The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-06-24, Page 21C::;derk
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133 YEAR -25
- ST
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24,1981
SECOND SECrON
Money needed for repairs
Friends' worried about library
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
Goderich can take pride in its many
beautiful historic buildings. But there is
one historic building in this town that
seems to be sadly neglected although
widely used.
The Goderich Public Library, built in
1904 with a Carnegie grant, is in need of
repair and has been for some time.
Presently, a small group of concerned
citizens known as Friends of the Library,
is meeting to determine ways in which
money can be raised to have these repairs
done.
Their first project will be to purchase
Storni windows. Several library windows
are now covered with plastic. And window
sills are also in need of repair.
There is no end to the number of repairs
and.iinprovements that need to be done at
the library but the Friends group is
starting out with small projects because of
a lack of money.
A long term objective of the group would
be to eventually open up the third floor of
the library. Many years ago, this floor
served as the librarian's apartment. There
are six rooms and a huge hallway on this
floor. One roomiias a fireplace and all of
the rooms are uniquely shaped. The
Upper.left - plastic covered windows
Bottom left - unique architecture
completely round room, at one thine, was"
used by the late Gavin Green, a Goderich
historian who did all his work and research
there.
There is no heat or electricity on the
third floor and there are cracks in the
ceiling through which one can see the sky.
It would also require.a lot of decorating but
the underlying woodwork is beautiful.
"It's such a waste sitting there empty,
says Jean Adarns of the • Friends group.
She can visualize reading rooms,
children's rooms and meeting rooms on
the third floor which would benefit
everyone'iin the community who wanted to. •
use them.
The Friends of the Librartegroup, not to
be confused with the Book Club which is a
literary group, is trade up of citizens in the
community who have a common concern
for their library's active expansion and
participation in community life. They have
a conviction that good library service is
important to everyone.
A few years ago, the group added a
bathroom upstairs in' the library,
redecorated the film room and. started a
March break program for children. it then
seemed to disband for awhile until present
concerns came up.
"The library won't fall down butit needs
to be maintained. It's a heritage building
and it needs to be kept in top shape," says
Jack Fiegehen of the Friends group.
Fiegehen is particularly disgusted with
the bad patchwork done to the bricks
outside the library. He would like to see a
town engineer look at the whole building.
Head librarian, Marg Bushell, has other
concerns.
"Sometimes we (the librarians) worry
about fire. There is only one exit (for the
adult library upstairs) and that's through
the front door: The windows are heavy to
lift and high off 'the
le'ground," she
points, '
out.
There is no fire escape at the library and
electrical upgrading may be needed.
There is one other exit in the children's
library downstairs.
Bushell also says the library is a very
cold place to work in winter. There_is no
insulation upstairs and the Friends group
can see the town saving thousands of
dollars onirheating heat g bill every winter if
_ an tnsulationprogram was undertaken., .
At a meeting has rn ay, ire Smarr
Friends group decided that it has to start a,
bank account. Members discussed having
a bake sale, inquiring about `grants
available, asking service Tubs for
donations and speaking to town council.
The group is also going to look into the
procedure for becoming a registered
charitable organization so it can issue
income tax receipts for large donations.
Friends of the Library is very interested
in maintaining the historic character of
the library building. When American
multi -millionaire, Andrew Carnegie died
before the turn of the century, he willed
some of c.,his money to be used for building
public NU -cities in uOw Cariaida and the
U.S. Owing to some smart politicians, 50
per cent of all Canada's Carnegie libraries
are located in' Ontario. A university
student who researched the Carnegie
libraries in the province a few years ago,
was extremely impressed with the rare
hand carved stairway,posts she found in
theGoderichlibrary.
Friends of the Library will meet again
the first Thursday in August at noon in the
film room and. would like more members
to join them. If interested, call Marg
aubIiII al the uurary Ttaiji2u .ur Jenny
Black in the evenings (524=8154).
Frank Drea, Minister of Community and Social Services, received a wagon ride tour
of the grounds when he attended the Bluewater Centre's volunteer recognition huh
cheon last Wednesday. Seated behind him, at left, is Bill Gregg, facility director and
at right, Ernie Fisher, Director of the Lotteries Branch of the Ministry of Community
and Commercial Relations and also a former mayor of Goderich (Plias, by Joanne
Buchanan)
abmet minister
visits Bluewater
simply to say 'thanks'
The Goderich Public Library, built in 1904 with a Carnegie grant, Library, is now discnssfng ways to raise funds for these repairs and
may look sturdy at a glance but it is in need of many repairs and improvements. ( Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
improvements. A group of concerned citizens, called Friends of the
Queen Elizabeth students to represent region
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
Mark Albert and Darcy Doak, students
at the Queen Elizabeth School in Goderich,
will represent this region when the
mentally handicapped from across
Canada meet for the National Games in
Ottawa July 16,17,18 and 19.
Mark will participate in the swiniming
contest and Darcy will participate in the
bowling contest.
The cost to participate is $100 per athlete
and the Queen Elizabeth students are very
excited about the whole event because
they raised a lot of the money themselves.
They baked cookies and sold them in the
staff room at the school as well as to
friends and neighbours. They washed cars
at $2 per car. They saved Zehrs tapes. And
they sold tickets on a cake baked and
donated by Ellen Connelly. The cake was
shaped liked a swinuning pool and
decorated with swimmers in honor of
Mark's swimming abilities. Miss Helen
Videan, principal of Victoria Public
School, was the lucky winner.
Along with a $100 donation from the
Goderich Lions Club and donations from a
few individuals, the total raised was
$233.21.
"The Lions Club probably would have
been good enough to give us theS full
amount we needed but we wanted the
students to get involved as a special
project," explained teacher, Audrey
,Barlow.
It is with pride and happiness that the
Queen Elizabeth School sends Mark and
Darcy off by chartei aircraft to compete in
the national games in July. Ataleyountean
bet the students who helped to send them
there will be roatin' for 'em back home.
Mark Albert (left) and Darcy Doak (right) will represent this
region in July at the National Games for the mentally handicapped
in the swimming and bowling contests respectively. Fellow Queen
Elizabeth School students have been helpir4g to raise the funds to fly
there to Ottawa for these games. The most recent fund-raising
project was a cake draw. The swimming pool shaped cake, made
and donated by Ellen Connelly, was won by Victoria School vice -
Helen Vk!- ,n (third from left). Also in the picture is
Queen Elizabeth School teacher Audrey Barlow. (Photo by Joanne
Buchanan) ,.
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
Frank Drea, Minister of Community and
Social Services, attended the annual
volunteer recognition luncheon at the
Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally
Handicapped here last Wednesday.
It was the cabinet minister's second visit
to the Centre in two months (he attended
the Centre's Education Week session on,
May 15) and that facthad a tendency to
make people nervous. .
As members of the media sat through
the luncheon, they geared themselves up
to hear Drea read some kind of govern-
ment policy statement pertaining to the
Centre. Perim the; Centre would bei,
closed. After , Mlii sfiry o Heal
had already closet. place once in 1976
when it was a psychiatric hospital. And
there has been a trend lately toward
smaller facilities such as group homes.
It came as quite a,pleasant surprise then
after the lucheon, when the minister stood
up and simply announced that he had
invited himself to the Centre to deliver a
personal message of thanks to the
Volunteer Association.
"You ,have a minister who is deeply
appreciative of what you are doing...I wish
I could say it better...Thankyou and
congratulations from myself and Premier
Davis," he said.
He went on to give a short pep talk to the
60 volunteers present.
"The staff couldn't do the job
alone...Volunteers can't be
replaced...Your leadership and inspiration
will make others join in...When the going
gets rough, I hope you will reach inside
yourself for that extra energy."
Drea told the volunteers that the funds
they raise through their various activities
help provide the extra frills that make
Bluewater Centre a special place. '
"It's the little touches that transform a
house into a home," he said.
He explained that the volunteers also
make Bluewater Centre part of the larger
common ity
"Bybeing here, . you bring the com-
munity into the Centre and take the Centre
back out into the community with you
when you go," he said. "Without you we
would not be the part of the community we
should be. You are a significant reminder
that if weare to have the kind of society we
want, then people have to participate."
Drea told his audience, which also in-
cluded 20 staff members, that there were
new concepts coming along in the care f
the developmentally handicapped. He said
that in the future there would be smaller
homes 'for those who could adapt and be
comfortable'.
"But," he added, "a facility like thisone
will become even more important."
During a question and answer period
following Drea's speech, he said the
reason for the trend toward group homes
and community living was not to save
is' roe g cioile"tola ui ividi(i i:'They
will have a say too. Collective programs
may be good for 96 out of 100 people but 1
worry about the four." ,.
• One mother asked if Drea thought
residents would ever be moved out of the
Centre without the consent of parents.
Drea answered with a firm no.
Another part of the minister's visit in-
cluded the presentation of awards to
several volunteers. Upon presenting a
specially commissioned plaque . to
Volunteer Association president, Grace
Patterson, who accepted on behalf of the
Association, he commented, "It is times
like this that I think I have the easiest job
in the whole cabinet."
He also presented Mrs. Patterson, vice-
president Kay Prevett, treasurer Violet
Bridle and secretary Hilda Unger with
special pins from the government in
recognition of their services.
George Ross was honored for `special
contribution of a parent'. He has con-
structed two cabins and 30 tables for the
Centre as well as installing a solar heated
water system for the camp ground.
Drea's visit to the Centre also included a
slide presentation and a tour of the
grounds in the Centre's antique wagon
pulled by ponies. He was presented with a
Bluewater hat and T-shirt. Included in his
entourage from Toronto was Ernie Fisher,
Director, Lotteries Branch, Ministry of
Community and Commercial Relations.
Fisher, a Goderich native, was a former
mayor of this town and Drea said, "He
may be Goderich's greatest export in the
post war years."
Grace Patterson, president of the Bluewater Centre Volunteer Association, accepted
a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Association from Frank Drea, Minister of
Community and Social Services, when he attended the Centre's annual volunteer
recognition luncheon last Wednesday. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)