The SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESENTS A PUBLIC TALK:

DAVID JUDD
tells the illustrated story of

The St. George Train Wreck of 1889

The biggest thing that ever happened in St. George was the famous St. George Smash-up. On Feb. 27, 1889, two cars of a passenger train toppled off the bridge at the south end of the village. Ten people died and 32 were injured.

Like many folks who live in St. George, David Judd, a past president of the Brant Historical Society, wondered about the two concrete abutments on either side of the road at the south end of the village. He also had seen the famous photograph of a railway car tipped from a railway bridge, with a crowd of Victorian men and boys gawking in amazement.

The St. Louis Express was one of the fastest trains on the line. One February morning, it left London at 4:30 p.m. ….

To hear the rest of the story, join us on

MONDAY, MARCH 29th, 2010

at the ST. GEORGE MEMORIAL HALL
(32 Main Street South, next to the Museum)

7:30 PM START

(We will also be conducting the brief business of our Annual General Meeting)

FREE ADMISSION – ALL WELCOME

Shirley Swift has been a fixture on the Main Street of St. George for years.  The "Shirley" of Shirley’s Antiques.  Her booth was always the first on your left as you entered our Antique Shows – a prime spot in honour of her quality furniture and her role in helping to establish and build the show the South Dumfries Historical Society has been so fortunate to take over.

Her husband Jack and her daughter Donna have also been great supporters of the SDHS and we hope that the community will offer them support during this sad time.

Here is the text of her obituary, with details of visiting and the funeral:

SWIFT, (nee Hinds) Shirley Doris – Peacefully with her loving family by her side after a long courageous battle, at the Stedman Community Hospice on January 9th 2010, in her 72 year. Beloved spouse and best friend of Jack T. Hacking. Loving mother to Robin Dawdy (Scott Parchem) and Donna Swift-Arabski. Loving step- mother to Kelly Hacking-Brown. Cherished grandmother to Brock, Shannon and Alannah. Dear sister to Margeret Hinds, Howard Hinds, Ruth Moore, Amy Julius, Linda Fowler, Eric Hinds, Christine Hinds, Joan Tracey, Bruce Hinds, Stanley Hinds, and predeceased by a brother John Hinds Jr., and sister Caroline Kuter, and her parents John Hinds and Dorothy Burnham- Hinds. Shirley will be dearly missed by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She proudly and lovingly operated Shirley’s Antiques in St George for over 26 years. Shirley will be forever remembered for her love of family, friends, animals, and her selfless, compassionate nature. The family will receive friends at McCLEISTER FUNERAL HOME, 495 Park Rd. N., Brantford on Wednesday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at St. George United Church, 9 Beverley East, St. George, on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Interment St. George Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory made to the Stedman Community Hospice would be greatly appreciated.

McCLEISTER 519-758-1553

The premiere showing of OUR TOWN: BRANTFORD will be this Saturday evening at 6:30 pm on WNED Television (the Buffalo PBS station, cable 61 in Brantford).

In October 2009, 32 current residents captured some of Brantford’s foremost “points of pride” for OUR TOWN: BRANTFORD, WNED’s 14th community “video scrapbook” production.

As these volunteer videographers show through their film footage, Brantford has carefully preserved both its storied past and its natural beauty. In this city of about 90,000 people, bald eagles – as well as the historic downtown core – are making a comeback.

I joined up as one of the volunteers, hoping to highlight some of my favourite historic sites – including St. Jude’s. I shot video at a number of places, including next to the casino at “Brant’s Ford,” at the Mohawk Chapel, at the Military Museum, at Victoria Square and at the Brant County War Memorial. Andrew Dunning was kind enough to electronically send along some of his fine photos of the interior of St. Jude’s as well.

I was interviewed at the end of October and handed in all my “raw” video footage. The editors at WNED will now cut and paste the video and audio all together into a neat package – that will probably only last about 4 minutes at most. I have no control about what gets in and what gets left out at this point, and I haven’t seen the finished video as I write, but I hope St. Jude’s gets some exposure across New York State and Ontario when the program airs as it is one of the lesser known National Historic Sites.

I handed in close to 45 minutes of video and I was interviewed for over 30 minutes…. I am told that the editors have nearly 40 hours of video to boil down to a one-hour program!

Featured Topics – The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Historic Sites (my topic), Trails, Wilfrid Laurier University, the Bell Homestead, Natural Assets/Wildlife, the Dufferin Club, the Personal Computer Museum, the Mohawk Chapel, Entertainment, the Waterfront, Hidden Gardens, Urban Renewal, Glenhyrst Gardens and Art Gallery, the Train Station, Volunteers and Community Groups, the Arts Block & Stir It Up Cafe, and the Brant Theatre Production of Dracula.

For more information on the Our Town series visit: www.wned.org.

The Board and Staff of the Brant Historical Society would like to wish you the best during the holidays and a very Happy New Year. As we approach the end of the year, I would like to update you on a few things happening during December.

BHS Speakers Series
David Judd will be joining us on Wednesday, December 16th (7:30-9:30 p.m.). David will continue with his traditional presentation on the history of Brantford and Brant County 100 years ago.

Open House at Myrtleville House Museum
Please join us on December 18th (6:00 – 9:00 p.m.) for a Victorian Christmas as Myrtleville House Museum is now decorated for the holidays. In addition to tours of the museum, classic Christmas stories will be read and the Brant Taletellers Guild will also be in attendance to tell a special Christmas story.

Recipes From the Past: For Busy People
Looking for a gift for that hard to buy for person? Consider the Society’s latest cookbook which is now available. The cookbook sells for $9.95 and features a wonderful assortment of historic recipes. The recipe book is available at the Brant Museum and Archives, Myrtleville House Museum, the Museum-in-the-Square, and Green Heron Books.

If you have any questions, please contact the museum at 519-752-2483.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season and all the best in the New Year.

Sincerely,

Joan Kanigan, Executive Director
Brant Historical Society
57 Charlotte Street
Brantford, ON N3T 2W6

www.brantmuseums.ca

Christmas at Westfield is something my family always enjoys!

Special evening openings for the Village are on Saturdays, December 5th, 12th and 19th, from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Admission fees: Adults $9.75, Seniors/Disabled $8.75, Youth 6-12 years of age $5.75, Children 5 years and under are free. Parking is free.

Experience Christmas traditions in the round, literally… true origins of the upside down Christmas tree, candle powered rotating Nativity scenes, the kissing, granny and pomander ball, and much more.

Celebrate Christmas past from the Georgian to the modern eras and feel the warmth of the season through food samples, fireworks, horse and wagon rides and a visit from Saint Nick.

Visit with Father Christmas and Fire Works Display at 6:30 pm

Sugar Twist donuts courtesy of Tim Hortons. Trees donated by Will Farm, Vi, Buck and Michael Collins. Special Thanks to Bennet’s Farms for their apple cider.

Please bring a non-perishable food item and help support the Salvation Army.


And if you would prefer visiting the Village while the sun is out….

The Christmas Open House happens on Sunday, December 20th, 2009, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Admission fees are the same as above.

Enjoy an old fashioned Christmas and celebrate the season where traditions of an earlier time brought to life.

TEL: 519-621-8851, or toll-free 1-800-883-0104

1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton, Ontario, L0R 1X0

A reminder that the Paris Library’s digital program launches this coming Sunday afternoon, December 6th, 2009. See the earlier blog posting for details.

We can add, however, the following links so that you can virtually witness the hard work they have put in:

See historical documents and photos from the County of Brant online: Visit http://images.ourontario.ca/brant

Share your memories and family history online at “Our Brant:” http://ourbrant.wikia.com

Christmas Craft & Bake Sale
Saturday, November 28th, 10a.m. to 2p.m.

The ladies at the Homestead Café are baking up a storm so you don’t
have to! You’ll find a plethora of homemade pies, cookies, and squares.
Find just the right stocking stuffer or gift for that certain someone.


“Ringing in the Holidays” Yuletide Celebration
December 1st – 24th
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Haul out the holly! A traditional Victorian Christmas abounds with
plenty of garlands, greenery, and holiday cheer. See how many of our
own Yuletide traditions came into being over 100 years ago.


Holiday Lamplight Tours
December 12th and 13th
5p.m. to 8p.m.

An evening visit to the Bell’s home at our favourite time of the year will
enliven everyone’s holiday spirit. The Homestead and Henderson Home
come to life amid the glow of candles and oil lamps while the aroma of
Yuletide baking wafts its way from the kitchen and live musical
entertainment fills the drawing room with the sounds of yesteryear.
Admission by donation.

Also join us at our Café for Christmas dinner both nights $19.95 per
person. (reservations required).


Bell Homestead National Historic Site
94 Tutela Heights Road
Brantford, ON
N3T 1A1

Telephone: 519.756.6220

The aim of the Canadian Naval Centennial is to build and strengthen in Canadians an appreciation for their navy and to promote the role of the navy within the Canadian Forces in a maritime nation like Canada. The theme is to “Bring the Navy to Canadians” and events will be focused to honour the past, to showcase the current navy and to reinforce the requirement for the future navy.

The navy, along with several civilian naval-oriented groups, has commenced planning for 2010 activities across the country. Major international fleet assemblies are scheduled for June 2010 in Victoria and a month later in Halifax during the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. As well, a group of naval warships will visit Toronto during the Canadian National Exhibition and an increased number of port visits are planned for both coasts and in the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes.

The Naval Reserves, with their 24 divisions in cities across Canada, are key to promoting the centennial and the navy across the country. There are several activities both local and of a national nature that they are considering including “Freedom’s of the City” parades, open houses, a cross-country run along the Canada Trail and other projects in cooperation with their municipality and local naval service groups.

An activity that promotes the underlying centennial theme is to develop a traveling road show, consisting of a small musical revue with naval band, an exhibition of naval artefacts and naval art. This troupe would, over the course of the centennial year, perform in many cities and towns across the country.

Another initiative being explored is for the navy to have a prominent role at major sporting events, exhibitions and other national cultural events during 2010.

Both Canada Post and the Royal Canadian Mint are considering a naval centennial stamp and coin respectively to commemorate this historic milestone. There are several other projects being progressed including the commissioning of a set of paintings and a coffee table book to commemorate the navy over the past one hundred years

Other ideas include a commemorative sword, historical conferences in Halifax and Ottawa, parades and dinners. Plans are underway to send to every First Nations people, city, town and region that has been honoured by having a Canadian warship named after it, information about their namesake ship so that they may have the opportunity to promote that ship, and thus, the Canadian Navy during the centennial year.

The centennial will be a momentous milestone both in our navy and nation’s history. We will honour the past, celebrate our achievements and recognize our obligation to Canada with the naval centennial slogan: Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit.

Canadians are encouraged to become involved in the centennial of our nation’s navy by joining in any of the public celebrations occurring near you.

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/centennial/

Now until January 29, 2010

The OPP Museum’s current exhibition, FRONTIERS: A CENTURY OF POLICING, highlights key moments in OPP history, both early and recent, through a selection of compelling images, artifacts and personal stories which celebrate the last century of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The OPP Museum
777 Memorial Avenue
Orilllia, Ontario
L3V 7V3

Planning a Visit?

Just minutes from downtown Orillia, The OPP Museum is located right inside Ontario Provincial Police General Headquarters (GHQ). Visits to the museum are self-guided. The self-guided tour brochure for GHQ is available at the main information desk, and inside the museum. To book a self-guided group visit to the museum for groups more than 10, please call ahead of time (705) 329-6889.

Visitors are also welcome to stroll along inside the public front of GHQ and enjoy the OPP displays, visit The Off Duty ShOPP (705-329-6280) and pause for refreshments at The Steak-Out Cafeteria (705-329-6523).

Major exhibits are featured in the museum’s main gallery and smaller displays are created throughout the year. Interactive and hands-on elements in the activity area provide a learning experience for people of all ages. Community Service Officers, teachers and group leaders are encouraged to use the museum as a learning resource.

Museum Hours

Open year-round, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please note: The OPP Museum is closed on statutory holidays

PADDLE SONG – THE DINNER THEATRE

DECEMBER 4,5,6,11 & 12 –
Doors open at 6 pm – Dinner served at 6:30 pm

In conjunction with the exhibit “Faithfully Yours”, the Woodland Cultural Centre is pleased to bring back this popular holiday event! Featuring the musical “Paddle Song” written by Dinah Christie and starring Cheri Maracle dircted by Pamela Matthews, this season’s Dinner Theatre showcases the life and adventures of Mohawk poetess Pauline Johnson.

Each night begins with a delicious four course meal inspired by Indigenous and contemporary cuisines. Tickets must be reserved ahead of time – so call now to reserve your spot. Friends/Members of the Museum receive a discount on their ticket!

Tickets $50.00 per person.

The Woodland Cultural Centre
184 Mohawk Street
Brandford ON,
N3T 5V6

Phone: (519)759-2650