Clinton News-Record, 1983-11-02, Page 24A
PAGE 6A--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
G6
S
By ;ryllle Coulter
"It all started on a Sunday afternoon in
1941, late in April when I =.w a whole
bunch of flags from here to Hwy. 4," said
Elden O'Brien who lives on Vanastra
Road.
Upon seeing the flags, Mr. O'Brien ask-
ed what was going to be built. It was an air-
port. "When I saw those flags go up,
something really jolted me. 1 didn't know
if I should put a crop in or what f should
do." Mr. O'Brien was simply told it was
war time and anything could happen.
"After all those years and I'in still here,"
he says.
First Sod `turned
Mr. O'Brien lays claim to having turned
the first sod at the soon to be air base and
later to become Vanastra. It happened
almost by accident on May 21st, 1941 when
the first sod turned was actually a hole dug
to install the first latrine.
Not long after Norm Tyndall sold his
farm to the government, people lined up
along Hwy. 4 looking for jobs. °Everyday
they would hire everybody in line out
there. At the end of the day, some were
fired and if they were in line again the next
day, they were hired again."
About 540 people were hired plus subcon-
tractors. Mr. O'Brien says three barracks
and mess hall were completed by the end
of July.
Drilled For Water
-Found Salt
"They paid 40 cents an hour for labour,
60 cents an hour for a carpenter and 70
cents an hour if you could make stairways
and hang doors," recalls Mr. O'Brien.
There were, of course, some setbacks to
the speedy construction. When they drilled
for water, they found only salt. Water had
to be hooked up from Clinton.
Everyone worked seven days a week, 12
hours a day. "If you weren't there Sunday,
you were fired on Monday."
Initially, 500 R.A.F. (Royal Air Force)
men moved into the base and about one
year later, R.C.A.F. Personnel moved in.
Buildings were quickly constructed. The
old hospital was built where KOMA Boats
is now. Base Factory Outlet replaces the
ly
former Sergeants' Mess Hall, and the old
hangar is now the Coop building, to name
a few. Mr. O'Brien says he remembers
building 27 where the construction workers
stopped for coffee. "Watching it (the base)
grow from a corn field to what it is today,
has been quite an experience," he said.
Silo Still Stands
One of the things that still stands today is
the silo from the original Tyndall farm.
The silo was to be destroyed after initial
construction, but later the plan was chang-
ed. It would have been too dangerous with
so many other buildings nearby.
Stairs were installed in the silo and of-
ficers used it to belt out commands to the
parade square below.
Fenced In
Many buildings were constructed in that
short time. The following year a high fence
from the hangar to Halifax Road to Fifth
Avenue was constructed. The fenced in
area became the "Compound". Once the
electric fence was installed there was no
going in or coming out, (except occasional-
ly for sheep).
"Jim Medd put his sheep in tahe com-
pound to mow the grass. The airmen would
complai . about the polish on their shoes,"
says Mr. a. 'Brien.
Next to -': Instructed, were two wooden
towers, each 247 feet high. By the time
they were built, they were out of date, says
Mr. O'Brien. The towers were eventually
torn down, having never really been used.
When pre -fab houses were being fitted
together, Walter Pepper's horse team was
drawing materials. Mr. O'Brien
remembers one day when the horses fell
into one of the cellars, -"and we all got in
there and helped them out".
Becoming Place
There were many construction com-
panies involved and Mr. O'Brien
remembers them all by name: Piggot, Rit-
chie, Tim, Johnsons, Parker, Ball, and
Gaffrey Construction.
In about 1945 Mr. O'Brien sold his land
where college and public school stand to-
day. A few years later, Ball Construction
New era for Wingham hospital
WINGHAM - A new emergency and
outpatient wing at the Wingham and District
Hospital could be the catalyst needed to
expand the health care services available in
this community, some members of the
hospital were told two weeks ago.
During an informal session following the
board meeting, Hospital Administrator
Norman Hayes and some members of the
medical staff explained that the new wing
has the potential to be more than just a
replacement for cramped quarters In the
existing building.
It also promises to be a strong drawing
card in the hospital's attempt to attract
DRYSDALE
MAJOR APPLIANCE
CENTRE LTD.
SALES WITH SERVICE
"The Place to Buy Appliances'
NEW AND USED
HENSALL 262-2728
CLOSED MONDA YS
PECK
APPLIANCES
"IN THE HEART OF
DOWNTOWN VARNA"
• FILTER QUEEN SALES at SERVICE
• VACUUM CLEANERS -
(Sales A Service to Mont Makeel
• FM COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
(For Farm • Ondeeul
• WHIRLPOOL APPLIANCES
*WOODS FREEZERS
•CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
*INSECT at FLY PULLING UNITS
(For Indoor * Outdoor Mel
• GIFTS & MANY MORE ITEMS
VARNA, ONT.
482-7103
more visiting specialists, perhaps even-
tually making unnecessary many of the
trips patients now must take to larger
centres such as London.
As well, by moving emergency and out-
patient services into a new building, it will
allow a desperately needed expansion of the
radiology department within the existing
building, enabling it to upgrade its service.
The informal discussion period, lasting for
almost two hours, followed a board meeting
during which questions were raised about
the future $1.4 million expansion project,
toward which the board hopes to raise
$300,000 from the community.
Established 1876
McKILLOP°
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
Ph. 527-0400
91 Main St. South, Seaforth
FULL COVERAGE
Farm & Urban
Properties
DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS
482-3354
527-1877
345-1234
523-9390
524-7051
527-1837
482-7527
482-7593
527-0487
Ken Carnochan
Lavern Godkin
Ross Leonhardt
John MaEwing
Stanley Mcllwain
Donald McKercher
John A. Taylor
J.N. Trewartha
Stuart Wilson
AGENTS
E.F. "Bill°' Durst
Bob McNaughton
Wm. Leiper
527-1455
527-1571
523-4257
CALL AN AGENT OR
THE OFFICE
INSULATION
Heat the high cost of heating
this winter: Call LES TURNER
for Free Estimates on
* POLYURETHANE FOAM
• BLOWN CELLULOSE
*BLOWN FIBRE GLASS
*FIBREGLASS BATTS-ROCKWOOL
e•Chi1HC APrROVED
I-�-- GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Available for homes built before 1973 UP
TO 13348. Call now for a free estimate. Also
available for kern Insulation fire resistant
coatings.
-11
p.O. BO1( 1867
CLINTON
lit -owed Ilaritlr-d inured
c
TQS
P
built the Radar School area brick building.
About 400 women were stationed at the
camp. At its peak, in about 1945, there
were 3,000 servicemen on the base. It was
predicted that the growing population
would meet Clinton.
With a library, grocery store, an arena,
tennis courts, a shooting gallery, swimm-
ing pool, welding shop, it was a thriving
place. "It was quite a booming place when
the airmen were here," said Mrs. O'Brien.
Horse Gets
Parking Ticket
Mr. O'Brien remembers one particular
July 12 about 1950 when he was asked to
supply a white horse for "King Billy" to
ride in the Orange parade. Mr. O'Brien
only had a black horse and after having
some difficulty with the guards at the gate,
brought the horse into the base. Once in the
gate, the horse was neatly attired in a
white sheet with a hole cut out for its tail,
in order to make it a white horse. At the
end of the evening after a party, Mr.
O'Brien found his horse _was wearing a
parking violation ticket for illegally
parking on Crown Property.
Base Closing - "Sad"
•
"It was a sad time when we heard the
base was closing," recalls Mr. O'Brien.
The base closed gradually in 1970-'71.
John VanGassell bought the base and
started to sell homes from $6,000 to $12,000.
A contest was held to find a name for the
former base and new town with the C.O.'s
house as first prize. A Clinton lady won the
house, using part of VanGassell's name to
form the new community's title of
Vanastra.
"We sent in the name Granton," said
Mr. O'Brien. He says before the air force
came in, there was a Granton Road on that
spot.
Before VanGassel bought the land in the
1970's. the Base was emnty for two or three
years and Mr. O'Brien remembers
wondering if it would simply deteriorate.
Mrs. O'Brien says there have been a lot
of businesses come into Vanastra but not
many stay. Vanastra has taken a lot of
planning on the part of Tuckersmith
Township, says Mr. O'Brien.
"It's really coming along. It's going to
be all right now," he predicts.
- HEATHER
GARDENS
HURON
FIREPLACE
VFONA8TRA
SIGNS
oESC H
w000wtcaliUlrr
RASE FACTORY
OUTLET
CENTRAL
MACHINING
HURON
WHOLESALE
R 14 LANGAN
4ua wo,
EL.WES
FOOD
ST OR U.
7
7k't 44
y�i -3 ..,•,�-- --Y
KAUFMAN ,C
FOOTWEAR
CL.AIR
ENTERPRISES
VEW 17MNG
a.oriwy8
+tti1.LY<.
elt,+w�e
Since the first sod was turned In 1941, Elden O'Brien has seen all the changes that Vanastra
has undergone and has been involved in many of the changes. (Phyllis Coulter photo)
reAK rifie
0 CANADA'S FINEST "A" GRADE BEEF
FULLY AGED TO ZEHRS FINE QUALITY STANDARDS
59 •
CHOICEST WING OR
T-BONE STEAKS
/kg
•
9
Ib.
'001/01:103
9
BONELESS! FULL CUT
ROUND
STEAK
5.05229
00:
BONELESS INSIDE TOP
ROUND STEAKoR ikg
ROAST 2.59
:71
CHOICEST TENDER
SIRLOIN
STEAKS
6.152.79
kg b
BONELESS
RUMP
ROAST
71/kg
NO WASTE 2.5 9.
PREVIOUSLY FROZEN
TENDER NUTRITIOUS
THINLY SLICED
SCHNEIDERS
BEEF
LIVER
152 DEVON/kg
EQ AL .
FIN
STEWING
BEEF NO WASTE
COUNTRY GOLD 175 g PKG.
SLICED (5 S)
COOKEDRIETIEMEATSS9"
COUNTRY GOLD'
6/kg
COUNTRY STYLE
SMOKED HAMS. 79
NEW ZEALAND FROZEN
SHOULDER LAMB CHOPS
MR.MACGREGOR
USES ONLY
FINE QUALITY BEEF
4# /kg
119 lb
BY THE CASE ONLY (FROZEN)
BACON WRAPPED 1ST 50 SERVING/
BEEF TENDERLOIN STEAKS CASE
12 x 125 g STEAKS
17.99
BY THE CASE ONLY (FROZEN)
PRE -BROWNED BREADED ITALIAN STYLE
VEAL CUTLETTES i_50c SERVING)
EXTRA SPECIAL! ASSORTED COLOURS/
COLOURFUL FLOWERING
MUM PLANT
12 x 1008
5..99
EACH 3.99
COUNTRY GOLD
REG. on ALL BEEF
WIENERS 11b
'.37..
1. 981b.
SPECIALS AT OUR DELICATESSEN
SCHNEIDERS ROUND COOKED SMOKED SLICED 5.49/kg
PICNIC PORK SHOULDER 2.49.
5.05/kg
BAKED MEAT LOAF SLICED 2.29..
3.95/kg
179.
MAPLE LEAF CELERY LOAF OR
MAPLE LEAF FINE QUALITY
POLISH COIL SAUSAGE
Country
Oven
Bakery
454gPKG
1199
PACKERS
SLICED SIDE
BACON
500 g
PKG.
;PE
MAPLE LEAF
SAUSAGET� %%8(silt
BONELESS OUTSIDE BOTTOM SIM o151/kg
ROUND STEAK
ROASTS
EVE
REMOVED
2.29b
BONELESS SIRLOIN TIP 5.93/kg
ROAST OR STEAKS 1691b.
MAPLE LEAF BABY BAG 12119/
kgPARA BOLOGNA CHUBS REG OR BEEF 1b.
SCHNEIDERS FAMILY PACK
BEEFBURGERS 1 kg PKG 499
SCHNEIDERS (6 VARIETIES) SANDWICH
MEAT SPREAD ROLLS 250 g I18
SCHNEIDERS POPULAR
REG. OR CHEESE SMOKIES 300 g 1.98
FRESH
CARROT CAKE
1199
16 oz.
FRESH FRESH
RAISIN BREAD ONION BUNS
16 oa. 1129 17! 11290E 8,
spEcukt, PRODUCT Or U.S.II.
CANADA NO. 1 GRADE
FINE QUALITY
CUCUMBERS 3 FOR 99'
PRODUCT OF U.S.A.
FLORIDA HAMLIN
ORANGES 5 Ib BAG 199
PRODUCT OF FRANCE
FANCY GRADE GRANNY
1;96 ,k,
FUR 1 DA NEW CROP! SMITH APPLES89eib
JUICY LARGE WHITE OR ga
PRODUCT OF ONTARIO 196,„
CANADA NO. 1 GRADE
BRUSSEL SPROUTS 89'
WPM -
PRODUCT OF U.S.A. CANADA NO. 1
VINE RIPE
PINK GRAPEFRUIT
INDIAN
RIVER
SIZE
48's
FOR
PRODUCE SPECIALS EXPIRE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5. 1983
PRODUCT OF U.S.A.
HIGH IN VITAMINS A & C
FRESH GREEN
BROCCOLI BUNCH
SPEC/AL
PRODUCT OF ONTARIO
FANCY RED DELICIOUS
APPLES 31b BAG
129
TOMATOES
R lALp
ONTARIO NO. 1
MILD SMALL
COOKING ONIONS 79°
196 k.
89'
FRESH TENDER
ONTARIO GROWN
1°30/kg
BEAN SPROUTS 59#,
NO. 1 GRADE
PRODUCT OF ONTARIO
FRESH YOUNG
1.52 „c3
MINI -CARROTS 691