CHRISTMAS 100 YEARS AGO

For the history fans out there - here is a look back to Christmas in 1913:

The last Christmas before the First World War

In December 1913, Toronto was a rapidly growing and modernizing city, and one full of promise. No one suspected it would be the last peaceful Christmas for five long years.

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/12/24/the_last_christmas_before_the_first_world_war.html

 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas in 2013!

 

 

 

 

 

WARTIME FARM CHRISTMAS - on TVO

BBC's turn-back-the-clock `Farm' series continue with this look at the efforts of historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn, who run Manor Farm as if it was during the Second World War.

The programme focuses on all aspects of domestic and farming life of the period, with the team managing livestock, attempting to cultivate unused land, tackling new tools and technologies, and learning the basics of civil defence, while all the time confronting shortages.

They face one of the biggest challenges ever seen in the history of the British countryside - what Winston Churchill called `the frontline of freedom'. 

Christmas Special

Ruth Goodman and archaeologist Peter Ginn return to Manor Farm in Hampshire to recreate the conditions of the Christmas of 1944.

Airtimes on TVO (Cable 2):

Monday, December 9th, 2013
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday, December 10th
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Sunday, December 12th
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

BARN QUILT DESIGNS UNVEILED WEDS. NOV. 27th

Please join the South Dumfries Historical Society as we welcome the members and families of the Brant County 4-H this Wednesday, November 27^th.

We will have a joint meeting at 7:30pm at the Memorial Hall in St. George as the six young participants in a 4-H project unveil their designs for six “Barn Quilt” squares.

The project leaders Joan Crawford-Wehrstein and Edith Stone have worked over several sessions with the students to research and design Barn Quilts that will be installed in and around St. George to mark the Bicentennial year in 2014.

Barn Quilts are the large (painted wooden) squares you may have seen in and around Paris, Ontario and other locations in Ontario.

We will be tying into a trail that runs through Brant, Elgin, Middlesex, Norfolk and Oxford Counties.

Thanks to the leadership of this group, advised by Cliff Jones of our Historical Society, a series of bright, bold and relevant squares will be unveiled.

Each student will explain the background and research behind each design in brief talks.  They have painted ¼ - sized mock-ups of what the finished products will look like.

 Audience questions will be welcome.

 Refreshments will be served.

 Admission is free.

 The Memorial Hall is across from the Post Office (and next to the Museum) at 32 Main Street South, St. George, Ontario.

 There are already plans in place to expand the project beyond these initial six designs – and we should have news on those plans as well.

For more information on Barn Quilts, please visit:  http://www.barnquilttrails.ca/

 We hope you can join us!

 

(Sneak peek - the photo shows Abbie Simpson with her design commemorating the Artesian spring)

 

 

COMING SOON - THE 26th ANNUAL ANTIQUE SHOW!

26th Annual Labour Day weekend
ST. GEORGE ANTIQUE SHOW

*** 35 Quality Dealers ***

Sat. Aug. 31, 2013 from 10am –5pm; and
Sun. Sept. 1, 2013, from 11am – 5pm.

Amid the many Fall events across Southern Ontario the St. George Antique Show has become a favourite with both collectors and the general public.

Whether you are searching for the rare and unusual or just browsing through memories of yesteryear and enjoying a fine home-cooked meal, the St. George Arena is the place for you!

Known for its depth of quality and diversification, the show offers fine and rustic furniture, silver and paintings, formal and funky jewellery, postcards and memorabilia, formal and functional glass, wonderful Persian carpets, and everything from traditional items of classical beauty to the everyday items of years gone by.

The show is staffed by professional dealers who are experts in their fields and who are happy to chat about their items and experiences.

Leave the world of plastic and deadlines for a beautiful day in the quaint village of St. George.

Walk the historical main street after the show and browse through its shops, tea rooms, pub, and museum.

The St. George Arena is located on Hwy 5 just a few miles north of Brantford (watch for the signs).

Admission is still $5 and the show is run under the auspices of The South Dumfries Historical Society.

For more information, please call: 905.659.1166.

CANADA DAY IN ST GEORGE - MUSIC LINE-UP

Here is the music line-up for Canada Day.

 

We will have a stage just south of the lights on the Main Street.

11 am –                James Gordon - Children's songs to start the day

12 Noon –           Jean St. Pierre (STOMPierre) - a tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors

1pm –                   Gary Gray & The Nature of Things - local hero and hideaway barber

2pm –                   Danielle Beaudin (with Tim Allard) - rising Hamilton singer

3pm –                   Terry Kelly - 7 times East Coast Music Awards winner

4pm –                   “CJ” Chandler Berardi - talented Brantford singer

 

5pm –                   Re-Dedication Ceremony at the Cenotaph:

                                Danielle Beaudin to lead "O, Canada"

                                Terry Kelly to sing 2-3 songs, including "A Pittance of Time"

 

 

 

CANADA DAY IN ST GEORGE - MONDAY JULY 1st, 2013

There is a lot planned for this year to celebrate Canada Day in St. George.

You may have noticed that the St. George Cenotaph was missing for a few weeks - it was being restored up in Kitchener at the Nelson Stone Centre.  It is back now and there is a new base that has been poured to support the Cenotaph and a new walkway and benches will be installed.

The unveiling and Re-Dedication of the Cenotaph will be taking place on July 1st at 5 pm.

Our special guest for this event will be seven time East Coast Music Award winner TERRY KELLY.

On the base of the Cenotaph we have received permission to inscribe lines from Terry Kelly`s touching song, A Pittance of Time.

There will be speeches, a song or two from Terry Kelly, laying of wreaths and then the serving of Birthday Cake and other refreshments afterwards.

During the morning and afternoon there will also be a lot to do.

The St George Volunteer Firefighters, teaming up with the St. George Lions Club, are hosting a pancake breakfast at the Fire Station to start the day.

On the Main Street of St. George, which will be closed for most of the day from the lights down to the post office corner, there will be lots of music and other activities to enjoy.

Musical guests include JAMES GORDON - who we have asked to perform a children's music set.  He is well know to many adults for his work with the band Tamarack and also his songs on the CBC radio show Basic Black.  We have invited James to do a children's show as an introduction to a project we are planning for the Fall - where he will work with local students to compose, perform and produce a CD of original songs to celebrate the St George BICENTENNIAL in 2014.

James Gordon is scheduled to kick off the music schedule at 11am.  For more information on James, visit www. jamesgordon.ca

Also on the stage will be local favorite GARY GRAY with his band THE NATURE OF THINGS.  Gary has played many times for us on Canada Day, last year as a solo act, but he is especially excited about his band and how well their practices have been going.  He is a master of the guitar solo and his fingers will be flying on Canada Day.

We have invited back JEAN ST. PIERRE - also known as STOMPIERRE - who performs the music of the late Stompin' Tom Connors in English and French (but mostly in English for us).

DANIELLE BEAUDIN will be making her first appearance at one of our Canada Day events, but she has played shows at the St George Legion as well as in venues in Hamilton, Burlington, Stoney Creek and Brantford.  She has several videos on her website and is working towards finishing her first CD.  To get a sample of what to expect visit www.daniellebeaudin.com

We have asked Danielle to sing O Canada at the Cenotaph ceremony as well - which will be fitting as her grandfather is one of our local veterans.

TERRY KELLY will be playing a full set on our Main Street Stage before joining us for the Cenotaph Re-Dedication ceremony.  He has a brand new CD out and is excited to be a part of our celebrations.  Visit www.terry-kelly.com to learn more and to watch his videos.

We will also have clowns on hand and other children's activities.

Bring a lawn chair to enjoy all the great music on the Main Street - between 11 am and 5 pm.

Independent of the Main Street events, the St. George Firefighters will again host their FIRE AND THUNDER Fireworks Display at King William Park starting at approx. 10 pm.

“THE LAND BETWEEN” DEBUTS ON TVO TONIGHT!

 

The Land Between – a new series airing on TVO (and available on DVD)

Premiere of the first of three episodes airs:
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – 7:00pm and
Saturday, March 30, 2013 – 4:00pm

This visually spectacular 3-part series explores the newly recognized area in Ontario, Canada, that many people are calling The Land Between.

Watch The Land Between series on TVOntario. Airing March 26th, April 2nd and April 9th at 7:00pm. Each episode repeats on Saturday at 4:00 P.M.

It has been produced by the same peope who created the County of Brant history for the Ontario VIsual Heritage Project series.

They have a page on their website devoted to this new series at www.visualheritage.ca.

You can also find bonus content there:

There are so many amazing stories in The Land Between, that we couldn’t possibly fit them all into a three part series.

Visit the “additional stories” playlist on our YouTube channel to learn even more about The Land Between, including: the story of the Whetung Store, the mysterious French Clochette artifact found near Sparrow Lake, the Pheylonian Candle Makers, the Otonabee Conservation Authority, and more.

More details from the website:

This visually spectacular, three-part, high-definition documentary series explores the newly recognized area in Ontario, Canada, that many people are calling The Land Between.

Directed by Zach Melnick and Narrated by R.H. Thomson, the series uses aerial and time-lapse videography, cinematic historical re-enactments, animation, an original musical score, and hundreds of rare historical photographs and films to introduce you to The Land Between, and the ever-changing story of how humans have interacted with this special region throughout time.

Known as an “ecotone”, The Land Between is a liminal space between the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands. It is home to a host of overlapping species from the north and the south, which has encouraged sharing between First Nations cultures for thousands of years.

But European settlers couldn’t figure out what to do with its incredibly diverse patchwork of rock barrens, rivers, lakes and marshlands. It was not until the Victorian fascination with “wilderness” that The Land Between found a place in the collective psyche of Canadians – when people gave parts of it names like “Muskoka” and “The Kawarthas.”

And it’s only recently that recreational use and urban resource needs have placed this biologically diverse region under threat.


 

LECTURE WEDNESDAY ON: SPORT, THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND CANADA

Join the Great War Centenary Association for the 3rd event in their lecture series on March 20th.

Matt Symes author and editor of canadianmilitaryhistory.ca will be presenting a talk on the subject "Sport, The First World War and Canada"

The lecture will be at the SC Johnson Building, Room 127, starting at 7 pm.

You will find the building at 38 Market Street in downtown Brantford.

Admission is free (donations welcome!)

ERLAND LEE MUSEUM SET TO RE-OPEN

Some good news from our friends at the

ERLAND LEE (MUSEUM) HOME:
552 Ridge Road, Stoney Creek, Ontario
The Provincial Board of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario and the Erland Lee Community Committee are pleased to announce the Erland Lee (Museum) Home is once again open to the Public.

OFFICIAL OPENING CELEBRATION WILL BE ON

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013 – 2 TO 4 PM
The Home will also be participating in
Hamilton Doors Open Activities May 4 & 5, 2013

CONTACT 905-662-2691 OR VISIT www.fwio.on.ca
Hours of operation after April 21st are:
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Tours or visits at other times can be arranged by appointment.


HISTORY OF ERLAND LEE (MUSEUM) HOME
The Erland Lee (Museum) Home is important to the FWIO as it is the historical home of Erland Lee and his wife Janet, who pioneered the first Women’s Institute in Stoney Creek on 19th of February, 1897.

Inspired by the ideas of Adelaide Hoodless, the Lees encouraged women to form an organization to improve their skills in homemaking and childcare. Janet Lee Penned the first constitution at the dining room table of the home.

The Women’s Institute has since become a worldwide movement dedicated to promoting education and the personal growth of women. The betterment of their local communities is also of keen interest.

This home is also important to the Stoney Creek area as it celebrates one of their prominent farm families. The house of Gothic Architecture demonstrating a board and batten construction was built by and lived in by five generations of the Lee Family.

As this is a prime example of this type of construction, the Erland Lee (Museum) Home is a NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA and also has designation under the ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT.

The closing of the museum in 2010 caused renewed interest by the community and Women’s Institute Members. The Erland Lee Community Committee has been established to ensure any repairs and updates necessary maintain the historical integrity and to develop a financially sustainable plan for the future.

Much credit goes to "The Friends of the Lee". They have lead the way in major fundraising through sales of calendars, cookbooks, quilt tickets and pancake breakfasts. They have also contributed countless hours of work in organizing workshops, yard work, and housecleaning not to mention supervising repair work. Without their enthusiastic leadership, we could not have done it. The City of Hamilton and the citizens of Stoney Creek have also been major contributors.

While the Museum Home is now reopened, fundraising is ongoing to repaint the exterior of the home and make further improvements.
 

BRANT COUNTY HERITAGE COMMITTEE ISSUES HISTORIC BARNS POSTER

Details in an Expositor aritcle at:  http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/02/27/barns-latest-to-be-featured-in-poster-series

HONOURING GREAT WOMEN AT THE HOODLESS HOMESTEAD MARCH 8TH

Posted on behalf of our friends at the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead:

Tea Party Social

in Honour of Great Women!

Friday, March 8, 2013

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

March 8^th is International Women’s Day!

 

Come and bring the great women in your life for tea, cake and conversation at Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead.

 

We will be having guest speakers discuss the accomplishments and history of local women from Brant County.

 

Hoodless was a local woman who fought tirelessly for reform and the education of women during the latter part of the Victorian era and throughout the Edwardian era in Canada.

 

She instigated a number of institutions and organizations that continue today to benefit Canadians and women worldwide.

 

Come out and celebrate the women in your life and history.

 

There will be tours of the Victorian homestead, face painting, crafts, cupcake decorating, tea and sweets!

Admission is $3.00 for Adults, Women’s Institute members $2.00, Children aged 5 – 12 $1.00, ‘Friends of Addie’ and children under 5 years old are FREE.

The Homestead is located at 359 Blue Lake Road, just outside of Brantford: take 403 to Oak Park Rd exit and follow the blue and white TOD (Tourist Oriented Directional) signs.  Or, take Highway 24 North (towards Cambridge) and turn left at Blue Lake Road.

If you would like to volunteer for this or other events at the museum or have questions please call the Homestead at 519-448-1130, email volunteer@adelaidehoodless.ca or find us on Facebook.

 

 

OPEN HOUSE FEBRUARY 23 at the BURFORD TOWNSHIP MUSEUM

From our friends at the Burford Township Museum in Harley:

Our next big event will be in conjunction with Museum Month in February.

Come join us at the museum on Saturday, February 23, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

We have class pictures of the one room schools which were around the township (Salem, Harley, South, Tansley, Block, Mt. Zion, Muir, Cathcart, Fairfield, Northfield, Burford, Valley, Sunnyside, Gobles, Ranelagh, Kelvin, Scotland, New Durham, Woodbury, Cooley Pond, Hatchley) and need some help filling in the names.

Come on out and help us. And if you have a class picture from a few years ago, bring it along. We'll make a copy and give it back to you right away.

Our museum is located at 141 Harley Road, HARLEY, Ontario, N0E 1E0

We are located in the former town hall for Burford Township. After the township offices moved to Burford, the hall was used for many years for showers, square dances, card parties, stags, and the United Church women held their bazaars and teas in the hall.

In recent years the historical society started to meet in the building, and display agricultural artefacts.

With renovations still happening, we are not open for fixed hours yet. If you would like to see the museum sometime other than our Open House, please contact us.

For more information email: info@BurfordTownshipMuseum.ca

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL FEATURES ST. GEORGE PANCAKES

Maple Syrup Festival 2013 -
Sundays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31,
Wednesday, March 13, Thursday, March 14 and
Good Friday March 29
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at Westfield Heritage Village

Discover one of Canada's most time-honoured and delicious traditions.

Explore the making of maple syrup from the tree to the table in three different time periods: the methods of Canada's First Nations, 19th century pioneers and modern times.

Families can take an old-fashioned horse and wagon ride and purchase a wonderful pancake breakfast served by the St. George Lion's Club.

 

How To Get There

FROM ST. GEORGE

 

Follow Hwy. 5 east approx. 10.7 kms.,

Turn left at Woodhill Road (head north),

Follow to where it crosses Hwy 8 -

Continue on Kirkwall Road 1.5 km to Westfield (on your left).

 

FROM HAMILTON

Follow Hwy. 8 northwest through Dundas, cross

Hwy. 5 and continue to Kirkwall Road (552)

just past Rockton. Turn right on Kirkwall Road (552)

and follow 1.5 km.

FROM TORONTO

Take QEW west to Hwy. 403. Turn north on Hwy. 6 to Hwy. 5.

Turn left on Hwy. 5 and right on Hwy. 8 to Kirkwall Road (552)

just past Rockton. Turn right on Kirkwall Rd. (552)

and follow 1.5 km.

FROM CAMBRIDGE

Follow Hwy. 8 southeast to Kirkwall Road (552). Turn

left on Kirkwall Road (552) and follow 1.5 km.

Admission Prices

Regular Sunday
$8.50 per Adult
$7.50 per Senior (65+)
$7.50 per Student (13-17 yrs)
$5.50 per Child (6-12 yrs)
Children 5 and under are free

Special Event Days
$11.00 per Adult
$10.00 per Senior
$10.00 per Student
$6.50 per Child
Children 5 and under are free

FAMILY DAY SPECIAL EVENT AT WESTFIELD HERITAGE VILLAGE

 

Family Heritage Day - A Winter Wedding

Westfield Heritage Village

Monday,  February 18, 2013

12:30 - 16:00 p.m.                   

        

This special program will feature the fascinating traditions, rituals and etiquette of courtship and marriage in early Ontario. An Edwardian wedding ceremony in the Mountsberg Church will be a highlight of the day. Visit more than 35 heritage buildings, Gift Shop and enjoy a light meal at the Ironwood Hall.

For more information, please call 1-800-883-0104 or visit www.westfieldheritage.ca.

Westfield is a stunning collection of over 35 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.

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE BRANT COUNTY BRANCH OF THE O.G.S.

 

The Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce to following events.

1)        The meeting of the British Isles Family History Study Group of the Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will be held on Tuesday Evening, February 5th  at 7:30pm at the Branch Office/Meeting Room – 118 Powerline Rd, Brantford

2)     On Thursday  Morning, February 21^st there will be a Family History Study Group Meeting for all levels of research at the Branch Office/Meeting Room, 118 Powerline Rd, Brantford, ON  from 10am until noon.

3)   The next regular meeting of  the Brant Branch will be on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH , 2012 from  2:00pm – 4:00 pm at the Branch Office/Meeting Room:

 

  Our guest speaker will be RICHARD WADDINGTON talking about Naval involvement in the War of 1812 -  “BROADSIDES AND BOARDING PIKES”

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ATTEND ANY MEETING.

* 
 

Brant County Branch Ontario Genealogical Society 114-118 Powerline Road, Brantford, ON.  N3T 5L8 Tel:519-753-4140, fax 519-753-9866 Website:  http://www.ogs.on.ca/brant/ Email: brantogs@bellnet.ca

 *

FAMILY DAY AT THE BRANT BRANCH OF THE OGS

 

On Monday February 18^th, Family Heritage Day, the Brant Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will have an “Open House” at our Branch Library -118 Powerline Road  Brantford  from  10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

All the facilities will be available to examine and  research. There are many books and records to check out including one of the best collection of Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories in  the province.

The Library is in the Smokey Hollow Retirement Village complex on Powerline Road, east of Wayne Gretzky Parkway.

There is no admission charge.  Adequate parking  is available.

Phone 519-753-4140 or e-mail brantogs@bellnet.ca  for further details.

WARTIME FARM starts tonight on TVO

WARTIME FARM explores farming in England during World War II - and continues in the tradition of series such as Victorian Farm and Edwardian Farm.

TVO is running this popular BBC series on Monday evenings, at 7 pm, for eight weeks starting January 7th, 2013.

The series promises a "fascinating blend of war history, survival creativity and endurance."

For details on the show and descriptions of the episodes, visit the TVO website at:

http://ww3.tvo.org/program/186675/wartime-farm/#

or visit the show's official website at:

http://www.wartimefarm.co.uk/