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DNSTEUCTIOfi on Durham Street. Walkerton. hyâ€"Eonll’asstnk WALKERTONâ€"A fire that destroyed a part of Walkerton‘s past is history [and a new chapter in the life of the ‘town. and the local agricultural society was started with the official opening of the new Walkerton Agricultural Centre and Memorial Hall. Dignitaries tilled the stage of the new, $0,000 centre, to assist in cut- ting the red ribbon to mark a new beginning in the lite of the Walkerton Agricultural Society. The evening. which was free admission to children and adults, ended with a barn dance, The down-home country atmosphere, which saw a blend of urban and rural families celebrate the building‘s com- pletion, was topped when table upon table featured lunch as it was a “ladies please bring lunch" affair. The importance of the Walkerton Agricultural Society and is main pro- Ject in the year. the Little Royal Fair, was avndent as more than 500 people toured the new facilities at the height of the evening. Last Friday night's officially opening only happened betause of a tire. Arson was blamed in a fire that destroyed i .ofe siréefiéc - ya )3 New on. buiidfn o of r y g the society's banquet hagzm catfish" bani, near the Walkerton Community Centre, in January. The embers had barely cooled when an emergency ’ meeting was held by officials of the agricultural society. The community and interested groups were invited to the society's annual meeting in Fobruary. The main topic of discussion was rebuilding. The final dscision by the board of directors was to rebuild on the original foundation, in the same location beside the Horse Palace. Work on the new building started in May. Plans to canvass the town and surrounding townships for funds coin- cided with the start of construction. The goal was to raise 560,000 in a oneâ€" dny fund raising blitz. Major conâ€" tributors to the project were the pro- vincial government and the local Masonic lodge, which has a long-Venn lease on the second storey of the building The fast action and decision making on getting a new biulding in place before the running of the annual lair was noted by Owen King, former reeve and horticultural society president, He wot a Is expected to last untleld-September as crews install a new water main. openedf said it took less time to construct the building. less than nine months, than it does for a baby to be born. Participants in the ribbon cutting in- cluded provincial and municipal politi- cians, and leaders of the agricultural society. Ribbon cutters were: Murray Elston, Bruce MPP, Jim Bolden, Walkerton mayor, Dave ThomsonX Brant Township reqve, Jack Riley, ' Greenock Township reeve, John Inglis, president, Walkerton Agricultural Socie- ty, Peter Fleming, Agriculture Canada, Bobbi Lee Wells, Miss Little Royal, Owen King, president of the hor- ticultural society, Anna Oehrlng, chair- man of the craft division, Jim Richardson and Harry Hossfeld, long- time members of the society. Torn Fritz, contractor, Morgan Inglis, chair- x‘nan building committee. and Campbell :rant, Digmtaries were piped in by Greg Fleet of the Walkerton Legion's Pipe Band. Master of ceremorues was Bruce Kenny. Richard Knerhtal provided the music prior to the opening and Glen Wells and Company were hosts of the barn dance that followed, “m Vâ€" 3.. ldnned by Ron Wuslnk 'WALKERTONHWM) reconslruc-‘ uon oi“ Durham Street west well under way. Walkemm council is‘ moyuig ahead with two additional major street reconstruction projocu Yongc Street, from the lights at McGivern Street In the Highway 4 and 9 intersection will be ripped up' this summer. And the sharp curve at the east end of downtown. on Durham Street, will be straightened this tall. Both projects. totalling more than $600,000. depend on Ontario Municipal Board approval as the town has to borrow money to do the work. ‘ The‘noed to borrow saw town] colmui pm two by-laws at its July, 9 meeting. The town needs about Ssopoqwmatchnsowcenq provmcial giant for die curve project. The town's portion of lhel Yongev Street project, including grant, is $247,000. with the PUC picking up the balance of $300,000 toGd: wantrcwrca 131: work. l in; with the realignmenll of Durham Street east concerned Councillor Ron Wells from the standpoint of funding. He said he} was of the opinion the only reasonfi the project was being considered was that it tied in with a new mall lerehasbeennoncwsonamalll but the town is going alimd with: the project anyway. he said. He askedifiiwaswisetogoalwad with a project when the town had to, mean