to pictures
of championship girls' basket-
ball teams, an early group of
Seaforth curlers, the chimney at
the Topnotch site being blown
up, ari oldtimers' baseball
team, a fine at Boshart's fac-
tory and pictures of the area's
former telephone operators.
It has been a lively career for
the war veteran who started in
photography by taking a two-
week course at Ryerson and
then began working for the late
A. Y. McLean, former pub-
lisher of the Huron Expositor.
"1 learned more from A. Y.
McLean than you would in a
lifetime,". he recalls.
The longtime Seaforth photo-
grapher says it's hard to
believe how many ,people will
be helping with the upcoming
Homecoming. '
Seaforth is a good commun-
ity, says the lifelong resident of
the town.
"I've had a good life here,
the people have been good to
me."
The war veteran says the
change in the community has
been amazing. He received a
shock ' when he took local
school children on a tour
through the Legion recently.
He asked the children who
had a grandparent from this
area who had served in the
war. He discovered only a very
few who were third generation
residents of Seaforth.
"It showed how this com-
munity has changed," he said.
"It shows the number of people
who have moved into town."
As well as ' being a local.
photographer, Frank Phillips
has helped Seaforth Legion
Branch 156 assemble one of
the best Legion museums in
Ontario. He has been at work
on the project for about 35
years.
Over the years he has
received numerous Legion
honours as well as being
named Seaforth's First Citizen
of the Year in 1981.
He was born in 1921 in
Seaforth.
Seaforth history
receives new
printing
Just in time for Seaforth
Homecoming celebrations
Isabelle Campbell's book, The
Story of Seaforth, has received
an additional printing.
Tremeer Commercial Printers
has printed new copies of the
book which has been in short
supply for the past several
years.
The Story of Seaforth orig-
inally appeared as instalments
in the Huron Expositor news-
paper , until first printed as a
book by publisher A. Y.
McLean.
The book will be available
for sale at Tremeer Commer-
cial Printers. The store will be
open Friday evening. There is
a special Homecoming rate of
$$10.
SEAFORTH & DISTRICT
MINOR HOCKEY
COACHES
REQUIRED
FOR ALL LEVELS
If you are interested in
coaching during the 95/96
season please pi -up an
application form at the
Arena Office or the
Recreation Dept. Office or
call 527-1272 or 527-0712.
Applications are to be
received no lajer than 7:00
p.m. Thurs:, Aug. 10/95.
„taut I �lun't
Ix•hm:; in ;Ail
?f,'eeco#ue seaHce
at€
iesteeeftstew,
from
Leo's Auto Sales
54 Goderich St.
Seaforth, Ont.
Stop in at our
Open House
Friday 4 pm -1 O pm
Lots of new wood producu for you to see at
Rai* cued 9eute.# G'enami
"What do ceramics and
Ui monkeys have in common?"
For the answer... Drop by or call 519.271-8620
309 Lorne Ave., Stratford
Oct\%4°‘'
FREE-FREE-FREE &peel
Ever�3one knows Avon --1 week only q�
July 31 - Aug. 4
No cost to become an Avon representative -
Excellent opportunity to earn extra money.
Call today - Sharon Stephenson - 887-6305
NOTICE TO
PROPERTY OWNERS
DESTROY WEEDS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
to all persons in possession of lands in the Municipalities in the County of Huron •
as follows:
Townahln
Ashfield
Colborne
Goderich
Grey
Hay
Howick
Hullett
McKillop
Morris
Stanley •
Stephen
Tuckersmith
Turnberry
Usborne •
E. Wawanosh
W Wawanosh
&lads
L. Andrew
L. Cranston
S.Vodden
B. Knight
J. Zimmerman
M. E. Greb
B. Shaddick
M. McClure
N. Michie
A. Willed
L. Brown
J. McLachlan
D. Kelly
S. Strang
W. Thompson
W. Armstrong .
Clinton
Exeter
Goderich
Seaforth
Wingham
Yllte,Qa
Bayfield
Blyth
Brussels
Hensall
Zurich
Mla • erson
E. Bell
L. McCabe
J. Crocker
B. Adams
Clads
P Graham
J. Stewart
D. White
L. P.hair
M. Simmons
In accordance with the Weed Control Act, Statutes of Ontario, 1990, Chapter
W5, Sections 3, 16 and 23, that unless noxious weeds growing on their lands
are destroyed by JUNE 5, 1995 and throughout the Season the Municipality
may enter upon the said lands and have the weeds destroyed, charging the
costs against the land in taxes, as set out in the Act. Velvet Leaf is named as a
noxious weed in most municipalities, and Giant Cow Parsnip (Hogweed) in all
County municipalities.
The co-operation of all citizens is solicited.
'JOHN GIBSON
Weed Inspector
County of Huron
******
**** J(1o(nrfc (
*Lrad to
*
*��.
..:..
* .�
* /—`�/
*
* THURS.,
* BringYour
* Seaforth
* presents
* The Guse
*
*' A WHOLE
*
**
*
*
*
* Harmony
* dance
* ROYALAIRES
* &
*
*
*
*
PLUS
* • OPENING
* • JAIL-A-THON
* • FLEA MARKET
* • CRAFT SALES
* • TEDDY
* ,Watch for
* * ** ******
1.S`d11[ortfi
`' ' ,
i� ����
., ' " 't lotnec:Ornirt
t
FRI.,
Legion
Family
plus
LOT
ORE!
Seaforth
& Distri
Kings
with the
Cruise Draw
MANY,
CEREMONIES
BEAR PICNIC
Homecoming
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Welcome
r'
Oriel
t s
SAT., SUN., AUG. 3
Whole Family*
Seaforth .
. District
CURLING CLUB
Brier Patch Lounge
plus entertainment by
SUSAN
M'ALISTERA
-
Sea fort
Agricultural
Societ resents
BREAKFAST
every morning
plus 50's & 60's
Ir ANC
MANY MORE EVENTS
• PARADE
• ANTIQUE CAR SHOW
• FIREWORKS
• DINNER & DANCE
• ENTERTAINMENT GALORE
Flyer in next week's paper!
******
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NOW OPEN
?'dd Ata Sewiee
23 Goderich St. E. 527-1200
Full Service Gas Bar
• including oil S. diesel fuel
• Auto Propane
• Propane cyl. refills $7.50
• Ice, Pop, Chips, Chocolate Bars, etc.
TIRES & TIRE REPAIRS
•small engine repairs & sales
Featuring Auto -Pro
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on Brakes, exhaust,
FWD etc.
"Owned & operated
By:
Linda & Brian
Wilson
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411.0"
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trio".
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