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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-10-11, Page 16ti 16A — THE 'HURON EXPOSITOR, OCTOBER 11, 1989 ire department manned by 24 volunteers fli a siren sounds at 4 a.m. on a snot#Jan morning most of us can just wait** a noi,$e subsides, pull our coversc0vers4 ',little high* and go back to sleep,;,lBut'kf fere are „'24 men in Seaforth who explode into action when the alarm goes off, regardless of the weather or the time of day, to keep lives and property around the area safe. October 8-14 is Fire Protection Week, and a good time to reflect on how the Seaforth Area Fire Department functions: When the fire number (527-1100) is dial- ed it rings into a central switchboard located at the Seaforth Community Hospital. The switchboard is responsible for discriminating between a false alarm and a real fire, and will get the location and type of the fire, and trip the alarm. Church. from page l ui searortn unser the guidance of Rev. E. Card. In 1864 this group erected a building on 37 John Street at a cost of $1,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church con- tinued at the John Street location until the union of 1884, when it joined with the Goderich Street Church. In 1885 the John Street Church was sold to St. Thomas Anglican Church for a parish hall. NEW CHURCH OF 1877 In 1877 under the ministry of Rev. George Buggin, a new edifice was erected. The marble slab of this building is present- ly embedded on the front wall of Northside Church. The brick church was two stories high, basement above the ground 50 x 98 feet. A spacious gallery circled the house witch„a seating capacity of 400 plus 600 in the sanctuary. Stained glas adorned eacih window. The cost of the building plus gas fixtures., was $15,500. Subscriptions in the amount of $13,000 were raised with Mr. Armstrong, James Beattie, J. Hill and Frank Sparling leading the list with contributions of $1,000 each. Dedication services were held on December 25, 1877. METHODIST UNION OF 1889 Four branches of Methodism existed in Seaforth by 1884, namely the Methodist Church of Canada, the Bible Christian, the Primitive Methodist, and the Methodist Episcopal. In 1884 these united to form the Methodist Church. Two electric lightswere installed in 1890, and cushions were placed on the pews at about this time. The pews were also numbered. In 1904, the Presbyterian Church was granted the privilege of using the Methodist building while alterations were being made in that::church. PARSONAGES In 1896 a second adjoining lot was pur- chased. In 1898 the picket fence which had surrounded the church was removed. Elec- tric lights were installed in 1900, replacing he old acetylene lighting system. By 1905 it was decided to replace the old frame parsonage. The old parsonage was rented and then sold, and moved to a lot next to what is now the "Ball and McCauley Mill". It was destroyed by fire in March 1957. A house rented on the southeast corner of Jarvis and Goderich Streets, opposite the church, was used for a parsonage un- til the new one was ready for occupancy. The alarm rings on a two minute cycle, consisting of 10 ups and downs. When the alarm rings the firemen rush to the fire hall, dorm protective garments and head out to the fire scene. A minimum of 13 men are involved in a country fire - with nine actually going to the scene, two standing on call, and one operating the radio. The remaining men are left behind to protect the town should a second fire erupt at the same time. One pumper, one tanker and an equipment van are usually taken to the country fire. Everyone who answers the call is involv- ed in a town fire, and two pumpers and the equipment vas; are the vehicles com- mandeered. The tanker is taken only if it is needed for such a happening as a grass fire. Perhaps the most important job at all fires is that done by the radio operator. With the laws the way they are today the radio operator plays a vital role not only by keeping track of conversations, but by relaying messages, phoning ambulances and doing whatever else is needed. The Seaforth Area Fire Department has been in operation since before the turn of the century, at that time operating out of the Seaforth Town Hall. Today it is hous- ed in a much larger facility on Birch Street, and is responsible for 165 square miles in and around the Town of Seaforth itself. It boasts two pumpers, two tankers and an equipment van filled with silo packs, Scott Air Packs, Extrication Equip- ment and more. George Garrick is Chief of the Depart- ment, while Tom Phillips acts as Deputy - Chief, and Jim Sills and George Reeves serve as the two captains. Each man heads a crew of four other men, and each crew takes a turn at being on call on the weekends. In addition to a regular monthly meeting, firefighters undergo training ses- sions once or twice a month, to ensure they are well trained in all aspects. The fire department can be involved in everything from vehicle accidents, rescuing people from grain bins and silos, to fires. In 1988 the Seaforth Area Fire Depart- ment answered 45 calls raring from car accidents to grass fires, chimney fires, house and barn fires, gas leaks and sear- ches for missing persons. The present parsonage was built during this year of 1905. SUNDRY IMPROVEMENTS After 30 years of service the church was redecorated in 1907 and again in 1927. The roof was reslated in 1907 at a cost of $396.56. In 1919 during the ministry of Rev. H.P. Moyer, a successful campaign was launch- ed to clear the congregation of its longstanding mortgate. A special morgage- burning ceremony was held on November 10 of that year, with Mr. and Mrs. James Beattie burning the mortgage. As the Metropolitan Methodist Church, -Tottonto had purchased a new pipe organ, the board of the Seaforth church purchas- ed the organ to be"replaced at a cost of $2,780. The church women made a con- siderable contribution towards this purchase. ,r The organ was r$budt"in"1939-at a cost of $1,660, when :atnew stop and chimes were added. ,In 1963 thfiiugh a committee composed of. Rev. J.C'. Britton, James and Mrs. Stdwart,-Sam Scott and E.M. Williams, The organ .,vas `. rebuilt and restored to its original co& ition at a cost of $7,500. During the "Church Union" year of 1925, the church wa renamed, Northside Church, probably because of its location on the "north side" dE Goderich Street. An oil burning. -system was insla-lled in 1946 at the manei2. A Baptismal:Font and steam heating were Installed in the church in 1949 at a cost of $11;080. The [church was rewired, and the basement and ceiling repainted. CHURCH ENOVATION OF 1953 In 1953 a master plan for the renovation and redecoration of the church was pro- duced by a committee composed of Sam Scott, Jas. A. Stewart, Dr.. P. Brady, Mrs. James Scott and Ross Savauge. This plan was fully completed that year at a cost of $21,550. Reopening services were held Sun- day, February 7, 1954. Improvements included a complete re- painting of the exteripr woodwork, brick pointing and repair as well as the removal of two turrets and chirnneys. At a cost of $6,000 new pews and furnishings were in- stalled, with the divided chancel arrangement. The organ pipes were divided and con- tinued in the divided belfries above the chancel ante rooms. The organ keyboard was rebuilt and put to one side in keeping with the divided chancel arrangement. The gallery pews were repainted. Recessed nave lighting fixtures replaced the former larger chandeliers, and the floors in the church body were refinished. In 1961 Cavan United Church, Winthrop became with Northside, a two-point charge. The relationship with Cavan Church has been a happy one. 1968 CHURCH RENOVATIONS A long-range planning committee was formed in 1963 consisting of Bev Thomson, Sam Scott, Ernest Williams, Dr. P. Brady, Gladys Thompson and James Stewart, along with a representative from the women. As a result of this committee's foresight and insight, the organ was reconditioned and tuned at a cost of $7,500, a chairlift was installed at a cost of $2,100, the church school rooms were remodelld to their pre- sent arrangement at a cost of $36,581, and the washrooms modernized and relocated. 1971-1977 RENOVATIONS In three years 1971-1973 $11,639 was spent in repointing the extrior bricks and repain- ting .of the woodwork. In 1976 repairs were made to the narthex with hardwalling in preparation for the complete church interior repainting at a cost of $5,240. The narthex, vestry anterooms, ambulatory across the rear of chancel, and nave were repainted and redecorated at a cost of $17,695. During this period of renovation services were held in the schools for about one month. New carpeting completed the renovations in 1977, when the nave, and vestries and narthex areas of the church were carpeted at an approximate cost of $6,000. Today's Northside building, 98 by 50 feet, stands as a beautiful artistic memorial to the untiring efforts of those who laid the foundations 100 years ago and the establishment of Methodism in this area of Seaforth. To date in 1989 the department has answered 21 calls. These have ranged from truck fires, wheat field fires, combine fires, and barn and house fires to extrica- tions. More recently the fire department participated in a mock disaster at the Seaforth and District Community Centres. "We are actually on call 24 hours a day, while a full time department works its eight hours and is done," commented Chief Garrick. This Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. the Seaforth Fire Department will host an Open House for the public. At that time several pamphlets - on such topics as babysitting and home safety, will be available. Custom Art Designers SPECIAL sEr 2J.99 Mitchell Closed Faced Reel & Pole Reg. 45.98 OMNI Sports Open Faced Reel with Pole Sale Price 5E 29.99 This Week Purchase i.reeJ this week at have It llled.si th the Ilrte of youx•the '6 iia,, tit an GO NORTH SWEAT SHIRTS (White Only) NOW 1 5.99 Reg. 19.99 V-NECK SWEATERS 14.95 SWEAT PANTS SWEAT SHIRTS Reg. 22.95 NOW 18.99 Reg. 24.95 ,.21.99 Watch For Our Louisville and Easton Hockey Equipment & Sticks Arriving This Week Main St. Seaforth 527-1005 WEEK Oct. 8 ® Oct. 14 BE FIRE WISE! There are two lifesaving steps you can take to avoid the tragedy of fire. First, you can learn to prevent fires by keeping areas around the home, farm and business uncluttered. Storing chemicals careful- ly. Keeping matches away from children. The second step is to know what to do in case you're caught in a fire. Plan fire drills. Install smoke detectors. Learn escape routes. Because careless fires can cost lives, knowing what to do can save lives. It's that sim- ple...and that smart. 1��11Nirill� � IIQ�iuiiiinglll iIIIHIIII i°'Th) i ra "1111 1111101)111cr1 PAN FIRES Don't give fires a place to start. The safety precautions that you take now could avert a tragedy. PREVENTION is the best PROTECTION! :. 1. TURN OFF HEAT. 2. Try smothering the flame by covering the flame with a pan cover. It should completely cover the pan, watch out for yourself and your , clothing. 3. If this doesn't work use a DRY CHEMICAL or CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OVEN FIRES FIRE NEAR COMBUSTIBLES: 1. Get everyone out of the house. 2. Close doors to, prevent the fire from spreading...then get out! 3. CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NEVER: 1. TURN OFF HEAT. 2. Try smothering heat by closing the oven door for a few moments.. 3. If this doesn't work, open door enough to use a DRY CHEMICAL or CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AGENTS GRAEME CRAIG BOB McNAUGHTON DON TAYLOR BANTER & MacEWAN INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 524-8376 JOHN WISE INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. 482-3401 "CALL AN AGENT OR THE OFFICE" 887-9381 527-1571 482-9976 Never risk carrying out a burning pan. Never put water on grease fires...this will cause it to spatter and spread flames. NEVER try to fight a fire alone ... CALL YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT! For more information on Fire Safety call the following: DEP. CHIEF Tom Phillips 527-0921 CHIEF George Garrick 527-0873 McKILLOP MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY 91 Main St. S. Seaforth CAPTAIN Jim Sills 527-1248 CAPTAIN George Reeves 527-1995 F IRE NUMBER 52/-1 1 04 Established 1876 527-0400 Jim Cardiff Sec.-Treas., Manager SEAFORTH & AREA FREE DEPARTMENT 4...e.®.., 4