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535-03 Page 211at $75,0001:� i. By JIM JEFFERSON Free Press Woodstock Bureaul�TS SALFORD — Bob York stood by Frida night and watched seven years - of wor go up in smoke as fire destroyed his home, his wife's business and an apartment in the building. ` There were no injuries in the blaze, which left eight persons homeless and occupied three area fire departments for 12 hours. Mount Elgin Deputy Chief Pat Johnson said the first call came in about 6:10 p.m. Friday About 40 firemen from Mount Elgin, Beachville and Brownsville stayed on the scene until 6 a.m. Saturday, returning about 11 a.m. to douse another hot spot. He said the fire started when grease being heated for french fries was momentarily left unattended. There was no official damage figure, but one fireman estimated the loss at $75,000. Mr. York said he had insurance but hadn't talked to an,adjuster. Asked to estimate his loss, Mr. York said "your guess is as good as mine." Since `moving into the house seven years ago with his wife, Mr. York has been mak- ing additions. Recently he completed a sec- tion in the rear using fieldstone he hauled from a nearby field. Mr. York said he and his family were in the storefront part of the house when the fire was discovered. Someone noticed smoke and when he went to Bl es anazed e how%mA"Jess i it: 7S" By JIM JEFFERSON Free Press Woodstock Bureau SALFORD — Fire destroyed three busi- nesses -and left eight persons homeless here rida night. out 40 firefighters from three depart- ments responded to the blaze which broke out about 6 p.m. in the former Naneekivell General Store owned by Mrs. Robert York. The store closed in January but the build- ing still housed a post office, a drycleaning business and travelling library, in addition to the residence of Mrs. York and an apart- ment. There were no injuries. Mount EIgin deputy chief Pat Johnson said the first call came in about 6:10 p.m. He said the fire appeared to have started in a ground floor washroom on the east wall and went straight up to the attic. When firemen arrived the fire was burn- ing in the attic and efforts to control it were hampered by a metal roof, he said. It's done he said. "It's only a shell." By 10 p.m. Friday, flames could still be seen from the upper floor windows. ,d lg id in s. .e d i- .e 5. a r, e e .y Residents fight locating dump near Salford �;,� Free Press Woodstock Bureau WOODSTOCK To 80 Salford area resi- dents an. Oxford County landfill site one-half mile east of their hamlet would mean waste cd prime; farmland, dangerous and noisy truck traffic, visual pollution, foul air, foul water and an increase in rats and skunks. They plan to present a petition to COUTAY council Oct. 15 opposing the site. The petitioners, who previously won sup- port of the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture and the South-West Oxford. Township council, have compiled details ok water drainage on the 50- to 60 - acre site they feel could be expanded to 500 acres. Water from four swamps;_ which they claim never dry, is feeding some shallow wells in the area and ,may be polluted by run-off from the garbage." Two swamps, they say, overflow during wet seasons. The petitioners say the site, situated ®1 the height of land between Hall and Rey nolds creeks, would pollute the, creeks. Botl streams empty into the Thames River. Prime agricultural land would be out of use for 25 years, claim the protesters, and an intersection at Highway 10 and County Road 46 would become "hazardous" because of in- creased traffic, including garbage trucks. The petitioners are also afraid of littering. The Oxford Federation of Agriculture has =`strongly opposed" the establishment of a landfill site near Salford "or any other site in the county that. "involves first or second class farmland. South-West Oxford Township council also has opposed the location. operation, and offers over 50 different kinds of cheese, including many specialty types. The store, a retail outlet, opened in August of 1974 in a renovated grist mill, and is a family -run business owned by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gillis. offersSalford Cheese Mill 0 varieties of cheese BY ELLEN NOVACK Chocolate cheese is a con- versation piece, "good strong stinkies" are becoming more popular, but cheddar cheese remains the big seller at the Village Cheese Mill in Salford. In the two years her family has been operating the cheese store, Goldie Gillies has seen gourmet and imported cheeses rise in popularity, as well as an increase in wine and cheese parties. Although she admits it is unusual for shops outside large cities to handle much imported cheeses, her stock does not last long. The Mill goes through about 350pounds of cheese a week and customers flock to the store not only from Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and nearby areas, but from "all over" The Gillies have hired two part-time workers, earn their reputation through word of mouth, sand "we're quite satisfied'."' ` With more than 50. different types of cheese, the Gillies still., This early photograph shows the Salford Cheese Factor try out new brands constantly Customers bring in requests Highway 19, the factory used the former Salford sch, and the owners are always on pasturing on the roadside., a sight uncommon near toda3 the look -out for new types. �0 V The problem is A you go away, you always look into the cheese stores." Most of the stock comes from local people, but cheese is bought "from all over " Bus trips stop in to browse and Mrs. Gillies knows all the regular customers. "The country people buy in larger quantities and there are continual repeaters from- the town who buy in smaller quantities." The wooden, old-fashioned store front also attracts many people just driving along High- - way 19. "There is no problem getting rid of our stock," said Mrs. Gillies, explaining that they have a cold storage in Wood- stock. Fred Gillies is manager at a nearby dairy factory and has always been interested in dairy products, explained his wife. Mr. Gillies' uncle made cheese„ .and "he has always wanted something like this," added Mrs. Gillies. After renovating the former grist mill for four months, the Gillies were in a business which is proving quite successful. Mrs`. Gillies said she really did not know much about cheeses. "I just married into it."