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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-12-11, Page 1By,Jin* Fltigerald Minton will be Mown again, across Canada and perhaps around the world as the home Qf fine pianos, Draper Brothers and Reid Limited announced this week that they are re- opening the Sherlock -Manning Piano manufacturing plant on East Street in Clinton, and should be turning out their first pianos sometime in January. Joe Reid, one of the owners, in a short statement to the News -Record this morning (Wednesday) said: "Draper Brothers and Reid Limited. has been successful in salvaging the Sherlock-Manninig part of the Hein- tzman operation in Hanover. "Sherlock -Manning pianos will again be made in Clinton and will provide employment on a gradual basis for some of the people previously employed in the Organ �� actory1z m Blizzard conditions,, along `with treacherous roads last Tuesday caused many people to either get stuck or slide off area highways. Here a Goderich man dug his car out of a drift on Highway 8 last Wednesday morning with the aid of his Clinton girlfriend. (James Fitzgerald photo) Thursday, December First Zurich reeve voted Darden A bit of history was etched into the Huron County record books Tuesday as Zurich reeve Fred Haberer was elected warden for 1981. Haberer defeated Howick Township Reeve, Harold Robinson, 16-15. and became the: firstZutichxeeYe.ta;serve as warden of ' Hilton County. His election also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of Zurich as a village. ' Haberer has been involved in township politics for eight years and has served as the reeve of Zurich for the past six years. He farmed in Hay Township until 1960- . when he established a concrete company in Zurich. He has served on the library. and health committees of county -council_ and -IS- the past chairman of the health committee. Haberer accepted the chain of of- fice from past warden Bill Morley and took the oath of office from County Judge F.G. Carter. In accepting the position, he said county council will face both challenges and frustrations in the next year. "I have a heavy load on my shoulders that can only be lightened by council, the administration an'd departments of the county," he said. "In 1981 we will face challenges and frustrations. If we face the challenges head on and take a positive approach 'imam" mimmon.- first column we can overcome •these seemingly impossible hurdles.'' In administering the oath of office, Judge Carter told the councillor. _to take their deliberations and decisions seriously, since they affect the people of the county. "I was in- the House of Commons and watched the members arguing about what's right for Canada," he said. "But the deliberations here are more important to the ''people of Huron because they directly affect the people more tha laws of parliament." . Judge Carter also urged councillors to preserve the friendliness for which the natives of the county are noted for and to take their positions seriously. Ire his pre-election speech before -- council, Haberer stressed a need for the preservation of the Huron,County environment and people. "To maintain a healthy en- vironment we should preserve the things that are natural to us," he said. "We must preserve our 'people too. We raise children and send them to school but how many return to Huron to work and live? We have a responsibility toattempt to provide for them as well." Harberer also stressed the need to maintain a proper balance in the county between industry and and Even_ though Christmas is still two weeks away, Santa Claus has come early to Clinton, and he brought us a most welcome gift - our good, old piano factory. It's one of those gifts that people only dream of, and we hope it will make Clinton again famous for more than Truscott. Congratulations to the Draper Brothers and Reid Ltd., and their backers for taking a chance on getting "the organ factory" going again. Here in the news business, we enjoy printing good news just, even though some think we only enjoy printing the bad. And finding the former in these days of tough economic times, soaring interest rates, and high inflation hasn't been all that easy. + + And while we're handing out. bouquets, we'd like to toss a garland in the direction of all the organizers and participants in the Clinton Santa Claus parade last Saturday. The large number of floats, nearly 40 entries, as well as the high quality certainly surprised just about everyone, including you's truly. The 10 year wait between Santa parades was well worth it. Lots to smile about. + + + As the Main Street Wit said last week, "Smile is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it in one spot." To which I might add, the attitude of graditude is a never ending prayer. + +- At the Fitzgerald abode, there's no way one can avoid the fact that Christmas is only a short 14 days away. Even though better half Lois has been playing carols since October, I could always go to another room. But now with both Andrea and Kris (alias Screamer and Terror) con t.antly chitter-chatting about what they want, with their whole waking hours spent either looking at the toy sections of magazines, watching Christmas TV specials, or drawing pictures of Santa, it's impossible to avoid the subject. I think that when six -month-old Fraser finally says his first words, they won't be "Ma ma, or da da," but "batteries not included." Because Christmas and New Year's Day both fall on Thursdays this year, our publication day, the News -Record will be publishing one day EARLY those two weeks. That is for the week of Monday, December 22 and the week of Monday, December 29, all our deadlines will be moved back 24 hours, so keep that in Mind if you have advertising or news to place in those two papers. + + And still with Christmas, just a little rettinder that we still have a few carol sheets left to give away, courtesy of the Bluewater Regional News Network farming, although Huron is primarily an agrarian county._ "We must' maintain a proper balance of growth and find other meansof employment," he said,; "This can be achieved without int fringingamon agriculture. , `Some municipalities are 'n 'prepared to accept larger industry. But others are not taking advantage of tourism as an area of growth and employment is not developed. As warden I propose no drastic changes but my intention is to move forward and to build communities that are more attractive for living and working." ' Haberer added, that council can reach common goads for future, generations to follow. The voting among the 30 councillors was evenly distributed and the vote of Goderich Reeve, DonWheeler, had a large bearing on the outcome. Wheeler is the only councillor with two votes and he cast them in favor of Haberer. In October, the Heintzman piano manufacturing plant in Hanover went into receivership, threatening the jobs of 70 employees. Its closing would have left only one other paino maker in Canada, Lesage Piano of Ste. Therese, Quebec. So far the Heintzman plant is still operating, and loqking for new buyers, so with the addition of Sherlock -Manning, Canadian piano buyers will still have a choice of three makes. Heintzmans had owned the Clinton plant as well; but closed it. in 1978, throwing 36 people out of work. Draper Brothers and Reid Ltd., bought it and continued to make piano backs and benches under contract for Heintzman. Currently, there .are eight working Only 294 voters', cast ballots in GoderichTwp .. Pat Osborn of Goderich Township was elected to the township council defeating three candidates in a special election Monday. Osborn received 101 votes, 16 ahead of his nearest Ed Szusz with 84. Candidate Charles Bruinsma polled 77 votes and Jack Mayhew 32. The whole election in Goderich Township was dominated by apathy this year. Following the November 10 election there was still a vacant seat on cpunei1 and although Osborn was elected Monday only 10 per cent of the electortxte cast a ballot. Clerk Robin Thompson reported that ;294 township residents cast ballo s outof .a possible 2,200. O orn of AR 2 Goderich is married wi four children and has been iina ger of the Goderich Brewers 2etail for 20 years'. He siad it was the apathy towards township politics that convinced him to seek the vacant council seat. "It was the apa_thy,'' he_-said.___yN:- one was running and it is ridiculous. We live in the township and we should take part." Osborn has been active in com- munity affairs and is chairman of the Goderich Credit Union Board and president of the Huron Chapter of the Credit Union. it may not ave much dignity, but l't a necessary chore for Lucky, the dog, as he gent his rabies phot from Dr. Mark Rajthby of Canada Agriculture. Lucky's owner, Mike Vincent, holds on to to hint. The .lnnoeulatlon clinic in Clinton, one of dozen In the county, attracted hums of dogs and cats (James Fitzgerald photo) onconverting the front half of the factory into ,manufacturing facilities as the back half was bought several years ago by Bill. Fleming, who has it leased out to Fairholrne Dairy. As the plant nears full production, ernployment is expected to climb at the Clinton plant, but ?Vii°. Reid wouldn't say what the total work force would. At one time, the Clinton piano factory was known around the world for itscuality pianos and organs. , The company was originally opens founded in 1869 in one of the stores where .Ball and Mutch Furniture is now located. They manufactured their first organ in 1878'. In 1881, a massive organ factory was opened on the west'side of Raglan ' Street between Princess and :Rat- tenbury Streets, by William Doherty and as early as 1892, it appears that m.annfacting of pianos began. In 1898, the whole works burned to the ground, and later that year, the. present factory on, East Street was constructed, and it manufactured pianos and organs non-stop unti11978,. This youngster had plenty to point out to her companion during the Santa Claus parade in Clinton last Saturday. The parade, which had nearly 40 entries, at- tracted a large crowd to the downtown area. (James Fitzgerald photo) Mayor thanks wife eeve gives up key By Shelley McPhee In what they both referred to as an enlightening and enjoyable ex- perience, former Mayor Harold Lobb and Reeve Royce Macaulay spoke their last w.orkds in office at a recent council meeting. The two Clinton council veterans both retired from municipal politics this year. Mr. Lobb served as mayor for two terms and filled other seats on council for a total of 13 years. Mr. Macaulay was reeve for four years and sat on the Clinton council for six years. In his speech, Mr. Lobb pointed out, "I'd like to thank my wife. If it hadn't been for her, council work would have been a lot more difficult." "She has a big smile on her face,"Mr. Lobb said as he ^looked out into the audience at his wife, "and that pleases me, because she had to put up with me for 13 years that I was with council." Mr. Lobb thanked the council and the PUC for their co operation•in the past and also stressed. 'We've hada at deal of support from the service clubs and volunteer committees." Thee highlight in Mr. Macaulay's speech came when her returned the "executive washroom key" to Clerk Cam Proctor. On a serious note he admitted, "I'd be amiss if I said I didn't enjoy council and I wish more people thought this way." "Sometimes it took a little while to unwind when you -got home after council," he added, "but it was all an enlightening experience." Despite raging storm Tuckersmith council meets By Wilma Oke The inaugural • meeting of Tuckersmith Township council was held Tuesday night in spite of the storm which raged through this area. Clerk Jack McLachlan said it took him three-quarters of an hour to drive to and home from the meeting held for the first time at the township office in Vanastra, which has been newly renovated for the council meetings. With three new councillors much of the meeting time was spent outlining council business to them to acquaint them with township matters. Appointments were made to various committees and boards. Councillor Bob Broadfoot was appointed to the Clinton fire area board, Deputy Reeve Bill Brown to the Seaforth fire area board and Reeve Robert Bell to the Hensel' fire area board. Councillor Jim Papple was ap- pointed to represent the council on the Farm Safety Association and Cleave Coombs of Egmondville on the Seaforth Community hospital board. Deputy Reeve Bill Brown was appointed to the landfill site com- mittee. Reeve Bell and Councillor John Brownridge will represent council on the Vanastra day care board. A tile drain loan application for $5,200 was approved. The next meeting will be held on December 16. ' Weather 1980 1979 H1 LO $HI LO DECEMBER 2 7 1 -2 -10 3 •-6 , -12 0 v8 4 -5 -12 1.5 -1 5 -1 -10 8 1.5 6 2 4 5.5 -0.5 7 9 0 4 -.2,. 8 11 1 2.5 -5 Rain 37.5 mm. Rain 10.0 nrn Snow 8 cm Snow 3'stn T..