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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-10-12, Page 9CHIMNEY SWEEPING—With help from Gary Osborn , chimney sweep Vern Scott cleans up all the soot in, the fireplace with a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner. By placing a carpet In front of the fireplace, he keeps the living room clean. (Hundertmark photo) Chimney sweeps bring everyone good luck Vern Scott's uniform - a top hat and tails -is the symbol of a profession that has been around almost as long as houses have had chimneys. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the English began to use stone for buildings and began making masonry chimneys instead of open hearths. After London burnt down several times, people made the connection between dirty chimneys and fires; chimney sweeps then were invented 10 solve the problem. In Europe, chimney sweeps formed guilds like other craftsmen anti became respected members of the community. A law was passed, -which still exists today in many countries, that chimneys must be cleaned once a year. In England, however, chimney sweeps were at the very bottom of the social ladder. Because English chimneys were crooked, only small boys could climb inside them to clean them. About four to 12 -years -old, the boys were bought from orphanages or poor families by a master sweep. They were usually very hungry, very dirty and they didn't live Ione. It's Fire Prevention Week! Keep rhe fire bug bottled up Inspect your home regularly for fire hazards overloaded elec. trical outlets, frayed cords or plugs, matches or lighters within children's reach io properly stored flammable ma tenals in your basement, attic or garage Make every week Fire Prevention Week JIM ETUE STATI I NS'14ANCi INSURANCE AGENT 32 Main Street Seaforth 527-0720 Possibly' to make up for their low position, master sweeps began wearing a top hat and tails they picked up from undertakers when the hired mourners wore them out. Those clothes became the traditional costume of a sweep when the outfit was passed on to the boys. Soon, sweeps became more respectable and magical traditions were associated with them. Chimney sweeps bring good luck with a hand shake, a kiss, or even just their presence. If a bride sees a sweep walking towards her on her wedding day, legend says she'll have a long and happy marriage. When America was settled, professional chimney sweeps didn't catch on. Child labor laws ended the use of small boys and pioneers usually swept their own chimneys since they were easier to clean than those in Britain. When clean -burning fuels were intro- duced, chimney sweeping became a lost art. That's why chimney sweeping is considered a new idea in North America while it's still very established in Europe. BE FIRE WISE! Protect your family from FIRE Think about fire wherever you are.... THE HURON EXPOSIT Home fire prevention startswith a clean. Chimney,sweep p says chim burn, the wood is dry but that's not People who use their fireplace or wood necessarily so," he says. stove every day during the winter should BOT Creosote is als produced more during a while those who lighave their ht a fire once as cleaned ce a weekyear can smouldering fire since the hotter the fire, the go for two or three years before cleaning less creosote produced. them. A chimney fire can do anything from weaken or 'damage the chimney to burn down the house. But, no matter what the extent of the damage, a fire is frightening. "We've had two small chimney fires in the past coupple of years," says Norman MacLean of E mondville who recently had his chimney cleaned. "When 1 lit' the fire in the fireplace, it started with a big woosh, the fire starting soaring, sparks were flying out of the chimney and the neighbors started calling, The chimney fire didn't get out of -control because there was snow on the roof but it was scary since we have cedar shingles which could have caught fire," he says, Mr. Scott's handbook on chimney mainte- nance compares a chimney fire to a small volcano erupting in your living room. Since it sucks so much air, it burns loudly and at about 3,000 degrees F. or more. At that temperature, flaming balls of melted mortar could shoot out of the chimney onto the roof. lawn, or neighbor's house. If your chimney ever starts on fire, you should close off the drafts, close all the doors in your house, get out of the house and call the fire department, says Mr. Scott. "If anyone has a chimney fire, he usually learns fast about the importance of cleaning his chimney regularly,he says. Ch/m chlmeney, chim ohlmeney, chim chire& A sweep Is as lucky, as lucky can be Ch/m ohlmeney, chim chlmeney, chim chim chlroo Good luck will rub oft when 1 shake hands with you, Mary Poppins Vern Scott of Vern's Chimney Sweep Service, doesn't guarantee he'll give you good luck but by cleaning your chimney, he says he'll reduce your chances of having a chimney fire this winter. A chimney sweep for about three years now, Mr. Scott got interested in the business during his years as a volunteer firefighter in Seaforth. "Most of the fires iri the winter are chimney fires. More and more people are burning wood these days in open fireplaces and wood stoves. If they don't have their chimneys cleaned regularly creosote builds up in .them and will catch fire," he says. Creosote is an oily or tarlike substance produced when wood burns. It is carried up the chimney as a vapor with the smoke and condenses on the walls of the chimney when it touches the cool flue lining. There, it hardens and will continue to build up. And, it is extremely flammable. Since few people have used wood to heat their homes for so long, many people are uneducated about seasoning their wood and cleaning their chimneys, says Mr. Scott. Ma r�yy burn green wood which produces more creosote. A lot of people think that as long as it'll Because he sweeps about 300 chimneys a year, Mr. Scott spends a lot of time with black soot from head to toe. "I enjoy it but it's hard, dirty work. You sure know you need a bath when you get home." Though anything from a brick to a bag of sand can be used to knock the creosote off the walls, Mr. Scott uses wire brushes he attaches to a long pole. By drawing the brush up and down the chimney three or four times, he scrubs the creosote off the wulls. A large industrial -strength vacuum clean- er is hooked up at the bottom of the chimney to catch the dirt and a large rug is placed in front of the fireplace in case any of the dirt escapes. OUT OF THE HOUSE "We do anything we can to stop the soot from getting into the house," he says. The job takes close to an hour for one chimney. Mr. Scott charges 530 to 540. And, while he works, he wears his top hat and tails the, traditional costume of a chimney sweep especially when children are around. "They get a kick out of it. Sometimes people want to shake hands for luck but 1 haven't been asked to a wedding yet." Crowd at Cromarty Thanksgiving service There was a good attendance for the combined service celebrating Thanksgiving and Rally Day in Cromarty Church on Sunday morning. The Sunday School Superintendent, Mrs. Alex Miller, announced the names of those receiving certificates for last year's memory work. They were Jenny Sangster, Julie Martyn, LariJo Gardiner, Sarah Elliott, Visitors from afa Mrs. Flo Bayley, New Westminster, British Columbia, visited for a few days with friends in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Freele, Parkhill visited with Mr. and Mrs, John Drake, Mr. and Mrs. Rob Templeman, Carrah and Cain visited Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. Hap Swatridge and Jill, Wingham. With Mr. and Mrs. John Templeman and Barb on Thanksgiving Sunday were Mr, and Mrs. Pro Neilson, Jennifer and Jessica and Christopher Scott, Leanne Gardiner and Lisa Gardiner. Attendance awards were also given out. Receiving a 1st year certificate were Jenny Sangster, Becky Martyn, Lisa Pullman; 2nd -yr. seal, Carrah Templeman; 3rd year seal, Julie Marlyn, Christina Miller, Chris - toper Scott, Steven Pullman; 4th year, LariJo Gardiner„ Sth year seal, Sarah Elliott: 6th year -Michelle Martyn, Leanne Gardiner: 7th r in Staffa 'Richard Templeman, St. Catherines, Joanne Templeman and Pat Donovan, Mississauga, Mr. and Mrs. Don Ellison, Goderich. Mr. and Mrs. Dale Martyn, Wanda, Michelle, Julie and Rebecca, Russeldale. Ruth Temp- leman, Stratford, Mr. and Mrs. Hank Bertens' and Kimberly, Fullerton. Mr. and Mrs. David Templeman, Mr. and Mrs, Terry Templeman and Sandra Covency, Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Mike Parsons and Mr. and Mrs Rob Templeman, Carrah and Cain, Staffa. .. • year -Danny Elliott; 8th yr. Wanda Martyn, Sherri Elliott, 9th year -Lisa Gardiner, Tom Laing; 10th year -Dennis Elliott, 13th year, Barbara Templeman. The offering was received Tom Laing and Dennis Elliott. PERSONALS Recent visitors with Mr. and Mrs. T.L. Scott were Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Moore. Lindsay. Visitors on Thanksgiving Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Laing were Andrew Laing and Helen Benninger, Toronto, Margaret Laing and Jeff Allen, of Guelph, Alex and Marilyn Zimmer and family, Stratford. Mr. and Mrs. Murray Lindner and girls of Stratford spent Thanksgiving with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Laing. Mr. and Mrs, Ben Ruston had as their guests on Thanksgiving ' Sunday Maurice Ruston, Toronto, and Mr. 'and Mrs. Glen Ruston and family, Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. John Scott. Always check to see if you have proper fire insurance if there's doubt. Come in and see us today Seaforth Insurance Broker Limited Seaforth, Ontario 527-1610' Donald G. Eaton STOW Kenneth J. Cardno Canadian Tire carry a complete line of BE FIRE WISE! FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SMOKE ALARMS THIS WEEK Save 5900 2995 Reg. $38.95 Chubb fire extinguisher, 2A / 10BC rated for use on the 3 most common classes of fire. Meets ULC standards and is guaranteed for 5 years. 5 -Ib. size with wall bracket. Non toxic. 61-0824-4 CANADIAN TIRE D. Derbyshire Merchandising Ltd. 126 Main St. South Seaforth 527-1350 STORE HOURS Mon to Thurs 8 30-6.00 Fri 8 30-9 p m Sat 8 30-5 30 SHOP HOURS Mon to Sat 8 30 to 5 30 Uru TOUR CARO PAN FIRES ON TOP OF STOVES: 1, TURN OFF HEAT. 2. Try smothering flame by covering flame with a pan cover. It should completelycover pan. Watch cut for yourself and your clothing. 3. If pan cover doesn't work, use your fire extinguisher [dry chemical or carbon dioxide type]. FOR OVEN FIRES: 1. TURN OFF HEAT. 2. Try smothering flame by closing oven door for a few moments. 3. If this doesn't work, open oven door a crack and use your fire extinguisher [dry chemical or carbon dioxide type]. Open oven door as little as possible. R OCTOBER 12 1983 — A9 VIEW FROM THE CHIMNEY TOP—Wear- ing his traditional costume of top hat and tails, Vern Scott sweeps a chimney using wire brushes. At a cost of 530 to $40, it takes close to an hour to clean one chimney. (Hundertmark photo) Driver killed near Brucefield A 46 -year-old Zurich area man died when his pickup truck left Huron County Road 3 west of Bruceficld Friday night and struck a culvert. Provincial police at Goderich said Lorne George Prince of RR3. Zurich, was alone in the truck. Police said Mr. Prince was eastbound on the county road just before 10 p.m. Friday when the vehicle went into the north ditch. Police said weather conditions were good at the time. BE. FIRE WISE! Don't give fires a place to start. The safety precautions that you take now, could avert a tragedy. Prevention is the best protection? What About Kitchen Fires? BUT IF FIRE IGNITES NEAR COMBUSTIBLES: 1. Get everyone out of the house, 2. Close kitchen door to prevent the fire from spreading....then get out. -3. AND CALL YOUR FIRE DEpA-RTMENT. -NEVER • never risk carrying out a burning pan. X never put water on grease fires,..it will spatter and spread flames, ....AND NEVER TRY TO FIGHT ANYTHING BUT A SMALL FIRE! Welcome to Our Open House at our NEW FIRE HALL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. FIRE EMERGENCY NUMBER 527-1100 Seaforth and Area Fire Department CHIEF: Harry Hak DEP. CHIEF: Tom Phillips 527-1276 527-0921 CAPTAIN: Jim Sills CAPTAIN: G. Garrick 527-1248 527-0873