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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-06-18, Page 23N NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18,1986—Page 7A • Alvin and Barbara Betties have gotten a great deal of enjoyment out of their fountain. Alvin built the fountain from stones found in various places throughout the county. ( Anne Narejko photo) Home could be a park By Anne,Narejko GODERICH TWP - The sideroads in the township reminds one of an old movie as the sun shines down on open fields and the gravel roads are lined with huge, old trees• with branches proudly displaying their buds. When you reach the home of Alyin and Barbara Betties at RR2 Bayfield, your mind will once again play tricks on you, making your believe that you are in England as their home is surrounded by an attractive stone wall. In fact, it was in England that Mr. and Mrs. Betties got the idea to build a 525 foot stone wall around their home. After a trip to England, Mrs. Betties told her husband there were twQ things she had wished she could bring home with her. "One was a bridge and the other was the stone walls," she said. "I told her I'd build her a stone wall but there was no way I'd build a bridge," ex- plained Mr. Betties. In 1969 Mr. Betties put in the footing, started hauling and laying the stones for the wall at the front of their home on Concession 6. In 1971, this 90 foot section was completed. Mr. Betties was busy during 1971, not only completing that portion of the wall, but he also built a stone fountain in the shape of an octagon which was two feet high and 10 feet wide. Mr. Betties did not resume his wall building again until 1979 when he started on a wall which would run between the house and the barnyard. This job was completed in 1984, but during the summers of 1982 and 1983, he had started, and completed, building a wall running along the side of the property. The final portion of the wall4 to the right of the entrance, was built in 1984 with name "Betties", put in place in the spring of 1985. To construct the wall, Mr. Betties hauled 140 loads of stones from 17 different, unused barn foundations. "There were 10 properties in Goderich Township, one in Clinton, one in the Brucefield area, one near Bayfield, one from Bracebridge, one from near Staffa, two from Blyth and one from Gananoque," noted Mr. Betties. When the Betties started building their wall in 1969, prices were relatively low com- pared to what prices were when they finish- ed last year. At today's prices, they estimate it would cost between $45-$50 per foot, not including labor, the price of the stones or the cost of transporting the stones. Mr. Betties also estimates it took approximately three hours to do one foot. Finishing touches on the fence include the Betties' name highlighted at night with lights, and lights on the top of the fence and the fountain. This lighting and the electrical wiring has an estimated cost of $724. Mr. Betties was a one man team,putting the entire fence and fountain together by himself. It was a lot of work, but he says he'd do it again. "Oh yes, I'd do it again, but only for myself," he said. Mrs. Betties said he has had requests from friends, but he has turned them down. During the Goderich Township Ses- quicentennial celebrations, four buses visited the Betties' home to see the walls and fountain. Mrs. Betties also said that one car mistook their property for a park - an easy mistake to make. NOW OPEN - Pick Your Own - STRAWBERRIES DIRECTIONS - From Exeter Hwy. 4 to Hensall, turn right at sign. Then turn left at first concession. First farm on left hand side. Phone orders accepted Open From Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. MARTIN & ELIZABETH ATTENBERGER R.R. No. 2, Ki ppen '262-5878 e1 Alvin Betties put a lot of time, effort and love into the stone wall his wife, Barbara. (Anne Narejko photo) which surrounds his home. The wall was built strictly by hand for A Special THANK YOU To All WEED MAN CUSTOMERS... Weed control spraying conditions this spring have been the worst for high wind, in my five years in the business. I wish to express a sincere thank you for the pa- tience you have shown in waiting for us to get to your lawn. We have worked 12-14 hour days whenever possible (which wasn't very often) in order to get everyone done. We are now starting our summer fertilizing. If you are a full program customer we will be checking your lawn and respraying weeds as necessary when we do your fertilizing. Weed control customers please do not hesitate to call our office with any lawn care problems or concerns you might have. - Thank you Again, Tom Grasby & Staff Is Your Satellite Dish Working Right? IS YOUR DEALER STILL IN BUSINESS? IF NOT... THEN CALL... SHORTY'S ELECTROI'VICS Hwy. No. 8 east of Mitchell PH 348-8943 FOR EXPERT INSTALLATION & REPAIRS y TO ALL MAKES AND MODELS Also T.W. Antenna ,& Tower Re , air AT1ENTION: NONPROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS Create non-profit housinginyour community. Get your application now. Meeting Ontario's housing needs. In 1987, 6,700 units will be made available under the Non -Profit Housing :Program for the construction of rental apartments and townhouses across the province. . The Government of Canada and the Province -of Ontario will he cost- sharing assistance directed to needy households. Market units will be fully funded bkthe Province of Ontario. The program is open to all municipal non-profit, private non- profit and non-profit co-operative organizations. Local community organizations— including religious, ethnic and labour groups as well as service and social service clubs—may wish to sponsor non-profit housing projects in their communities. Government grants are available to cover the costs of establish- ing non-profit housing corporations. Increased access to affordable housing. This program helps non-profit housing agencies to create abatable housing for households in need of housing a�tance—be they families, senior citiz ns, physically, developmentally and psychiatrically handicapped persons,.or those in need of on-going support care. To a limited extent, the program may be used to develop pro- jects for low-income singles. The percentage distribution of rent -geared -to -income units and market rent units depends on the needs of the housing agency And the • local community. Call now for details. For more information and application packages, ,contact your nearest Ontario Housing Corporation Regional Office aS soon as possible. Special needs housing:— • ganiza- tions that require special fun for on-going support care for their residents should arrange this funding through the appropriate Ministry. In order to be considered for the . L987 allocations, all completed appli- cations must be received by July 15; 1986 at any of the OHC Regional Qfiees listed below. • Canad' CJ Ontario a SOUtw Mee 56 Hess St. S., 81 52I9500 LBP 488 141of IaI'0' and ask ler Zenith 20450 OHC Regional Housing Programs Offices Souflnrestere Office ' restem Office Northern Office (iorthweetem Wee Cenlnl Nee 275 Dundas St, Suite 1101 1150 Morrison Dr., 2nd Fir. 1191100g Ave, 435 James St. S. 47 Sheppard Ave. E, Suite 514 London, Ont NSB 3L1 Oltewe, Ont K2H 859 Sudharl Ont P3A 404 Thundet Ifo nt, P7C 5G6 Toronto Ont MEN 228 (619) O'111 1110 1813) 828.8305 01051680.8350 (801) 415.1465 (418) 2144641 or toll-free or toll -tree or toll•tree ' or tolkfrea or dial '0' and ask ' 9.800-265-4733 1.800.267.6108 1.800.461.1100 1.800.465.5015 for Zenith 20450,