“An army marches on its stomach.” While scholars are unsure of the exact source of this saying — it has been attributed to both Napoleon and Frederick the Great — organizers of this year’s Battle of Glengarry are hoping re-enactors and visitors alike will join them for a hearty meal to break Friday night’s fast.
This coming Saturday, September 26th, the Maxville Lions Club has generously agreed to hold one of their famous fundraising breakfasts, with the proceeds going to support the War of 1812 Re-enactment at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. But don’t make the mistake of going to Maxville to strap on the feedbag. The event will take place right here in Dunvegan at the DRA Hall 19053 County Road 24.
The breakfast runs from 7:00 to 10:00 AM and everyone is invited. The cost for adults is only $8.00. Children ages from five to ten are $5.00. And youngsters under age five are free.
If you’ve ever attended one of the regular Lion’s Club breakfasts at the Maxville Sports Complex, you’re well aware these amateur food flingers know what they’re doing. After the last one I was at… in support of the Pioneer Museum… I didn’t feel hungry for what seemed like a week.
Hop aboard the time machine
I’d like to dispel a common misconception. The Museum’s annual re-enactment event is NOT about “war.” Its real purpose is to recreate life in Upper Canada in the early 1800s. As such, the two-day gathering is more fun than a wooden barrel of monkeys… for the ENTIRE family.
Thanks to dedicated groups of volunteers that flock here from all points of the compass, the Museum grounds are transported back in time, allowing visitors like you to savour a small taste of the way it was back in the day.
For a minute-by-minute list of what’s in store, I strongly recommend you visit the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s web site (GlengarryPioneerMuseum.ca) and click on the “1812 Re-enactment” link. However, here’s a small sampling of what’s planned.
Upper Canada in 1812 Fashion Show: held daily at 1:00 PM underneath the Pavilion, it showcases the fashion trends of the people who lived throughout Upper Canada and the U.S. during the War of 1812.
Meet the Teacher: at 2:00 PM on Saturday, stop by the Big Beaver schoolhouse to meet the teacher and hear about early education in Glengarry County and during the War of 1812.
Children’s Military Muster: immediately after the schoolhouse presentation, children are invited to don a “uniform” and grab a wooden musket for a mini military march and muster with Living History Re-enactors. Note to parents… this is a great photo opportunity!
Storyteller: at 2:30 PM, wander over and meet “Martha Cameron,” a local seamstress who tells how, as the grandmother of a soldier in the War of 1812, she is keeping a promise, and a family secret, alive.
1812 Field Hospital: following the Battle, the wounded will be rushed to a makeshift field hospital in the Campbell Barn. There, you’ll be able to watch Dr. Gregory Baran, a doctor in real life, demonstrate medical and surgical practices of the time. (Note that this demonstration could be disturbing to some viewers. Please use parental discretion.)
Funeral of a Glengarry Soldier: Join the procession to the Kenyon Church graveyard as a funeral is recreated for a Glengarry Light Infantryman who falls victim to his wounds after the Battle.
And the list of activities above, just scratches the surface. It’s two full days packed with fascinating demonstrations, engaging re-enactors and a bigger-than-ever Sutler’s Row… the 1812 equivalent of a shopping mall. Sutlers were civilian merchants who would travel with the soldiers and peddle their wares from a tent or the back of their wagon. The Sutler’s Row planned for Dunvegan will feature period merchants offering everything from period clothing, iron forged goods and hand-fashioned soaps to reproduction flintlock muskets and even breads baked in a wood-fired oven. Remember though, that the museum can’t handle credit or debit cards, so bring extra cash.
So there… have I convinced you to attend the Museum’s Re-enactment Weekend? I sure hope so. I’m willing to guarantee that you will enjoy the heck out of it. The gates open at 10 AM on both days. Admission to is $10/day for adults ($5 for members) and $25 for families. Children under 12 are free. If you’re unsure of how to get to Dunvegan (we try our best to keep it a secret), take a gander at the Museum’s web site.
1812 Worship Service
I’m pleased to report that even the Kenyon Presbyterian kirk in Dunvegan is getting into the 1812 spirit this coming weekend. Sunday at 9:30 AM, they will be holding an 1812-themed service. The morning’s worship will feature guest speaker, Richard Feltoe. Mr. Feltoe is a living history re-enactor, as well as an author and historian. He will be offering a glimpse of life in Upper Canada during 1812. All are welcome to attend.
And then, following the service, you are invited to stroll over to the Museum for an After Church Social Tea. There, for just $5.00, you can enjoy a cup of hot tea with fresh baked scones, enjoy the nostalgic ambience the re-enactment grounds and delight in the words of guest storyteller, Lesley Orr.
Fly a Jack!
I would love to see a time when everyone on Dunvegan Road proudly flew a Union Jack flag on Re-enactment Weekend… even a tiny one attached to rural mailboxes. I have every intention of doing so and invite you to join me back in a time when flags looked like flags and not corporate logos designed by politically correct focus groups.
Failing a Union Jack, might I suggest the provincial flag of Ontario. I had forgotten what a handsome flag it was until one popped up a number of weeks ago on the power pole beside the driveway entrance to Jean Tellier’s home. It’s the farm just west of René and Sherrill Trottier’s property. Well done, Jean.
Stork Update
As an addendum to last week’s report on the arrival of a new bundle of joy at the McCormick-Burgess household, I have the two details missing from the pervious announcement. First of all, the young lad weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. And second, the proud parents relied heavily on the Gaelic Baby Names book, dubbing their young son: Carraig Rhys. I’m informed that Carraig is an Irish baby name from the old Irish word “carrac” meaning rock or large stone. This is entirely appropriate as one of Andrew’s relatives was a stonemason.
The latest “buzz”
Unfortunately, grandpa Burgess of the aforementioned baby will be otherwise engaged this week. Instead of fulfilling his “ooh and aah” duties. All this week, Stephen will in the agri-education tent at the International Plowing Match in Finch waxing eloquent on the joys of honeybees. Be sure to stop by and make him feel guilty.
The Nation says “NO”
On September 14th, the Council in Nation Township (just north of Dunvegan) voted 4 to 1 to adopt a resolution cancelling the previous four resolutions from 2013, 2014 and 2015 in support of proposed wind turbine projects. The Nation is now officially a “Not Willing Host”. Congratulations to Mayor St-Amour and Councilors Lanthier, Legault and Brière.
But this is only a first step. Even though the municipality has officially declared its opposition to wind turbine projects, the provincial government could still ram fifteen of these 300’ towers down the throats of residents.
It’s interesting to note that, this past July, Ontario produced more than 13 million megawatts of electricity. Existing wind power installations generated just three percent of this total. However, the obscene premiums Ontario taxpayers pay for this so-called “green” energy pushed the price up to $112.50 per megawatt hour.
Unfortunately for us, even in a month with heavy air conditioning use, we produced 1.8 million megawatts more electricity than we needed… an amount equal to over FOUR times the total wind and solar power generated in July. What really hurts though is that we ended up selling this surplus power, mostly to Michigan and New York for just $22.50 per megawatt hour. In other words, we lost $163 million on the deal… in just one month.
These figures come from the Independent Electricity System Operator and, for the first seven months of 2015 alone, this agency estimates our losses total $1.25 billion. That would pay for a lot of desperately needed health care services. Just saying.
Mittens deconstructed
Thanks to Bob Linney and his connections to Blacklock Media Services, here’s one last government tidbit — Federal this time.
The Canadian Department of Defence, already cited by the Auditor General for inept contracting, has just issued 107 pages of specifications for new military mittens. The department cautioned that the palms and thumbs of these government-issue hand-covering systems “must be flush”, as well as “soft” and “smooth.” Really.
These are the same characters that issued a 167-page tender document that, amongst reams of specifications, cautioned pairs of new mukluks for our troops be a “good colour match under north-sky daylight.”
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