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The Brussels Post, 1972-05-03, Page 7411!1•111.1•1M.....1=•••••1111.11M11.••. THOMPSON and STEPHENSON MEAT MARKET Phone 887.6294 FREE DELIVERY FRESH LIVER S.P. COTTAGE ROLLS Minced Ham, Mac. and Cheese, Chix. MEAT LOAF lb. 450 lb. 750 lb. 690 • 'TOOK YON • ASSORTED CREAM PIES 3 for $1 .00 CORN IN A BAG 10-oz. bag 290 FOR Quality Products At Competitive Prices SHOP STORE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MONDAY to FRIDAY 9 to 12 SATURDAY IT LS US... AND IT'S OURS I [—Order your ATRAZIN Now UNITED CO-OPERATIVES OF ONTARIO BELGRAVE BRANCH CALL YOUR CO-OP Huron council forces decision (ooterning future of jail • Phone 887-9339 We Deliver Schneider's KENT BACON • , • • • • , • Dam' Cookie Jar COOKIES Stokleys 14-oz. PEAS and CORN , . DOMESTIC — .4c off SHORTENING , Maxwell House COFFEE Wittick's POTATO BREAD • Allen's — 48.oz. FRUIT DRINKS Tenderleaf TEA BAGS — J4. 2 f" S1.0 lb, 450 10-oz, $1,89 There are times when owning property can be a real pain in the neck, and HUM County Council is experiencing that strange phenomenon right now. It has the former Huron County Jail in Goderich listed among its assets and it may be a while before council is agreed upon the best way to dispose of the pre- mises. At last Thursday's meeting of Huron County Council, the property committee chaired by Kenneth F. McMichael of Turn- berry Township brought in a recommendation that the jail be converted into a museum of penology - in other words, a collection of authentic artifacts from history which would tell the story of Ontario's penal in- stitutions from the early 19th centur y to present day - and onward in time ad infinitum. The recommendation was bolstered by the appearance at council of A. S. Nuttall, Execu- tive Assistant to the Deputy Mini- ster of Correctional Services for Ontario and V. N. Styrnio, Senior Museums Adviser, On- tario Department of Public Re- cords and Archives, and Mrs. Pauline Hall, Associate Adviser. Speaking to council, Mr. Nuttall said his department could not offer money - only co-oper- ation in the event a' museum of penology was established in. Huron. He said he could promise an outstanding collection of genuine penal "restraints" such as old and' modern handcuffs, irons, lashes and an authentic gallows complete with hangman's trap. He pledged the .department's continuing support of this venture since it would be the only one of its size, scope and authenti- city in the province. In fact, Nuttall said Huron's museum of penology would be designated the province's "official jail museum". Mk. Nuttalll added that certain prisoners from Ontario's jails could be brought to Goderich to restore the jail to its original state. For instance, the modern- day pale green paint would be covered in "drab grey". An interesting feature of the museum, he concluded, would be to include the arts and crafts made by prisoners in the pro- vince's present jails and there- by rounding out the full story of penal punishment in Ontario. The second speaker to ad- dress council on the project was V. N. Styrmo. He pulled no punches, telling the members that while the former Huron County 'Jail was an ideal site at which to contain a museum on the theme of penOlOgy, it would be an .expensive undertaking. "When you, start a museum,, it haS no fpreseeable end," Mr.. Styrmo advised the members of council, who perhaps understOod better than many what he meant beeause they have seen the bills for Huron County's pioneer Mu- seum of North Street in Goder ich. Mr. Styrmo said that while "preserving an imposiag struc- ture with historical significance" was a noble ambition, alterat- ions would be necessary to make it serviceable as a public building and operational costs would be considerable. "The cost could be phenoin- inal," Mr. Styrmo told council. "You have a 100-year head start on deterioration. But with a five- year plan for the development of the museum, you would have, a pretty fantastic 'museum which would leave visitors to Huron County saying that if you are ever up that way to stop off to see the museum of penology." A maximum grant of $1,000 would be available to the mus- eum each year, Styrmo said. Museums don't make a lot of money, either, he reminded council. He said that 116 out of 120 museums in Ontario re- cord a loss each year. The avenge income for museums is only about 40 to 60 per cent of the gross cost of operation. The only profitable museums 'in Ontario are at Niagara Falls - and are privately owned. "But you would keep visi- tors to Huron County longer, they would spend more money in the community, it would be an educational facility and, just maybe, it would deter some po- tential law breakers of the future, he concluded. Reeve Allan Campbell of Mc- Killop, last year's chairman of the property committee, warned council he planned to .speak plainly. "If we keep the jail as a museum, the rope is around our neck and all they have to do is pull the trap," argued Reeve Campbell. He stated that HuronCounty's Pioneer Museum has a $36,000 annual budget and a $1,000 grant plus an intake of about $12,000 to offet the costs. "That's about $23,000 for the people of Huron to make up each year," insisted Reeve Campbell. "Can the people afford to keep another museum? Good Lord, how much more can we stand?" WIngham Reeve Jack Alex- ander suggeSted that the building be Sold to the Town of Goderich for $1. "Let them provide us with some parking, " Reeve Alexander recommended,' obviously re- ferring to the parking bind in which the county finds itself at the nearby Children's Aid offices and, the assessment offices. "I'm disappointed in the at- titude of this council," said Reeve Harold Lobb of Clinton. "I thought this county was supposed to be a tourist area. If it is going to be a tourist' area, yo u have to have some- thing for the people to see. If we don't want it that way, we'd be better to make her into an industrial complex." "Mr. Campbell wants to speak plainly," challenged Anson Mc- Kinley, deputy-reeve of Stanley Township. "I'd like to know how much Mr. Campbell would want for the jail if we sold it." "I'd like to ask Mr. Mc- Kinley a question," retaliated Reeve Campbell. "How many more museums can the county stand?" "I'd have to know what the one we have is worth to the county of Huron before I would answer that question," said Reeve McKinley. Harold Robinson, the reeve of Howick, was not in favor of the plan to make the jail into a museum. He talked about the new health and welfare services the county now has, and added that in his opinion, the county should spend money on "pre- ventative medicine rather than on dead stone". The Goderich jail has two distinct claims to fame - al- though both may be considered dubious honors by many, many folk. The Huron County Jail was the scene of the very last public hanging in' Ontario and is also the place wher e the now famous Steven Truscott , then 14 years of age, spent eight months in a cell waiting for the death sen- tence to be carried out. A third interesting fact about the history of the jail was brought forth by county clerk-treasurer John Berry. He said records show that the first meeting of Huron County Council was held on ti 'e third floor of the jail. "But they retired to the hotel uptowi, for the next meeting," reported Mr. Berry. "The re- cords do not indicate why." The matter of the establish- ment of a Huron County Museum of Penology was referred back to committee for further study, es- pecially in the area of proposed costs for the project. The next meeting of Huron County Council is May 26. It is likely the whole matter will be re-opened for discussion at that time. I • • • 2 for 490 3 for $1.00 60's 890 lb. 690 2 lb. 950 MAY Ito MAY 20 PROCLAMATION VILLAGE of BRUSSELS Whereas the year 1972 is Centennial Year in Brussels the Council of the Village of Brussels Proclaims from As clean-up, fix-up and paint- ing time in Brussels and re- spectfully request the citizens of Brussels to co-operate. JACK McCUTCHEON, Reeve Village of Brussels Wedding McTAGGART - REYNOLDS The marriage of Helen Grace Reynolds and Gary Neil Mc- Taggart was performed by Rev. G. R. Strome in Grace United Church, Hanover on Saturday, April 29. Miss Sandra Reynolds of Kit- chener was her sister's brides- maid and Dale McTaggart, Stratford was his brother's best man. Relatives and friends attendee the wedding from Brussels; Walton, Stratford, Palmerston Kitchener and Hanover. USE POST WANT-ADS DIAL 887-6641 THE BRUSSELS POST, MAY 3, 1972-7