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BHS Quarterly Brant Historical Society 2000 ISSN 1201-4028 Celebrating Ninety - Two Years of Preserving Local History A Celebration of Bells By Ruth Lefler (See page 3) On p. 8, Robert Deboer's article: A Memorial to E. Pauline Johnson Summer 2()00 Brant Historicalsociety l908-2000 Vo]. VIE No. 2 Summer 2000 SLlmmer 28cO A Celebration of Bells Pres[rien['s By Ruth Lefler What better way to celebrate the year of the sounds reached the daily lives of the people of millennium than by the pealing of bells. Brantford and Brant County. Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a place not so far away, there lived a lovely Rev. William H. Brackney, one of the Many bells were manufactured in England and lady. This lovely lady was a member of our Historical Society, and, being of a certain honourary pastors at First Baptist Church, shipped to Canada however, in Ontario, The age, she was therefore concerned with the disposition of her worldly goods when it Brantford, on the first Sunday of Advent, 1999,Scotland Foundry Works in Scotland, gave a most interesting sermon about bells. The manufactured bells for schools, churches and became her time to depart this earthly vale. This concern caused her to purchase an following is an excerpt: factories. Egbert "Ed" G. Malcolm owned and insurance policy. "Hear those bells? That would have been a operated this company. regular and routine sound throughout our days What other local foundries manufactured "But halt," you cry, "there is nought so special in that! We all have insurance policies and communities a thousand years ago, Before bells? to ease the burden on our loved ones when we pass away!" town clocks, grandfather clocks, and digital Various means of transportation used bells to timepieces, there were the bells. One ordered alert people of their approach, departure or one's day by the bells. Six to eight watches per danger. Two paddle wheel steamers, The Red But lo! This was a special insurance policy. For behold, the Historical Society is to day were set by the clergy, church wardens, andJacket and The Queen, plied the waters of the benefit in a goodly amount when, in the fullness of time, it shall come to pass that teams of bell-ringers, as time was reckoned by Grand River, the Grand River Navigation our lovely lady shall be with us no more. But in the meantime, she shall have the observing the position of the sun, the stars and Company's canals and Lake Erie from Brantford benefit of a charitable tax receipt for the amount of the premiums, for in her great the zodiac. Whether in the fields plowing or in a to Buffalo. Twice a week they rang their bells at generosity, she will cause these premiums to be paid. shop bent over a workbench, or at home over a ports of call to pick up and drop off passengers. kettle, you knew what the time was by the sound The Red Jacket was eventually retired and of church bells. demolished, and its bell was placed in the belfry To abandon our whimsy for a more practical approach, this is what can be termed a `win-win' situation. The Endowment Fund of the Historical Society has been As the days of autumn grew shorter, in at Newport School. Lightning struck the belfry. In medieval Europe church bells tolled the watches 1952 the Newport Women's Institute built a assigned an insurance policy, of the face value, to be paid to us. from day break to the supper hour, times of miniature belfry on the school grounds and placed The donor will continue to pay the premiums and will be issued a charitable tax gathering in herds and crops, as well as special the bell in it. (Waldie, Vol.1). receipt for the amount of the premiums. Therefore, as a result of this, she gets the rites of alarm and interest to the community . As On Friday January 13th,1854, (yes Friday the benefit of the tax credit, while also the satisfaction of making a bequest to an the .weeks, months and years went by, Christians13th), the gala opening of the Buffalo and were reminded of God's providence through the Brantford Railway took place at the West Street organization she obviously values, and without that bequest triggering probate. tolling of the bells and the changing of the train station in Brantford. Twelve thousand Robert Glass seasons." people greeted the first train as the steam Thus throughout the first millennium the engine's bell clanged vigorously to announce its sounds of bells sent out many messages. These (Continued on page 4) Brant Historical Society Board of Directors President: Robert Glass BRAryr courrry MusEubl & ARcrm/Es THE I`IUSEUM IN TIIE SQUARE 57 Charlotte Street, Brantford, Ontario (A Satellite of the B.C.M.A.) Past president: Robert Deboer Vice-President: John wyatt, Glenn Gillis (519) 752-2485 Adnrission: Main I+evel, Market Square Mall, Secretary: Margaret Glass Treasurer: Julie Gillis Adults -$2.00 Seniors/Students - S I.50 I Market St. Brantford, Ontario Children -$ 1.25 Under 6 -Free (519) 752-8578 Directors: BHS membel.s - Free John Bonfleld Rev. C. Diegel Angela Files Mike Hand Hank Hedges Hours: Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 4 pin, Admission by Voluntary Donation Saturday I to 4 pin Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 6:00 pin, David Judd Ruth Lefler Gloria Neamtu David partridge Anne westaway July I -Aug. 51, Sundays 1 to 4 pin Saturday 10 am to 5:30 pin Page 2 slimmer ano Summer 2000 (continued from page 4) Victoria Square: Homes carry the tradition of bells. To enter, (Continuedf tom page 3) Timothy Cokeley of Burford. Cast at the An Attractive Landmark of Brantford arrival. one rings a doorbell and, once in, the grandfather Mcshane Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, it was In 1886, the main streets of Brantford received or mantel clocks may be heard faithfully striking by Angela Files patterned after the "Liberty Bell" and made from several miles of railway track for the six cars the hours. The maid's bell and the ring made by Confederate cannons captured after the siege of operated by The Brantford Street Railway; the modern appliances bring attention to the tasks at Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War. This 1. The Location Of victoria Square -Park horses, carriages and sleighs now had to share hand. At the Charles E. Lake Brass Foundry at 46 lasting gift was first heard on June 21 st,1885. (St. ln the heart of the City of Brantford is the road. Can you imagine the ringing and Bridge Street, Brantford, brass dinner bells were Basil's Parish Celebrates 150 Years,1842-1992). one of the few remaining Ontario park-squares: clanging of the cars' bells as passengers boarded manufactured to call families to Sunday dinners. Church bells have the honour of announcing Victoria Park. The square is bounded on the and disembarked? Church bells hold a special place in the hearts daily and weekly services, momentous north by Wellington Street, south by Darling Working bells rang out their commands of the members of any community. The bell at the celebrations and the rites of passage - births, Street, east by George Street and west by throughout the City and County to summon the Mohawk Chapel in Brantford is engraved with the marriages, deaths. Market Street. factory workers to begin and to end their daily date "1786" -Warner, Fleet Street, London". It Just as it has been for over 1000 years, the 2. The Origin Of Public Squares work. called the parishioners to Sunday worship for bells in our community are symbolic of the ln urban planning, the centre of a town The first Brantford Fire Company was many years. It was later loaned to another diversity of our culture. or city, known as the public square, existed in organized in 1836 in a small shanty located on the church. In 1875, an editorial writer from the local Endnotes: ancient and Biblical times. Prophets and southwest corner of the Market Square. On top of newspaper, The Brantford Expositor, found this Reville, F. Douglas; History of The County of Brant; Hurley Printing, Brantford, ON; 1920. preachers expressed their opinions in these this building sat a small cracked bell which was bell in the Great Western Railway freight sheds early open spaces which were known as rung to summon the volunteer firemen. This bell ready to be shipped to New York as old bell metal. Waldie, Jean; Brant County, The Story of Its People; Volume 1 ; "agoras," by the Greeks, "forums," by the Hurley Printing, Brantford, ON; 1984. also tolled for funerals. He wrote an editorial about his discovery and why Romans, "piazzas" by the Italians, "places," by it should be saved. The bell was rescued and In 1850, a new Town Hall and a new larger bell Grace Anglican Church, Brantford, Ontario, Canada,1830-1980; the French, and "plazas" by the Spaniards. Not were erected on the Market Square. The bell was returned to the Chapel. During the night, a few Hurley Printing, Brantford, ON; 1980. only were these squares places to meet, to engraved with the date 1837 and the name years ago, the bell once again left the Chapel. It St. Basil's Parish, Brantford, Ontario, Canada Celebrates 150 listen and take part in debates, exchange Edway, Mass. It proved not to be loud enough, sowas found not far away in a field along the Grand Years 1842-1992; gossip, opinions and news, but also served as a set of dumbbells was placed on a beam near River.