The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 13IIIE Clll/EN, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7. 1994. PAGE A-IS
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
Organizing craft show, a year-Cong endeavour
The work for Jean Fox of Blyth begins
long before the weekend of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association
Reunion.
Ms Fox is the crafts co-ordinator for the
event and she says preparations start as soon
Melting iron
Blacksmith Jim Wallace drew lots of spectators to his shop, which was part
of the Thresher Reunion for the first time in 1992.
as the date for the reunion is set.
She says she begins by sending inform
ation and application forms to all past
participants as well as any new craftspeople
she has heard of.
All applications must be returned by the
end of August so the organization of the
floor plan for the tables in the Arena can
begin.
Ms Fox requests a picture of the crafts
intended for display to ensure everything is
handcrafted. This also helps her to place the
displays in the arena in a way that is
presentable and with similar crafts in various
locations.
She must also ask if the display requires
hydro as this limits placement.
Once the floor plan is set, tables of the
proper size are arranged and the exhibitor's
name is taped to the floor. This eliminates
some of the confusion on set-up day, says
Ms Fox.
This year there will be approximately 76
vendors using 97 tables, she says. The
overflow of 16 tables was placed around the
ball diamond.
The displays include hand-painted china,
^Threshers hosts non-
denominational service
The 33rd Annual Thresher Reunion and
Hobby Association is hosting a non-
denominational church service on Sunday,
Sept. 11 for the campers, community and all
interested in a music filled sermon.
Dave Chittick of the reunion committee,
says, "Don Vair, of the Westfield Fellowship
Hour Church, will be the speaker at the
10:30 a.m. service. Gladys Van Egmond will
play the piano and accompany Glen Eden of
Owen Sound, on the fiddle."
For your cows' comfort
Pasture Mat
&
Stabling
“Call Joe for a
complete quotation”
ceramics, wood whittling, knitting, dolls,
jewelry, quilting, woodworking and many
more. A new vendor at this reunion is a
woman who sketches caricatures on wood.
Ms Fox says, "Hand her anything and she
will try to sketch on it."
Ms Fox says she is trying to organize
demonstrations by the various craftspeople
but, there has been no firm commitments
yet. She says she hopes there will be quilting
and spinning exhibitions.
The exhibitors come from a large area,
which runs from Kitchener to Tiverton.
Most of the crafts people from last year
will be returning with six new vendors.
Ms Fox says, "This is a three day event
which brings out a different group of people.
The craft selection is also different from
others in the area because it is a summer
event," says Ms Fox. "It is a good craft show
so everyone should enjoy it."
Leona McBride, of Goderich, will add her
talents on the trumpet to the service and
Marianne Spinke, also of Goderich will read
the children's story.
"The service is intended to be open air, but
with last year's inclement weather, the
auditorium was filled to capacity," says Mr.
Chittick.
Everyone is invited to attend the church
service which runs froml0:30 a.m. to 12
noon.
Many gather to watch HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS
Brussels 519-887-6289
blachsmith ply his trade
By Bonnie Gropp
For the past nine years, Jim Wallace has
been coming to the Huron Pioneer Thresher
Reunion held each year in Blyth on the first
weekend following Labour Day. Last year,
he was given his own shop in which to ply
his trade as a demonstration for visitors to
the event.
Mr. Wallace, who resides al RR2,
Goderich has for 20 years earned a living as
a blacksmith. According to his wife Mary
Greg, after university, where he graduated
with a degree in social work, Mr. Wallace
travelled to Nova Scotia to find cmploymenL
His physician father had blacksmilhed as
a hobby when Mr. Wallace was young, so
the idea struck him while in the east that he
would like to learn the age-old trade.
Following an apprenticeship with two
blacksmiths there, he relumed to Ontario to
open his own business.
Located on Hwy 8 between Clinton and
Goderich, Ms Greg says that most of her
husband's business is in decorative iron work
for architectural designs, such as railings and
gates. He also docs iron furniture, such as
beds and tables, in addition to to farm
repairs. "Basically whatever comes in the
door," said Ms Greg.
Mr. Wallace was approached by one of
the "old-timers," Ms Greg said, about doing
demonstrations al the Thresher Reunion.
Though they won't sec Mr. Wallace shoeing
any horses, which is actually the work of a
farrier, visitors to the Thresher Reunion
enjoy watching the technique. Small crowds
gathered around his new shop, located just a
few feel west of the bean pot, continually
throughout last year’s three-day reunion.
"People like to sec how pliable irons can be
when healed," said Ms Greg.
WELCOME TO THE 33rd
ANNUAL THRESHER REUNION
Paul Klopp
M.P.P. Huron
Parliamentary Assistant
to the Minister of
Agriculture
For assistance or information please
call my Constituency Office at:
(519)482-3132 1-800-668-9320 or Fax (519) 482-5405
19 Victoria Street, Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0