ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.esquesinghistoricalsociety.ca Lawn Bowlers Held Delightful Meeting Georgetown Herald, Wednesday Evening, September 28th, 1938 – Page 1 On Monday evening the Georgetown Lawn Bowling Club was the setting for one of the most delightful evenings enjoyed by members this season, when the gentlemen’s section entertained the lady members. Perfect weather conditions attended the occasion and eight rinks participated in the competitions for which three prizes were awarded, the winners being Mrs. McKenzie, Mrs. Kaiser and Miss Lyla Kennedy. Immediately following the games the ladies were escorted to tables elaborately spread with good things to eat in the club house, where the surroundings had been made attractive by decorations and even a radio provided for the enjoyment, which reflected the thought and work the gentlemen had given to the preparations for the event. After the gentlemen had graciously served the ladies, the President, Mr. Richardson, expressed, on behalf of the gentlemen’s club, the pleasure they had derived from thus entertaining the ladies and praised them for their support to which the ladies’ President, Mrs. McKenzie, replied, assuring the men’s division of continued assistance. The gentlemen then presented the three winners with beautiful prizes and at the same time every lady received a lovely favour. Miss May Langan drew the lucky number prize and Mr. Elmer Thompson, the club’s untiring secretary, was made the recipient of a gift as a gesture of appreciation of all the work he so cheerfully attends to in the interests of the Bowling Club. Mrs. McKenzie was asked to accept a gorgeous bouquet of flowers as a mark of recognition of her competence as president. Mr. Bell and Mr. Faram spoke of the possibilities of the club for the year and outlined plans for next year which promise worthwhile results. Mr. John Kennedy one of the oldest bowlers, referred to the value of bowling as a link of understanding and good fellowship and urged for a continuance of the present splendid co-operation and harmony. Vice-president Mrs. Cleave and Miss Lyla Kennedy moved the vote of appreciation of work involved in planning decorations and refreshments, and with the singing of Auld Lang Syne the members dispersed feeling that the Men’s efforts had been crowned with complete success. ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 12 Sept. 2007 Wed. 10 Oct. 2007 Wed. 14 November 2007 December Wed. 9 January 2008 Georgetown Lawn Bowling Centenary – Bob Marshall, President of the Georgetown club will lead the Society on a walk to the Lawn Bowling Club on Edith Street for a short tour and a walk back to Knox Church to hear the story of lawn bowling in Georgetown over the past 100 years. Meet Knox Church at 7:00 p.m for the walk. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Acton Photographers - Professional portraits became the rage in the later half of the 19th century and early 20th century. Join us as we explore the resident professional photographers of Acton by name, reputation and by viewing samples of their work from our Archives. Speakers will include Kay Dills on her grandfather A. T. Brown. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Acton, 7:30 p.m. Eyes in the Back of their Head! – The EHS presents a humorous look back in time to teaching in Ontario. Florence Reihl will share some of her personal experiences as a teacher which was not unlike many teachers of the time. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. There will be no public meeting in December. Sesquicentennial of Roman Catholicism in Acton and Georgetown – Local historian John Mark Rowe will explore the early development of Catholicism in Esquesing area after a tour of the L’Eglise Sacré Coeur. SACRE COEUR CHURCH, Guelph Street, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. 2007-8 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. Beginning in September 2007, your copy of the EHS Newsletter can be sent electronically to an e-mail address you provide. There will be no extra charge for the service. MEMBERSHIP Our 2007 paid memberships stands at 112. 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 2007 fee at the meetings. Our membership year runs from February. ARCHIVES The EHS did not apply for a student this year because of changed regulations. It was the first time in many years that we did not provide summer employment. Volunteers spent some time this summer on the photograph collection adding new ones or describing ones already listed. John Sommer has donated many photographs which are being processed. Mac Sprowl dropped 150 family photographs off to be scanned. They will be added to the collection electronically, but the originals will remain in his family. ARCHIVES OF ONTARIO 77 Grenville Street, Toronto 416-327-1600 www.archives.gov.on.ca HALTON-PEEL OGS Chinguacousy Branch Library, Lower Level, 150 Central Park Drive, Bramalea. Call Betty Cameron at 905-792-0907 Genealogical Research in Quebec by Gary Schroder on 27 May, 2007 @2:00 p.m. 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 Sat. Oct. 20 is the bus trip to Dundurn Castle. Oct. 18 Mark Rowe will speak on the Grand Trunk Railway. 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. Sept. 20 is the AGM Oct. 20 is the Milton Historic Church tour from 1 to 4 p.m. OAKVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Admission Free * Donations Welcome For information about the Oakville Historical Society and the collection, please telephone (905) 844-2695. Sunday 30 Sept. @1-4p.m: Harvest Festival, Thomas House, Lakeside Park. Oct.17 @ 7:30: Oakville Heritage Committee: Panel discussion with Harry Barrett & friends. Knox Presbyterian Church, 89 Dunn Street. 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 Eli Daigle 905-854-2628 LIMEHOUSE KILN SOCIETY Annual General Meeting is at Limehouse Hall at 10 a.m. on October 20th. There will be a draw for a painting by Gale Verhaegen. NEW BOOK HAS ARCHIVE PHOTOS A complementary copy of The Last Stand, A Journey Through the Ancient Cliff-Face Forest of the Niagara Escarpment, by Peter E. Kelly & Douglas W. Larson, has been sent to EHS. Two pictures from the Archives are in the book, one of Limehouse and one of a cut stone quarry. Peter Kelly asked for permission to use our pictures last year.  It's a very nice book. It has lots of interesting photos of the ancient cedars on the escarpment. It is amazing just how old some of these trees are! $39.95, softcover, from Natural Heritage Books, The Dundurn Group. NEW BOOK ON GRAND RIVER Paddling the Grand River An all new, all colour guide to paddling the Grand. Indispensable trip information includes brand new and easier to read maps, detailed aerial photos of dams & their portages, details and Lat/Lon coordinates of favourite river access points, listing of outfitters, camping and everything you'll need to plan your journey down the Grand. Softcover, perfect bound, 96 pages. BK 116 - $19.95 It can be ordered on-line at http://www.grandriver.ca/Store CAROLINIAN FORESTS The July/August edition of Grand Actions newsletter has an article about the work of David Morris of Brantford in preserving the shrinking Carolinian forests of southwestern Ontario. Carolinian forests take up only one quarter of one percent of Canada’s land, but hold half of the rare and endangered species of plants and animals in this country. The article describes these forests as the land of the flowering dogwood, sassafras, hickory and tulip trees. VOLUNTEER TYPIST WANTED If you are looking for a way to help your community and particularly the Esquesing Historical Society, the Archives is looking for someone to retype in MS Word, the earliest entries of our photo index shelf list. The original computerized lists were lost, many extra notes have been added to existing lists and water damage occurred to many pages. Please contact Mark Rowe, Archivist if you have a computer, MS Word and the time to work away at this project. There is no strict deadline. CREDITVIEW BOWSTRING BRIDGE The Heritage Canada Foundation and the Brampton Chapter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario are pleased to announce that the Creditview Bowstring Bridge Restoration Project in Brampton is a recipient of a 2007 HCF Achievement Award. Constructed in the 1930s over the Credit River, the Bowstring Bridge is one of only two remaining bowstring truss style bridges in Brampton and the only one that remains part of the public road system. In 2002, the City faced the dilemma of either closing the concrete bridge, which had fallen into disrepair, or restoring it. The bridge was designed a year later and more than $700,000 invested in its restoration and repair. Improvements were necessary to address concerns regarding its structural integrity and safety and to meet current bridge standards. The work included altering the deck to provide one lane of traffic, construction of a guiderail system at the approaches, and barrier railings. Now restored to its former beauty, the bridge is one of the focal points of Creditview Road, a road the city has listed as a cultural heritage landscape. -CHOnews, June 2007 MABLE LIVINGSTONE PASSES In her 96th year, Mable (Sparling) Livingstone passed away 19 July 2007. She is survived by sons Donald (Mary) and Jack (Dawn), by grandchildren Scott (Evelyn), Brian (Leslie), Wendy (David), Michael (Susie), David, and by 10 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by husband Albert in 1957 and sister Ina in 1982. A celebration of Mable's life was held in Knox Presbyterian Church, on August 2nd. Mable was a long-time member and supporter of the Esquesing Historical Society. TERRA COTTA HALL GETS $$$ The Terra Cotta Community Hall received $100 000 from the Trillium Foundation towards a new kitchen, a basement and wheelchair accessibility. The hall is a designated heritage building in the Town of Caledon. The grant will preserve the building, constructed in 1862, for generations to come and serve as a venue for community events and meetings. LIMEHOUSE CELEBRATES 150! Tom Bentley provided the attached photographs of celebrations in Limehouse village on 25 August 2007. It was a wonderful day in spite of the threatening weather. On Sabbath last the communion was dispensed in the Free Church [Presbyterian], Acton. The Church and temperance hall were crowded by attentive audiences. Rev. Mr. McLachlin preached in English in the church and Rev. John McTavish of Beaverton in Gaelic in the hall. -The Halton Journal, 17 July, 1857 LEFT: Anglican Bishop Ralph Spence dedicated the Anglican Pioneer Cemetery on 10 June 2007. The Norval Community Association erected the plaque with funding from the Trillium Foundation. BELOW: Proudly flanking the new plaque in the St. Paul’s Church pioneer cemetery are Norma Tripp, Joyce Hutton, Bishop Ralph Spence and Archdeacon Peter Moore of the Diocese of Niagara. RECORDS FOR St. Paul's Anglican Church (Norval, Ont.) St. Paul's Anglican Church (Norval, Ont.) fonds. -- 1846-1965. -- 13 cm of textual records at McMaster University. It is believed that services may have been held by travelling missionaries in the Norval area as early as 1830. At a Vestry meeting in 1845 it was decided that a church should be built. The meeting was held in the school-house, but the following year the meeting took place in the church, so construction must have taken place during 1845-1846. St. Paul's has been associated with several other churches in the area over the years. Its latest association was with St. Albans (Gen Williams, Ont.) Fonds consists of parish registers containing statistical records, services, Vestry, Women's and Girls Auxiliary minutes. The fonds has been microfilmed on 4 reels, numbered 123, 131-133. PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTON Bauer, Jacob 1905-1914 Hill Brothers 1878 Hill, Charles W. 1879-1885 Hill, James 1875 Matthews, Charles A. 1914-1922 Ramshaw, Henry 1888-1906 Ruby, A.A. 1885-1887 Ruby, Edward 1887 All information from The Ontario Photographers, Glen C. Phillips, Sarnia: 1990 (1851-1900) & London: 1997(1901-1925) EHS Photo 276 taken by Abihu Adam Ruby. Ruby operated in Acton from 1885 to 1887. Unfortunately, we’re also waiting at the farm gate to identify these people. EHS Photo 551 was taken by Henry Ramshaw of two sisters, one of whom became Mrs. Hunter. Mr. Ramshaw operated his business from 1888 until 1906. On the next page is EHS photo 11373. It was taken about 1890 at Ramshaw’s Photograph Gallery. It is Miss Lottie Speight, a school teacher in Acton. CARE OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS Practicing the following recommendations will assist in the preservation of historic photographs. 1. MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE & RELATIVE HUMIDITY. Controlling temperature and humidity levels is one of the most important ways in which we can slow down the deterioration of historic photographs. High humidity (above 60%) encourages mould to grow and metal bases to corrode. It may also soften the emulsion causing photographs to become sticky. Excess moisture due to high humidity will combine with excess chemicals in the print causing it to fade to a sepia shade, and eventually to fade completely away. Extreme heat (above 24°C) from direct sun, incandescent lights and heat sources causes emulsions to dry, crack and flake off. It also causes paper bases to shrink, become brittle and break. The most practical conditions for the preservation of photographs are a humidity of less than 50% and a temperature below 21°C. Most importantly, avoid rapid and extreme changes in humidity and temperature as this may eventually cause the layers of a photograph to separate. Photographs should not be displayed or stored in basements, attics, over fireplaces, on outside walls, near washrooms, or kitchens, as all of these areas are prone to unsafe humidity and temperature levels, or frequent changes in these levels. 2. MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO LIGHT. Exposure to any light has the potential to damage photographs. Direct sunlight and unfiltered fluorescent light are the most damaging due to their high ultraviolet content. Light, and particularly ultraviolet radiation, will cause the paper of photographs to yellow and become brittle, it will also cause some types of photographs to fade. Photographs should be kept in the dark when not in use. If displaying them, ensure that the light level is dim. 3. AVOID CONTACT WITH HARMFUL MATERIALS. Photographs are damaged by the fumes and vapours emitted from many materials. Photos should never come into direct contact with the following materials: common paper envelopes; bare wood; cardboard; cheap matt board; adhesives; rubber; newsprint; "magnetic" albums; and plastics of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). As well, photos should not be stored around cleaning supplies, insecticides and fresh paint. All of these materials release gases and acids which are very damaging to photographs. It is important that only acid-free and inert materials be used in direct contact with historical photographs. The following materials are presently considered "safe" for use around photographs: plastics of polyethylene, polyester (Mylar), and cellulose acetate; unbuffered, acid-free paper and cardboard; 100% rag matt board; glass and coated metal. Original prints and negatives should be kept in individual enclosures of one of the above plastics or papers to protect them from dirt, handling and the damaging gases found in air pollution. 4. PRACTICE SAFE DISPLAY TECHNIQUES. When displaying photographs in an album, use plastic or paper corner clips, not commercial tapes and glues. Ensure that the album is of a good-quality paper, not newsprint or cardboard. If displaying historic photos in their original albums (generally of a heavy, acidic paper), interleaf the pages with a good-quality paper, or place each photo in a polyethylene sleeve and then return it to the album, or better yet, store the original photos separately and place copy prints in the album. When displaying photographs in frames, use a window matt or spacers to prevent direct contact of the photo with the glass. This will prevent damage to the image should condensation ever occur. Don't forget to use ·100% rag matt board rather than the acidic type. 5. MAKE COPY PRINTS OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS. A black & white copy print of a historic photograph will provide a spare copy should the original be faded by deterioration. It is also useful for reference purposes, reducing wear and tear to the original. Ensure that copy prints are made by a reputable company, as an improperly processed print will soon turn yellow/brown and fade. Copy prints and/or negatives should be stored at a separate location to provide a spare copy should an unexpected disaster such as a fire or flood occur. It is important that both copy prints and original photographs be identified. This information should be placed on the back, close to the outer edge, using a soft lead pencil. Never write on the image area, or in the centre of the back. 6. HANDLE WITH CARE. Many damages to historical photographs such as scratches, bends and tears are the results of carelessness and neglect. It is important that photos and negatives be handled by the edges only with clean hands and preferably with cotton gloves. Never touch the image area and never rub. Do not allow food, drinking or smoking around historical photographs. Treat each photo with care, damage is often small, but cumulative. Wellington County Museum & Archives R.R.# l Fergus, ON N1M 2W3 (519)846-0916 A. T. Brown continued the photographic record of Acton into the 20th century as an amateur photographer. He ran a drug store and therefore had access to the chemicals needed to develop pictures. A large collection of his photographs were donated to the Archives of Ontario. 1 Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter