This coming long weekend is the start of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s 55th season. And it appears to be off to great start. A new exhibit in the Roxborough Town Hall building will showcase the importance of wood in the 19th century. And the Orange Lodge building will house a celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, with fascinating facts on Glengarry’s links to Confederation and the new Dominion.
If you really want the scoop on what Glengarry was like back in the days just before, and after, Confederation, I’d recommend you take in Dane Lanken’s lecture at 2:00 PM on Sunday in the Big Beaver schoolhouse. I saw a preview of this local historian’s talk at the museum’s Gala in February and it was captivating.
Following Dane’s presentation, at 3:00 PM, Linda Burgess and her merry band of volunteers will be recreating an authentic Victorian Tea — complete with dainty sandwiches, sinful sweets, scones, clotted cream and such. Linda hopes the apple blossoms will emerge in time to bring the sights and scents of spring to the pavilion’s decorations.
On Sunday, admission is $10 per person ($8 for museum members). This includes the guest speaker and entry to all exhibits. If you choose to stay for the Victorian Tea, and I strongly recommend you do, there is an additional cost of just $5… one of the best bargains in the tri-county area. On Saturday and Monday, the regular admission fee of $5 (FREE for members) applies.
If you’re one of the many Glengarrians who have passed by the little museum in Dunvegan and said to yourself, “I really must visit there sometime,” this weekend is the perfect opportunity. You won’t regret it. Can’t make it this weekend? Then check out their web site and see what they have in store this summer: glengarrypioneermuseum.ca. Or call the museum at 613-527-5230.
Hamlet a-hopping
Dunvegan was a busy place this past Saturday.
First off, hard-working DRA volunteers Ben Williams, Robert Campbell, AJ Hay, Richard Quesnel and Kim and Caleb Raymond braved the swarms of blackflies to get the Dunvegan Recreation soccer field ready for the busy season ahead. Trash and recycling bins are now in place, most of the nets are up (I believe one needs replacing), pot holes have been filled, tree branches have been cleared away and the soccer shed now sports a new coat of Dunvegan blue: Pantone #7462, to be precise.
On Saturday, the DRA Hall also hosted yet another Firearms Safety Course. This I discovered when I drove by… spotted a black hearse in the east parking lot with a white skull on its dashboard… and asked Vivian Franklin who had booked the hall. Must have been an interesting class.
And then, on Saturday evening, people flocked from near and far to partake of the annual Ham Supper at the Kenyon Presbyterian Church hall. Margret MacLeod reports that over 160 tickets were sold, raising an estimated $2,600 for the church. Terry and I dined early, so we beat the rush. However, I’m told we missed the highlight of the evening… when, at the end of the night, James Nixon sat down at the old piano and played a couple of Glengarry favourites. The Kenyon Women’s Association wishes to thank all who attended, as well as those who worked so hard to make it successful.
Peeping Tom caught
On a more serious note, you may have noticed an article on the Seaway News web site about an adult male from North Glengarry who has been charged with two counts of voyeurism. The backstory is that this ‘peeping tom’ had been spotted peering in the windows of a long-time Dunvegan resident, who is extremely relieved that this individual has finally been apprehended.
The other Dunvegan twist to this story is that the police officer that caught the 56-year old perpetrator recently moved to Dunvegan. He was passing by the home on County Road 24 where these acts of voyeurism allegedly took place and noticed a car stopped on the side of the road. According to the report in the Seaway News, the suspect was held in custody pending an appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall.
By the way, the term ‘peeping tom’ comes from the legend of Lady Godiva. She supposedly rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest the harsh taxes on the town’s poor. While the townsfolk agreed not to look as Godiva passed by, Peeping Tom broke the agreement and spied on her.
Garlic thieves
Speaking of cars stopped on the side of the road, we ran into Eileen Franklin at the Ham Supper and she reported seeing a yellow car parked on Blyth Road, west of the crossroads. While she has no proof, she suspects the occupants may have been wild garlic poachers from Quebec, where the plant has been over picked to the point of extinction.
Also known as wild leek, ramps and spring onion, wild garlic is a bulbous plant that grows in hardwood forests of eastern North America. Aside from trespassing, the problem with this poaching is that entire patches of plants are dug up, which leaves nothing for re-generation. Not a pretty picture, when you consider that it takes seven years to produce a harvestable bulb from seed.
So, if you see an unfamiliar vehicle stopped by the side of the road near a hardwood bush (especially one with a Quebec plate), make note of the license number and report it to the OPP.
Peter Goddard remembered
My thanks to past Dunvegan columnist, Peggi Calder, for penning the following account of a former resident who died recently:
“Those of you in the area who remember Peter and Stacy Goddard will be saddened to learn that Peter passed away on April 24 following diagnosis last year of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
Peter was an outgoing, friendly person with an off-the-wall sense of humour. He originally worked for Alcan Canada in computer systems. Peter and his wife, Stacy, moved to Chesterville and then bought the John Keith and Marvel MacLeod home on Skye Road. Peter took up hobby farming while he worked at Cyborg in Cornwall and was extremely proud of winning first prize at the Riceville Fair for the hay the couple grew for their goats. Both Peter and Stacy were active with the Dunvegan Recreation Association.
After moving from Dunvegan to Chicago they returned to Ontario at Carrying Place and eventually Brighton where they enjoyed biking tours and sailing. Our condolences go out to Stacy and daughters Jocelyn and Laura and family.”
Evan McIntosh, who used to carpool to Ottawa with Peter in the early 1980s, tells me that there will be a Celebration of Life service for Peter on Thursday, June 8th at 2:00 PM at the Stouffville Legion, 150 Mostar Street.
Ann is back!
I’m pleased to announce that after months of recuperation from surgery, Euchremeister Ann Stewart will once again return to lead the euchre tournaments in Dunvegan… starting this coming Friday, May 19th. I hope euchre players past and present will take this opportunity to come and wish her well. The action starts at 12 noon with a buffet lunch of sandwiches, pickles and sweets followed by cards, cards and more cards… with a few 50/50 draws thrown in, just for fun.
Admission is only $5 and, as always, the event will be held in the DRA Hall at 19053 County Road 24. Everyone is welcome to join us. Linda Burgess and I will be behind the counter dispensing tea and coffee and keeping the food trays full. So bring a hearty appetite and lots of friendly gossip.
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