The Brussels Post, 1979-07-04, Page 3111
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THE BRUSSELS POST, JULY 4, 1979 — 3
Brussels readers I •Ike a nice story"
BY DEBBIE RANNEY
According to the 1967
World Book Encyclopedia,
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-
American steel manufacturer
gave over $56,000,000 to
build libraries in Canada, the
United States, Great Britain
and other English-speaking
countries.
The Brussels library'is just
one built with money he
provided.
But the library built with
Carnegie's money was not
the first library in Brussels.
The following paragraphs
about the library, except for
quotes on the present day
situation, were taken from a
pamphlet put out by the
Huron County Library in
honor of Brussels Centenary
in 1972. The Huron County
Library got some of its
information from the W.I.
history of the Brussels Public
Library and from the Mech-
anics' Institutes (Ontario)
Minister of Education - 1881.
It was in the latter part of
the 19th century that the
Mechanics Institute in Brus-
sels provided a library and
reading room in the Holmes
Block over Smale's store.
At the end of January, on
Saturday nights, an auction
sale of sorts was held. As
soon as new magazines ar-
rived at the library, purch-
asers had the privilege of
removing the old ones.
At the end of the 19th
century, municipal Library
Boards were constituted to
provide library service, and
because of the growing
demand for literature and the
improved availability of read-
ing material, 'Brusiels like
other communities, needed
better library facilities.
On February 29, 1909, the
The residents have
enjoyed watching the Video
tapes this past week made
from entertainment during
Senior Citizens Week.
On Tuesday evening we
had family night, and were
Public Library Board decided
to ask the village council for a
grant to purchase a site for a
library building on the con-
dition that Andrew Carnegie
give a grant of $6500 for
library purposes.
Council approved and a lot
was purchased on the corner
of Turnberry and Mill Street
from Harry James for $375,
permitting him to reserve the
use of twelve and a half feet
on the south side for a
roadway.
On March 27, 1909, the
Library Board met to con-
sider the architects' plans for
the library and accepted one
by a Mr. Ireland of Stratford.
The library building was to
be 46 by 50 feet but not all
citizens were satisfied. On
April 1, 1909, a special
meeting of the village council
was called. A lawyer repre-
sented some citizens who
were opposed to the new
library building. Just exactly
why these citizens were
opposed to the library is not
made clear in the p amphlet
prepared by the Huron
County Library. But they
were poorly organized and
only represented a small
minority, anyway.
The plan for the library
was sent to Carnegie for
approval. On May 15th the
approved plans were re-
ceived at the office of W.
Leatherdale, secretary of the
Library Board. On May 26,
the tender of Mr. Hunter for
$5960 was accepted. Excav-
ating began the last week in
May. In June, Carnegie gave
an additional $500 for furn-
ishings.
' Apparently, the local
media thought a lot of the
new library as the pamphlet
says that the Brussels Post
fortunate to have Roger
Quick and the Rainbows. The
Orchestra consists of Roger
Quick on the guitar, Johnny
Wurm on the fiddle, Mary
Anne McClinchey, guitar,
records on December 8, 1910
read, "Brussels possesses
the neatest and most modern
P.L. Building in five count-
ies."
The library seems to have
always been a convenient
. meeting place for local
organizations as in 1914 the
Presbyterians held Wednes-
day Prayer meetings and
.Sunday School in the library
while their church was being
built. Cooking lessons were
conducted by the W.I. for
two weeks, and the Farmers
Club held monthly meetings.
Today, the library is being
used by groups like the Lions
Club and the Brownies.
In 1935, the Legion was
given permission to build a
memorial on the grounds. A
separate room was fitted for
a children's room. In 1943, a
County Library was organ-
ized with headquarters at
Goderich. A new supply of
reading material was thus
provided. In 1950, the Legion
erected a monument in mem-
ory of those who had served
in World War 11.
Public libraries used to be
used by the youngest to the
oldest, but today, librarian
Della Nichol who has been
working at the library since
1972 says she thinks that
since the schools have such
good libraries now, that
circulation has gone down
among the school kids and
especially after they get to
high school.
Pre-school children, adult
readers and a smattering of
senior citizens do most of the
reading now.
On May 12 of this year, of
the 87 books that went out of
the library, 61 were adult
fiction.
Della says the pace slows
down in the summer as a lot
of people are a way then,
and there are other people
who just read in the winter.
Oddly enough, the people
around Brussels don't go for
the new, hot-off-the-press
books.
"I didn't have one request
for Margaret Trudeau's
book," Della says.
"They like a nice story. I
get very few complaints,"
says Della. "The books with
the biggest readership are
romances and westerns."
LARRY COX
Son of Jack & Dorothy Cox,
R.R. 3 Brussels, graduated
from Waterloo University on
May 24 with a Bachelor .of
Science degree with honors
in Kinesiology. He is em-
ployed with Prudential ,As-
surance of England in Water-
loo.
BRENDA MCCUTCHEON
daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Clarence McCutcheon of
R. R. #4, Brussels, grad-
uated June 8 from the
Security & Law Enforcement
program at Sheridan College
of Applieo Arts and Tech-
nology, Oakville, Ontario,
the recipient of the T. Eaton
Co. Ltd. award for out-
standing achievement.
One of the series of books
that has always been a
popular favorite among
children are the L.M. Mont-
gomery books about Anne of
Green Gables,
"I don't think there's ever
been a time that some young
one hasn't been reading the.
L.M. Montgomery - books,"
Della said.
On the other side of the
coin is the fact that there's
been a lull in the reading of
Nancy Drew books, perhaps
because the television series
was dropped, as Della says
they used to clamor for them
at the library.
Long after he has been
gone, Andrew Carnegie has
left a legacy that the people
of Brussels are still enjoying
today - the Brussels library.
Huronview likes videotapes
Jerry Quick on the drums, Jo
Anne McClinchey playing
the piano, and Norma Quick
bass. The programe lasted a
little over the hour, and left
the audience wishing for
more music. Residents
throughout the home have
expressed the desire to hear
them again at a later date.
On Wednesday afternoon
the June birthday party was
held. The party was put on
by the Clinton Institute.
M.C. for the afternoon was
Mrs. Doris Batkin. Miss
Barbara Carter, and Miss
Judy Carter started the pro-
gramme off by singing sever-
al numbers, accompanying
themselves on the guitars.
Mrs. Lorne Radford played a
piano solo. Marie Flynn
rounded off the programme
accompanied by Mr. Lorne
Lawson, Mr. Ken Dale, Mr.
Cecil Skinner, Mr. Norman
Speir, and Mr. Wilson Mc-
Cartney. Cupcakes and a ,
cold drink were served at the
end of the programme.
The van took a drive on
Thursday afternoon down to
Dashwood to ARC Industries
open house. Mrs. Mary
Brandt, Mrs. Iris Spading,
Mrs. Alma Davis, Mrs.
Mabel Garrow, and Mrs.
Mary Ann Regier, Mrs.
Bernice Glousher had a tour
of the building, a chance to
buy some delicious ,baking
'and other items for sale.
Mrs. Edna Snell tells us
she is looking forward to her
'Grandson's wedding in
1 Dashwood Saturday June
,30th.
DELLA NICHOL BRUSSELS LIBRARIAN