GHS - Newsletter
March 2009 Issue #57
The Heritage Month of February is over and despite the provincial decree of Family Day, Monday,
February 16 as a holiday, there were many heritage events in our area.. Mount Hope resident,
historian, writer, editor, archaeologist and GHS member, Stewart Leslie, was doubly honoured in February.
At a Heritage Day awards ceremony on Saturday, February 14, Stewart received the first annual Rev. T. Melville Bailey Heritage Award. This award (as warranted under the criteria) is in recognition of
lifetime achievements and significant contributions in the promotion and preservation of Hamilton’s history and heritage. It was very appropriate that the award was presented by Mel’s daughter, January
Will.
Last summer, Stewart was nominated by the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee for a Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award was presented by
Lieutenant-Governor David Onley at a Queen’s Park ceremony on Friday, February 20,2009.
Two prestigious awards to a most deserving recipient.
There were other heritage events in February with Glanbrook interest. At a heritage building
recognition event in Dundas, Binbrook Memorial Hall was one of six heritage properties recognized
by the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee. Councillor Dave Mitchell accepted the certificate
of designation of the hall from Mayor Fred Eisenberger. (The hall is featured prominently on
the front page of the HMHC 2008 annual report.)
The February monthly meeting of the Society had a “show-and-tell” theme as members brought out their family historical treasures. As usual, the items were far-ranging and varied. Angus has the
Ptolemy family tree going back to Queen Cleopatra’s time of 69 BC. (There are a few centuries of names missing, however!!) Olivia Newport, our youngest member, showed her great-grandfather’s WW I medals and souvenirs, with a few mementos from WW II. Rowena Jeffreys showed a Smith family photo from the 1930's
featuring over two hundred Smith descendants. One of the more interesting items was a “cowpoke.”
It’s not what you first think, no horse and rider, but a weird-looking neck yoke contraption that was placed on a cow’s neck to keep it from getting through a fence. Our thanks to Al Rumbles for this unique piece.
The following is part of a message that we received from the Ontario Genealogical Society and we pass it on for GHS members’ information:
On 19th February 2009, Bill 149, Inactive Cemeteries Protection Act, 2009 passed first reading in the Ontario Legislature. The bill, introduced by Mr. Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry, prohibits the relocation of inactive cemeteries despite anything to the contrary in
another Act or regulation dealing with cemeteries. The preamble to the Act states: “Ontario’s cemeteries are unique repositories of human history and the resting places of human remains and associated
artifacts like grave markers, tombstones and monuments. They are important elements of our collective heritage, a priceless authentic historical record of the past and witnesses to the continuity of life in Ontario. Many of Ontario's cemeteries also contain significant ecological features invaluable to the natural heritage of Ontario.” Anyone who wishes to support the bill is reminded to contact their provincial MPP and make their support known.
Two local cemeteries that may be affected are Smith, at Ryckman’s Corners and Salem, Glancaster Road.
In 1984, an inventory of heritage buildings was completed and the results, including photographs,
were catalogued and placed in fourteen binders. For the past two years, an update has been
undertaken and a number of revisions done. Two major improvements were placing the photos in
archival plastic sleeves and the re-arrangement of properties by street and house number. The
former lot and concession listing was found to be not user-friendly, especially to those from “away.”
There have been demolitions and additions in the past twenty-five years and the process is always
on-going. In the coming months, there will be a need for volunteers to physically check municipal
addresses against the listings contained in the database for more updates. The good news is that
there are only about 475 properties. (The city-wide total is over 6,700!)
Ross Martin has an original manuscript from the early 1970's when the booklet “They Scattered
the Seed - Early History of Binbrook Township” was printed in 1967. We’re helping Ross find an
appropriate permanent home for these papers and if anyone has suggestions for placement, let us
know.
A recent trolling of the internet resulted in finding “History and Heritage of Binbrook”
available on line for reading. We didn’t take time to check out the ability to print pages but
this was a project started a few years ago by two universities, Laval and Calgary. They co-operated,
along with government help, to put on line, historical books that are now out of print. Nothing yet on Glanford. The site is www.ourroots.ca
Upcoming Events:
Monday, March 16, 6:00 PM Annual meeting and potluck supper at St. Paul’s Glanford Anglican church, 2869 Hwy. 6, Mount Hope. Dinner at 6, business meeting to follow.
Monday, April 20, 7:30 PM Monthly meeting at Orchard Court, Binbrook. Maria Fortunato, Tourism Hamilton, is the speaker.
Monday, May 11, 7:30 PM Monthly meeting at St. Paul’s Glanford Anglican church, 2869 Hwy. 6, Mount Hope. Meghan House, cultural heritage planner, Hamilton, will talk about heritage designation.
Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, 9-5 both days Antiques open house, featuring IHC farm
equipment and heritage memorabilia, hosted by Larry Smith. Location is 6136 White Church Road,
just east of Case United church.