REFLECTING HOME REGION HERITAGE - A LITTLE BIT MUSEUM - A LITTLE BIT ANTIQUE - A LITTLE COUNTRY AND A LITTLE ROCK 'N ROLL
SOME ITEMS AREN'T FOR SALE - BUT WE DO WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU -
A LITTLE OPENING NOTE ABOUT A FRIEND OF MINE: I WANT TO CONGRATULATE NEW GRAVENHURST AREA BLOGGER, SYLVIA PURDON, WHO LAUNCHED HER SITE TODAY, ON THE HEELS OF AN ELECTION LOSS, IN THIS WEEK'S MUNICIPAL ELECTION. IT'S A RETROSPECTIVE, OF OPINION, FOR ME, AND THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS, BUT GRAVENHURST MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED FORMER COUNCILLORS IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. WHEN I WAS EDITOR OF THE GRAVENHURST BANNER, QUITE A FEW YEARS BACK, I GOT TO REPORT ON TOWN COUNCIL, UNDER MAYOR GORD ADAMS, AND MET MANY TIMES WITH SYLVIA PURDON, WHO WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERATE AND FAIR WITH MEMBERS OF THE PRESS. SURE, WE WOULD GO OFF THE RECORD, AND THIS WAS A BIG HELP TO ME, IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION; AND SHE NEVER ONCE TRIED TO DODGE ME, OR EVADE ANSWERING A BASIC QUESTION OUR READERS WANTED ANSWERED. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO COUNCILLORS, IN PARTICULAR, I ALWAYS ENJOYED CASUAL CHATS WITH, AND THAT WAS SYLVIA HERE IN GRAVENHURST, AND EDNA TEMPLETON, OF BALA, WHO I COVERED WHEN SHE WAS A TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES COUNCILLOR, BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S EARLY 80'S, WHEN MAYOR BOB BENNETT WAS IN OFFICE; WHO BY THE WAY, AS MAYOR, WAS LEADING AN ALMOST ONE MAN CRUSADE AGAINST INCO, OVER THE ISSUE OF ACID RAIN. A REPORTER ALWAYS HAS FAVORITES, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE SOURCES OF INSIDE INFORMATION OR SNITCHES IN ANY WAY, BUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TREAT US LIKE CRAP; TAKING OUR WORK SERIOUSLY, AND MOST OF ALL, WANTING US TO HAVE ACCURATE STORIES, WHEN REPORTING ON COUNCIL BUSINESS. I THINK SYLVIA WAS FEELING A LITTLE DOWN ABOUT NOT WINNING HER BID FOR A DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT, BUT SHE HAD A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT CONTINUING HER EFFORTS TO SUPPORT HER HOME TOWN. AND I'M SORRY ABOUT MARK CLAIRMONT'S FAILED BID, AS WELL, BECAUSE HE'S ALSO GOT A LOT OF MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, AND HE IS ALSO ONE OF GRAVENHURST'S MOST AGGRESSIVE BOOSTERS, JUST LIKE HIS FATHER HUGH BEFORE HIME, AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLAIRMONT FAMILY, PART OF THE HISTORIC CHRONICLE OF THIS TOWN. I'M PLEASED TO KNOW THAT TERRY PILGER HAS BEEN ELECTED AS A DISTRICT COUNCILLOR, AND IT'S WHERE HE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. HE CARRIES WITH HIM A LOT FRONT LINE CREDITS, FROM HIS SERVICE ON PAST GRAVENHURST COUNCILS, AND THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS WHAT WE NEED INFUSED INTO THE CONTEMPORARY COUNCIL. WE VOTED AS A FAMILY BLOCK, IN THIS REGARD, FOR ALL THREE OF THESE CANDIDATES, SO IT'S UP TO TERRY TO BAT FOR THE OTHER TWO, TO BRING BACK SOME OLD TIME POLITICAL SENSIBILITY; BECAUSE I FOUND THAT SOMEWHAT LACKING LAST TERM. SO GOOD LUCK SYLVIA ON YOUR FORAY INTO THE BLOGASPHERE.
I REMINDED SYLVIA THAT I ONCE LOST TO A CANDIDATE MORE THAN TWICE MY AGE, AND YES, IT FELT TERRIBLE. BUT IN FACT, HE WAS THE BETTER CANDIDATE.
THE RAIN HAS STARTED AGAIN. IT IS MUCH COLDER THAN EVEN AN HOUR AGO. I'M WEARING A BIG SWEATER, BUT I'VE STARTED TO SHIVER, AND DESIRE VERY MUCH A HOT CUP OF TEA. I'M TOO LAZY AT THE MOMENT, TO GO INSIDE AND BOIL SOME WATER. I THINK WARM THOUGHTS INSTEAD.
THIS AFTERNOON, I RETREATED TO THE VERANDAH AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BECAUSE THE STUDIO, WHERE I OFTEN FIND AN OPEN CHAIR TO LOUNGE, WHILE PENNING THESE BLOGS, WAS JUST TOO BUSY FOR ME TO CONCENTRATE; BECAUSE YOU SEE, I KEEP WANTING TO BUD INTO OTHER CONVERSATIONS AND THAT DISTRACTS THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. FOR THEM AND ME. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BETTER TO FIND ANOTHER PORTAL, THAN TO ATTEMPT WRITING ABOUT HISTORY WHEN OUR MUSICIAN FRIENDS ARE JAMMING SOMETHING FUNKY TWENTY FEET AWAY. IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE THEIR MUSIC. QUITE THE CONTRARY. I LOVE IT. I JUST CAN'T MERGE WHAT I'VE SET OUT TO WRITE, EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND WHAT MAY BE UNFOLDING MUSICALLY IN THE SAME ROOM. ROBERT CHALLENGES ME DAILY WITH INTERESTING NEW AND OLD RECORDS HE'S PICKED UP, BUT I'M USED TO THAT BY NOW. I CONFESS, THAT AT TIMES, THE MUSIC DOES INFLUENCE MY EDITORIAL COPY. WITH LIVE MUSICIANS HOWEVER, I FIND MYSELF WATCHING THEM PLAY, AND CONCENTRATING ON THEIR MUSIC; SO WHEN I PROOFREAD MY BLOG, IT'S FULL OF STUFF THAT I HADN'T INTENDED. BUT THEN, IT'S NOTHING NEW. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN MUSIC, AND FOR MOST OF MY WRITING CAREER, I'VE WORKED IN A ROOM WITH SOUNDS, SOME OF IT VERY LOUD, ARGUMENTS, DEBATES, DIRECTIVES, AND MUSIC ON THE NEWSROOM RADIO. MOST RECENTLY HOWEVER, I FIND MY CONCENTRATION ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND I SIMPLY CAN'T SILENCE WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND ME, AS I ONCE FOUND NATURAL AND EASY. I COULD CONDUCT IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS, IN A BUSY NEWSROOM, AND WRITE A CLEAN, SENSIBLE, AND ACCURATE NEWS STORY. TODAY, I'D JUST SIT THERE WITH MY MOUTH OPEN, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE INTERCONNECTING STORY LINES, ZIGGING AND ZAGGING THROUGH MY PSYCHE.
IT'S BEEN ANOTHER STRANGE WEATHER DAY HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. ONE MINUTE THERE IS A POWERFUL GUST OF WIND, WITH SHEETS OF RAIN WASHING DOWN OVER THE BOG, AND THEN IT GETS QUITE BRIGHT, AND SOLITUDE RETURNS EVER SO GENTLY; UNTIL THE NEXT RAGE OF WIND TO RISE UP OVER THE HOLLOW OF MUSKOKA BAY, PUSHING VIOLENTLY OVER THE WESTERN-MOST TREE-LINE; AND EVENTUALLY, POUNDING INTO MY VERANDAH, SENDING THE WRITER SCURRYING FOR COVER. I THINK TOM THOMSON MIGHT HAVE FOUND THE WEATHER EVENT, OVER THE LATE OCTOBER LANDSCAPE, SOMETHING OF AN INSPIRATION, AND PAINTED US A VERSION OF THE "OLD BIRCHES OF MUSKOKA." DESPITE THE FACT, IT IS A RATHER DULL SCENE, WITH THE LIGHTS BROWNS OF THE DRIED CAT-TAILS, AND THE FADED GREEN OF THE WEAVING FIELD GRASSES, IT IS A PLEASANT SCENE; ONE THAT WILL SOON BE FROST-LADEN EVERY MORNING, AND THEN SNOW-COVERED BY MID NOVEMBER. IT IS A RATHER LONELY SCENE, AT THE END OF THE GROWING SEASON, AND THE AUTUMN HARVEST, BUT AS THOREAU FOUND PLEASURE IN SIMILAR, GENTLE AUTUMN SOLITUDE, JUST LIKE THIS, I THINK IT IS NATURALLY ENRICHED ENOUGH, FOR ME TO WAX SENTIMENTAL, ABOUT OUR GLORIOUS PLACE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. THE ONLY DANGER NOW, IS THAT IT IS SO CALMING, THAT I MIGHT FIND MYSELF NODDING OFF SOON, IF THERE IS NOT ANOTHER FEW MOMENTS OF FURRY, WITH WIND AND RAIN, RISING OVER THE GUARDIAN EVERGREENS AND VENERABLE HARDWOODS; THAT HAVE FRINGED THE BOG FOR MOST OF A CENTURY. I WONDER HOW MANY VOYEURS, WOULD FIND THIS COUNTRY SCENE, IN ITS PALE, BARREN HONESTY, WORTHY OF A PAINTED DEPICTION, OR WORDS LIKE THESE; DESCRIBING WHAT IN ESSENCE, IS A NATURAL MELANCHOLY, REMINDING US OF OUR OWN MORTALITY ACCORDING TO LIFE SEASONS. I SHOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MY ASHES SPREAD UPON THIS NEIGHBOR PLACE, THAT HAS KEPT ME COMPANY NIGHT AND DAY, THROUGH THE FOUR SEASONS. THE AUTUMN SEASON HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MOST PROLIFIC TIME OF THE ROLLING YEAR, AND SCENES LIKE THIS, TODAY, HAVE KINDLY AFFORDED ME INSPIRATION TO PLOD-ON, TO CHARACTERIZE WHAT SEEMS SO VOID OF LIFE. IT IS OF COURSE, QUITE THE OPPOSITE THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR ME; I CONFESS I FIND IT A VERY HAUNTED PLACE, BUT IN THE SENSE OF ITS CHARACTERISTIC ATMOSPHERE. IT IS HAUNTED WITH MEMORIES; SPIRITED VISIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE MANY TIMES I HAVE SAT UPON THIS SAME VERANDAH, AND WRITTEN ABOUT THE JOYFUL LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN HIKING THROUGH THE LOWLAND, CHASING BUTTERFLIES AND REACHING FOR THE TALLEST CAT-TAILS. SEEING THE DEER FEEDING ON THE FAR RIDGE, IN THE EARLY SUMMER EVENINGS, AND HEARING THE PAIR OF RESIDENT OWLS, CALLING OUT FROM THE DARKNESS THESE OCTOBER NIGHTS. I CAN STILL EASILY RECALL THE DAYS, OUR OWN BOYS PLAYED IN THE WOODLAND ABOVE THE BOG, AND THE MANY TIMES I STROLLED ALONG THE OLD TRAILS WITH OUR DOGS ALF, AND THEN KRAMER, WITH CAT "FESTER," FOLLOWING BEHIND. IT WAS OFFICIALLY SPRING WHEN THE KIDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TOOK THEIR LITTLE WIRE NETS, AND FISHED FOR TADPOLES IN THE SHALLOW FERN-FRINGED POND, SET AMONGST THE LEANING BIRCHES, LIKE THE ONES MADE FAMOUS IN ROBERT FROST POEMS. IN THE DELICATE DUSTING OF THE FIRST SNOWFALL, YES INDEED, HOW MANY TIMES I THOUGHT OF ROBERT FROST'S POEM, ABOUT STOPPING BY A WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING. I HAVE WANDERED ALL OVER THE BOG, AND HAVE SO ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE ALL ITS FASCINATING, ALMOST INVISIBLE CATARACTS, ALONG THE MYRIAD WATER COURSES CRISS CROSSING ON THEIR FLOW, TUMBLING DOWN INTO THE WATERS OF MUSKOKA BAY. THE SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS, AND CHIPMUNKS, THAT TODAY RUN ACROSS THE TOES OF MY SHOES, ARE ALL INHERENTLY PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE; ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS URBAN OASIS IS, AND NOT JUST FOR WAYWARD WRITERS, NEEDING A PLACE TO SETTLE.
WHAT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THE DETERMINED BUT INFORMAL STEWARDSHIP OF THIS TWENTY ACRE WETLAND, IN TERMS OF ECOLOGY AND PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS. A RARE URBAN WETLAND THAT WAS NEARLY COMPROMISED BY AN ILL-INFORMED TOWN COUNCIL SOME TIME AGO. IT'S STILL MAKES ME ANGRY THINKING ABOUT IT. I RELAX WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, THAT SHOULD THEY TRY AGAIN, I WILL BE READY TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
PRIDE IN BUILDING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE WHOLE TOWN
WHEN OUR WEE LADS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, (NOW BIGGER THAN ME) SET UP THEIR MAINSTREET VINTAGE MUSIC BUSINESS, MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, THERE WAS ONE DEMAND SUZANNE AND I MADE, THAT WAS NON-NEGOTIABLE. WE WERE THE BANK, IN THIS VENTURE, SO WE FIGURED THEY SHOULD OFFER US A FEW CONCESSIONS. AS LONG TIME RETAILERS OURSELVES, IN MUSKOKA, WE HAVE SOME TIME-TESTED STRATEGIES, THAT HAVE ALWAYS WORKED FOR US. ESPECIALLY IN THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION. ABOVE ALL THE OTHER REQUESTS, FOR THINGS LIKE FINANCIAL SENSIBILITY, WE MADE THEM PROMISE TO CREATE A SHOP, TO MEET THE MUSIC, RECORDING, INSTRUMENT REPAIRS AND LESSON NEEDS, OF THE GOOD FOLKS OF SOUTH MUSKOKA. YES, IT'S TRUE. WE TOLD THEM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THAT IF THEY CREATED A TYPICAL CITY-SLICKER TYPE SHOP, THAT LOOKED AS IF IT SHOULD BE IN A RETAIL STOREFRONT, OR PLAZA, ON QUEEN OR BLOOR STREET, IN TORONTO, OR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, A SHOP THAT LOOKED LIKE IT ONLY CATERED TO COTTAGERS, AND TOURISTS SPECIFICALLY, IT WOULD MOST CERTAINLY FAIL. THE SHOP HAD TO POSSESS RURAL, SMALL TOWN, MUSKOKA VALUES, THAT WOULD SHOW CUSTOMERS OUR OWN PRIDE, LIVING AND WORKING IN GRAVENHURST. A SIMPLE PLAN. RIGHT? WELL NOT REALLY. NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRIED, FOR THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS, MANY OF THE TOWNSFOLK CONSIDERED US INTERLOPERS FROM THE BIG SMOKE, AND WOULDN'T COME IN, BECAUSE THEY ASSUMED WE WERE RUNNING, WHAT IS POPULARLY KNOW, IN COTTAGE COUNTRY, AS A "TOURIST TRAP." HAVING HIGH PRICES FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO BE EXTRAVAGANT. THEY SURE READ US WRONG. THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD FASHION A RETAIL BUSINESS, ON THE MAINSTREET, FOR LOCAL MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS, BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL RISK. MOST RETAILERS HAVE TO ADMIT, THAT WITHOUT THE ECONOMIC BOOM THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS, THEY COULDN'T SURVIVE ON JUST LOCAL TRADE. WELL SIR, THERE WAS FAR GREATER FINANCIAL RISK, IF WE HAD INSTEAD, OPENED UP A VINTAGE MUSIC BUSINESS, SHOWING A CLEAR AMBITION TO LAVISHLY CATER TO SUMMER SEASON CLIENTELE. WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD, SHORT OF TAPING A GIANT POSTER ON THE FRONT WINDOW, CONTAINING THE PRINTED VERSION OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONVINCE POTENTIAL PATRONS, THAT WE WERE HOMEGROWN FOLK; AND THAT AS LOCALS, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A RETAIL OUTLET TO ASSIST LOCAL MUSICIANS, AND OFFER LOW COST LESSONS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. THIS WAS THE AGENDA. WE STILL HAD QUITE A FEW SKEPTICS, BUT GRADUALLY, SOME BRAVE CUSTOMERS DIPPED THEIR TOES, AND FOUND THE WATER WAS PRETTY WARM. A FEW SMART ALECS DID CHALLENGE THE BOYS ABOUT BEING CITY TRANSPLANTS, WHO DECIDED TO OPEN A TOURIST SHOP, HOPING SOME FOOLISH LOCALS WOULD DROP IN AND SPEND A FEW DOLLARS. I CAN REMEMBER AN OLDER FELLOW, CLEARLY SET IN HIS OPINION, WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE ANTI-CITY GRUMBLERS, SUGGESTING THE BOYS DIDN'T HAVE THE FAMILY HISTORY HERE, IN MUSKOKA, THAT HIS FAMILY HAD, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1900'S. I COULD SEE ANDREW'S EYES TWINKLING, WHEN HE WRAPPED HIS TONGUE AROUND THE WORDS, "WELL, ISN'T THAT SOMETHING. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN MUSKOKA SINCE 1862." THE MAN DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, AND CHALLENGED BOTH ANDREW, AND ROBERT, WHO WAS WITHIN EAR-SHOT AT THE TIME. "MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S DUG-OUT CANOE, IS IN THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM, IN PORT CARLING, IF YOU'D LIKE SEE IT SOME DAY." I DON'T THINK THE CUSTOMER BELIEVED ANDREW, AND QUICKLY TURNED AROUND AND LEFT, AFTER ANDREW ADDED ONE MORE POINT. "MY BROTHER AND I WERE BOTH BORN IN MUSKOKA SIR, AND WE HAVE NEVER, FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF NIGHTS, LIVED IN THE CITY. WE LIVE AND WORK IN GRAVENHURST, PERIOD."
IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPRINT THIS POINT, OUR FAMILY BUSINESS CO-ORDINATED DOZENS OF COMMUNITY CONCERTS, IN GRAVENHURST, OPEN TO EVERYONE FOR A SMALL TICKET PRICE, OR A FOOD DONATIONS TO THE LOCAL FOOD BANK. WE HELD CONCERTS, WITH OUR MUSIC FRIENDS AND MUSIC STUDENTS, AT THE GRAVENHURST SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTRE, ON THE BARGE, IN GULL LAKE, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, AND EVEN TODAY, AT OUR FAVORITE VENUE, ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, ON HOTCHKISS STREET. WE WANTED TO PROVE, ONCE AND FOR ALL, THAT WE WERE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR TOWN, AND SOUTH MUSKOKA. THANKFULLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY TOO MUCH THESE DAYS, ABOUT COMMENTS FROM LOCALS, ABOUT US BEING FLY-BY-NIGHTERS, WHO WOULD SOON CLOSE UP SHOP AND HEAD BACK TO THE CITY. AND WHILE WE COUNT ON THE TOURIST SEASON, AND AREA SECOND HOME OWNERS, OTHERWISE COTTAGERS, AS PATRONS, THEY KNOW BY NOW, THAT WE ARE A PROUD HOMETOWN BUSINESS AND, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THAT FACT. THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE, AND EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THEY CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF UNIQUE SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR OWN HOME REGIONS; BUT THEY CAN'T FIND A CHARACTERISTIC GRAVENHURST BUSINESS IN OAKVILLE, OR ETOBICOKE. THE HIGHEST PRAISE WE CAN GET, IS IF SOMEONE TWEETS ABOUT OUR SHOP, AND THE TOWN, AFTER A VISIT, THAT THEY VERY MUCH ENJOYED SHOPPING IN GRAVENHURST. WHEN THEY VISIT OUR SHOP, THEY WILL BE IMMERSED IN MANY ASPECTS OF LOCAL AND MUSKOKA HISTORY, SOME FOR SALE, BUT A QUITE A FEW PIECES, FROM OUR PRIVATE COLLECTION, ON EXHIBITION FOR CUSTOMER ENJOYMENT. SUZANNE, HAVING GROWN UP IN A BOATING FAMILY, ONCE OWNING THE WINDERMERE MARINA AND "THE SKIPPER" SNACKBAR, AND HAVING WORKED IN RETAIL AT WINDERMERE HOUSE, AND THE WINDERMERE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, HAS BROUGHT THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE ANTIQUE COMPONENT, OF THE MULTI-FAMILY-BUSINESS SHOP, IN THE FORMER DIGS OF THE MUSKOKA THEATRE. YOU DON'T WANT TO CHALLENGE SUZANNE ON HER LOCAL CONNECTIONS, LET ME TELL YOU, UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED TO LISTEN TO AN HOUR-LONG LECTURE ABOUT MUSKOKA HISTORY. WE LOVE MUSKOKA GENERALLY, AND WE WANT TO REPRESENT ITS HISTORY AS RESPONSIBLY AND THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE.
AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, WE OCCASIONALLY HAVE A CUSTOMER TELL US, THAT WE SHOULD DONATE OUR MUSKOKA RELICS TO ONE OF THE REGIONAL MUSEUMS FOR SAFE KEEPING. BIG MISTAKE. SUZANNE AND I OPERATED WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM, IN BRACEBRIDGE, THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AT THE ARENA, A COLLECTION OF SHOWCASES ROGER CROZIER, FORMERLY OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS, FINANCED THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION, AND I SAT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM. WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT MUSEUMS, AND WE CERTAINLY KNOW, AS REGIONAL HISTORIANS, HOW TO LOOK AFTER OUR HEIRLOOM POSSESSIONS. CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LARGE CRESTED WINDERMERE HOUSE WASH BASIN, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON DISPLAY. WE PURCHASED IT WITH THE IDEA, THAT WE WOULD PUT IT IN OUR DISPLAY CASE AT THE SHOP, IN ORDER TO SHOW OUR CUSTOMERS WHAT ONE ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE. WHY? WE HAVE TURNED DOWN SEVERAL DOZEN REQUESTS ALREADY, TO SELL THE BOWL, WITH SOME PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL OFFERS. IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN BEFORE WE HAD THE BOWL A FULL DAY, WE HAD RECEIVED OUR FIRST OFFER. WE LET OUR CUSTOMERS KNOW THIS, AND THAT OUTSIDE OF A MUSEUM, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ONE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. IF WE HAD SOLD IT EARLY ON, WE WOULD HAVE LOST THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT, AS A NEAT "SHOW AND TELL" ITEM, WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED CUSTOMERS OVER THE SUMMER SEASON, WHO HAD ALSO NEVER SEEN ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT. THIS MADE US FEEL GOOD, AND CERTAINLY, IT HELPED OUR STORE GET A LITTLE EXTRA CREDIT. WE HAVE OTHER MUSKOKA PIECES THAT WE WON'T SELL, BUT WE'D LOVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEM, BECAUSE OF THEIR CONNECTION TO OUR STORIED HISTORY. A RUGGEDLY SOLID PEW FROM THE FORMER UFFORD METHODIST CHURCH, THAT WE BELIEVE WAS CRAFTED BY LEVI SHEA, WHO GAVE FARMSTEAD LAND TO THE CONGREGATION TO BUILD THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP. WE HAVE IT IN THE SHOP AND IT'S A DANDY HEIRLOOM WE WANT TO EXHIBIT. THE CHURCH WAS TORN DOWN IN THE 1960'S.
EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE OF THIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE LOCAL AND REGIONAL HISTORY, WE GET KIND FOLKS WHO AGREE TO LEND US FAMILY HEIRLOOMS TO INCLUDE IN OUR SHOP EXHIBITS. OUR GOOD FRIEND CHRIS THOMPSON, OF GRAVENHURST, WITH FAMILY WELL ROOTED IN MUSKOKA AND REGIONS NORTH, HAS PROVIDED US WITH MANY UNIQUE AND INTERESTING FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AND REGIONAL HERITAGE PIECES, PLUS VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS, TO SHARE IN THIS REGARD; AND WE ARE GREATLY INDEBTED FOR THIS KINDNESS, WHICH BY THE WAY, GENERATES A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN THE SHOP, AND YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW THESE HISTORY-CHATS GENERATE NEW FRIENDSHIPS, WITH CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE CONNECTIONS AS WELL. SERENDIPITY IS VERY MUCH A CHARACTERISTIC OF VISITING THIS MAINSTREET GRAVENHURST SHOP. IT'S EXACTLY THE SHOP WE HOPED THE BOYS WOULD ESTABLISH, AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH, DESPITE ALL TEMPTATIONS TO "CITY-SLICKER-UP" THE BUSINESS. IT'S TRUE FOLKS. WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THE SHOP IS GOING TO REPRESENT, IN HERITAGE ACTIVITY, OR CULTURAL RECREATION, ON ANY GIVEN DAY. WE ARE SURPRISED A LOT! ON SOME OCCASIONS THIS FALL, WE HAVE HAD THREE STUDIO AND SHOP TOURS, MANY HISTORY EXCHANGES, DEBATES AND EVEN MINOR TUTORIALS, WITHOUT SELLING ENOUGH INVENTORY TO BUY THE EVENING GROCERIES. THEN WE WILL HAVE DAYS THAT ARE THE EXACT OPPOSITE, AND WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RETAIL EARNINGS; OF A COMPOSITE SHOP, THAT TO SOME, IS SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT A FREELANCE "LOCAL MUSEUM." THE BOTTOM LINE, IS THAT WE LOVE TO COME TO WORK, BECAUSE WE ARE INSPIRED BY WHAT WE HAVE TO SELL AND SHARE. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW HOW MANY LOCAL CITIZENS MAKE DONATIONS TO US, OF LOCAL ARTIFACTS AND HISTORIC RELICS. CASE IN POINT, THE FOUR MUSIC SHEETS COMPOSED BY E.B. SUTTON OF BALA.
A LONG TIME CUSTOMER, AND FRIEND OF THE SHOP, DROPPED-IN TODAY, TO PRESENT US WITH FOUR SONGS, PUBLISHED BY FORMER MUSKOKA HOTELIER, MUSICIAN, MR. SUTTON, LISTED AS BEING FROM "BALA FALLS." OUR COLLEAGUE IN MUSIC, WANTED US TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THEM AS PART OF OUR VINTAGE MUSIC AND POSTER DISPLAY, AND WE ACCEPTED THE DONATION WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. THE MUSIC INCLUDES, "WHERE THERE'S A THREAD IN THE OLD BRITISH RAG," "SWEET WIFE - WALTZ SONG," "GIVE ME A SONG THAT'S GAY - DRINKING SONG," AND "AMONG THE AUTUMN LEAVES." THESE ARE ORIGINAL PIECES NOT REPRODUCTIONS. I CAN TELL YOU, THAT IF FEELS GREAT, TO BE THOUGHT THUSLY CAPABLE OF BEING STEWARDS OF SUCH HISTORIC REGIONAL PIECES. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED KIND DONATIONS OF BROWN'S BEVERAGE CASES AND BOTTLES, THAT WE ALSO HAVE ON DISPLAY IN OUR SHOP FOYER. I HOPE IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT WE'RE PROUD OF MUSKOKA HEIRLOOM ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES. BUT SOME MATERIAL IS JUST FOR SHOW, AND WE'RE GLAD TO BE THE HOST ENTERPRISE, AND IN SOME CASES, TOUR GUIDES. IN FACT, SINCE I'VE BEEN WRITING THIS, TODAY, THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN TWO TOURS OF OUR MUSIC STUDIO. I'M INTRODUCED AS "THE WRITER IN RESIDENCE," WHICH REALLY IMPRESSES ME, EVEN THOUGH, I KNOW THE BOYS MUTTER DIFFERENTLY UNDER THEIR BREATH. SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE "OLD FART."
GETTING BACK TO THE MUSIC SHEETS, FROM E.B. SUTTON, THEY WERE FOUND IN AN OLD COTTAGE, ON STRACHAN'S POINT, ON THE MOON RIVER, THAT ACCORDING TO PROVENANCE, WAS OWNED BY RAGTIME PIANO PLAYER, ERNIE HARRIS, AND WAS IN A BAG, STAMPED, "THE SUMMER SHOP," ONCE OPERATED BY ADA MACKENZIE, WHO ALSO RAN THE POPULAR "ADA MACKENZIE SHOP," IN PORT CARLING.
THE MUSIC SHEETS ARE NOW PERFECT COMPANION PIECES TO THE TWO VIOLINS MR. SUTTON ONCE OWNED, NOW HUNG IN OUR STUDIO, AND PART OF SON ANDREW'S VINTAGE INSTRUMENT COLLECTION. THEY WILL NEVER BE SOLD, ACCORDING TO ANDREW, AND I BELIEVE HIM. WE HOPE TO HAVE A PROPER SHOWCASE SOON, TO SHOW OFF THESE MUSKOKA TREASURES.
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