Battle of Stoney Creek ~ Canada

"The country which the government of the United States has undertaken to conquer."
~ David Longworth, American Statesman's Kalendar, 1812. [An almanac of census figures, time tables, federal gov't. depts., and army & navy lists.]

Billy Green

www.battlefieldhouse.ca  Photos:  Battlefield House Collection lbw

Canada's Come a Long Way !

[In the thirties] "'Lewd' performances in theatres were forbidden.  In Montreal, where all performances had to be governed "by the dictates of propriety and refinement,' the Board of Censorship explicitly defined a lewd performance as the appearance on the stage of 'bare-legged females,' 'the wearing of one-piece union suits by women,' or any dance that involved 'suggestive or repulsive contractions of the human body.'

"Toronto was equally puritan.  When the distinguished British actor Maurice Colbourne appeared at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Reunion in Vienna, a Robert Sherwood play, the censors were in full cry.  Thanks to the vigilance of Mrs. Henry Cody, wife of the president of the University of Toronto, the police forced a number of script changes.  The word 'bathroom' was deleted, an eight-second kiss was reduced to five seconds, the word 'damn' was cut out, and a love scene was toned down. And when the wildly successful new picture magazine, Life, published a photographic essay on the birth of a baby that year, the issue was denied entry into Canada."

~ Pierre Berton The Great Depression, 1929 ~ 1939, McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990.

PTE. WILL DUFF KILLED*

Seeking Information ~

One of the exciting pastimes in a bookshop is meeting people from all walks of life ~  "Fascinating People."   This week Brendan Oliver came in looking for any information regarding a WW1 soldier, William Selkirk Duff.
Brendan researched the name and learned that Mr Duff went overseas with the 114th Battalion "Brocks Rangers."  He died of wounds at the Battle of Passchendaele and is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery in Belgium.
The son of David and Angelina Duff of Cayuga, William had two siblings: sister Jessie and brother Oliver.  David Duff was a well known teacher and Principal in Cayuga.  The rest of the Duff family is buried in the Cayuga Cemetery.

If you have any information about William Selkirk Duff or if you are a relative, Brendan would certainly be happy to "hear" from you.  Please contact Brendan at griff8_@hotmail.com

*The yellowed newspaper clipping that sent Brendan Oliver on his search to find out more about a young soldier from Cayuga killed in the war.

Cayuga Cemetery

Thought for Today ~

"Be lifelong students and also wise and patient teachers.
 
Remember to 'see everything, overlook most
and correct a little.' "

~ Sanjay Gupta, MD, Monday Mornings, Grand Central Publishing, 2012.



 The Recent Past *

In 1919 E. C. Drury became Premier of Ontario and, with the help of his old colleague, Dr. Zavitz, pressed for a much more active and comprehensive approach to the challenge of restoring the forests.  His key recommendation was that the province would share the costs of reforestation projects undertaken by county and municipal governments....
"the first county to take advantage of the financial support offered by the provincial government was Simcoe County.  In 1920, 1000 acres of waste land were purchased in Vespra Township."

* Simcoe County The Recent Past, by John Craig, 1977 The Corporation of the County of Simcoe.
Photo: St. Williams Forestry, Norfolk lbw

Forestry Station St. Williams Norfolk

Some History ~ by John Craig

"In 1905 the first tree nursery was begun at Guelph, a program of lectures was launched by Dr. Zavitz, and advice on forestry was provided to landowners.  Under the Whitney Government a Forestry Station was established in Norfolk County, some local areas were planted, and a few demonstration plots developed."

~ Simcoe County The Recent Past, 1977  by The Corporation of the County of Simcoe, The Bryant Press Limited.

Country

LAMBING IN THE FIELDS ~

"Hill sheep are often brought into a field on lower ground when April and lambing time comes.  Most sheep will not need help, but the shepherd keeps a close eye on the flock for difficult births and weak lambs.  He makes sure that the lambs are being fed and finds a foster mother for the rare occasion when a ewe is not feeding her lambs adequately."

~ The Best of JAMES HERRIOT,* The Favorite Stories of One of the Most Beloved Writers of Our Time, 1982 The Reader's Digest Assoc., Inc.

*James Herriot (1916 - 1995) pen name for James Alfred Wight, British veterinary.
(Photo:  lbw)

York ON Haldimand County

National Canoe Day is June 26.  The CBC ran a nation-wide project in 2007 to determine the Seven Wonders of Canada.  After much debate and weeks of voting the canoe was declared by over one million voters as one of the Seven Wonders.

The Canadian Canoe Museum then declared June 26 as National Canoe Day. 

www.canoemuseum.ca
www.canoemuseum.wordpress.ca

(Photo:  York ON, Day of 1000 Canoes 2013  lbw)

Planting Trees

Haldimand Stewardship Council in partnership with The Woodlot Association in Haldimand planted their 250,000th tree during the canoe festival on Saturday.  A big thank you to this dedicated group of volunteer environmentalists for their untiring work making Haldimand a better place to live.
(Apologies to the gentleman who kindly posed for us.  We would like to identify him!)
Photo:  York ON, June 22. lbw

Cayuga Street, Cayuga, ON

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

~ Leo Buscaglia (1924 - 1998) American author, motivational speaker

"Bringing the Zoo to You" ~

Everyone was a Cartoonist

Baby Coyote, a young orangutang & more.

The Killman Zoo Was A Popular Attraction in York Park on Saturday at Day of 1000 Canoes.

Can't get too many banana chips!


Visit www.thekillmanzoo.com (Click on Photos for larger image. lbw)

The Voyageur ~

 

Voyageur Jay Bailey



Making Fire Before Matches

Thank you Jay for teaching us the ways of early travel.  Find Jay Bailey on Facebook.

(Photos:  York Park, Day of 1000 Canoes ~ lbw)

 



Pirate Ethan

 "I had a Mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.

~ Strickland Gillian, "The Reading Mother"
Photos:  Day of 1000 Canoes, 2013 lbw

York Park The Grand River



Pirates Aiden & Emma


Thank you Emma, Aiden, Mom Lisa, Dad Owen for supplying Pirates & Swords ~ Love you Guys ~ The Neat L'l Bookshop

Pirate Emma

"...You may have tangible wealth untold,
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold
Richer than I, you can never be.
I had a Mother who read to me." ~ Strickland Gillian




  "Scurvy dogs, people called them ~ murderers and thieves who plundered ships for treasure."

~ Step Inside Pirates" Paul John, Sterling Publishing Co., 2006.

Stoney Creek Battlehouse Park

The Battle of Stoney Creek took place on June 6, 1813

Fort George had been assaulted and "taken by the Americans.  At Stoney Creek, a British force captures two America generals who mistake them for friends in the darkness."

~ The Invasion of Canada 1812 ~ 1813,  Pierrie Berton, 1980 McClland and Stewart Limited.

PICTURES IN GLASS by Harold Robertson

When he retired, Harold Robertson took a year and a half to decide what he was going to do with his time.  After working seven days a week, sitting around with his coffee and playing with the cats was not going to do it for him.
The art of stained glass takes skill, an artist's eye for colour and design, definitely patience and perseverance and most important a love of the work.  He has never looked back.
Thank you, Harold for sharing your techniques, your craftsmanship with us today.
Photographs cannot do justice to Harold's stained-glass art;  as the morning sun changes to afternoon and evening a stunning new picture appears.  Depending on glass carefully chosen for its qualities from the wide selection available, an artist's work becomes unique.  To view some of this artist's work visit www.haroldrobertson.blogspot.com 

Smile for Today ~

Mark Twain said, "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure."

~ letter to Mrs. Foote, 2 December 1887, in B. DeCasseres When Huck Finn Went Highbrow (1934)



Chandelier from Mark Twain's home

 [Correction:  Walt Witman may have been a man of contradiction but the only contradiction here is our error in identifying the chandelier.  It belonged to Mark Twain, not Whitman.  Our thanks to Jeremy Henatyzen who made the correction.]

Mark Twain said, "Man is the Only Animal that Blushes.  Or needs to."


Mark Twain's chandelier hanging in The Powerhouse, Stoney Creek, Ontario, is one of many items collected by the restaurant's original owner.

"Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
~ Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892) American poet, 'Song of Myself' (written 1855) pt. 51.
www.thepowerhouse.ca  Photo: lbw

Thought for Today ~

"If you work just for money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours."

~ Ray Kroc (1905 - 1984) American Businessman, best known for establishing McDonald's Corp.

Dustin Vallier & Josh Cannon

For Josh and Dustin a few additions to the village skate-board pad is foremost in their minds today.  We found them in a serious discussion sitting side-by-side on the concrete ~ discussing fund-raising.  A lofty goal for a seventeen and eighteen year old.  It seems that if they could rebuild the Plexiglas ramps that some thoughtless individual or individuals burned and replace the missing wooden ramps with steel, they would be able to do the regular jumps and grinds.  Ideally, they would like to be able to do "peg stalls ~ turn back into the quarter."  [I think we have that right.  Josh tries to demonstrate but without a rail . . .]

For now they ride around in a few circles and sit down again.  The village doesn't have a lot for an eighteen year old to do.

Happy Father's Day

Father of Leonard Bernstein, the great U.S. composer, conductor and pianist, when criticized for not having given his talented son more encouragement when he was a child, said, "How was I to know he would grow up to be Leonard Bernstein?"

Happy Father's Day

~THE LITTLE, BROWN BOOK OF Anecdotes,  Clifton Fadiman General Editor, 1985.
(Photo: family files lbw)
Read more. . . YOUR NAME ~ You got it from your father...

Thought for Today ~

"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you."

~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American author,  Life's Little Instruction Book


Photo: lbw

York Park

"Quips and Quotes ~ for the Young at Heart" *
Interviewer:  "Can you remember any of your past lives?
The Dali Lama:  At my age I have trouble remembering what happened yesterday."

"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm."
~ Aldous Huxley, British writer (1894 - 1963)

"When you are about 35 years old, something terrible always happens to music."
~Steve Race, British pianist, composer.


'You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake."
~ Bob Hope, American actor.

~ "My first advice on how not to grow old would be to choose your ancestors carefully."
~ Bertrand Russell

~ * Richard Benson, Old Geezer Wit,  Summersdale Publishers, 2006.

Harold Robertson PICTURES IN GLASS

Fascinating Personality !

Harold Robertson, Selkirk, ON

After forty-one years at the same company, Harold retired in May, 2004.  By January, 2005, he had begun creating stained-glass artwork.  Now he has achieved a myriad of styles and shapes that require meticulous craftsmanship.  He replaces treasured pieces that have suffered damage.  He sees when someone has a favourite subject or pet and goes to work to create the perfect piece.  Many of his stained-glass artworks go to newly married couples or someone celebrating a special event~ sometimes a memorial in honour of someone.

The Neat Little Bookshop is pleased to host an afternoon with Harold on Thursday, June 20 at 1:00 p.m.  Harold has kindly agreed to bring along some materials, tools and his artist's light to demonstrate how he achieves some of his artwork.

Visit Harold's PICTURES IN GLASS at www.haroldrobertson.blogspot.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 20 at 1:00 p.m.

Informal.  Everyone Welcome.

Photo:  lbw 

We Shall Never Forget ~

DANGER

DUE TO

DEMOLITION



Royal Canadian Legion Branch 159, Hwy 3



Decades of memories came down yesterday. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 159 built their new facility some years ago with plans to demolish the old.  Legion members will tell us the chronology of events.  Yesterday a small group of neighbours and friends watched as the old building came down.

Photos:  For larger image please click on photo.  lbw 

"We will Remember Them"



St. Williams Conservation Reserve 

 Working partnerships with land owners and organizations such as stewardship councils, woodlot owners to make good decisions.

Photo:  Frank Sommer, Haldimand Stewardship Council, looking over graphics of forest species. lbw



Planting Trees on The Grand

Haldimand Norfolk Stewardship Council provides a forum to foster involvement and interest in land stewardship and promote responsible resource management.

"The vision is to bring community members together to promote resource stewardship on public and private lands."  The council formed several partner groups to ensure the success of various community projects.

www.hnstewardshipcouncils.org

John and I will tag along with the Stewardship on an outing Tuesday, June 11, and look forward to learning more about the work that these engaging folks are doing.

* Photo:  Day of 1000 Canoes

Quietly Making History ~ Little White Church in The Country

East Seneca Church*

There stands at a quiet crossroads,
In a peaceful country place;
An old white church whose doors will close,
The influence we cannot erase.

It brings to my mind a picture,
And to my eyes the tears;
Folk gathering Sunday by Sunday,
For more than a hundred years.

They toiled from sunrise to sunset,
Tilled their farms through weary days;
But found fresh hope and comfort,
As they sang the hymns of praise.

Heard the word of God from the pulpit,
And sermons their lives to mould'
We thank our Heavenly Father,
For East Seneca Church of old.

~ Poem was written by parishioner, Violet Johnston, and has been fondly reprinted in service bulletins, used at weddings, anniversaries and treasured by generations.

*East Seneca Church, Turnbull Road, Haldimand County.



East Seneca United Church



East Seneca Celebrates 150 years ~



"On the Monday night following the dedication service a grand Tea Meeting was held in the church where the young men brought their best girls in lumber waggons, there being no buggies in the immediate neighbourhood at that time.  This meeting proved a great success.  I believe the Tea Meeting was an annual event in the winter and the Garden Party in the summer.

"I can hardly remember Tea Meetings but the Garden Party was continued on into this century.  Usually they were held on Jas Patterson's place, it being central, that is where the Overends now live.
"Ice cream when they had it was always made with hand freezers, there being no such a thing as the commercial variety and with everyone having a hand in it and telling how it should be done.
"Along with one or two bunches of bananas and a box of "Long Torn Popcorn" at one cent a bag, the boys were able to treat their ladies...Of course, there was a program also ~ usually didn't cost much but it appears to me was much more appreciated than some of the expensive artists of the present day."

~ John Turnbull, late resident of Seneca Twp. (1890 - 1975)



Recently Discovered Sunday School Attendance Chart