Shillum Farm Pond
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Photographs
- Description
- Two photographs of the kids enjoying the newly built Shillum farm pond in 1954/1955. Click on "Pages" "Select" to see the 2nd image.
Rose and Robert Shillum bought the 100 acre dairy farm on the Back Concession (now 3133 Burnhamthorpe Rd. West), Palermo, from Fred Edwards and moved their family from Toronto in 1950. Their farm was called Rosemar Farms.
In 1953, neighbour David (D.A.) Wendover, who ran a contracting and excavation business, dug a new pond and new well on the Shillum farm. (See other records in this collection with photographs and information about the Shillum farm pond and well, and other area construction work by the Wendover business.)
The farm had clean water systems in place, but they weren't sufficient for the Shillum family of five. Wayne provides detailed information in his book of the set-up prior to this 1953 work.
This pond was just west of the house in the front west field. You can still see the shape of the pond near the road. It was to provide household water, barn water and for swimming and skating.
After the spring run-off in 1954, the pond was over 70 feet across, 350+ feet long and 12-15 feet deep at the south end which had the spillway to control the pond size and keep the water fresh. On the north end, the depth was a few inches.
The family added an old Department of Highways truck for storage and changing clothes. Campfires were popular, and a large deck was built in front of the old truck for the tent and lawn chairs. A diving board was added to the deep end of the pond and in the photographs here, you can see the active boys "riding" on fence post logs. As you can imagine, knocking each other off the log was a favourite game.
There were many visitors, neighbours, friends and family to enjoy the pond amenities. The family added a badminton court, horse shoe pit, putting green and barbecue pit.
Many happy days and nights were spent by all, in all seasons. - Notes
- Shillum, Wayne E. The Farmboy in 1950's Palermo Ontario. Publisher: WES Marketing, cJanuary 2018. ISBN 1987978064, 9781987978063 (Available from Amazon.ca)
- Personal Name(s)
- Robert Henry Shillum, called Bob, April 19, 1915-March 1999 ; Rose Violet Shillum, called Rose, March 14, 1914-April 1998 ; Sons: Robert Lloyd Shillum, called Bob, August 29, 1938-October 3, 1993 ; Wayne Edward Shillum, b. March 12, 1944 ; Brian David Shillum, b.October 6, 1947.
- Local identifier
- TTWES000734
- Collection
- Trafalgar Township Historical Society
- Geographic Coverage
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.4663102388327 Longitude: -79.8110824658203
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- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Shillum Farm Pond
- Contact
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Trafalgar Township Historical Society Sponsor: Jeff Knoll, Local & Regional Councillor for Oakville Ward 5 – Town of Oakville/Regional Municipality of Halton
