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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-09-06, Page 11TIE IYIIYiI;HIIM/IDVANCfIM,S BELGRAVE Co -Old 357.2711 1-800-267-2767 "Congratulations on your 75th Fair" Congratulations from Brussels O1rq Custom Application Fertilizer, A g ro m a rt Seed & Crop Protection Products Ltd. Brussels 887-6273 Fax: 889-6150 For Service. and Quality that you can trust. Congratulations from.., DAUPHIN FEED & 1-600-665-5675 SUPPLY LTD. Walton 887-6023 Dungannon 529-7951 75 Ye] 131±1 Si ps LIfl [l LI 11.4.0 I PAV1 DI L 1 FAIK, R.R.#3 Brussels, Ontario NOG 11.10 887-6461 or 887-6811 Congratulations from ... J.R. Fear Apiaries Honey • Pollinationko-40 Beeswax R. R. #2 Wingham 357-3656 Congratulations from .,. Howick-Turnberry Fall Fair "Join us October 6 & 7th at the Howick Community Centre" ;) I\ j" ►,,, Marilyn J. Craig Blyth 519-523-9318 Fabric - Yarns Macrame Chord (for chairs) Sewing Notions /.R.'sQasBa4 A Vase dkt .21d. • Burgers • Fries • Chester Fried Chicken • Pizza • Subs • Ice Cream • Take -Out or Eat In • Movie Rentals • Propane • Open 7 Days a Week Brussels 887-6951 School Fair, 1926... Students from S.S. No. 9 East Wawanosh, Currie's School, made ready for the school fair parade in 1926. Shown with teacher Louise Fraser are back: Ger- trude Arbuckle (Reavie), Bob Scott, Jessie Arbuckle (Kerr), Bob Arbuckle, Gordon Kerr, Leo- nard James, Elmer Arbuckle, Annie Scott, Roy Pattison, Elliott Johnston; front row, George Carter, Ronald Coultes, Billie Johnston, Edythe Arbuckle (Coultes), Luella Kerr (Hawken), Roy Cunnington and Donelda Johnston (Smith). (Photo courtesy of Leonard James.) School fair endures, despite change For 75 years, Whenever 'anyone in the townships of East Wawanosh or Moms has said they were get- ting something ready for the fair, or • were going to put something into the fair, there was never any doubt what "fair" they were talking about -- the Belgrave School Fair. Since the first fair in October of 1920, Belgrave has played host to generations of pupils, first from the one -room school sections and later from the central schools at Bel - grave, Blyth and Brussels. A fair has been held every year with the exception of 1937, when all county fairs were cancelled due to an out- break of polio. Thousands of school children have learned about friendly compe- tition through their years as fair ex- hibitors. But they learn more ,than that. The fair is an example of a closely -knit community working together. As long as there are vol- unteers willing to pitch in, the school fair will endure at Belgrave: The world can change around it, but remarkably, the fair is one thing which remains constant year after year: from its parade of school chil- dren to displays of school or k, crops, flowers and vegetables. This year, the Belgrave School Fair will be held on Friday, Sept. 15. Agnes (Mason) Youngblut was born in 1907, the youngest of five children born to John W. Mason and his wife Margaret. Today, Mrs. Youngblut resides at the Braemar Retirement 'Centre north of Wing - ham. Her eyesight is failing, but her memories of that first fair remain vivid. Back in 1918, explains Mrs. Youngblut, the provincial govern- ment of the day decided to start a program of education about the farm for rural youngsters. The agri- culture department was given the mandate to help organize school fairs across the province with Bel - grave's being just one of several throughout Huron County alone. Early in 1920, school trustees from Morris and East Wawanosh met with S. B. Stothers, the first provincial agricultural representa- tive in Huron County, according to the East Wawanosh history book, Wilderness to Wawanosh, pub- lished in 1992 for the township's 125th anniversary. Richard Procter Sr. of Morris was the first fair board president and John Wight - man of East Wawanosh was the first secretary. The first fair was held Oct. 5, 1920, with eight schools participat- ing. A newspaper account of the day said the fair was "a pro- nounced success in every respect". Exhibits were shown in the Forest- ers' Hall, as well as the Presbyteri- an and Methodist Church sheds. Childred were provided with one packet of vegetable seeds and an- other of flower seeds. Mrs. Young- blut said she chose beets and won first prize. She also won a prize for her patchwork on a piece of flour sacking. Other areas of competition in- cluded making a hammer handle or a milking stool for the boys and for the girls, naturally, sewing and bak- ing. There were races and speeches, even a competition for the best - developed boy or girl. Dan Arbuck- le of SS No. 9, Currie's School, won for the boys, while Lenore Taylor, also of No.'9, was declared the girls' winner. One speech stands out in Mrs. Youngblut's memory, a speech about a woman who found a hum- mingbird's nest. She also recalls buying ice cream for five cents and a hotdog for the same price. An article published in the news- paper of the day reports that, "Bug- gies, democrats and cars filled to their utmost capacity were pouring in from every direction (for the fair)...The school parade was led by S.S. No. 6, Morris, followed by one with Union Jacks." The children all wore costumes for the parade and each school was judged for its appearance and marching ability, a tradition which continued for many years. In the early 1930s, the Depart- ment of Agriculture withdrew its fi- nancial support and many local fairs were discontinued. However, Belgrave's carried on with the De - Please see ENDURES/9 School Fair, 1956...Pupils from S.S. No. 6, East teacher, Mary Wightman. (Photo courtesy of the Tweedsmuir Wawanosh, march in the 1956 school fair parade with their History) "The Village of Brussels and the Brussels P.U.C. would like to congratulate the Belgrave School Fair on their 75th Anniversary." Congratulations from ... Sips N' Nibbles Take Out Restaurant "PHONE AHEAD & ORDER Also WILL BE Banquets READY" and Catering • Fish • Burgers • Fries • Subs • Pies and much more. Debbie Reid Belgrave 357-3691 Congratulations to the Belgrave-Blyth-Brussels School Fair on your 75th Anniversary From the Ratepayers Council & Staff of the Township of Morris.