HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-06-05, Page 3 (2)•
This
Weekend's
Extra
Specials
at
DARLING'S
Food Marked
EXETER
Burns Frozen
LINK SAUSAGE Le 69°
Homemade
SAUSAGE MEAT [B96(
STEWING
BEEF
Ground
ROUND
STEAK
Boneless NAM Smoked
SLICES
BOLOGNA
►144,44t►'f
LB.
LB.
LB.
1.19
1.19
9.69
49'
By The
Piece LB.
SPECIALS
Hips of
Beef91)0
Cut Into Boneless
Steaks & Roasts LB,
•
`'A
y 4
1<
a
•
HEIFERS
Fronts 75'
Sides 99'
Hinds 51.39
STEERS
Fronts 791
Sides 9.05
Hinds .... •51.45
SIDES OF
PORK
89
Cut, Wrapped &
Sharpfrozen
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
We Are The
CUSTOM KILLING
and
PROCESSING SPECIALISTS
* Custom Deluxe Processing
* Pickup Service
* Aging Coolers For 1 10 Carcasses
* Smoke House Facilities
* Rendering
Government' �nspected
KILLING DAYS
BEEF MONDAYS
HOGS WEDNESDAYS
Times -Advocate, June 5, 1975
. x
Palie3
On the left is a photo of the town hail a• L., era ..hie <,bo:e a Fun..t,uwe College
students dreawu,g 01 what ,t could reembi•• ;leis•• . to•at.or:
Save town hall' gains converts
When :Mayor Bruce Shaw
tutored a committee to study. the
Iuturc of Exeter's town hall. he
advised council that the mem-
bership I
involved pco
pkwho held
divergent views on whether or
not the structure should he saved.
Monday night. that committee
showed a unanimous front in
recommending that the town hall
be preserved ":is it is ar-
chitecturally one of the most
signilicanl buildings in Exeter."
Atter the report had been
presented. Nlayor Shaw said it
indicated a "change of heart" for
some members of the committee
and comments made by some
members Of council also indicate
a few of them have had a change
of heart over previously ex-
pressed opinions that the
structure should be demolished.
"i can
we g
hope 'can in work on
1
restoring the building." Shaw
said. indicating he was one of
those who had their opinions
altered by the committee report.
Councillor Ted Wright. who
admitted he previously was
opposed to saving the structure.
staled he was Tess definite now
and was "straddling the fence,"
while Deputy -Reeve Tom
MacMillan said the report did a
good selling job and he had
changed some of his opinions.
Reeve Derry Boyle was the
only member of council to make
comments indicating he was
opposed to the recommendation.
However no members of
council made any move to
suggest that the town hall should
he renovated' to house town
facilities now slated to move into
the former post office: although
the door was opened for such an
option.
I1 was learned that the lease for
the former post office has not yet
been signed with the federal
department of public works and
plans for the alterations will have
to he delayed until the signing
lakes place.
The committee studying :he
town hall had been mildly critical
of council's decision to move out
of the structure even before their
report %vas presented.
in the opinion of the committee.
the town hall could be restored
for an amount comparable to that
,being spent on new municipal
offices.
Council has provided $35.(N0 in
their current budget for
renovations at the post office.
while committee chairman Doug
Gould suggested the cost of
renovating the town hall would be
in the range of $311,000 to 840.000.
In his opening remarks, Gould
said it would "take something
short of a miracle" to save the
town hall in view of some
councillor's opinions. but urged
council to give the recom-
mendation every consideration.
Recalling portions of the
engineering study done on the
structure some time ago. Gould
noted there was no evidence of
uneven settling in the building
and that the super structure had
been declared sound.
He suggested the cost of
repairs was not exorbitant when
in fact it represented the repairs
that should have been made to
the building over the past 25
years.
The committee was en-
couraged by the enthusiasm of
the young people in the com-
munity "who are concerned with
their heritage" and concluded his
remarks on a positive note by
saying that members of his
committee were prepared to
serve on a restoration committee
"when you proceed."
"You should live so long,"
Reeve Boyle remarked.
Members of the committee
presented sketches of town halls
in other communities that had
been restored and also a drawing
of the local facility showing what
it could look like if a restoration
project was undertaken.
Mayor Shaw said council would
be "demonstrating gross
negligence" if they ignored the
report and said he was pleasantly
surprised and pleased with the
results of the committee's ef-
forts.
Some highlights of the report.
taken from the prepared
statement. were as follows:
in 1871 Joseph Howe made the
statement. "A wise nation
repairs its public structures and
fosters national pride and love of
country by perpetual reference to
sacrifices and glories of the
past. '
Town halls and their fate as
they begin to creak with age are
constantly a recurring subject in
the news of Ontario towns. Town
halls that have been restored and
are serving a very functional
place area great source of pride
to their communities.
To mention a few that fall to
this category and are within an
hour's driving distance we would
recommend St. Marys. Wood-
stock. Stratford and Petrolia
Most of these buildings were
destined to fall under the
wrecker's hammer because of
their state of disrepair. These
same buildings are now on the
tourist attraction pamphlets for
Western Ontario.
The history of a country can he
told by' its architecture. The
Exeter Town Hall was built in
1887. the year of Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee and in a period
whenVictorian architecture was
at its peak. tit might also be
noted that this was the same year
Trivitt Memorial Church was
erected).
Our town hall is typical of small
town halls built during that era.
and if restored to its original
appearance as proposed, the
simplicity and gracefulness of
this structure could be an asset to
the appearance of our town and
community.
Its erection in 1887 (at a cost of
$8.000 including finished interior
and furnishings) was brought
about by a 91 percent majority
vote and the need for better court
facilities. Perhaps this same
need could beoneof the principal
factors in the preservation and
restoration of the same building
nearly nine decades later
History does have a habit of
repeating itself!
The clock in the tower was one
of three identical clocks built by
George Hess of Zurich, a well
known Swiss clockmaker. it was
designed for this building and is
considered by antique clock
experts to be quite a unique
timepiece.
Many residents of the town
refer with nostalgia to the ringing
of the town bell. The bell tower
provides a stately crown for the
building and is typical of early.
architecture.
The Architectural Conservancy
of Ontario are quite well aware of
the significance of this building
Their organization believes that
our architectural heritage is a
trust entailing responsibility
on our part so that future
generations should have the
opportunity to enjoy
achievements of the past.
May we give this aim due
consideration in determining the
future of our Exeter Town Hall.
Members of the committee
have investigated uses for the
town hall and have suggested
some alternatives.
The Exeter Police Department
is presently operating out of very
cramped quarters in the town
hall and there seems to be a
genuine need for more space for
the department. Since there are
cells in the present quarters there
should not be any thought of
moving the police to a new
location.
There are two alternative ways
more space could be provided. A
dour could hi' cut in the south wall
01 the present quarters ;Hui the
Department could take of er a
portion of the old fire hall
Another plan would set• the
Puberty Take over the present
Council Chamber in addition to
their present area This scents to
be the preferable plan as no
structural changes would he
required.
.1 further advantage of turning
the council chamber titer to tht
police Is that the fire hall could be
left as one room. Cnnunittee
ntemberslelt a need for a room in
the town's public building which
could be a meeting place for
groups within the conlmrunilx.
The size of the fire hall makes it
a very suitable place for small
and medium-sized groups to
gather. At present it is (111ticult to
11:! ,
f 1 a room to rent for this .tze of
,•roup.
y[='.
Committee finds
work invigorating
11'orking on town committees 1s
"challenging and invigorating
Thal was the continent made
by Doug Gould..( ho presented a
report to v04111(.11 this week on the
future of the town hall.
He urged council to continue
encouraging citizens to to('0Inne
involved in municipal projects
Later in the meeting. .Mayor
Bruce Shaw urged council
members to think of new projects
to keep citizens utynl.ed in
community affair's
Exempt hall
from taxes
Exeter council agreed this
week to exempt Exeter Lions
from payment of taxes on their
Scout Hall property on John St
The request for this action
came from Lions spokesman
Peter Raymond.
He said (0011(•11 had set a
precedent in this regard by
providing a grant to the lawn
bowling club equal to that of their
taxes arid urged them to do the
same for the lions as long as the
building is used Inr community
purposes.
Ile said the building was
operating at a loss and any
revenues that were eying
realized were being Invested m
repairs.
Originally. the Scout Hall
property was not assessed by the
town. However. it was assessed
when this function was taken
over by the province
Won't replace
Huron paving
The contractor doing the sewer
work probably won't be replacing
the portion of pavement being
excavated for the project on
Iluron St.. East.
Road committee chairman Ted
Wright said this week it was
found there was no gravel base
under the pavement and -we
don't feel it would make sense—
to replace the pavement until it
wasroperly excavated and
back-filled.
His committee recommended
that if possible, the contractor
excavate the street and it he
filled with the proper amount of
gravel and then left for this year.
The town's works superin-
tendent and consulting engineer
were empowered to make a
suitable arrangement with the
contractor if possible.
•
one group in town which could
use more facilities tor gathering
Is our senior citizens This room
0.'., told also be.ii good location for
these people as It rs central and
access is ease The room. as
envisioned. would he a place for
1 riends to ince!. to play cards and
to visit.
To snake either of these uses
possible it will he necessary to
provide some kitchen facilities
and two washrooms. This could
be dope at the rear of the room
and would leave adequate space
for meeting and gathering.
The large door. on the front of
the fire hall would be closed
per manem ly and perhaps.
replaced by replicas of the
original doors with a round
wind ow above. As well, the
present til maine •
flo n washrooms
I
would be removed and the
original entrance to the fire hall
reopened.
The Iron) door and entrance
hall could easily he restored and
made 0 fitting Introduction to the
simplicity of this graceful town
hall. The front door should be
replaced with double doors and a
round ttin(fovv as was originally
in the building. The present door
and glass brick are out of
character.
For the upper room of the town
hall there a re several viable uses
.\tatty groups in tow11 would he
.0.111012 11, 1.1.111 a Irunln n1 the. :•••I/t.
for 110511nI 'iT11e munIsl'y 01
transport uses I:u•tlites 111 the
'own 11011 for driver examination
and could well use the auditorium
for t e
t this put I ose
1. well a101her provincial
11100stry has expressed Interest
in renting the room one or two
lass :1 week Revenue from this
source would be ¢.-.0 oil per d:,�
For this upper 100111 10 be
'.firs 1(011111 11 w 111 be net•essar•v to
re•Ieait the plaster. paint the walls
and refinish 110• floor Air con-
ditioning would also make the
room neore usetul ,n the summer
months
'1'1, make (o1111nued use 01 the
building feasible it will h('
ne(essar", to do softie work on the
exterior. The roof needs
rush' lig! storm w indows
should be installed to says heat
and cut down on traffic noise in
the building New eavestroughs
arc melded as well as a fire
escape for the second floor
The tower s o
t,1d besealed
ied
against weather inside the top to
preyont further weather damage
to the interior of the building
Some steps should be taken to
Improve the condition of the
public washrooms al the rear of
the building. :1 preferable
alternative would be elimination
of this addition to the structure.
The pi (sent building Inspector's
of !(.I• •11 the fr0111 of the building
-11nuld .(AMO 101 1(1101.t•d as i1 is
not an integral part of the
structure and detracts from the
arclrltcut oral merits of the
building
The exterior brick walls need
some reprinting and the brick
should he sandblasted at the.
sante 111ne as this would restore
the original finish which- was
much more attractive than Iha
present peeling paint.
.All oI the suggested uses are
necessary in town. It would c051
council considerable 'money to
provide alternative quarters for
the town police. We feel that the
other uses suggested would
produce revenue to repay a good
deal oI 1 h cost of renovation and
restoration work. in addition
grants might he available to
assist with some of the work.
11 will be necessary to look into
such programs as Opportunities
for 1'ouih. Local Initiatives
grans-. Winter Works programs
and the provisions of the Elderly
Persons Act Help and or advice
is 100. .11 li hl( from other govern-
ment departments. the Ontario
Heritage Foundation. Heritage
Canada and the Architectural
I'onsery:urcy of Ontario.
It should always he remem-
bered. however. that this is a
local landmark and that
restoration and rehabilitation
should be primarily a local
project