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The Citizen, 1999-12-29, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN MILLENNIUM ISSUE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29,1999. Hamlet of Belgrave Railroad brings early commercial success to Belgrave Belgrave looking north Belgrave, in Morris and East Wawanosh Twps., found its success as a junction on the London, Huron and Bruce Railway division of the Great Western Railway when it passed by a short distance from the community in 1876. Edward Foley was the first to settle in the area when he purchased a lot on the Wawanosh side in the 1850s. Knox Church on Huron County Rd. 4, (London Rd.) served the com­ munity from 1865 to 1873 until the Methodist Church was built on Brandon Street. The Anglican Church was constructed two years later. The structure which served as the first general store and post office remains on the Morris Twp. side at the comer of County Rd. 4 (London Rd.) and Brandon Street. The Olde Tyme Radio Store is also housed in an old general store, vin­ tage of 1860 to 1880. Belgrave grew tremendously dur­ ing the early 1880s. By 1882, there were two hotels, four general stores, two blacksmiths, two tailors, a tan­ nery, wagon maker and hardware store. Lumber shipments and grain buying were important to the hamlet. East Wawanosh Twp. contributed $25,000 to the construction of a rail line from London to Wingham in 1876. The station stood on land severed from the C.R. Coultes family, a short distance east of Belgrave, with the farmer and drover loading 120 cars per year at the Belgrave station. The community never grew to, a any size, however, due to its proxim­ ity to Wingham and the lack of large grain mills or manufacturing plants. The hamlet suffered a loss when a tire in 1889 destroyed 10 buildings and only two were saved. In 1901, the Belgrave General Store replaced Haggerty's tavern on the Wawanosh comer. The Belgrave Cheese and Butter Factory closed in 1902. In 1907 construction began on a new school on the Wawanosh side of Belgrave. During the early years of this cen­ tury, Belgrave had a shingle mill, saw mills, grist mills, flour mills and chopping mills. There was also a Forresters’ Hall, now owned by the Women’s Institute. Commerce increased when the bridge was built across the Maitland River, allowing access from the north. William Geddes operated the Queen’s Hotel on the Morris Twp. side during the temperance move­ ment while the Wawanosh Hotel sat across the street. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce took over a portion of the Queen’s Hotel in 1916, but closed during the Depression. Though George Jordan’s chopping mill burned to the ground in 1915, it was rebuilt. It sat on property now owned by Belgrave Co-op. While R&J McEwan’s General Store and Ross Anderson’s Hardware carried on late into the century, only the general store remains today. The Canadian National Railway informed residents in December, 1940, that the northern section of the London-Huron and Bruce line would Belgrave Woodworking Shop be abandoned. There was little input taken from the affected villages. Losses and World War II needs resulted in the closure, residents were told. The last passenger train ran from Clinton to Wingham on April 26, 1941. The abandonment of the line resulted in the cre­ ation of a new business for the Coultes family. Forced into trucking, the Coulteses began an order­ buying business with cat­ tle shipped in from the west for area feedlots. As the years passed, relying on the rail system in other districts also became more difficult so the family purchased their own fleet of trucks. An eight-room central school was built just west of Belgrave on Huron County Rd. 20, (Belgrave Rd.) in 1966, East Wawanosh Public School. An addition was added in 1990. Until recently, Belgrave was home to Calvin Brick (Knox) United, Trinity Anglican and the Presbyterian Church. The Anglican Church closed in May, 1995. Belgrave is known for at least two great social events throughout the year, the Belgrave, Blyth, Brussels School Fair which marked its 79th anniversary this year and the annual fowl supper. First known as the Belgrave School Fair, eight schools participat­ ed in the first year, 1920. When the community centre was completed in 1949, the event moved from the Forresters’ Hall, Methodist and Presbyterian Church sheds. Talk of an enclosed rink started in 1934 when volunteers constructed an outdoor ice surface at George Cook’s farm. By 1948, work was underway with donated land from George Jordan for the ball park and C.R. Coultes for the community. Damaged by heavy snow in 1963, the building was tom down leaving only the front intact. A larger arena was built that year. The Kinsmen Club raised funds for the construc­ tion of a new larger front on the arena in 1991. Belgrave arena is one of the last in Ontario with a natural ice surface, still scraped by volunteers with shovels after each hockey game. e Along with the development of the arena, neighbouring ball parks were created. In 1946, George Jordan donated land south of the arena. In 1980, East Wawanosh Twp. bought more land to the south with the Kinsmen paying the cost and devel­ oping a new ball park, pavilion, cov­ ered picnic area and playground equipment. The official opening was held in 1984. The Belgrave fowl supper has been an annual event for more than 50 years, drawing over a thou­ sand patrons to the tables each fall, with profits helping to support the arena. In 1991, the municipal office moved from the township garage to a house in Belgrave. The Queen’s Hotel was demolition a few years ago. Where it stood, a spearheaded by the Kinsmen and beautiful park area was created supported by the community. Belgrave steam sawmill Brussels Livestock A A^fcA A^A AAtAA^AA^AAmAAAkA^^^-^^AA In 1958 Jack Bryans and Hugh Pearson purchased a farm on the edge of the village of Brussels, namely Lot 3, Concession 10, Grey Township, and started a community livestock auction in the name of Brussels Livestock, and held one sale per week. As the years went by, several additions were made to the buildings as the volume of cattle numbers increased. Then in 1970 the business was sold to Bruce McCall, Leonard Bauman, Aden Bauman, Urias Weber and Robt. Mader. The name then changed to Brussels Stockyards Ltd. A few years later, Ross McCall bought into the company. Bruce and Ross McCall managed the company, with the other owners being silent partners. Bruce and Ross soon bought out the other partners and continued expanding and increasing the business. In the spring of 1987, the McCalls sold the business to Klaus Henschel, who operated same until the fall of 1988. The business was sold at that time to Gordon Brindley, who changed the name to Brussels Livestock, and continued on until March, 1991, Mr. Leonard Gamble who owned and operated Gamble & Rogers Ltd., in Toronto, then purchased the business and is the present owner. Mr. Gamble holds three livestock sales per week. The business has increased so much that Brussels Livestock now is the Largest Livestock Market in Ontario. The packer buyers come to Brussels Livestock to buy fed cattle, veal and lambs from Toronto, Guelph, Stoney Creek, Bolton, Niagara Falls, Norwich, Norval, Kitchener, Burgessville, Aylmer, Waterdown, London, Claremont, Thamesville, Burlington, Melbourne, Montreal, Quebec, Les Cedres, Quebec, Plainwell, Mich. U.S.A., Wyalousing, P.A., U.S.A., Souderton, P.A. U.S.A. Brussels Livestock employs approximately 35 full and part-time employees. There is a watchman on duty every evening until 7:00 a.m. when the staff arrive, as the yards are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Livestock auctions are held every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. selling fed steers and heifers, slaughter cows and bulls, and every Thursday at 8:00 a.m., selling small calves, veal, lambs and goats. Every Friday at 10:00 a.m. they sell Stocker cattle, and at 1:00 p.m. pigs. ► ► ► ► I ► ► I * ► I ► I I ► ► ► ► ► ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► ► ► ► I ► ► I ► I ► ► I ► ► I ► i ► ► I ► ► 1 ► ► I ► ►