ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.esquesinghistoricalsociety.ca HISTORY OF POSTCARDS ? The first postcards appeared around 1869 in Austria, proposed by Dr. Emanuel Herrmann. They were government issued and were meant for brief communications. The idea was that they would be cheaper than mailing letters. European Countries quickly adopted them. ? Not until 1893 did the US also begin issuing Postal Cards. Privately (non government) printed cards in US were charged a higher standard mailing rate; where government issued cards had the luxury of the cheaper rates. These government cards were called "Postal Cards" because the postage was printed right on the card. The Private cards needed to have postage paid for and affixed, therefore were more costly to mail. ? In 1898 the Private Mailing Card Act eliminated the difference in private cards and government issue cards. Though writing was not allowed on the address side or back of these cards. The term "Postcard" was not allowed until December 24, 1901 to private printers. ? From 1902-1907 Undivided Back postcards were most common. The back or address side was limited to only the address. Any message or greeting had to be on the front. Also very popular were Real Photo cards. (These Real Photo type were common during many later Postcard Eras as well.) ? March 1, 1907 divided back postcards were permitted. This allowed messages to be written on the address side. An easy way to date cards is by looking at EHS p11612 the type, and where writing was. ? The most prolific and inventive years of postcard design were from 1902-18, this period is commonly referred to as "The Golden Age", but the last two decades have seen a huge revival in postcard publishing. ? Prior to World War 1 many postcards were printed in Germany. Up to that time, Germans led the world in postcard production. They used a lithography processes to create images of photographic quality. This German industry never recovered after the war. ? After World War 1 and up until around 1930, the demand for postcards was still great. With the loss of a major source from Germany, the US and England had to make up the difference by printing their own cards. As the US built up its postcard printing abilities, the White Border card appeared as a cost saving measure. The American postcard industry was new, inexperienced and had high labour costs. This extra white space on the front of cards saved ink, and gave senders more room for messages. These cards were usually mass produced and of inferior quality. ? As processes became better and or cheaper, a Linen type card was developed. This allowed cheaper inks, and different paper that had a cloth like finish. These lasted until after World War II when the Kodachrome film process was perfected. They are very common. ? Today, the Chrome process of reproduction is the most popular type. It is very much like processing photographs, thus allowing colour real pictures, and just about anything else you can imagine on postcards! ehs11204 Join the Esquesing Historical Society as we present Dennis Blake when he shares his postcard collection on November 12th at Knox Church in ACTON. Posh: A Special English Spaniel By Frank Cleave (Leading Seaman for 54 months of duty during WWII specializing in submarine detection), 2002. During WWII on the Canadian Corvette HMCS Weyburn, we had a special member of the crew: an English Spaniel named Posh. 'Posh' was the nickname that we gave to any crewman that had the easiest chores aboard our ship, and the dog Posh certainly suited his name. Posh was a dog belonging to Pamela Golby, the daughter of Lieutenant Commander Thomas Golby. Pamela felt that when her father went to sea that he should have company. Posh was two years old at that time, and he was treated well. He slept in the Chief and Petty Officer's mess, he ate with them, and had free roam of the entire ship. Somehow he always knew when the canteen was open for business and always managed to secure a treat for himself. He did wonders for the men's morale, and in fact, became the ship's mascot. The Weyburn's travels included a patrol off of Halifax, Rhode Island, Quebec City, Gaspé, and on 15 September 1942 we headed overseas for Liverpool, UK then to North Africa including Tunisia and Algeria. Whenever we saw any action, the ship's alarms would go off, and Posh would run frantically about the ship, stirring everyone to action, and then would head to the wheelhouse. After the war, whenever the Golby's phone would ring, Posh continued the same practice! Posh was more than just company for the men. He kept the boat free of rats. And one time when we were at the port of Gibraltar, we were tied up beside a British ship, one that had a monkey as a mascot. The monkey and the dog never got along, and then one day the monkey vanished. The Canadians aboard the Weyburn never did tell the Brits who won the skirmish, but only Posh knew what real monkey business transpired! As most of us know, England has severe restrictions about the entry of a dog onto her shores (a 6-month quarantine was in effect until recent years). But during times of war, strange things can happen. On a leave while in England, Golby brought Posh ashore, hidden away in a flour sack! The Weyburn was sunk when it hit a mine while on convoy duty in the Mediterranean, and many of the people were injured. I suffered from a broken jaw and was taken to a hospital in Gibraltar. Posh was thrown overboard and into a Carley float when we were sinking, and the oil …Story concluded on Page Nine….. ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 12 Nov. 2008 Dec. Wed. 14 Jan. 2009 Wed. 11 Feb 2009 Postcard Detective – Dennis Blake of Acton has collected local postcard images that have messages on the back. He digs into local history to find out who the sender was, sometimes even finding matching photographs! He will share his sleuthing results with the Society. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main & Knox Streets, Acton, 7:30 p.m. The EHS does not meet in December. History of the Lorne Scots Regiment – Rev. Dr. Rick Ruggle will share his latest publication with interesting vignettes on the long history of the Lorne Scots Regiment, which serves both Halton and Peel Counties. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main & Church St., Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Cruise Night – Hop into our 1960 Edsel Villager Wagon, sit back and enjoy a cruise through our photos of Acton and Georgetown in the 1960s. Don’t worry we’ll stop at the Dog and Suds for a bite to eat! Let’s hope gas doesn’t climb higher than 31cents a gallon! This trip will be preceded by our AGM. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main & Church St., Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. 2008 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 EHS NEWSLETTER John Mark Rowe prepared this newsletter with assistance from Karen Hunter and Dawn Livingstone. Submissions welcome. You may opt to receive your newsletter sent electronically to an e-mail address you provide. MEMBERSHIP Our 2008 paid memberships stands at 119. The individual membership rate is $10. The family or institution rate is $12. Cheques payable to the Society can be mailed to our post box. Membership runs until February, but we are now accepting renewals for 2009. Marj Allen, membership secretary, will accept your 2009 fee at the meetings. ARCHIVES Our slide collection, which included photographs taken with slide film, has now been integrated into our photo collection. It resides in the 18000s. Karen Hunter has been working on the Acton Free Press negatives. There are thousands to do. She has made over 3,000 entries so far. They are organized chronologically according to publication date of the newspaper. This will make them easier to locate. Whenever a print or scan copy of the negatives is made, it will receive a photo number. We are still pursuing the project to microfilm the Georgetown Leader newspaper from the 1960s. Mark Rowe met a descendant of Rev. Ezra Adams of Acton in September. Mike Adams is a resident of British Columbia. Mark Rowe presented the history of leathertown to a packed room at the Acton branch of the Halton Hills Libraries. Researchers on the executive of the Society have been inundated with enquiries over the past two months. Most are related to family history. Millie McNiven has contributed a paper mill staff photograph, complete with names. STREWARTTOWN BOOK SOLD OUT! The 1992 spiral-bound publication A History of St. John’s Anglican Church, Stewarttown, Ontario… by Lucy E. Emslie is now officially sold out and out-of-print. The misleading title hid the wealth of local history and lore about the settlement of the village once dubbed “the capital of Esquesing”. The Georgetown branch of the library has a copy in the reference section. ARCHIVES OF ONTARIO 77 Grenville Street, Toronto 416-327-1600 www.archives.gov.on.ca A new facility is under construction! The Archives of Ontario is proud to unveil its newest online exhibit! The Promotion of Healthy Living in Ontario is the latest on-line exhibition. The Archives of Ontario has many holdings that detail the activities of the government agencies that have been involved in the promotion of healthy living in the province. This exhibit highlights the increasing sophistication of health promotion in Ontario, with many campaigns borrowing techniques from advertising, public relations, and market research to influence people’s behaviour. HALTON-PEEL OGS Four Corners Branch Library, 65 Queen St., Brampton @ 2p.m. Call Ann Logan at 905-845-7755 Nov 23: Brian Gilchrist,  Region of Peel Archives -Using Education Records in Genealogical Research. 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 Norm Potts at 905.858.0070. BRAMPTON HIST. SOCIETY The Society meets at Heart Lake Presbyterian Church, 25 Ruth Ave. at 7:15 Nov. 20 –Russell Prouse will speak on 60 years a Bramptonian. 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. Nov. 20 - “In Flanders Fields: The Life and Times of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae” with Ken Irvine. MHS Christmas Pot Luck Dinner, Celebrating the P. L. Robertson Centennial in Milton. December 4, 2008 6:30 p.m. at Hugh Foster Hall. NASAGIWEYA HIST. SOCIETY The Nasagiweya Historical Society meets the second Tuesday of each month at Nassagaweya Presbyterian Church in Haltonville at 7 p.m. President Audrey Allison 905-854-2378 OAKVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 04 November An evening with Mike Filey 05 December Members’ Wine & Cheese For further information visit www.oakvillehistory.org and click on EVENTS or  phone 905-844-2695 TRAFALGAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY To finish off the year we will be having a Christmas social and then our annual General Meeting in February. Christmas Social on Sunday December 7th from 1-4pm at the Palermo School House on Dundas just East of Bronte Rd. Ross Wark - “Bits & Pieces from Here & There in Trafalgar!” GLEN WILLIAMS HISTORICAL PHOTOS On Thursday 20 November, the Annual General Meeting of the Glen Williams Town Hall will feature village photos displayed by a local collector. Hall president and local historian Mark Rowe will present a slide show entitled, “Faces of the Glen: Past & Present” The meeting begins at 7:30 at the Glen Hall. NEW ACTON CHURCH The Crossings Community Church has been holding Sunday services at 6 Mill Street, Acton. The Church is a branch of the Erin Village Alliance Church. Their home is the former Manny’s Road House which started life as the Roxy Theatre. It is being renovated and will provide a coffee shop at the street entrance. FORMER EHS MEMBER DIES Mrs. Christine Bishop died peacefully on Sunday October 12, 2008 at the Bennett Health Care Centre, Georgetown. Christine (nee Leslie) was in her 87th year, loved wife of the late C.G. "Bud" Bishop. She was the mother of Catherine and her husband Barry Conroy, Leslie and his wife Wendy, Karen and her husband Rick Hunter, Robert and his wife Bernice, Claire Bishop and John and his wife Ruthann. LIFETIME HERITAGE AWARD After a recommendation from Heritage Halton Hills, Mayor Rick Bonnette presented the Ontario Heritage Foundation Lifetime Heritage Award to Eric Connolly. Mr. Connolly has been active in heritage preservation since 1987. He served on LACAC, precursor to heritage Halton Hills and was the co-founder of the Heritage Foundation of Halton Hills. NEW BOOKS REVIEWED IN OHS BULLETIN Capital In Flames: The American Attack on York, 1813 by Robert Malcomson This brilliant, beautifully designed book challenges the reader to reconsider everything you knew about the American invasion of Upper Canada’s capital in April 1813! … The review is by Chris and Pat Raible. Yo Ho The Esquesing house that gold built! Last year the EHS corresponded with Chip Martin from London, Ontario about the estate built by his uncle Ernie Martin. Some of his correspondence is edited below. He sent us the colour postcard of the place from about 1940. Ernie Martin came from England about 1900 and worked on some farms in Ontario and seems to have migrated to Northern Ontario by about 1908 or so. In 1912 he discovered gold with Harry Oakes, at Lake Shore Mine, which became Canada's richest gold mine. My uncle had about 100,000 shares and by the mid-30s was worth about $13 million. He had mansions at Terra Cotta and also in Goshen Indiana and at Hollywood Florida. By the way, if you are not family with Harry Oakes, he was knighted, moved to the Bahamas and was murdered there. His death is still unsolved and two books have been written about that. Apparently my uncle was one of the few people on the face of earth that Oakes trusted. Uncle Ernie purchased the property, being Lot 29, Concession 10, Esquesing, in 1932 and built his country house. The rocks are from Kirkland Lake where Ernie made his millions in gold. The walls are two feet thick and Ernie hired Scottish stone masons to build it. Ernie sold it in 1944. We have some old 16mm family film of this place with much panning around of the ponds which were apparently stocked with fish. My father remembered visiting this place on many occasions but could never find it again before he died, as far as I know. Ernie had some divorce and gold-digger problems and died in Oregon. I think he sold Yo Ho to buy a ranch in Nevada. He died in 1949 and his estate totalled only a bit more than $10,000. He is buried in a simple grave in Goshen. The downturn in gold because of the booming war economy and his costly divorces were to blame to for his final circumstances. He also built a beautiful home near Maple for the family of his brother, my grandfather, Sidney, a poor United Church minister. My father's family had to give it up by about 1944 as ill-health forced my grandfather into Toronto. That home has since been destroyed but I have several photos of it. Do any of our readers have a story we can share with Mr. Martin? Please pass them on to Mark Rowe. This information will be added to the EHS Archives. 50th Anniversaries in Education Three Georgetown Schools celebrated fifty years of service to the community this Autumn. The date of the celebration begins each story. HOLY CROSS – 17 October 2008 After much discussion, the Board decided to purchase an eleven acre site just behind Wrigglesworth Public School, overlooking Maple Avenue and owned by Jack Tost. William Moffat of Cox and Moffat Architects from Toronto, was engaged to draw and sketch the plans for the proposed eight room school. Alex Contracting Ltd. From Armstrong Avenue, successfully bid for the site preparation work for the new Separate School project. W.J. Lee Construction Ltd. from Lorne Park, tendered to complete the building for the opening of the school year, in September. On September 2, 1958, Holy Cross School, Georgetown(s new Roman Catholic School, opened its doors for the first term. Thomas J. Fitzmaurice from Silvercreek, was its first principal. The five teacher staff of Mrs. A.J. Norris, Bobbie Kelly, Clare Merlo, Lydia Kizlyk and Elaine Lycett provided for the instruction of over 200 students from kindergarten to grade eight. Lou Egerton assumed janitorial functions. Most Reverend Joseph F. Ryan, Bishop of Hamilton, officially opened the new eight classroom school on October 17, 1958. (Information from 25 Year History of Holy Cross School, 1983) STEWARTTOWN – 25 October 2008 Although Stewarttown had a school since 1841, the 1853 building was closed in 1958 when the number of students exceeded the capacity of the old one room school. The school’s current building was opened for classes in 1958 and was expanded to a senior school in 1967, accommodating students in Grades 6-8 from Pineview, Limehouse and Joseph Gibbons. PARK – 8 November 2008 The original school was built in 1958 (278 pupils) but was not ready for students until November 10th. When construction began on Park School, the original site was over towards Harold Street. They started to lay the blocks but soon learned that the land was not firm. They had built on quicksand! - and the foundation began to sink. The site was moved to the current location, which caused a delay. Until the building was completed, students had to share Chapel St. School, each school attending morning or afternoon only. To move supplies from Chapel to Park, the Board hired a truck ($50.00) for Harold Catlin (principal) and some pupils to do the moving (on a Saturday). When the classroom furniture arrived, the total Board turned out to help Harold load and set up the classrooms (again on a Saturday). The first full year of operation was 1958-1959. The official opening was November 19, 1959 by Beatrice Hume. (Information from story by Janet Steringa at par.hdsb.ca/history ) POSH… continued from page 3 …sitting on the water affected him. He was treated by vets for 3 days for a skin irritation caused by the oil, and during all of the time of his recovery a notice was posted at the men's hospital with Posh's condition to keep morale up. On the way to the west coast of Canada in 1943 the men topped off in Toronto for a show at Massey Hall. Posh naturally went too. The show was in support of War Bonds. One of the men with whom Posh had a special relationship went to the side of the stage and called to Posh. Posh eagerly trotted across the stage, stopping at centre stage to take a look around. At that point, someone cleverly said "Buy War Bonds" and Posh had his moment in the limelight! Although Lieutenant Commander Thomas Golby went down with his ship, after 1943 Posh traveled via train back to his home on Vancouver Island. ? CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS How about an autograph book or a new dress? A brass candle holder has been A movie pass is always welcome! popular here since 1819! Naturally, we recommend our latest publications, available for $24.95. Member discount available! 1 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter