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The Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 9THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1999. PAGE 9. Hamlet of Molesworth Molesworth store, circa 1890, still in business Molesworth, at the east end of Grey Twp. was first established in 1852 on Lots 51 to 54, Cone. 1 Grey Twp. and neighbouring Wallace Twp. of Perth County, along County Rd. 86. John Mitchell and his family built their first home on Lot 53 near the creek. County Rd. 86 had not yet Molesworth blacksmith shop been surveyed and Mitchell believed it would run along the waterway. His store was built on the same lot. A dam and saw mill were soon built to serve the residents. By 1869, a post office had been built in Wallace Twp. and the com­ munity of 74 residents had a black­ smith, hotel keeper, shoemaker, store owner, wagon and carriage shop­ keeper and a carpenter. In 1883, Mitchell opened an apiary which was still in use a century later. Before the turn of the century, there were also tailors, dressmakers, barbers and a slaughterhouse for the beef ring. The beef ring ceased in the mid-1940s. In the 1890s, Alex M. Patterson built a store on the Grey Twp. side where Molesworth Store still stands. An egg grading plant to the rear was destroyed by fire in 1949. A new store was constructed with living quarters above. The pick up of eggs from farms stopped in 1968 and the grading sta­ tion, established at the original com­ munity school, closed in 1971. A chopping mill was built around 1900, on Lot 52. A new mill was constructed in 1924 on the northwest comer of Lot 53, but it burnt in 1927. It was rebuilt the following year. The structure was demolished in 1952 when County Rd. 86 was widened. The present mill was constructed in 1953. Renovations and updates have taken place frequently, includ­ ing a new addition on the front in 1999. The Molesworth Cheese and Butter company was created in the early 1870 by a group of sharehold­ ers. Reorganized in 1957, it became known as the Molesworth Cheese and Butter Co-operative Association. Russell Martin had opened a cheese store during his tenure, having been hired as the manager in 1940. The factory closed sometime after 1967 though a shop was open offer­ ing cheeses, honey and Dutch prod­ ucts. The first school was built on Lot 52. It operated until 1949 when the local school board purchased the for­ mer United Church. USS No. 4 served the needs of the children until 1965 when a central school was built near Ethel. The building remained in use for Wallace Twp. students for two years until the board moved them to Gowanstown. The first church in the community was a Congregationalist which many Presbyterians joined until such time as they had a large enough number for a church of their own. It w.as built in the early 1850s, a quarter mile north of Molesworth. Though the Presbyterians had their congregation by 1863, they contin­ ued to used the Congregationalist Church until 1868. That first church was erected just north of the present structure which was built in 1898. Today’s Presbyterian Church stands on the lot of the first hotel in the hamlet. Church union in 1925 brought dis­ cord among the Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists. A United Church was built west of the school in 1927. By 1947, the diminishing congregation was invited to join the Presbyterian Church across the street in Wallace Twp. Telephone service came to Molesworth in the early 1900s. It was taken over by Bell Canada in the 1950s. Huron Feeding Systems — Building & planning for tomorrow In the late 1970s Joe Seili came to a decision regarding his professional life. At the end of another season of building silos, Joe saw himself with two choices — to apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits or start his own business. He chose the latter he said, because being your own boss seemed like it should be fairly easy, In the years since his outlook has changed, however. "He soon found out that running your business takes hours and hours of commitment and hard, work," says his wife Deb, who of course helped out right at the beginning doing the light paperwork involved at the time. In 1978 Huron Feeding Systems, for the sales and installation of farm feeding equipment was born in Brussels. The first office was located in the Seili's 400 square foot Ellen St. home's garage. Joe was president in charge of sales and the organization of ordering, receiving and shipping. Deb was vice president and helped with the ordering and shipping in addition to doing office work and payroll. Huron Feeding Systems began with one car and a couple of friends who worked part-time, but it wasn't long before they added a van to the company fleet. In 1987, the Seilis built a new facility at the present location on George St. in Brussels' Industrial Park. With 1,560 sq. ft., Deb says, they wondered how they would ever use all the space. By 1988 Huron Feeding Systems had six vehicles, 12 employees and two-way radios. In 1991 another 1,120 square feet was added then three years later a forklift was purchased for unloading transports. That was also the year that they went to computer. In 1997, Joe and Deb purchased the lot behind Huron Feeding Systems, which is used as employee parking. Very much a family enterprise the Seilis three children have been involved in the business from the earliest possible opportunity. Their eldest, Jacquie, 23, recently completed a co-op term in the office as part of her Business program at Owen Sound. Twenty-one-year-old Mike has worked the last four summers on the bin crew, while thirteen-year- old Christine now helps by putting things in order, photocopying and even answering the phone on occasion. Locally Huron Feeding Systems has contributed to other businesses through the purchase of vehicles, tools, hardware, meals and fuel. They have remained loyal to Canadian Westeel storage bins for grain and Caldwell aeration from the United States. Other lines have been added over the years. Huron Feeding Systems now handles Val-Metal conveyors, GSI flex auger, A.P. feeders, DMC stirators and Caldwell fans and heaters. Their biggest selling item in 1994-95 was PVC plastic used for hog penning, while in 1997 the Bodco straw choppers and manure equipment were added to their line. In over 20 years since it began Huron Feeding Systems can boast of many accomplishments. Joe has received awards for being among the three top dealers in the Western Region of Ontario for Westeel and Caldwell fourteen out of the past 16 years. The company offers its clients trained sales staff, good service and practical ideas for individual farm situations that promise the best return. Having fulfilled a goal to operate a successful family business the Seilis continually look ahead. In 1998 the goal for Huron Feeding Systems was to build a 40 x 72' warehouse as well as include a recycling outlet for PVC in small quantities. The new warehouse was completed in 1998. Deb and Joe celebrated their 20th anniversary in business in November of 1998 and while having their own business means they work together every day, it doesn't mean they have any more spare time to discuss personal life, Deb jokes.