A JANE'S WALK OF ST. GEORGE – MAY 3rd
The SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PIERRE BERTON BIOGRAPHER TO SPEAK IN ST. GEORGE
PIERRE BERTON BIOGRAPHER TO SPEAK IN ST. GEORGE
The SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESENTS A PUBLIC TALK BY:
A. B. McKILLOP
Author of Pierre Berton: A Biography
About the SPEAKER:
Chancellor’s Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Carleton University, Brian McKillop is one of Canada’s leading historians. He is the author of several scholarly works, as well as The Spinster and the Prophet, which was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Nonfiction and the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction and which won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best “True Crime,” the UBC President’s Medal for Biography, and the Toronto Book Award. He was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 2001 and lives in Ottawa.
SUNDAY APRIL 26th, 2009
at the ST. GEORGE FIRE HALL (72 MAIN STREET NORTH)
2:30 PM START – FREE ADMISSION – ALL WELCOME
PUBLIC TALK ABOUT RARE BREEDS CANADA & DOON MUSEUM UPDATE
PUBLIC TALK ABOUT RARE BREEDS CANADA & DOON MUSEUM UPDATE
The SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PRESENTS A PUBLIC TALK BY:
AMY BRADLEY
Agricultural Specialist at Doon Heritage Crossroads
Rare Breeds Canada is a non-profit, national organization that promotes the use of rare and heritage breeds of livestock and poultry. The group’s mission is to make Canadians more aware of their agricultural heritage and involve them in conserving endangered breeds of farm livestock. Currently Rare Breeds Canada lists over 100 breeds of livestock and poultry as endangered, critical or rare. The need to save these breeds is based on the genetic diversity and characteristics that they possess, as well as the unique story in agricultural history that these breeds hold.
Covered in this talk will be what criteria are used to determine if a breed is rare or not, what breeds are in the most need of help currently and how people can get involved.
Plus: An update on the construction of the new Regional History Museum at Doon Heritage Crossroads.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28th, 2009
at the ST. GEORGE FIRE HALL (72 MAIN STREET NORTH)
2:30 PM START – FREE ADMISSION – ALL WELCOME
This event will also feature the business of our Annual General Meeting.
Rare Breeds Canada Website: www.rarebreedscanada.ca/
Honourable Harry Corwin Nixon Marker Unveiled!
The Ontario Heritage Trust will be unveiling a marker commemorating the gravesite of the Honourable Harry Corwin Nixon at a ceremony at the St. George United Church (9 Beverly Street East, St. George) on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
Further details on this program can be found in a posting from earlier this month on this blog.
For more information, call 416-325-5000.
The Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society meeting on Sunday, Feb. 22
The Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will meet on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 2 p. m. to 4 p. m. at the library/office building in Smokey Hollow Estates, 118 Powerline Rd. Brantford. Their Black History month speaker will be Brantford resident Marcus Snowden talking about early Black History in the Brantford area.
The meeting will also be a great opportunity, if you haven’t already had the opportunity, to check out the great facilities that the Brant OGS have set up at Smokey Hollow. The library is a great resource and the new building provides an accessible and clean, well organized place to do research. They also have a great variety of publications available for purchase. Drop by if you can, either on Sunday or the next chance you get.
Other upcoming events include:
Tuesday, March 17 2009
Norfolk Branch OGS Meeting at 2:00 pm at Smokey Hollow
Free Admission – A chance for Norfolk to do reasearch at the Library
Sunday, March 22 2009 at 2:00 pm
Free Admission – Speaker: Heather Ibbotson – Crime Stories
Saturday, April 25 2009
Spring Workshop – United Kingdom researching
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
$20 including lunch if paid before April 21, otherwise $25 at the door.
Sunday, May 24 2009 at 2:00 pm
Free Admission – A presentation by Cheryl MacDonald and Bob Blakely
Also:
1st Tuesday every month, 2009 – British Isles Study Group
7:30 pm – Free Admission
3rd Thursday every month, 2009 – Family History Group
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Free Admission
Library Hours: open from 10 AM to 4 PM Monday to Thursday (Saturdays 1 PM – 4 PM, closed Fridays)
On Site: Publications, books, maps, family histories, microfilm, microfiche, reading tables, cumputers, internet.
Of special interest: collection of Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories of Brant & Haldiman County.
Phone Number: 519-753-4140 or 519-753-8581 Fax Number: 519-753-9866
An e-mail message may be addressed to one of the following:
Brant OGS ([email protected]) or Donna ([email protected]) or
Bill ([email protected])
The meeting will also be a great opportunity, if you haven’t already had the opportunity, to check out the great facilities that the Brant OGS have set up at Smokey Hollow. The library is a great resource and the new building provides an accessible and clean, well organized place to do research. They also have a great variety of publications available for purchase. Drop by if you can, either on Sunday or the next chance you get.
Other upcoming events include:
Tuesday, March 17 2009
Norfolk Branch OGS Meeting at 2:00 pm at Smokey Hollow
Free Admission – A chance for Norfolk to do reasearch at the Library
Sunday, March 22 2009 at 2:00 pm
Free Admission – Speaker: Heather Ibbotson – Crime Stories
Saturday, April 25 2009
Spring Workshop – United Kingdom researching
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
$20 including lunch if paid before April 21, otherwise $25 at the door.
Sunday, May 24 2009 at 2:00 pm
Free Admission – A presentation by Cheryl MacDonald and Bob Blakely
Also:
1st Tuesday every month, 2009 – British Isles Study Group
7:30 pm – Free Admission
3rd Thursday every month, 2009 – Family History Group
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Free Admission
Library Hours: open from 10 AM to 4 PM Monday to Thursday (Saturdays 1 PM – 4 PM, closed Fridays)
On Site: Publications, books, maps, family histories, microfilm, microfiche, reading tables, cumputers, internet.
Of special interest: collection of Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories of Brant & Haldiman County.
Phone Number: 519-753-4140 or 519-753-8581 Fax Number: 519-753-9866
Mailing address is:
Brant County Branch, OGS
114-118 Powerline Road
Brantford, Ontario N3T 5L8
Brant County Branch, OGS
114-118 Powerline Road
Brantford, Ontario N3T 5L8
An e-mail message may be addressed to one of the following:
Brant OGS ([email protected]) or Donna ([email protected]) or
Bill ([email protected])
Another clue and a plug for Doug Mannen's book
As a further clue to the Mystery of the St. George Strawberry Festival, the “Snowball Mill,” now home to the Brown Dog Cafe and the St. George Mill Animal Hospital, was built by William Snowball (hence the name). He began work on the Mill in the Spring of 1869 and it was completed approximately three years later. So, in order for Ashley Cooper to paste a handbill to one of the support pillars, it would have likely had to have been after 1871….
If you had read Douglas A. Mannen’s book “St. George: From Bauslaugh’s Mill to the Present,” which was conveniently reprinted by the South Dumfries Historical Society and is now available for the very reasonable price of just $10 a copy, you would have been able to find out that fact.
The book is available at the Museum and also at the Brantford Museum on Charlotte Street and at the Classic Vault Emporium, on Main Street St. George (Thanks to Jean Hastings, who regularly brings us in the proceeds from the sale of these books!)
You can learn all sorts of interesting things about St. George in this book and see a great photo of the Old Mill from 1907 on page 53.
If you had read Douglas A. Mannen’s book “St. George: From Bauslaugh’s Mill to the Present,” which was conveniently reprinted by the South Dumfries Historical Society and is now available for the very reasonable price of just $10 a copy, you would have been able to find out that fact.
The book is available at the Museum and also at the Brantford Museum on Charlotte Street and at the Classic Vault Emporium, on Main Street St. George (Thanks to Jean Hastings, who regularly brings us in the proceeds from the sale of these books!)
You can learn all sorts of interesting things about St. George in this book and see a great photo of the Old Mill from 1907 on page 53.
How our neighbours in Waterloo support local history
Here in Brant County, the Council currently has a committee considering a staff recommendation to declare as surplus the buildings housing the Harley Museum (Burford Township) and the St. George Museum (St. George Memorial Hall) as well as the St. George Old School and several other community halls.
In that context, it might be interesting to compare that with what our neighbours in the Region of Waterloo are doing to support local history. Below is the text of a fact sheet describing the Regional History Museum project they are undertaking at a budgetted cost of $26 million dollars….
The SDHS doesn’t really expect or believe that Brant County would spend $26 million on a similar project, but closing the museum and putting the collection into storage doesn’t sound like a great way to promote local heritage.
Region of Waterloo History Museum Fact sheet – July 2008
Regional History Museum Facts
The vision for a community museum was first stated in 1912 by the Waterloo Historical Society and has been in the Region of Waterloo’s capital program since 1988.
A feasibility study approved in principle by Regional Council in mid-2007 recommended that a
Regional history museum, combined with visitor orientation to the living history village, be built at Doon Heritage Crossroads.
The overall project budget for the Region of Waterloo History Museum is $26 million; a $2 million grant has been received from the Government of Canada through the Cultural Spaces Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
The architects for the museum are Moriyama + Teshima of Toronto in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership from Kitchener.
The museum will be located at the intersection of Homer Watson Boulevard and Huron Road in
Kitchener, at Doon Heritage Crossroads, on property owned by the Region of Waterloo.
The museum will create more than 1,858 sq. metres (20,000 sq. ft.) of permanent and temporary gallery space; the entire building will be 4,366 sq. metres (47,000 sq. ft.) in size.
Building orientation and design considerations include: views from Homer Watson Boulevard and
from the living history village; public use; accessibility; respect for the existing village, the natural environment, and the neighbours; sustainability and energy efficiency; and exhibit planning.
The museum exhibits will tell the stories of this region, and will improve access to the more than
43,000 artifacts in storage at the Doon Heritage Crossroads CuratorialCentre. Building construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2008 and continue into early 2010. Exhibit
fabrication and installation will start in spring 2010 and will continue through November 2011.
Many groups will be consulted about the exhibit plans and community stories as this work
progresses.
The new museum building will be designed and constructed to the Canada Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver Standard in accordance with Regional policy for all new construction projects. Public consultations for the building design were held in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo in April 2008.
The museum building is being designed to be fully accessible through consultation with the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee.
What can you do to support the museum?
Check our website for updates on the project.
Talk about the project with others in your organization.
Visit the museum’s website at: www.region.waterloo.on.ca/museum
Email us at: [email protected]
To respond or obtain more information, contact
Tom Reitz, Manager/Curator
Doon Heritage Crossroads
519-748-1914 ext. 3270
[email protected]
In that context, it might be interesting to compare that with what our neighbours in the Region of Waterloo are doing to support local history. Below is the text of a fact sheet describing the Regional History Museum project they are undertaking at a budgetted cost of $26 million dollars….
The SDHS doesn’t really expect or believe that Brant County would spend $26 million on a similar project, but closing the museum and putting the collection into storage doesn’t sound like a great way to promote local heritage.
Region of Waterloo History Museum Fact sheet – July 2008
Regional History Museum Facts
The vision for a community museum was first stated in 1912 by the Waterloo Historical Society and has been in the Region of Waterloo’s capital program since 1988.
A feasibility study approved in principle by Regional Council in mid-2007 recommended that a
Regional history museum, combined with visitor orientation to the living history village, be built at Doon Heritage Crossroads.
The overall project budget for the Region of Waterloo History Museum is $26 million; a $2 million grant has been received from the Government of Canada through the Cultural Spaces Canada program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
The architects for the museum are Moriyama + Teshima of Toronto in association with The Walter Fedy Partnership from Kitchener.
The museum will be located at the intersection of Homer Watson Boulevard and Huron Road in
Kitchener, at Doon Heritage Crossroads, on property owned by the Region of Waterloo.
The museum will create more than 1,858 sq. metres (20,000 sq. ft.) of permanent and temporary gallery space; the entire building will be 4,366 sq. metres (47,000 sq. ft.) in size.
Building orientation and design considerations include: views from Homer Watson Boulevard and
from the living history village; public use; accessibility; respect for the existing village, the natural environment, and the neighbours; sustainability and energy efficiency; and exhibit planning.
The museum exhibits will tell the stories of this region, and will improve access to the more than
43,000 artifacts in storage at the Doon Heritage Crossroads CuratorialCentre. Building construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2008 and continue into early 2010. Exhibit
fabrication and installation will start in spring 2010 and will continue through November 2011.
Many groups will be consulted about the exhibit plans and community stories as this work
progresses.
The new museum building will be designed and constructed to the Canada Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver Standard in accordance with Regional policy for all new construction projects. Public consultations for the building design were held in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo in April 2008.
The museum building is being designed to be fully accessible through consultation with the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee.
What can you do to support the museum?
Check our website for updates on the project.
Talk about the project with others in your organization.
Visit the museum’s website at: www.region.waterloo.on.ca/museum
Email us at: [email protected]
To respond or obtain more information, contact
Tom Reitz, Manager/Curator
Doon Heritage Crossroads
519-748-1914 ext. 3270
[email protected]
In Memory of Joyce Wehrstein
Joyce Wehrstein, who was named the Honourary President of the South Dumfries Historical Society upon its founding, passed away on Christmas Day, 2008. A service in her memory – or more accurately a celebration of her life – was held at the St. George United Church.
Her son John Wehrstein invited several people to speak at the service – representing different aspects of her life – as a neighbour, as a teacher, as a friend, as an actress. Ruth Lefler, a friend and fellow local historian, spoke about Joyce’s great contribution to local history.
With Ruth’s permission, here is the text of her eulogy:
Joyce Wehrstein
Joyce – THE historian of her beloved St. George
For five generations the Lawrason family has worked and given to this community and to the County of Brant.
Joyce continued that tradition.
At the end of Joyce’s living room stands a special pine medicine cabinet of which she was very proud. It tells the story of her Uncle John who, as a veterinarian, mixed medications for the animals from the containers that are still held in this cupboard. The sight and smell of this cupboard have lingered well into history.
Joyce was the person that people sought out when looking for local historical information. She was always gentle and wise, gracious and willing to share her knowledge and rarely did they leave disappointed.
When the Old St. George Public School was closed in the early 1970’s, Joyce was among those concerned citizens in the community who were able to convince the School Board to turn the building over to the former Township of South Dumfries. Joyce and Melva Jackson then proceeded to establish a local museum in a second floor classroom.
For over 15 years Joyce was a member of the Brant Historical Society. It was during this time that she and other members edited the Jean Waldie Papers to produce two volumes of her work entitled “Brant County, A Story of Its People”. These books are still used extensively by researchers.
When Mike Hand wrote his book about the Lorimer Brothers of St. George who invented the machine telephone, it was Joyce who acted as the catalyst. She knew Egbert Lorimer’s granddaughter and invited her and Mike to meet at her home to discuss archival material and valuable photographs.
In 2002, when I co/authored the sesquicentennial book about Brant County, my first stop, when researching South Dumfries Township history, was with Joyce. I was not dieappointed.
Joyce’s interesting historical talks were often accented by her poems that were written in rhyming couplets. Whenever she was complimented about these, her reply was “Oh they’re just dogeral”.
It was a joyous occasion when Joyce was recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the County of Brant for outstanding historical endeavours in her community. This recognition was well deserved.
When the South Dumfries Historical Society was formed in 2003, a wise choice was made in appointing Joyce as honourary president. It wasn’t but a few days before Joyce’s passed away, that I had a St. George historical question that Joyce had answered a long time ago. I didn’t write it down and my mind has let the details slip. Will I now ever find the answer?
Joyce – thank you for the valuable legacy that you have generously given and left with this community.
Her son John Wehrstein invited several people to speak at the service – representing different aspects of her life – as a neighbour, as a teacher, as a friend, as an actress. Ruth Lefler, a friend and fellow local historian, spoke about Joyce’s great contribution to local history.
With Ruth’s permission, here is the text of her eulogy:
Joyce Wehrstein
Joyce – THE historian of her beloved St. George
For five generations the Lawrason family has worked and given to this community and to the County of Brant.
Joyce continued that tradition.
At the end of Joyce’s living room stands a special pine medicine cabinet of which she was very proud. It tells the story of her Uncle John who, as a veterinarian, mixed medications for the animals from the containers that are still held in this cupboard. The sight and smell of this cupboard have lingered well into history.
Joyce was the person that people sought out when looking for local historical information. She was always gentle and wise, gracious and willing to share her knowledge and rarely did they leave disappointed.
When the Old St. George Public School was closed in the early 1970’s, Joyce was among those concerned citizens in the community who were able to convince the School Board to turn the building over to the former Township of South Dumfries. Joyce and Melva Jackson then proceeded to establish a local museum in a second floor classroom.
For over 15 years Joyce was a member of the Brant Historical Society. It was during this time that she and other members edited the Jean Waldie Papers to produce two volumes of her work entitled “Brant County, A Story of Its People”. These books are still used extensively by researchers.
When Mike Hand wrote his book about the Lorimer Brothers of St. George who invented the machine telephone, it was Joyce who acted as the catalyst. She knew Egbert Lorimer’s granddaughter and invited her and Mike to meet at her home to discuss archival material and valuable photographs.
In 2002, when I co/authored the sesquicentennial book about Brant County, my first stop, when researching South Dumfries Township history, was with Joyce. I was not dieappointed.
Joyce’s interesting historical talks were often accented by her poems that were written in rhyming couplets. Whenever she was complimented about these, her reply was “Oh they’re just dogeral”.
It was a joyous occasion when Joyce was recognized by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the County of Brant for outstanding historical endeavours in her community. This recognition was well deserved.
When the South Dumfries Historical Society was formed in 2003, a wise choice was made in appointing Joyce as honourary president. It wasn’t but a few days before Joyce’s passed away, that I had a St. George historical question that Joyce had answered a long time ago. I didn’t write it down and my mind has let the details slip. Will I now ever find the answer?
Joyce – thank you for the valuable legacy that you have generously given and left with this community.
Dr. Henry (Hank) Hedges
This coming Tuesday, February 17th, Dr. Henry Hedges will be one of four people recognized by the County of Brant for their contributions to local heritage. For some background as to why Dr. Hedges is so deserving, I have been given permission from Ruth Lefler to post the submission she made to the province in support of Hank receiving an Ontario Heritage Trust recognition certificate and achievement pin.
Dr. Henry Hedges
The Heritage Committee of the County of Brant nominates Dr. Henry Hedges in the Natural History category for his leadership in the protection of this heritage. Throughout his life, he has always been keenly aware of our environment and has sought ways to preserve and protect it.
In 2004, three men, one of whom was Dr. Hedges, volunteered to initiate, develop and carry out the plan to plant 10 foot sugar maple trees along the roadsides of the County of Brant. For protection, all trees are planted five feet inside the fence lines. To date, 1 000 trees have been planted by students who volunteered from the Environmental Leadership class at Paris District High School. The project replicates the Government of Ontario’s tree planting of 100 years ago. This significant project emphasizes the importance of trees to our environment.
To increase the numbers of Bob White Quail and Rig Necked Pheasants, Dr. Hedges has raised them on his farm and then has released them into their natural environment.
As a preservationist and educator, Dr. Hedges promotes natural heritage through his many slide presentations. One example is his Southern Ontario Wildflower presentation where he not only shows and explains the environment needed for them to grow but, also points out the problems these plants have with the draining of the wetlands and the clear cutting of the forests.
As a keen environmentalist, Dr. Hedges understands the necessity for conservation and acts upon it through his ideas and actions.
Nearly one year earlier, in February of 2008, Dr. Hedges was awarded by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the province’s highest recognition for seniors.
The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recognize seniors over the age of 65 who have made significant contributions to their communities through voluntary or professional activities.
Dr. Hedges was recognized as an “author, avid gardener and leading authority on horticulture.”
We are also pleased to have Dr. Hedges as a member of our Historical Society.
Dr. Henry Hedges
The Heritage Committee of the County of Brant nominates Dr. Henry Hedges in the Natural History category for his leadership in the protection of this heritage. Throughout his life, he has always been keenly aware of our environment and has sought ways to preserve and protect it.
In 2004, three men, one of whom was Dr. Hedges, volunteered to initiate, develop and carry out the plan to plant 10 foot sugar maple trees along the roadsides of the County of Brant. For protection, all trees are planted five feet inside the fence lines. To date, 1 000 trees have been planted by students who volunteered from the Environmental Leadership class at Paris District High School. The project replicates the Government of Ontario’s tree planting of 100 years ago. This significant project emphasizes the importance of trees to our environment.
To increase the numbers of Bob White Quail and Rig Necked Pheasants, Dr. Hedges has raised them on his farm and then has released them into their natural environment.
As a preservationist and educator, Dr. Hedges promotes natural heritage through his many slide presentations. One example is his Southern Ontario Wildflower presentation where he not only shows and explains the environment needed for them to grow but, also points out the problems these plants have with the draining of the wetlands and the clear cutting of the forests.
As a keen environmentalist, Dr. Hedges understands the necessity for conservation and acts upon it through his ideas and actions.
Nearly one year earlier, in February of 2008, Dr. Hedges was awarded by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the province’s highest recognition for seniors.
The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recognize seniors over the age of 65 who have made significant contributions to their communities through voluntary or professional activities.
Dr. Hedges was recognized as an “author, avid gardener and leading authority on horticulture.”
We are also pleased to have Dr. Hedges as a member of our Historical Society.
Some Clues to help solve the Mystery of the St. George Strawberry Festival
Here are some clues to help solve the mystery posted a few days ago.
First of all, the handbill refers to Ashley Cooper, superintendant of the Sabbath School.
The cemetery in St. George has two “Ashley Coopers” buried in it.
Murray E. Fair compiled a list of all the tombstones that can be found at the IntermentNet.com website:
Saint George Cemetery (Saint George UC Cemetery)
St George, South Dumfries, Brant County, Ontario, Canada:
Cooper, Ashley, b. 1842, d. 1922
St George, South Dumfries, Brant County, Ontario, Canada:
Cooper, Ashley, b. 1842, d. 1922
Cooper, Ashley, d. 27 Aug 1840, 81 yrs
Another source for clues can be found in the “History of St. George United Church” available at:
http://comdir.bfree.on.ca/stgeorge/History01.html
http://comdir.bfree.on.ca/stgeorge/History01.html
(The author is not credited, and I would like to give credit if someone could let me know)
Here is some of the story:
Early History
Methodism was first on the scene in 1831 followed by Presbyterianism the next year and finally in 1925 Union was achieved and the St. George United Church has been active ever since. In those very early days when Methodism held sway, residents — settlers if you will –around the Village of St. George were eager for religious experience and spiritual guidance.
So it was that in 1831, a circuit rider rode through bush country along a trail only a horse could follow, called on a few settlers, asked them to meet for a church service at Tykerts Schoolhouse, about a mile northeast of St. George, and the first Methodist services commenced in the district. A frame church was erected at the site of what is now the United Church Cemetery in about 1840. In 1867 with Rev. James Harris as pastor, the first organ was placed in the church. In 1869 the foundation stone of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, on Main Street, was laid and 10 years later came dedication of a new stone and white brick church.
The circuit rider mentioned earlier was Rev. G. Ferguson and his field of labour extended into the County of Waterloo. The St. George Circuit included St. George, Sheffield, Branchton, Tranquliity, Germans, Steel’s, West’s, and Harrisburg. Between 1867 and 1925, revival meetings and Camp meetings characterized early Canadian Methodism and, as far as the church itself was concerned, it seated 400, the men and women sitting on opposite sides of the sanctuary. Following Rev. James Harris there were a number of preachers with some conducting Union Evangelistic services around 1900.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(visit the website for this part of the story!)
THEN CAME UNION!
(visit the website for this part of the story!)
THEN CAME UNION!
As early as 1902, Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists were talking Union across Canada. When it was finally consummated on June 10, 1925, a great communion service was held in an arena in Toronto with 7,646 worshippers receiving communion and Church Union was hallowed.
The new Council following Union in 1925, included the moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly, Dr. George Pidgeon. For all practical purposes, it may be said all Methodists and all Congregationalists entered Union. The Presbyterian Church entered Union as a church, with 17°/o of the congregation remaining outside Union.
In 1925, Rev. H.F. Deller became minister of the St.George United Church. It was a time of adjustment for both of the uniting churches, when they met to consider the methods of procedure, and elect the Session and boards of the church. The United Church congregation worshipped in the former Methodist Church on Main Street until 1929. In November of that year closing and opening services were held when the congregation moved to the renovated and newly decorated former Presbyterian Church on Beverly Street. The pipe organ was removed from the Methodist Church repaired and installed in the United Church.
The Methodist Church which was erected in 1869 was taken over by Sunny Hill Dairy and in 1964 the St. George Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion purchased and renovated the building, but in 1967 fire destroyed the 98-year-old church.
Finally, it would be helpful to know which historic years featured a “Saturd’y, July 1.”
According to The Calendar Home Page’s “Like Years Utility”:
Years where July 1 lands on a Saturday (between 1831 and 1925):
Non Leap-Years: 1837, 1843, 1854, 1865, 1871, 1882, 1893, 1899, 1905, 1911 & 1922
Leap-Years: 1848, 1876 & 1916
Leap-Years: 1848, 1876 & 1916
Does that help a bit?
Let me know when you solve the mystery….