ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.hhpl.on.ca/sigs/ehs/home.html DUBLIN & ACTON TWEEDSMUIR HISTORIES Jean McLean of the Halton Women’s Institute will explain the work of the Women’s Institutes of collecting local history. The Esquesing Historical Society will bring Tweedsmuir histories from their Archives of Dublin and Acton Women’s Institutes. The idea of WI members writing the histories of farms, buildings and places of interest at the local level had begun in the mid-1920s. In 1925, a special standing committee of the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) was formed known as the Committee for Historical Research and Current Events. The Committee suggested that a little more time be given to the study of local history to gain a greater insight into the lives and thoughts of our ancestors. By the mid-1930s, Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada, took a great interest in the Women's Institutes in this country. While at a meeting of the Athens Women's Institute, Lady Tweedsmuir stressed the need for preserving the history of our Canadian people. She suggested that Ontario Women's Institute Branches keep local history books as the WIs in England did, where she had been a devoted member.   In 1940, a recently widowed Lady Tweedsmuir was delighted to approve that these histories should be named after her late husband, and so originated “The Tweedsmuir Village History Books.”   Because documenting local history was seen as a fitting project to mark the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Women's Institute movement, a campaign was launched in 1945 encouraging every WI Branch in Ontario to prepare a history of their local community before the 1947 celebrations took place. This proved a popular project, and these local histories were officially named Tweedsmuir History Books in 1947. A decade later the provincial Board reported that 989 Branches across the province were compiling Tweedsmuir History Books. A great boost to these histories was the appointment of FWIO's first provincial Tweedsmuir History Curator in 1957, Mrs. R.C. Walker. By 1964 she reported that all levels of the organization had begun to take Tweedsmuir Books seriously, with well over 1,100 Branch histories recorded.   Mrs. Walker introduced Tweedsmuir Workshops to the volunteer curators across the province to teach the fundamentals of compiling local history books. To supplement these workshops, she released the first Tweedsmuir Handbook in 1962. “The Women's Institutes,” writes Dr. Linda Ambrose in, “were the undisputed authorities in matters of local history, and in 1967 there was a real appetite for all the history they could serve up.” The Institutes' expertise in compiling local history was central to the centennial celebrations in most rural communities in 1967. Ethel Chapman, Editor of the Women's Institute publication Home and Country , said: “They are having a wonderful time. And they are teaching the younger generations Canada's history in a painless and delightful way.”   Today, the structure of the Women's Institute is such that Tweedsmuir History Curators at all levels – Branch, District, Area and province – continue to compile Tweedsmuir Books which document WI events and history particular to their community and area. In addition, Curators continue to provide Tweedsmuir workshops and to exhibit the Tweedsmuir History Books at opportune WI and community events for both members and the general public. Mark your Calendar! Georgetown Homecoming 2007 Friday, Saturday, Sunday July 27- 28 -29 2007 EVENTS IN THE PLANNING STAGE: Opening Ceremonies Homecoming Breakfast Arts Activities Wine and Cheese Meet & Mingle Sporting Events School Tours Memorabilia ‘Rebel’ Activities Homecoming BBQ Decade Mini Reunions Historic Walks Homecoming Dance at Mold Masters Complex Reunion Message Boards ********************* How can you be a part of this?? T Financial Donation (in trust) T Be a Corporate Sponsor T Participate on a Committee: - we need lots of people! Make YOUR Commitment!! Contacts & Information Chair: David Smallwood 905-877-7466 djsmallwood&sympatico.ca Co-Chair: Neil Cotton cottonneil@hotmail.com Treasurer: Maggie Eby maeby2001@hotmail.com GTOL (Georgetown Online) http://www.gtol-georgetown-online.com ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 9 Nov. 2005 Tweedsmuir Histories – Jean McLean of the Halton Women’s Institute will explain the work of the Women’s Institutes of collecting local history. The Esquesing Historical Society will bring Tweedsmuir histories from their Archives of Dublin and Acton Women’s Institutes. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street North, Acton, 7:30 p.m. The Society does not hold a regular public meeting in December. Wed. 11 Jan. 2006 Esquesing Postcards – Archivist Mark Rowe will present an encore slide show highlighting the history of postcards using the numerous examples available from our own Archives. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 8 Feb. 2006 Fraternal Societies in Georgetown – Rev. Rick Ruggle and Elaine Robinson will speak on the various and sundry fraternal societies which have operated in Georgetown, discussing their purposes and their activities. This will be preceded by the Annual General Meeting KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 8 March History of Photography – Diane Allengane-Kuster returns to speak on photographs. As Senior Archivist at the Region of Peel Archives, she brings a wealth of personal and professional expertise to the topic. She will also speak on our favourite pastime – taking photographs and how to take care of them at home. Peel Archives will also have a photographic exhibit mounted at this time. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE! Refreshments served from 7:00 p.m. Society Notes INTERNET CONNECTIONS The Esquesing Historical Society has an official web site on the World Wide Web. Send your e-mail to mrowe6@cogeco.ca or dlvngstn@sympatico.ca Canadian Council of Archives web site: EHS NEWSLETTER John Mark Rowe prepared this newsletter with assistance from Karen Hunter and Dawn Livingstone. Submissions welcome. MEMBERSHIP Our 2005 paid memberships stands at 119. Please encourage friends and family to join the EHS and support our efforts to preserve and share our local history. The individual rate is $10. The family or institution rate is $12. Cheques payable to the Society can be mailed to our post box. Marj Allen, membership secretary, is now accepting your 2006 renewal fee, due in February. ARCHIVES The EHS has decided to join the Friends of the Archives of Ontario for one year, on a trial basis. The Archives now has over 16 000 catalogued photographs in its collection. Thousands are available to view at Images Halton. Contained within our collection are personnel files from Smith and Stone. We regret this collection is closed, but application to see files can be made by letter to the Archivist. The file names have now been listed and can be checked. Karen Hunter, Dawn Livingstone and Sherry Westphal continue to work on updating the finding aid, with a view to getting it onto our website for public use. COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE The EHS was represented at the Georgetown Market Place Mall on October 22nd at the bi-annual community open house organized by the Halton Hills Parks and recreation department. The theme of healthy pursuits was reflected in our display of sports photos from our collection. We received many favourable comments. Many thanks to Dawn and Jake, Karen and Rick, Steve, Carol, Jan and Cathy for their donation of time. HALTON-PEEL OGS Chinguacousy Branch Library, Lower Level, 150 Central Park Drive, Bramalea. Call Betty Cameron at 905-792-0907 Nov. 27 – Brian Gilchrist, Searching with a Punch: Suggestions for Effective Research. Jan. 22 – Fraser Dunford, The Municipal goldmine: Municipal records in Ontario. Brampton Public Library. STREETSVILLE HIST. SOCIETY The Society meets the 2nd Thursday of the month (Feb, Apr, Oct, Dec), 8:00pm, at Streetsville Village Hall, 271 Queen Street South. Call the BIA at 905.858.5974. BRAMPTON HIST. SOCIETY The Society meets at Heart Lake Presbyterian Church, 25 Ruth Ave. at 7:15 p.m. November 17: Brian Gilchrist of the Peel Heritage Complex. MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Society meets at the Waldie Blacksmith Shop at 16 James Street at 8p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. OAKVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Wednesday, November 16: 7:30 p.m. "A History of Sheet Music in Canada from Pioneer Times” A Talk and Taped Music Presentation by John Rutherford Knox Presbyterian Church - Lakeshore Rd. E. and Dunn St. (89 Dunn St. Entrance) Admission Free Donations Welcome For information about the Oakville Historical Society and the collection, please telephone (905) 844-2695. PUBLICATIONS Our latest publication is The History of Esquesing by Charles Hildebrandt, which sells for $12 and is available exclusively from the EHS. Call Carol Wood if you want a copy but can’t make it to Acton this month. Heritage Halton Hills publications include the Charles Street Inventory and Bower Avenue Inventories. We also have limited numbers of the 1991 Esquesing Rural Inventory at a low, low price! Unveiling of restored Tremaine Map in 1985. From the left is Walter Lewis, HHPL; J. Mark Rowe, EHS; Walter Biehn, Roger Haggett, Billie Young, and Keith Felton. (EHSp8560) GEORGETOWN SADDENED AT DEATH OF WALTER BIEHN Former publisher of the Georgetown Herald, Walter Charles Biehn died on 30 September 2005 at Barrie, Ontario at 90 years of age. Walter and his wife Mary Feller (d.1976) were very active supporters of Georgetown and recorded many items of history during their years in Georgetown. They operated the Herald from 1940 until 1973. Walter has been a faithful member of the EHS since its foundation in 1974, even after leaving Town. He also has donated many items to our Archives over the years. CALL FOR MEETING IDEAS Your Historical Society executive has worked hard to book a variety of interesting meeting topics but we wonder if we’re missing some good ideas? Are there some topics you have thought would be nice to hear about? Do you remember a meeting from the past that you’d like repeated? Do you know of an interesting speaker who would speak to us for a reasonable fee or perhaps even gratis? The topics can be local history or of a broader nature. Please e-mail your ideas to mrowe6@cogeco.ca or speak to any member of the executive. EHS WAITS FOR TRILLIUM GRANT The Society has applied for a Trillium grant to pay for publication of our newest publication on the history of Georgetown. Trillium Awards were to be announced on 1 November, however, at press time, the Esquesing Historical Society had not received any notice. BETTY BROWNRIDGE MAKES HISTORY! An original member of the EHS with a keen interest in local history, Betty Brownridge will celebrate her 80th year in Esquesing on Sunday 6 November at Hillcrest United Church. The 1 – 3p.m. open house will give her many friends a chance to congratulate her. All the best on your historic day Betty from your friends at the EHS! The Jamestown Records of the Virginia Company of London Ink Used in the Records In contrast to the consistency of the paper, several distinct inks are evident in this set of records. Seventeenth-century writing relied almost exclusively on irongall inks.11 The appearance and subsequent testing of all the inks on the Jamestown documents bear this out.12 The inks vary in intensity and color but all are more brown than black. The color of an irongall ink is, in part, a function of variables in the original formula. Those inks that turn brown have been shown to indicate an original formulation that contains too much iron II sulfate in proportion to the gallic acid.13 Most of the ink recipes surviving from the period in which the Jamestown Records were penned contain roughly the proportions demonstrated by this Elizabethan recipe: "Take four ounces of gum arabick, beat small, two ounces of gall beat gross. One ounce of copperas, and a quart of the commings off strong ale. Put all these together and stirr them 3 or 4 times a day--about 14 dayes then strein it through a cloth."14 Clues to the proportions in the original recipe lie not only in the present color of an ink but in the degree of its deterioration. William Barrow found in his study of American colonial inks that a black color was a good indicator of an ink's destructive power on paper. He observed that those "inks which remained black are far more acidic than those which had turned brown."15 Ink preparation was considered one of the seventeenth-century housewife's duties, and most period cookbooks include two or three recipes for it. It is tempting to imagine colonial women concocting ink by adding exotic materials found in the New World such as "Musquaspenne," or bloodroot, which Captain John Smith reported was a colorant in body ornamentation highly prized by the Powhatan Indians.16 However, contemporary accounts of early life in the colonies suggest that women were preoccupied with activities more basic to survival than inkmaking and it is more likely that the inks found on this set of documents were imported with the paper. Nevertheless, the unusual ink color, discoloration, and solubility on some of the Jamestown Records sheets have prompted testing. X-ray fluorescence identified iron and calcium in all samples tested and copper and calcium in some. Spot tests confirmed the presence of iron. Another influence on the ultimate color and aging characteristics of inks may be the container in which the ink was stored. Caniperius, the leading ink chemist of the seventeenth century, recommends storing ink in a lead container in order to deepen the color.17 The Library's Conservation Division was therefore especially excited to learn that a lead inkwell was recently unearthed at the Jamestown archeological excavation site. While no ink traces were found in the container, its recovery does suggest that the Jamestown settlers followed Caniperius's recommendations. However, Library of Congress scientists identified no lead in the six Manuscript Division documents that they analyzed. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjessay2.html p10737 A barn on Trafalgar Road, north of Silver Creek. Trafalgar Road is the principal north-south artery through Esquesing. Our neighbouring township to the south is the source of the name, but where does the name Trafalgar come from? This year we celebrate 200 years of a decisive British victory for which our southern townships of Trafalgar and Nelson are named! Commemorating the Bicentenary of Trafalgar 1805-2005 21st October 2005 is the Bicentenary – the 200th anniversary – of the Battle of Trafalgar. On that day in 1805, a fleet of 27 British ships of the line, under the command of Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, met and fought a combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 ships off the coast of South-West Spain, near the port of Cadiz. The result was an overwhelming British victory: 19 of the Combined Fleet’s ships were captured or sunk on the day. Over 7,000 French or Spanish sailors were killed or wounded. Losses on the British side numbered some 700; but among them was Nelson himself. Arguably the Navy’s greatest hero, whose tactics and leadership had brought the glorious victory that cemented British mastery of the seas for the next 100 years, Nelson had been shot as he paced the quarterdeck of his flagship, HMS Victory, early in the battle by a sniper from the rigging of the French ship, Redoubtable. Such was Nelson’s fame at the time, created by his dashing victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, that rejoicing in Britain at the news of Trafalgar came to be overshadowed by sadness at his death. Since then, ‘Trafalgar’ and ‘Nelson’ have become largely inseparable. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY! ALL THE BEST FOR 2006 FROM Your 2005 Executive ACTON FREE PRESS DECEMBER 1899 7 December 1899 CREWSON'S CORNERS: James Ramshaw has been building a new paint shop in connection with his blacksmith shop. Three rail cars wrecked here on Thursday morning on GTR. A load of furniture from Eatons was reduced to kindling wood, however the sheep escaped without a scratch. GEORGETOWN: Electric lighting for residences is growing more popular. ACTON: Crescents Lacrosse team invite everyone to Town Hall Friday night for an "At Home'. The entertainment will include the latest concertograph. James Clark, miller of Acton has left to lease well-known Haynes Mill in Cheltenham. He was on municipal Council for two years. The facade of the new leather warehouse being erected by Messrs Beardmore & Co. at the GTR station, presents quite an imposing edifice. 14 December, 1899 GEORGETOWN: A.G.H. Luxton has been honoured as President of Western Hockey League. Local president is E. B. Nicklin. Election of reeveship will probably be between Reeve Kennedy and Frank J. Barber. ACTON: Mr. A. T. Brown, president and Dr. Forster, convenor of the Literary Committee, entertained members of the Epworth League Reading Circle in Matthews Hall last evening. Tuesdays terrific gale blew down one of the electric lamps on Mill Street. A meteor of exceptional brilliance crossed the heavens last Wednesday evening. 21 December 1899 CREWSON'S CORNERS: Mr. Wm Bryers of Acton preached in Methodist Church last Sabbath. Mr. Wansborough honoured for service as organist and choir leader for Methodist Church. BALLINAFAD: Policeman Shortill of London is spending a couple of weeks at home. Come and see our large store since it is finished. Mr. Bett is a hustler. Mr. Graham, teacher will leave this week, to be replaced by Miss McKinnon of Hillsburg. LIMEHOUSE: We take pleasure in complimenting Mr. McDermid on the way he decorated his store window for Christmas. ACTON: The Commercial Hotel was thrown into confusion late Sunday evening when Miss Mabel Thompson, a maid, swallowed a large pin. Drs. Macdonald and Forster were called, but could not remove it. She was taken to Guelph General Hospital on a freight train, but on the operating table was seized by a violent coughing spell and brought it up. A long series of Christmas entertainments will be inaugurated in the town hall this evening by St. Alban's Sunday School. A smash up at Rockwood delayed the Tuesday evening trains two or three hours . Postmaster- General Mulock was amongst passengers delayed at Acton. He was entertained to supper by landlord Clark at the Campbell House. 28 December 1899 CREWSON'S CORNERS: Many went to ball at Eden Mills on Christmas night. BALLINAFAD: Hunters and dogs are out but report game rather scarce. GEORGETOWN: Ministerial Association meeting held at home of Mr. Crawford on 18th. GLEN WILLIAMS: A shooting match was held here Christmas afternoon. STEWARTTOWN: Reeve Stewart entertained council to dinner at Hill's hotel on 15th. 1 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter