Appin Cemetery Commemoration July 28, 2024
As part of an annual commemoration of area cemeteries, Glencoe & District Historical Society (G&DHS) organized a presentation and community walk at the Appin Cemetery. Prayers, dedications, singing, and community conversation were key parts of the afternoon.
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Film industry pros sweat the possibility that many digital files will eventually become unusable — an archival tragedy reminiscent of the celluloid era.
Martin Scorsese: “The preservation of every art form is fundamental.”
For the movie business, these are valuable studio assets — to use one example, the MGM Library (roughly 4,000 film titles including the James Bond franchise and 17,000 series episodes) is worth an estimated $3.4 billion to Amazon — but there’s a misconception that digital files are safe forever. In fact, files end up corrupted, data is improperly transferred, hard drives fail, formats change, work simply vanishes. “It’s a silent fire,” says Linda Tadic, CEO of Digital Bedrock, an archiving servicer that works with studios and indie producers. “We find issues with every single show or film that we try to preserve.” So, what exactly has gone missing? “I could tell you stories — but I can’t, because of confidentiality.”
Specialists across the space don’t publicly speak about specific lost works, citing confidentiality issues. So, only disquieting rumors circulate — along with rare, heart-stopping lore that breaches public consciousness. One infamous example: In 1998, a Pixar employee accidentally typed a fatal command function, instructing the computer system to delete Toy Story 2, which was then almost complete. Luckily, a supervising technical director who’d been working from home (she’d just had a baby) had a 2-week-old backup file.
Experts note that indie filmmakers, operating under constrained financial circumstances, are most at risk of seeing their art disappear. “You have an entire era of cinema that’s in severe danger of being lost,” contends screenwriter Larry Karaszewski, a board member of the National Film Preservation Foundation. His cohort on the board, historian Leonard Maltin, notes that this era could suffer the same fate as has befallen so many silent pictures and midcentury B movies. “Those films were not attended to at the time — not archived properly because they weren’t the products of major studios,” he says.
Excerpt from:
BY GARY BAUM, CAROLYN GIARDINA. MARCH 15, 2024
Can you imagine digitising the Mona Lisa painting and destroying the original? The Magna Carta? The British North America Act? 1798 Act of Parliament to create London District? The answer to maintaining records is not paper or digital – it is both!
Committee To Establish a Middlesex County Archives
Marie Williams: An impressive crowd gathered for the “Haunts of Peter McArthur” road trip Sunday afternoon, June 16, starting out at what was the McArthur homestead on McArthur Rd. before moving onto the Eddie Cemetery on Glendon Dr. and finally back to the Archives in Glencoe. Two plaques were unveiled along the way as McArthur trivia and memories were shared. Both young and more established fans of the works of the “Sage of Ekfrid,” family members and historians enjoyed the afternoon which was organized by the Glencoe and District Historical Society. The Society is marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Peter McArthur in 2024. See photos on Facebook Post.
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Marie Williams, Glencoe: The huge crowd that packed into the Glencoe and District Historical Society Archives on February 22 proved that the “Sage of Ekfrid” is as popular today as he was over 100 years ago. In addition to 30 viewing online, over 50 turned up in person.
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Date & Venue: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, at the Archives, 178 McKellar Street, Glencoe.
Attendance: A solid turnout of 30 members, with all executives present except President Ken Beecroft.
Opening: Vice President Mary Simpson initiated the meeting at 7:00 PM, welcoming members old and new.
Remembrance: A moment of silence was observed for the late Lorne Munro, a member for 20 years.
Business as Usual: The minutes from the previous year’s AGM were approved without issue, and discussions moved smoothly to current matters.
Financial Health: Treasurer Marilyn McCallum presented a detailed financial report and budget for the upcoming year, which were both accepted unanimously.
Membership Milestone: Harold Carruthers announced a record membership count, reflecting the society’s ongoing relevance.
Engaging Programs: Program Director Mary Simpson introduced upcoming events, including a talk by local author C.J. Fredericks.
Election Excitement: Nominations for the new executive team were made and approved smoothly.
Dynamic Presentations: Members shared updates on various projects, showcasing the society’s diverse activities.
Closing: The meeting concluded at 8:50 PM, setting the stage for the incoming executive team.
Read moreDate & Venue: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, at the Archives, 178 McKellar Street, Glencoe.
Attendance: A solid turnout of 30 members, with all executives present except President Ken Beecroft.
Opening: Vice President Mary Simpson initiated the meeting at 7:00 PM, welcoming members old and new.
Remembrance: A moment of silence was observed for the late Lorne Munro, a member for 20 years.
Business as Usual: The minutes from the previous year’s AGM were approved without issue, and discussions moved smoothly to current matters.
Financial Health: Treasurer Marilyn McCallum presented a detailed financial report and budget for the upcoming year, which were both accepted unanimously.
Membership Milestone: Harold Carruthers announced a record membership count, (over 80 members) reflecting the society’s ongoing relevance.
Engaging Programs: Program Director Mary Simpson introduced upcoming events, including a talk by local author C.J. Fredericks.
Election Excitement: Nominations for the new executive team were made and approved smoothly.
Dynamic Presentations: Members shared updates on various projects, showcasing the society’s diverse activities.
Wendy Simms Bestward reported on the Simpson Descendants genealogy work.
Denise Corneil reported on the alliance formed by Glencoe & District Historical Society, Creative Communities, barnquilttrails.ca, the Chippewa of the Thames cultural group, and EXAR Studios to build a story telling app to enhance the Barn Quilt Trails, a grassroots arts movement.
Harold Carruthers noted the 100th anniversary of the death of “The Sage of Ekfrid” Peter McArthur. There will be an interesting event on Father’s Day, June 16th at 1:00 p.m.
Norm McGill conducted a Show and Tell in which 8 people participated.
Closing: The meeting concluded at 8:50 PM, setting the stage for the incoming executive team.
Looking Ahead: With new leadership in place, the society is poised for another productive year.
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Lorne Munro – I became interested in historical events in the 1970s. My interest grew after attending the 25th Anniversary banquet of the Glencoe & District Historical Society at the Glencoe Legion in 2003. We presently have eight family genealogy books in our home that I manage and update. Ancestry.ca has been a great help and I correspond with family members to gather information.
During my tenure as President in 2018, the Society’s collection moved from our rooms on Main Street to the old library at 178 McKellar Street, Glencoe. I have served as secretary, first vice president, president (a couple of times). I’m slowing down now, just working on Wednesday afternoons in The Archives and enjoying any other projects that come along.
Peacefully at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital , Strathroy on Monday, March 18, 2024 William “Lorne” Munro passed away in his 91st year. Predeceased by his wife Phyllis (2023). Dear father to Janice and Tom McCallum, Susan Sinclair and Steve Schneider and Cheryl and Roy Neves. Cherished Grandpa to Matt and Becky, Kimberly and Paul, Adam and Kirissa, Andrew and Reilly, John and Stacey, Scott and Mandy, Jacob, Emily and Brandon. Great-Grandpa to Isabelle, Josephine and Elliott. Lorne will be missed by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Neil and Florence Munro, his sister Anna and his brother Keith. Link to Photos reel
Read moreThe Glencoe & District Historical Society is thrilled to launch a speaker series that delves into the captivating world of prehistory, sparked by the remarkable discovery of a mastodon tooth in our very own community.
Read moreBy Dylan Grubb, Appin, ON
The sense of community is one of the best aspects of living in a small town. Amongst these many things that gives Appin this feeling is the community gardens. Inspired by the World War II victory gardens used to help provide produce to towns and cities in Canada, the project started early in the spring of 2023.
Read moreThanks to CTV for doing a piece on the importance of building a Middlesex County Archives. CTV London’s Marek Sutherland reports: TV news item here
Read moreBy Lelah Bell Lumley, 1975
Lelah’s book about Woodgreen is uploaded to the Internet Archive: press here
This history was written by Lelah Bell Lumley in 1975 about her neighbourhood S.S. No. 3 School District, Mosa Township, Middlesex County, Province of Ontario, Canada.
Read moreThe most southwest of Middlesex County’s townships, Mosa Township was initially part of a much larger parcel of land including parts of Kent and Lambton Counties. Surveyor Mahlon Burwell indicated that there was some confusion regarding the naming of the township, first designated as township D and then briefly as Aragon. Finally, the name Mosa, a derivative of the Spanish word Musa (muse). However the Lieutenant Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland decided to name the township Mosa, after the Maas river.
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Glenn’s talk on YouTube – give it a listen
Glenn Stott tells about 33 years of troubles that took place in Biddulph Township and Lucan Ontario region in Upper Canada from 1847 to 1880 and ended with the murder of five members of the Donnelly family.
Read moreDecember 4, 2023
Archivists Respond to Conflict in Israel and Gaza
The Board of Directors of the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) is heartbroken at the violence in Israel and Gaza. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in the region over recent months and express our immense grief for any of our members who are affected or have lost family members or friends.
Read moreBy Ken Beecroft – President G & DHS
The Glencoe & District Historical Society expresses appreciation to Middlesex County Tourism and the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex for recognizing the importance of our heritage and ensuring that our community and visitors are reminded of our past.
Presented by Larry Cornelis
Glencoe, ON. October 17, 2023. A good crowd, both in person and online, took in the first meeting of the fall for the Glencoe and District Historical Society on Tuesday evening, October 17. Guest speaker for the evening, Larry Cornelis, took guests on a journey from the time that this area was covered by an ice shield.
Over the centuries, after being a tundra, the area became part of a boreal forest. Some 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, deciduous forests and savannas developed. It was an open landscape, maintained by the First Nations population through fire and by the herbivores that roamed freely. Native land care influenced forest development until the Spaniards arrived in the 1490s-1500s, bringing disease that travelled rampantly across North America. At that point, there were an estimated 30-million people on the continent.
However, 90 per cent of the population was depleted by the time the French and English arrived, which resulted in forest and old growth cover. Pioneers settled in the early 1800s, by which time there was a deep dark forest which they assumed was always there.
By 1860, 65 per cent of local forests were gone and, by 1910, up to 90 per cent of forests were depleted. Cornelis lamented about the hardship to wildlife due to the loss of forest cover and habitat. Referring to the various blights which are defoliating trees, he noted that once we lose something, it’s very hard to get it back. He ended his presentation sharing his amazement and tips in regard to the Carolinian Forest zone.
Refreshments were served as Cornelis autographed copies of his book, “Trees, Forests and Nature in Southwestern Ontario.”
Report by Marie Williams
Larry was born in Sarnia Ontario but spent most of his years at the family farm north of Wallaceburg along the North Sydenham River where his love of nature developed. Larry is a certified Horticulturist, Conservationist and Naturalist. He has been involved with local nature and conservation organizations for 35 years including Lambton Wildlife, The Sydenham Field Naturalists, Ontario Nativescapes and Ontario Nature to name a few.
Wardsville Volunteer Infantry Company Formed as #6 Company on January 6, 1983
To find out the details, click here for a download of Ken’s Paper or read on:
After Confederation 1867, the Province of Ontario (Canada West) was under British governance. Due to fears of what would happen after the American Civil War (1861-1865), the British authorities formed volunteer militia companies in hundreds of communities across Ontario, including our own.
The British authorities were concerned about a secret society of Irish patriots who had emigrated from Ireland to the United States with the intent of ending British rule by taking Canada by force and exchanging it with Britain for Irish independence. This secret revolutionary organization was founded on St. Patrick’s Day in 1857, by James Stephens in Dublin, Ireland. It was called the Fenian Brotherhood.
It is fascinating to imagine local kitchen table discussions about the Irish “terrorists” . Only our ancestors didn’t just talk about local politics at the coffee shop. They obeyed orders, formed militias and showed up.
On 3 Jan 1863, Wardsville volunteers formed independent militia company No. 6 within the 26th Middlesex Battalion headquartered in London. It was commanded by James T. Ward.
In early 1866, with tensions very high and Fenian attacks were anticipated along the St. Clair River. The Wardsville company was dispatched on March 8th to the Sarnia area and the local men “went under canvass” in full readiness to meet the enemy — in March .
But the Fenians didn’t show up. Instead, the Fenians attempted to invade Canada at Campobello Island at the Maine, US / New Brunswick border. It was a complete disaster.
The British authorities relaxed, but the clever Fenians took heart and re-organized an invasion across the Niagara River. They captured the undefended town of Fort Erie and its railway and telegraph terminals. The revolutionaries arrested the Town Council, Customs and border officials before cutting outgoing telegraph lines so help could not be summoned.
Presentation by Ken Willis 15 Jan 2020
It was a damp day July 15, 2023 for this year’s Tartan Days but people were coming and going at 8:00 p.m. at the Archives. It was a festive atmosphere all day long until things wound down after 3:00 p.m. At 1:00 p.m. Mayor Allan Mayhew and Deputy Mayor Mike Sholdice opened up proceedings attended by 43 people.
A short history of the following was shared by members of G&DHS:
200 years since Ekfrid Township were incorporated (1821) – Marilyn McCallum
200 years since Mosa Township was incorporated – Ken Willis
170 years since early days of Dundonald (Glencoe) building homes and businesses along the rail line (1853) – Harold Carruthers
125 years since the Glencoe Town Hall was built (1898) and the cornerstone was laid.
150 years since the Incorporation of the Town of Glencoe in 1873. – Harold Carruthers
45 years since the Glencoe & District Historical Society was established in 1978. – Lorne Munro
Also: 100 years since the Glencoe Library was built by the Carnegie Foundation (1923).
60 years since Quad County school and Mosa Central School opened at Pratt Siding (1963)
Harold Carruthers showed the time capsule that is being prepared, similar to what was recovered from the cornerstone of the old Glencoe Town Hall when it was demolished in the early 1960s. It’s been 125 years since the Glencoe Town Hall was built (1898) and the cornerstone was laid. If you have any ideas what should be included, let us know.
Funny coincidence: next month at The Blyth Festival Theatre, a new play called the Chronicles of Sarnia is premiering and starring our very own Mark Crawford, actor and playwright. Check it out: here is the plot:
Chronicles Of Sarnia
WORLD PREMIERE. Written by Matt Murray; Directed by Miles Potter
Passionate, retired history teacher Erin has convinced the City of Sarnia to create a 100-year time capsule for future generations to open. She organizes a town-wide meeting for community input, with a replica of the capsule itself, ready to momentously unveil.
But in spite of homemade Nanaimo bars, only her husband, a department store employee, and a young woman who is there for… complicated reasons, show up. Oh, and the janitor.
Refusing to reschedule, Erin, undaunted, takes this tiny group in hand and sets about distilling the essence of, well, of Sarnia.
Wonderful event held at the Appin Park. Forty people enjoyed the new community garden, congratulating the local team who have built the raised beds, set up a watering system, and nurtured the plants. Many thanks to our elected municipal leaders for taking the time to attend.
The highlight of the evening was listening to the stories regaled by Bonnie Sitter and Shirleyan English about the farmerettes, the teenagers that harvested Ontario crops from about 1942 – 1952.
Thank you Bonnie and Shirleyann. You have documented a wonderful part of agricultural history that otherwise would have been lost.
Learn more about the Farmerettes in Ontario:
Bonnie Sitter, “Farmerettes in Ontario” in Harrowsmith. February 2021.
And here’s some links to the buzz created by the release of Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes. (2019). by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter
Bonnie Sitter, “Farmerettes: Get Out on the Farm” in The Rural Voice. June, 2018.
Bonnie Sitter, “Farmerettes in Ontario” in Harrowsmith. 2020.
Bonnie Sitter, “Farmerettes in Ontario” in Harrowsmith. February 2021.
