As luck would have it, I was the very first customer to turn up at Caleb Jalbertand Zoran Penner’s sweet corn stand on opening day. This wasn’t my intent. It just worked out that way, and I’m glad it did. I was able to snag a dozen of what I think was the best corn on the cob that I’ve eaten since the late George and Catherine MacIllwain of Dunvegan Road East used to grow it. I daresay it was even the equal of the fresh-plucked ears I used to bring home when I helped Mr. Legg with his rural mail route back in Lakefield, Quebec during the late 1950s. I can’t recall the name of the gentleman who grew the corn, but his farm was one of our last stops and he would allow me to pick it fresh. As soon as we got back to Lake Dawson’s general store/post office, I’d hop into my trusty green and grey rowboat and hightail it for home… where my mother would have the salted water boiling. Talk about delicious.
But I digress. If you’d like to snag a cob or two of Caleband Zoran’s strain of golden goodness — a variety that leaves Peaches & Cream choking in the dust — I believe their corn emporium will be open weekdays at 3:00 PM and Saturday all day, for as long as the season lasts. Even if you’re a strict meateterian and eschew all vegetables, it’s worth dropping by for a look at their rustic log cabin-style booth. The stand is located at 18805 County Road 24, just west of the hamlet, at the entrance to the farm formerly owned by the Colquhouns.
Two-tier travesty thwarted
I’m not sure who’s responsible: United Counties Warden and North Glen’s mayor, Jamie MacDonald; SD&G’s Director of Transportation and Planning, Benjamin de Haan; or some other kind soul. Whoever it was, he or she made a lot of homeowners along County Road 24 very happy. Terry and I had taken our granddaughter Maya to the Lachute Flea Market on Tuesday and, upon our return, were delighted to discover that the dichotomy I mentioned a few weeks ago between those with paved driveways and gravel laneways had been eliminated. The contractor had added sufficient aggregate to create a smooth transition between gravel entranceways and the new roadbed. Thank you.
A time for tributes
Dunvegan has lost two old friends in recent weeks. The first was Gavin Scott of Dalkeith; friends and acquaintances were saddened to learn of his untimely passing. While Gavin didn’t call Dunvegan home, he was a fixture in these parts for as long as I’ve been here. A charter member of the Old Skye School Gang, he could often be found at the late Burt and Amelia Ayre’s rambling home where those ‘from away’ would meet periodically to break bread and solve the world’s problems. Gavin also gave generously of his time at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. As curator Jennifer Black fondly recalls, “(Gavin) always said that parking duty was his preference and he would always show up on time and dressed for the weather, either covered in sun screen or full rain gear with orange parking vest.” For those who knew Gavin and wish to honour his memory, an informal tribute is being held at the museum in Dunvegan on Sunday, August 25that 2:00 PM. Potluck sweets and appetizers welcomed.
Barb of the round house
The second was Barbara Rochfort, who died at age 91 in Simcoe, Ontario on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Barb and her husband Clive moved to the Dunvegan area in the late 1970s and bought a 50-acre plot on the 8thConcession, abutting the south end of our property. Both were active in the Kenyon Presbyterian Church. As well, Clive was a Mason and Barb was one of the early members of the Twistle Guild, serving as President for a number of years. As you may recall, in those days, “cordwood” or “stack wall” construction was all the rage among back-to-the-landers. And Barb and Clive caught the bug. They rolled up their sleeves and, with help from Allan Raymond, started building the house of their dreams… but with a twist. Their stack wall structure was round.
My strongest memory of Barb was the Saturday morning I saw someone crash into her car in the heart of Dunvegan. I’m not sure of the exact year, but I think it was the spring or summer of 1987 or 88. The crossroads had just been converted to a four-way stop; before then traffic along County Road 24 simply sailed on through the intersection. I was coming from the DRA hall traveling east, and Barb was travelling north along the Greenfield Road heading to the church or perhaps St. Isidore. After coming to a full stop, she started through the intersection, no doubt under the assumption the vehicles approaching from the west and the east would obey the new stop signs. I did. But the young driver coming from the east didn’t and ploughed into the side of Barb’s car, spinning it like a top. While Barb survived the collision, her road to recovery was a long one. To thank me for tending to her needs while waiting for the first responders (who actually knew what they were doing), the Rochforts kindly gave Terry and I a play structure their family had outgrown. Our young son Brendan enjoyed it for years.
Clive died in 2006, and Ben Williams and Aiden Burgess purchased the Rochfort’s round house. Over the years, Ben and Aiden have significantly renovated the original structure. However, the couple has honoured the pledge they made to Barb… to fill it with the pitter-patter of little feet. “I think we managed OK on that front,” Ben told me. “A round house allows for never-ending running.” Barb moved away as soon as the sale was completed. She had a really hard time living there without Clive. In fact, when she visited the area years later, she couldn’t bring herself to even come down the 8th Concession. A funeral service was held in the Kenyon Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, August 13, followed by internment in the Kenyon Presbyterian Church cemetery. My condolences to all her friends and family. I remember Barbara fondly.
Heritage garden uprooted
…Well, not the museum’s Heritage Garden per se, but the guided tour of the museum’s newly refurbished flowerbeds that that been planned for the afternoon. To make way for the tribute to Gavin Scott mentioned above, guest speaker Tammy MacGregor graciously agreed to move her presentation to the morning: from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon. Tammy, a local landscaping expert and museum volunteer, will lead a tour of the museum’s gardens designed to showcase heritage plants that would have played an integral part in lives of the Scottish pioneers who settled in Glengarry. If you’d like to join the tour, feel free to do so. Admission is just $10 per person ($5 for members). In addition to hearing Tammy’s fascinating lecture on heritage plants, visitors will have access to all of the buildings.
Great looking backside
Driving home from St. Isidore recently, I noticed how handsome the north end of the Dunvegan soccer field is looking. The trees that were planted along the fence line a number of years ago have started to take off and they provide a lovely deciduous backstop to our regulation-size facility. Former DRA Treasurer Bruce MacGillivray is to be congratulated for all his hard work guiding the field enhancement project to a successful conclusion. Thank you, Bruce.
Lisa’s list of winners
Despite the absence of two regular couples from up north, attendance at last Friday’s euchre luncheon in Dunvegan was strong. We were delighted to welcome four new players. Here are the day’s results, thanks to our official scorekeeper, Lisa Chapman. Our “50/50” winners were Joanne Van loon, Donald Lapierre, Donald Clark and Jennie Laforet.As for top scores, June Raymond captured first prizewith 89 points. Rolland Paquette came in second with 84 points. And Joe McDonnell took third place with 83 points.Rolland Paquette won the “Most Stars” prize handily. And the door prize went to Margo MacRae.The next DRA Euchre is on Friday, September 20th(at 19053 County Road 24) from 12:00 noon to around 3:30 PM. Admission is only $5.00 and includes delicious food and a great bunch of euchre enthusiasts.
Go south young lady
I had to go to Alexandria for my next snippet of Dunvegan news. There, while chatting with the SD&G librarian on duty, I learned that Erica Rose Burgess from our little hamlet had just been taken on as a Library Services Assistant with the Williamstown branch of the SD&G Library. This is in addition to being South Glengarry’s Program Facilitator at the Char-Lan Recreation Centre. She’s one busy lady.
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