When motoring back from Martintown about a fortnight ago, I noticed that one of Dunvegan’s former post offices is — or at least was, at the time — undergoing a possible porchectomy. I’m referring to the yellow and white clapboard house that used to belong to John and Marion Lowen, on the west side of County Road 30… the third one south of the crossroads.
I was gobsmacked when I realized that, because of the exterior renovations, a small portion of the house’s original walls was exposed when the porch roof was removed. The building isn’t wood frame. Nor is it made of square logs covered with clapboard. It appears to be red brick. In fact, it might be the same type of handmade Sinclair red brick that I suspect was used to build the three-story hotel on the southwest corner of the crossroads… and John D. MacLeod’s farmhouse on the same lot: #25 Kenyon Concession 8.
While I have no hard evidence, I’m guessing the house was built by or for Roderick Angus Nicholson, sometime after he bought the property in 1890. The Nicholson family lived there for nearly 60 years. I have yet to see a photo of the building before it was clad with what appears to be early 1950s siding. It would be neat if one existed. As for the missing porch, I really hope it is rebuilt. There are already far too many period homes across Glengarry crying out for the verandas that were sacrificed to the gods of modernity or lucre.
For Dunvegan eyes only
When last we spoke about the possible resumption of in-person worship, it was left that the Kenyon Presbyterian Church session would meet this month to access the situation for May. Not surprisingly, the news isn’t good for churchgoers… or for anyone else, for that matter. The lockdown rumbles on, crushing all but the virus in its wake. Consequently, on-line worship services for the Dunvegan Pastoral Charge will continue until further notice. The weekly 30-minute services on YouTube can be accessed via the links on Facebook @kenyondunvegan and the Home page of kenyondunvegan.ca.
Kirk Hill parishioners who ignored the admonishment to skip the above notice are cautioned to draw no conclusions as to the status of in-person worship in their kirk. For this, I urge them to consult my colleague Maggie Dean’s “Dalkeith” column. As a mere mortal, I am not privy to this information.
Musing on a card game
I was reminded over the weekend that it’s been well over a year since Anne Stewart, Linda Burgess and I hosted a ‘Euchre Luncheon’ for the Dunvegan Recreation Association. I was speaking (over the phone) with June Raymond of Apple Hill and she said how much she misses the light-hearted tournaments. We also discussed the very real possibility that the popular event may never return. She knows that its loss in no way approaches the hardship and stress so many families deal with trying to make ends meet. Or the plight businesses, large and small, face as a result of the seemingly endless lockdown flip-flops. Nevertheless, for the regulars who attended month in and month out, it was an enjoyable interlude, a time to socialize with old friends and make new ones. The hard reality is that time is not on our side. Neither the players, nor the organizers for that matter, share Dorion Gray’s genes. And to reinforce this point, June informed me that at least two of our members died last year: Claire Van Putten of Apple Hill and Dytha Dixon from Ettyville. I count myself lucky to have known them. And, sadly, there may be others of whose passing I am unaware, not being a habitué of the obituary section.
Crying Wolf, again
This past week saw more comments on the Wolf River apple story, including ones from Williamstown, Apple Hill and Skye, just north of Dunvegan. Wolf River apples, for those not in the know, are a heritage variety with the distinction of being huge in size. In 1880, William Springer, its developer, produced a Wolf River specimen that weighed almost one and a half pounds. Somehow the Wolf River apple worked its way north to this neck of the woods in the early 1900s.
The Williamstown commentary was really more of an inquiry. Local historian David Anderson was tantalized by my description of this succulent fruit and wanted to “plant a tree for posterity (whoever they may be).” He wondered if I have access to cuttings or seeds… and if I had tasted one? I replied, “not yet” in both cases.
Much closer to home, a reader from Skye Road told me she was a long-time fan of the Wolf River apple. When she retired from farming and moved to a smaller house, she lamented the loss of her Wolf River tree and had a friend graft cuttings to rootstock that she planted nearby.
Last, but not least, Wolf River apples were the primary reason for euchre enthusiast June Raymond’s call on Saturday. Today, June lives right in the heart of Apple Hill. When growing up though, her family home was a farm near Lodi, Ontario. It can still be found on Google maps today, but is nothing more than a T-junction of County Roads 9 and 15, between Avonmore and Moose Creek. Sharp as a tack at 90, June clearly recalls the apple trees in her family’s small orchard: Duchess, Yellow Transparent and Wolf River. In her opinion, the plus-sized fruit from the Wolf River tree was a bit on the tart side; for eating, she much preferred the Duchess apples. “Delicious eating” she enthused. However, when it came to cooking apples (“pies, apple sauce and the like), Wolf River ones were ideal.
We’ve probably beaten the Wolf River apple story to death, but if you’re interested, I will be uploading a photo of one that the reader from Skye Road kindly sent me. Visit www.dunvegan-times.ca.
Wolf River apple
Competition in the stars
Come this May, Bob Linney’s house at the eastern end of the hamlet will be sporting a new communications dish. “It means I’ll now have four bird baths on the roof,” Bob quipped, referring to his array of TV and Internet dishes. After years of living in an unfortunate shadow zone that blocks him from Dunvegan’s Xplornet tower, Bob is switching to Starlink service from SpaceX. The brainchild of billionaire Elon Musk, the new satellite-based system offers download and upload speeds the like of which wireless Internet users can only dream. But these impressive speeds come at an early-adopter price… over $800 for the equipment and $129 month for the service. Like so many others these days, Bob works from home. And fast, reliable Internet service is essential. He hopes that Starlinks will deliver it.
The spectre of a satellite Internet system that actually works apparently has Xplornet a bit worried. Its latest customer blog claims upgrades were made to the Dunvegan tower in January of this year. Bob Garner who, with his partner Laurie Maus, hosts the Dunvegan tower confirms that changes were made sometime this winter. “They took off old radios,” he told me, “and strapped on some new ones.” Bob also mentioned that Xplornet visits the tower at least two or three times a year. The Xplornet blog also addresses eight myths it claims are circulating about LTE wireless Internet service and how it compares to satellite service.
I, for one, welcome the new Starlinks service. I realize that it may be beyond the reach of those of us who don’t work for a business or government department with deep pockets. Nevertheless, the strong scent of competition in the air may mean that we run-of-the-mill wireless Internet users will enjoy improved service and lower prices as trickle-down benefits.
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