SCOOP The
October/November 2016
thescoop.ca
Rolling Out New Projects
Prison Farms Revisited
Book Shop Readings
Vanishing Rivers
Wool Shed Reconstruction
The
SCOOP Founded in 2005 by Richard Saxe
PUBLISHER & AD SALES Karen Nordrum stonemills.scoop@gmail.com
GUEST EDITORIAL Ron Betchley emef2012@aol.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Ron Betchley, Sally Bowen, Katherine Burrows, Catherine Coles, Glenn Davison, Jane Foster, Glen Goodhand, Alyce Gorter, Kim Kerr, Lena Koch, Michelle Mather, Joanne McAlpine, Blair McDonald, Meela Melnik-Proud, Gray Merriam, Susan Moore, Marcella Neely, Grace Smith, Lauder Smith, Terry Sprague, Vern Whalen, Robert Wright All photos contributed, unless otherwise noted.
HOW TO CONTACT US
613.379.5369 stonemills.scoop@gmail.com thescoop.ca facebook.com/thescoop.ca Please write to us at: Stone Mills Scoop 482 Adair Road Tamworth, ON K0K 3G0 The SCOOP is published six times a year. We mail The SCOOP for free to more than 6600 households in Tamworth, Centreville, Enterprise, Erinsville, Camden East, Newburgh, Colebrook, Yarker, Verona, Hartington, Sydenham, Roblin, Selby, Parham, Kaladar, Stella, Godfrey, & Marlbank. We also arrange with local retailers to display 1000 additional issues of The SCOOP in Napanee, Cloyne, Flinton, Kaladar, & many other locations. All rights reserved. No reproduction by any means or any form may be made without prior written consent by the publisher.
Here’s The SCOOP Ron Betchley
I
t came as no surprise hearing CBC Radio confirm something that most of us have known and now fully understand, and that is Eastern Ontario has been and is experiencing the worst drought in 100 years. The number of wells going dry is at an all-time high. Even the long awaited and most welcome rains of the previous weeks could not compensate for the loss. Nor may substantial and sustained rain for the balance of the summer entirely rectify the problem. It’s hard to describe the shocked reaction to turning on a water faucet only to have it decline. Did we lose Hydro? No! Surely, it’s not the pump for it was installed just this year. But what else could it be? Best call the pump supply and repair people that installed it. Getting through to them was in itself a problem for, as they explained, their phone had been ringing off the hook all day. Their first response was, “Better check your well for water level.” It had never occurred to us that we could have run out of water, for the consequences of that was spine chilling. But how correct the pump purveyors were. Our well had run dry.
A quasi-panic reaction set in, to the realization that we could not live here without water. Earth has been so freely giving up its groundwater reservoir to us and for so long that we took its availability for granted. We do endeavour to collect rainwater, up to 200 gallons dependent on weather, which we use for plants, gardens, birdbaths and the like. So surely, the daily water consumption of two people could not have been the sole cause of the loss. Regardless,
fo Help
Conservation is not solely about the protection of one’s own supply but the interdependency of neighbour upon neighbour. Some homes are situated on less than ideal locations with wells that can be deprived of water due to their neighbour’s overall consumption being drawn from interconnecting aquifers. Gardening can be very fulfilling but costly in the use of precious ground water. So too, the luxury of water softeners with their high volumes in flushing cycles. And while on the subject of flushing, the adage of “…let it mellow” which may have heretofore been the rule of the day before plumbing upgrades, might yet again be reintroduced, affording a substantial contribution. There are likely other areas of conservation to be found that warrant investigation. Water was eventually restored to our well, but hereafter the delivery of this earth’s precious bounty will garner the utmost respect in its use. We
ness when r your busi and w here you need it! •Occasional Help •Administration •Accounts Receivable •Accounts Payable •Payroll •Warehousing •General Office •In-house Training •Confidentiality
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do not know the causes of this drought, be it cyclic or environmental, and can only hope that the balance of the season will deliver sufficient rain to rectify the situation. But we do understand that conservation must be an intricate part of the solution, for Mother Nature is now demanding that of us.
Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Lions Club food bank
Coming Christmas Events in Tamworth Sponsored by the Christmas Events Commi ee (TECDC)
Christmas Carolling and Tree Lighting SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 5:30 P.M.
Tamworth Library, refreshments will be served. Thanks to Robert Storring of C21 Lanthorn Real Estate for the refreshments Please bring non-perishable food items for the Lions Club Christmas Hamper.
COLLEEN’S GARDENING SERVICE Design and Maintain New Beds or Old! Flowers, Shrubs, Planters, and More FREE ESTIMATES Call Colleen at
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COVER
Hans Honegger and Carolyn Butts of Bon Eco Design, outside their studio in Tamworth. Photo by Jamie Janx Johnston: jamiejanxjohnston.com 2
conservation would now have to be implemented.
The SCOOP • October/November 2016
Village Christmas Craft Fair SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Tamworth Library and Tamworth Hotel Please bring non-perishable food items for the Lions Club Christmas Hamper.
Royal Canadian Legion #458 Santa Claus Parade SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1:00 P.M. Crafts and refreshments at the Legion after parade, and bring your le ers for Santa! Please bring non-perishable food items for the Lions Club Christmas Hamper.
STONE MILLS FIRE DEPARTMENT Wants you to know that smoke alarms expire and should be replaced every 10 years Don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when your clocks fall back on
NOVEMBER 6, 2016
Tree Cleaners Gray Merriam
I
t’s that time of year when the tree cleaners will come to your place.
The early birds have already come to our house. Numbers of both white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches are scouring the woods, checking all sides of every branch and the full depth of all bark crevices. They even check the logs of our house walls. Along with the nuthatches, the phoebes are still around dealing with any flying food items. And the chickadees are forming their winter foraging groups.
The fall warblers briefly filled the branches with active searching, topping up their fat reserves before a long trip south. We observed mostly greenish and brownish fall warblers but with a few distinctly black and white. Migrating birds adjust their time and effort spent hunting in the trees simply according to how many insects they are finding; naturally adjusted biological control. Birds are the ultimate insect management group – nature’s peerless “insecticide.”
This Black and White Warbler was once called the Black and White Nuthatch because it creeps along branches and tree trunks unlike other warblers. Photo by Giovanni Pari.
October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
3
More Flinton Memories Glenn Davison
W
hen I was in Grade 8, we started going to a school near where all the cars now park on Highway 41. Elmer Peterson built a bus to get us all out there, and Mr. Brown was the principal. He’d have a cigar going every morning when we came in. We had “his” and “hers” outhouses, an old wood stove in the back, and no running water. If we wanted a holiday, it was pretty simple. Somebody would just bump into the stove pipes, the school would fill with smoke, and we’d all be on our way home. The school records from that time are kind of interesting because they list the names of the students, and also show the contract with the teacher, and how much they were paid IF funds were available. That’s what it stipulated, and the teacher signed it. At one time, they would trade cords of wood to help pay for the school itself, and it was all wood heat as well. ••• There were all kinds of stores in the village at one time. Mrs. Wilma Cox had a store that was right beside the United Church parsonage. She also had mail. We had rural mail delivery back then by horse and buggy, and horse and sleigh in the winter. There was DeMore’s store – Gerald and his mother ran that one. I remember exactly what it looked like inside. There were dry goods, beautiful lace-up boots to your knees, as well as clothing from the 1950s, or earlier, the 1930s, and in the back of the store they had nails, bolts, and everything else. He had tea as well. Freeburn’s had a store down at the corner. It was one of the first ones with cold storage. Mrs. Casey had a little restaurant and a bit of a store, and she took in boarders. I loved it there. Cecil and I would go there and get a penny for a pop bottle. That was a lot of money back then. We’d take a pop bottle to Mrs. Casey and we’d get three jawbreakers or we’d get a liquorice plug. Back then, the old-timers would chew tobacco. We’d split the liquorice plug, take a bite out of it, walk down, and spit it on the sidewalk. We were chewing tobacco, too! We had a lot of fun. •••
We made our fun where the old hotel was. That was our sleigh riding hill. We’d go there almost every night and slide down on a piece of cardboard if that’s all we had. They’d build a big bonfire on it. We’d slide there until our feet froze and then we’d go home, open up the oven on the old wood stove and shove our feet in there for awhile. In the homes at that time, most were wood stoves and the rooms were heated by the stove pipes. ••• At 16, I wanted to become a mechanic. I loved it. I loved being with my father at the garage. I’d go down after school, clean all his tools, put all his tools away, and sweep the floor. I liked doing that kind of stuff. Then he would teach me something. It got to the point where he would let me run the garage on a Saturday. I would pump gas, 26 cents a gallon. If someone came in and bought a dollar’s worth of gas, that was a lot! The first gas pump in Flinton was behind my grandfather and grandmother’s house. It was one of the old styles with the big glass top. You’d pump the fuel up there and then you filled up the tank. ••• One year there was a fire at the hotel. The hotel was actually Yanch’s, handed down. We used to go to the old hotel when we were kids and get our immunizations. It changed hands several times, and it lost the character that it once had. They tried to change it to make it a little more like a downtown Toronto hotel, more upscale. There are still lots of questions about why it burned and how it burned, and I remember it burning. I remember DeMore’s store burning, and there were a lot of old houses in the village that burned. There are very few of the old, original houses left in the village. One of the oldest houses in the village is beside the Catholic Church manse. That was the O’Donnell house. There are probably about ten houses left in the village that are original. ••• Life in the village was good. There were lots of things to do. The men and women of the village looked out for you.
A Word or Two in Korean if I May Ron Betchley
S
ome years back we were fortunate to have been on a cruise that made a call at the port of Busan, South Korea. We had booked a bus tour of the city based on our general curiosity, for this was our first but most probably our only opportunity to visit this area of the Orient. There is a segment of the tours of Busan that many Canadians may not be aware of. Included is a visit to the Military Cemetery where the remains of those Canadian Soldiers who were killed during the Korean War are interned in individual and marked graves. I was quite taken aback on learning this, for we had lost my cousin Raymond to that tragic war. We wondered if we would be able to find his grave located among so many of those who had fallen. But with patience and the help of our fantastic guide we did just that. It was an emotional time as I think I may have been the only family member that had been able to travel to his final resting place and where we were able to then pay our respects to his memory. It is comforting to know that great respect and care in the administration and upkeep of this cemetery is maintained in perpetuity by the Korean people. Later on our city tour, our guide began to teach us some common expressions of greeting as well as how to say such things as thank you in Korean. In most other ports, I would find this exercise interesting but not memorable. However, in this case, it was most appropriate and important for me to memorize and take home two Korean examples, namely, a) the formal greeting and b) the ability to say thank you. The formal greeting is used upon meeting someone and is done with a slight bow from the waist while vocalizing “Un-young-hos-e-o.” On the other hand, the expression for thank you is pronounced “Com-sa-ham-e-da.” Repetitive vocal trials during the balance of the cruise allowed me to master the sounds to memory but truthfully without any knowledge of the actual translation of the words being used. Now those of you who reside in the Yarker area may well understand just why I wanted to master these two foreign expressions. Yarker has been fortunate to have in our community the Chung family, originating from Korea and residing and administering our local Lucky Dollar corner store here for over 25 years. For me to approach Mr. Chung with a greeting in his primary language was not without the challenges of memory and phonemics.
Shortly after our return home, I entered Mr. Chung’s store. I received his customary nod of welcome, but I noted his added glance of curiosity for I must have presented myself like someone on a stage hesitant about the moment his lines were to be delivered. I blurted out “Un-young-hos-e-o” only then remembering that this should have been preceded by a slight bow. I awkwardly attempted to rectify that, thinking better late than never. The expression on his face was worth the entire trip to that far side of the world. “Where did you learn that?” he asked. Realizing that I had succeeded in presenting at least an acceptable rendition of the greeting he has known so well, I explained the circumstances of our recent travels to his homeland, something I think he was most pleased to hear. It was some time later that I had the pleasure of so greeting Mr. Chung’s father when he and his wife had travelled to Yarker to pay his son a visit. Speaking no English, the old gentleman stood and stared at me, thinking, I imagine, that he was about to engage me in a full conversation in his own language. Alas, we could but smile at each other and be content with that. As to the Korean thank you, “Com-sa-ham-e-da,” I still do on occasion also use it with other members of the Chung family, Sue, Mimi, and David, and watch the altered thought process in dealing with the unexpected use of their family’s language by one of the locals.
Friends of the Napanee River We are a group of people meeting for the first time at the Napanee Library on Saturday, October 15 from 10-11 a.m. We welcome all to join this advocacy group and suggest bringing your hopes and concerns. For more info please contact Barbara Roch at bahi@cogeco.ca or 613.354.7503
Bon Eco Suites
The old Flinton Hotel, owned by Joseph Yanch. 4
The SCOOP • October/November 2016
Tamworth 613-379-3074 www.bon-eco.com
A Natural View Return to the Big Anthill Terry Sprague
I
intend to take my brother out to dinner this month. It is something I do every year at this time, in celebration of yet another birthday. This year will be his 80th. How did we get old, so fast? It seems like only a few years ago we would take off on a Sunday afternoon, and visit some special place on the farm. Eight years separated us in age, but that never seemed to make a difference when it came to enjoying the simple pleasures of life on the farm. He was always around to introduce me to these things, even after he left the farm in 1955 to work in Belleville. On weekends, he would come home, and off we’d go again to seek out something new, or simply enjoy special places on the farm that we had visited many times before. One of our favourite destinations was the “big anthill.” This ant hill had a couple of characteristics about it that made it special enough that it would always beckon our return. The structure was huge, but its main attraction was its horseshoe shape, taking up space at least seven feet in length by four feet in width. Like a house built to take advantage of a southern exposure, this structure was perfectly aligned to face a crop that was never rotated over the years we farmed. Because of the field’s value as wiregrass hay, the caviar of forage crops back then, the field never saw a crop of corn or oats; it was always a field of wiregrass hay. The anthill was truly an amazing structure that even as a budding naturalist, I realized was a bit out of the ordinary. Those who have a copy of my book, Up Before Five – the Family Farm will have seen a photo my brother took of me at nine or 10 years of age, pointing to it, almost dwarfed by the structure and the grasses that grew beside it. Some 60 years later, I am still visiting that anthill. The fence bottom at the location has changed little, but the field beside it that once grew some of our best wiregrass hay has since succumbed to ash saplings and scrub bushes and is now harder to reach. Amazingly, the ant hill is still there. The horseshoe shape has been
MISSING DOGS Two Beagles, missing from Selby area home since Monday, July 18. Female: tri-colour, small in size, 7 yrs old, chipped and spayed, should have 2
retained but is now more a series of smaller colonies, broken by open spaces and tall grasses. No longer is it the continuous horseshoe I remember so well and is but a fraction of the original structure. Many generations of ants have come and gone, and if only the ones that remain could reminisce about their ancestors and what possessed them to construct such an unusual shape. The “big anthill” comes to mind whenever I walk the Menzel Centennial Nature Reserve, west of Roblin, and pass by the massive domes upon approach to the lake. There are perhaps a dozen anthills here and there beside the trail, many of them crowned with dense horsetails, for this is a rather wet area, along the edge of a fen. It seems like such an odd environment in which to find ant hills, as their lair is a labyrinth of underground chambers, connected to each other and the surface of the earth by small tunnels. Has food lured these ants to this wet location, and have they somehow evolved to relocate their nurseries, food storage rooms, and living spaces, to an elevation high above the questionable earth that might otherwise be dank at the best of times, and flooded during spring? Is this why their domes are so high? Did these high domes happen out of necessity, and if so, from where did they obtain the material, if not from below the surface? Normally the colony is built and constructed by legions of worker ants that tirelessly carry tiny bits of soil and other material in their mandibles, and dump it near the exit of the colony, thereby forming an anthill. Was this material brought in from afar to supplement the material excavated from their now above ground tunnels? There are many species of ants in fields and forest, occupying several ecological roles. Perhaps this is one of them. Some are scavengers, others predators, and some like those at my oriole feeder in summer on the sundeck are nectar feeders. Whatever the species, they are social creatures that form these large colonies by caste – a complex social distinction comprising a single queen
Columnist Terry Sprague, at age 9, points to the “big anthill”. Photo by Gordon Sprague. who is cared for by thousands of active and committed workers. They gather the food, care for the larvae, and attend the queen. For lack of a more descriptive term, there may also be “soldiers” whose job it is to defend the colony against invasion. That communication is a strong attribute is evident by their decision to build in this moist environment and work out a solution that will keep the colony high and dry no matter what the conditions. How do insects with tiny brains engineer such impressive structures? Their communication must be an elaborate biochemistry, and likely succeeds through emitting pheromones. Certainly, a method used to signal a trail to food. Perhaps it works in communicating during construction as well. At only nine or ten years of age, I doubt that I gave the process much thought when my brother and I would stare in wonderment at the “big anthill” on our farm. We just knew it was special. For more information on birding and nature, check out the NatureStuff website at naturestuff.net. Terry Sprague lives in Prince Edward County and is selfemployed as a professional interpretive naturalist.
Do you love to write? We’re looking for contributors. Interested? Email us at stonemills.scoop@gmail.com
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Call today to book: 613-379-2909 October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
5
A Firefly Year
GrassRoots Growers Naturalist Michael Runtz
Lena Koch
F
all has arrived after a scorching, dry summer. Summer started early with heat and no rain. Farmers and gardeners had a hard time keeping their gardens and crops alive. However, it was a perfect year for the small, brown bug known as the firefly to come alive in full force. It’s common to have fireflies in June and July, but this year they started early in May and stayed right until August. Firefly displays are like spectacular fireworks that last almost all night. We have a few different species of these dull, unremarkable looking bugs. If you find one blinking in your house at night, it can be rather disturbing if you don’t know what it is. But once you figure out what it is and realize that it is quite harmless, you may enjoy the mini light show. Where you find fireflies, you will find mosquitoes too. Both of them appear at the same time of the year. Although, with the dryness this summer, the mosquito swarms were not as large as in previous years; however, the deerflies made up for that and gave everyone a hard time. This summer, I enjoyed the fireflies for almost three months while walking the dog in the evening, and they reminded me of my childhood and a little song my parents use to sing. Living in a country setting all my life, I had missed them a few years ago, and was sad to think that they might have disappeared.
Michelle Mather
W
hen my daughter was an undergrad student at Carleton University, she had the good fortune to take a Natural History class taught by Dr. Michael Runtz. She didn’t often share much of her university experience with us, but she spoke so glowingly about this particular professor, that I felt the need to find out more about him. It turns out that my daughter is not the only person to enjoy his classes. Dr. Runtz is a highly respected naturalist, nature photographer, and natural history author. He teaches one of the most popular courses of its type in Canada, and more than 40,000 students have signed up for this televised class.
As we wave goodbye to the hot and sticky days to greet the cooler fall weather, the fireflies will hibernate through the winter and then hopefully come back next year. If you didn’t get a chance to see them this year, look for them next spring as soon as the nights start to get warm and the mosquitoes start to become a nuisance. If you can ignore the biting insects in the evening, you will surely enjoy the great show the little brown bugs will perform night after night in your surroundings. Have a lovely, warm, and colourful fall.
He is the author of ten best-selling books; Moose Country, Algonquin Seasons, The Explorer’s Guide to Algonquin Park, Beauty and the Beasts: The Hidden World of Wildflowers, Wild Things: The Hidden World of Animals, Wild Wings: The Hidden World of Birds, The Howls of August: Encounters with Algonquin Wolves, The Revised Explorer’s Guide to Algonquin Park,
His books are filled with his awardwinning nature photographs, and you’ll also find his photos in the pages of many Canadian magazines and newspapers. Dr. Runtz has earned many awards including an Outstanding Service Award from the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carleton University, and The Distinguished Public Education Award from the Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs. He hosted the TV series Wild by Nature and is a popular guest on numerous television and radio shows. He is equally comfortable in a television or radio station, a lecture hall, or a classroom and has spoken to groups as diverse as outdoor educators, professional biologists, and schoolchildren. The GrassRoots Growers are thrilled to be able to present such an outstanding speaker at our next event, which will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick School in Erinsville. Watch our website (te-grassrootsgrowers. weebly.com) and our Facebook page (facebook.com/TEGrassrootsGrowers/) for more information and be sure to sign up for our email list to get notifications about all of our events. (Send an email to tegrassrootsgrowers@gmail.com)
EVANS’ TREE REMOVAL YEAR-ROUND SERVICE - STUMP REMOVAL Trimming • Removing
Cloyne & District Historical Society The Pioneer Museum is now closed for the season, but the Cloyne and District Historical Society will be meeting October, November, and January until May, on the third Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the Cloyne Hall across from the Post Office.
Prof. Runtz has been a birdwatcher since the age of five and has lived, breathed and worked with nature all of his life. He has worked as a naturalist in Canada’s national and provincial parks and performed many biological surveys including one involving Peregrine Falcons.
Algonquin Souvenir, and Natural History.
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On Monday, Oct. 17 we are looking forward to the story of a county hospital (Napanee), growing from a dream in 1958 to opening in 1966, as told by Ernie Doughty. For November and future programs, please check our website. Please join us for refreshments and a social time as well as continuing to explore and record the history of the area. We would also like to remind everyone that we are constantly on the lookout for family records and photos. When we receive your precious memories, we lovingly scan them and return them to you unharmed. In some instances, our archives have been able to provide families with information unknown to them. You can go to our website and enjoy old photos on Flickr or read stories in the file of past Newsletters.
www.cloynepioneermuseum.ca pioneer@mazinaw.on.ca 6
The SCOOP • October/November 2016
FRENCH TUTOR Conversational & written French Kids & adults Evenings or weekends Jean Lepage (Tamworth) 613.539.2495 jean.rodrigue.lepage@gmail.com
FALL CLEAN UP! Wash your boats, campers & ATVs Dave & Barb Way
CTY RD 4, TAMWORTH
The Legend of Beagle Rock Is War Ever Really Over? Alyce Gorter
H
e was waiting in the yard when I got home from work. “I heard it again today,” he said, “in the same spot, but when I get close to that area, it stops.” I breathed a heavy sigh. After all, it was 5:30 on a November Friday night and the remaining light of day was fast slipping away behind the western pines. But I had learned to trust my brother’s reports of this nature. Due to his blindness, his ears had always had to work harder than most to keep him safe walking to work in big city traffic. After retiring to the ‘backwoods’, they continued to attune him to what was happening around him in his dark grey world. It was the first week of November, and he had heard the hound on Monday. Not unusual – it was hunting season after all. Tuesday and Wednesday the baying occurred again from time to time. Not steady, like when chasing a deer, but short bursts and always from the same location. Perplexing. He told me about it Wednesday night, and I arranged to hurry home after work the next day to try to track the animal down. But Thursday’s report was that there had been no barking. Ah, good, the dog had found his hunt camp. All was well. Now, here it was Friday night, and the phantom hound was back. “Let me get changed,” I said and immediately started compiling a mental list of items we would need to complete a possible rescue. The main trail was easy for the powerful four-wheeler to handle and the lesstravelled path not too bad either, but when we reached the base of the huge, rocky, tree-covered hill bordering the big pond, he said, “We have to walk now, but it isn’t too much farther.” Off we set, the blind leading the way, sticking to the lower ground, winding our way around the rock face of the hill, clambering over boulders and deadfalls. “I hear him whining like he’s caught in something but I get to about here,” my brother said, “and then the noise stops.” I assessed the area. To our right was the 75+/ – acre pond and its shoreline of dried, brown bulrushes and marsh grasses. If the dog was trapped in there somewhere, we should be able to see or hear sound or movement of some sort. We couldn’t. There were a lot of big rocks between the swamp and the rock face that might trap an animal in a kind of cave or even pin it to the ground if one rolled when stepped on but there was no quivering, injured body, and no visible hole big enough to hide a hound. The only other possibility was that Daniel Boone was wrong, and the sound he had heard had been coming from over the top of the hill and not from the bottom. I slowly tilted my head back surveying the flat, hard surface of this grand piece of Canadian Shield that towered thirty feet above me. At twenty feet, gazing down at me from a small outcropping was a pair of pleading, brown, beagle eyes! Well, he certainly had not got up there from where we were unless he was part mountain goat! We scrambled around the hill, made our way to its summit, and took stock of the situation. For whatever reason, the dog had gone down a small crevice at the top of the hill and landed on a rock ledge about the size of a dining room table 10 feet below. Since the brow of the hill jutted out over the ledge, he had been protected from wind and rain
but had no way of escaping. This small, barren area had been his home for almost a week! I tied a rope to the only tree close enough to the cliff top to use for an anchor. It would haunt me later that it was in reality about the same size in diameter as my thumb and was rooted in moss on the top of a rock. But adrenalin was pumping, and little points like that didn’t matter….then. Without hesitation, I laid down on my stomach and, holding firmly to my lifeline, inched my way over the edge of the cliff to drop neatly onto the shelf below. Cyril’s dog had accompanied us to the site. “Give me Ben’s collar,” I yelled, “I’ll put it on the hound, and you can haul him up.” The collar was promptly supplied. Now, for whatever thought possessed him, or maybe he wanted to make sure he got his collar back, at that point Ben decided to join us on our narrow ledge and came sliding down the crevice! Instead of having to rescue one fairly light beagle who hadn’t eaten all week, I also had to find a way out for Ben’s 60+ well-fed, hairy pounds. But night was coming, and we needed to hurry. Up went the beagle. Cyril removed the collar and rope harness. The ungrateful dog immediately raced off – probably believing that if he hurried he could catch up to whatever he had been chasing when he got himself into this predicament. Then up went Ben. Now it was my turn. So up to this point, it is possible that I have written this so that any reader might be comparing me to a superhero or at least some courageous historical figure. Unfortunately, if that has been the case, then those thoughts are about to be destroyed. Well, sure, there had been some short periods of panic when I had visions of a dog struggling in the confines of the rope, swinging against me and knocking me to my doom on the jagged rocks below. I had worked through those moments and soldiered on. But, with the dogs rescued, the night descending, the air cooling, the vast marsh before me devoid of life, the sheer rock face leading to sure death below me, memories of the twig to which my rope was tied, my terror of heights kicking into full force and my adrenalin long gone, I crowded to the back of the ledge, faced the rock with arms outstretched, plastered my body tightly to it and whimpered tearfully “Get help.” The true heroes of this story are: my brother who, although blind and unfamiliar with the four-wheeler, raced down that obstacle-studded slope in the dark and drove to get help; my Miniature Schnauzer, Jypsy, who sat on the peak of the cliff where I could see her and draw comfort from her presence and who ran down the hill when rescue came to lead them back to me; and, of course, my husband who hauled me out of yet another adventure instead of just leaving me there and going to bed.
Marcella Neely, Cloyne & District Historical Society
N
eil Freeburn, a local lad, enlisted in the Canadian Army in May 1940 then sat out much of the war waiting for a call to action. While his parents and siblings fretted over his safety, he fretted over wasting his time not doing what he had signed up for. In letters home, he talks about monotonous days of drills and marches and promises of action within three months. This promise surfaces regularly every three months. The best guess, according to his letters, is that he missed action for almost four years. To a young man, this must have been a sentence equivalent to hard labour. His last letter home was dated January 19, 1944, and his parents received notice of him missing in action as of January 30, 1944. It is not known whether he finally received his longed-for call to action, was taken prisoner, or any number of probabilities. We can only imagine the heartache of his parents. It is said that they stopped locking their doors from the day they received the MIA letter until their death. Their eternal hope was that he might walk through the door at any moment. They never saw him again and never received any reports as to his whereabouts or possible death. They passed away in 1956, one month apart.
Photo provided by the family of Neil Freeburn. Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp. (These medals are described in detail at veterans.gc.ca) Gratefully acknowledged information for Neil Freeburn from his aunt Carol Lessard’s mementoes and the Tweed News, Vol. 115 No. 14, April 4, 2001.
One of his letters to his brother dated January 14, 1943, places him in Italy and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in the Cassino War Cemetery in Italy. It might be assumed that he was in Italy from January 1943 to January 1944 but a later letter dated April 1943 is written in England and tells of a very quiet year and about being housebound as his company was the “Duty Company” at that time. In 2001, 57 years after he was declared missing in action, his sister, Marjorie Reavie of Northbrook, received a call from Veteran’s Affairs Canada notifying her that they had just received three items belonging to Neil. The items had been sent from Russia to England to Canada. Veteran’s Affairs have no additional information and no other personal belongings. The family, to this day, are not sure of the circumstances of these items finding their way to Russia. There was no death notice nor grave. Neil Freeburn is commemorated at the library in his hometown of Flinton, Ontario. Neil Freeburn was awarded five medals: 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; Defense Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Canadian
Letter written by Neil during wartime in 1940.
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October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
7
Friends of the Salmon River Teaching Kids to Fish AGM & More Stories From the Wild Susan Moore
P
hotographers/ filmmakers John and Janet Foster are back once again with more stories, exciting wildlife adventures on their old farm, and new discoveries they have made this year in Hastings County. Friends of the Salmon River welcomes you to an enjoyable evening with John and Janet as they share their captivating stories behind the images. The Fosters have directed and hosted many nature and wildlife programs, including To the Wild Country and Wild Canada on CBC. For over forty years, the Fosters have been telling stories about Canada in film assignments for CBC,
TVOntario, and the Discovery Channel. Don’t miss this opportunity to savour conversation, photos and videos with these renowned and delightful storytellers. Come to “More Stories from the Wild” and the Friends of the Salmon River AGM on Monday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Roblin Wesleyan Church, 3100 County Road 41, in Roblin. Entry is free for current FSR members or $5.00 for non-members. Refreshments provided. For information, contact Susan Moore at susan@moorepartners.ca or 613.379.5958. Also, visit our website at friendsofsalmonriver.ca.
Lauder Smith
T
he Conservationists of Frontenac and Addington (COFA) have an annual program to introduce local children to angling in our beautiful surroundings. Participants who have not had a chance to experience fishing are selected. Each is given a rod reel and some tackle by COFA and taken to a local lake to learn with experienced anglers.
This year a COFA member and staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry provided boats and instruction. Their return to shore was one of excitement as they had caught many fish, learned a lot, and enjoyed the company of their adult companions while they fished. One fish had to be kept to show the parents how big it was.
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Sunrise, mist, and swans at Wellington Harbour on a cold, – 20 ºC January morning. One of the secrets we have learned for filming and photography is knowing “when to be there.” Photo © John and Janet Foster.
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The smaller fish were filleted, fried, and served in a delicious shore lunch. There was enough to serve lunch to everyone in attendance, and it was wonderful. Thanks to all who helped, including Ed Yanch who transported the fishers, and most of all to Brody, Zech, Jaydin and Scott who caught the lunch and fed us all. To reach them or for more information, please email cofaclub93@gmail. com or visit the Conservationists of Frontenac and Addington on Facebook. New members are always welcome.
Much Ado About Water Joanne McAlpine
O
ne of my great pleasures in the late spring all the way through to the end of September is having my breakfast on the deck overlooking the Napanee River, gurgling and flowing swiftly under the bridge and over the rocks and boulders by the Waterfall Café in Yarker. Other favourite activities include watching and listening to the local children playing in the water, fishing or exploring the shoreline for snakes, frogs and other creatures of interest; spying the Yarker heron swoop through and land in the falls; observing the geese dipping end up into the water grabbing vegetation. These are some of the gifts and pleasures of the river we have enjoyed in the past. This year has been a sad one for the river and most of the waterways in our region. The Quinte Conservation Authority has been urging water conservation for weeks now with little rain in sight, at least, the amount of rain we need to reinvigorate our waterways. My fear is that these drought-like conditions, given the warming of the Earth, are signs of what is to come. Sometimes, when I think of the effects of climate change, I feel overwhelmed and quite scared for the generations to come. Given that we can see the results now, I worry about what our grandchildren will experience. Maude Barlow, Board Chair, Council of Canadians, has just written a book called Boiling Point: Government Neglect, Corporate Abuse, and Canada’s Water Crisis. Ms. Barlow has worked tirelessly on numerous progressive fronts but access to clean water is an issue she is
particularly passionate about. You can learn more about her book at canadians. org/boilingpoint. The Council of Canadians has, since its inception, worked on the protection of our waterways. According to their website at canadians.org/water: •
• •
122 countries signed voted to pass the UN resolution recognizing the human right to water and sanitation. Canada has yet to implement it; 73% of First Nations communities have water systems at medium to high risk; and 99% of our lakes, rivers and waterways are no longer protected by environmental legislation since the Harper government scraped the Navigable Waters Protection Act in 2012.
Here are just some of the many actions we can take to help conserve and preserve water. 1. Run dishwashers and washing machines only when they are full. Turn off the auto-dry setting and let your dishes dry naturally. 2. Take shorter showers. 3. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. That perfectly good water is simply going down the drain. 4. Turn off lights and unplug chargers. Water is used in all forms of energy generation. It can take over 4 gallons of water to keep a 60-watt bulb lit for 12 hours! 5. Skip meat for one meal or more a week. It can take about 600 gallons of water to produce a hamburger. Consider all the grain grown to feed cattle. 6. Encourage your extended family and
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The very dry Salmon River bed, just north of Tamworth this September. Photo by Mike Paterson. friends to conserve and protect water and our waterways. 7. Donate to a community project that helps protect water for people and nature. 8. Plant a tree in your yard or a friend’s yard. Trees help keep soil in place rather than flowing into rivers and streams. 9. Water your lawn in the early morning or evening when the water will evaporate less rapidly. Avoid pointless watering of sidewalks or paved areas by positioning sprinklers correctly. 10. Sweep decks and sidewalks rather than hosing them down. This will save water and prevent debris from contaminating freshwater systems. 11. Volunteer for a stream clean up. Purchase a rain barrel or make one. Use the water to look after your flowers and veggie gardens. 12. Go swimming, canoeing, kayaking, etc. When you care about something, you will want to protect it more. 13. If you are on a well, test your water two to three times a year at no cost through Public Health. It’s simple to do and will alert you to contaminants. Install a UV light to ensure that your water is safe. 14. Only drink disposable plastic bottled water if there is absolutely no alternative. Plastic bottles are not sustainable – what you drink in only a few minutes can stick around for thousands of years. 15. Choose durable, re-usable water bottles in whatever size and shape you want and rotate their usage. Ditching disposable bottled water saves you money, is healthier and gives you membership in a movement
for global sustainability. 16. Monitor the river(s) in your backyard or down the street. The health of this river makes a difference to the health of downstream rivers and people. Litter is damaging to wildlife – keep garbage out of rivers, lakes, streams. 17. If there’s a problem on your local waterway, who is your local Councillor, MPP or MP? Sometimes a good piece of legislation supported by your community is all that’s needed to fix a problem or at least alleviate it. 18. Your toilet and your sink are not garbage bins. Never flush nondegradable products down the toilet. Take unused pills to your local pharmacy. Don’t let paint, used oil, chemical cleaners, etc. go down the drain. 19. Got a dog? Always scoop up pet waste because otherwise, this bacterialadened waste runs into storm drains and water supplies. Tie it in a recycled-plastic pet waste bag and throw in the trash. 20. Regular maintenance of your car can reduce the leaking of oil, coolant, antifreeze and other nasty liquids that are carried by rainwater down driveways or through parking lots into groundwater supplies. Choosing a car wash over hosing the car off yourself can make a difference. 21. Sometimes bring a “tattletale” is the right thing to do. If you suspect polluting behaviour in your community, contact Public Health or the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Please consider the above suggestions – what can you commit to doing? How can your family do its part?
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October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
9
Creating a Sustainable Future, One Work of Art at a Time Katherine Burrows
W
hen Carolyn Butts and Hans Honegger moved to Tamworth, they had a vision of a collaborative artist collective and living a green life in a like-minded community. They appreciated the charming town with original buildings of period architecture, rural landscape with a river running through it, and location a short drive from many major centres. Being close to wilderness, having a public school, and being a real working town were important. Carolyn is a designer/ fabricator whose resume includes the Museum of Civilization. One highlight of Hans’ career is restoring historic sites for Parks Canada. Having come from previous creative pursuits, it was a natural progression to be inspired by both the landscape and the town. When Bon Eco Design opened, artists came to visit while they worked, which created a need for more housing space. Through their economic development work in the community, Carolyn and Hans recognized the need for local accommodation for tourists to come and experience the benefits of Tamworth and surrounding community. With the creation of the Bon Eco Suites, the new spaces became an extension of Bon Eco Design. The combination of simple comforts and gallery-worthy eco creations formed an atmosphere with the freedom of a cottage and the coziness of home. Furnished with a mix of found, repurposed, and created items, the Bon Eco Suites embody three stages of the artist’s journey. Artists explore, observe what they find, then take the voyage of creation and personal growth. Each item
in the suites has been intentionally placed to culminate in a welcoming space with neutral shades to leave plenty of opportunities to find one’s own inspiration. The vibrant, creative community of artists and artisans in Stone Mills is the ideal location for an artists’ retreat or simply a vacation. The Suites are a convenient home base for various outings. Beaver Lake and Bon Echo Provincial Park provide inspiration from the landscape of the Canadian Shield. In Tamworth, local business owners are pleased to serve visitors at the tea room, pizzeria, pharmacy, hardware store, and video store. There is also a Massage Therapist in Tamworth and the Health Hut in Enterprise. Guests love the privacy of Carolyn and Hans’ Salmon River property in the village. They also come to see the universe at the Dark Sky Viewing Area, spend a day being inspired at Spindletree Gardens, eat at the River Bakery, and the A1 Corner Restaurant. Many guests travel to attend the TECDC Concert Series at the Tamworth Legion. Mostly, visitors come to sample the simple life in a quaint rural Ontario village. They love to experience its uniqueness. From the very first guest, CBC radio personality comedian Lorne Elliot, the future of the suites has been a creative one. One recent weekend, all three suites were occupied by writers who were attending a reading at the Tamworth Book Shop. Last week, visiting painters took a workshop with local artist Chris Broadhurst. For Carolyn and Hans, the goal is to continue to attract writers, painters, sculptors, photographers, designers, and fabricators to Tamworth, who might be inspired to settle and help
Tamworth’s Concession Street, then (c. 1900) and now. relaxing, and inspiring experience, the new spaces will reflect the distinctive blend of Carolyn and Hans’ individual style and expertise. Their warm willingness to share their space and their community with guests demonstrates their proficiency at the art of hospitality, among their many other talents.
grow a community that includes all disciplines of creative arts because evolution and innovation include creativity. Another goal is to become an economic development incubator. Having just purchased the “Scanlin” garage next to Bon Eco Design, Carolyn and Hans plan to make all spaces available for artists to meet and work, exchange ideas, have a coffee and maybe some lunch. They are creating a complex of interdependent areas that will be the coolest place to hang out and develop ideas that will make significant changes to the world. Like the suites, which provide the gift of transforming time into a pleasant,
Every spring and fall Bon Eco Design offers an upholstery workshop presented by John Hodgen from Camden Upholstery. It is very popular. Carolyn and Hans are developing a workshop program. You can find out more about Bon Eco Design and Suites on their Facebook page and at the Bon Eco Design website at bon-eco.com.
Robert Storring
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OFFICES 44 Industrial Blvd. Napanee
CONTACT Direct: Office: Toll Free:
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14 Concession St. Tamworth
HOME IN THE WOODS An eclectic blend of functionality, charm, openness, & character would describe this home in very private wooded location. 3 bdrms, lots of nooks & crannies, bright & open, full basement & a double garage with upstairs. Near Mazinaw Lake, sitting on a hill top surrounded by 10 acres of pine and maple. A great deal. $229,900 MLS 361770087 A CHALLENGE? A HOME? A GETAWAY CABIN?
Bon Eco Design studio in Tamworth.
You decide! 5 acres & home in various stages of completion. Has 1 bdrm, partly finished bath on 2nd floor, open living/dining rms, kitchen & partly finished bath on main level. Sunroom is a possible 2nd bdrm. Basement, with battery bank & propane hot water tank. In-floor heating & huge wood stove. The solar panels are functional or hydro is a few poles away. Has well & septic & can be lived in all season.
$89,900
MLS 450460145
HOME AND 17 ACRES
LANE Veterinary Services
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Borders Crown land. House is a woodworker’s own home, so has many unique & interesting touches. Lots of wood finishes, main floor master. Recently updated roof, furnace, A/C unit, hot water tank. Attached garage & detached 2 story garage with “man cave”. Pond right behind the house, even a cedar-lined bunkie for the grandkids. 17 acres is well wooded & backs 1000s acres Crown land.
211 McQuay St. off Cty. Rd. #6 MLS 16608200 Wed: 8:30 am to 7 pm (between Colebrook & Moscow)$307,000 RR#3 Yarker, Fri: 8:30 amON to 4K0K pm 3N0 PRIME COMMERCIAL Main street Tamworth. Two separate retail stores: a Pro Hardware Emergency Service By Appointment & a drugstore. Offering is the sale of the building & the hardware Sat: 10 am to 1 pm
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The SCOOP • October/November 2016
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Bringing Back Canada’s Historic Prison Farms Meela Melnik-Proud
“P
rison farms represent one way to reconcile broken souls with the source of all life.” These are the words of Grandfather William Commanda, the late spiritual leader of the Algonquin Nation. His words launched a canoe rally from Ottawa’s Victoria Island to Parliament Hill in June 2010, as part of a nationwide 2009-2010 Save Our Prison Farm (SOPF) campaign. The campaign was sparked by the announcement in February 2009 that Canada’s prison farms were slated for closure – Kingston’s Frontenac (Collins Bay) and Pittsburgh (Joyceville) farms, and four others in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Despite the public and political outcry, and without public consultation or review, the Harper government closed all six farms in 2010. Economic losses and failure of the prison farm program to provide meaningful skills were cited as a rationale. Grandfather Commanda’s words speak to the heart of an indigenous world view of restorative justice that has stood the test of time. Penitentiaries evolved to replace purely physical forms of harsh punishment inflicting pain and public humiliation – capital punishment, whipping, branding, or pillorying – as the means of deterring “criminal” behaviour and reforming “criminals” (regardless of the offence). The idea was to segregate offenders from society, out of harm’s way, and to make them “penitent” through a regime of hard labour, religious instruction, and solitary confinement. But, in 1835, when the Kingston Penitentiary opened, retribution, not rehabilitation or reconciliation, was entrenched in Canada’s penal system, and offenders were almost all hardened and not healed. Historically, the first federal penitentiaries had prison farms to provide meaningful work for inmates and agricultural produce for government profit. But farm labour was forced, often cruel, and directed by prison officers
inexperienced in agriculture and trade practices and debilitated by overregulation. A comprehensive farm survey completed in 1938 concluded that Canada’s prison farms – comprising a total of 6,049 acres – were incurring heavy annual losses and ineffective in all aspects of management, production, and prisoner reform. A change of government in the 1930s ushered the ideals and practicalities of restorative justice into Canada’s ailing penitentiaries that eventually revitalized the prison farm program. It brought the landmark 1938 Archambault Report (Royal Commission Report on Penal Reform in Canada), calling for sweeping penal reform holistically aimed at community safety, effective rehabilitation, and re-integration. The federal prison farm program, 165 years in the making, was working in 2009. It made no sense to dismantle operations at the six minimum-security institutions across Canada. Measured for example, against the laundry facility now occupying inmates at the former Frontenac Institution, the farm program’s economic gains and unique value of rehabilitating and safely reintegrating offenders into society would seem profound. Inmates worked hand in hand with experienced farmers, and daily with animals, to oversee dairy and poultry operations providing the prison system with local supplies of milk and eggs well below market retail price – and donations to local food banks. Inmates were feeding inmates, while developing a range of “hard” skills (such as operating and maintaining equipment, welding, carpentry, food processing, and administration) and nurturing a suite of “soft” skills (including empathy, anger management, patience, teamwork, punctuality, and responsibility). Inmates were protecting vulnerable farmland and food system infrastructures on one, if not the largest urban farm in Canada. The effort to save the Frontenac farm captured the heart of the nation and inspired resolve. Kingston City Council opposed the prison farm closures, so too, federal opposition parties, committing to restore the prison farms if elected. Some 30 farms, food and social justice organizations, and hundreds of individuals of all ages and walks of life across Canada became involved in
Monday evening ‘Vigil Keepers’ at the entrance to Collins Bay Institution mark the spot where Frontenac’s prized dairy herd was removed six years ago, in anticipation of the feasibility study into restoring the prison farms here and at Joyceville, August, 2016. the SOPF campaign – writing letters, signing petitions, attending meetings, holding demonstrations, and making presentations to the House of Commons Public Safety Committee. It ended in an unprecedented act of civil disobedience as citizens formed a human blockade to prevent cattle trucks from removing Frontenac’s prized heritage dairy herd. In a two-day standoff between protestors and police on August 8th and 9th 2010, 24 citizens were arrested, aged 14 to 87. Til The Cows Come Home is a 2014 film documentary that tells the story of the SOPF campaign, and the hope and resolve it inspired. Hope was the first of 24 cows that community members purchased back from the herd auction to form the Prison Farm Herd Co-op (PFHC). It is an incorporated, community-owned and managed co-operation raising membership and funds through the sale of $300 “cow-shares” to preserve the genetics of the Frontenac herd until the heritage farm is restored under new leadership. Six years and two elections later, real progress is being made towards that end, as the PFHC holds strong with over 200 shareholders co-sharing a nucleus of 36 cows. A feasibility study on restoring Kingston’s former Frontenac and Pittsburgh farms is currently underway, launched by the Trudeau government in June 2016. It invited public consultation through an online survey by Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) concluded on August 4, and a Town Hall meeting at
Kingston City Hall hosted by Public Safety Minister, Ralph Goodale at Kingston City Hall on August 16. Over 6000 people from across Canada replied to the survey, with 96% of respondents saying prison employment helps inmates, 94% saying that agricultural employment contributes to rehabilitation, and 84% saying that agricultural work can make a unique contribution. The Town Hall overflowed with supporters –farmers, farm workers, prison chaplains, professors, students, and social workers – voicing strong opinions not just for restoring the prison farms, but for revitalizing them, to respond to the challenges of the changing times. Most compelling was former inmate Pat Kincaid, extolling the virtues of what he calls “the miracle farm.” The results of the feasibility study have not yet been made public, but there has been a constant vigil at the entrance to Collins Bay. A small, but enormously dedicated group of “Vigil Keepers” have gathered there every Monday evening since August 9, 2010, the day that cattle trucks hauled away Frontenac’s heritage dairy herd. For 317 consecutive Mondays, they have stood this ground, juggling their personal lives and persevering through unsettling weather and politics, to patiently remind the public of the misguided closure of the prison farm and the endeavour of the PFHC. Prison farms do indeed “represent one way to reconcile broken souls with the source of all life,” and it would seem that Grandfather Commanda’s prison farm spirit is alive and well.
2016-17 TECDC Concert Series presents The Once
• Canadian Folk Music Award winner Album of the Year • Canadian Folk Music Award winner New Artist of the Year • JUNO Nominees, East Coast Music Award Nominees • Labrador & Newfoundland’s Artist of the Year Concert tickets available at: Bon Eco Design, Stone Mills Family Market, the River Bakery & Café, and Marie’s Place (Napanee) Dinner & Show tickets available at: Devon Café, the River Bakery & Café, and the Lakeview Tavern
November 5
All shows at Tamworth Legion 8:00 pm start 7:00 doors open CALL 613 379 2808 FOR TICKETS OR INFO General admission seating Season & dinner/show ticket holders excepted!
$35
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!
Tamworth Medical Centre 52 Concession St. S. 613-379-2946
Steve Marshall Licensed Technician Erinsville 613 379 5818
October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
11
L&A Stewardship What’s in Your Woodlot? Understanding the Fisher T
J
eff Bowman of the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry and Trent University has done lots of research into these fascinating creatures. On November 15 at 7 p.m. (Napanee
– event location TBA), plan to come and hear the latest results and the story of their recovery in Ontario. Dr. Bowman will share his vast knowledge and in-depth research about the fisher, including a fisher trap, skulls, and stories.
This event is hosted by the Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council along with partners, the Ontario Woodlot Association (Limestone Chapter) and Friends of the Salmon River.
Photo by Jeff Bowman, MNRF.
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The SCOOP • October/November 2016
For more information, visit the website lastewardship.ca. Contact lastewardship@gmail. com or Susan at 613.379.5958.
he Ontario Woodlot Association (Quinte and Limestone Chapters) is offering a half day of forest activity in a unique location: the Kennedy Field Station just north of Tamworth on the Salmon River.
The Saturday, October 01 Forest Field Day event includes a morning walking tour to examine pine plantations, hardwood forest, and river shoreline, with guides explaining tree and plant species, plantation management, and general forest health. The Kingston Field Naturalists will describe their “bio-blitz,” a comprehensive inventory of species. A friendly competition will test your knowledge of species and forest health; we hear rumours of prizes of unbelievable value! Whatever your question: tree health, invasive species, horse logging, or something else forest-related, come out, and talk to the experts. The Field Station, formerly owned by Russell Kennedy, was entrusted to Queen’s University, and is now a site for student programs and ground water
studies. (See waterresearchcentre.ca/ kennedy-field-station) The OWA has teamed up with Friends of the Salmon River, L&A Stewardship Council and other organizations, to offer this first event in a series called “The Full Value of Woodlots.” Registration is required. Free to OWA members; $10 for non-members. To register, contact Dave at sexsmithd@ gmail.com or 613.373.9334. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with optional afternoon activities) and includes lunch. The location is 669 County Road 15 (Arden Road). Also, visit ontariowoodlot. com.
Elizabeth Hay & Stan Dragland at the Tamworth Book Shop Robert Wright
E
lizabeth Hay, the author of His Whole Life, accepted the invitation of her long-time friend and literary colleague Stan Dragland to read at the Book Shop. On a sunny afternoon on the last Sunday of summer, the pair charmed the audience of sixty or so visitors who had come to hear the two established authors read from their latest works. Stan Dragland is well known to many in this area having previously lived in Eastern Ontario. Stan started the afternoon in Tamworth by reading an excerpt from his book of essays The Bricoleur & his Sentences (Pedlar Press, 2014) that related directly to Elizabeth Hay. He also offered his personal reminiscences of being an editor at Brick Books and receiving the manuscript of Hay’s first book of short stories, Crossing the Snow Line. Dragland immediately recognized Hay’s writing talent and the two have been friends ever since. Stan Dragland is now a resident of St. John’s Newfoundland. Stan read from his newly published, Strangers & Others: The Great Eastern, a work that explores the history of the East Coast radio show and seeks to capture its essence in printed words. Stan entertained his audience by focusing on funny parts of the book, delivered in his patented “deadpan.” He cautioned that by emphasizing the book’s humour, he was “distorting” the work. He had us laughing and entertained nonetheless. Elizabeth Hay read from her Roger’s Trust shortlisted novel, His Whole Life. She offered insights into both her family life and creative work, providing useful
48 years experience
and interesting context for understanding the excerpts she read. Her genuine, down-to-earth nature was refreshing, considering that she has won a Giller Prize, a Marian Engel Award, and has been shortlisted for just about every important Canadian literary prize for fiction. At the end of her reading, Hay asked the audience if they had any questions. A question was asked about how she now feels about Canada and her identity as a Canadian. Both Hay and Dragland took turns responding to this query, and both made interesting comments based on their experiences living in many different Canadian locales. One of the pleasures of hosting these events is the mingling that takes place afterwards. The Book Shop offers complimentary refreshments at our readings, and our good friend Poppy Harrison, an original founder of The Bakery in Tamworth, supplied a delicious array of finger foods for the event. Those in attendance were able to speak with the authors, and both Hay and Dragland were happy to sign books. Another special friend of the Book Shop, poet Maureen Scott Harris also attended. She brought copies of chapbooks published in her Fieldnotes series with texts of talks by both Hay and Dragland. The reading in Tamworth was, in fact, the launch of Elizabeth Hay’s Page Lecture, The Original Title, attractively printed in an edition of only 100 copies!
Writers in attendance at the Tamworth Book Shop reading this September. (L-R): Elizabeth Hay, John Steffler, Maureen Scott Harris, Stan Dragland, and Susan Gillis. Photo by Mike Paterson. Also in attendance at the Hay/Dragland reading were writers Susan Gillis and John Steffler. The duo had given readings at the Book Shop on August 7. At that time, Susan read poems from both new and published works, including The Rapid (Brick Books, 2012). John gave a spirited reading of a comic selection from his well-received historical novel, German Mills. The book is based on the life and adventures of the enigmatic German Upper Canadian pioneer and painter, William Berczy. It was published by Gaspereau Press, of Kentville, Nova
TURNER’S
Scotia, and is handsomely designed and produced, with a cover that is printed letterpress. It was wonderful to have Susan and John back to the Book Shop as guests. [John Steffler will deliver the 2016 Page Lecture Tuesday, October 25, from 2:30-4 p.m., in Watson Hall at Queen’s University]. We are planning more interesting readings at the Book Shop for 2017. Please visit our website at tamworthbookshop.com for future readings and events.
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ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Licensed by the Ministry of the Environment October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
13
Evergreen Award Vote
Lessons Learned
Catherine Coles
Blair McDonald
T
he Ontario Library Association’s Evergreen Award is best described as the “readers’ choice” of Canadian literary awards. Each year, a list of ten nominees is selected by a committee of librarians in and in October, during Canadian Library Month, library patrons from all across the province can vote for their favourite. As is usually the case, the 2016 Evergreen list features a diverse list of titles. It spans all genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and is wellrepresentative of what Canadian authors have to offer Canadian readers. You only need to read one the following titles to be eligible to vote – so there is still time for you to participate! All Saints by K.D.Miller is a linked collection of short stories that presents the secreted small tragedies of an Anglican congregation struggling to survive in the modern world. Even if you don’t normally like short story collections, give this one a try – many of the characters are recurring, so it doesn’t read as though it is filled with abrupt endings. If you like All Saints, try Only Wounded: Stories of Irish Troubles by Patrick Taylor or Circus by Claire Battershill. Birdie by Tracey Lindberg has received a lot of national literary buzz and was even was on the CBC Canada Reads shortlist earlier this year. It follows Bernice, a Cree woman, as she leaves her home in Northern Alberta following tragedy and travels to Gibsons, BC on a quest to meet Jesse from The Beachcombers. It is unusual and a bit trippy at times, but is well-written and heartfelt. Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson and Black Apple by Joan Crate are two other unique, Canadian-written tales with interesting, flawed First Nations women as their protagonists. The Hunger of the Wolf by Stephen Marche follows three generations of the Wylie family as they rise to prominence as wealthy capitalists in the United States. It is a family saga in the vein of The Great Gatsby – but what you won’t expect is the paranormal twist. It is hard to suggest a solid read-alike for a novel so unusual and genre-blending, but if you like The Hunger of the Wolf, try Escape the Night by Richard North Patterson. It is full of suspense, secrets, family privilege – and it has a few bizarre twists of its own! The Jaguar’s Children by John Vaillant is a gripping novel that looks at the plight of illegal immigrants who cross the border from Mexico to El Norte. It is narrated by a migrant named Hector, who is one of the several people abandoned and trapped inside a sealed water tanker just inside the US border. I listened to this one in audiobook format, and the narrator (and production in general) was fantastic. If you enjoy this book, The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez is another novel that focuses on similar themes, namely immigration and the bounds of humanity. Local Customs by Audrey Thomas is based on the real lives of Letitia Landon and George Maclean. Letitia was a fairly well-known poet in the 1830s. George Maclean was Governor of Cape Coast (now Ghana). The two meet in London, decide to marry, and she joins him in tropical West Africa. Eight weeks after
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S
hould leaders swear? Lately, I can’t help but notice that some of my favourite thinkers: professional life coach, Tony Robbins, and social media expert, Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee, Vayner Media) have a “seasoned” vocabulary when it comes to getting their point across. But the question remains: Is it harmful or helpful? This question first came to me during a recent viewing of the new Netflix Original documentary on Robbins titled rather playfully: I Am Not Your Guru. Perhaps some of you saw it this summer.
arriving Letitia dies under suspicious circumstances – what happened to her? Enjoy this quick, historical mystery with a cup of tea – and if you like it, try moving on to lengthier read-alikes like Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue or The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman. Punishment by Linden MacIntyre follows corrections officer Tony as he retreats home to Nova Scotia after a forced early retirement from Kingston Penitentiary. His past is waiting for him back East, as is the presence of a convict he’d known in Kingston who reminds him that he can’t let go of his present day problems either. The Plague of Doves by Louise Eldrich, another literary/crime fiction mash-up, is a good read-alike. Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley is a graphic novel from the author of the Scott Pilgrim series. Katie is a talented chef who has made some mistakes in life. When a magical opportunity presents itself, she is given some second chances – but they will come at a price. If you have never read a graphic novel, this is a good place to start! That Lonely Section of Hell by Lori Shenher is the author’s personal account of her role as a police detective in Vancouver’s infamous Missing and Murdered Women Investigation and consequently, her years-long struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is compassionate, non-exploitative true crime for readers of Damage Done: A Mountie’s Memoir by Deanna Lennox. They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson is a memoir that follows the author’s time cleaning out her parent’s Lake Ontario mansion after her mother dies. Sifting through their old things leads Johnson to recount decades of family history, treasures, and memories. The Mercy Papers by Robin Romm or a brand new memoir titled Unearthed by Alexander Risen will give you a similar feel. Under the Visible Life by Kim Echlin is told in alternate chapters through the eyes of two women who eventually meet and become friends. It spans the years from the ‘40s through the ‘80s with stops in Pakistan, Hamilton, Montreal and New York along the way. Try Nora Webster by Colm Toibin, if you are looking for a readalike. All of these titles are available to reserve in a variety of formats at your branch of the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries or online at countylibrary.ca. Look out for Evergreen polling booths at each of our library branches across the County come October.
The SCOOP • October/November 2016
The documentary takes audiences up-close and personal with the man himself (who people pay thousands to see as part of a week-long “Date with Destiny” retreat) and profiles his philosophy about personal change, goal-setting and living the life that you want. As the film shows, his approach to personal problem solving is lethal and instinctual. Nothing is spared. Like a psychic disrobing, he looks past our words as he hunts for the buried truth that sits at the heart of our particular issue(s) (in the film, he talks with people struggling with suicidal thoughts, body image, relationship woes, etc.). What’s funny is that as I was watching him interact with his live audience, I couldn’t help but wonder, “he’s good, but does he have to swear so much.” As
he talks to particular audience members, its f-this, and f-that for much of their interaction. As a teacher, I must say, I was surprised by this. There is no textbook (that I know of) that advocates swearing for impact. And, personally, I have long thought its use to be childish and attention seeking and hence, for serious matters, harmful rather than helpful. But Robbins’ has convinced me otherwise – at least when it comes to self-therapy. During the movie, when asked by one of the filmmakers why he swears so much he contends that the reason is simple. He calls it “the science of taboo language.” For Robbins, profanity works as a trigger mechanism to wake and shake up our consciousness. Doing so, Robbins argues, allows him “to interrupt the noise in people’s heads” and get at the truth of what is really bothering them. It’s no accident. His f-bombs are deliberate and startling for your good, not his. I must say, I have never thought that swearing could be so profoundly “useful.” Even though, his perspective on profanity hasn’t exactly changed my teaching philosophy (I won’t be dropping f-bombs in my classroom anytime soon), I must say, I have a whole new appreciation for the “mystical” power of profanity. Follow me @bmcdnld
Christmas Shopping Tour in the Country Saturday, November 5 Unique Handmade Creations by Local Artisans Moscow Breakfast – Friends Meeting House 20 Huffman Road, Moscow / 7:30 – 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a delicious home cooked breakfast, featuring the ‘Dump Run Special’! Free will offering. Creative Art Show & Sale – Moscow Church Hall 25 Huffman Road, Moscow / 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Quilting, handcrafted jewellery, knitting, jams & jellies, pickles & relish, maple syrup, seasonal floral arrangements & more – all by local artisans Love Jewelry 474 Huffman Road, Moscow / 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Specializing in hand forged jewellery & scarves Susan Farber’s Annual Show & Sale 4045 County Rd. 6, Moscow / 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (also open Sun. Nov. 6, 10-4) Home decor, clothing, jewellery, pottery, sweet treats Deb Storey Jewellery & More 1403 Bethel Road, Yarker / 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Stone & glass bead jewellery Irene & Ingrid Tiffe & More 1855 Bethel Road, Yarker / 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Knitting, sewing, eco-fashion & accessories, cards, dog treats The Sheep Shelf 347 Freeman Road, Yarker / 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Lamb meat, chevre, feta cheese, shampoos, soaps, lotions, farm eggs & meat chickens Silver Garden Studio *NEW* 583 Colebrook Road, Yarker / 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Precious metal clay jewellery, designed by Teresa Roseboom Bazaar & Local Artisans – Riverside United Church 2 Mill Street, Yarker / 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Home baking, silent auction, refreshments & local artisans with their unique one-of-a-kind creations.
Look for the green and red balloons along the way…
Do You Remember: Barn Raisings? Glen Goodhand
W
hen a farmer’s barn burns to the ground, it is a terrible blow. In one sense, it is worse for him than losing his house to flames, because his barn represents his livelihood! Even if it is during the summer, when his cattle are out to pasture, and only a portion of his harvested grain and feed remains, other livestock may have been lost. As well, he now faces the challenge of having no room in which to store the new crop of hay, wheat, oats, or barley now growing in the fields. This is where barn raisings come in. While that is not the only motivation for this gigantic project, it was the most crucial. Historians tell us that in the mid-1800s “threshing barns,” with their additional storage bins, as well as large mows for hay and straw began to replace the old log barns. When the farmer came to that stage in the development of his property, he would follow this blueprint. But regardless, barn raisings were an integral part of the spirit of community which prevailed in rural settings for decades. If a man broke his leg, confining him to inactivity for a lengthy period, his neighbours would band together to harvest his crops. If a snowstorm blocked a man’s lane, they would descend on it to clear it, to enable the doctor to attend the birth of a baby, for instance—or to remove the body of a loved one taken in death! And this country camaraderie was never more evident than when a farmer faced the tragedy of losing his barn to fire or wind. By telephone, or by word of
mouth, the news was spread to a wide area of the township. And on a given day as many as forty or fifty men would congregate to undertake the multifaceted task. The individual owner was responsible for either replacing the barn flooring (which would be set on top of the stable) or levelling the ground and laying a proper foundation on which the structure would be set. This may have involved a community effort on a smaller scale, but it was usually completed before the gang arrived. It was also his responsibility to have the framework (usually there were four of them in the average-size barn) constructed in advance. The raising itself was a picture of organized cooperation. The framed “wall” was laid with the base of its main vertical beams adjacent to a slot in the floor. Then, upon the signal of a “foreman” (usually a highly respected community leader, either chosen or self-appointed) who would shout something like “heave ho!” Upon hearing that shout, using several men with long poles pushing from one side of the structure, and others pulling with ropes from the other side, the framework was heaved into place. Two by fours were nailed into these uprights to hold them in place until a parallel structure was installed some twelve feet away. At that point, beams with square “pegs” (tenons) were inserted into square holes (mortises) to bind the two “walls” together. They were held in place by large round pegs driven into holes that
bound the joint. This process took place until all four framework “walls” were standing and fastened securely. Next, the rafters were put into place by similar construction methods. Most often the volunteers continued, applying boards to both the sides and roof of the new building. What a sense of triumph this gave to the victim of nature’s vengeance. It was a task that he could never have managed on his own. “Many hands make light work” was never more applicable! “A friend in need is a friend indeed” was never truer! Here’s a corny joke that just goes to show that humour can be applied to even the most severe situation: Pat and Mike bought a mule. But when they got it home they couldn’t get it in the barn because the ears were too long. Pat said,
The Retired Women Teachers of Ontario
The (RWTO) will hold their Fall Meeting and Luncheon on Thursday, September 29 at Westbrooke United Church, 3526 Princess Street. Friendship Time: 10:15 a.m. Meeting: 11:00 a.m. Lunch: Noon / Cost $20 Please bring an item or two for our draw table. Donated paperbacks will sell for $2. For more info, contact Kathleen Goodfellow 613.374.5271
“I guess we’ll just have to raise the barn!” “No!” suggested Mike. “”I think we should dig a trench instead!” “Ah no!” Pat grumbled. “It’s the ears that are too long, not the legs!”
Sharbot Lake Farmers Market
SUMMER MARKET – VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND THROUGH THANKSGIVING 9 a.m. – 1 p.m, Sharbot Lake Beach Frontenac Blades will be at the Farmers Market on Saturday, October 1. Come on out and try your hand at tossing an axe! Visit our website: sharbotlakefarmersmarket.ca for a full listing of other upcoming events or follow us on facebook.com/ sharbotlakefarmersmarket
CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS! Do you have what it takes to be
NEED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT?
published in The SCOOP?
The Tamworth Lions have the following
Send us your best photos and
equipment available to be borrowed for
artwork documenting
free: wooden crutches, toilet seat chair, walkers with and without wheels, wheelchairs, and shower seats.
rural life in our area: stonemills.scoop@gmail.com
Call Lion Robert Gaffney at 379-2680 or Lion Frank Rowan at 379-2332.
Trinity United Annual Fall Bazaar 25 Bridge St. E., Napanee Saturday, October 22 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Morning coffee: $3 Luncheon (2 sittings 11:30 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.): $12 Children under 12 FREE Advance Tickets: Phone Peggy 613.354.3539 or the Church office 613.354.3858
October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
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Historical Structure Restored Exploring Kingston Pen Vern Whalen
T
he summer of 2016 marks our thirty-second year of cottage life on Beaver Lake. As we move from middle-aged to seniors, our time at the cottage has been increasing, as has our needs for more of the comforts of home. We were always determined to keep our little heaven on the lake as “a cottage” in the strictest sense, running water from the lake, drinking water from home and our privy out back when nature called. We referred to it as the crapper, more commonly as the “sh*tter”, which even the young grandchildren eventually picked up on. However, we mutually decided our ageing bodies warranted some comfort from the increasing needs for release. The seventy-five foot walks out back in the middle of the night, in the chill of spring or early fall or in the pouring rain had become too burdensome. Thus, we opted to have installed a septic system and so the summer of 2016 became the year of the “royal flush.” The contractors were finished in less than 3 weeks, and we were in business, so to speak, by early August. The contractor had offered to dismantle and cart away our old crapper, more commonly referred to as the sh*tter. Thus, we had a tough decision to make. Do we cast aside the relic that preceded even our tenure on Beaver Lake? Do we turn our backs on an old friend that has faithfully served us for so long? What do we do in a power failure or if we visit in the winter? Yes, it was not too structurally sound, it might appear as an eyesore to some, and it did emit a
somewhat disagreeable odour in the dog days of summer. However there is such a thing as deserving loyalty, is there not? And so our son, daughter, their partners, our three grandsons, and the seniors decided on a family effort to preserve this historical structure on Neville Point at Beaver Lake. A sturdier platform was constructed to lift it higher off the ground. A new frame and bench were erected and painted to hold a brand new seat. The outside was cedar stained, and the trim painted white. The door on the outside is adorned with a customary quarter moon, a white heart and two horseshoes to form a “W” for Whalen. A quaint tin birdhouse reclaimed from the Sheffield dump hangs from the overhang. Inside hangs the fish novelty, Billy Bass, singing “Take me to the water” when you push his button. Also on the walls are a No Parking sign, an Exit sign, and a sign that reads, “If you have nothing to do, don’t do it here.” Also on the bench for your pleasure is a magazine rack to hold editions of Readers Digest and Poppa’s crossword puzzle book. All in all, it was fun giving our old faithful friend a makeover and extending its lifespan a decade or so. After all, it was the least we could do for all the sh*t we put it through. The total cost of the preservation of the crapper, more commonly referred to as the sh*tter, was a little TLC and the sum of $25. Money well spent for a historical structure, I would say. Vern Whalen and his wife Chris of Belleville have been cottaging on Neville Point at Beaver Lake for 32 years.
Grace Smith
A
s a history buff as well as a wannabe criminologist (due to my love of Criminal Minds), I was one of the thousands who was drawn to the notorious Kingston Penitentiary when it opened its doors for tours this summer. As someone from the Kingston area, KP, as the locals call it, had always been this alluring and dangerous stronghold sitting in plain sight while also being so far out of reach. It housed Canada’s worst criminals but sat on the edge of picturesque Lake Ontario. As I grew up and found a love for history, the prison became even more enticing. As such, I was beyond excited when I was able to explore the confines of its walls, not once, but twice this summer. While I knew that the penitentiary had been a mainstay in Kingston, constructed before the birth of Canada as a country, I hadn’t realized its many connections to the community and its surroundings. For example, my neighbourhood in Kingston sits where rock once stood—rock that prisoners cleared out long ago—rock that was used to construct so many building in the city of Kingston. But they didn’t just build outside in the community. Once inside, I was amazed at the beauty of Canada’s most notorious and menacing prison. With much of the building intricately built by the prisoners themselves, I was in awe that something so dark could be so beautiful.
However, the most enduring aspect of the tours for myself was the first-hand accounts that I heard from former penitentiary employees. The tours ensured that many perspectives were shared—I heard from guards, both male and female, a teacher, a warden, and administration staff over the course of my two trips. These people offered more than what a few limestone buildings could—they used stories to share their unique experiences. From the story of a guard who lived and died in the prison to a frail old school teacher explaining the ways in which the inmates she taught were no different from the teenagers she saw in her classrooms on the outside. These stories brought the prison to life and revealed the crucial human aspect of the seemingly cold institution. The tours were incredible, but they left me wanting more. In between my tours, I attempted to gather more information about KP through the internet but also from the people around me. For the last few weeks, I’ve been talking to any friends and family with a connection to the prison no matter how small—asking for any details they might have to offer in the life of Canada’s oldest penitentiary. But most importantly, my tours at Kingston Pen have reminded me of my love of history and the importance of knowing what has happened before. On top of all that, these tours have encouraged me to go out and find it.
Kingston Penitentiary, c. 1901. Solution to the crossword puzzle on page 17:
The author’s historical structure, post-restoration.
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Companion Animal Care including: Laser & Orthopedic Surgery, Endoscopy, Ultra Sound Diagnostics & Dentistry A.A.H.A. Accredited Hospital
The SCOOP • October/November 2016
Puzzle Page Crossword: The M.E. Awards by Matt Gaffney
October Maze
Word Search: U.S. Presidents
Sudoku
October/November 2016 • The SCOOP
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L&A County’s Agricultural Societies Jane Foster and Kim Kerr, Lennox & Addington County Museum and Archives
Timothy and clover seed, and bushels of potatoes, turnips, carrots, onions and pease (sic).
t the 2016 Napanee Fair, the Lennox Agricultural Society presented the original minute book from 1853-1857 to the Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives. Stephen Paul, Director of Community and Development Services, was on hand to receive the minute book and one from 1938-39, for the County Archives.
In 1853, the Lennox Agricultural Society had 58 subscribers and by 1857, that number had climbed to 112. The yearly membership lists drew from not only the farming community but also the manufacturing and professional sectors. The advancement and sustainability of agriculture and farming affected everyone. Membership lists reveal a cross-section of the community: Bogart, Bronson, Briggs, Casey, Chatterson, Clapp, Cline, Detlor, Dennison, Dorland, Esson, Davy, Dorland, Edgar, Files, Fralick, Fraser, Fretz, Garrison, Greenleaf, Gibbard, Grange, Ham, Hambly, Hawley, Huffman, Ingersol, James, Johnston, Roblin, Martin, Mills, Nelson, Perry, Richmond, Scott, Sloan, Stevenson, Spencer, Mills, Smith, Templeton and Williams.
A
The 1853-1857 minute book is an especially significant addition to the County Archives. A few years ago, the Archives of Ontario repatriated the original minute book from 1853-1873 for the Addington Agricultural Society to our collection. The Addington fonds also includes minute books and membership lists from 1947-1999. Together, the Addington and the Lennox minute books document the importance of agriculture to the growth of Lennox and Addington County. The inaugural meeting for Lennox County was held at the Court Room, Napanee, on Tuesday, February 23, 1853. David Roblin, Esq., was elected President and Charles James, Secretary. Established under the Provincial Bureau of Agriculture, it was known as the County Agricultural Society of the County of Lennox. Charles James’ son, Charles Canniff James, would later serve as Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1891-1912 and a Commissioner for the new Dominion Agricultural Act from 1912-1914. In 1853, the annual exhibition was held in October. The Minute book provides first-hand insight into the local farming community and the pride taken in being awarded a prize for the best heifer, colt, bull, stallion and brood mare. Improvement of stock and farming methods were important to the developing pioneer communities of Upper Canada. £94 in prizes were also awarded for over 130 entries for the best ploughs, fanning mills, cultivators and harrows; handmade and factory-made shawls and quilts, fulled cloth, flannel, blankets, socks and shoemaker’s work; the best harness, cheese, butter, cabbage, spring and fall wheat, barley, rye, oats,
The Lennox Agricultural Society has remained a vital and active community group since 1853, holding annual exhibitions. In the 19th century, the Agricultural exhibition grounds were located off the Palace Road in Clarkville. The Palace Road takes its name from the Crystal Palace, opened in 1868 on the
grounds. The Crystal Palace was inspired by the Great Exhibition of 1851 in England organized by Prince Albert and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. The minute books will be on display in the Archives until December 2016. The Archives is open Mon – Sat, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., excluding holidays.
PATIO IS NOW OPEN 12 noon to 10 p.m.
La Senda
Lennox Agricultural Society Minute Book 1853 – 1856, Member’s List for 1854. Members’ names were recorded in the minute book along with the yearly payment amount. In 1854, each member paid 5s (shillings) to be a member for the year.
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Crystal Palace at the Agricultural Exhibition Grounds, [1906], LAHS Collection, L&A County Archives. Errand Services Home & Cottage Cleaning Celebration Planning Meal Delivery Pet & Home Sitting
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The SCOOP • October/November 2016
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Tearing Down and Building Up Sally Bowen
T
he Township told us that we had to tear down our Wool Shed store to widen the road. What a shock!
Our store at Topsy Farms is housed in a former small milk house/ice house, built about 90 years ago on the side of the narrow road, on the edge of the lake, handy for the horse and wagon. After electricity had come to the Island, that structure was used for storage, for making candles, for a farm workshop, then for a teenager’s band. It then evolved into a store outlet for wool, sheepskin products, and lamb cuts and is also a destination for people who come for farm events.
LANG
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The blocks of ice for refrigeration came from the lake, but it continued its slow, steady erosion of the limestone shoreline and cliffs, chewing on the rocks until a person could stand in a cave under parts of the road. The school bus, feed delivery trucks, and heavily laden farm wagons travel that same, dangerously undercut road.
undertaking. We feel both threatened and grateful by the plan to tear down our store.
Farmers must be as flexible as a tree, bending with the winds of change. We need to perceive Our Loyalist Township is working to modernization as make the north-west corner of Amherst The new Wool Shed, being rebuilt from the ground up. beneficial, while our Island safe, by redirecting, shoring up, ancient trees, too ditching and widening – a massive backhoe, will be able to lift our former close to the road, are cut down. Our store (milk house/ice house) and move it family must flow like the water, moving beside the new building, to be a storage smoothly around unmanageable area, still linked to the business outlet. barriers; persisting at reducing others. Success will depend on the unknown base of the old structure. We are turning the cut trees into lumber and firewood and mounds of organic Our three-generation family at Topsy wood mulch. We are spending the Farms sees this upheaval as a challenge compensation contribution and quite a and opportunity to spruce up, rebuild, bit more, to build a larger, designed-forand otherwise improve our space. the-purpose Wool Shed in our back yard. We will be inviting everyone to a party this fall to celebrate the new/old Wool We have prepared a concrete pad and Shed. Inside the old Wool Shed store. are hoping that Noel, an artist with a
Photo by Meghan Balogh.
TOPSY FARMS Lamb and The Wool Shed on Amherst Island 613 389-3444 888 287-3157
Email: info@topsyfarms.com Web: www.topsyfarms.com topsyfarms.wordpress.com
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The SCOOP • October/November 2016