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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1978-03-02, Page 27MANY SOUVENIRS — Gordon and Mabel Erb collected many gifts on their visit to Afghanistan. One of their most treasured items is a translucent bowl hand carved out of marble. Staff photo Blake area couple enjoy exotic Afghanistan For most of us the prospects of visiting far-off and exotic lands are usually something that we dream about but never manage to get up and do. One couple that did visit lands were Gordon and Mabel Erb who reside north of Blake. For the past five years their daughter Carol has liv- ed and worked in Afghanistan, a land -locked country that has borders with Iran, . the U.S.S.R., Pakistan and China. Work- ing as the secretary for the Noor Eye Institute in Kabul, a city of 500,000 and the capital of Afghanistan, Carol has adapted quite well to the different life style, Mr. and Mrs. Erb said. Ms. Erb first went to Afghanistan under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee to work at the hospital. After her three year period of service with that organization had run out, Carol was hired by the Christofle Mission for the Blind, an organization from West Germany that takes part in the running of the hospital. Departing from Toronto on September 17, the couple flew from Toronto to Lon- don, London to Istanbul, Turkey and then proceeded to Kabul via Ariana Airlines, the national airline of Afghanistan. Upon arriving in Kabul, the Erb's discovered that Afghanistan had extremely warm, dry days (80-90 degrees Fahrenheit) and cool nights. "There are very few incidents of arthritis in this country'', Mr. Erb stated. During their stay in Kabul, the Erbs stayed at the eight bedroom guest house where Carol, and a nurse originally from Strathroy, lived. The home was extremely modern in most respects but to obtain their drinking water a trip to the American embassy was necessary, due to the polluted shallow wells of Kabul. Mr. Erb stated that Western people who drank Kabul's water that was not boiled invariably became sick. The home takes extreme care in the preparation of its meals., the Erbs stated. Produce that is purchased in McCann Const. Ltd. Pre -Cast Concrete • Steps and Porches • Ornamental Railings • Lawn Ornaments DASHWOOD, ONT. Your Authorized Dealer DIAL 237-3381 the open air markets of Kabul is first washed and scrubbed in the home's water and is then washed in an iodine solution. Kabul is a city of contrasts according to the Erbs with the area of modern buildings contrasting with the squalor that is found in the older sec- tions. Open sewers are the norm rather than the excep- tion in this city situated on a plateau in the north-western section of Afghanistan. The city is beginning to in- dustrialize as plastics and shoe factories have recently been constructed. The couple did not limit their visit to Afghanistan as Mr. and Mrs. Erb and Carol visited Pakistan and India. When they were in Pakistan they took a bus that was stopped six times by Pakistan - Police who were looking for contraband. Mr. Erb said that the bus driver became so fed up with these delays that he switched buses. The Erbs than switched to a train and travelled from Lahore, India to New Delhi where they visited the Taj Mahal. There was a marked contrast between the people of Afghanistan and India with the Indian people much less concerned about cleanliness. The train was "just filthy" Mrs. Erb stated. The Erbs had a memorable sendoff at the Kabul airport as a retired general in the Afghanistan army presented the Erbs with a hand carved bowl fashioned out of translucent marble. The general had become acquainted with the Erbs through Carol who has several friends among the educated of Afghanistan. "If you have grey hair you have it made," Mr. Erb stated in reference to the respect that the elderly command in this country that is 99 percent Moslem. • The Erbs who returned November 17, found their visit interesting and educational with Gordon taking over 300 slides on the trip. Owned by Claude Gelinas - March 9, 1978 Page 15 New ownership forgcirage Bayfield Garage, con- tinously operating for the past 50 years, has recently changed ownership. Reginald Francis has sold his business to BillMcIlwain. Situated on the west side of Highway 21 a block south of Clan Gregor Square, the garage was built on property purchased from Walter Westlake and the late Alf Westlake by Mrs. Stott for her adopted son Oliver "Goldie" Goldthorpe. Weston Brothers of Bayfield erected the building in the late 1920's. Goldie operated the garage and service station until prior to his death when a man named "Dubbie" Webb managed it for a short time for Goldie. Early spring 1940, Claude Gelinas of Zurich was ap- proached by Supertest Petroleum Products to lease the business. This he did and operated it for a year upon which Doug Gemeinhardt of Bayfield took over its operation. He remained in business until the spring of 1946. Early in 1946, Super - test, who had been leasing the establishment purchased it from Mrs. Goldthorpe (Goldies widow). In 1946, Reg Francis and Grant Turner, who had become acquainted while serving in the armed forces in Halifax leased the Supertest building and continued the operation until dissolving their partnership in early 1960. Reg continued on in the garage and in April 1960 Bill Mcllwain became an em- ployee. After 18 years he has purchased the business upon the retirement of Reg Francis, who sometime during the 1960's made the purchase from Supertest. More recently it has been known as Bayfield B.P. Garage because of British Petroleum's purchase of Supertest interests. To the north of the garage was situated a log cabin which was known as Log Cabin Lunch and which had been built as a lunch room. Over the years it was leased and operated by a few villagers including Mrs. Edith (Grant) Turner and Mrs. Lulu (Byrd) Sturgeon. During the time that Doug Gemeinhardt ran the operation it was occupied by his family as a residence. The late Jack Fraser pur- chased the Log Cabin and in turn sold it to Dr. McMaster from Seaforth, who had it moved to his property and used it as a summer cottage. It was subsequently pur- chased purchased by Reverend William M. Bennett, the present Rector of Trinity Anglican Church on September 1, 1954; and is now incorporated into their permanent home on Tuyll street South. Bill Mcllwain, the son of the late Robert and Ann (Harrison) Mcllwain was born and raised north of Bayfield on Highway 21, and as an honest business man and farmer, is well known in the area. He is married to the former Madelon Cox of Goderich township. The couple have two children, Donald married and living in the village and Joyce who attends Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. We extend all the best to Bill and wish him every success in his venture. Always a considerate and honest merchant, faithful worker and avid supporter of organizations in the village, our very best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement go out to Reg Francis, who is still seen almost daily at the garage, a habit we suspect he has acquired over the past 32 years. Reg and his wife Evelyn will continue to reside in Bayfield in their home on Highway 21. NORM SALMON GENERAL CONSTRUCTION - Remodelling - Renovations - Repairs - Painting - Additions GOOD RATES 236-4288 52 Main St. W. ZURICH Faith and Life Crusade at Zurich Community Centre March 26 -- April 2, 1978 8 p.m. Nightly SPRING MEMORIAL SALE SAVINGS UP TO x500°° Over 200 monuments in many sizes, colours and shapes. All available for delivery as soon as possible. All priced below 1978 prices. Special winter work and cash discounts effective until April 15. Some are one of a kind. Visit our Targe new heated showroom and inspect our craftsmanship. Serving Huron and Surrounding Area Since 1919. T. PRYDE SON LTD. 293 Main St., Exeter 235-0620 Open 9 - 5 Mon. -Sat.