Although Greta the Grinch frowns on the use of carbonized vegetable matter, it would appear I’ll be getting coal in my Christmas stocking again this year. I just got off the phone with Santa. Not the head honcho of course; he’s a bit too busy right now. I spoke with Mike Hall, the gentleman who was St. Nick’s analogue at the ‘Visit with Santa’ event in Dunvegan last Saturday. Erroneously, I said Mike Bertrand had played the role. He and his wife Anne Forrester-Bertrand moved into Margaret MacCrimmon’s brick farm house a couple of years ago and the couple is active in the DRA. So, when I read in the email report that “Mike and Ann” had played Mr. and Mrs. Claus, I assumed it was they. Boy, was I wrong.
Furthermore, Mike Hall told me he has been Dunvegan’s Santa for the past seven years. Mike joined the DRA’s ‘Visit with Santa’ cast in 2012, after having been talent spotted at the Glengarry Memorial Hospital by DRA director Kim Raymond. Apparently Mike, a 75 year-old retiree, volunteers at our local hospital and is their Santa as well. He loves playing Old St. Nick. “It starts my Christmas,” Mike said. Although a Green Valley resident, he’s very fond of Dunvegan and can be seen cooking up a storm at the Dunvegan Recreation food concession when Harvest Fall Festival time rolls around. He’s also been spotted helping Community Living clients enjoy our annual winter carnival.
One of the things that Mike enjoys about playing Father Christmas in Dunvegan is the quality of our Santa suit. We invested in a really good one many years ago when a costume rental firm was going out of business, and it’s paid off. But, to add even more authenticity, Mike brings along a pair of black winter boots and white dress gloves that he borrows from a police buddy of his. He told me he also appreciates how actively involved the parents are with their kids up here, and how well behaved the youngsters are. Out of curiosity, I asked what the number one wish was this year and, without hesitation, he replied, “I must have seen around 20 kids. The oldest was seven and the youngest was two months. By far, the most frequent Christmas wish was for a computer tablet.” The days of Minibrix, Erector sets and model steam trains are obviously long gone.
Before I move on, I also wanted to apologize to Mrs. Claus. Here too, I got the name wrong. Santa’s better half was actually played by Ann Stewart, and she’s done so admirably for the past two years. Ann used to live in Dunvegan, right across the road in what was the old log Orange Lodge and is now the museum’s visitor centre. She too is a long-time DRA volunteer and returns to Dunvegan each month to organize our euchre tournament.
Dunvegan’s spin doctor
Dunveganite Laurie Maus tells me she’s already in training for next year’s Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. It’s been a while since she threw her hat into the Royal ring. “The last time I competed was with one of my Ayrshire cattle about 45 years ago,” Laurie told me in an email. Her entry was named Lucky Marlene and she took second place. “I still have her ribbon somewhere in a bin,” Laurie admitted.
However, at the 2020 Royal, you won’t find Laurie going head to head in the cattle barns. This time around, she’s entered the Drop Spindle competition. If you’re not sure what a drop spindle is, let me explain. The practice of spinning fibres to produce yarn has been with us for 10,000 years or more and, until the spinning wheel hit Europe in the Middle Ages, the drop spindle was king. The weight and rotation of the drop spindle draws the fibres into yarn, the thickness and consistency of which is controlled by the skill of the spinner.
At the Royal, one needs to spin, ply and skein (if that’s a verb) a minimum of 15 grams of rovings in two hours. A wool roving is a clump of wool fibres that have been combed and twisted slightly in preparation for spinning. Laurie has put in some very respectable times when doing practice runs, but she believes she can do better. “It’s just a matter of practice.” That’s easy for her to say. I’ll keep you in the loop.
Lodge’s heart is in Glengarry
For the past six years, Glengarry Highland Lodge No. 418 has held a sumptuous Christmas feast at Maxville’s Metcalfe Centre in support of local causes. However, this year’s event had a bit of a twist. It was billed as a Pioneer Christmas Dinner because the main beneficiary of the evening’s fundraising efforts was Dunvegan’s Glengarry Pioneer Museum. There was a record crowd last Wednesday evening, including eleven tables of museum supporters, many of whom sported period dress. Alyson Graham and Lindsey Howes, who both started their long association with the GPM as student employees, gave an excellent joint presentation on the museum’s past, present and future. It’s too early to say how much was raised (the receipts are still being tabulated as it takes longer using the new math), but I know the museum is extremely grateful for having been chosen as the focus this year’s event. Thank you, Glengarry Highland Lodge No. 418.
Look who’s turning 100
It seems like only yesterday but, almost one hundred years ago, the Dunvegan community hall held its Grand Opening. At the time, it was an Orange Lodge, a function it served for almost 60 years. By 1977 support for Dunvegan’s bastion of the Orange Movement had faded and the building was sold to the Dunvegan Women’s Institute. They, in turn, made the cement block building (now just one story instead of the original two) the focal point of the community. Among my favourite memories are those of the turkey dinner fundraisers. It was a magical time before the tyranny of public health inspectors, when covered roasting pans with piping hot birds would leave farmhouse kitchens up and down the road destined for the hall to be carved and enjoyed. Those were the days. Like the Orange Lodge before it, the W.I. began to run out of steam in the late 1980s and, on July 5th, 1992, the hall’s stewardship passed from the Women’s Institute to the Dunvegan Recreation Association.
In honour of the hall’s 100th birthday, I wanted to share with you the advertisement that appeared on page four of the December 19, 1919 edition of the Glengarry News. Organizers went all out with a display ad, the headline of which read: “Grand OpeningENTERTAINMENT.” The text of the announcement was as follows: “Under the auspices of L. O. L. No. 1158, Will be held in the new Orange Hall, Dunvegan on Tuesday Evening,December 23rd. An excellent programe will be furnished by Thomas F. Hamilton, Scotch Entertainer; Robert Baxter and Miss Arnott, Champion Highland Dancers of America, and other talent. Come and enjoy the evening at Dunvegan. A Guid Nicht, Truly Scotch. Lots O’ Fun. Doors open at 7:30. Programme begins at 8 pm. Admission, 50¢ Ail seats reserved.GOD SAVE THE KING.” It’s a crying shame they didn’t use a wee bit of the cash they collected at the door to hire a photographer to record the event for time travellers such as ourselves.
As you motor through Dunvegan on your holiday errands, don’t forget to tip your hat to our little hall. It has served us well all these many years. Happy Christmas to all who celebrate the season and best wishes for a prosperous new year. See you in January.
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