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President’s Message
The last two years as president of the Georgina Historical Society has been an interesting time, as the world is slowly waking up from Covid, but also seems to be in turmoil. Here at home, as we are entering winter, things are slowly returning to normal, with the Jackson’s Point harbour full of minnows and migrating birds, the boats are tucked away, and thoughts of Christmas are giving us something to look forward to.
Before I go much further though, I must thank our exceptional board of directors for their dedication to this very important Society. In no particular order, I want to recognize Tom Glover as our past president, who is my go-to guy for advice and guidance. Also my thanks goes out to Gail Moore our amazing secretary, Kim Brady our treasurer, Bob Holden, Stella Trainor, and Elizabeth McLean. Thank you all for your time and dedication, what an amazing team! The Georgina Historical Society has no paid employees, and that everything we do or get involved with is done totally on our own time, with the only compensation being the satisfaction which comes from a job well done.
I also want to share with you some of the Georgina Historical Society’s activities of the past year, starting with Georgina Life, the local events program that is on Rogers Cable 10 every week. It has become a great place for us to spread the word about the rich history of Georgina. Run almost totally by volunteers, the quality and content of this show impresses anyone who has watched, and I must give a special shout-out to Grant Peckford and Lynda Quirino, the hardest working people in volunteer TV, along with the rest of the team at Rogers. Over the past year I have appeared on the show seven times, sharing stories, information and artifacts with the viewers. At one of those tapings I met Charlotte Hale, the Artistic Director at the Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture. This led to a well received photo exposition at the Arts Centre that explored the history of Georgina through photographs owned by the Georgina Historical Society.
On April 9 Kim and I did a presentation at Sutton by the Lake for the residents there, explaining Jackson’s Point’s interesting history of railways, steamboats, the ice industry and many other aspects of Jackson’s Point’s contribution to history.
The month of May brought “Rise to Rebellion”, sponsored by the Town of Georgina and presented at the Georgina Pioneer Village and Archives. A great demonstration of events leading up to the uprising in Upper Canada in 1837, the Georgina Historical Society supplied 24 hours of volunteer assistance to the production.
June 1 was opening day for the Village, and Kim and I spent the day in the caboose, explaining it’s purpose to an interested community.
Music in the Streets, a showcase of local musical talent and presented by Connor’s Music in Keswick, found the Georgina Historical Society working one of the refreshment stands as a GHS fund-raiser, with many members volunteering their time.
The Georgina Historical Society did two pop-up appearances at the Sutton Farmer’s Market, bringing our mobile display to the market. I must thank Natalia Zammitti and her team for supplying us with a free spot, and for all their help in setting up and breaking down the display. We have found that these appearances at the Farmer’s Market generate a lot of recognition for the GHS, and we were busy greeting interested people during the day.
Harvestfest at the Georgina Pioneer Village brought another opportunity to bring recognition to the GHS, our major event of the year. Countless hours are spent in the preparation, planning and execution of this festival and it always amazes me at the people who come out to volunteer, many of whom are here tonight.
Another wrinkle was encountered this year as we were made aware of changes by the province to the way not for profit organizations are run, and countless hours were spent understanding what was needed, meetings with lawyers, and a myriad of other requirements to be met. I must thank Kim Brady for taking this on, it has been a huge job.
I would be remiss if I didn’t speak to the monthly board meetings that the board attends, and the monthly general meetings where we bring interesting speakers and topics to you. I also must thank Bob Holden for his work on our monthly newsletter, easily the best newsletter that I have seen. Keep up the good work Bob!
I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank Jodi Pridham and Melissa Matt and her team, from the Town of Georgina, for keeping the Georgina Pioneer Village in good condition, and working with us whenever we ask.
Hopefully 2025 will be another banner year for the GHS, I hope that you all stay healthy and engaged with your community.
With the best of wishes for the holidays,
Paul Brady, President, Georgina Historical Society
Update – the Mann-Sprague Cemetery rehab
Work has continued at the Mann-Sprague Cemetery. The parking lay-by (see left) is finished, the archway is being built now, and the seating area (see below) is installed. It will be here that signage will be mounted, and there should soon be some exciting news regarding the participation of the Georgina Historical Society in the installation of the interpretive signage. Attempts at slowing down the lilac suckers are proceeding, but it will probably take some time to curb their growth.
A big shout-out goes to Courtney Rennie, her team, and the Town of Georgina for their wonderful support of this important initiative.
Mossington Bridge (Blue Bridge) receives anti-jumping barrier
BEFORE
AFTER
The Town of Georgina has erected an anti-jumping barrier onto the 112 year-old Blue Bridge. This barrier, constructed of 2” x 2” heavy wall steel tubing with 4” x 4” heavy wall steel tubing posts every 8’, has been installed on the bridge over the weekend of November 22, 2024, with no public notification. As the President of the Georgina Historical Society, a member of the Ad Hoc Georgina Heritage Advisory Committee, and long-time local resident with close ties to the area, our President, Paul Brady, was very disappointed that the Town elected to conduct this project in such a manner. At a cost of $315,100, this is a major modification to a Heritage Designated structure, altering sight lines both of and from the bridge and done in a cloak of silence, both of which go against Provincial legislation in how to deal with Heritage Structures.
It is also disconcerting that the Town of Georgina, having at their finger-tips an untold number of citizens well equipped and more than willing to guide them in all aspects of this initiative, have chosen to do this in secrecy. Indeed, the Georgina Town Council even took the extraordinary measure to appoint itself as the Georgina Heritage Advisory Committee, despite the fact that, to the best of our knowledge at least, none of them have shown any interest or expertise regarding the rich history of Georgina. This tells us that this Town of Georgina council only values their own misguided opinions and points of view regarding decision-making about our heritage.
Luckily, before the handsome original railings were removed and hidden away forever, a concerned citizen learned of this situation, and advised us allowing your President, Paul Brady, to document it before and after. The original railings are now gone and the barriers are up. This will not solve the problems for which it was erected; it will still be possible for young daredevils to climb up and jump from the bridge with relative ease. What a waste! It would have been far more economical and practical to patrol more frequently and fine offenders more stiffly. Georgina has spent a considerable sum on this ‘clandestine fix’ that could have been far more effectively used on other issues. Your President, Paul Brady, and the GHS will continue to follow this situation closely, and will keep you posted on further developments.
Editorial comment: The considerable sum used on this ‘clandestine fix’ would have been more than enough (with money left over) to restore the historic Elmgrove Schoolhouse to community purposes as a meeting hall or other potential uses. That building (recently brought up at Council on October 30th as an “expression of interest”) was erected in 1881, and is currently being allowed to languish into disrepair. Some of that money used for the bridge would have also seen more efficient use retaining the handyman in our Pioneer Village as a permanent position instead of contract. The last two gentlemen under contract were self-starters who did amazing and excellent work and were lost to more permanent employment elsewhere. Really good people are hard to find, especially for contract positions. Retaining our last handyman would have given far more useful value to the taxpayers of Georgina than the speciously ‘clandestine fix’ on the Blue Bridge defacing a heritage structure. R. W. Holden, editor
November’s AGM
Our Annual General Meeting was an unqualified success! Our dinner tickets were completely sold out and our meal was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Thanks to the those who prepared our delicious meal! Elections for several Board positions were held, and below is a picture of your new Board.
Left to right: Stella Trainer, Elizabeth ‘Widit’ McLean, President Paul Brady, Acting Treasurer Kim Brady, Robert Holden, Secretary Gail Moore, Past President Tom Glover
For Dan Buchanan (Right) , our guest speaker, the study of history has been a lifelong passion and is now a full time job. Known as “The History Guy of Brighton, Ontario,” he is an author with four published history books demonstrating his desire to explain historical events objectively and present them in a readable form that everyone can enjoy. Check out his website at http://danbuchananhistoryguy.com. His third book, The Wreck of HMS Speedy, was released in 2020 and was the subject of his presentation. Working from home in Brighton, Dan is engaged in many other projects related to local and Ontario history. Dan also writes a history column for The Beacon, the newsletter of the Municipality of Brighton. A member of the Brighton Heritage Advisory Committee and the Brighton Arts and Culture Council, Dan is also an active genealogist whose efforts may be seen on the website Treesbydan.com where a massive collection of interconnected family trees help others find their ancestors. In his spare time, Dan is working on an ongoing project called “Around Town” that will see the documentation of every property in Brighton.
Dinner at the AGM in the Sutton Legion
HOW TO KEEP CHRISTMAS
As we struggle to cope with guidelines for a safe Christmas we thought you might like to see the suggestions on “How to Keep Christmas” as published in the Newmarket Era on December 24, 1896 and in our December 2020 newsletter. It is worth repeating.
Keep sober
Keep the day holy
Keep the cook if you can
Keep painted toys out of the baby’s mouth
Keep your temper if you can’t carve the turkey right
Keep your Christmas Feast at home with your little ones
Keep your eye on the new wax doll so it won’t be smashed before night
Keep your mother-in-law in humour by giving her some slight testimonial of your esteem
Keep the presents you receive as sacred mementoes, not on account of their value, but on account of who gave them to you
Keep a bottle of medicine where you can get at it when the children rest from their labour of devouring mince pie, plum pudding, chicken salad, oyster stuffing, doughnuts, French candies, nuts, etc.
Keep in mind the most disgraceful thing to be said of a man is that he got a brick in his hat for Christmas
Keep a firm hold on your heart
It is a bad time to fall in love, for when the excitement of the holidays passes, you might like to be out of it again
Keep the joy and gladness of Christmas in your hearts and in your homes as long as you can. There is no reason it should ever die out
Keep the wants of the poor in mind in the midst of the abundance which heaven may shower on you
Keep your eyes open when the collection plate is passed around for the orphans at Christmas, even if you were up all the night before. It would look better to take a nap at another time.
Keep a little of the good things to spread out throughout the holidays.
Don’t spend your months’ salary for a big breakdown and have to go in debt afterward.
Keep all the slippers you get, no matter how many.
They will come in good next summer for throwing at the cats on the shed.
Keep your eyes open to the kind of presents you get. If you’re young is working for a salary of $6 a week and gives you a present worth something in the neighbourhood of$40 to $50, make up your mind there is a screw loose somewhere.
Keep a few of the good things left over from your grand dinner party for your poor relations who may happen by during the week.
Keep a bright smile, a pleasant word and a warm corner in your heart for every child you come across on Christmas.
Keep your arm around your girl, by all means, if she will let you when you take her out sleigh riding.
Be sure to notify the livery man of your intentions beforehand.
You will have a delightful time with a slow going horse used to the one armed business but Maud B or St. Julius would be apt to send the pair of you into kingdom come.
Keep it in mind that Christmas is a Christian Festival, not a state day or political celebration.
Let the joy and gladness be genuine, let the blessed peace it brings go down to the very depths of your heart so that you may be at peace with all men and bear enmity towards none.
Let the music of its joy bells awaken a new song of love in your hearts – love for home and family and friends – love for the little ones all the world over – love for the poor; the beloved of God – and love for Him the Christ Child for whose coming the sweet feast commemorates.
Much of this advice is as true today as when it was published nearly 130 years ago!!
Merry Christmas!
A History of New Year’s Resolutions By Sarah Pruitt
The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—a place no one wanted to be.
A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome, after the reform-minded emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the new year circa 46 B.C. Named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. Believing that Janus symbolically looked backwards into the previous year and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year.
For early Christians, the first day of the new year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. In 1740, the English clergyman John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Also known as watch night services, they included readings from Scriptures and hymn singing, and served as a spiritual alternative to the raucous celebrations normally held to celebrate the coming of the new year. Now popular within evangelical Protestant churches, especially African American denominations and congregations, watch night services held on New Year’s Eve are often spent praying and making resolutions for the coming year.
Despite the tradition’s religious roots, New Year’s resolutions today are a mostly secular practice. Instead of making promises to the gods, most people make resolutions only to themselves, and focus purely on self-improvement (which may explain why such resolutions seem so hard to follow through on). According to recent research, while as many as 45 percent of Canadians say they usually make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals. But that dismal record probably won’t stop people from making resolutions anytime soon—after all, we’ve had about 4,000 years of practice.
Source: https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions
Happy New Year!!
Where in Georgina?
Our previous mystery location was identified correctly by our President Paul Brady. Thanks Paul! It’s finally solved…it was the Orchard Beach General Store! We have a new mystery location above that still remains unidentified …where is it, and what is it?
News
Cemetery Rehab Update –
The Mann Cemetery has been transformed and the contractors have done an amazing job. Eight thousand dollars had been budgeted for the rehabilitation of the headstones and the Company that was hired specializes in cemetery restorations and has done exceptional work. The rehabilitation of the abandoned cemeteries in Georgina is a multi-year project. The Project Manager for the Town of Georgina, Courtney Rennie, was our guest speaker at the October General Program Meeting and gave us a most interesting presentation.
ONCA Update –
The revised constitution for the Georgina Historical Society was approved at a special meeting held immediately prior to last October’s general meeting. All the By-law changes have been examined and approved by the legal firm, Keel Cottrelle before they were submitted to the Ontario Provincial Government ahead of their deadline.
Georgina Pioneer Village –
From December 1st until January 6th, visit the village from 5-10 pm to stroll through enchanting holiday lights. Enjoy festive fun for the whole family, including photo ops, a snowman scavenger hunt, and special holiday programs. The holiday spirit will shine brightly throughout the festive season with the Festival of Lights. Explore the grounds of Georgina Pioneer Village and the Civic Centre for an enchanting holiday experience. Check the website for details of the 2024 event.
Location: Georgina Pioneer Village and Civic Centre 26557 Civic Centre Rd., Keswick, L4P 3G1 Canada
Events
December 1st to January 6th – Festival of Lights, Georgina Pioneer Village, from 5 to 11 PM; new lighting is expected to be added to the Schoolhouse and Santa will make an early appearance at the Train Station.
Monday, January 6th – Board meeting, Quilter’s Cabin GPV, 2:00 PM
Tuesday, January 21st – General meeting, Bring and Bragg, Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture on High Street in Sutton. Meet and greet 6:30…meeting at 7:00.
Saturday, February 8 from 12 – 2pm the Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture presents Ted Barris, author of “The Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen and their Finest Hour”, doing a speaking engagement and book signing at the gallery, This is a fund-raising event, seating is limited, so contact the gallery to arrange a reserved seat.