Final Woodchester Post, Sports Hall of Fame

WOODCHESTER ANTIQUES, HALL OF FAME SPORTS COLLECTIBLES, AND A SHOW-OFF

I ENJOYED EXPOSURE TO FINE ANTIQUES, INTERESTING HERITAGE, AND OLD HOCKEY STUFF

NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ MUCH BACKGROUND ON BRACEBRIDGE'S WOODCHESTER VILLA, YOU CAN VISIT MY BRACEBRIDGE BLOGSITE TO CATCH-UP.

I HAVE JUST THIS MOMENT SWITCHED-OFF THE TELEVISION. I HAD SOME LEFTOVER MACARONI AND SOME COLD DRESSING FROM THE TURKEY THE NIGHT BEFORE. I'M ON A DIET, AND UNHAPPY ABOUT IT…..AND WHAT MAKES IT WORSE, IS THAT I JUST SNUCK AN EXTRA PORTION, THAT SUZANNE WILL SPOT THE MOMENT SHE COMES HOME,…… AND SLOWLY OPENS THE FRIDGE DOOR SUSPECTING I HAVE BEEN A CALORIE THIEF. I SHALL BE PUNISHED AT DINNER, AND I'LL BE LUCKY TO GET A COUPLE OF RADISHES AND SEVERAL MISERABLE SPRIGS OF GREEN ONION. AND THEN THERE'S THE BERATING.

THE REASON I SWITCHED OFF THE NEWS, WAS DUE TO THE SUDDEN SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET STUFF DONE. NOT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH. BUT I JUST HEARD THAT RUSSIA HAS INFORMED ISRAEL NOT TO BOMB IRAN. IT REMINDED ME OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, WHEN OUR NEIGHBORS IN BURLINGTON, STARTED DIGGING FALL-OUT SHELTERS JUST IN CASE. HERE I AM, WRITING ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, IN 2012, ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES IN RECENT HISTORY, WHILE INNOCENT INHABITANTS OF SYRIA ARE BEING MASSACRED. JUST BECAUSE THE DICTATOR HAS THE ARMY AND THE ARSENAL. AS FOR IRAN, WELL, THEY'VE BEEN PLAYING AT THIS NUCLEAR THING FOR YEARS NOW, AND CONSIDERING THEIR POLITICAL WILL, IS TO REDUCE ISRAEL TO ASH, WHAT ARE ISREAL'S CHOICES? WAIT FOR THE NUCLEAR WARHEAD? A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE, BECAUSE OF A DICTATOR'S INSANITY. YUP, IT'S HARD TO GET INTO THE PASSIVE, GENTLE APPRECIATION OF ANTIQUES, WHEN YOU KNOW RUSSIA IS FLEXING ITS MILITARY MUSCLE, ALL THE WAY OVER THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO DO THESE DAYS, OTHER THAN COWER A LITTLE; AND POSSIBLY DIG A HOLE IN THE BACK YARD, AND STOCK IT WITH PROVISIONS. MY HISTORIAN-SIDE, TELLS ME TO DIG THE HOLE. THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTOR SIDE, GETS NOSTALGIC FOR BAY OF PIGS MEMORABILIA. I'M AFRAID DIPLOMACY WON'T WORK. IF COMMON SENSE WON'T PREVAIL, THERE WILL BE A MIDDLE EAST WAR INVOLVING SUPER-POWERS. SO MUCH OF THIS ARISES FROM POVERTY. IT'S AWFULLY DEPRESSING TO REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH SUFFERING IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. AND HONESTLY, AS A JOURNALIST, I FEEL IT WOULD BE BETTER TO WORD-SMITH INSIGHTFUL, INFLUENTIAL EDITORIALS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE WORLD OPINION……AND BRING ABOUT WORLD PEACE. I'D BE A LOT BETTER, AT THIS POINT, I THINK, DIGGING THE FALL-OUT SHELTER, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THERE IS NO COLUMNIST IN THE WORLD, WHO CAN DAMPEN THE ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT AMOUNTS TO A CIVILIZATION-LONG HOLY WAR. ALL THIS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE! MAKES THE ISSUE OF RISING GAS PRICES, TOMORROW I'M TOLD, MUNICIPAL TAXES, AND PENSION REFORM IN OUR COUNTRY, SEEM A LITTLE MOOT IN COMPARISON. MAKES PERSONAL REMINISCENCES LIKE THESE SLIGHTLY IRRELEVANT. OR MAYBE NOT.

CALL IT A TEMPORARY DIVERSION FROM THE PRESSING REALITIES OF THE MAD, MAD WORLD. I USED TO ENJOY SITTING OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH AT WOODCHESTER VILLA, WATCHING MY TWO YOUNG SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, RUNNING AROUND THE TERRACED PROPERTY. I'D SIT THERE, IN BETWEEN TOURS AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CHORES, LISTENING TO THE CROWS IN THE TOWERING EVERGREENS, AND THE WIND FROM THE VALLEY, PUSHING UP THROUGH THE PINE BOUGHS. IN THAT PRECIOUS WINDSONG THIS HILLSIDE LANDSCAPE WAS SOFTLY ENVELOPED. IT WAS ALWAYS A SOJOURN TO ATTEND MY RESPONSIBILITIES AT WOODCHESTER. IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN MY REPORTING JOB AT MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS. I WASN'T RE-FINISHING FURNITURE FOR MY ANTIQUE BUSINESS. I WAS HERE TO PROUDLY SHOW-OFF, THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST INTERESTING HOUSES…..AND NO MATTER HOW LONG AND HARD A DAY'S WORK AT THE MUSEUM, IT WAS ALWAYS A RESPITE FROM EVERYTHING ELSE IN A NORMAL WORK WEEK. I RESTORED MYSELF AT WOODCHESTER. IT WAS AN INSPIRING PLACE IN A MOST SUBTLE WAY. SO IT IS FITTING, I SUPPOSE, THAT I SHOULD WRITE-ABOUT THIS TODAY, AS A SORT OF FINAL CHAPTER, IN MY RECOLLECTIONS PENNED RECENTLY, RE-LIVING MY YEARS AS ITS PROTECTOR. AS IT IS NOW IN A MOST VULNERABLE STATE, JUST AS I FOUND IT BACK IN 1977, I AM STILL IN HEART, ITS FAITHFUL PROTECTOR. I WISH I COULD DO MORE. AS FOR THOSE HISTORIANS, AND HERITAGE PROTECTORS, AND COUNCIL STEWARDS IN BRACEBRIDGE……WHO DROPPED THE BALL?

AS A LAST PIECE ABOUT WOODCHESTER VILLA, AND MUSEUM, IN BRACEBRIDGE, I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW INSIGHTS ABOUT CURATORIAL ADVANTAGES. THE INHERENT RIGHT OF A MANAGER OF A HISTORIC SITE, TO SHOW-OFF THE COLLECTION. IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO GRANDSTAND ALL OVER THE PLACE, BECAUSE I WAS PROUD OF THE MUSEUM COLLECTION. I WAS AN EVEN BIGGER HAM, WHEN IT CAME TO EXHIBITING THE COLLECTION OF SPORTS MEMORABILIA, WHEN I WAS CURATOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, HOUSED AT THE BRACEBRIDGE ARENA. FOR TWELVE YEARS I GOT TO PLAY WITH THIS STUFF, AND IT WAS ALWAYS A RUSH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON SHOWING, SUCH AS FOR SUMMER CAMP KIDS. THE SAME HELD TRUE FOR WOODCHESTER VILLA. AS AN ANTIQUE LOVER FOR MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, IT WAS ALWAYS SUCH A BONUS HAVING THIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE COLLECTION. IT'S ALSO WHY IT TOOK ME SOMETIME TO EXHALE, WHEN I READ A RECENT COMMENT, FROM A BRACEBRIDGE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, THAT HE WASN'T SURE IF THE HOUSE HAD BEEN EMPTIED OF ITS CONTENTS, AFTER IT WAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED, DUE TO STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. THERE WERE SOME IMPORTANT PIECES IN THAT OCTAGONAL HOUSE, WITH CONSIDERABLE VALUE, SO I'M HOPING IT WAS A NEWSPAPER MISPRINT. IF NO ONE WAS WATCHING THE ARTIFACTS, AND THERE HAS BEEN DETERIORATION, CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED.

IF YOU'VE BEEN READING SOME OF THESE RECENT WOODCHESTER BLOGS, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THE WRAP-AROUND VERANDAH, ON THE 1882 VINTAGE ESTATE, WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY HEAVY SNOW-LOAD SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS BEEN CLOSED EVER SINCE. IT IS NOW BEING STUDIED FOR POTENTIAL RESTORATION, OR POTENTIAL CLOSURE AS A MUSEUM. IN ITS SHORT HISTORY AS A MUSEUM, IT HAS NEVER BEEN A COUNCIL PRIORITY, AND A NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS EXPLAINED THE REASONS WHY. I'VE MENTIONED THOSE IN PREVIOUS BLOGS, SO I WON'T REPEAT THEM AGAIN HERE.

MY WIFE SUZANNE AND I ENJOYED CONDUCTING TOURS OF THE PROPERTY. WE BROUGHT DOWN THE BARRIER ROPES IN THE ROOMS, TO BRING TOURS CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE PIECES. WE LET GUESTS TOUCH THE ANTIQUE FURNITURE, AND WE ALLOWED THEM TO HANDLE SMALL PIECES, UNDER OUR SUPERVISION, TO CONNECT WITH THE TEXTURES OF THE PAST. WE PRACTICED THE FULL EXTENT OF SENSORY EXPERIENCE AT WOODCHESTER, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GHOSTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WANDERING THE HOUSE. I LOVED TO TELL VISITORS ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL HAIR WREATH, THAT HUNG IN THE SECOND FLOOR HALL. THIS PARTICULAR ONE, OR SO THE STORY GOES, WAS DONE AS A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO A FAMILY MEMBER. THOSE LEFT TO MOURN, CONTRIBUTED THEIR COLLECTED HAIR (FROM HAIR RECEIVER DISHES ON THEIR DRESSERS) TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS PROFICIENT AT WEAVING THEM INTO A WREATH DESIGN, TO THEN BE MOUNTED IN A SHADOW BOX WITH GLASS. THE REACTION WAS ALWAYS THE SAME. "WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT," REFERRING TO THE WREATH. "IT'S SO MORBID, I DON'T LIKE IT."

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO OWN ONE MYSELF BUT THEY ARE QUITE DIFFICULT TO FIND, AND DREADFULLY EXPENSIVE TO PURCHASE. GUESTS WOULD ALWAYS FIND IT INTERESTING, UNTIL THEY DISCOVERED, ON CLOSE INSPECTION, IT WAS MADE FROM ACTUAL HUMAN HAIR. I'D GET A KICK OUT OF THE WAY THEY'D STEP-BACK QUICKLY, AS IF IT WAS A COILED SNAKE. "IT'S ONLY HAIR," I'D EXPLAIN. "IT WON'T BITE." I NEVER MET ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO HAVE ONE FOR THEIR HOME. SUZANNE AND I BOTH AGREE, FOR ONCE, THAT THE WREATHS ARE BEAUTIFULLY MADE, AND ARE TRULY EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES OF CULTURAL FOLK ART.

THE CASE OF PRESERVED BIRDS IN THE DINING ROOM, WAS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR. ADMITTEDLY IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE, FOR THE LARGE CASE, TO BE SITTING IN THE DINING ROOM. IT ATTRACTED A HUGE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION…..SOME OF IT GOOD, AND A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE PAST CRUELTY TO OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS. WE KNOW FOR FACT, THE BIRDS WEREN'T KILLED, IN THE DAYS OF HENRY BIRD (OWNER OF THE HOUSE), JUST TO MAKE UP THIS SHOWCASE. IT WAS A VERY DARK AND UNSETTLING DISPLAY, AND PARTICULARLY SO WHEN WE'D HAVE TO PUT FOOD ON THE ADJACENT DINING-ROOM TABLE, DURING SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE EVENTS. THE KIDS WERE GENERALLY FRIGHTENED OF IT, AND MOST WOULDN'T ADMIT TO A FEELING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I THOUGHT IT WAS A POWERFUL PIECE, THAT REALLY SET THE MOOD OF INTRIGUE ABOUT THE HOUSE GENERALLY. AFTER ALL, IT WAS BUILT AS AN OCTAGON, TO ENHANCE HEALTHY AND INSPIRED LIVING, AND OF COURSE FACILITATE CONVENIENCE. I DIDN'T FIND THIS, BUT ACCORDING TO ITS DESIGNER, AMERICAN PHRENOLOGIST, ORSON SQUIRE FOWLER, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A STRONG INNER POWER…..BEING A SPIRITUAL HIVE OF ENERGY, MUCH LIKE THE LATER SPECULATION ABOUT PYRAMID POWER. THERE WAS A DUMB WAITOR (ELEVATOR) IN THE CENTRE OF THE HOUSE, THAT WOULD LIFT PREPARED FOOD, FROM THE BASEMENT KITCHEN, TO THE DINING ROOM, AND SECOND FLOOR HALL. I'M PRETTY SURE IT WENT TO THE ATTIC BUT I JUST CAN'T RECALL WHERE THE OPENING WAS. IT WAS LOGICAL THAT IT WOULD ARRIVE UP TO THE ATTIC, BECAUSE TEA TRAYS WERE OFTEN TAKEN UP THE NARROW LADDER TO THE WIDOW'S WALK, WHERE FAMILY COULD SIT ON THE UPPER PLATFORM OF THE ROOF, LOOKING DOWN ON THE WOOLLEN MILL, ON THE EMBANKMENT OF THE MUSKOKA RIVER, JUST ABOVE THE BRACEBRIDGE FALLS. I LOVED TO DEMONSTRATE THE DUMB WAITER FOR THE SCHOOL KIDS, WHO MIGHT NEVER HAVE SEEN ONE IN THEIR LIVES. THEY ARE LARGELY A CONVENIENCE OF THE PAST.

I'D EVEN CRANK UP THE VICTROLA IN THE PARLOR, WHEN A TOUR WAS BEING CONDUCTED, AND SHOW STUDENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD 78 SPEED RECORDS AND THE NEWER VINYL. I WOULD LET THEM CHECK OUT THE SCREW-IN NEEDLE….WHICH WAS JUST A SHARP METAL POINT, AND LET THEM WIND-UP THE MAIN-SPRING WITH THE CRANK ON THE SIDE. WHILE I WAS PROTECTIVE OF THE PARLOR PIANO, I DID ALLOW GUESTS WHO COULD PLAY, TO TICKLE THE IVORIES. ONE DAY, AFTER LUNCH, I WAS COMING UP THE WALKWAY, AND I HEARD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIANO PLAYING, COMING FROM OUR MUSEUM. MY MOTHER MERLE, WHO WAS HELPING OUT AS A TOUR GUIDE, HAD INVITED A VISITING CONCERT PIANIST FROM TORONTO, TO PLAY TO HER HEART'S CONTENT. THE PARLOR HAD THUSLY BECOME FULL OF GUESTS, JUST TO WATCH THIS TALENTED PERFORMER ENJOY A BIT OF LIVING HISTORY. THE PLACE CAME ALIVE. THIS IS THE WAY I WANTED THE MUSEUM TO BE EXPERIENCED. IT WAS TO BE ENJOYED, CELEBRATED, AND EXPERIENCED. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HAVING THIS COLLECTION, AND THE MUSEUM GENERALLY, IF EVERYTHING WAS ROPED-OFF, AND THE WHOLE TOUR TOOK ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES. LET ME TELL YOU, DURING MY TENURE, THE AVERAGE TOUR WAS BOOSTED TO AN HOUR….OR MORE….IF YOU HAPPENED TO PLAY THE PIANO…..OR LIKED OLD BIRDS IN A GLASS SHOWCASE. HOW ABOUT WORKING ON A VINTAGE SPINNING WHEEL? A LARGER WALKING WHEEL? WE HAD THOSE, AND AT TIMES WE'D HAVE THEM IN FULL USE, AS A CRAFT DEMONSTRATION……AND WE'D MOST CERTAINLY INVITE THOSE INTERESTED, TO GIVE THEM A WHIRL. I WANTED EVERYONE TO FEEL THEIR ADMISSION WAS WELL INVESTED. AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY'D GET A GHOST STORY FOR FREE. THEY WEREN'T STORIES MEANT TO SCARE ANYONE…….BUT TO RAISE THE SENSORY PERCEPTION OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN AN OCTAGONAL HOUSE……THAT MIGHT, JUST MIGHT BE, ATTACHED TO THE SO-CALLED PARANORMAL.

THE SMELL OF HISTORY. OLD WOOD. THAT'S A FOND MEMORY OF THE OLD PLACE. IT WAS WARM AND FRIENDLY. THOSE WHO ARE AVID ANTIQUE HUNTERS WILL RECOGNIZE SCENT, AS A KEY SENSORY PERCEPTION IN THE COLLECTION OF VINTAGE FURNITURE AND FARM IMPLEMENTS. I FOUND IT INTOXICATING IN A GOOD WAY. THE SMELL OF THAT MUSEUM COLLECTION, TOOK ME EVERSO GENTLY INTO THE ANNALS OF HISTORY. WHEN I OPENED THE MUSEUM DOOR IN THE MORNING, IT WAS A RUSH OF HISTORY THAT MET ME. I WAS IMMEDIATELY THRUST BACK IN TIME. EACH DAY WAS JUST AS PLEASANTLY APPOINTED AS THE NEXT. SO WHEN I'D SIT DOWN ON THE PORCH STEPS, WITH A PEN AND NOTEPAD, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FINDING THE WORDS TO EXPRESS MY CONTENTMENT, MY JOY, WORKING AMIDST SO MUCH CANADIAN AND COMMUNITY HISTORY. I SHOULD REALLY HAVE BEEN PAYING THE TOWN TO LET ME WORK THERE.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CALMING GRACE OF THAT OLD HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON, AS I CONTINUE TO LISTEN FOR ERRANT MISSILES, GETTING A LITTLE OFF COURSE. TO A LOT OF BRACEBRIDGE CITIZENS, THIS HOUSE ON THE HILL IS JUST A RELIC OF SOMEONE ELSE'S VALUES. NOW NOTHING MORE THAN A TAX BURDEN. AN OBSTACLE, LEFT BY SOME FOOLISH PEOPLE, WHO THOUGHT A MUSEUM WOULD BE AN ASSET TO THE TOWN……A FITTING TRIBUTE TO ALL THE FAMILY NAMES ATTACHED TO BRACEBRIDGE'S EARLY DAYS. WHILE IT WAS THE BIRD HOUSE BEING REFURBISHED, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THEIR FAMILY, OR THE WOOLLEN MILL. IT WAS MUCH BROADER THAN THIS. FOR ALL THE PRESS BRACEBRIDGE HAS RECEIVED RECENTLY, FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ITS HERITAGE BUILDINGS, AND THE THE GLAD-HANDING DONE IN ACCEPTING THE ACCOLADES, SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE. THE HISTORICALLY INCLINED OF BRACEBRIDGE, KIND OF FORGOT THE HOUSE ON THE HILL.

I DIDN'T. BUT THEN I'M AN OUT-OF-TOWNER!

SPORTS HALL OF FAME COLLECTION - I GOT TO HOLD ROGER CROZIER'S GOALIE MASK, ACE BAILEY'S SKATES!

WHEN ROGER CROZIER CALLED ME ONE DAY, AND ASKED IF I'D BE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF HIS NEW CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, (WITH CHAPTERS IN DELAWARE AND MUSKOKA), IT CAUGHT ME TOTALLY OFF-GUARD. UP TO THAT POINT I'D BEEN WORKING ON SOME BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, DEALING WITH ROGER'S YEARS PLAYING IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. HE HAD PLAYED WITH THE ORIGINAL SIX DETROIT RED WINGS, WITH GORDIE HOWE, THE BUFFALO SABRES, WITH EDDIE SHACK, AND THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. THE BRACEBRIDGE BORN CROZIER, IN THE EARLY 1990'S, WAS AN EXECUTIVE WITH AN AMERICAN BANK, KNOWN AS MBNA, BASED IN DELAWARE. HE HAD A COTTAGE NEAR PORT CARLING, AND OF COURSE, HE HAD LOTS OF FAMILY IN BRACEBRIDGE. ROGER HAD BEEN ONE OF FOURTEEN CHILDREN. HEARING FROM ROGER, THAT HE WANTED ME TO DO PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK FOR HIS NEW FOUNDATION, WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY I COULDN'T TURN DOWN. THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY WAS THAT ROGER WAS SUFFERING FROM PROSTRATE CANCER, AND LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER STARTING THE CROZIER FOUNDATION, HE PASSED AWAY. IN HIS HONOR, AND AS A GIFT TO THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, THE CROZIER FOUNDATION FUNDED A LARGE AND ELABORATE DISPLAY CASE AT THE TOWN ARENA, WITH THE BRASS LETTERS ABOVE READING "SPORTS HALL OF FAME." THE FOUNDATION WAS IN CHARGE OF THE EXHIBIT CASES, NOT THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE.

I WAS APPOINTED BY THE FOUNDATION AS ITS FIRST CURATOR. ACTUALLY, I WAS ITS ONLY APPOINTED CURATOR. WHEN THE CROZIER FOUNDATION CLOSED ITS MUSKOKA WING, AFTER TWELVE YEARS IN OPERATION, THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE INSTALLED ITS OWN CHOICE FOR CURATOR…….AND GAVE THIS GUY THE PROVERBIAL HEAVE-HO. IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED. I HAD BEEN A VOCAL OPPONENT OF THE TOWN'S SACRIFICE OF JUBILEE PARK, AND WHILE THEY CLAIMED MY REPLACEMENT WAS A NECESSARY CHANGE OF DIRECTION……IT WAS OBVIOUS MY POLITICAL RANTS WEREN'T APPRECIATED. NOT THAT I WASN'T RIGHT. JUST THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT FROM THEIR CURATOR.

OVER THE YEARS I HAD SUCH AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ROGER CROZIER'S SMALL COLLECTION OF GAME-USED EQUIPMENT, FROM THE GOAL STICK HE USED IN THE 1966 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WITH THE MONTREAL CANADIANS, HIS SKATES, GLOVES AND GOALIE MASK. ROGER PLAYED QUITE A WHILE WITHOUT BENEFIT OF A MASK, AND HE HAD THE SCARS TO SHOW FOR IT. I LOVED TO SHOW THE YOUNG HOCKEY PLAYERS FROM THE ANNUAL CROZIER SKATING CAMP, (WE USED TO RUN IN THE SUMMER MONTHS) HIS WORN-DOWN GOAL STICK. YOU COULD ACTUALLY FEEL THE DEPRESSIONS ON THE SHAFT WHERE ROGER'S HAND HAD WORN DOWN THE WOOD OVER MANY NHL GAMES. BACK THEN GOALIES TENDED TO HANG ONTO THOSE STICKS LONGER THAN NETMINDERS DO TODAY. YOU COULD SLIP YOUR HAND INTO THE PRECISE PLACE WHERE ROGER HELD THE STICK……AND THE KIDS WOULD CROUCH TO THE POSITION IT FELT MOST COMFORTABLE…..IN REALITY, REPLICATING CROZIER'S OWN STANCE IN THE CREASE. I ALSO LET THE KIDS PUT ON HIS MASK, AND EXAMINE HIS SKATES. I DID THE SAME WITH IRVIN "ACE" BAILEY'S SKATES, AND THIS WAS ALWAYS A TREAT FOR HOCKEY FANS, AS HE WAS ONE OF THE LEGENDARY TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS BACK IN THE DAYS OF CONN SMYTHE, AND THE NEW MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. I USED TO CLEAN DUST OFF THE ONE AND ONLY PAUL WHITEMAN TROPHY, THE BIG BAND LEADER, OF THE 1930'S, WHO HAD IT SPECIALLY CRAFTED FOR PRESENTATION TO ACE BAILEY. WHITEMAN WAS A BIG FAN OF MR. BAILEY'S PLAY. IF I DIDN'T MENTION IT EARLIER, ACE BAILEY WAS FROM BRACEBRIDGE.

FOR THOSE WHO LOVED SKIING, WE HAD AN AMAZING DISPLAY OF MEMORABILIA AND TROPHIES WON BY BRACEBRIDGE DOWNHILL SKI SENSATION, LIISA SAVIJARVI, FROM THE PERIOD OF THE "CRAZY CANUCKS." LIISA HAD COMPETED IN THE OLYMPICS IN SARAJEVO. I WAS ALWAYS PLEASED TO TALK ABOUT HER COLLECTION OF TROPHIES ON DISPLAY.

ON TOP OF THIS, I ALSO HANDLED HUNDREDS OF OTHER LOCAL SPORTS HEIRLOOMS, FROM EARLY SKATES AND STICKS, TO VINTAGE HOCKEY SWEATERS, JACKETS, CAPS, AND PLAYER MEMORIALS, SUCH AS THE ONE TO GARTH BRAZIER, AN OUTSTANDING HOCKEY PLAYER WITH THE BRACEBRIDGE HUSKIES INTERMEDIATE HOCKEY CLUB, WHO DROWNED IN A TRAGIC BOATING MISHAP. IT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN LOST FOR MANY YEARS, AND WAS FOUND ONE DAY, DURING A STORAGE-SPACE CLEAN-OUT AT THE ARENA. IT HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN ON DISPLAY IN THE FORMER LOBBY, THAT HAD BEEN TORN DOWN IN THE 1970'S DUE TO STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES. THE BRAZIER MEMORABILIA HAD BEEN PUT IN STORAGE, AND THEN FORGOTTEN ABOUT. IT WAS GREAT TO GET IT BACK IN THE HALL OF FAME DISPLAY.

ALL IMPORTANT MATERIALS, AND I WAS THEIR GUARDIAN. I TOOK MY JOB SERIOUSLY, BUT IT NEVER SEEMED LIKE A JOB. LIKE WOODCHESTER VILLA, LOOKING AFTER THESE HERITAGE, LEGACY PIECES, WAS AN HONOR FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME. I DO MISS MY CONNECTION WITH BOTH OPERATIONS. JUST FOR THE RECORD. I WORKED AS THE HALL OF FAME CURATOR AS A VOLUNTEER. I WAS PAID FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK BY THE CROZIER FOUNDATION. MY SONS? LIKE WOODCHESTER, THEY WERE MY HALL OF FAME ASSISTANTS, AND LONG BEFORE THEY DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR VINTAGE GUITARS AND MUSIC MEMORABILIA, THEY WERE HANDLING ROGER CROZIERS HOCKEY EQUIPMENT, THE PAUL WHITEMAN TROPHY, ACE BAILEY'S SKATES, HIS OWN ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS, AND LIISA SAVIJARVI'S TROPHIES….PLUS SO MUCH MORE. THEY'VE BOTH HAD STORIED LIVES THE RESULT OF THEIR FATHER'S OBSESSION WITH HISTORY.