City pump Peer

The large green cast-iron pump that can now be found on the market originally stood (circa 1863) at the Old Town Hall. In 1902 the pump moved to the center of the Markt. There is a pear on top of the pump.

In the morning of Friday, July 28 , 1967, there was great consternation on the market. The pear enthroned on the pump had disappeared, and then under the supposedly watchful eye of the gendarmerie. That it was not a vandalism area, should be apparent from the applied inscriptions . The conditions for restitution would be announced later and communication with the perpetrators had to be conducted through advertisements in 'Het Belang van Limburg'.

The stunt to borrow Peer's pear and thus make a show of the town was an idea of members of gymnastics group Olympia Houthalen who also wanted to catch the son of the Peer mayor because he was courting in Houthalen and rather boasted about Peer . An expedition was set up from Houthalen to take a closer look at Peer and to explore the terrain. The plan was evaluated and the necessary materials determined.

A few days later it was D-day, a van with tools and ladders left for Peer. Disappointment, the bolts could not be loosened . The next day a new expedition was set up, but this time with cutting torches and all. According to one of the “perpetrators”, it was an incredible sound and light show that was even appreciated by passers-by. Once the pear was detached, everything was quickly loaded into a van and the ready plates with the texts were placed. A detour to the mayor's house to put a letter with the conditions for restitution in the mailbox was not forgotten.

The next day, an old man had put a grass-green apple on the pump, but it also quickly disappeared. The pear eventually ended up in the premises of the TIKB in Houthalen for restoration.

The conditions to get the pear back to Peer were:

- waive any legal action

- organization of a public ceremony , the income of which would be transferred to SOS-Tornado. (A hurricane had destroyed the village center of Oostmalle in the spring).

- An award from the city for six performers of the stunt

- A crate of pears of 20 kg for these persons, to be offered at a public ceremony in a room at the market on a Saturday or Sunday.

The public ceremony became a court case that continued in the college of Peer. The “Exceptional Court” was chaired by Mr Seresia from Overpelt, assisted by Mr Van Mierlo and Smets from Neerpelt. Attorney General was Mr Gruyters.

The Public Prosecution Service was observed by the mayor of Peer, Mr. J. Dupont, while Mr. Fransen would defend the accused. While the first pears were being feasted, the public prosecutor introduced the accusations for the perpetrators all pleaded guilty, but with mitigating circumstances, such as the poor maintenance of the pear, maintenance that was done by them because now the pear shined as never before. After fierce debates, worthy of a real court hearing, and a mature deliberation by the Court, the municipalities of Peer and Houthalen were each sentenced to an annulment in favor of Oostmalle.

Willem Vandenameele