revised brochure 2015 - Grey County Historical Society

Directors 20152015- 2016
President: Frank Bassingthwaite
Past President: Janet Iles
Vice-President: Marjorie Davison
Secretary: Bonna Rouse
Treasurer: Karin Noble
Cornelia Baines
Wayne Bryant
Kate Russell
Susan Schank
Jody Seeley
Jennifer Simon
538-3661
376-2105
538-3408
372-9897
376-3690
371-2429
538-2558
986-4991
376-7630
538-5974
538-9911
Committee Chairpersons
Audio Visual: Harris Kuhl
Social Media: Susan Schank
Telephone: Paula Niall
Editor: GCH Cornelia Baines
Hospitality: Paula Niall
Library: Kate Russell
Membership: Jennifer Simon
Programming: Jody Seeley
And Jennifer Simon
Publications: Janet Iles
Award Chair: Bonna Rouse
Social Convenor: Styn Furness
Web & Blog Master: Janet Iles
794-2437
376-7630
372-0225
371-2429
372-0225
986-4991
538-9911
538-5974
538-9911
376-2105
372-9897
376-9423
376-2105
Museum Group Members
Grey Roots Museum: Petal Furness 376-3690
Meaford Museum: Jody Seeley
599-3968
Osprey Museum: Debra Mann
922-3051
Bishop House: Donna Sprung
371-3333
South Grey Museum: Kate Russell 924-2843
Library Group Members
Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library
376-6623
Toronto Public Library
416
393-7131
2016
2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Potluck Lunch at 12:00 pm, meeting at 1:30 pm
Markdale
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Durham
Many members of
our Society have
collections of old
photos depicting the
history of Grey
County and its
citizens. These
photos show places,
people, buildings,
events, landmarks etc. all of which are significant to the
history of our area. We invite you to bring a selection of your
favourite old photos to this meeting. You may bring them in
whatever format you wish, album, poster, etc. A brief
description of each photo would be of interest, e.g., name,
place, time, and significance. There will be lots of display
room. Please come with your photos for an enjoyable time of
sharing the past in Grey County.
Coordinator Frank Bassingthwaite 519.538.3661
Location: Cooke’s Presbyterian Church, 14 George St.
Markdale
In 1853 Jacob Kuntz
transported his wife and family
to Canada from Germany. He
brought with him a tradition of
brewing German lager beer
and established a brewery in
the small German speaking
village of Carlsruhe in Bruce County. In his unique will, Jacob
Kuntz left the Lion Brewery to his 18 year old grandson,
David Schwan. Later David and his brother William
expanded the operation to Owen Sound, a bustling, raucous
harbor town overflowing with sailors and dockworkers with
a strong thirst for beer and whiskey. Four generations of the
Schwan family survived in the brewery business even in the
face of temperance movements and prohibition. Guest
speaker Terry Schwan will be talking about the Schwan
Breweries in Carlsruhe and Owen Sound and connections to
other breweries in the area including the Eaton Brewery in
Owen Sound.
Coordinator: Frank Bassingthwaite 519.538.3661
Location: Zion Hall, Knox United Church, Durham
236 Garafraxa St. North, Durham
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.
Meaford Museum
GCHS 49th Annual Dinner
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The Royal Canadian Legion, Owen Sound
The Meaford Museum
was originally built in
1885 as the town’s
water pumping house.
Later it was turned into
the Public Utilities
Offices and finally in
1961, after a sizeable
donation of historical memorabilia was received by the
town, it became the Meaford Museum. Since that time
several renovations, additions and improvements have been
made creating the new Meaford Museum as an interactive
and exciting hub of local history. There have been many
fascinating people who have called Meaford home. Come,
tour the Museum and find about one, John Muir. Learn who
he was, how he relates to Meaford and what legacy he left
our world.
Coordinator: Jody Seeley 519.379.6697
Location: 111 Bayfield St. Meaford
Why were the Polish Soldiers in Owen Sound
in 1941–1942? In 1939, the Nazis overran
Poland on three sides. Poland, the first nation
invaded in WWII, was not prepared to resist a
German Army three times its size. On the 27th
day of the war, out of ammunition, their
country totally bombed and burned, and no
water for five days, Poland surrendered; yet
their men and women continued to resist.
Unconquered in spirit, many men made their
way to France where a Polish Army was reformed. Within a
few months, 92,000 men fought in the Battle of France,
continuing for seven days after the collapse of France. Some
of these brave men then fought in the Battle of Narvik, until
backed up in the fjords of Norway. General Sikorski flew to
London and said to Churchill, “If you will come and get my
men, we will fight for you.” Rescued, an independent army
was formed in Scotland. In 1941, a Recruiting Station and
Army Training Centre was established in Windsor and Owen
Sound.
Lisa Marie Murphy-Gemmill, a history major and researcher
at the UWO, will give a visual presentation entitled, “Poland
Has Not Yet Perished: The story of the Polish Soldiers in
Owen Sound”. Come and hear this little known history and
its affects on the social life of a small Canadian town.
5 pm Social Hour, 6:00 Dinner, 7:30 Guest Speaker
Coordinator: Paula Niall – 519-372-0225
Meetings & Gatherings
June 2015–
2015– 2016
The Grey County Historical Society is an
incorporated, charitable organization that has
been discovering, preserving and disseminating
the history of the County of Grey since 1955.
Our informative speakers series takes place
every 3rd Wednesday monthly except
December and January, or unless otherwise
noted. Nearly all of our meetings are open to
the public. Welcome!
Grey County Historical Society
c/o Grey Roots Museum & Archives
102599 Grey Road 18
Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N6
[email protected]
www.greycountyhs.ca
www.greycountyhs.blogspot.ca
Find us on Facebook
2015
2015
2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Meaford
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Wilcock Farm, Wilcox Lake, Grey Highlands
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Owen Sound
On June 17, 2015, a nostalgic
school bus trip will take you on
a two hour tour of the pioneer
schools and churches still
standing in the former St.
Vincent Township, now part of
the Municipality of Meaford. It
was in June, 1970, 45 years ago, that the one room
schools were locked for the last time. Marjorie Davison, a
former student of Riverside School, and the last teacher at
that school, will lead you on a reminiscent tour through
one of the most scenic parts of the township. Camera
enthusiasts will have a chance to photograph scenes of
beautiful Georgian Bay and the surrounding countryside.
Due to a time restraint, the bus will leave Riverside
Community Centre (7th Line South of Highway 26 ) at 1:00
pm sharp and return at 3:00 pm. To help defray costs, a
$5.00 fee will be imposed on each passenger.
Refreshments and a time of social discourse will be held
in the Community Centre at the end of the excursion.
To ensure that there is space for everyone who wishes to
attend, please contact Marjorie Davison 519-538-3408 or
Frank Bassingthwaite 519-538-3661 before June 17th.
Coordinator: Marjorie Davison 519.538.3408
Location: 157707 7th Line, former St. Vincent Twp.,
Meaford Take 7th Line south from Hwy. 26
(at Earth Power corner)
The Wilcock Farm house was
built of stone in 1892 by
William Wilcock (after whom
the nearby Wilcox Lake is
named). This typical Ontario
Gothic house has a T-shaped
interior not unusual for
farmhouses of the era, but probably necessary for the large
family. The land was originally granted from the Crown in
1852 to Henry Moore, who sold it to W.K. Flesher (who gave
his name to nearby Flesherton). Flesher bought rights and
built an early water plume from the property’s lake access to
local mills in 1892.This provided a source of income likely
supporting the cost of the house construction. Current
owners Matthew and Dai Gaasenbeek have restored the
house to its early glory with period art prints, traditional
décor and a display of their buggy tool collection. Trails on
the property allow nature lovers to enjoy the Audubon
Society award-winning rehabilitated bird habitat.
Coordinator: Kate Russell 519.924.2843
Location:734048 West Back Line, Grey Highlands
Take Grey County Rd. 4 west from Flesherton to the West
Back Line (just before Ceylon) turn south and watch for
driveway on west side of road past the curves)
Bayshore Broadcasting Corporation,
one of Ontario’s fastest growing private
broadcasters, was built around AM 560
CFOS which celebrated its 75th
anniversary on March 1st, 2015.
Originally operating with just 100 watts
at 1470 on the dial, CFOS continues to be the favourite radio
station of the citizens of Grey and Bruce counties. Today the
Owen Sound studios are also home to Mix 106 and Country
93 on the FM dial while Bayshore Broadcasting also has FM
stations in Port Elgin, Goderich, Wasaga Beach and Orillia.
Join us at “the radio station” to hear about the past and
observe how radio works today.
Coordinator: Frank Bassingthwaite 519.538.3661
Location: 270 9th St. East, Owen Sound
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Summer Pot Luck Picnic - 12 Noon
Owen Sound
Massie had its beginnings in the
1840s. By the late 1850s most of the
area farms had been settled. One of
the area’s pioneers, the eponymous
Alexander Massie (to whom Massie
owes its name), developed a mill site
on the Bighead River near its source.
This site is on the southwest corner of the hamlet, at the
crossroads of Sideroad 3 (the Massie Road) and Concession 6
(Veteran’s Road). Alexander purchased 10 acres in 1862 from
William Winter, who owned the 100 acre farm at this corner.
A saw mill was built in 1859 along with the original mill dam.
Then came a flour mill, reputed to be one of the best in the
country, followed by a grist mill. In the early days
community meetings, concerts and teas were held at the
mill. While the mill buildings no longer exist, the scenic mill
pond and dam as well as the wooden water wheel still grace
the hamlet. Community life thrives in the active Massie
United Church (Methodist)-1895 and the original Massie Hall
-1965 (former S.S.S.#11, Holland and Sydenham -1871).
Massie has been described because of its setting in the
Bighead River Valley on a misty day as the “Brigadoon” of
Grey County.
Coodinator: Marjorie Davison 519.538.3408
Location: Massie Hall, Village of Massie
Only members of the GCHS, have
been invited to hold their Annual
Pot Luck Summer Luncheon in a
spacious tent in the garden of
Bishop House. A tour of the
Museum and the viewing of the
film, A Hero to Me, produced by
Billy Bishop’s granddaughter and
film producer, Diana Bishop will follow. The house was
started in 1882 and completed in 1884. The Bishop family
had four children, the third, becoming famous when King
George V, at Buckingham Palace, presented “Billy” with
the Victoria Cross, the DSO and the MC on the same
afternoon in August 1917. The house is now Canada’s first
National Historic Site in Grey County.. It is filled with
artifacts from both World Wars, family furnishings and
personal artifacts and mementos of Billy Bishop and his
family. Coordinator: Paula Niall 519.372.0225
Location: 948 3rd Ave. West, Owen Sound
Central-Westside Church at the corner of 10th St. and 3rd
Ave. West are providing parking for this occasion.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Massie
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 4:00 pm
O.S.C.V.I. Owen Sound
Dave Alexander and Ryan
McManaman, history teachers
at OSCVI, received the
Governor General’s Award for
excellence in Teaching History
in November 2014. These
teachers introduced local
history to their students by
assigning them to research
and study individual former OSCVI students who served and
were killed during the First and Second World Wars. From
this research the students developed “soldier packs” of
digitized information on their assigned soldiers. This
inspiring project found the students taking responsibility for
preserving the memory of local soldiers who died at about
their own age. The teachers and some of their students will
be making a presentation on their special project in the
Theatre Arts Room of OSCVI. This will be followed by a visit to
the Memorial hall and the Heritage room to observe the
projects firsthand.
Coordinator: Wayne Bryant 519.538.2558
Location: OSCVI , 1550 8th St. E. Owen Sound
Board of Directors’ Meetings 20152015-2016
Friday, June 5, 2015—Steven’s Restaurant—5:00 pm
Friday, September 11, 2015 – Frank Bassingthwaite – 7:00 pm
Friday, November 13, 2015– Bonna Rouse – 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 20 . 2016– Marjorie Davison – 12 noon
(Pot Luck)
Friday, April 8, 2016 – Cornelia Baines – 7:00 pm
I would like to become a member of the Grey
County Historical Society
Name _________________________________
Address
___________________________________
___________________________________
Postal Code ________________
Phone _______________________
email _________________________
I would like to receive the electronic
version of the newsletter by e-mail to help the
Society go paperless.
Please enclose an appropriate cheque made
out to “Grey
Grey County Historical Society”
Individual Membership: $25.00,
Couple: $40.00,
Group: $40.00;
Life $500.00 per person.
Mail to:
Grey County Historical Society
c/o Grey Roots Museum & Archives
102599 Grey Road 18
Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N6
To help us plan our meetings, speakers and
outings, what are you interested in learning or
knowing more about?
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