At a meeting held December 3, 1945 a motion was passed that the balance in the bank account of “Tyne Valley Civilian Defence Committee, ARR” be transferred to “Tyne Valley Fire Department” with Wes Milligan, President and G. Ivan MacKay, Secretary-Treasurer, the Treasurer having

authority to sign cheques, etc.

They were successful in obtaining the Engineer’s Office at the Mount Pleasant airport from the War Assets Corporation for $75.Thomas Nisbet donated a lot next to his store and Horatio Campbell was contacted

regarding moving the building.

A motion was passed that the lumber on hand be sold. After the Engineer’s Office was moved to the lot, members of the Tyne Valley Fire Department attended to having a foundation put under it and other things seen to including repairs, piers and a dam in the brook at the rear of the building. Funds were obtained in various ways including donations, canvass of districts, dances, card parties and membership cards.

On December 26, 1949 Clair Montgomery’s store was destroyed by fire. An account that was published in the JOURNAL—PIONEER on December 29, 1949 is printed in Chapter Three of this book.

On April 20, 1952 the steeple on St. Patrick’s Church, Grand River was struck by lightning and caught fire. The Tyne Valley Fire Department responded to the call. Horace Newcombe climbed up inside the steeple with the hose and directed the water to where it was needed to put out the fire.

The following report was in the JOURNAL-PIONEER the next day: GRAND RIVER CATHOLIC CHURCH STRUCK BY LIGHTNING YESTERDAY—A lightning bolt from a brief electrical storm, the first of the season, struck and ignited the spire of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at Grand River about 3:30 yes— terday afternoon. This steeple which is about I00 feet in height, lost about the top 25 feet to the flames that developed.

Fire departments from Tyne Valley, Wellington and Summerside respond— ed to the call for assistance. The Tyne Valley Fire Department was the first to arrive and was successful in extinguishing the blaze, which because of its height was hard to control.

The pastor, Rev. W.D. McDonald reports that no damage has been done to the interior of the church, and that the damage to the steeple is covered by

insurance.

92 Roors & BRANCHES