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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-09-01, Page 30Page 30 Times -Advocate, September 1,1993 The old Brucefield Chopping Mill, as seen in this 1940s era picture above, is undergoing an extensive restoration in the hope that it will become a thriving location' for a craft and art marketplace. Brlan.Hoy.(at right) stands with an .engine from the old mill that he plans to keep on display in the building as -e reminder of the mins historical value to `the local farming community. Bayfield man sees business potential in restoring the old Brucefield Chopping Mill By Erin Lobb T -A staff BRUCEFIELD - A piece of Brucefield history is coming alive again after many years of dorman- cy. Brian Hoy of Bayfield has recent- ly purchased the Brucefield Chop- ping Mill located on the south end next to highway 4. He has been renovating the building and holding a Craft and Farmers Market on weekends. However, all of this is in preparation for next year when Hoy will be setting up a working ar- tisans shop. The mill, which was used to mics. chop, was at one point the mainstay of the community with many local farmers utilizing its services. J.K Cornish who built and owned the building later sold it to the Hensall Co-op. "It was in pretty bad shape, we had to tear out every wall because of the grain that had gouen inside," said Hoy. "It was a love -hate -thing. 1 loved the idea but hated the work." Hoy, who used to be a drafts- man, is trying to keep the authentici- ty of the building by refacing it with tongue and groove hemlock, and by leaving some of the old motors and grail► dimes out for display. The exterior of the building has not been changed, except that Hoy has replaced the windows with panes of 100 year old glass which he traded a farmer for an old auger that he had "I hope to have it as original as it was 60 years ago," said Hoy. Next summer the three-storey, 63,000 square foot structure will be rented to artisans, from as far as To- . ronto, to create and sell their work. Some of the crafts people will be a working potter, painters, a leather. worker with a press, and a weaver. Hoy is still, however, looking for any others who may be interested. With the combination of the look and the location Hoy believes the buisness has a lot of potential. "Many people have stopped by just to see the building. If they're are in- terested enough to stop now then that tells me I just might have some- NIIIINMENIMINEP HURO.NYBRUQE FEDERAL PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE NOMINATION CONVENTION i BF HELD AT GODERICH KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL 330 PARSONS COURT, GODERICH WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1993 AT 8:00 PM GUEST SPEAKER TOM HOCKINS' For the purpose of selecting a candidate 10 represent the Progressive Conservative Association in the federal riding of Huron -Bruce inllhe next federal election The constitution proiiides that the following delegates will be entitled to vole al 9* nomination convention the execu- tive and honorary members of the association; the chair- persons and vice -chairpersons of each municipality; and three resident delegates from each polling subdivision. Each candidate must lilt a written nomination with the sec- retary of the association at least 48 hours prior to the nomi- nation meeting TOM JASPER MARY'DONNELLY PRESIDENT. SECRETARY -TREASURER, 4 thing here." Hoy also feels that this endeavor can only help out the community, by bringing more tourists to Bruce - field. Hoy works on the building as much as he can, but does get a lot of help from his parents, Alf and Syl- via Hoy, and his wife and children. Says Hoy, "Without them I never could have got this thing off the ground." Bill Mickle elected first vice-president of AMO Exeter reeve now in number two chair at municipal association By Adrian Harte T -A Editor EXETER - Town reeve Bill Mickle is once again bringing Exeter's voice 10 the top table of lnunici- pal/provincial relations. Mickle was elected first vice-president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) at the group's convention in To- ronto last Tuesday. AMO is an organization that lob- bies for the interests of Ontario's 827 municipalities, more than 700 of which are members. Mickle's election comes after serving one term as one of AMO's four vice-presidents, and as chair- man of Ontario Small Urban Munic- ipalities (OSUM) in 1991-92. "It's one step closer to the presi- dency," acknowledged Mickle, say- ing there is a "good chance" he will be running for AMO's top seat next year. There is even a possibility Mickle could inherit the president's chair earlier from Mabel Dougherty of Brant County. "It could happen sooner because our president is a candidate in the federal election," said Mickle. To win the first vice-presidency, Mickle defeated Linda Dion of Oshawa, the former chairman of the large -urban municipal association. "I've enjoyed being part of it," said Mickle of his year representing Exeter at OSUM and AMO. "But when I started, I never thought I'd be where I am now." AMO is all about fighting for municipal interests with other levels of government, particularly Queen's Park. Consequently, Mickle sees several issues the organization may be tackling in the next couple of years. Even though "disentanglement", the province's at- tempt at separating municipal and provincial juris- dictions, died earlier this year, Mickle says the topic may resurface. "Who knows what they'll do. I couldn't even make a guess at that," he said, but noted that the NDP still seem interested in gaining complete con- trol over health care and other social programs. What AMO may demand from the province is a "municipal charter" - a piece of legislation that iden- titles the responsibilities, jurisdiction, and rights of Ontario's cities, towns, villages, regions, and town- ships. Many Ontarians may be surprised no such hard definitions exist. "'• Mickle accuses the province of treating munici- palities "like pawns" and has dictateEi policy rather than fostered cooperation. "They [the province] don't have a lot of funds. Their funds are limited and they like to carry out their own programs and have someone else to pay for them," stated Mickle, adding that a charter might give municipalities the right to say "no" to such downloading. The recent Social Contract was not only imposed on provincial em- ployees, but also on municipalities, even though they represent a separ- ate level of government. At the convention last week, another topic of dis- cussion was the province's plan to legalize casino - style gambling in Ontario. AMO has joined forces with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) in a demand for more information on the effects of gaming before supporting it. "They're concemed about the horse racing side of things," said Mickle of the OFA's main complaints.. Horse racing is said to contribute $350 million to - the agricultural economy in sales of hay, straw, and grain alone. If casino gambling causes a decline in horse racing, that farm income could be in jeopardy, says theQFA, adding that 18,500 jobs are at risk. "We've got a big industry that supplies horse rac- ing," said Mickle, who added that AMO's worries about casino gambling include the spin-off effects on neighbouring townships and towns that could face increased costs without benefitting from nearby casinos. "We need to know all the economic facts," said Mickle. Exeter's reeve =edited the other.good representa- tives from other Ontario municipalities with giving AMO its strong'voice with Ontario's ministries. He also says the "tremendous staff" do a lot to help AMO achieve its political goals, even though it has 115 represent the differing interests of the largest cit- ies and smallest villagesaill across the province. 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