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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-28, Page 52Page$4 • T*0 examples of atts in Goderich BY JOANNE BUCHANAN In thiscommunity there are at least two -fine examples of progress in the arts. Fifteenyears ago the Christmas Country Fair was started by a group of women from Colborne Ttewnship who wanted to promote artists and eraftsment the -com- munity. For the first fair, each of the women- rented a table 'at Carlow Hall to display their crafts. The. Women's Institute served tea. It was an immediate success, being the first fair of its kind in Western Ontario. • After the first year it was obvious to the committee of women who organized the fair that if they were to hold another, they would need more room. So they held bees and other fund raising events and hired a carpenter to fix the up- stairs of Carlow Hall. They • papered and painted it themselves. When the renovations were completed and inspected, the committee was able to use both the downstairs and upstairs for the second fair. Eventually though, the fair expanded to such an extent, that it had to be moved frOm its quaint birthplace at Carlow Hall to the larger Saltford Valley Hall, also in Colborne Township. "At first I didn't think I'd be able to handle it in a bigger place," says Mrs. Wilmer Hardy, fair convener and a Member of the original founding committee. "But I got tremendous co- operation." The name Colborne Township's Christmas Country Fair was first Adopted because, by having- C•olbarrte—in-the- name, the organizers could rent Carlow Hall free of charge. It was started by Colborne Township women and Colborne Township ar- tists and craftsmen still get first choice of locations for their displays with second choices going to Mariner's Service 76 years old exhibitors from, Goderich. Each year, ---Mrs. Hardy tries to get artists and . craftsmen front, -outside • the area to come to the • fair and set up displays. • Exhibitors are charged ' $1 for their tables and,are allowed no more than eight feet of space. Each one 'from outside t Colborne Township is ' required -to -donate -a' -craft for a door prize. The Christmas Country Fair is strictly a non- profit event to promote artists and craftsmen and give theme chance to sell their work. The fair has a quilt committee which makes a quilt to sell tickets on every year. The money from these ticket sales plus the small amount charged to exhibitors for tables and the small admission fee off 25 cents per person goes toward payments for the hall, parking and advertising. Advertising pays off. It attracts thousands of visitors and well over 60 exhibitors to the fair every year. "Some say it is getting too crowded and want it moved again. But I don't want to move it because I'm afraid it might lose some of its country flavor," says Mrs. Hardy. •. While Goderich residents have been of- fered the Christmas Country Fair for two days in October every year for the past 14 years, they have also been offered the Festival of the Arts or Art Mart every summer for several days since 1963. It was started by members of the Goderich Art Club who felt •in- terested artists in the community should have a chance to display and sell their work to the general public. ThFfiViffthe Arts is held outdoors with art and craft displays set up in Court House Park. It now also includes flower displays set up inside the Court House, sidewalk sales put on by local merchants around the Square and a carnival for the kids set up on several blocks of the Square. In 1979 the 76th annual Mariners Service was held at Knox Presbyterian Church the last week in February. Knox has hosted this service since its inception in 1903. At that time it was called the Fisherman and Sailor Service. In 1913, after the Great Storm, it became known as the Mariners Service and involved everyone in the marine trade. On November 9, 1979 the first public memorial service was held at_ the unidentified seamen's plot in the Maitland Cemetery, com- memorating the 65th anniversary of the Great Storm in which more than 200 sailors lost their lives, including five uniden- tified ones who washedhip on Goderich shores. Ron , Pennington, a local seaman, ,brought the unidentified seamen's plot to the attention of town council, suggesting it be "brightened up" and an annual service held: Warren Robinson, a teacher at G.D.C.I., has written a play entitled The Gre-at Storm. It was performed by the drama club in 1975 •and has received many awards. Country Fair is an annual hit for craft lovers From the original restoration of our Woollen Mill in the early,seventies, we have experienced considerable growth and expansion. In just a few • short years, Benmiller Inn now entails the Woollen Mill (1974), River Mill (1976), and Glenhill House (1979). A complete complex of strikingly renovated.century-old-naills:-Yetrhere-at-B-ernniller Inn, weltnow"--it h 'People who make the Place! That's why we extend to you a warm and hearty WELCOME! Come join us during the 80's, we promise our growth will not interfere with our old time Country charm. Corne, join us fors.. Served Daily from Noon to 2:00. Only $5.95 AFTERNOON TEA Relax and enjoy in front Of an open hearth log fire 2:30 to 4:30 daily. Just $5:00 SATURDAY NIGHT DINNER DANCES Wine,. Dinner and Dancing tojohnny Downs and his Orchestra s5.00 Cover Charge per person. OR. JUST COME AND RELAX IN Meet with family or friends in front of the 'fireplace. Fully Licensed under the L.L.B.O. For Reservations Phone 524-2191 Nestled in Benmiller, Ont., just 7 kilometres east of Goderich on -Huron County Road 1, just off Highway 8. LICENSED UNDER THE L.L.B.O.