ENJOY CHRISTMAS AT WESTFIELD HERITAGE VILLAGE

For 2012, Westfield Heritage Village celebrates 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on Saturdays, December 8th and 15th from 5:00-9:00 pm.

Christmas in the Country will take place on Sunday, December 16 from noon to 4:00 pm.

Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and persons with disabilities, and $6.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas: 
          

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Enjoy Westfield by candlelight and feel the warmth of the season through music, food samples, fireworks and a visit from Father Christmas. Christmas shopping is available at the Gift Shop and the restaurant features light meals and refreshments. For more information, please call 1-800-883-0104.

Christmas in the Country:

 

Christmas in the Country

Enjoy an old fashioned Christmas and celebrate the season where traditions of an earlier time are brought to life with horse and wagon rides, carol singing and Father Christmas. Seasonal refreshments are available at the restaurant, candies at the Confectionery and one-of-a-kind shopping at the Gift Shop. Runs from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Westfield Heritage Village

Westfield is a stunning collection of over 30 historical buildings which has made Westfield one of the most interesting historical destinations in Ontario.

Carefully restored and staffed with costumed interpreters, the buildings capture the true charm and spirit of early Canadian culture.

Westfield is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (formerly Regional Road 552), off Highway 8 in Rockton. For more information, call 1-800-883-0104 or 519-621-8851 or e-mail: westfield@speedway.ca.

Westfield is open Sundays and holidays from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. April to October. Special events run from March to December, hours may vary.


 

SANTA CLAUS VISITS ST. GEORGE DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

St. George Santa Claus Parade

Presented by the St. George Firefighters Association.

Saturday, December 8, 2012
Route: Downtown St. George.

Along High Street, turning at the Post Office,

then north on Main Street to arrive at the Fire Hall.

6pm start time - bundle up it can get cold!

After the parade, children can meet Santa Claus at the Fire Hall

and enjoy hot chocolate.

November 10 Heritage Book Fair in Waterdown

The 22nd Annual Heritage Book Fair

Saturday November 10th, 2012
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Waterdown East Flamborough Historical Society’s highly successful Book Fair brings together over 20 specialized book dealers, historical and genealogical groups from around the Golden Horseshoe.

James Elliott, recognized journalist and author of three books including Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, will present ‘The Importance of the Battle of Stoney Creek’ in the Seminar Room, at 10:30 A.M. Entry fee $5.00

Other exhibitors include Ontario Genealogical Society groups from Brant, Halton-Peel, and Hamilton. Also Burlington Historical Society; Dundas Historical Society Museum; Glanbrook Historical Society; Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society; Stoney Creek Historical Society; and the United Empire Loyalist Association. The Book Band will have a selection from small-press publishers; Pickwick Books of Waterdown; Celia Perry and Sheila Campbell, used books; and Dennis Mortley with Canadian history and Rudy Romaker with military history.

 

Local author Gary Evans of Northshore Publishing will be joined by Dorothy Turcotte, Suzanne Hurley; and Real Peoples History.

 

The Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee will return, and the host WEFHS will offer their 2013 calendar and the Flamborough flag.

Fellowship Hall, St. James United Church
306 Parkside Drive, Waterdown

Remembrance Day documentaries on TVO

 

TVO will be showing an evening of documentaries telling stories from the two world wars, and the period in between the wars, on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

 

8:00 pm  The Last Day of World War One

The explosive and emotional story of one of the most important days in history: over 11,000 casualties occurred during the final hours of the First World War – many after the Armistice had actually been  signed. Travelling to the battlefields in  France and Belgium, Michael Palin visits the places where American, British, French, Canadian and German troops were fighting as the war came to an end.

9:00 pm  The Great Escape: The Reckoning

On the evening of March 24, 1944, 76 airmen broke out of a German prison camp in a dramatic bid for freedom.  Over the next few days, 50 were recaptured and murdered by the Gestapo on the orders of a vengeful Adolf Hitler.  This is the untold story of the postwar investigation to hunt down the Gestapo officers responsible.

10:00 pm  Paris 1919

For six months, Paris was the capital of the world. The last shots had just been fired in the most devastating war of all time, and the old global order lay in tatters. Delegations from over 30 nations descended upon Paris for the most ambitious peace talks in history. Inspired by Margaret Macmillan’s book,  Paris 1919 captures the atmosphere, characters and the dramatic cut-and-thrust of diplomacy and territorial ambition as political leaders
redraw the map of the world after the First World War.

*

The night before Remembrance Day, TVO is showing the Hollywood version of the Great Escape story as part of Saturday Night at the Movies:

Saturday November 10th, 2012

8:00 pm

The Great Escape (1963)

Based on a true story, the film follows the remarkable escape of Allied POWs from a German Nazi prison camp during World War II. Directed by John Sturges, the all-star cast includes James Garner, Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen.

 

 

 

"The Jackson" - Made in St. George!

The Museum recently fielded a query from Mary at the St. Mary's Museum.  They have a photograph in their collection of young children on a wagon loaded with pumpkins.  On the side of the wagon, prominently, it says "The Jackson." 

The photo can be viewed online at: http://images.ourontario.ca/stmarys/57253/data?n=6.  

Mary wanted to know if this was a Jackson wagon made in St. George or an American model made in Jackson, Michigan....

Our trusted President, Cliff Jones, came to the rescue and produced a scan of the Jackson Wagon Company catalogue, circa 1924, "ST. GEORGE, ONT.,"which has a drawing of a similar wagon with the same prominent wording on the side.

Case closed!

Great job, Cliff - and thanks to Christine MacArthur at the County of Brant Public Library for passing along the query to us.

WAR OF 1812 EXPLORED ON CBC TONIGHT (REPEATING OCT 13th)

The War of 1812: Been There, Won That

Thursday October 4, 2012 AT 8:00 PM on CBC-TV
*Please note special start time
Repeating Saturday October 13 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network

 
On the bicentennial of the War of 1812 the CBC presents a two hour documentary special, The War of 1812: Been There, Won That – a modern look at a 200 year old war hosted by one of Canada’s most accomplished and funniest actors, Peter Keleghan.

We’ll explore the myths and mysteries, mayhem and marvels of this “forgotten” war. We’ll follow the twists and turns of this strange conflict, its rogues and rascals, heroes and martyrs and uncover stories of humour and horror, heroism and hubris. And we’ll meet colourful characters – from corporate lawyers to debutantes to Ursuline nuns -- who 200 years later still remember and celebrate the war in unexpected ways.

Finally, we’ll set the record straight on the burning question that still divides us from our former enemies (now our best pals and good neighbours) to the south: Who really did win the war of 1812?

This war has been called a lot of names - a strange war, a senseless war, even a silly war. But it changed the course of our history and helped create Canada. If we had lost, we would probably all be Americans. It is an epic conflict that determined the fate of a continent and the tragic destiny of its first peoples.

The stories in Been There, Won That include:

The tale of the timid American general who turned over three states to the Canadian side without firing a shot. Did we cheat, as some Americans claim? You be the judge.

The mystery of the last words of British general and Canadian hero Sir Isaac Brock. Were they a shout out to gallant Canadian militiamen, or did he whisper the name of his secret love? What does the evidence of the bullet hole in the General’s coat tell us?

When the Americans torched Toronto’s parliament buildings during the war, they claimed the action was provoked by finding a scalp hanging by the speaker’s chair. A shocking story that the American media loved, but was it true?

We will tell the story of Tecumseh, one of the greatest leaders and visionaries of North American First Peoples, whose death on a battlefield in southwestern Ontario ended the dream of an indigenous confederacy and a first peoples’ homeland. We explore his legacy and the unsolved mystery that surrounds his final resting place.

War of 1812: Been There, Won That is a funny and poignant documentary that will engage, enlighten and entertain audiences of all ages, and turn a forgotten war into an unforgettable one.

Peter Keleghan has starred in Canadian comedy classics like The Newsroom, the Red Green Show, 18 to Life and Made in Canada, as well as roles in Slings and Arrows, Murdoch Mysteries and Saving Hope.

ST GEORGE APPLE FEST THIS WEEKEND!

Sept. 15 and 16, 2012

St. George Apple Harvest Festival

 

 

  The Apple Festival includes bake sales, craft area,

Children’s activities, reptile show and live entertainment....

and lots of APPLES!

There will be a Luncheon at the United Church

and a BBQ at the Legion;

(also an evening Steak Dinner at the Legion on Sat. Night).

Visit the Museum, too!

Arrive early if you want to buy a homemade apple pie -

they sell out quickly.

 

Hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Street dance on Saturday is 8 to 10 p.m. -

in the parking lot across the street from the Post Office.

Free admission and parking.

The festival is centred on the historic Main Street and in Snowball Park.

More information at: stgeorgeapplefest.com 

 

ST. GEORGE MUSEUM "WISH LIST"

 

The St. George Museum and Archives aims to be a local museum, with a mandate to tell the story of St. George, Glen Morris, Harrisburg, Osborne Corners, and the other little communities that made up the former Township of South Dumfries.

 

In helping to tell this story various artifacts help to illustrate our local history.

 

Some of the things that we are always on the look for are:

 

-  items from the Bell Foundry (B. Bell and Sons) ;

 

-  bottles, advertising, newspaper reports about the Malcolm's Condensing Dairy, the Sunny Hill Dairy (The Taylor family);

 

 - Books, photographs and clippings related to Nina Moore Jamieson, such as her collection "The Cattle in the Stall" and her novel "The Hickory Stick" or poems that were clipped and saved from the Toronto newspapers wrote for;

 

-  anything, especially with a St. George connection, related to Adelaide Hunter Hoodless and her family, and including a copy of her textbook "Public School Domestic Science" (we don't have a copy of this at the Museum yet);

 

- photos and clippings about John Charlton, our long serving MP;

 -  photos and clippings about Joyce Wehrstein that help to explain her importance to the museum and local history;

 - photos, scripts, reviews, clippings, props related to Aileen Tinkess and the plays she wrote and produced in the Memorial Hall.

 

These are just a few examples.

 

You may be in the process of downsizing and have to part with items you have hung onto for years.  In doing so, you may come across old advertisements, special newspaper inserts or articles you clipped, photos that now may be significant for what is in the background, old school photos and yearbooks, programmes from special occasions and concerts and plays.

 

Please consider letting us either scan documents to have as part of our digital collection, or donate the items to be  part of our collection.

 

You may, in your travels, be at a yard sale or a rummage sale, or an auction and think - that item is part of the St. George story.  Please keep us in mind and let us know about items that we might purchase or bid on.

 

History isn't always old and dusty.  We have recently acquired items to tell the story of episodes of the Murdoch Mysteries being filmed at Sunnyside, and of the young Davy Jones (of the Monkees) visiting his cousins in St. George before appearing on Broadway and on the Ed Sullivan Show!

 

Our Musuem should do a better job of telling the story of Harry Nixon and the United Farmers of Ontario; his son, Bob Nixon, and his granddaughter, Jane Stewart – considering their years of service to this riding.

 

David Pickett is another good example of a person born in St. George achieving international impact (we have his early “boy soprano” LP) – his concerts and CDs with the Three Cantors have raised over One Millions Dollars for the Huron Hunger Fund since 1996!

 

Our Fire Dept is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year – and it would be nice if the Museum could help them collect more items and photos to put on display.

The Artesian Well – this was one of things people most associated with St. George for years.  It is capped now, in recent history, but photos of the Well being used will become harder and harder to find as time goes by if we do not start collecting now...

 

Apple Festival -  odds are you will have some photographs from this popular festival.

 

Military History – we have our Honour Rolls in place outside the Museum – but we could do more and establish better context – where people served (maps) – models of planes, tanks, ships, etc.  – photos – service records, attestation papers, etc.

Other areas we aim to include are:

 

political histories,

athletes and sporting teams,

community leaders (like Earl Gaukel, Jack Tolhurst, Jean and Hank Hedges, etc. – some with streets named after them),

the St. George Lily Garden,

School histories - including the story of the ladies who saved the Old School,

Women’s Institute history and Tweedsmuirs,

Church histories,

local Doctors and professionals,

Cemeteries,

Industries and businesses,

the St. George Legion history and local service clubs,

the Burford Train Station move,

Blue Lake industry and history, 

the Heritage Quilting group,

Restaurants and Tea Rooms,

Libraries and Librarians,

Post offices and postmasters and postmistresses….

and more!

 

So, whether you are going through your own items, or exploring a flea market somewhere, please keep us in mind as well as we attempt to collect together items, documents, photos and more that  help to tell the South Dumfries story.

 

*

 

 

 

WAR OF 1812 COMES TO THE WOODLAND CULTURAL CENTRE

The Woodland Cultural Centre, in conjunction with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, is elated and honoured to announce the arrival and exhibition of the 200 year old wool cloth British flag believed to be given to Tecumseh during the War of 1812. This artifact will be featured in the upcoming exhibition entitled War Clubs & Wampum Belts: Haudenosaunee Experiences of the War of 1812, and will run from October 29 – December 24, 2012, with an opening reception taking place October 29 at 7:00pm.

Tecumseh, of Shawnee decent, was a distinguished warrior and orator who founded an alliance with Sir General Isaac Brock. Initially, Tecumseh fought to protect First Nations’ territory, and with the assistance of his respected friend and British ally Brock, Tecumseh led a war against the Americans on the Detroit frontier. With their ability to mobilize a large band of Native nations to fight against the Americans, they quickly became a feared enemy. Shortly after the siege of Detroit, Brock bestowed Tecumseh with the title of Brigadier General and bestowed him with a wool British flag. Due to the fragile state of the flag, this will be the first exhibition of this important cultural and historical artifact. Through a partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, the flag will be on loan through the duration of the exhibit.

Curated by Rick Hill, a Tuscarora of the Six Nations of the Grand River, this exhibit seeks to draw attention to the relatively unknown and significant contributions Native warriors played in the War of 1812. These contributions caused great strife within the Six Nations Confederacy, and caused the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Council to became separated by the actions of our allies. The war not only brought death, but also caused families to bring up arms against one another, which went against the governing principles of the Great Law of Peace.

The Woodland Cultural Centre will be hosting a special opening for the exhibit, Monday October 29 at 7:00pm. There will be a brief introduction by the Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre, and special introduction by Rick Hill, curator of the exhibit and Coordinator of the Indigenous Knowledge Centre. Woodland is pleased to be able to showcase and utilize his expertise in bringing this exhibit to life. In addition to the exhibit, the Woodland Cultural Centre will be developing and providing educational kits as a teacher resource to incorporate the War of 1812 into their classrooms.

http://www.woodland-centre.on.ca/war-1812-comes-woodland

GUIDE TO DOORS OPEN BRANT IN THIS WEEK'S BRANT NEWS

The Brant News, Sept 6th issue, has a pull-out guide to DOORS OPEN BRANT.

Look for it as you go through this week's issue - or fish it out of your Blue Box!

If you do miss it, you can find information on Doors Open Brant at the website:

http://www.doorsopenbrant.ca/

ANNUAL ST. GEORGE ANTIQUE SHOW

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE ANNUAL ST. GEORGE ANTIQUE SHOW

Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2, 2012

Where:

South Dumfries Community Centre (Arena)
Gaukel Drive
St. George, Ontario
N0E 1N0

Price:$5.00 admission

Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.

The Show is back again this year, in the new and improved St. George arena. Selected quality dealers will present a range of antiques to browse and to buy. Also, delicious home-style meals and desserts.

Free parking. $5.00 admission - the major fundraiser of the South Dumfries Historical Society.

Visit our downtown while you are in town for our new coffeehouses (the Brown Dog and the Rustic Mug), our upscale Italian restaurant (La Cantinella), our trusty English Pub (the St George Arms), and three pizzarias to choose from.

Saturday night (1st Saturday each month) there is a fish fry at the St. George Legion which is very popular. Or grab an Ice Cream cone next to the Rustic Mug or at Monk's Chip Wagon next to the Bank of Montreal parking lot.

If you need to stock up on snacks and drinks for the road, visit our friends at St. George Foodland.

Visit the Museum Saturday afternoon while you are downtown, and browse our antique shops on the historic Main Street.

Consider a side trip to one of the Apple farms nearby or to Robert Hall Originals - an amazing store just west of the downtown for "rockhounds" and for unique pewter creations.

On Sunday afternoon, visit our friends at the Adelaide Hoodless Homestead from 2 - 4 pm - a National Historic Site honouring the birthplace of the founder of the Women's Institute movement (among her many accomplishments).

This is also the weekend of the Paris Fair!

* ** * ** * **

Mark your calendars for DOORS OPEN BRANT

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012
Visit 13 sites from 10 AM to 4 PM
Free admission
This year exploring the connection of Brant County
to the War of 1812

Sites include:

Lions Park, Oakland (Battle of Malcolm's Mills)
Brant County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society
Burford Township Museum, Harley
Burford Pioneer Cemetery Tour
Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Brantford
Chiefswood National Historic Site, Ohsweken
D'Aubigny Creek Park and Early Mill Site, Brantford
Mohawk Chapel National Historic Site
Mount Pleasant Cemetery Tour, Mount Pleasant
Six Nations Genealogy and Heritage Trail, Ohsweken
Six Nations Haldimand Proclamation Memorial and Veterans' Park, Ohsweken
Waterworks Park Gordon Glaves Memorial Pathway (Hiking and Cycling Tours)

for more information visit www.doorsopenbrant.ca

CANADA DAY IN ST. GEORGE - JULY 1st, 2012

CANADA DAY

On the beautiful, historic Main Street of

ST. GEORGE!

Sunday July 1^st 

 Music from

11:00 am to 4:45 pm

GARY GRAY

and FRIENDS

JEAN ST. PIERRE

(STOMPIN’ TOM TRIBUTE)

 JOHN & SHEILA

LUDGATE

CINDY ALEXANDER

& OFFSUIT

JUDY  RIDEOUT

&  Her Ex-Husbands

AND introducing

fiddle sensation 13 year-old 

 LIAM McGLASHON

Bring your lawnchairs to enjoy the music.

Sound by Bower Audio (Eric Bower)

 

LOOK FOR

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINER

“WILLY B.”

FROM NOON TO 3 PM.

NEAR THE MUSEUM.

ALSO:  Museum Open House;

Displays & Sidewalk Sales.

Many of the stores and restaurants

in St. George will be OPEN.

FORMAL CEREMONY

AT THE CENOTAPH  CORNER:

Starting at 5 pm

Greetings & Speeches & refreshments

Singing of “O Canada” to celebrate

Canada’s 145^th birthday!

Birthday Cake

(Courtesy of Trevor and the

staff of St. George Foodland)

 

Supported by generous contributions by THE COUNTY OF BRANT; THE SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY and SIMPSON & WATSON LAW FIRM

 

Main Street activities co-ordinated by

the South Dumfries Historical Society

Schedule of events subject to change

*

 

Come back later for the

“ FIRE & THUNDER ”

FIREWORKS  SPECTACULAR –

approx. 10 pm –  at King William Park

  Bring a blanket or lawnchairs –

Presented by the

St. George Volunteer Firefighters

(celebrating 100 years of service)

     *

DISTRICT FIRE CHIEF PAUL McCONKEY SPEAKS AT OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The SOUTH DUMFRIES HISTORICAL SOCIETY

PRESENTS A PUBLIC TALK:

District Fire Chief PAUL McCONKEY

tells  the  story  of

The 100th Anniversary of the St. George Fire Department

        

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28TH, 2012

AT THE ST. GEORGE MEMORIAL HALL

(32 MAIN STREET SOUTH, NEXT TO THE MUSEUM)

7 PM START

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

FREE ADMISSION – ALL WELCOME