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Zurich Citizens News, 1966-11-17, Page 1No. 45—FIRST WITH THE LOCAL. NEWS ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1966 7 CENTS PER COPY oblems Overcome Since plans me er First nnounce.: THE FIVE FOUNDING FATHERS of Blue Water Rest Home pictured here are credited with the dream behind the impres- sive structure to be officially opened on Sunday, November 20. Planning got under way early last year when Ervin Gingerich announced his idea to begin a very small nursing home in Zurich. Seated, left to right, Gerald Gingerich, Dr. Charles Wallace. Standing, left to right, Charles Burgess, Keith Westlake, Ervin Gingerich. (Citizens News Photos) St. Peter's (WI .. o Gather Clothes For Needy Homes The regular monthly meeting of St. Peter's CWL was held in St. Mary's School with 25 mem- bers present.: President Mrs. Lawrence Regier opened the meeting with prayers. Roll call and minutes were read and approved, and treasurer's re- port was given. New business included the gathering of used cloth i n g, which will be sent to Sisters of Service to be distributed among the poor; the making of cookies for the opening of the Rest Home, Sunday, November 20. At the Christmas •meeting the ladies will exchange a small gift. Mrs. Peter Jeffrey thanked the ladies for their generous pantry gifts. The mission gift brought $5.75 and was won by Mrs. Richard Jeffrey. The meet- ing was voted adjourned by Charles Rau and Mrs. Vander- burght. Prayers and, a social hour followed. It has been a rocky road that has been travelled to the com- pletion of the Blue Water Rest Home, which now stands in live steel and brick just west of Zur- ich. One could almost say the idea for the Honie was born of problems within the County of Huorn and was built despite misgivings on the part of coun- ty residents. The story really begins in late 1964 and the early part of 1965 when many Huron persons were pressing hard for decen- tralization and the establish- ment of another county home for the aged on a site away from Clinton. The argument came before county council where it was decided that an addition to the present county home was the most practical to ensure the complete segrega- tion of chronic patients from those who are able to move about easily — a long-time head- ache for management there. About the same time, mem- bers of the Zurich and Area Chamber of Commerce were quietly investigating their dream to establish a non -de- nominational rest home under the Charitable Institutions Act of the Province of Ontario—an entirely new concept in facili- ties for the elderly and persons desiring rest home care. A formal announcement that permission had been obtained for such a home in the Zurich area came March 11, 1965, amid the heat of the decentralization debate. Almost immediately, Blue Water Rest Home boosters had to face the task of educat- ing the county in the knowl- edge that the proposed facili- ties would not in any way effect the operation of the county home for the aged. In November, 1965— eight months later —the battle still raged. Four Zurich men, Elgin Mc Kinley, Gerald Gingerich, Dr. C. J. Wallace and Ivan Kalb- fleisch, went to the November session of county council armed with a complete report of the progress to that date and con- IT'S OFFICIAL NOW—The name of the former Kalb- fleisch Milts in Zurich has now been changed to the new company, Zurich Wood Products Ltd. This attractive new HEADS NEW COMPANY ----'the president and general manager- of Zurich Wood Products Ltd. k no stranger to meet of the people in this area. John Blay was general manager of the Zurich Builders' Supply Ltd. for the past few years, and prior to that Reid an executive position with leeiviireor of Canada. He is well qualified for the position and is hill of enthusiastic plans for the new company. sign was erected on the mill this Tuesday afternoon, as activity around the plant continues to grow. The sign itself explains what is being carried on inside the building. LeEo With P bserves Rede brume Day r urid C inch Service Hensall •Branch of the Cana- Harry Horton dian Legion, 468, observed Re- Allan. membrance Day 'on Sunday, No- vember 13, with a service at the cenotaph where wreaths were placed by the following: Province of Ontario, Mrs. Mary Taylor; Legion, president Ernie Davis; Legion Auxiliary, presi- dent Mrs. Harold Campbell; Kinsmen and Kinetics, presi- dent Murray Baker; First Hen- sall Girl Guides, Linda Fuss; Village of Hensall, Reeve Min- nie Noakes; Hay Township, John C o r b e t t; Tuckersmith, Reeve Elfin Thompson. Rev. J. C. Boyne offered prayer. The parade, largest in years, comprised of Legion, Auxiliary, Guides and Brownies and •their leaders, headed by Exeter Le- gion Pipe Band, marched to Carmel Presbyterian Church where Rev. J. C. Boyne deliv- :'recl the memorial address on -Remembrance Day". The choir sans; under direction of Mrs. Beatrice Hess. ,lames Taylor was color ser- geant; Wilmer Dalrymple, par- ade, marshal, Standard bearers far the Legion were Ron Meek and W. H. Bell; Auxiliary, Mrs. and Mrs. Garnet 1 vincing data to substantiate their insistence that Blue Water Rest Home would not interfere in any way with the Huron County Home for the Aged. In fact, their presentation was so thorough that not one question was raised by county councillors, causing Warden Glenn Webb to remark that "the ground must have been well covered". The application for a grant of $130,000 was refused, with only three Huron reeves voting "yes" to the proposal. How- ever, the county legislative body allowed that "maybe in a year or two a smaller amount could be provided by the coun- ty for a number of homes of this type". Rest Home founders made another appeal to county coun- cil in March, 1966, for a grant. Local representatives of county council spoke on behalf of the project. Deputy reeve of Hay Town- ship, Delbert Geiger: "I would like to suggest to council it would not be any more than fair if the county would make a gift over five years, or how- ever they see fit. I would not like to se it (Blue Water Rest Home) go entirely without as- sistance. We have so many of an age now, with fixed incomes, who are going to find it more difficult to carry on their own housekeeping, that we are go- ing to need many more of these homes throughout the county." Hay Township reeve, Jack Corbett: "We are giving lots of money and grants outside the county which comes from our taxpayers. Don't you feel we are entitled to some of it in our own county?" Leroy Thiel, reeve of Zurich: "You cannot call it (Blue Water Rest Home) another industry, but it involves jobs, and we need them in our own county. How can the committee justify this decision with $1500 capital outlay for the Institute for the Blind—a very worthwhile cause —but this is going right out of the county, with other grants. $1200 Western University capi- tal grant. I cannot see any other alternative than to com- ply with this request." The appeal was once inure refused. The committee rec- ommended that "in view of the extent to which we are com- mitted in the field of care for senior citizens at Iluronview, no grant be made to the 'Blue Water Rest Home." Still, the ambitious dream: of the Zurich and Area Chamber of Commerce progressed stead- ily. In the same issue of the Zurich Citizens News, which re- ported county council's denial of public funds, a front page story headlined "Rest Home Campaign Reaches $50,000", stated "$51,645.15 had been raised to date." At the present time. about $70,000 has been realized through public subscription. With provincial grants from the Ontario Department of Wel- fare amounting to $325,000, a mortgage of $330,000 with Cen- tral Mortgage establishs Blue Water Rest Home in this area. 0 Legion Members Attend Dinner on Remembrance: Day The annual Legion Remem- brance Day dinner, attended by 50 members, was held in the Legion Hall Friday, November 11, with a delicious dinner served by the Legion Auxiliary. Guests were reeves John Cor - beet, of Hay, and Elgin Thomp- son, of Tuckersmith, who spoke briefly. Guest speaker during the dinner hour was Rev. E. D. Stuart, of Brucefield, who de- livered an interesting and in- spiring message on "Sacrifiee".. Harry Horton recited a poen, "In Flanders' Fields". A sinial hour was enjoyed to which the Legion Ladies' Auxiiiar, were special guests. Blue Water Rest Home, one mile west of Zurich on Highway 84, will be officially opened this Sunday, November 20, at a 2 o'clock ceremony at which time the Hon. John P. Roberts, Prime Minister of Ontario, will be the special guest speaker, Others on hand will be Hon. C. S. Mac - Naughton, Huron MLA and Minister of Highways for Ontario; Robert E. 1'icKinley. MP for Huron, and Noble Drew, director of the' homes for the Aged branch of the Ontario Department of Public Welfare. Hon. Larry Pennell, Federal Minister of Justice, has also received an invitation to attend. A mass choir, consisting of singers throughout the area surrounding Zurich, will be directed by Lance J. Reed, super- intendent of the Blue Water Rest home. Following the ceremony, tours of the building and a view of all its facilities will be offered to the public. Light refresh - eta ments will he served at the eereeeoii.... .. the tour. Actual construction of the 65 bed r..e home began last November, in co-operati•: e with tate Ontario Department of Publ: Welfare, less than a year after the eri iree idea for it was conceived by the founding fathers. Cost of the complete building is $725,000. Private donations l4; individuals in the area amounted t; $70,000. Architects of the firm of Riddle. C- nor, Falls and Irvine designed the hu.ildin_ which provides accommodation in thre. wings for persons desiring normal e' t p aial care or bed care. Bert Wesley Construction Crimper*. Su:.rbra, submitted the successful buil,line tender for $578.987,26. A 285 -foot well was dug by W. D. hopper, Seaforth, A deep well pump. with an out put of 3600 gallons per hour, serves the Home's water requirements. AN ARTIST SEES Blue Water Rost Home :is it stands upon completion and ready for the official opening on Sun day, November 20. The 65 -bed Home has modern facilities for rurrrnal care s ec al 1 t: e i its !eel .•ar' n 1, e sial offers every co coney:lie:1.e a'r eo e lable, .. .. .. :eel! in view of blue Lake Huron shore:,