More on Gull Lake, More on Antique Hunting

NOTE: ANTIQUE HUNTING DAILY COLUMN - "OIL LAMPS I HAVE KNOWN" - APPEARS BELOW "GULL LAKE PARK" BLOG

THE GULL LAKE PARK PROPOSAL - I DON'T LIKE

THE AGENDA - A PROJECT WE SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT - BEFORE ANYTHING IS "SHOVEL READY"

I DON'T NEED A PSYCHIATRIST, WELL MAYBE I DO, TO DEAL WITH MY PARK PHOBIA. I'M NOT SCARED OF PARKS. JUST FRIGHTENED OF LOSING THEM. I MADE A MISTAKE ONCE, OF UNDERESTIMATING THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD. IT MAY HAVE COST THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE A CENTRAL PARK. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING, TO BLOCK THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HISTORIC JUBILEE PARK INTO A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS. I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE TOWN FOR DOING THIS, AND FRANKLY I DON'T CARE HOW SUCCESSFUL THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS BECOME. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE SITES. THEY WANTED THE CITIZENS' PARK. AND THEY GOT IT.

THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE PLAYED THIS SALE OF A PUBLIC PARK, LIKE A GAME OF CHESS. BEFORE THE NEIGHBORS OF THAT URBAN OPEN SPACE, HAD A CHANCE TO ORGANIZE, THE SUPPORT NETWORK HAD BEEN SECURED. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME, AS A FORMER COUNCIL REPORTER AND REGIONAL HISTORIAN, IS THAT COUNCILLORS WERE UNANIMOUS, ON A HUGELY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, TO SELL OFF WHAT THEY WERE STEWARDS OF, FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS WAS AN ESTABLISHED PARK, WITH A HISTORY OF WELL OVER 100 YEARS. IT WAS OPEN SPACE IN A TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE ANYONE, EVEN WITH THE MOST ELEMENTARY URBAN PLANNING KNOWLEDGE, WOULD BE ABLE TO PREDICT A FUTURE OF MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES, APARTMENTS AND CONDOMINIUMS, IN URBAN REDEVELOPMENT. AN IMPORTANT URBAN PARK, THAT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL AS POPULATION DENSITIES INCREASE. AS URBAN OPEN SPACE IS HARD TO FIND, HERE WAS THIS LITTLE GEM, THAT COUNCILS HAD PROTECTED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, SOLD OFF WITHOUT NARY A COUNCILLOR……NOT ONE, TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS WHO STRENUOUSLY OBJECTED TO THE PROJECT. I'M NOT GOING TO SUGGEST THAT BEING UNANIMOUS IN A DECISION IS WRONG, BUT WHEN IT WAS SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE, ANGRILY DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE SUSPECT, NO ONE WOULD BREAK RANK WITH WHAT WAS A TOWN INITIATIVE. SOLIDARITY IN THIS CASE, DID NOT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY. A COMMUNITY-WIDE REFERENDUM WOULD HAVE!

WHILE MY WIFE AND I TOOK PART IN THE PROTEST, AND ATTENDED EVERY MEETING….AS INTERESTED CITIZENS OF MUSKOKA (MY HOMETOWN WAS BRACEBRIDGE), I HAD NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. A CONSIDERABLE POWER BASE HAD BUILT-UP, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT, AND WITH COUNCIL UNWILLING TO BEND, OR EVEN ONE COUNCILLOR SIDE WITH OBJECTORS, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME, OR MONEY, TO EMPLOY THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED TO EVEN TICKLE THE WILL OF THE TOWN TO FOLLOW THROUGH. WHILE I HAD SPOKEN AT A PUBLIC MEETING, EARLY-ON, IN THE PROJECT, I FELT MY BEST CONTRIBUTION WAS TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, WITH RESEARCH, AND PEN SOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE LOCAL PRESS. I WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE OMB HEARING, BUT BECAUSE OF MY CONNECTION WITH THE CROZIER FOUNDATION AT THE TIME, AND MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE TOWN, AS CURATOR OF THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME…..AND A RESIDENT OF GRAVENHURST, I FELT IT WAS INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE TO MAKE THEIR OWN HISTORY. THE OBJECTORS FOUGHT A LOSING BATTLE FROM THE DAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED. IT WAS A BEHEMOTH CHALLENGE. AND THEY DID THEIR BEST.

MAYBE YOU WILL THINK OF ME, RATHER BIG FOR MY OWN BRITCHES, IF I SAID, (OR WROTE) I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INFLUENCE A JUDICIAL BODY, WITH MY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS……, LIKE A "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON," KIND OF IMPOSITION, ON THE CONSCIENCE OF DECISION MAKERS. DID THEY KNOW THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PARK? REALLY KNOW? NOT JUST WHAT APPEARED AS BLACK AND WHITE IN THE PILES OF SUBMISSIONS, FOR AND AGAINST. I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, FELT THAT I SHOULD HAVE STEPPED-UP, AND ACTED AS A TOWN HISTORIAN SHOULD HAVE…..AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAD A RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK……A RIGHT TO OBJECT TO WHAT MANY SAW AS "STEAMROLLING" A PLAN……AT ALL COST. I HAVE LIVED WITH REGRET FOR SOME TIME NOW, BECAUSE THAT PARKLAND WAS IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, WHETHER TOWN COUNCIL THOUGHT SO OR NOT. I COULD ONLY VOW ONE THING, AFTER THE VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED, THAT THE PROJECT WAS A "GO." AS AN HISTORIAN, I WOULD NEVER DISMISS THIS EVENT AS JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SMALL TOWN. IT WAS A MILESTONE OF HISTORY. NO MATTER HOW THEY PRESENT THIS, AS THE BEST DARN THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE TOWN, (AND I HAVE CORRECTED THEM, AND THE MEDIA MANY TIMES SINCE), HISTORICAL RECORD INCLUDES DISSENT, JUST AS IT DOES APPROVAL. JUBILEE PARK WASN'T SURRENDERED. IT WAS LOST IN BATTLE.

THE GULL LAKE PARK CONUNDRUM

THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST PROPONENTS, OF "MORE IS BETTER", FOR PLANNED VENUE IMPROVEMENTS, AT GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK, REMINDS ME SO MUCH OF THE EARLY GOING, IN THE TRANSITION ARGUMENTS OF BRACEBRIDGE'S "JUBILEE PARK." "SHOVEL READY" PLANS, ARE BEING RAM-RODDED IN THE SAME FASHION, VIA THE LOCAL PRESS, AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A SACRIFICE OF AN ENTIRE PARK, THE CREATION OF A THOUSAND PLUS SEATING AMPHITHEATRE, TO BE CARVED INTO THE EMBANKMENT OF GULL LAKE, SHOULD STILL BE TAKEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE PARK'S PRESENT INTEGRITY.

IT BEGAN INNOCENTLY ENOUGH, WHEN THE BARGE MANAGER, FRED SCHULZ, ASKED THE TOWN TO CONDUCT AN INSPECTION OF THE WOODWORK, AND IRON SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF THE STAGE FACILITY, TO INSURE IT WAS SAFE FOR USE THE NEXT SEASON. THIS WAS IN THE FALL OF 2010, ABOUT TEN MONTHS AHEAD OF THE NEXT YEAR'S MUSIC ON THE BARGE SEASON. EVEN THEN, GETTING REPAIRS TO THE RAMP, FROM THE SHORE TO THE STAGE, WAS DELAYED SUCH THAT THE FIRST TWO CONCERTS OF LAST SUMMER, HAD TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE CRAMPED QUARTERS OF THE ROTARY PAVILION……GOOD FOR PICNICS, BUT NOT SO GOOD AS A VENUE FOR LARGE CONCERTS. WHEN THE INSPECTIONS IN 2011 REVEALED MUCH MORE SERIOUS SUPPORT DEFICIENCIES, THE PLAN WAS TO LOOK AT REPAIRS, POSSIBLY SPREAD OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS OF A REPLACEMENT STAGE BUT NOT MUCH WAS RELEASED ABOUT THESE COUNCIL-SIDE CHATS.

THEN OUT OF THE BLUE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BELONGED, INFORMALLY, TO THE BARGE COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTEERS, THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL BEING MADE, TO CREAT A THOUSAND PLUS SEATING AMPHITHEATRE FOR THE BARGE, TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE HILLSIDE OF THE PARK, OPPOSITE THE STAGE. NOW IT'S NOT THAT THIS IDEA HADN'T BEEN CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY. FRED SCHULZ AND I HAD NUMEROUS TALKS IN THE PAST, ABOUT AFFORDABLE WAYS, THE GRADE OF THE EMBANKMENT (SHORELINE) COULD BE ALTERED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER, AND SAFER TO SIT ON. IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE PERCHED ON THE HILLSIDE, TO WATCH THE SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS, CONDUCTED ON THE BARGE. THE PATRONS BRING BLANKETS AND CUSHIONS, AND THEY SEEM TO ENJOY THE VENUE…..DESPITE SITTING ON A SOMEWHAT SLIPPERY SLOPE. WHEN WE'D THINK MORE ABOUT THE IDEA OF ENHANCED SEATING, WE'VE MUTUALLY AGREED, IN THE PAST, IT WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE AS-IS. KEEP IN MIND, THAT WHENEVER THE ISSUE OF INVESTMENT MONEY IN THE PARK, IS CONSIDERED, BY THE MANAGER, AND HIS POSSEE, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACTUAL PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WOOD PLATFORM OF THE BARGE. MORE THAN JUST THE USUAL COAT OF PAINT ROLLED OVER ROTTING BOARDS. I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN NEW PAINT APPLIED TO WOOD THAT HADN'T BEEN PROPERLY SCRAPED. SO YOU CAN GUESS HOW LONG THE NEW COAT LASTED ON THE OLD.

FEW OF US LOYALISTS OF THE BARGE CONCERT SERIES, WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST THING FOR GULL LAKE PARK, IS TO HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CONCRETE AND WOOD BUNKER, TO ENHANCE CONCERT SEATING. FEW OF US WOULD BE ASKED, PERIOD. AS OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FRED FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS, AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE SAT AT THE TOP OF THAT HILLSIDE, FOR ALL BUT A FEW OF THOSE CONCERTS OVER THE PAST DECADE (PLUS), DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORTH THE EFFORT, TO ASK OUR OPINIONS ABOUT SUCH A DRASTIC REDEVELOPMENT.

HERE'S WHY I WON'T BE ASKED. BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING CONTRARY, TO WHAT THEY WISH TO PROCEED WITH. THEY DON'T NEED NAYSAYERS GETTING IN THE WAY OF A REALLY SWELL IDEA. I ACCEPT THE REALITY, THAT PROTESTING AGAINST GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES, ISN'T GOING TO WIN ME ANY CITIZENSHIP AWARDS. I DON'T WANT ANY. I DON'T REALLY CARE THAT THEY FIND IT NECESSARY, TO BYPASS PERSPECTIVES THAT JUST MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FULL OF ENTHUSIASM TO ENACT THEIR PLANS. BUT AS WE FOUND OUT, WHILE WORKING TO SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WETLAND, FROM BEING SOLD-OFF AS RESIDENTIAL LOTS, IT PAYS TO BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE. WHAT REALLY DROVE ME NUTS ABOUT THE BOG ISSUE, WAS THE REALITY SO MANY COUNCILLORS DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CALYDOR OPEN SPACE WAS ALL ABOUT ANYWAY. TO THEM IT WAS SURPLUS LAND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE DOCUMENTATION, THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH, SHOWED. ONLY FEW COUNCILLORS EVER SHOWED UP TO HAVE A LOOK-SEE. HOW MANY COUNCILLORS, CAN SAY, THEY ARE FREQUENT PATRONS OF MUSIC ON THE BARGE CONCERTS? HOW MANY CAN SAY THEY'VE SPENT THREE OR FOUR HOURS, ON A SUMMER AFTERNOON, WATCHING THE EVENTS UNFOLD AT GULL LAKE PARK? WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE, ABOUT PROCEEDING WITH A PROJECT, OF THE MAGNITUDE THE TOWN IS ENTERTAINING, I EXPECT THAT THOSE COUNCILLORS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PARK, AND THE CONCERTS, SHOULD EDUCATE THEMSELVES NOW…..AND OR REFUSE TO VOTE ON THESE CHANGES UNTIL THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE BARGE MANAGER, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, AND TAKE HIS CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. IF I'M NOT INVITED TO CHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEN IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM, TO GET A COUNTER-POINT BEFORE, THEY ARE FACED WITH A VOTE, ON A MOTION, THEY ARE ONLY PARTIALLY AWARE.

GULL LAKE PARK IS A WONDERFUL SITE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN, AND THEIR GUESTS. IT ISN'T "WHARF-LIKE" AND MANY OF US, WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THIS WAY…..WITHOUT THE CLUTTER OF COMMERCIAL BURDENS, GETTING IN THE WAY OF A REALLY NICE, FAMILY ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE TO GULL LAKE PARK, THAT WOULD ENHANCE PERSONAL COMFORTS….SUCH AS MORE BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES, WASHROOM AND CHANGE-ROOM EXPANSION…..AND WHAT ABOUT A SWELL DRINKING FOUNTAIN, FOR THOSE KIDS, AND ADULTS WHO DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR A SNACKBAR PURCHASE. HOW ABOUT A PLAYGROUND PLAN, TO MAKE IT BIGGER FOR THE KIDS THAT LOVE TO PLAY THERE? THAT'S SENSIBLE PROPORTION. THAT ISN'T EXTRAVAGANT.

WHEN YOU MAKE PLANS, LIKE THE ONES I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT, TO REBUILD THE BARGE, WITH A ROOF, INCREASE SEATING WITH AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND IMPROVE ASPECTS OF PRESENTATION, LIKE THE PURCHASE OF NEW SOUND EQUIPMENT, YOU ARE DETAILING A SERIOUS PLAN TO CHANGE THE PARK. I VERY MUCH SUSPECT, THAT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AND A ROOF OVER THE BARGE (NICE BUT WE COULD HAVE LIVED WITH AN AWNING), AND THE OTHER INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE CONCERT ACCOMMODATION, SUGGESTS A COMMERCIAL SIDE THAT NEEDS TO BE FERRETED OUT, FOR EVERYONE TO STUDY. THE EXPENSE OF THIS ARRANGEMENT, EVEN IF PAID BY GRANTS, IS WELL BEYOND THE VOLUNTARY DONATION FORMAT, MR. SCHULZ EMPLOYS TO MAKE BACK ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE PERFORMERS. I DON'T THINK THEN, THAT THIS AMPHITHEATRE HAS MUCH TO DO WITH MUSIC ON THE BARGE AT ALL. EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SUSPICIOUS, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, TO FACILITATE "FOR PROFIT" CONCERTS, WHERE FOLKS WILL BE EXPECTED TO DIG DEEP…..AND NOT JUST FOR THE COINS JANGLING IN THEIR POCKETS. THE EXPENSE OF THE NEW SEATING ARRANGEMENT, MEANS THAT COUNCIL HAS ENTERTAINED THE IDEA OF MANY MORE CONCERTS AT THE PARK, BEYOND THE SUNDAY EVENING PROGRAMS…..AND THEY WILL COST YOU. WE ALL NEED THIS TO BE PUT ON THE TABLE, OFFERED TO THE PRESS, TO FILL OUT THEIR FRONT PAGE STORIES WITH FACT…….NOW A LITTLE LIGHT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

IT STARTED OUT AS A SIMPLE REQUEST FOR REPAIRS, TO AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE, THAT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WELL, FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROPOSING "THE GRAND SCHEME," FOR A LOVELY LITTLE LAKESIDE PARK, TRUE TO THE NATURAL GRACE AND BEAUTY OF MUSKOKA ITSELF. SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, GRAND SCHEMES ARE BEST LEFT ON THE NOTE PAD, THEY WERE HASTILY WRITTEN.

AS I REGRET, TO THIS MOMENT, NOT GIVING IT A SHOT, TO TRY AND SAVE JUBILEE PARK, AT THE OMB HEARING, I WON'T MISS MY OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST THE PROPOSED, INTRUSIVE CHANGES TO GULL LAKE PARK. EVERY CITIZEN WHO CARES CARES ABOUT THEIR HOMETOWN ASSETS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR OPINION, FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMPHITHEATRE PROJECT, SHOULD MAKE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN TO TOWN HALL…..LONG BEFORE THE BUDGET OF TIME, AT THE PINNACLE OF DECISION MAKING, COUNCILS LOVE TO IMPOSE ON DEBATE…..USUALLY IN THEIR FAVOR.

THERE WILL BE READERS, CITIZENS GENERALLY, AND SOME IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PROVINCE, OR COUNTRY, WHO WILL READ THIS AND RECALL A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, WHERE THEY RESERVED JUDGEMENT, AND FELT BAD ABOUT IT LATER. POSSIBLY THEY WILL RECALL A MUNICIPAL SITUATION THAT REMINDS THEM OF JUBILEE PARK. THERE WILL BE OTHERS WHO FIND THAT IT IS TOTAL FEAR-MONGERING, TO EVEN BRING UP THE JUBILEE PARK SALE, IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH, AS THE CRITIQUE ABOUT GULL LAKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THAT'S OKAY. BUT WHEN YOU'VE RESEARCHED THE PROCESS, AND STUDIED HOW PROJECTS ARE SOLD, AS BEING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND UNDERSTAND HOW PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS WON-OVER, YOU MIGHT THEN APPRECIATE HOW DAUNTING IT IS, HOW AWFUL THE EFFORT, TO FIGHT TOWN HALL WHEN THE CAST IS SET. AS STEWARDS OF OUR TOWN ASSETS, COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND CORRECTED WHEN THEY ARE IN ERROR. IF WE HADN'T KNOWN OUR RIGHTS, AND THOSE INCONSISTENCIES OF COUNCIL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OUR FILTERING LOWLAND HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED…..TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A NEW TOWN HALL.

SO WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE FROM THE COUNCILLORS OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, ON THIS ISSUE OF RE-CONSTRUCTING GULL LAKE PARK, AND THE BARGE? AN OBJECTIVE, ENLIGHTENED, EDUCATED CRITICAL REVIEW WOULD BE AMAZING…..EVEN JUST ONE COUNCILLOR…. WILLING TO ENTERTAIN COUNTER-POINT, THAT AN AMPHITHEATRE, AS PROPOSED, MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO HEAVILY USE GULL LAKE PARK. IF I SENSE THAT COUNCILLORS ARE GOING TO JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON, WELL, THEN EXPECT SOME OBSTACLES TO GET THROWN IN THE WAY.

I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. I MUST RESPECT THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY. FIRST, HOWEVER, THE PLAYING FIELD MUST BE LEVEL. NOW! TODAY, WHEN THIS DEBATE IS AT THE "SEED" STAGE, WHEN THERE IS TIME TO DEBATE THE MATTER SENSIBLY, IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN….NOT JUST AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS…OR BY-INVITATION-ONLY DISCUSSIONS. THIS IS A VERY PUBLIC MATTER FOR A PUBLIC PARK. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE. DON'T LIVE WITH THE REGRET, YOU DIDN'T SPEAK UP SOONER.

A REPAIRED BARGE. NOW THAT'S SQUARE ONE. HOW BE WE START FROM HERE INSTEAD!

CANADIAN GLASS, A THICK WICK, AND ORANGE GLOW, OF AN HISTORIC OIL LAMP

IT COST ME THREE DOLLARS. SOME TIMES, YOU CATCH A LUCKY BREAK. I FOUND A NICE LAMP FOR MY DESK. IT DOESN'T PLUG IN. IT SMELLS, BUT IN A NICE WAY.

SOMEWHERE IN THIS LITTLE MUSEUM OF OURS, I HAVE ABOUT ONE HUNDRED ANTIQUE OIL LAMPS. POSSIBLY MORE. I USED TO KNOW, BECAUSE I COLLECTED THEM ACTIVELY. THEN THERE WAS THIS FLOOD OF OIL LAMPS THAT DROWNED THE MARKET. IT HAPPENS PERIODICALLY IN THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE TRADE. BACK IN THE EARLY 1990'S SPORTS CARDS WENT THROUGH THE SAME DEAL. VALUES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF, AND THEN BACK THROUGH THE BASEMENT FLOOR. FIRST THERE WERE A FEW OLD CARDS ON THE LOCAL MARKET. VALUATIONS FOR VINTAGE CARDS, EVEN COMMONS, WERE HIGH. THEN EVERY OLD FART WHO EVER COLLECTED A HOCKEY OR BASEBALL CARD, STARTED PUTTING THEIRS UP FOR SALE. CARD COMPANIES STARTED PRINTING BILLIONS OF COLLECTOR ISSUES, AND GUESS WHAT. MY INVESTMENTS IN BOTH NEW AND OLD SPORTS CARDS PLUMMETED. ROBERT REMINDED ME THIS MORNING, THAT WE SHOULD RENT A FORKLIFT, FOR A LITTLE HOUSE-CLEANING, TO SHIFT OUR STUFFED-TO-OVERFLOWING BOXES OF CARDS (OF ALL SPORTS), PILED INTO MANY STORAGE AREAS HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. WE MIGHT EVEN CONSIDER SELLING BY THE POUND.

INSTEAD OF SEEING A FEW OIL LAMPS ON MY ANTIQUE ROUNDS, I'D FIND ABOUT FORTY A DAY. ANTIQUE DEALERS / COLLECTORS, ARE ALWAYS MORE CONTENT TO SEE LESS VOLUME OF PIECES THEY POSSESS….OR WISH TO COLLECT MORE OF. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE PRICE OF VINTAGE COAL OIL LAMPS HAS PLUMMETED, AT LEAST HERE IN THE ONTARIO HINTERLAND. (THE EXCEPTIONS ARE RARE COLORED, CRANBERRY, COBALT BLUE, ORNATE HANGING LAMPS, ETC) SAY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT ANTIQUES ARE GOING TO PLUMMET NEXT, WELL, WATCH WHAT I BUY MOST OF……..SURE AS HELL, I CAN FIND THEM. I JUST HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE TIDE TO TURN. IT WILL EVENTUALLY, IN TIME FOR MY BOYS' INHERITANCE.

MOST ANTIQUE SHOP PROPRIETORS WILL HAVE BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN LAMPS, OF VARIOUS SHAPES, SIZES AND PROVENANCE, FOR SALE, ALMOST AS A TRADITION OF THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION. JUST LIKE THE STANDARD SHOP ADORNMENTS OF VINEGAR CROCKS, MEDICINE BOTTLES, QUILTS, A HUDSONS BAY BLANKET OR TWO, A CROCKERY FOOT WARMER, A VINTAGE CHRISTENING GOWN, AND MAYBE EVEN A PINE CRADLE…..FOR THE THREE OR SO DOLLS THAT FIT SO NICELY INSIDE. OIL LAMPS. WAY TO MANY TO CONVINCE THE COLLECTOR THERE IS A MARKET SHORTAGE. THUS THE PRICE TAGS YELLOW WITH AGE. IT HAS NEVER STOPPED ME FROM LOOKING AT ALL THE LAMPS I COME UPON. I AM ALWAYS IN THE MARKET FOR AN OIL LAMP I DON'T HAVE. THIS WAS THE CASE THIS MORNING, ON A LITTLE ANTIQUE JAG WITH SON ROBERT. I GOT A DANDY. PROBABLY ONE OF THE OLDEST LAMPS I'VE FOUND SINCE THE LATE 1970'S. GOT SOME GREAT USED PRICE GUIDES, AND ROBERT GOT SOME VINTAGE VINYL AND A 1970'S STEREO AND TURNTABLE. SON ANDREW REPAIRS THEM, PUTS ON A NEW NEEDLE, IF IT'S NEEDED, DOES SOME BELT TIGHTENING (AS I SHOULD DO), AND GOES TO THE NEXT NAME ON THE "WANT" LIST. THEY HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS WANTING VINTAGE STEREOS, TO GO WITH THEIR CLASSIC VINYL. MANY NEVER MAKE IT TO THE STORE SHELVES, AS THEY ARE SOLD IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING SERVICED.

MY FIND WAS A HIGHLY FLAWED CLEAR GLASS LAMP, WITH A GLOBE SHAPE, HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY THICK LIP FOR SPILLED OIL, MEASURING ELEVEN AND A HALF INCHES TO THE TOP OF THE BURNER. THERE ARE NO CHIPS, WHICH IS AMAZING ON SUCH A DELICATE GLASS PIECE, COMING FROM THE PERIOD OF THE LATE 1800'S. THERE ARE MANY BUBBLES IN THE GLASS, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS INDICATE AGE, AND CAN RELATE TO THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL USED. THIS IS A HIGHER QUALITY PIECE, AND WITH IT'S UNUSUALLY TINY BURNER, AND SMALL NECK OPENING, (ORIGINAL), WITH BRASS COLLAR, AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL BURNER APPARATUS, THIS WAS, FOR ME, THE FIND OF 2012 SO FAR. IT IS A VERY GRACIOUS AND FUNCTIONAL PIECE, QUITE DISTINCTIVE, WITHOUT BEING MORE THAN A BASIC, RELIABLE DESK LAMP. I'VE HAD MANY COLORED GLASS LAMPS, AND SEVERAL WITH THE COVETED BULLSEYE DESIGN, WHICH ARE VERY COLLECTIBLE EVEN WITH A FLOODED MARKET. I WILL HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS LAMP TO FIND THE STYLE OF SHADE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD WITH, FROM THE LOCAL GENERAL MERCHANT / HARDWARE STORE, WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MARKETED. THE LAMP IS WORTH ABOUT $75.00…..WHEN THE MARKET IMPROVES. BUT I WON'T BE SELLING THIS ONE.

MY FORMER GIRLFRIEND'S FATHER, GORD SMITH, OF BRACEBRIDGE, WAS VERY INTERESTED IN COAL OIL LAMPS, AND REALLY ENJOYED RESTORING ONES THAT HAD FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. HE WAS SO INCREDIBLY PATIENT, REFURBISHING THE ORIGINAL BURNERS, WHICH SOME OF THE LAMPS STILL POSSESSED WHEN HE GOT THEM. HE DIDN'T LIKE TO BUY NEW BURNERS IF HE COULD FIX THE OLDTIMERS. IF HE COULD GET THEM WORKING SAFELY, AS THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION, THEN HE WAS HAPPIEST WITH A PROJECT RESTORATION. LIKE MOST COLLECTORS, HE HAD MANY SPARE PARTS, AND PIECES SCAVENGED FROM LAMPS THAT COULDN'T BE SAVED. HE FELT THAT NEW APPLIANCES, EVEN SHADES, DEVALUED THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAMPS. HE USED TO TELL ME ABOUT GROWING UP WITH OIL LAMPS AS SIGNIFICANT ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING, AND THE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP THE WICKS TRIMMED, FOR A GOOD LIGHT, THE FONTS FULL OF OIL, AND THE SHADES CLEANED OF SOOT. NO ONE ENJOYED THAT JOB. HE ALWAYS SEEMED SO PLEASED, WHEN HE COULD RESTORE, AND PROPERLY CONSERVE, A NICE OLD FARM LAMP……, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS ONE HE REMEMBERED FROM HIS FAMILY HOMESTEAD. GORD WAS REALLY PLEASED, WHEN THAT HERITAGE LAMP WAS IGNITED, AND THE FLAME ARRIVED, AND SETTLED DOWN TO THAT PERFECT FLAME, WITH ITS NOSTALGIC ORANGE GLOW. I WATCHED HIM REPAIR LAMPS THAT I THOUGHT, FRANKLY, WERE JUST JUNKERS……GOOD FOR PARTS, BUT NOT FOR SHOW. HE PROVED ME WRONG MANY TIMES. I GOT HOOKED BY WATCHING GORD, BRING THOSE LAMPS BACK TO LIFE.

ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, GORD WOULD ANNOUNCE TO THE FAMILY, HIS INTENTION TO LIGHT SOME OF HIS FAVORITE OIL LAMPS, HE KEPT ON A NICE PARLOR TABLE NEAR THE ROCK HEARTH, OF THE LIVINGROOM FIREPLACE. HE'D LIGHT EIGHT OR SO OF THE OLD LAMPS, OF ALL SHAPES AND DESCRIPTIONS, AND IN THE LOW LIGHT OF THE ROOM, THEY PRESENTED AN AMAZING GLOW…..AND QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL HEAT AS WELL. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THEM BEING REFURBISHED, AND THE GLASS CLEANED OF HARDENED COAL OIL, AND THEY DID LOOK NEAT CLUMPED TOGETHER AS A SORT OF FUNCTIONAL GLASS SCULPTURE. BUT WHEN THEY WERE ALL LIT, WELL, THAT WAS COMPELLING TO A YOUNG COLLECTOR LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED. THIS WAS THE LAUNCH OF MY OWN PERSONAL OIL LAMP COLLECTION. IT PARALLELED THE CREATION OF MY FIRST ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WHICH WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MY PARENTS, IN A MAINSTREET BRACEBRIDGE STOREFRONT. I WAS OFF TO THE RACES, AS THEY SAY. IT'S TRUE, I NEVER LOOKED BACK. I JUST WHIPPED THROUGH THE FAILURES ONE AFTER THE OTHER. OLD MILL ANTIQUES WAS CLOSED, THREE YEARS AFTER IT OPENED, DUE TO THE FACT WE ALL HAD TO GET JOBS TO SUPPORT THE LOSSES OF THE ANTIQUE TRADE. IT HAD ACTUALLY BECOME A FAMILY HOBBY, INSTEAD OF A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS. WHAT WE HAD TO DO, IN ORDER TO MAKE RENT FOR THE STORE EVERY MONTH, TOOK UP ALL OUR AVAILABLE TIME. SO THE SHOP BECAME SOMEWHAT REDUNDANT YOU MIGHT SAY. I NEVER SOLD ANY OF MY TEN OR SO OIL LAMPS THAT I HAD BY THAT POINT….CIRCA 1979.

OVER A GLASS OF WINE, WITH A FEW ANTIQUE DEALERS YOU KNOW, WHY NOT ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR MISADVENTURES IN THE BUSINESS, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE COST THEM THEIR COLLECTIONS, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. WE'VE ALL DONE IT. WE'VE ALL MADE SOME MISTAKES, AND HAD TO PAY THE PIPER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS. MANY OF US HAVE HAD TO BUY OUR COLLECTIONS ALL OVER AGAIN. TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL STEP UP FIRST, AND TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I WAS, AND THEN "I WASN'T" A COLLECTOR OF OLD OIL LAMPS.

THE FIRST VINTAGE OIL LAMP, I EVER OWNED, CAME FROM A LANDLORD OF A ROOMING HOUSE, I USED TO LIVE IN TORONTO, DURING MY UNIVERSITY YEARS. RITA WILSON, A WONDERFUL, ACCOMMODATING LADY (WHO LOOKED AFTER US STARVING STUDENTS WELL), HAD A TINY WIRE-LOOPED, FINGER LAMP, SITTING ON A SHELF FULL OF BRIC-A-BRAC. I ASKED HER ABOUT THAT LAMP AT LEAST FIFTY TIMES. IT HAD BELONGED TO HER MOTHER, YOU SEE, AND IT WAS OF SENTIMENTAL VALUE. THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE VALUE OF ALL. FINALLY, SHE THOUGHT THAT $20.00 WOULD BE FITTING…..MY INTEREST AND HER FAMILY ATTACHMENT. I AGREED. IT WAS WORTH ABOUT FIFTEEN BUCKS BUT SHE DESERVED A TIP FOR ALL THE COOKIES AND CAKE SHE OFFERED US….WELL BEYOND THE BOARD WE PAID EACH MONTH. WHEN I DRIPPED IN SOME LEFTOVER COAL OIL I HAD, AND STRUCK THAT FIRST FLAME, WELL SIR, IT WAS OBVIOUS I WAS EASY TO PLEASE. EVEN TODAY, SUZANNE CAN STOP MY COMPLAINING BY BUYING ME AN OIL LAMP. THIS MIGHT EXPLAIN MY LARGE COLLECTION, AS I AM A BIG COMPLAINER. IT HAS ALWAYS SERVED ME WELL, EXCEPT WITH MY MOTHER, WHO USED A COMPLIMENT OF "SWIFT BOOT TO THE ASS" TO SIMMER ME DOWN.

GORD SMITH'S DAUGHTER, GAIL, CAME WITH ME TO AN AUCTION ONE DAY, AT A VICTORIAN ERA HOUSE IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST "FARM LAMP," WHICH IS WHAT GORD CALLED IT; ALSO FOR TWENTY BUCKS. IT WAS A VERY TALL AND HANDSOME LAMP BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRILLS. IT WAS JUST A NICE, RELIABLE LAMP WITH A HUGE FONT…..THAT STORED ENOUGH OIL FOR HOURS AND HOURS OF USE. AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG AT ALL, BEFORE I WAS ACQUIRING VINTAGE LAMPS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY ANTIQUE OUTING, FROM THE ADVENTURES WE USED TO GO ON, ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO. SO WHEN I AGREED WITH MY PARENTS TO CLOSE OLD MILL ANTIQUES, AS A PROJECT THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE THE GRADE, I WAS STUCK WITH OIL LAMPS. LOTS OF THEM. THEN I BECAME A REPORTER. A WRITER. A STARVING ARTIST. ONE WITH OIL LAMPS. NO MONEY. JUST OIL LAMPS.

SO TO MAKE ENDS MEET, I SOLD MY ENTIRE STOCK OF OIL LAMPS. I USED THE MONEY FOR BOOZE, RENT, AND FOOD EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. I LED A REPORTER'S LIFE. WHILE I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE TO SELL THEM IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, I KNEW THERE WAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY, I WOULD HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES ONE DAY, TO BUY SOME BACK. THIS WAS TRUE ENOUGH, AND FROM THE EARLY 1980'S TO THE PRESENT, I'VE BOUGHT AND SOLD PROBABLY THREE SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTIONS, IN ORDER TO BUY BOOZE (ONLY KIDDING), FOOD, CLOTHING FOR THE BOYS, AND NICE THINGS FOR MY CHARMING BRIDE (STILL ONLY KIDDING). I ALWAYS FOUND THEM QUITE EASY TO SELL, AS A COLLECTION, EXCEPT FOR THE RECENT PAST WHICH HAS SEEN A DEFINITE SOFTENING OF THE MARKET FOR OIL LAMPS.

FROM MY LATEST COLLECTION, WHICH I VOWED TO KEEP FOREVER, I REGRET THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF A CRAPPY VEHICLE, THAT PUT US IN A TIGHT SPOT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WITH SERIOUS ENGINE REPAIRS, AND VERY LITTLE CASH IN HAND. SO I TOOK THREE OF MY BEST COLORED GLASS OIL LAMPS, AND SOLD THEM IN AN ONLINE AUCTION FOR A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY…..AT LEAST TO ME. TWO WERE DEPRESSION GLASS AND ONE WAS A BEAUTIFUL COBALT BLUE, AND I TRULY HATED TO SEE THEM PACKAGED AND SHIPPED OFF TO THEIR NEW HOMES. TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING, I'VE STUCK TO INTERESTING CLEAR GLASS OIL LAMPS, THAT MAY BE RUN-OF-THE-MILL TO SOME COLLECTORS, BUT ARE MUCH LESS TEMPTING TO SELL OFF, WHEN THE NEED FOR QUICK CASH ARISES. SO MY COLLECTION HAS BEEN CONSERVED BY THE REALITY OF ITS COMMONPLACE, "PLAINNESS," YOU MIGHT SAY. HEY, WHATEVER WORKS. I ALSO SOLD AN INCREDIBLE "STUDENT LAMP," WITH ORIGINAL GREEN SHADE, MINT CONDITION BRASS WORK, AND ALL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I FIRED IT UP ONCE, AND I WAS IMPRESSED. THE AUCTION PRICE STAGGERED US, IN A MOST POSITIVE WAY. SO IT WAS SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES. LIKE I SAY, I'LL HANG ON TO THE PLAIN JANES, AND GET RID OF THE GEMS.

I USE COAL OIL LAMPS ON MY OFFICE DESK WHEN I'M WRITING. I AM HOOKED ON THE NOSTALGIC AROMA OF IGNITED COAL OIL. I ACTUALLY HAD TO STOP USING THEM FOR AWHILE, BECAUSE I WAS DEVELOPING A SERIOUS DEPENDENCE ON THEM, IN ORDER TO COMPOSE ANYTHING…..EVEN AN EMAIL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE MUSIC I USED TO LISTEN TO, WHILE I WORKED AT THE KEYBOARD. I FOUND IT WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED MY MOODS, SUCH THAT IF I WAS LISTENING TO SOMETHING MELANCHOLY, THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THE EDITORIAL COPY WOULD READ. AND I THEN WHEN I'D SHUT THE MUSIC OFF, IT TOOK WEEKS TO REGAIN INSPIRATION FROM OTHER THINGS…..LIKE THE WONDERFUL VIEW OVER THE BOG, I ENJOY TODAY. IT WAS THE SAME WITH THE OIL LAMPS. WHEN I RAN OUT OF OIL ONE DAY, AND THE LIGHT WAS SNUFFED, I ACTUALLY COULDN'T WRITE ANYTHING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE I HAD DEVELOPED A CREATIVE ADDICTION TO THE LIGHT AND SCENT OF AN OLD OIL LAMP. SO I HAD TO CUT BACK A TAD, AND LEARN TO WRITE WITHOUT THAT FAMILIAR, CHARMING GLOW OF FIRELIGHT….THAT AROMA OF A PIONEER HOMESTEAD IN THE MUSKOKA WILDS. SEMI-WILDS.

I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON THE OIL LAMP I PURCHASED TODAY. I WANT TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING BY THE WEEKEND. I'LL TRY AND POST A PHOTOGRAPH…..THE BEFORE AND AFTER. YOU KNOW, DESPITE THE LOW VALUES FOR THESE COMMON, CLEAR GLASS LAMPS TODAY, I JUST DON'T THINK OF THEM IN CASH VALUES ANY MORE. THAT'S A GOOD THING. I'VE GOT SOME MORE COSTLY CAR REPAIRS COMING. I MIGHT LOOK AT THEM AS A RESOURCE, BUT I WON'T FOLLOW THROUGH, AS I HAVE IN THE PAST.

THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL, I CAN'T QUITE EXPLAIN, ABOUT THE LOOK AND FEEL OF OLD GLASS. OF COURSE, COLLECTING ANTIQUE GLASS, IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PATHS, FOR ROOKIE COLLECTORS. IT TAKES YEARS AND YEARS TO EDUCATE YOURSELF IN GLASS IDENTIFICATION. BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF BOOKS ON THE MARKET AND IN LOCAL LIBRARIES TO GIVE YOU A HAND. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND OLD AND ORIGINAL OIL LAMPS…….BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GLASS IDENTIFICATION, GADS, I'M STILL VERY MUCH A ROOKIE. IN FUTURE COLUMNS I'LL WRITE A LITTLE MORE, ON THE PITFALLS OF COLLECTING VINTAGE GLASS.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S ANTIQUE BLOG. SEE YOU SOON.