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Trafalgar Township Historical Society "Documenting, celebrating and preserving the agricultural heritage of North Oakville" Fall Newsletter 2011 michelle@tths.ca 905-257-9080 2431 Dundas Street W. Board Report We are very sad to report that a long- time volunteer and former board member Clayton McDuffee passed away on October 26, 2011 at the age of 75. Clayton was always quick to pitch in and help get things done and he will be missed! Our prayers are with his family. We have just submitted our comments to the town regarding some errors in their report regarding the history of ward boundary changes in Oakville. We have been told that the corrections will be made. Several board members and TTHS members provided comments regarding the streetscape plan for Old Bronte Road. We hope to report in more detail on this is the next newsletter. Our annual General Meeting is Tuesday February 28th at 7pm at the school house. Please join us and consider taking on a volunteer role. We are in need of more board members urgently. We really need a few more people who could pitch in. We need people to help with the following... Scan all our documents so we have back-up copies of everything for safety. Co-ordinate renters at the schoolhouse. Write funding proposals Dust & clean monthly Help file and sort everything for the archives Put together the newsletter 4 times a year Assist with organizing the fair & distributing posters Plan a grade 3 curriculum & promote it to the schools. Time To Renew Your Membership for 2012 Don't forget to renew your membership. We count on this income to cover the heating and insurance costs of the schoolhouse. ($25 for individuals & $35 for families) made payable to Trafalgar Twp. Historical Society. Send to Jane Watt, 3089 Jaguar Valley Drive, Apt. B2, Miss. Ont. L5A 2J1 Donations Thank you to Wade Pitman who dropped off the door that used to lead into the west cloak room of the schoolhouse. Unfortunately it is slightly too small for the east cloakroom where we need a door to be able to close off the archives room when we have renters in the main classroom. If anyone can help make this door fit please contact us! Thank you to Charlie Hughes for making a children's play table with a ridge around the outside to hold all our wooden spinning tops and our wooden bowling set. It is a great addition to our collection and the kids who joined us at the fair loved playing with it- as did a few of the adults! If you have some great old toys looking for a home please consider donating them to us. Thank You to Lois Rose for the beaded cape and little girls dress. The dress was her grandmothers and we have a photo of her wearing it. 1 Schoolhouse Speakers Series Tuesday, November 29 at 7pm ­ John McDonald will be joining us. Please bring treats to share for our refreshment table. Tuesday February 28th at 7pm- Annual General meeting Schoolhouse Archives Our October open house was well attended again. We had some nice compliments on the renovations from visitors who have not been by in some time. Our next open houses are March 23 & May 18th. Feel free to drop by and bring something for "show & tell"! The school is open 1:30-3:30 for people to go through our archives, to visit and reminisce. In 1957, the Oakville Loyal Orange Lodge No. 3234 and Bronte Orange Lodge No. 257 celebrated Oakville's Centennial Year with a parade through town as well as a dinner/dance at the Oakville Trafalgar Arena. The TTHS has a copy of the official Souvenir Programme that contains a history of the Orange Order, but no history of the local lodges- including the one at Hornby No. 165. WE would appreciate information, pictures etc. so that we can add material to our archives. Items can be scanned and returned if you wish. TTHS Fall Fair We had 100 people join us for the fall fair and raised $200 with book sales and our BBQ. We had visitors from as far away as England & Spain. Thanks to all our volunteers who chipped in and to our friends Fred Hayward from the Loyalist Association, and Dorothy Kew from Halton Peel OGS and our re-enactor Mavis Wilson. Matthew Wilkinson provided a display from Heritage Mississauga and Anne Choate Little organized all our scanned images so people were able to view them at the schoolhouse. Ross Wark & Irene Saunders provided some great booklets for sale and Ross brought along his photos for sale (including the one pictured here) Charlie Hughes children's play table was a big hit! TTHS Board Meetings Our upcoming board meetings are at the schoolhouse at 3pm on Tuesday December 19th, & Tuesday January 17th. Please let us know if you are interested in attending. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in discussion. michelle@tths.ca Scanning Anne Choate Little has scanned all of the Fred Oliver photos and information that we received from his family. They can be found at http://images.halinet.on.ca/search. Anne reports that we can now avoid all non-TTHS uploads to Halton Images in the OurOntario.ca website by going directly to our own TTHS section at http://images.ourontario.ca/trafalgartownship/search This allows us to search, browse and view only items in the TTHS collection. If you want to retrieve everything we've uploaded, put your cursor in the Search query box, hit the space bar once, and press enter. 2 Queries & Contributions Artist J. Weykamp Mike & Lesley Stott sent us a copy of their painting done by J. Weykamp that we mentioned in the last newsletter. We have given them the leads that you sent in for them to follow up. Trafalgar Post Offices In response to our Trafalgar Post Office Inquiry... We had a Bradley cousin who found the newsletter on-line respond to find out more about their grandparents! We have connected them with Irene. Ruth Blair also shared a link for Post Masters. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/post-offices/001001100.01-e.ph Shain Lynn Kenney wrote to point out an error in our on-line transcription of the names on the petition of 2 Jan 1808. Lynn pointed out that the name we have down as "Edward Sisraim?" is actually the signature of Conrad Schön, whose name was later anglicized to Shain. When he signed the petition, he was writing in his native German gothic script. My husband is descended from Conrad Shain's daughter Elizabeth. I hope my correction helps in your tracing the history of the early Halton County settlers. Sheridan Orchestra I am doing historical research on the village of Sheridan, Ontario, which disappeared when the QEW was built. In the 1940s there was a local musical ensemble called the Sheridan Orchestra that played for church socials and various other community events. I have been searching for a picture of the Sheridan Orchestra, but so far without success. I'd like to ask your readers if anyone might have a photograph of the Orchestra. If so, please get in touch with me at edpbutts@yahoo.com. Heritage Events Around Halton November 27 Halton Peel OGS Brian Gilchrist, Thinking Outside the Box; Four Corners Branch Library, 65 Queen St., Brampton @ 2p.m Esquesing Historical Society -John Wheeler's Glen Williams- John Wheeler captured everyday life around Glen Williams in the early 1900s. Using his printed postcards and some of his never before seen negatives, Karen Hunter has compiled a collection that captures Edwardian life in an industrial village. GLEN WILLIAMS TOWN HALL, Prince Street, GLEN WILLIAMS, 7:30 p.m. Esquesing Historical Society -People of Esquesing, Born Here, Stayed Awhile, or Just Visited Many well-known, famous or important people have passed through Esquesing throughout our history. Join Ray Denny as he reveals his list of interesting people and their claim to fame! KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Main Street, GEORGETOWN, 7:30 p.m. January 11th. February 8th 3 WE HAVE A BACK LOG OF SUBMISSIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER SO I WILL INCLUDE A NUMBER OF THEM THIS TIME..... 1891 Law & Order- Time Capsules from Milton's Past ­ The Canadian Champion Transcribed by Irene Saunders April, 1891 A Bill to enforce attendance at the Public and Separate Schools has been introduced by Hon. Mr. Ross. It provides that all children between eight and fourteen years of age must attend for the full school term unless excused for any of the following: sickness, no school within two miles, no accommodation in such school, or where child is undergoing instruction elsewhere. Children who have passed Constable Fred Oliver's Hand Cuffs entrance examination or who are excused by a justice of the peace by reason of their being urgently required at home are also exempt from compulsory attendance. Constables are required to visit factories to see that children of school age are not employed there. June, 1891 Two writs have been issued against a middle-aged bachelor of Nelson Township, claiming $2000 on each count for alleged seduction and breach of promise. The plaintiff in the seduction suit is J.D.Z. formerly of Nelson, now of Waterdown, and he sues J.H., a farmer of about forty-five years of age, for alleged seduction of his eighteen year old daughter. The daughter, M.P.A.Z., also sues $2000 for breach of promise. The child was born about ten days ago. It is asserted that the defendant asked the girl to marry him and also tried to get the consent of the mother. August, 1891 As there has been no "hard labor" prisoners in jail up until Monday there had been no one to work on the court house square, cutting grass and weeds and cleaning up generally and it was looking untidy; but as soon as Warren, the Ashgrove youth was sentenced on Monday to two months of hard labor, he was set to work. There will be plenty of employment for him until his time is up and the grounds will no doubt soon look the better for his operations. October, 1891 Chief Constable Landsboro' carries a gun and on Sunday night, when on his rounds putting out the street lamps, he shot a small spaniel with it. The dog belonged to Bandmaster Collins who was passing in a buggy and who got out and demanded an explanation from the constable. The latter said that the dog was about to attack him; but the owner of the animal said it was perfectly harmless and never attacked anyone. Whether there will be trouble about the shooting or not remains to be seen. June 1892 The Act, passed at the recent session of the Ontario Legislature to prohibit the sale of tobacco, cigars or cigarettes to persons under eighteen years of age, came into operation on June 1st. The penalty for selling or giving to such persons is not less than $10 or more than $50. Any person actually or apparently 18 years of age found using cigars, cigarettes or tobacco on the streets or in any public place is liable to a fine of from $1 to $5 for each offense. 4 October 1892 Jailer Vanallen reports for the jail year that there were 274 committals to jail during the year, including 273 males and one female. The majority of committed have been vagrants ­ 228. The number of committals for drunkenness was 6 and the number of prisoners under sentence was 30. Halton jail is noted as the best and most economical. Its rate per diem for maintenance and feed of prisoners was 4 8/10 cents while that for Hamilton was 7 7/10 cents and for Kingston 8 cents. June 1893 On Monday night May 15 a valuable horse and buggy were stolen from the farm of John Breckon, Appleby. On the following Wednesday Mr. Breckon consulted with Oakville Chief Sumner and post cards were sent to the police in different quarters. On Saturday last the chief got a telegram from Woodbridge stating that the horse and man were captured. Breckon drove right to Woodbridge that night only to find that he had been cheated by the constable who had neither horse nor man. June 1893 There was some hot skirmishing between the mayor, as chairman of the board of health and the council relating to the Hugh Wilson drain, the mayor giving the council to understand that the board of health had full power and authority to undertake and do what work they saw proper to do on the streets and that the town had to pay the costs. The mayor ordered the constable to arrest one of the councilors from the North Ward for wanting to ask a question referring to a resolution while the mayor wished to address the council. October 1893 About 4 o'clock this morning night watchman Sgt. Thos. Corrie noticed a man with a lantern in Messrs. Hollinrake & Son's general store busily engaged in packing up a varied assortment of ready-made clothing, boots and shoes in a horse blanket. The night watchman awakened Mr. Hollinrake and several other citizens who met in front of the store and divided their ranks so that a the front and rear of the store could be watched and the burglar captured. A gun was procured by the front rank and file and a shot was fired from the opposite side of the street through the window. The rear guard, hearing the discharge of the gun, realized danger from the burglar shooting and made for somewhere else. In the meantime the stranger, finding that things toward the front of the shop were getting too warm, made his exit by the rear of the store, passed through the manse (IOOF Hall) Grounds and deliberately walked down Main Street in view of the full rank and file, who ordered him to throw up his hands and fired another shot at him. He walked on and disappeared through the alleyway on the West of Mr. Wilson's shop and the direction he then took was not ascertained. But acting on his eyesight the night watchman arrested H. Fallis, hostler at the Wallace House, on suspicion, who was liberated on bail. (The night watchman resigned, Alex Maud was appointed and Fallis was later acquitted.) January 1894 A burglar scare. A lady saw a lamp burning in the post office and made up her mind that a burglar was at work. She gave the alarm to a neighbour, who mounted guard and another was sent for Chief Constable Bradley. Nothing was wrong except the burning lamp. "The disgust of the chief constable abd the relief of some of the watchers may be imagined.) January 1894 In view of many disasters in case of panic in public buildings, it is not right that the stairway of our town hall should be left in its present dangerous shape, and that, though a law was passed a good many years ago, requiring under a heavy penalty the doors of public halls to open outwards, those of our town hall open inwards. If the present mantrap of a stairway were removed and a new one built from outside the danger of disaster would be at an end and the seating capacity of the hall which is insufficient would be somewhat increased. 5 February 1894 Detective Murray arrived in Toronto on Saturday evening after a fruitless chase of about 20,000 miles after Chas. Henry Aitken, the Tottenham forger. Murray tracked his man through Peru, Chili and Buenos Aryes, and gave up the chase in the latter country.. He was doubtful he could be extradited Aitken was at one time in the Bank of Hamilton and had charge of the Milton agency for a short time as relieving agent. Then he established himself at Tottenham as a private banker and in that capacity he swindled the Bank of Hamilton of about $50,000 in forged notes. March 1894 Last Friday an able bodied tramp struck Milton and managed to get a pint of pure alcohol somewhere, drank it, and in short time became almost crazy. He made things so lively on Main Street that Chief Constable Bradley was summoned. The tramp did not take kindly at being arrested, but fought like a demon, scratching the chief's face and throat so that they looked decidedly sanguinary. Finding it impossible to get the man to jail while he had the use of his limbs, the chief got a stout rope and lassoed him, wound him up as a Texas cowboy would a refractory steer and dragged him off to Castle Van. Next morning Mayor McCollom fined the tramp $1 and cost, or 30 days in jail, giving him a couple of hours to raise the money, but he disappeared very soon after he left the court and has not been seen since. April 1894 On Friday night Milton was invaded by a detachment of seven from the Canadian army of tramps. Some who saw them lurking in the west end directed Chief Constable Bradley. Chief got assistance of a number of specials and charged on the tramps, whom he located close to the G.T.R. station (Bronte Street) and captured four of them, the other three escaping in the darkness, Nex morning Mayor McCollom sentenced two to twenty days in jail at hard labor and gave the other two ten days each. November 1894 There was considerable excitement created in Brampton by the arrest of Andrew Vanwick one of the most popular young men in town. He was charged with attempting a criminal operation. It is alleged that Vanwick has been keeping company with a young girl at the Royal Hotel, and finding that she was in trouble he wrote a letter to a Dr. Graham in Toronto asking if he would undertake to help the girl out of her trouble. Dr. Graham turned the letter over to Detective Thomas Wasson of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and he lost no time in placing the young man under arrest. Before the trial on Monday, both met in the sheriff's office. Rev. Mr. Pearson married them, the bride cried a little, and the husband's wedding tour consisted of a trip to Police Court, when he was sent up for trial and released on a $2,000 bail. From Ross Wark..... Industry: Trafalgar Township 1862 4 grist mills 2 steam saw mills 16 water saw mills 3 foundries ­ Milton, Palermo, Oakville 1 woolen factory 1 brewery- Oakville 1 Tannery- Oakville Source: R Warnack: A Sketch of Halton County 1862 Religions, Denominations: Trafalgar Township 1840 Church of England 876 Church of Scotland 257 Scot Dissert? 791 Wesley Methodist 1084 Am. Episcopal Methodist 264 Roman Catholic 305 O.D.? 407 (Who can fill in the blanks on the short forms?) Source: Population Returns 1840 6 1817- 1818 TRAFALGAR TOWNSHIP ORIGINAL LAND GRANTS (By Irene Saunders) Name of Locatee Residence Lot Conc Date Issue ID Date 8 18170613 ND 18170610 18180321 18170603 ND 18171022 ND Trans Type L Type Lease/ FG Sale CL Archival Reference RG Series Vol Page 01 C115 007 021 Smith Joseph Trafalgar Deed No. Eastham Thos Deed No. 29 2 S½ 9 2SSDS 8 1 4 8 FG 01 C14 004 105 McMurray Bradshaw York (T) Deed No. Beebe Deborah Louth Deed No. 14 1 FG FF 01 C13 032 017 4 8 FG DUE 01 C13 081 131 Carey John Deed No. Kingston W ½ 9 1 8 18181211 ND 18180610 ND 18180911 ND 18180318 ND 18180226 ND 18180903 ND 18180219 ND FG M 01 C13 124 002 Brock Francis York Deed No. Loring Robert R York Deed No. 10 1 8 FG FF 01 C13 032 032 6 1 8 FG M 01 C13 123 005 Van Koughnet Phillip Cornwall 7 1 Deed No. 8 FG SUE 01 C13 081 143 Whetham Thos Queenston (T) 11 2NDST 8 Deed No. Brooke Daniel York Deed No. 14 3 8 L CR 01 C112 007 015 FG M 01 C13 124 001 Thompson Frederick Grantham 8 3 Deed No. 8 L CL 01 C13 007 018 Middagh Martin Flamborough E 21 3SDS 8 18180508 Deed No. ND Fitzgibbon James York (T) 25 Deed No. Dexter Ira Trafalgar Deed No. 9 2SDS 8 18180416 ND 18180812 ND L L CR 01 C112 007 018 L CL 01 C112 007 017 3SDS 8 CL 01 C112 007 022 7