July 25, 2003 Lots of Heritage Events this Summer

There are lots of exciting heritage related events scheduled throughout the Community Voices area and most are well advertised. In this column I will look specifically at events with a heritage or history component. Depending on your interests, location, stamina and available time, there is something for everyone.

The North Bay Heritage Festival August 1-4 with its Air Show and various heritage displays is the event of the year in North Bay and is well worth a visit. Watch the Nugget for details. Call 1-800-465-1882 or log on to www.heritagefestival.com

The Mattawa Voyageur Days started yesterday and runs through Sunday. Besides great music and other events it includes a tour of the Holden Dam, a lumberjack competition and the Mattawa River Canoe Race, etc. A trip to the improved Mattawa Museum and Explorer's Point is a treat. Call 1-800-267-4222 or www.voyageurdays.com.

The 8th Annual Algonquin Park Loggers Day tomorrow, Saturday July 26, 2003 10-3pm is an event I have attended several times and will attend again this year selling heritage books with my son. The 1.2km outdoor museum has all the main artifacts of the old logging days, including an alligator, steam engine, blacksmith shop and bunkhouse. A loggers' lunch is available in the bunkhouse. Each station on the walk is manned by volunteers who know about their artifact. 

The Wakami Wailers will be singing their shanty songs. The Wailers will also have an evening of rollicking song celebrating 150 years of white pine logging at the outdoor theatre the next day at 7pm. The museum is 54.5km inside the West Gate of the Park, the Outdoor Theatre 35.4 and the Information Centre with its museum, art display, bookstore, restaurant and observation tower is at 43km.

As mentioned in my recent column on Brent in Algonquin Park, there is a Heritage Day there Saturday, August 23. Look for the Brent turnoff sign 37km east of Mattawa on Hwy 17 just before Deux Rivieres.

The Callander Bay Heritage Museum on Lansdowne Street in Callander recently named its addition to the Dr. Allan Dafoe House the Alex Dufresne Gallery. Mr. Dufresne was the early driving force behind the Museum and donated numerous artifacts including his barbershop equipment. The Gallery features a new show of remarkable photgraphs of the James Cagney film Captains of the Clouds shot at Trout Lake and 3 Dionne Quint films. Copies of the films will be available for viewing. Contact Curator Carol Prelly at 705-752-2882.

The Nipissing Museum on Highway 634 in Nipissing Village captures the history of the area in an old 1882 log building and 2 other buildings, one of which was just recently opened. They have an unique collection of family histories. Their Annual Heritage Day, now called the Bessie Gill Heritage Day will be held Sunday August 16. It is a collectors display day. For further information call Curator Joe Steele at 705-724-2938. The other Nipissing Museum, the Commanda General Store on Hwy 522 has various events including a Quilt Show August 16-17. Call 705-724-2144 for information.

The South River Festival of the Arts has lots of our cultural heritage from August 8-16. Call 705-386-1956 for a brochure or log on to southriverarts.onlink.ca.

Sundridge has its 15th Annual Car Show on Sunday August 17th with dozens of cars to view and talk about. Mark Thanksgiving down for Argyle's Homecoming with great heritage events. Call Karen Moore at 757-2724 for information. Cobalt is celebrating 10 years since the discovery of silver on July 31-Aug 3 and Chapleau has a Nature Festival showcasing their cultural heritage July 23-27. Stop at Marten River Provincial Park and have a look at their logging village and at Latchford look for their House of Memories and their logging museum.. Temagami's Fire Tower is a great experience and the old Train Station Museum is an interesting stop.

The Burks' Falls Museum housed in an old schoolhouse is hosting a Grand School Reunion of former teachers and students August 9. The Museum is on Hwy 520 west of Burks' Falls.

Last but not least is Powassan's History Alive Day on Saturday July 26th at the Clark House Museum. There will be demonstrations, music, vendors, and a flea Market. Call Mary at 724-2601 for information. 

A unique aspect of the History Alive event is a contest to identify the people in a recently discovered poem listing various Powassan personalities in the early 1940's. Because of its interesting format, parts of the poem are shown below. The contest involves identifying things referred to in the poem, and some history books will be the prizes. 

The poem was written by Gladys Cox, and found in her papers. Her parents were Majordee Cox and Mable Finch of Powassan. She married Glen Cameron and had six children including Mason and Russell who live in Powassan. After her first husband died, she married Eddie Rich. A boulder on the mountain east of Powassan has an M.Cox inscription and it is believed to be the work of Majordee Cox.

My Revery Gladys Cox Cameron Rich (1917-1988)

"While getting…ready for bed, rambling thoughts go through my head And so to hurry and jot them down, of people in Powassan Town. L.F. busy with his notorial seal, Harry Merner oiling up his reel, Mr. Monteith is a man of leisure, Miss McKinnon says t'would be easier If all the pupils did their work, like Wilson Sheilds at Toswell's doth clerk. Insurance agents are Vic and Frank; McLean's heels go clickety clank. Sharky and Ev are Hydro men, both on the hockey team with Ben."

"We have not here a Dalton or Bolton, but we have dear Harry Holton. The boat upset. Ed Clark never sank. W.T. Hamilton manages the Bank."

"E.J. teaches a very large class, Lechlitner fills your car with gas. Herman and Aubrey fix the stiffs, Barney is busy making skiffs."

An example of the questions asked is "What is E.J.'s last name? A question not asked is "What do Holton and Ed Clark have to do with an upset boat, and why didn't Clark sink?" Do you know the answer?

Copies of the complete poem and the questionnaire are available at the Museum Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1-5pm, and at the Town Office on Main Street during office hours. Contest ends August 9.