Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 34Vanastra
PACE NINE
Vanastra -from air Kase to residential area
The present hamlet of Vanastra has few
similarities to the Vanastra that was once
the home of many military families. The
abandoned air force base is now surrounded
by 22 industries, employing over 200 people.
It also offers its residents a public school,
nursery school, a church, several clubs and
a well equipped recreation centre.
But there was a time when Vanastra was
known only as a military base.
Yesterday
It wasn't until the war was well over that
area residents found out what had been hap-
pening at the air base, which had no planes
or runway. As it turned out, the air base was
the first North American radio school.
In 1941 the federal government purchased
farm land from Norman Tyndall two and a
half miles south of Clinton's main in-
tersection.
Mr. Tyndall was in the process of plowing
a field to plant corn when two government
officials approached him to make an offer
on the land. Within 48 hours, plans were in
effect to turn the land into an air base.
There were several reasons for building
the base on that particular site. One of the
most important reasons was to have a
remote training place away from the battle
fields so men could be trained in safety.
Another feature that made the area attrac-
tive for an air base was its location by Lake
Huron, with the land closely resembling the
actual war zone over southeast England.
Recreational facilities...
From page 8
Primarily, the function of the co-ordinator
is to prepare and implement recreational,
aquatic and fitness activities for groups and
individuals with special needs in hopes of
eventually integrating persons into non-
specialized recreational programs.
Some groups presently involved in the
Special Needs Program include Braemore
Manor (Exeter); Arc Industries,
(Dashwood) ; Huron Day Centre for the
Homebound (Clinton) ; Stroke Club (Clin-
ton); various schools in the area for Special
Children; water exercise classes for per-
sons with arthritis; and numerous in-
dividual programs for both adults and
children.
Summer recreational ball is offered to the
youth of Tuckersmith Township , ladies' and
men's slo-pitch is also popular in the com-
munity. One baseball diamond is located in
Vanastra behind the Recreation Centre. It
has no lights at this time but will have in the
near future. Another unlit diamond is used
at and owned by Conestoga College.
During the summer, children are bused to
the centre for group swimming lessons.
They come from Goderich Township, Hen -
sail, Stanley Township, Colborne Township,
Bayfield and Blyth and number approx-
imately 400 children.
The Vanastra Recreation Centre is a busy
spot. With the co-operation of the staff and
public, it has become a successful recrea-
tional facility.
A salute to
good neighbours!
The Council
and Residents
of the
Township of Stanley
extend their congratulations to the Council
and citizens of the Township of Tuckersmith
during their Sesquicentennial Celebrations
We invite you to the Township of Stanleys
Sesquicentennial Celebrations next year -
Civic Holiday Weekend 1986.
REEVE: Paul Steckle
DEPUTY REEVE: Donald McGregor
COUNCILLORS: Clarence Rau
Howard Armstrong
Jack Coleman
CLERK -TREASURER: Mel Graham
DEPUTY CLERK -TREASURER:
Betty Graham
ROAD SUPERINTENDENT: Bill Taylor
Another important reason was the area
itself. It was equipped with sufficient power
facilities, was close to supplies,
transportation and was not in a heavily
populated or well known area.
Part of the agreement upon selling the
farm was to guarantee Mr. Tyndall a job.
The government kept their bargain, giving
Mr. Tyndall work in the construction and.
engineering section of the project.
The first building completed was the
guard house which was located at a former
entrance off Highway 4. Later more land
was purchased to accommodate the project,
which had an original contract of 40
buildings, from Mervyn Hanley and Joe
Crich.
. The air base started to take shape in mid-
July of 1941 when the first of the radar
equipment was brought into Clinton.
In August 1945, TIME Magazine wrote,
"From Clinton, Ontario, (pop 2,000) came a
significant story of international co-
operation. In four years,
.2,325 Americans (and 6,500 Cana-
dians) have been graduated from Clinton's
Royal Canadian Air Force Radar and Com-
munications School. The United States
students, most of them university men,
thought so highly of the school that it later
became the model for US training centres."
In 1944 the station was renamed No. 1
Radar and Communications School.
From this point to its closure in 1971, the
base took on a number of different jobs. In
the late 1950s the school became known as
the School of Examination Unit' and the
School of Food Services. In the early 1960s it
was the School of Instructional Technique
and in 1968 it was a Warrant Officers'
School.
But whatever the name was, those who at-
tended had a common goal - to serve their
country in times of peace and war.
The last official act was carried out on
August 31, 1971 when the flag was lowered.
The following day the base was owned by
Crown Assets Corporation.
In January of the following year the base,
which consisted of 258 acres and 217 housing
units, was sold to Roden4a Investment and
Developments Ltd. of Galt for $468,000. The
former Air Marshal Hugh Campbell Public
School was not included in the sale because
it had been bought by Conestoga College of
Applied Arts as an extension campus.
The effect of the closure on the local
economy was significant. The annual gross
military payroll was $10,000,000 and the an-
nual civilian payroll was $1,400,000. The
disposable income from these figures was
$5,200,000.
However, it didn't take long for businesses
to move into the area, and by 1975, there
were five industries as well as associated
services, making Vanastra Huron County's
largest industrial park.
Today
Vanastra has become a well developed
residential and commerical area. Plans are
underway to upgrade existing apartments
and remodel 50 town house units. Their
recreation facilities offer something for all
fitness tastes and the industries employ a
variety of skilled workers.
At present Vanastra is more than holding
its own and the future looks promising.
Wishes
do
come
True!
Our
Best
Wish
to
You!
Tuckersmith
From your neighbours of
THE MUNICIPALITY OF THE
TOWNSHIP OF HAY