Sundays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29;
and during the School March Break:
Wednesday, March 18th & Thursday, March 19th.
Times: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Westfield Heritage Village, not far from St. George – just north of the village of Rockton, is a picturesque place in the country where our past greets our present; and March is an exciting time of the year when the Maple tree yields its gift of syrup and sugar; a time-honoured tradition that is older than Canada itself.
Join the good people at Westfield Heritage Village for Maple Syrup Season – for a living history programme not to be missed!
Discover one of Canada’s most time-honoured and delicious traditions. Explore the making of maple syrup from the tree to the table in three different time periods: the 18th century methods of Canada’s First Nations, early 19th century pioneers, and modern times.
Families will join early Canadian settlers as they encounter the legends and techniques that surround the production of maple syrup; discover how Canada’s First Nations’ made syrup and sugar using a hollowed-out log and hot rocks; watch 19th century pioneers as they use the three cauldron method of preparing the sweet syrup and learn how the modern method uses the evaporator to make the delicious syrup. Families can also embark on an old fashioned horse and wagon ride through time; stroll through a rural 1860’s village, visiting historical homes and shops along the way.
Enjoy the best pancakes in Ontario prepared by the St. George Lions Club.
(Pancakes are not included with the admission fee.)
For more details, visit: http://www.westfieldheritage.ca/maple.htm
Westfield Heritage Village
1049 Kirkwall Road,
Rockton, Ontario L0R 1X0
TEL: 519-621-8851, or toll-free: 1-800-883-0104
E-mail: [email protected]
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.
Celebrate with the King of Paris – Hiram Capron
180 years ago, Hiram Capron founded the Town of Paris.
Ruth Lefler has done a full page profile on Mr. Capron in the January 31st, 2009 issue of the Brantford Expositor.
(You can view this article online for free at the Expositor website until February 6th –
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1413639).
If you want to know more about Mr. Capron and the town he founded, what better place than the Paris Historical Society Museum & Archives?
They have invited everyone to attend Hiram (King) Capron’s 213th birthday party on Saturday, February 7th, 2009, from 2 p. m. to 4 p. m. at the Museum, 15 Curtis Avenue North, Paris. Hiram himself is planning to attend apparently!
For more details on our neighbours who preserve Paris’ history, visit their website at:
http://www.parishistoricalsociety.com/
Their hours are Tuesday – Friday, from 1 pm to 5 pm, or by appointment.
You will find details on the website on how to become a member as well – for only $10 per year – and it is a good time of the year to consider, since their membership year runs from February 28th to March 1st the next year.
Mr. Capron has his own Provincial marker, located in front of his former home, 8 Homestead Road, Paris :
“King” Capron 1796-1872
In 1829, Hiram Capron purchased land at the Forks of the Grand and divided it into town lots. His leadership in developing the village of Paris earned him the nickname “King”.
(He was born in Leicester, Vermont, by the way.)
Premiers' Gravesites Program
Honouring Ontario’
(from the Ontario Heritage Trust website: http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/)
In 2007, the Ontario Minister of Culture announced funding for the Premiers’ Gravesites Program. Because of its experience with the Provincial Plaque Program, the Ontario Heritage Trust was chosen to design and implement this exciting new program. It is only fitting that the Trust manage this gravesite project as an extension of its commemorative role.
The Trust will deliver the Premiers’ Gravesites Program to mark and commemorate the gravesites of
The gravesites are located throughout the province. The Trust will work with communities, cemetery boards and descendants to unveil each bronze marker. In addition to the markers, the program will commemorate each premier’s gravesite with the provincial flag, in accordance with the rules of the individual cemeteries and archaeologists.
This special commemorative program is another way that the Trust honours significant people in
| Each of the Trust’s commemorative plaque programs has a specific plaque and purpose. The Provincial Plaque Program is an adjudicated program that uses distinctive blue and gold plaques to commemorate and interpret significant people, places and events in Eighteen premiers will be commemorated through this marker program, starting in November 2008. The program will be implemented over five years in chronological order based on each premier’s term of service. The first to be commemorated will be The Honourable John Sandfield Macdonald (who served as premier from 1867-71), in St. Andrews, near The program will be implemented over five years. The Trust will work with cemeteries or cemetery boards, communities and descendants, where possible, to determine a suitable date for each event. Fourteen of the 18 deceased premiers have had provincial plaques unveiled to honour them. These plaques are located at sites related to a premier’s original riding and/or place of birth. Locations include: municipal parks, residences, museums, schools, county courthouses and churches. The intent of the program is to commemorate each premier’s gravesite with a bronze marker and the
Bio: Born in St. George, Harry C. Nixon was
|
Date of unveiling: To Be ConfirmedLIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S ONTARIO HERITAGE AWARDS
Fred Bemrose, of Paris, will receive a Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement this month.
Brant County Council will recognize these lifetime contributions at its February 17th meeting.
Also that night, Hank Hedges, Enid Horning and Marion Sheridan will receive Ontario Heritage Trust recognition certificates and achievement pins for their heritage work.
If you can attend to show your appreciation that would be great.
Here is some background on the awards from the Lieutenant Governor’s website:
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S ONTARIO HERITAGE AWARDS
The Honourable James K. Bartleman established these awards in 2007, in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust, to recognize outstanding volunteer contributions to the preservation of Ontario’s heritage. The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement, awarded through a special category in the Trust’s Heritage Community Recognition Program, recognizes individuals who have made sustained volunteer contributions to preserving, protecting and promoting community heritage over a period of 25 years or more. The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement, awarded through the Trust’s annual Young Heritage Leaders program, recognizes the most exceptional youth group in each of the built, cultural and natural heritage nomination categories, and the most outstanding individual nominee across all categories. For inquiries, contact 416-314-4907 or visit www.heritagetrust.on.ca.
The Story of Gordon Rosebrugh Holder (1921-1945)
GORDON ROSEBRUGH HOLDER (1921 – 1945)
February is a good time to pause and remember the life of Gordon Rosebrugh Holder – a young St. George man who served his country and was killed in Second World War.
His story is told as part of the McMaster University Alumni Honour Roll Project. This project has been lead by Charles M. Johnston, Professor Emeritus of History, who was one of the first speakers to address the South Dumfries Historical Society after it was formed.
Gordon was born on January 31st, 1921 and died on February 19th, 1945 – which is partly why February is such an appropriate time to remember him. His story does not have a happy ending, but Dr. Johnston does a nice job of telling the story of his short life and the context in which it was lived.
For more about the Project, visit the website at:
For Gordon Rosebrugh Holder’s story, visit:
Addie's Birthday – February 27th – always a great party!
This year the birthday of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless will be celebrated on Friday, February 27th, 2009! Please join the good people of the Hoodless Homestead for an afternoon historic house tours, fellowship and birthday cake!
The Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, is a National Historic Site recognizing the birthplace and childhood home of one of Canada’s most eminent citizens!
Adelaide was born on February 27, 1857 and died on the eve of her birthday in 1910.
The Homestead is owned and operated by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.
The Homestead is located in Brant County, Ontario on the outskirts of the village of St. George: if you are coming from the East, take Highway 5 /Beverly Street and continue through St. George and across Highway 24 – the name of the road become Blue Lake Road on the other side of Hwy. 24 – the Homestead is a short distance along on the right hand side.
For more details, visit the Homestead website at:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/hoodlesshomestead1/AHH.htm
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 519-448-1130
Fax: 519-448-1150
Email: [email protected]
Street Address:
359 Blue Lake Road, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 209, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0
The Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, is a National Historic Site recognizing the birthplace and childhood home of one of Canada’s most eminent citizens!
Adelaide was born on February 27, 1857 and died on the eve of her birthday in 1910.
The Homestead is owned and operated by the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.
The Homestead is located in Brant County, Ontario on the outskirts of the village of St. George: if you are coming from the East, take Highway 5 /Beverly Street and continue through St. George and across Highway 24 – the name of the road become Blue Lake Road on the other side of Hwy. 24 – the Homestead is a short distance along on the right hand side.
For more details, visit the Homestead website at:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/hoodlesshomestead1/AHH.htm
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 519-448-1130
Fax: 519-448-1150
Email: [email protected]
Street Address:
359 Blue Lake Road, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 209, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0
Welcome to the South Dumfries Historical Society Blog
Welcome –
The words “Historical Society” and “Blog” may not seem to go together very well. A blog, however, can be a great way to make the news and activities of a historical society accessible.
The South Dumfries Historical Society was formed in February of 2003.
The Township of South Dumfries was blended into the new County of Brant in 1999 – so “South Dumfries” was already history at the time the Historical Society was founded.
The SDHS was established under the umbrella of the Ontario Historical Society (and is also a member of the Ontario Museum Association and the Brant Museums & Galleries Association).
The former Township had at its centre the village of St. George, but also included places like Harrisburg, Glen Morris and Osborne Corners.
If you are not familiar with where we are:
The area is bordered by Brantford to the South, Paris to the West, Cambridge (Galt) to the North and Hamilton to the East. If someone wanted to get here from Toronto, they could get on Dundas Street and head west – Highway 5 eventually becomes Beverly Street in St. George.
The Historical Society was formed in part to re-open the doors of the St. George Museum – which had been started just a few years earlier by the St. George Trade & Tourism Association. That group had run out of steam and decided to disband after many years of great service to the village.
The Museum was opened in the historic Memorial Hall, in space that had hosted the local branch of the public library for years (until the library moved into a nice new building just to the north of the village).
Public meetings were held to discuss the future of the Museum and the other activities undertaken by the Trade & Tourism group – like Apple Festival, the Antique Fair & Sale, and Canada Day celebrations.
One of the first acts of the new Historical Society was to name Mrs. Joyce Wehrstein as our Honourary President. Mrs. Wehrstein was a celebrated local historian who had also helped to establish and run the previous historical museum in St. George – at the Old School. She had also been a part of the group that worked to save the Old School from the wrecking ball – and the school and its bell stand as landmarks of the village.
The Museum doors have been re-opened – and the SDHS aims to do much more than just host a Museum. We have published newsletters, held a popular speaker series, reprinted Doug Mannen’s history of St. George, co-ordinated field trips, contests and guest speakers for the local schools, and more.
Through this blog, we will aim to keep people informed about what is happening with the SDHS. We can highlight coming events and current issues. We can create a record that will help to preserve and promote the history of St. George and its neighbours.
If you have the chance, come visit our Museum –
South Dumfries Historical Society
St. George Museum & Archives
P.O. Box 472,
St. George, Ontario
N0E 1N0
website: http://www.comdir.bfree.on.ca/sdhs
email: [email protected]
Phone: (519) 448-3265
Hours are Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm, and by appointment.
The words “Historical Society” and “Blog” may not seem to go together very well. A blog, however, can be a great way to make the news and activities of a historical society accessible.
The South Dumfries Historical Society was formed in February of 2003.
The Township of South Dumfries was blended into the new County of Brant in 1999 – so “South Dumfries” was already history at the time the Historical Society was founded.
The SDHS was established under the umbrella of the Ontario Historical Society (and is also a member of the Ontario Museum Association and the Brant Museums & Galleries Association).
The former Township had at its centre the village of St. George, but also included places like Harrisburg, Glen Morris and Osborne Corners.
If you are not familiar with where we are:
The area is bordered by Brantford to the South, Paris to the West, Cambridge (Galt) to the North and Hamilton to the East. If someone wanted to get here from Toronto, they could get on Dundas Street and head west – Highway 5 eventually becomes Beverly Street in St. George.
The Historical Society was formed in part to re-open the doors of the St. George Museum – which had been started just a few years earlier by the St. George Trade & Tourism Association. That group had run out of steam and decided to disband after many years of great service to the village.
The Museum was opened in the historic Memorial Hall, in space that had hosted the local branch of the public library for years (until the library moved into a nice new building just to the north of the village).
Public meetings were held to discuss the future of the Museum and the other activities undertaken by the Trade & Tourism group – like Apple Festival, the Antique Fair & Sale, and Canada Day celebrations.
One of the first acts of the new Historical Society was to name Mrs. Joyce Wehrstein as our Honourary President. Mrs. Wehrstein was a celebrated local historian who had also helped to establish and run the previous historical museum in St. George – at the Old School. She had also been a part of the group that worked to save the Old School from the wrecking ball – and the school and its bell stand as landmarks of the village.
The Museum doors have been re-opened – and the SDHS aims to do much more than just host a Museum. We have published newsletters, held a popular speaker series, reprinted Doug Mannen’s history of St. George, co-ordinated field trips, contests and guest speakers for the local schools, and more.
Through this blog, we will aim to keep people informed about what is happening with the SDHS. We can highlight coming events and current issues. We can create a record that will help to preserve and promote the history of St. George and its neighbours.
If you have the chance, come visit our Museum –
South Dumfries Historical Society
St. George Museum & Archives
P.O. Box 472,
St. George, Ontario
N0E 1N0
website: http://www.comdir.bfree.on.ca/sdhs
email: [email protected]
Phone: (519) 448-3265
Hours are Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm, and by appointment.
Machine phone invented
1904 Machine phone invented by three Lorimer brothers born here – direct dialing
– forerunner of the dial system
Red brick school
1893-94 Red brick school on Highway 5 – cost $8,500.00
First fire fighting equipment
1890s First fire fighting equipment