Christmas Eve and The Company Of A Good Book, Gravenhurst

Memories of a Kilworthy General Store Christmas

 

Isn’t it funny that sometimes the small things can bring back a flood of memories of our childhood during the Christmas season!    This year I’ve decided to display some of the miniature village and ornaments that I’ve saved over the years from the Kilworthy Store Christmas display.   During my entire childhood, I have such fond memories of the little village under the tree in the front window of the store.  The General Store in the community was a meeting place particularly during the Christmas season and the combination of the tree and small village at the base of the tree filled the store with a good old country Christmas Spirit. (Photo By Fred Schulz)

To Connect With Today's Bracebridge Blog, Part of the Christmas Series Click Here; The story of Animal The Cat. http://thenatureofmuskoka.blogspot.ca/


CHRISTMAS EVE - AND THE COMPANY OF A GOOD BOOK AND WARMING HEARTH

IN GRAVENHURST, MUSKOKA 2013

     TO BEGIN WITH, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" TO ONE AND ALL. MOST OF THE EDITORIAL WORK TODAY, WAS WRITTEN FROM A COMFORTABLE CHAIR AND TABLE, IN MY SON ROBERT'S RECORDING STUDIO; THE INNER SANCTUM OF OUR UPTOWN GRAVENHURST SHOP. I LIKE IT HERE. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, IN THE MOST HISTORIC AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE MIGHT NOT HAVE A NEWSPAPER OFFICE ON THE MAIN STREET ANY LONGER, BUT, WELL, HERE I AM.....THE LAST WRITER STANDING.
     I BEGAN WORKING ON THE RESEARCH, TO IDENTIFY MORE PRECISELY, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NAMING OF OUR SOUTH MUSKOKA TOWNS, BRACEBRIDGE AND GRAVENHURST, IN THE LATE 1990'S. I'D IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PROJECT IN THE LATE 1980'S, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION I NEEDED UNTIL ABOUT 1997. I'VE ALREADY EXPENDED A LOT OF BLOG-SPACE ABOUT THIS, AND IT HAS BEEN PRINTED IN THREE ONTARIO PUBLICATIONS, AND WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SMALL BOOK RELEASED IN 2000. IN TERMS OF ARCHIVES USE OF THE MATERIAL, WHILE IT HAD A SMALL INITIAL READERSHIP ON BOTH BLOGS, BRACEBRIDGE AND GRAVENHURST, I'M PLEASED TO NOTE THAT IT HAS MORE THAN MADE UP FOR THE SOFT OPENING, BY BEING A SOURCE FREQUENTLY USED UP TO, AND INCLUDING THE PRESENT. AND IT HAS ALSO HAD A WORLD WIDE READERSHIP, WHICH CONTINUES, EVEN IF THE LOCAL AUDIENCE IS STILL A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO VIEW WASHINGTON IRVING, IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, IN GRAVENHURST, AS PART OF THE EACH MUNICIPALITY'S PROVENANCE. THE REALITY OTHERS ARE INTERESTED IN THE LITERARY CONNECTION, IS TREMENDOUSLY SATISFYING TO SUZANNE AND I, HAVING PUT THOUSANDS OF HOURS INTO THE RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION OF THE COVERING STORIES.
     IN THIS REGARD, I AM JUST AS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL THE RESEARCH WORK....ALL THE MANY HOURS HUDDLED AROUND THE KEYBOARD IN MY OFFICE, WAS INITIATED AND COMPLETED IN THE WARM, COZY EMBRACE OF BIRCH HOLLOW, IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. SO WHAT NOW IS BEING REFERENCED BY HISTORIANS, BIBLIOPHILES INTERESTED IN THE WORK OF MAJOR AUTHORS LIKE IRVING AND SMITH, AND LOVERS OF BOTH TOWNS AND MUSKOKA GENERALLY, HAS GRAVENHURST AS ITS ROOT ORIGIN. I DON'T EXPECT ANY RECOGNITION FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED, AS HAS BEEN NORMAL PROTOCOL SINCE THE STORIES WERE FIRST PUBLISHED, BUT SUFFICE NOW, THAT A MORE SIGNIFICANT AUDIENCE IS TURNING ON TO THE RATHER STRANGE STORY, OF DR. WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR, THE POSTAL AUTHORITY, PART TIME LITERARY CRITIC / CANADIAN HISTORIAN, WHO BORROWED THE NAMES FOR BOTH TOWNS, FROM THE TITLES OF BOOKS, WRITTEN BY AUTHORS HE ADMIRED.....BEING WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, POET / PHILOSOPHER, OF ENGLAND, AND WASHINGTON IRVING, AMERICAN LEGEND, OF WORLD-WIDE REPUTATION. SMITH OF COURSE, WROTE THE PHILOSOPHICAL TEXT, "GRAVENHURST, OR THOUGHTS ON GOOD AND EVIL," AND IRVING, "BRACEBRIDGE HALL." LESUEUR CONSIDERED IT A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO THE AUTHORS, AND THE IMPORTANT LITERARY WORKS ACCOMPLISHED BY BOTH. HE SAW IT AS AN HONOR TO BOTH FLEDGLING COMMUNITIES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY NEVER FELT IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO FULLY CELEBRATE THE PROVENANCE THEY WERE SO KINDLY PROVIDED.
     WHEN I WROTE, IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG, THAT I HAVE A COPY OF IRVING'S BOOK, ON A SHELF ACROSS FROM THE HEARTH, IT IS QUITE TRUE, AND BECAUSE ALL MY PLEASANT YEARS IN HIS COMPANY, HAVE BEEN IN THIS SAME SNUG LITTLE HOUSE, IN OUR SNOW-LADEN HOLLOW OF SOUTH MUSKOKA, I FEEL QUITE JUSTIFIED AND HONORED TO READ FROM A LATE 1800'S PRINTING OF HIS COLLECTED WORK.....AND SHARING IRVING'S VIEWS OF CHRISTMAS AT THE GREAT HALL, IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, AS NARRATED BY HIS CHARACTER, GEOFFREY CRAYON. HERE NOW ARE A FEW LINES, FROM THE BOOK I ACQUIRED AT AN ESTATE AUCTION, FROM A WELL KNOWN FARMSTEAD.....WHERE THIS SAME COLLECTION, MAY HAVE BEEN ENJOYED, AS I SHALL NOW, AT FIRESIDE ON SUCH AN ENCHANTING CHRISTMAS EVE.
     "THERE IS NOTHING IN ENGLAND THAT EXERCISES A MORE DELIGHTFUL SPELL OVER MY IMAGINATION THAN THE LINGERING OF THE HOLIDAY CUSTOMS AND RURAL GAMES OF FORMER TIMES. THEY RECALL THE PICTURES MY FANCY USED TO DRAW IN THE MAY MORNING OF LIFE, WHEN AS YET I ONLY KNEW THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS, AND BELIEVED IT TO BE ALL THAT POETS HAD PAINTED IT; AND THEY BRING WITH THEM THE FLAVOUR OF THOSE HONEST DAYS OF YORE, IN WHICH PERHAPS WITH EQUAL FALLACY, I AM APT TO THINK THE WORLD WAS MORE HOMEBRED, SOCIAL, AND JOYOUS THAN AT PRESENT (1820'S). I REGRET TO SAY THAT THEY ARE DAILY GROWING MORE AND MORE FAINT, BEING GRADUALLY WORN AWAY BY TIME, BUT STILL MORE OBLITERATED BY MODERN FASHION. THEY RESEMBLE THOSE PICTURESQUE MORSELS OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, WHICH WE SEE CRUMBLING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, PARTLY DILAPIDATED BY THE WASTE OF AGES, AND PARTLY LOST IN THE ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS OF LATTER DAYS. POETRY, HOWEVER, CLINGS WITH CHERISHING FONDNESS ABOUT THE RURAL GAME AND HOLIDAY REVEL, FROM WHICH IT HAS DERIVED SO MANY OF ITS THEMES - AS THE IVY WINDS ITS RICH FOLIAGE ABOUT THE GOTHIC ARCH AND MOULDERING TOWER, GRATEFULLY REPAYING THEIR SUPPORT, BY CLASPING TOGETHER THEIR TOTTERING REMAINS, AND AS IT WERE, EMBALMING THEM IN VERDURE.
     IRVING WRITES, "OF ALL THE OLD FESTIVALS, HOWEVER, THAT OF CHRISTMAS AWAKENS THE STRONGEST AND MOST HEARTFELT ASSOCIATIONS. THERE IS A TONE OF SOLEMN AND SACRED FEELING THAT BLENDS WITH OUR CONVIVIALITY, AND LIFTS THE SPIRIT TO A STATE OF HALLOWED AND ELEVATED ENJOYMENT. THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH ABOUT THIS SEASON ARE EXTREMELY TENDER AND INSPIRING; THEY DWELL ON THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF THE ORIGIN OF OUR FAITH, AND THE PASTORAL SCENES THAT ACCOMPANIED ITS ANNOUNCEMENT; THEY GRADUALLY INCREASE IN FERVOR AND PATHOS DURING THE SEASON OF ADVENT, UNTIL THEY BREAK FORTH IN FULL JUBILEE ON THE MORNING THAT BROUGHT PEACE AND GOODWILL TO MEN. I DO NOT KNOW A GRANDER EFFECT OF MUSIC ON THE MORAL FEELINGS, THAN TO HEAR THE FULL CHOIR AND THE PEALING OF ORGAN PERFORMING A CHRISTMAS ANTHEM IN A CATHEDRAL, AND FILLING EVERY PART OF THE VAST PILE WITH TRIUMPHANT HARMONY.
     "IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENT, ALSO, DERIVED FROM DAYS OF YORE, THAT THIS FESTIVAL, WHICH COMMEMORATES THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RELIGION OF PEACE AND LOVE, HAS BEEN MADE THE SEASON FOR GATHERING TOGETHER OF FAMILY CONNEXIONS, AND DRAWING CLOSER AGAIN THOSE HANDS OF KINDRED HEARTS, WHICH THE CARES AND PLEASURES AND SORROWS OF THE WORLD ARE CONTINUALLY OPERATING TO CAST LOOSE; OF CALLING BACK THE CHILDREN OF A FAMILY, WHO HAVE LAUNCHED FORTH IN LIFE AND WANDERED WIDELY ASUNDER, ONCE MORE TO ASSEMBLE ABOUT THE PATERNAL HEARTH, THAT RALLYING PLACE OF THE AFFECTIONS, THERE TO GROW YOUNG AND LOVING AGAIN AMONG THE ENDEARING MOMENTOES OF CHILDHOOD."
     THE AUTHOR, IRVING, THROUGH HIS CHARACTER-TRAVELLER, MR. CRAYON, WRITES, "THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE VERY SEASON OF THE YEAR THAT GIVES A CHARM TO THE FESTIVITY OF CHRISTMAS. AT OTHER TIMES, WE DERIVE A GREAT PORTION OF OUR PLEASURES FROM THE MERE BEAUTIES OF NATURE. OUR FEELINGS SALLY FORTH AND DISSIPATE THEMSELVES OVER THE SUNNY LANDSCAPE, AND 'WE LIVE ABROAD AND EVERY WHERE'. THE SONG OF THE BIRD, THE MURMUR OF THE STREAM, THE BREATHING FRAGRANCE OF SPRING, THE SOFT VOLUPTUOUSNESS OF SUMMER, THE GOLDEN POMP OF AUTUMN; EARTH WITH ITS MANTLE OF REFRESHING GREEN, AND HEAVEN WITH ITS DEEP DELICIOUS BLUE AND ITS CLOUDY MAGNIFICENCE, - ALL FILL US WITH MUTE BUT EXQUISITE DELIGHT, AND WE REVEL IN THE LUXURY OF MERE SENSATION. BUT IN THE DEPTH OF WINTER, WHEN NATURE LIES DESPOILED OF EVERY CHARM, AND WRAPPED IN HER SHROUD OF SHEETED SNOW, WE TURN FOR OUR GRATIFICATIONS TO MORAL SOURCES. THE DREARINESS AND DESOLATION OF THE LANDSCAPE, THE SHORT GLOOMY DAYS AND DARKSOME NIGHTS, WHILE THEY CIRCUMSCRIBE OUR WANDERINGS, SHUT IN OUR FEELINGS ALSO FROM RAMBLING ABROAD, AND MAKE US MORE KEENLY DISPOSED FOR THE PLEASURES OF THE SOCIAL CIRCLE. OUR THOUGHTS ARE MORE CONCENTRATED; OUR FRIENDLY SYMPATHIES MORE AROUSED. WE FEEL MORE SENSIBLY THE CHARM OF EACH OTHER'S SOCIETY, AND ARE BROUGHT MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER BY DEPENDENCE ON EACH OTHER FOR ENJOYMENT. HEART CALLETH UNTO HEART, AND WE DRAW OUR PLEASURES FROM THE DEEP WELLS OF LIVING KINDNESS WHICH LIE IN THE QUIET RECESSES OF OUR BOSUMS; AND WHICH, WHEN RESORTED TO, FURNISH FORTH THE PURE ELEMENT OF DOMESTIC FELICITY.
     "THE PITCHY GLOOM WITHOUT, MAKES THE HEART DILATE ON ENTERING THE ROOM FILLED WITH THE GLOW AND WARMTH OF THE EVENING FIRE. THE RUDDY BLAZE DIFFUSES AN ARTIFICIAL SUMMER AND SUNSHINE THROUGH THE ROOM, AND LIGHTS UP EACH COUNTENANCE INTO A KINDLIER WELCOME. WHERE DOES THE HONEST FACE OF HOSPITALITY EXPAND INTO A BROADER MORE CORDIAL SMILE - WHERE IS THE SHY GLANCE OF LOVE MORE SWEETLY ELOQUENT - THAN BY THE WINTER FIRESIDE, AND AS THE HOLLOW BLAST OF WINTRY WIND RUSHES THROUGH THE HALL, CLAPS THE DISTANT DOOR, WHISTLES ABOUT THE CASEMENT, AND RUMBLES DOWN THE CHIMNEY; WHAT CAN BE MORE GRATEFUL THAN THAT FEELING OF SOBER AND SHELTERED SECURITY, WITH WHICH WE LOOK ROUND UPON THE COMFORTABLE CHAMBER, AND THE SCENE OF DOMESTIC HILARITY?"
     IN CONCLUSION TO THE SKETCH, IRVING NOTES, "AMIDST THE GENERAL CALL TO HAPPINESS, THE BUSTLE OF THE SPIRITS, AND STIR OF THE AFFECTIONS WHICH PREVAIL AT THIS PERIOD, WHAT BOSOM CAN REMAIN INSENSIBLE? IT IS INDEED, THE SEASON OF REGENERATED FEELING - THE SEASON FOR KINDLING NOT MERELY THE FIRE OF HOSPITALITY IN THE HALL, BUT THE GENIAL FLAME OF CHARITY IN THE HEART. THE SCENE OF EARLY LOVE AGAIN RISES GREEN TO MEMORY BEYOND THE STERILE WASTE OF YEARS; AND THE IDEA OF HOME, FRAUGHT WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF HOME-DWELLING JOYS, REANIMATES THE DROOPING SPIRIT - AS THE ARABIAN BREEZE WILL SOMETIMES WAFT THE FRESHNESS OF THE DISTANT FIELDS TO THE WEARY PILGRIM OF THE DESERT.
     "STRANGER AND SOJOURNER AS I AM IN THE LAND - THOUGH FOR ME NO SOCIAL HEARTH MAY BLAZE, NO HOSPITABLE ROOF THROW OPEN ITS DOORS, NOR WARM GRASP OF FRIENDSHIP WELCOME ME AT THE THRESHOLD - YET I FEEL THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEASON BEAMING INTO MY SOUL FROM THE HAPPY LOOKS OF THOSE AROUND ME. SURELY HAPPINESS IS REFLECTIVE, LIKE THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN; AND EVERY COUNTENANCE BRIGHT WITH SMILES, AND GLOWING WITH INNOCENT ENJOYMENT, IS A MIRROR TRANSMITTING TO OTHERS, THE RAYS OF A SUPREME AND EVER-SHINING BENEVOLENCE. HE WHO CAN TURN CHURLISHLY AWAY AND CAN SIT DOWN DARKLING AND REPINING, IN HIS LONELINESS, WHEN ALL AROUND IS JOYFUL, MAY HAVE HIS MOMENTS OF STRONG EXCITEMENT AND SELFISH GRATIFICATION, BUT HE WANTS THE GENIAL AND SOCIAL SYMPATHIES WHICH CONSTITUTE THE CHARM OF A MERRY CHRISTMAS."
     ISN'T THIS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, TO BE LODGING IN THIS ENCHANTED REGION OF ONTARIO? THE DOOR OF THE SHOP HAS BEEN CLANGING WITH ITS HANGING BELLS ALL MORNING, AND IT HAS BEEN NICE TO HEAR ALL THE SHARED CHRISTMAS GOOD WISHES, AND SEE MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS FROM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I WILL NEVER TIRE OF BEING IMBEDDED SNUGGLY HERE, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, BENEFITTING FROM THE INSPIRATION OF HERITAGE AND FUN NOSTALGIA, OF ALL THE CHRISTMASES OF ALL THE YEARS IN THE GOOD OLD HOMETOWN. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN OLD AND TIRED OBJECTIONS ARE SUBTLY RETIRED, AND THERE IS NOTHING BUT KIND GREETINGS AND FOND FAREWELLS, HANDSHAKES COMING AND GOING. THE FEELINGS ARE CONTAGIOUS. INFECTIOUS. IT'S WHAT THE MAIN STREET EXUDES TODAY, IN THE ENCLOSURE OF SNOW AND ICE....A CONTENTED AUDIENCE SHOPPING AT HOME.
     I WANT TO THANK GRAVENHURST PHOTOGRAPHER FRED SCHULZ, FOR OFFERING COMPANION PICTURES, TAKEN AROUND TOWN, FOR THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON COLLECTION OF BLOGS. IT'S OBVIOUS FROM OUR READERSHIP THAT FOLKS ENJOY SEEING HIS DAILY CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH ARE TIMELY TO THE WEATHER OF THE DAY, AND CURRENT EVENTS....INCLUDING THE ACTIVITY AT THE BIRD FEEDER. THANKS TO FRED'S POPULARITY, AND AN INTEREST IN THE EDITORIAL COPY THIS FALL AND WINTER SEASON, WE ARE NOW APPROACHING 180,000 VIEWS SINCE I BEGAN WRITING DAILY, JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO. THERE ARE PEAKS AND VALLEYS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THIS PARTNERSHIP, BETWEEN PHOTOGRAPHER AND WRITER, SEEMS TO HAVE FOUND ITS OWN MODEST PLACE IN MUSKOKA HISTORY....AND THESE TOMES ARE BEING ARCHIVED AROUND THE GLOBE EACH WEEK; AND THUS, MUSKOKA, GRAVENHURST AND BRACEBRIDGE, ARE GETTING A LITTLE EXTRA PUBLICITY AS WELL.
     FRED AND I GET LOTS OF FEEDBACK, AND I RECEIVE MANY EMAILS EACH WEEK THAT I TRY TO ANSWER IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT OF READERSHIP, AND FRED AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST HOW MUCH WE VALUE YOUR PARTICIPATION AND IDEAS FOR FUTURE PHOTOGRAPHS AND BLOG CONTENT. WE WANT TO BE REFLECTIVE OF OUR HOME REGION, AND HOME TOWN GENERALLY, REPRESENTING ITS HISTORY WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO BUILT WHAT WE BENEFIT FROM TODAY....AS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH TO LAUNCH FUTURE INITIATIVES. I HOPE THIS REVERENCE TO THE BUILDERS, THE CITIZENS OF OUR PAST, IS REFLECTED IN THESE EDITORIALS. BOTH FRED AND I HAVE SINCERE AND LONG STANDING RESPECT FOR OUR FOUNDERS....WHO ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN WHEN WE MAKE OUR CLAIMS OF PROSPERITY.....AS IF THE MODERN GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN ITS ONLY CONTRIBUTORS. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DROP BY, AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR.....AN ELECTION YEAR IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES. I WILL WRITE MORE ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS THIS FINAL WEEK OF THE YEAR, UP TO AND INCLUDING NEW YEAR'S EVE. AFTER THIS, I WILL BE CHANGING THE NAME OF THE BLOG, TO READ SIMPLY "TED CURRIE," AND REFRAINING FROM POLITICAL CRITIQUES; SUCH THAT IF I WAS TO DECIDE TO RUN FOR A COUNCIL SEAT, IT CAN'T BE SAID, I USED CYBERSPACE TO WIN VOTES.
     WE HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH ALL THE FESTIVE TRIMMINGS. BE CAREFUL DRIVING OUT THERE. IT'S A PICTURESQUE LANDSCAPE BUT CAN BE A DANGEROUS DRIVE AS CONDITIONS EVOLVE BETWEEN THAW AND FREEZE. PLEASE TAKE CARE.