ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.esquesinghistoricalsociety.ca VICTORIA (r. 1837-1901) Queen Victoria maintained a detailed diary, her famous Journal, which is contained in 111 large manuscript volumes. These volumes constitute about a third of the original, as her diaries were edited after her death by her youngest daughter Princess Beatrice, at Queen Victoria's request. The extracts below cover some of the more momentous events of Queen Victoria's reign, from her accession in 1832 to her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. On William IV's death, and her accession aged 18 years: Tuesday, 20 June 1837 at Kensington Palace I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown), and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain) then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my hand, at the same time delivering to me the official announcement of the poor King's demise. The Archbishop then told me that the Queen was desirous that he should come and tell me the details of the last moments of my poor, good Uncle; he said that he had directed his mind to religion, and had died in a perfectly happy, quiet state of mind, and was quite prepared for his death. He added that the King's sufferings at the last were not very great but that there was a good deal of uneasiness. Lord Conyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings of condolence and sorrow to the poor Queen, returned directly to Windsor. I then went to my room and dressed. Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty towards my country; I am very young and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am sure, that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have ... HISTORIC ROYAL SPEECHES AND WRITINGS The British Monarchy web site [http://www.royal.gov.uk] At 9 came Lord Melbourne, whom I saw in my room, and of COURSE quite ALONE as I shall always do all my Ministers. He kissed my hand and I then acquainted him that it had long been my intention to retain him and the rest of the present Ministry at the head of affairs, and that it could not be in better hands than his ... He then read to me the Declaration which I was to read to the Council, which he wrote himself and which is a very fine one. I then talked with him some little longer time after which he left me ... I like him very much and feel confidence in him. He is a very straightforward, honest, clever and good man. I then wrote a letter to the Queen ... At about half past 11 I went downstairs and held a Council in the red saloon. I went in of course quite alone, and remained seated the whole time. My two Uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland (who now succeeded William IV as King of Hanover) and Sussex, and Lord Melbourne conducted me. The declaration, the various forms, the swearing in of the Privy Councillors of which there were a great number present, and the reception of some of the Lords of Council, previous to the Council in an adjacent room (likewise alone) I subjoin here…was not at all nervous and had the satisfaction of hearing that people were satisfied with what I had done and how I had done it. Receiving after this, Audiences of Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, Lord Albemarle (Master of the Horse), and the Archbishop of Canterbury, all in my room and alone. Saw Stockmar (friend and counsellor to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert). Saw Clark, whom I named my Physician ... Saw Ernest Hohenlohe who brought me a kind and very feeling letter from the poor Queen. I feel very much for her, and really feel that the poor good King was always so kind personally to me, that I should be ungrateful were I not to recollect it and feel grieved at his death. The poor Queen is wonderfully composed now, I hear. Wrote my journal. Took my dinner upstairs alone. Went downstairs. Saw Stockmar. At about 20 minutes to 9 came Lord Melbourne and remained till near 10. I had a very important and very comfortable conversation with him ... Went down and said good-night to Mamma etc. Coronation: Thursday, 28 June 1838 I was awoke at four o'clock by the guns in the Park, and could not get much sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people, bands, etc. Got up at 7 feeling strong and well; the Park presented a curious spectacle; crowds of people up to Constitution Hill, soldiers, bands, etc. I dressed, having taken a little breakfast before I dressed, and a little after. At half past 9 I went into the next room dressed exactly in my House of Lords costume ... At 10 I got into the State Coach with the Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Albemarle, and we began our Progress. It was a fine day, and the crowds of people exceeded what I have ever seen; many as there were the day I went to the City, it was HISTORIC ROYAL SPEECHES AND WRITINGS The British Monarchy web site [http://www.royal.gov.uk] nothing - nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects who were assembled in every spot to witness the Procession. Their good humour and excessive loyalty was beyond everything, and I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such a Nation. I was alarmed at times for fear that the people would be crushed and squeezed on account of the tremendous rush and pressure. I reached the Abbey (Westminster) amid deafening cheers at a little after half past 11;... Stayed in the drawing-room till 20 minutes past 11, but remained till 12 o'clock on Mamma's balcony looking at the fireworks in Green Park, which were quite beautiful. HISTORIC ROYAL SPEECHES AND WRITINGS The British Monarchy web site [http://www.royal.gov.uk] 2006 Census – Ensure your Family History is Available! Historians will remember the flap about releasing the 1910 census information because Canadians at the time were told it would remain secret. Luckily for family history and local history searchers, it has been released. This incident however has led to the posing of a question on the 2006 census. Answer YES to ensure your descendants can search for the basic information about what you were doing in 2006. The Census 2006 web site gives the following explanation: ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION 92 YEARS AFTER THE CENSUS Question 53 ensures that each person is given the opportunity to make an informed decision about what happens to their personal census information. Only if a respondent answers Yes to this question, will their 2006 Census information be released in 92 years. Consent to the release of census information allows future generations to better understand Canadian society in 2006. When answering this question, please consult with each person in the household to obtain their views before responding. If their views are not known, the question for that person should be left unanswered. Parents and legal guardians should answer on behalf of children. In the event that a person wishes to change their response or to provide a response where the question was left unanswered, write to the Coordinator, Access to Information and Privacy, Statistics Canada, 120 Parkdale Ave. Ottawa, ON, K1A 0T6. ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 10 May 2006 Queen Victoria Reigns! – Victorian ephemeris and enthusiast, Barbara Rusch will grace the Society with her regal-like persona to enlighten and delight the Society on the Queen of Esquesing and environs! Do deign to join us for a delightful evening in the presence of our Sovereign Lady! Wed. 14 June 2006 Wed. 13 Sept. 2006 Wed. 11 Oct. 2006 Wed. 8 Nov. 2006 KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. A Taste of Glen Williams – Taste Village life at our annual pot luck dinner followed by a walking tour of the Main Street of the village. Author and Archivist Mark Rowe will lead the tour after the dinner. Attend one or both events with your family, a friend or come to make new friends! Pot Luck begins at 6 p.m. GLEN WILLIAMS TOWN HALL, 1 Prince Street, Glen Williams, 7:00 p.m. Grand Trunk Railway – Celebrate 150 years of train service to Georgetown’s 150 year old station! Explore the history of the Grand Trunk line from Norval to Crewson’s Corners. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Georgetown Little Theatre- Gord and Cathy Hunt have prepared a history full of drama, comedy, mystery and mayhem! Join us backstage to find out what happened behind the scenes at the Georgetown Little Theatre. Share their successes and their failures – perhaps you were once a budding thespian who can recall your hour upon the stage! KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Georgetown: Reflections of a Small Town - The latest publication of the EHS will be featured by author John Mark Rowe. A presentation on the Georgetown revealed in the book will be followed by a chance to buy Christmas books and have them signed by the author. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Dec.06 The Society will not hold a meeting this month! 2006 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 NEW WEB ADDRESS! After many years as part of the library web address, the EHS has acquired its own web address which says it all! Just type: www.esquesinghistoricalsociety.ca and you’re connected to our website. Thank you to Sherry Westfahl for arranging this transition. Our original address still works and will transfer you to the new address. EHS NEWSLETTER John Mark Rowe prepared this newsletter with assistance from Karen Hunter and Dawn Livingstone. Submissions welcome. MEMBERSHIP Our 2006 paid memberships stands at 89. We hope to surpass our previous year’s membership of 119! Please renew immediately! 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, will accept your 2006 fee at the meetings. ARCHIVES 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. We have decided to apply for a summer student once again under the government employment program. All applications can be sent to Geoff Cannon at the Georgetown branch of the Halton Hills Public Library. Once approved, the job will be posted on the Canada Employment website. HALTON-PEEL OGS Chinguacousy Branch Library, Lower Level, 150 Central Park Drive, Bramalea. Call Betty Cameron at 905-792-0907 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 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 Admission Free * Donations Welcome For information about the Oakville Historical Society and the collection, please telephone (905) 844-2695. PUBLICATIONS Jan Raymond has decided to take over the book sales portfolio, following the resignation of Carol Wood. Jan will be accepting orders for our new Georgetown publication starting in May 2006. E-mail your inquiries and orders to: bootprint@cogeco.ca Other publications include: * The History of Esquesing by Charles Hildebrandt * Charles Street Inventory, HHH * Bower Avenue Inventory, HHH * Esquesing Rural Inventory, HHH GEORGETOWN HOMECOMING 2007 Friday, Saturday, Sunday July 27- 28 -29 2007 – Georgetown High School! Contact: Chair: David Smallwood 905-877-7466 djsmallwood@sympatico.ca Co-Chair: Neil Cotton cottonneil@hotmail.com Treasurer: Maggie Eby maeby2001@hotmail.com http://www.gtol-georgetown-online.com NEW GEORGETOWN BOOK UNVEILED! John Mark Rowe will launch his latest publication, Georgetown: Reflections of a Small Town on Saturday 17 June 2006 at the Village Festival on Main Street, Georgetown. He will be available to personally sign copies for anyone who would like to purchase their copy on that day. The book will sell for $24.95 and will be tax-free if purchased directly from the EHS. Copies of Rowe’s 2002 publication, Acton: The History of Leathertown will also be available at the same price. Members will get a chance to purchase a copy at the June meeting in Glen Williams. The latest publication for the Esquesing Historical Society will be available to EHS members at the reduced price of $20, as long as you show your membership card! The cover of Georgetown: Reflections of a Small Town shows one particular house behind the delivery wagon. When it was chosen for the cover, EHS executive member Dawn Livingstone asked about the place. No one had a clue. Dawn loved the challenge and recruited Karen Hunter to begin a scavenger hunt of Georgetown. They found several houses which matched this style. Careful sleuthing led the conclusion that the house still stands at #43 John Street, Georgetown. Then Dawn went to work using available records to create a house history. The results of her labours can be found on page 9 of this newsletter. Enjoy the story. If you have any further antedotes about the place, Dawn would love to hear them. Miss Margaret E. Currie, Teacher at SS#11 Glen Williams Miss Currie was engaged to teach the Senior department at Glen Williams’ two-room school house in January 1913. The 1913 register lists 60 students under her tutelage. What follows are summaries from Archival documents  which have recently been processed. 5.01                Letter. June 24, 1921. From M.E. Currie to The Board of Education, S.S. No. 11 Esq. Dear Sirs, With the end of June the time for re-engagement comes again and I respectfully invite your consideration of an increase in salary of $100, making my salary for the ensuing year $1200. I am not forgetful of the fact that there is a drop in wages in other lines of work but the fact remains that Teachers’ salaries were not what they ought to be when wages in other lines were soaring almost daily. Besides there is a great deal of responsibility as well as work in the management of a school of such size. Hoping you may see fit to view my request favourably, I am, yours sincerely, M.E. Currie. 5.02              Statement. Prospective Enrolment for School Year beginning September 01, 1921. Sr. Room – Present enrolment– 43. There are 2 in Entrance Class and there are only 2 more who say they are not coming back. I receive 9 from Miss Wright and 1 newcomer. – 49. There are 3 of whom I am doubtful, though they say they are coming back – 46 at least. Jr. Room – Present enrolment – 49 or 50. Miss Wright – promotes 9 and expects to get a young class of 7 – 47 or 48. Total – 96 or 97. 5.03              List of needed Repairs, 1921. Notes. The top panes of one back window in each room were frosted once but some of the panes have been replaced by new ones and they are not frosted. The morning sun streaming in through the clear pane is often troublesome. The bottom panes of each front window require frosting too. The windows have not been washed for a long time. I think they were not done last summer. There are 3 broken panes, two broken by the caretaker in closing. The other by Thomas Haines and he paid 50 c. as is the rule. The smoke pipe is badly streaked with chimney wash. We have had one broken seat for a long time and if my class runs to 48 or 49 I shall need it badly. The stones in the wall behind the steps into the basement are falling out. We ought to have fastenings of some kind on the windows. 5.04              Letter. July 07, 1921. Board of Trustees, S.S. No. 11, Esquesing to Miss M.E. Currie, Georgetown. Dear Madam:- At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of S.S. No. 11 held at the School House on the evening of July 5th, 1921, your letter of June 24th regarding increase of $100.00 in salary for the coming year was read. After due discussion it was decided unanimously that, on account of the tendency toward lower prices on all commodities and consequently the tendency towards a drop in wages and salaries in all lines, and also considering the fact that we are obliged to spend upwards of $600.00 in painting and repairs, we cannot grant the increase asked for and the undersigned was instructed to write you to this effect. We note what you say in reference to prospective enrollment for year beginning lst September and we thank you for the same. We quite agree that there is considerable responsibility with the management of a school the size of ours and may say that we appreciate your services. We have also gone over the note which you sent us and action is being taken to have the necessary repairs made. We respectively request that you write us at an early date advising whether or not you are willing to re-engage for the coming year at a salary of $1100.00. Yours very truly, Miss Currie resigned in June 1923 as a result of being refused a raise in pay. The 1923 register for her room, the senior room lists 53 students. WALKING TOUR OF GLEN WILLIAMS Local resident, historian, and published author on Glen Williams, John Mark Rowe will lead a walking tour of the village on the evening of June 14th 2006. Members and non-members are welcome to this free event. An optional pot-luck dinner will begin at 6 p.m. at the Glen Williams Town Hall. The walk will begin at the Hall at 7 p.m. A Short History of 43 John Street, Georgetown, Ontario Photo on the cover of Georgetown, Reflections of a Small Town 2006 43 John Street, Georgetown, Ontario as seen about 1912-1914 and in 2006 #43 John Street, stands on a block of 56 acres, that was originally owned by Morris Kennedy, but purchased by John B and Philo W. Dayfoot in 1844.i Although it had two earlier owners,ii it was in September 1888 that this lot #13, and lot #14 to the west, were purchased by James Scott, an employee of the Barber Paper Mill.iii In November 1889, James obtained a $900 mortgage from William McKay, no doubt for the erection of his family home on Lot 13. The vacant lot beside became garden. At the time of the 1911 census, James Scott, age 59, his wife Agnes, age 52, and son Edward J. Scott, age 33, lived in that home. His daughter Bertha was married by that time. The home stayed in the hands of John or his daughter Bertha, until 1945. Since that time it has had several owners. The photograph of the house with the McKay Bros. Grocery Wagon in front must have been taken in the time around 1912-1914.iv The house is a somewhat typical style for that era, and several other homes with variations to that plan still exist in Georgetown. Without a doubt, however, the picture on the cover of the Georgetown book is unquestionably #43 John Street. Many renovations have taken place over the years, although the basic structure and lines of the house are the same in 2006 as when it was built. The tree in the photo still frames a present day picture. In the background, almost hidden by the horse’s muzzle, is the roof of another home. That house is still situated at the end of College Street, and was for many years known as the Spence home.v A small photo of two young people standing at the front door of the house, in the early 1940’s, confirms the gingerbread on the porch, the clapboard siding and the window above the porch.vi Originally the home was covered in narrow clapboard, with a gingerbread trim along the peaks of the roof, around the bay window roof, and along the underside of the porch. The windows in the upper story originally came to a point at the top, but have since been replaced by straight sided rectangular aluminum replacement windows. The open porch has sometime over the years been enclosed, and now has its own exterior door. The tree in the original old photo has grown to maturity, but fortunately still stands healthy. The picket fence in the original photo has long gone. After the death of his wife Agnes, in 1929vii, James Scott lived with his daughter, Bertha, Mrs. J.J. Gibbons, and the house at 43 John Street was rented out. For many years it was the home of George Wesley Lane, his wife Pearl, and daughters Velma and Ethel. There was a shed at the back of the house, at the end of a wooden walkway, converted into a play type shed for children.viii The home in those days had no indoor bathroom, and an outhouse was also situated in the back corner. Photo confirms porch detail The house and the next door lot were sold in 1945, to Alexander Taylor and he and his family lived there for many years. It is thought that it was during this period that the house was covered in the then popular insul brick, and then covered again, many years later, by the pale yellow vinyl siding which remains in 2006.ix The house had a large garden which grew great strawberries. x Around 1958, Lot #14, now 41 John Street, was sold to a Paul Poulsen and his wife. He had a small house brought in from the Toronto area, and erected on the lot.xi Using it as a base, and building all around and over, it became the house that stands today on the site. It is presently owned and occupied by Norm Lockhurst. The home at Lot 13, now #43 John Street, is owned and occupied by Debbie and Bruce Murchison and family. Dawn Livingstone, Esquesing Historical Society, 24 March 2006 References i The Story of Georgetown, by John Mark Benbow Rowe, 1992. ii Names are unreadable on land record document. Microfilm, Abstract Index to Deeds, Books A&B, page 177, Georgetown Library, 23 March, 2006. iii “Georgetown’s Oldest Resident James Scott Died Last Monday.” Obituary of James Scott, Georgetown Herald, 23 October 1946. James Scott was 96. iv Oliver McKay retired from his grocery business in 1914, although the next owner could have carried on using his delivery wagon. v Confirmed by Al Darby, of Australia, 2006, who lived next door to the Lanes and Taylors. vi Photo and information from Velma (Lane) Martin, Georgetown, March 2006. vii Georgetown Herald, August 1929. viii March 2006, Memory of Marie Hulme, Georgetown, who lived next door. ix Doug Marshall, Georgetown, lived across the road, and believes it was Alex Taylor’s grandson who put on the yellow vinyl siding. x Remembrance of Al Darby, of Australia, 2006, who lived next door to the Lanes and Taylors. xi Information from Doug Marshall, Georgetown, who lived across the road for fifty years, and confirmed by Norm Lockhurst, Georgetown, March 2006. ?? ?? ?? ?? 1 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter