MABEL BEHARRIELL, right, points out a scene from the past in one of the paintings by Gabriela Bittner for Clerk Sandra Tonelli, centre, and Councillor Dorothy Funk.
Quilt, paintings depict history
DEAN LAKE — A 1932 signature quilt and four paintings depicting the Dean Lake setting in the early 1900's are on display with an 1897 map of Dean Lake subdivision in the Township of Thompson Hall.
The quilt was made in the early 1930's by the Ladies Aid of the United Church in Iron Bridge, which included the Dean Lake Church.
Names were written on for ten cents each and tickets on the finished project sold for ten cents, or three for 25 cents. The draw was won by Mrs. Bertha Metcalfe of Wheatley, a cousin of Wilbur Wright, of Sault Ste. Marie.
She gave the quilt to Mr. Wright, realizing it would mean more to someone in this area. He is a former Dean Lake resident. Mr. Wright has loaned it to the township for display.
Area resident Mabel Beharriell had no trouble locating her name and that of her late husband Burns when she examined the signatures.
Gabriela Bittner, a neighbour of Mrs. Beharriell, created four two by three-foot paintings of Dean Lake as it was in the early part of the century. She studied old photographs of the Beharriells' and put Mrs. Beharriell's memories of the community on canvas.
"The colours, designs, and locations of the buildings in the paintings are almost i-dentical to the real ones," Mrs. Beharriell said. Few people realize Dean Lake was once a budding community with general store, lumber business,	school,
church, and railroad station.
The quilt and pictorial maps, along with a map of the Dean Lake subdivision dated 1897 were all on display at a township picnic held Labour Day weekend. The highlight of the picnic was the unveiling of a plaque at the township park, dedicating the park to the memory of Clifford (Burns) Beharriell.
The dedication commemorates over 30 years of service and public participation in the Township of Thompson.
The plaque states Mr. Beharriell, "by his own generous contribution, made possible the establishment of the township park at Lake Huron."
Mr. Beharriell made a request to the Ministry of Natural Resources in Blind River. With local donated labour the site was cleared, and the Iron Bridge Lions Club donated funds for materials for tables, which Mr. Beharriell built and painted in the workshop.
A boat launch, change houses, privies, and swings have all been added to the park for the enjoyment of the residents.
Mr. Beharriell was born and raised at Dean Lake, where his parents operated a general store, which included a post office. Mr. Beharriell and his wife, Mabel, owned a trucking business.
MP Maurice Foster and MPP Bud Wildman joined the residents for the unveiling of the plaque at the park and then everyone gathered at the Haaksman barn for a picnic.
Over 70 people from across the North Shore and Sault Ste. Marie enjoyed the day.
The display is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
S A M. Pollock