OUR TOWN: BRANTFORD - SATURDAY EVENING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRANT HISTORICAL SOCIETY - DECEMBER HAPPENINGS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,

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

www.brantmuseums.ca

'Twas the Night Before Christmas 2009 at Westfield Heritage Village

Christmas at Westfield is something my family always enjoys!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Admission fees are the same as above.

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

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

1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton, Ontario, L0R 1X0

Paris Library Digital History Project

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

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

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

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