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The Acton Free Press Wednesday January 13 197 Fire brigade moves to new quarters Saturday Saturday January 9 was moving day for the Rockwood Fire Brigade but It was a short hop for the long haul as trucks cars and manpower were put action to transport equipment furniture and other possessions from the little building on Street to the grander more elegant quarters on The move was one of mixed emotion Four of the men whose names are on the membership list have been associated with the brigade since Its Inception others have been members Ions enough to remember the more carefree days of camaraderie days before television and the novelty or extensive car travelling Monday practices It used to be said Frank Schneider one of the original brigade who has recently been retired to an honorary position as radio attendant that Monday nights at the old Fire Hall were Important nights to remember In the community and every week all the firefighters would gather for their regular night out After their practices session there d always be an evening of cards and and nobody went home without looking forward to the next Monday practice At that time said one of the wives of an earlier member when the men would go to their practices the ladles would also meet at somebody house and they play bridge or something else too The firemen used to sponsor and participate In most of the community life They were the men activity group In Rock wood and they contributed a great deal of their time and effort towards village affairs raising money when it was required organizing and sponsoring youngsters baseball teams and generally being the backbone behind organizations Started In 1949 The Fire brigade was originally organized on a formal basis In July previous to that time the villagers fire protection consisted of a group of volunteers using a two wheeled cart on which were mounted two chemical tanks It was pulled by a car or truck and was kept in the rebuilt bam section of the Knoops property on Guelph Street and in the winter the cart was stored In the old Battery factory which is now the Schneider Candy Factory True to name As rolled along the brigade bought a Model T truck nicknamed the Red Devil purchased from the Guelph Fire Department and according to reports from those who were there then the old truck was true to Its name and was constantly presenting engine difficulties Die firemen mounted the chemical tanks on the ancient vehicle but In the early she was replaced by a brand new International truck on which the tanker and the pumps installed The alarm siren was located on the telephone pole at the cast end of Street and at the provocation of any blare villagers would telephone the tire number and the alarm would sound automatically via the operators located In the Bell telephone building Pranksters However thh great difficulty often pranksters would phone the number and arouse firemen for night time and en stunts in consequence It was three established centres would take all calls when the number is dialed whichever of the three stations has been alerted red Meadows service station the Barber Shop or Root Hardware store the answerer rings the siren via phone and when the firemen arrive at the firchall they up the phone which has automatically given the alarm and are Informed where the fire is after which they write down the address of the fire and its details on the slate board beside the phone brigade When the Fire Department first started up it was a man brigade of which Thatcher Albert Maltby Joe Cliff Meadows Nightingale Ray Young Harry Earl THE INTERNATIONAL fire truck which replaced the Model Devil original at the fire hall The International In lis turn had to bow to a more modern pumper which occupies the number one spot panel truck for emergency radio wis also In operation for brigade usage hut as the tanker was put to heavier use the firemen became concerned at the possibility of Its blowing up By the Fire Department had amalgamated with the rnmosn Township who was paying portions of money into the brigade operations for out of village runs System revised A new International truck built by Pierre of Quebec wis purchased and temporarily at the Guelph Street I ire Station under the ownership the new ramosn Township ire Alec Kingsbury Kcllh Hamilton George Nightingale Art Nightingale Bert Pinkncy Frank Schneider Herb Bolton Roy Bacon Walter Hunt and Herb Saunders comprised its numbers Herb Bolton was the first fire chief ijocally the ire Department was financed through the Board of Trustees but fire calls outside the village were paid for by donations from farmers or sometimes Insurance companies and were generally qualified as mercy calls Paid by township first the Village was paving for nil outside calls until gradually were made with the township council A whole system for and fire brigade members were paid so much per call In the old days said one early was a privilege and a to belong to the Village Firefighters but gradually the question of pay and remuneration has crept Into the brigade and somehow It becoming more of an extra income there quite the same attitude of helping people out The firemen are now to the number of practices fires attend with stiff stipulations tint if they don t spend enough time to qualify they will be from their obligations Tile brigade usually has as its number of members with 3 probationers presently on the list Although generally only a few men are required for blaze and truck a large list of volunteers is necessary in Rock wood is many of the men are either on shift work in the village or not available durlnf daytime all volunteer lire throughout the wan revised with bawd on regular fin nun my llii I In Hull built prior to the or tin In 1040 was tlii first building to the Model Red Devil with one halt used Tor hydro equipment storage an old Ikket office was from Hie Ball Park and attached to the back half of the present small building This was thin unci as a club room In which the brigade after tlielr Monday night practice sessions could play ami fraternise ten years ago need of thi tanker Iruek resulted In the renovation of the tleket shed area and building a new addition to Hie structure Ni resin new fire ball on Street will present new interests to the present brigade Aire idy they have combined their many efforts to outfit anil Install on their own time painting re finishing laying rugs anil generally in their display of Interest In their new quarters chief Carl Meidows is assured that the Open House date for I citizens to view Hie new building will be sometime In spring and everyone looks forward to viewing Interiors Bright future The pay is better for the brigade everything is more updated and esprit de corps runs high four of the DRESSED FOR ACTION firefighters posed for this picture Back row Herb Saunders Cox Earl Albert Bev Barefoot Frank Schneider Bill Blacklock Bert Pinkey Ted Red Meredith Cliff Meadows Front mascot Kenny Schneide Jimmie Milne and Herb Bolton the first fire chief who also used to drive the original truck Iransportwater After the of the International Fire Truck more frequent out of town and local calls made it necessary to a tanker truck which A could hold and transport gallons of water GOO more than the fire truck s Gradually however over a period of too much load was placed on the old tanker which was eventually used as a second vehicle A TOP JOHN ASMA loosens up the fire siren for removal to Ihc new fire hall Below firefighter Art Nightingale the siren cover down the ladderand hands it over to mother brigade member Photo by Lorraine Combined Sunday School on various days of the week Feedback to the combined Christian Education Sunday School Committee suggests that many parents of the attending the combined Sunday School were pleased with its results and feel that it has been a worthwhile experiment worthy of continuance The regular morning schedule which was adopted at the Surtdaj School inception approximately a year and one- half ago has been altered somewhat and in the past September starting up sessions the school which was formerly held In the Centennial Public School was instead conducted in the various church halls throughout the village Semester basts Each group had its own particular place of assemblage and instead of pacing thcir with the regular school weeks the committee decided to continue them on a six week semester basis with intervals in between- This worked out so favorably In the last session it was decided to complete the term until June the same manner The new classes have again changed their course in as much as some will be conducted on various weekdays instead of the regular Saturdavs as previously planned with the exception of the preschoolers whose classes will continue to be earned on Saturday mornings and beginning Saturday January 16 the first of these classes will be held at the Presbyterian Hall under the guidance Miss Nancy Ingle with hours from until 1130 Head staff Mrs Betty En son and Mrs Ellen Thomson will head up the staff of teachers for the primary classes which will be held every ruesda at to p at St John Anglican Parish Hall and will include those children of the kindergarten to grade level The Junior Grade children under the direction of Mrs will be attending their regular six week scries at the Centennial School beginning Tuesday Januarj 19 with hours from to p All and graders are included in these sessions Confident success Grade and up level children will attend their Monday evening until ft under the guidance of Rev Don and Miss June Thomson The Presbyterian hall will be the scene of their classes Difficulties getting the le organized to fit into a specific program is the re for the staggered Sunday school class dates however the enthusiasm for the project still exists and the teachers the parents and the committee backing the entire scheme are confident of its success years continued attendance growth was indicative of its progress WI meets in Guelph Die January meeting of the RocknlonL Institute was a rollicking beginning for the New Year Held at the borne of Mrs Victor McKay formerly Miss Laura Tone Rockwood a large number of the Institute ladies attended at Mrs McKay IB Cambridge Street residence in Snort course The president Miss Helen Bain conducted the business meeting in which the date of January was discussed as the one for the Summary Day to be held in Harcourt Memorial Church in starting at 1 30 m based on the Institute s short course The Dish makes the meal which was conducted recently at the No Recreation Centre outside of Rockwood Mrs Margaret Nelson reported on the success of said short course and at the latter part of the meeting gave out pamphlets to the members in which were contained the various recipes presented at the short course demonstration It was also decided that the usual euchres will be held in the No school house recreation centre on dates of J and Further discussion followed at which tune a motion was passed thai the Institute would sponsor the local club in its next project to be entitled Dressing up vegetables for which the leaders as vet have not been After the business had been completed Mrs Douglas abb preceded as convener for the Grandmother meeting during which tune current were by Mrs Margaret Nelson 4 and a number of readings presented by Mrs George Mitchell Mrs Edna Guild Mrs Albert Shultis Mrs Lloyd Dyer Mrs Victor McKay and Mrs Shultis A lively game of fun bingo was conducted by Mrs Albert Shultis in which nearly all the members received a prize A word contest with words derived from the word grandmother resulted in a two lady tie and everyone enjoyed matching wits Miss Helen Bain and Mrs Lloyd Dyer then convened the tasty lunch after which the meeting was completed Mrs McKay the Guelph hostess replied to her thanks from the Institute for her hospitality and she invited the ladies to come back again for another meeting in Despite the cold slippery the meeting had been a warm and one enjoyable to all members present We Stock and Order STYLE SIMPLICITY PATTERNS HINTONS 5c to 1 OO STORE Bring it to us All Watches Electronically Timed Expert Repair Davis Jewellers J Elgin Acton original brigade on Iht I ramosa unit I Art Nightingale Herb Saunders ami I rank the future of fire brigade look pro minimi but whether the early days of and camaraderie will ever be only be weighed other historical In any organization ever as great as when It first started up witli challenge accomplishment and sound local Interest the very core of Its development PLEASE POST nil con It I Check Our Handbill for Added InStore Features RED or BlUE BRAND BEEF SHORT RIB LADE HONE REMOVED BLADE ROAST CROSS CUT RIB or SHOULDER ROAST WEEKLY GOODIE Coffee 87 WEEKLY GOODIE Dog or Cat Food 99 PUCES OH Ml FEATURES QUIT PRICE SWING Orange Crystals ID PRICE DEISEY Toilet Tissue WEEKLY GOODIE TISSUE Kleenex Of 29 2 WEEKLY GOODIE PI OR VKETMU Habitant Soup HONDA HUSH ED WWII GRAPEFRUIT