February 20, 2004 Footnotes and updates on past articles

Interesting information on topics in past articles often comes to my attention and may be of interest.  The following are 10 such items, each with a reference to the date and index number of the original article on my website. Check www.pastforward.ca and click on Heritage Perspectives where the index appears.  Click on the index number and the article with photos will appear.  If you don’t have a computer drop in to your local library with the information above. 

Black History Month 

We are still in Black History Month and the Buxton Film will be shown again on Feb 22 on Book Television.  In the article of Jan 30, 2004 (#167) I did not identify the gentleman in the photo with Shannon Prince, the Buxton Museum Director.  He is Shannon’s husband Bryan and he has just completed a book on the Underground Railway called I Came As a Stranger.  It will be available February 24^th.  I have a review copy coming and look forward to seeing it. 

Longevity 

As a response to my article last week (#168) on long life I had several centenarians drawn to my attention.  Mabel Pich turned 100 on Jan 30/04.  Someone pointed out that Alice Elizabeth McBeth whose husband was Superintendent at the J.B. Smith Lumber Co. in Callander for many years died recently at the age 105.  Another interesting statistic relative to Emma Johnson who was born in Loring and died last week at age 102 is the fact that she left behind 35 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. 

The Acadians 

The Jan 23^rd (#166) article on the Acadians leads me to mention a beautiful new silver dollar put out by the Royal Canadian Mint (www.mint.ca) celebrating the arrival of the French in 1604. Champlain has recorded how 80 men were left on Ste. Croix island in a bay in New Brunswick over the winter in 1604-05.  When help came in June 1605 there were close to half of them dead from scurvy and the harsh unexpected conditions.  They moved across the Bay of Fundy to Port Royal (Annapolis) and took their shanties with them.  Forensic archaeologists have recently studied the site including the bones of the men and a report will be forthcoming from Parks Canada. 

The Titanic 

In April 2002 (#92) I wrote about the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 with a loss of 1523 lives.  The North Bay Area Museum has a Titanic display from the Royal Ontario Museum on until March 31.  A great visit for the kids during the March Break. 

The Museum held a fascinating $100 a plate fund-raiser on Feb 13 at the Capitol Centre.  The dinner menu was a re-enactment from the Titanic and each guest had the name of a passenger.  A talk, live music and a visit to the display were also featured. 

Tom Thomson 

Speaking of re-enacting an event – the circumstances of the mysterious death of Tom Thomson in 1917 (see #103 & #104) are replayed in a new game.  The Tom Thomson Murder Mystery Game is hot off the press to good reviews.  My preview copy shows eight players, each playing a person connected with the event, gathered at a meeting a few days after his death.  A perfect game for a party of eight at the cottage on a Saturday night. 

The game was designed by Gayle Clemson who grew up at Canoe Lake where the murder (if it was murder) took place.  She has written 2 books on the women of Canoe Lake including Algonquin Voices which won the prestigious Ontario Historical Society’s Alison Prentice Award for the Best Womens’ History in 2002.  Copies of the game and her books as are other books mentioned here are available online at www.pastforward.ca/store or by phone toll free at 1-877-323-6125. 

War Memories 

On October 31, 2003 (#156) I wrote about various memory projects on war veterans including one project by Kim Shergold of Corbeil.  Kim and her husband visited the War Memorabilia display at the Mattawa Museum courtesy of René Lamarche.  They had an informative visit and met the 2 daughters of Silver Cross mother the late Mary Decaire. 

Rita Lysohirka & Valeda Gardener daughters of Silver Cross mother Mary Decaire at the War Memorabilia Display at the Mattawa Museum.  René Lamarche Photo.

Burk’s Falls Art & Crafts Club 

On June 20, 2003 (#139) I wrote about the longstanding and successful Burk’s Falls Art and Crafts Club.  I recently had a chance to join a group of some 50 people to hear a lecture in Burk’s Falls by Liz Trolove on the outstanding Canadian Artist Doris McCarthy.  Liz had several of McCarthy’s paintings on hand.  Liz Trolove tells me that there may be an excursion to Toronto on March 10 to meet Doris McCarthy and view her current exhibition.  For information contact Liz at Shelagh’s at 1-705-382-0320 Burk’s Falls or me at 705-724-6882. 

The group learning about McCarthy then visited the Northern Ontario Art Association Annual Exhibition at The Wooden Roo also in Burk’s Falls.  Several of the members won awards in this juried show. 

The Burk’s Falls Art & Craft Club presentation by Liz Trolove on outstanding Canadian artist Doris McCarthy.  Doug Mackey Photo.

Francis Pegamagabow 

On December 13 2003 (#161) I wrote about the legendary native soldier and leader Francis Pegamagabow.  Adrian Hayes the author is writing a book on policing in the Parry Sound District prior to OPP involvement.  He is looking for any information on former constables or their families in the district to help flesh out the story.  Adrian’s father was a police chief in Parry Sound at one time.  He can be contacted at 905-898-5885 in Newmarket or through me. 

Author John Macfie 

Columnist and author John Macfie who I wrote about in February and November 2001 has a new book pending which provides 125 of his Parry Sound History stories that were columns in the Parry Sound newspaper.  I wrote about his book Tales from Another Time (#41) and his Sons of the Pioneers on the Algonquin Regiment (#71). 

The North Bay Carousel 

In June 2003 (#137) I wrote about the remarkable carousel on the Waterfront in North Bay.  A second antique style carousel with 14 wooden Northern Animals carved by local carvers will be featured in a new Winter Wonderland Menagerie Carousel.  It is proposed as a year round attraction located at the Memorial Garden Parkette at Main and Fraser Streets in North Bay.  The carvings can be seen in a vacant store in the North Bay Mall.  There will be thousands of lights and it should be a real draw that animates the downtown core.  Look for it next year.