Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 15, 1991 B15 | | As THINGS ONCE WERE | | | Reports from Terrace’s He Just recently the Terrace Regional Museum Society ac- quired an unusual clothes iron, After doing some research on irons, I found out that flat irons have been with us since the eighth century. The Chinese are credited with inventing the flat iron. They were the first to apply heat to the pressing process, employing a long-handled flat bottom pan filled with hot charcoals. The heat and flat surface successfully unpuckered creases in fabric. Although the early ironing devices did the job, they were crude. The smoothing irons often soiled the fabric and burned the user. Despite the risks, folks tackled: the labourous task, ignoring the threat of mishap in favour of crisply pressed textiles. Today, these former tools of drudgery bring pleasure as well as pride to collectors. By the time the 16th century rolled around, Russian and European — housewives used coal irons. These were made from very hedvy metal and designed with Flatirons for pressing clothes Heritage Park recently acquired have a long and varied history. this one to add to its collection. ritage Park boundartes of the OS, R1 and public hearing. | The location of the area subj bylaw is indicated below. NOTIFICATION OF ZONING AMENDMENT The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine ls considering a zon- ing amendment bylaw described as “Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Electoral Area 'E’ Zoning Bylaw No. 194, 1983, Amendment Bylaw No. 297, 1991.” The purpose of this amendment bylaw is to refine the zone dance with the proposed subdivision development for the re- mainder District Lot 1907, Range 5, Coast District. The proposed development is consistent with the Thornhill Official Settlement Plan, and the Board of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has walved the requirement for RL zones $0 as to be in accor: act to the zoning amendment The zoning amendment bylaw Planner Regional District of Kitimat-St #300 - 4545 Lazelle Avenue Terrace, 8.C. V8G 4E1 Regional District of Kitimat-Sti day, except statutory holidays AREA SUBJECT OF BY-LAW ALTERATION third reading at the next meeting of the Reglonal District Board on May 25, 1991. Any person who deems their interest to be affected by this proposed bylaw should submit thelr concerns in writing before May 24, 1991 to: The proposed bylaw may be inspected at the offices of the a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Fri- Regional District of Kitiamt-Stikine No. 297 will be considered for Ikine kine between the hours of 8:30 by Alie Toop holes along the side to create a _ draft for the coals. Box irons were introduced around the same time. They were similar to coal irons, but shorter, A ‘‘box’’ iron was ¢x- actly that. They were not _ shaped like today’s iron. That came later. A heavy heated slug was inserted in the box iron and while Mrs. Housewife pressed with one slug, another was heating on the stove, These irons were a big nuisance. They often left sooty residue on clean garments and singed the skin. During the 1800’s specialty irons were produced to press the garb of the day. There were irons for sleeves, irons for hats, irons for ribbons, and polishing irons that gave fabric a high sheen. They all were heated with coals, slugs or warmed on a fire or stove. During this time BE : Be eas. Gal SE ES TR Students from Yellowknife made Heritage Park part of their the Sad-Iron was invented. (Sad meaning heavy and solid bodied.) These were primarily heated on cooking stoves. The sad-iron was progress. It heated without charcoal or a slug. However, the handle warmed along with the iron, so the launderer had to use a pot- holder while ironing. A very smart (of course) lady, Mary Florence Potts, solved that problem. This 20-year-old housewife received a patent for a removable wooden handle. This was not Mrs. Potts’ first improvement to the sad-iron. In 1870 she reshaped the sad- iron like a canoe for pressing in any direction. When gaslights were intro- duced, irons were equipped with tiny tanks that burned gas or alcohol. Unfortunately gas- iron tanks tended to pop off suddenly when escaping fumes ignited, frightening and sometimes burning housewives. The flat iron was electrified in 1882, but lack of day-time ae: itinerary during a recent exchange visit with Thornhill Junior Secondary School. the exclusive mover HARRY features a unique and patented grass collection. system that can be | For People Who Want THE BEST! conveniently emptied 3 different ways Also, the large chute design incorporated into the rugged die cast aluminum deck insures grass collec- tion under any condition DRY, WET or TALL GRASS, AS WELL AS LEAVES!!! OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE: individual wheel ad- justers, ball bearing wheels & electronic ignition. The HARRY Lawnmover is available only at FULL SERVICE DEALERS because THE BEST DESERVES THE BEST. NOW AVAILABLE IN 16”, 19" & 22” Push Mowers and 19” & 22” self-propelled models. Commercial Models also available. RIVER INDUSTRIES me Fe (TERRACE) LTD. MHS foment} 442? Highway 16 TERRACE, B.C. V8G 5L5 nts 635-7383 — FAX: 635-4076 pes ¥ISA Comptete Avtomotwe, Logging, Mining & Inaustriat Supply Centre power to homes and their cum- bersome style made electric’ ‘irons impractical and un- popular, Then a.plant super- intendant of a power company came up with an ingenious : solution. In 1903 he introduced a streamlined electric iron and at the same time convinced his company to generate electricity all day Tuesdays, ironing day for most housewives. A new era in ironing had begun. Our day on May 1 started early with the arrival of 25 students and four teachers from Yellowknife, NWT. A while ago, Elizabeth Metzmeier © of Terrace had taken a group of Terrace students from here to Yellowknife; it was Yellow- knife’s turn to visit us. First of all, they loved our weather (it had just turned warm again). They were a very enjoyable group of Grade 9’s from the ‘William McDonald Junior High School, way up - there in Yellowknife. Taking 15-year-olds on a tour in Heritage Park is quite different from taking adults around. Fifteen-year-olds only see the things they want to see and hear what they want to hear. The comments in our guest book show that they very much liked what they saw and heard. The comments go from “interesting”? to ‘‘neat”’, from “fascinating’’ to “awesome’’, from “glad we came”’ to ‘“‘real fun to see’, and “loved it’’. Afterwards all gathered in the dance hall for hot chocolate and cookies, and from there it was off to Samson’s Poultry Farm. They were a great group, and for most of them it was their first visit to this part of the world. DID YOU KNOW? Jt was reported in the Ter- race News on Dec. 22, 1922 that the next time we get in a car of coal, we will have a man with a loaded gun on guard un- til the coal has been unloaded. That the Legislature adjourn- ed in time for Christmas. They passed a thousand acts, but passed up on the main act — the reduction of faxes. That in 1911, Anger the tailor in Hazelton sold tailor- made suits in the latest pattern and up-to-date style for $30, tailor-made pants $7.50. - March 25, 1991, the Terrace News; About letters to the editor. We beg to draw the at- tention of correspondents that when sending in letters for publication, they must sign their name. Correspondents nrust be prepared to accept a portion of the responsibility. If the editor is compelled to ac- cept all responsibility, he is liable to meet an untimely death some dark night. That on April 22, 1991 the Hatt Bros. took over the hard- ware business of F. Lazelle. Visitors to the Park this week came from Yellowknife, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Quesnel and Terrace. For any inquiries about Heritage Park or the hours of operation, phone 635-4546. If there’s no answer right away, please leave a Message On our answering service, at . ;