The Citizen, 1998-05-27, Page 2Giving it a lift
Antoine Ouellette has been restoring some old grandeur
to Brussels main street. Attracted by the architecture, the
Toronto resident recently purchased the former drug
store, Standard Bank and Topnotch mill.
That's what brought Antoine
Ouellette to Brussels from Toronto.
A friend had been looking at the
former maternity hospital on
Seeing an opportunity and taking William Street, and asked Antoine,
it. who served on a heritage commit-
WI takes mystery tour
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Brussels 519-887-6294
While in Brussels for
the annual
YARD SALE
on Sat., May 30
stop in at our
Sidewalk Barbecue
and try our
Delicious Pork
Patties
Cynthia and Michael would
like to thank everyone for
their help and support
following Michael's recent
accident.
On This Day In Sports History
Sports fanatic Mark Bradley set a new record in spectatorship. For 359
consecutive days, Mark watched sports on TV at home. Mark credits his
independent Lennox dealer for keeping his home heating and air conditioning
in prime condition - and keeping Mark comfortable through the entire
hockey, football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, boxing and bowling
seasons.
Brought to you by:
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Comfort Centre Ltd.
Just south of
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WINGHAM AND
DISTRICT HOSPITAL
CORPORATION
Notice is hereby given that the Annual- Meeting of the
Wingham and District Hospital Corporation will be held at
the Wingham Public School Auditorium, 131 John St. E.,
Wingham, Ontario on Thursday, June 18,1998 at the hour of
eight o'clock p.m. for the election of Governors; for the
appointment of Auditors; and for the transaction of such
other things as may properly come before the meeting.
Copies of the Annual Report and Hospital Financial
Statements may be obtained at the front desk of the
Wingham and District Hospital effective June 11, 1998 and
at the Annual Meeting.
Memberships granting voting privileges may be purchased
at the front desk of the hospital for five dollars ($5.00) prior
to five o'clock p.m., Wednesday, June 3, 1998. No
membership sold, after that time will entitle the purchaser
to a vote.
Dated at Wingham, Ontario, this 29th day of April, 1998.
By order of the Board of Governors.
Koch,
Secretary.
PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1998.
Brussels buildings go retro
On Wednesday, May 13 the
Majestic Women's Institute held its
monthly meeting. This month was
a mystery tour lead by Kathy
Bridge and Ruth Bauer. The
departure point was the Brussels
Library with the first stop being at
the Grand View Restaurant at the
south end of Blyth for a delicious
lunch.
A short and to the point meeting
was held with 19 members and one
guest, then everyone went back to
their cars for the next part of the
tour.
Rural Route number two Blyth
was the next stop at the home of
Bill and Delores Souch. Here
members heard about how they
came to start making natural soaps.
Their grandson had eczema and
was unable to use ordinary soap.
They make several different
soaps, each with their specific
characteristics. Cucumber soap is
for those who suffer from acne,
eczema or psoriasis, insect
repellent soap helps keep
mosquitoes away. They make
human shampoo as well as dog
shampoo, natural deodorant,
farmers soap and Granny's Lye
laundry soap.
A very interesting time was spent
here. The hostess was thanked and
presented with a gift.
Members then ventured home.
The next meeting of the Majestic
WI will be held June 10 at 1:30 at
the home of Ruth Sauve for a
picnic atmosphere.
On Tuesday, May 19 Majestic
Women's Institute held a soup and
sandwich euchre.
The euchre prize winners were as
Continued on page 6
tee in British Columbia in 1982 and
restored an historic farm in New
Brunswick in 1986, to check it out.
"I like it so much that I'm renting
the house from him."
What Antoine also discovered
was the village's grand Victorian
architecture. "For a town of this
size it is the best example from the
period around 1885 that is still left
together. Not a building standing
here and another there. It is the
context of the two streets together
that is the beauty of this town."
Owner of Accent on gclectiques,
an importer of French armoires,
bedroom suites, mirrors, etc., in
Toronto, Antoine decided that he
would buy some of the downtown
property and incorporate it with his
Toronto business. "I spotted the old
bank and drug store and thought I
could restore them to the original
condition for a commercial build-
ing of that time."
Over the course of the past few
weeks, Antoine has begun just that,
and passers-by have been intrigued
watching the transformation, partic-
ularly after the removal of some
signs at the top of the building,
which most recently housed Quali-
ty Used Furniture. Hidden behind
them were some beautiful stained
glass windows.
"I was very fortunate," says
Antoine.
When the work is complete,
Melville Presbyterian Church
Women's Guild was held in the
church parlour on May 19.
Helen Elliott opened the meeting
with a short prayer followed by the
singing of For the Beauty of the
Earth.
A verse entitled "In the Merry,
Merry Month of May" was read'.
Mrs. Elliott read a poem written by
Edgar A. Guest entitled "I Paid -a
Dime for a Package of Seeds".
Ethel Brewer gave an address on
"My Mom is tops to live with —
God's greatest Miracle".
Proverbs 31: verse,10 - 31 was
read in unison. Mrs. Elliott led in
prayer. "Occupations of a Mother"
was read by Mrs. Brewer.
President Mary Carr presided
over the business part of the
meeting. Following a word of
welcome and a poem on "Mother"
the secretary's report was read and
approved.
Jeanne Ireland gave the
treasurer's report.
Final arrangements were made
for the Maytime Supper to held
on May 31. Set up will beriday,
May 29 at 6:30 p.m. Jim and Leona
Armstrong will be in charge of the
takeouts. Anyone wanting a meal
delivered call 887-6753 and leave a
message.
Melville Guild's turn to cater to
the Lions Supper will be on
Antoine intends to occupy the
building, which he will display as a
store from the 1880s, until he finds
a suitable renter. "I would like to
rent the building to something that
incorporates into my line of work,
such as an interior designer."
Once he has completed the for-
mer drug store, he plans to start
restoring the old Standard Bank.
"I'm expecting to find the same
atmosphere in that building as this
first one," he says.
Antoine has also purchased the
former Topnotch Feed Mill on Mill
Street, which he intends to use as a
warehouse for now.
Attracting people to small town
Huron is not a concern for Antoine.
"I think the building will speak for
itself," he says. "Also, I have a
good reputation in Toronto as a
supplier for movies and television
series. Anytime they are looking
for luxury furniture they usually
see us first, so I am sure that asso-
ciation will continue no matter
where my business is."
For now, Antoine will continue
to divide his time between Brussels
and Toronto. "Taxes in Toronto
have taken a big jump. If that con-
tinues, then I'nf set up here to move
in."
Until then he is content to invest
in and restore at least some of vil-
lage's extraordinary architectural
heritage.
Monday, June 8.
Fifteen members answered the
roll call which was answered by
telling a story about their first and
second name, which proved to be
most interesting.
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Guild meets in church parlour