Found Artifacts From Sainte Elizabeth? Maybe

SAINTE ELIZABETH BETWEEN WASHAGO AND SEVERN BRIDGE? THE ARTIFACTS ARE HELPFUL TO POSITIONING THE FORMER JESUIT MISSION TO THE ALGONQUINS

I PURCHASED  A WONDERFULLY CONSERVED PRIMITIVE STONE ARTIFACT IN WASHAGO - STILL KEEN TO FIND THE MISSION REMAINS

     I HAVE REPEATED SOME OF THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE JESUIT MISSION, TO THE ALGONQUINS, CIRCA 1643-44, KNOWN AS STE. ELIZABETH, WHICH WILL SAGUAY WITH THE REST OF THE STORY, ABOUT ARTIFACTS FOUND IN THE WASHAGO / SEVERN BRIDGE AREA. 

     ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ABOUT JESUIT TRANSPORT IN THE 1600'S, TO AND WITHIN THE REGIONS OF SIMCOE, HURONIA AND THE GEORGIAN BAY AREA, HISTORY OF THE TRAVEL ACTIVITY IN THE MUSKOKA DISTRICT IS LARGELY IGNORED. YET SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIONS OF LANDFORMS AND FORESTS, PENNED IN JOURNALS BY THE MISSIONARIES, MIGHT WELL BE SCENES FROM SOUTH AND CENTRAL MUSKOKA. RESEARCH HOWEVER, HAS TURNED UP SOME INTERESTING NOTATIONS, WHICH SEEM TO INCLUDE MUSKOKA, AS A REGION ACTIVELY TRAVERSED BY THE JESUITS, FOLLOWING AFTER THE HUNTING AND FISHING ALGONQUINS, AND THEIR SEASONAL MIGRATIONS. INFORMATION ON ONE JESUIT MISSION, IN PARTICULAR, KNOWN AS SAINTE ELIZABETH, INDICATES IT WAS LOCATED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE NORTHERN SHORE OF LAKE COUCHICHING, AND POSSIBLY AS FAR NORTH AS SEVERN BRIDGE IN MUSKOKA. WHILE IT MIGHT NOT SEEM IMPORTANT TO SOME HISTORY ENTHUSIASTS, SEEING AS THE PERIOD OF THE 1640'S, WHEN THE MISSION WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, WAS SHORT-LIVED, IT IS STILL A WONDERFULLY DIVERSE ASPECT OF REGIONAL HISTORY THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION. MOST FEEL THE ONLY RELEVANT HISTORY WORTH CONSIDERING, WAS WHEN THE FIRST SETTLERS ARRIVED IN THE MUSKOKA DISTRICT, TO SETTLE THE VAST HINTERLAND. THIS BEGAN IN THE LATE 1850'S, SPECIFICALLY AT MCCABE'S LANDING, NOW OF COURSE KNOWN AS GRAVENHURST. WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, THAT PRE-HISTORY IN OUR AREA HAS BEEN LARGELY UNDER-ESTIMATED, AND IN FACT, PRACTICALLY IGNORED. TODAY THERE IS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE KNOWLEDGE GATHERED, ABOUT FIRST NATIONS INHABITATIONS WITHIN THE REGION OF MUSKOKA, AND IT WAS INITIATED BY FLORENCE MURRAY, IN HER PIVOTAL TEXT, "MUSKOKA AND HALIBURTON 1615-1875," PUBLISHED BY THE CHAMPLAIN SOCIETY. SHE EXPLAINS HOW THE JESUIT FATHERS, FROM THEIR BASE MISSION AT SAINTE-MARIE IN MIDLAND, FOLLOWED THE ALGONQUINS THROUGH THE WOODLANDS, ATTEMPTING TO CONTINUE THE EFFORTS TO CONVERT THEIR PEOPLES TO CHRISTIANITY.

     "THE JESUIT FATHERS FOUND, THAT AS DIFFICULT AS IT WAS TO CHRISTIANIZE THE HURONS, IT WAS NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE HARDSHIPS INVOLVED IN FOLLOWING THE WANDERING ALGONKINS FROM CAMP TO CAMP. THE JESUIT RELATIONS SHOW NO MISSIONS WHICH CAN DEFINITELY BE LOCATED IN MUSKOKA OR HALIBURTON, BUT INCLUDE TWO TO THE ALGONKINS; THE MISSION OF STE. ELIZABETH AND THE MISSION OF THE HOLY GHOST, WHICH NO DOUBT SERVED SOME OF THE INDIANS WHO HUNTED IN THE AREA. THE MISSION OF STE. ELIZABETH WAS STARTED BETWEEN 1640 AND 1644, FOR ALGONKINS WHO HAD BEEN DRIVEN FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY BY THE IROQUOIS AND HAD SOUGHT REFUGE AMONG THE HURONS, AND FOR OTHER ALGONKINS WHO WENT SOUTH TO WINTER NEAR THE HURONS. THIS MISSION HAS BEEN LOCATED BY DU CREUX AND BY FATHER A.E. JONES, AS BEING AT THE NORTH END OF LAKE COUCHICHING, TWO OR THREE MILES SOUTH OF THE PRESENT TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE MUSKOKA DISTRICT." (FLORENCE MURRAY, "MUSKOKA AND HALIBURTON."

     SHE WRITES, "FATHER JAROME LALEMANT'S REPORT ON THE MISSION OF STE. ELIZABETH, 1643-44: THE IROQUOIS, WHO MAKE THEMSELVES DREADED IN THE GREAT RIVER ST. LAWRENCE AND WHO EVERY WINTER, FOR SOME YEARS HAVE BEEN HUNTING MEN IN THESE VAST FORESTS, HAVE COMPELLED THE ALONGQUINS, WHO DWELT ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER, TO ABANDON NOT ONLY THEIR HUNTING GROUNDS BUT ALSO THEIR COUNTRY, AND HAVE REDUCED THEM THIS WINTER TO COME HERE NEAR OUR HURONS, IN ORDER TO LIVE MORE SAFELY - SO MUCH SO, THAT A WHOLE VILLAGE OF THESE POOR WANDERING AND FUGITIVE TRIBES CAME NEAR THE VILLAGE OF SAINTE JEAN BAPTISTE. WE WERE OBLIGED TO GIVE THEM SOME ASSISTANCE, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO ASSOCIATE WITH FATHER ANTOINE DANIEL, WHO HAD CHARGE OF THE HURON MISSION, OF WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTER. FATHER RENE MENARD, WHO HAVING A SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH LANGUAGES HAD, AT THE SAME TIME, CHARGE OF THIS ALGONQUIN MISSION, TO WHICH WE HAVE GIVEN THE NAME SAINTE ELIZABETH." NOTATIONS IN THE TEXT INDICATED THAT STE. ELIZABETH "WAS A NOMADIC AS WERE THE ALGONQUINS IT SERVED."

     IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FATHER LALEMANT, WRITING IN THE JESUIT RELATIONS ABOUT STE. ELIZABETH, AND FATHER ANTOINE DANIEL, WHO SERVED AT STE. ELIZABETH FOR A SHORT TIME, WERE BOTH SAVAGELY TORTURED AND KILLED, DURING THE IROQUOIS ATTACK IN HURONIA, IN JULY 1648. FATHER RENE MANARD, ALSO AT STE. ELIZABETH, WOULD SURVIVE THE IROQUOIS ATTACKS, BUT DIE LATER IN THE WILDS OF WISCONSIN, WHILE FOLLOWING A PARTY OF ALGONQUINS.

  

IT ALL STARTED WITH AN AFTERNOON CHAT AT KAY'S CORNER IN WASHAGO

     If a farmer or home builder, was to find the remains of an old, old iron kettle, in their turning of the soil, it could be an important clue as to the location of Ste. Elizabeth. Worn out iron kettles, forged at Sainte Marie, in Midland, were used as makeshift mission bells, that could be hit with a club, the deep ring through the heavily wooded forest, announcing a church service was soon to begin. I would really like to know about that iron kettle discovery, if and when it is ever uncovered, because the exact location of Ste. Elizabeth, of the mid 1600's, has never officially, at least, been located.

     The story of Sainte Elizabeth was inspired a number of years ago, during a regular family outing to the Village of Washago. Greatly enjoying summer antique jaunts, on occasion, when not stuck behind the counter of our own shop, in Bracebridge (back in the early 1990's), Suzanne and I liked to seek out hole-in-the-wall collectible shops, where we could make some decent, previously undetected antique finds. On this particular occasion, we drove into Washago for a treat, at the former mill store on the Severn River. I had been reading up on Ste. Elizabeth previously, and I had some questions to ask…..if only I could find someone who had heard of the former Jesuit Mission.

     We stopped in at one of our favorite little cubby-hole collectible shops, known as Kay's Corner, that she ran on one side of the old warehouse, while her husband did blacksmithing on the east side. After about an hour combing through her fascinating shop, and its really neat albeit attractively cluttered attic, Suzanne had come up with some terrific jewelry pieces, and the boys had scooped up twenty or thirty comic books each and a few Hot Wheels, which they collected back then. I had four good old books, a couple of art panels, and some interesting documents found at the bottom of some boxes stuffed into the hot attic. As I was pushing past the glass display case, where Kay kept some of her best pieces, my eye caught a treasure within. It appeared to be a First Nation's stone artifact, which she called an adze, but may be properly called a scraper. I hunched over to get a better look. If it was what I suspected then there was no doubt the treasure for the day had been found…..at least for me.

     I asked Kay if I could have a better look at the scraper rock, with an edge on both ends of the smooth fat stone, and she obliged, telling me that it had been found in the area. She strained to lift the heavy piece even though its appearance suggested it would be light and fragile. When she set it on the glass counter in front of me, it made a loud crack onto the glass…..and she had to lift it back up to see if she had accidentally broken the top of the showcase. There was no question in my mind. This was definitely a First Nation's tool, that could date back to the period of Ste. Elizabeth or earlier. Kay indicated, as I cradled the beautiful and historic piece in my hand, that a local gardener had dug it up while working the soil for planting, that spring, and he had brought it in to see if the artifact was worth anything. Seeing as Kay wasn't going to be putting this adze back in the showcase, I then had to enquire about the price, which frankly should have been at least a hundred dollars. Seeing as she had only given the home gardener about ten bucks for the artifact, and always being modest in her pricing, I was offered the great find for twenty-five dollars. I smiled at Suzanne, and begged an early or late (I'm not sure now) birthday present, as there was no way I was going to sell this precious remnant of a long ago era; when Jesuits wandered these woods, and erected wooden crosses, to meet with the Algonquins.

     No one had much of an idea, at that point, about Sainte Elizabeth, so I did most of the talking. But I just had the feeling that this stone artifact, was from an Algonquin seasonal encampment, and it stands to reason that Ste. Elizabeth would have been close by, as this was its mission purpose. It's also true, that from that first meeting of my hand, and this native artifact, a new obsession had begun…..like so many before that…..always with the same consequence of time and money. I spent hours and hours looking a maps, and reading every regional and First Nations history that touched even modestly on our region and Huronia, looking for even the smallest clue about Ste. Elizabeth. While I haven't progressed very far, in the past two decades, I have acquired quite a few more locally found stone scrapers, that have been supposedly found north of Huronia, and in the vicinity of Lake Couchiching and Washago, including a relic of native pottery which is one of my great prizes.

    After purchasing the artifact from my friend Kay, I mounted it in a special glass showcase beside my desk. On occasion, when I'm short of inspiration, I will lift it out carefully, and cradle it as I did on that first day in Washago, wondering as I did then, where it might have come from, and if it was shaped by Algonquin hands, to suit a function of survival, eg. skinning a deer or bear, and if the maker had been to Ste. Elizabeth, and possibly mey face to face with the Jesuits, who clanged that old iron pot, hung from a pole in their clearing. There is a vibration to the stone piece, and holding it does promote an emotional time travel, to a tumultuous period in the history of our new country…..that ended with great suffering, to those who had established the mission of Ste. Elizabeth. Everyone who has visited my office, has had an opportunity to handle some of the gathered artifacts in my collection, and all claim to feel the same historic vibe……as I did on that occasion, when I lifted the adze from Kay's glass counter…..and knew, I had made my first legitimate connection with the Jesuit mission, I had been searching for…….but sadly, have not yet found.

    It's true. I am obsessive about the artifacts I have acquired, and the ones I intend on acquiring…….and it's one of those things, antique hunters just can't quite explain…….and neither can their accountants…..which for me…..is also my wife; making it one of those double whammy situations. Just so that you know, I'm now working on three Christmases in advance, and birthdays? I'm about ten ahead, for the purchases I've begged to make in the past two years. If I've learned one thing in the antique enterprise, it's how to beg successfully, and connive to make a deal. I still have my soul, as I refuse to barter it away, but I'm down to my last shred of dignity…..so I'm hoping we don't make another big and expensive discovery, until I can get some wiggle room on my artifact acquisition budget, which has more holes than a thick slice of swiss cheese.

     If I find Sainte Elizabeth, you folks will be the first to find out about it, via this blog.

     Thanks so much for visiting today. More exciting stuff on the way.  Oh, by the way, have you got any artifacts you're looking to get rid of? I know a poor guy who wants them! I know a woman who doesn't want me to have them! What's a collector / historian to do? I'm always jumping hurdles and leaping through hoops, just to maintain a profession. I wouldn't trade this life. It's been one adventure after another. As for spice, yup, it's been full of that too!

Where Was The Jesuit Mission of Sainte Elizabeth?

WHERE WAS STE. ELIZABETH - THE JESUIT MISSION OF THE 1600'S?

SOUTH MUSKOKA  OR WASHAGO? THE JESUITS TRAVELLED IN OUR DISTRICT IN THE 1600'S!

     CONTAINED IN THE "JESUIT MISSIONS," IS A DETAILED MAP OF HURONIA AND ABUTTING REGIONS, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA. STE. ELIZABETH IS CLEARLY MARKED ON THE MAP, SITUATED NORTHEAST OF WASHAGO AND SOUTHEAST OF SEVERN BRIDGE. THERE HAVE BEEN LONGSTANDING DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN HISTORIANS, AS TO ITS PRECISE LOCATION, AS THE SITE HAS NEVER BEEN POSITIVELY HISTORICALLY-GEOGRAPHICALLY IDENTIFIED, AND PHYSICALLY LOCATED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY STORIES SPUN BY LONG TIME AREA RESIDENTS, SPECULATING ON WHETHER IT WAS CLOSER TO THE NORTHERN SHORE OF LAKE COUCHICHING, OR STRADDLING THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA. SOME WASHAGO AREA RESIDENTS BELIEVE IT HAD BEEN BUILT ON WHAT IS NOW CULTIVATED FARMLAND, A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE VILLAGE'S MAIN STREET. I HAVE PERSONALLY DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, OVER THE YEARS, BUT HEARSAY IS PRETTY MUCH ALL THE INTREPID HISTORIAN CAN GET, WITHOUT BENEFIT OF A LARGE SCALE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY. THE LONG ERODED AND MATTED-OVER RUINS, OVER WHAT WAS LIKELY A PORTABLE ENCAMPMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WILL LIKELY NEVER BE FOUND, UNLESS A MAJOR FIND IS MADE BY SOMEONE TURNING OVER ITS COVERING TOPSOIL, OR WHEN DIGGING THE BASEMENT FOR A NEW HOME. AT THAT POINT, AN ASSORTMENT OF ARTIFACTS COULD BE DISCOVERED, ON OR NEAR THE 1600'S MISSION SITE.

     IN ADDITION THERE IS SPECULATION ABOUT ANOTHER MOVABLE JESUIT MISSION, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF HALIBURTON COUNTY. NILA REYNOLDS, IN THE HISTORICAL TEXT, "IN QUEST OF YESTERDAY," CONFIRMED THAT RUINS WERE INDEED FOUND OF A POSSIBLE RELIGIOUS SITE. "AN INTRIGUING MYSTERY IS POSED BY AN OLDTIMER'S TALE, OF RUINS OF A THREE FOOT THICK STONE FOUNDATION, ON A HILLSIDE BY THE SHORES OF GULL LAKE (HALIBURTON), WHICH NO LIVING PERSON COULD ACCOUNT FOR. SPECULATION, ELIMINATING THE LUMBERMEN'S CAMBOSE CAMP AND THE ARCHITECTURAL EFFORTS OF THE INDIANS, CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN A MISSION, (JESUIT FATHERS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE MINISTERED TO RESIDING ALGONKINS) AND A TRADING POST INTERCEPTING THE FUR TRAFFIC CHANNELLED TO TORONTO, NIAGARA OR ALBANY VIA THE GULL RIVER. LIEUT. WALPOLE'S MAP OF HIS EXPLORATORY SURVEY IN 1827 REVEALS 'TRADER'S HOUSES' ON GULL LAKE'S NORTHERN END, LOGICAL SUPPORT OF THE LATTER SURMISE."

JESUITS IN MUSKOKA?

     As Samuel de Champlain touched the western shoreline of Muskoka, in the 1600's, accordingly documented in his own journal, it is possible, with references in the Jesuit Relations of the same century, that they, the Jesuit Fathers, also penetrated deeply into the Muskoka region during their christianizing missions. Of considerable interest, is the whereabouts of the mission of Ste. Elizabeth, which was at most, only a few miles from the southern boundary. Considering that Sainte Elizabeth was serving the seasonally roaming Algonquins, and that the Jesuits would move their missions accordingly, it is of considerable potential, that they would have set up their temporary sites, to the north in Muskoka. I think it is worth some historical investigation, to find out how far they did move into the region, beyond the established mission of Ste. Elizabeth, likely in the area between Washago and Severn Bridge.

     There are enough references documented regarding Jesuit travels in our part of the province, to conduct more research, in an effort to better understand the nature and composition of Ste. Elizabeth, and how it drew the Muskoka district into this early and tumultuous period of Canadian history. It is said of Ste. Elizabeth that it was likely plowed under by area farming practices over a century ago, and in all likelihood, impossible to ever positively situate, other than in the most general of terms. But it is fascinating to me that Sainte Elizabeth existed, and in face evaded local and national historians for decades. And when the Iroquois made their horrific ambush on the missions in Huronia, Sainte Elizabeth was in the same desperate circumstance as the other missions in flames, and was regretfully abandoned in the haste of battle.

     Florence Murray, in the highly regarded text, "Muskoka and Haliburton, 1615-1875," published by the Champlain Society, reported the following information concerning aboriginal activities at the time of Brebeuf and the Jesuit missionaries:

     "The Muskoka and Haliburton area, with its chain of lakes and rivers, its fur bearing animals, its fish, wild fruit, and maple sap, would have supported a large Indian population, but written evidence suggests that until very recent years, it was harbored by only nomadic groups. In historic times it has been a hunting ground for three Indian peoples in turn; the Algonkin, the Iroquois, and the Ojibwa.

     "To what extent the people of Algonkian stock hunted the beaver, bear and fox, or fished in the lakes and rivers of Muskoka and Haliburton can never be known. They came in small groups or families, camped a brief time and were gone. Summer's growth and winter storms have long since obliterated almost all traces of the fleeting camps. There is no definitive evidence to show that either the Hurons or Algonkins knew the water routes which led from Georgian Bay across the Muskoka and Haliburton area, to the Ottawa. Certainly the Hurons were accustomed to take the longer route by way of the French River and Lake Nipissing on their traditional expeditions to Quebec."

     Murray writes that, "The Jesuit Fathers found that difficult as it was to Christianize the Hurons, it was nothing compared with the hardships involved, in following the wandering Algonkins from camp to camp. The Jesuit Relations show no missions which can definitely be located in Muskoka or Haliburton but include two to the Algonkins; the mission of Ste. Elizabeth and the Mission of the Holy Ghost, which no doubt served some of the Indians who hunted in the area. The Mission of Ste. Elizabeth was started between 1640 and 1644 for Algonkins who had been driven from the St. Lawrence Valley, by the Iroquois, and had sought refuge among the Hurons, and for other Algonkins who went south to winter near the Hurons. This mission had been located by Du Creux, and by Father A.E. Jones, as being at the north end of Lake Couchiching, two or three miles south of the present territorial limits of the Muskoka district. Father Jerome Lalemont's report on the Mission of Ste. Elizabeth, 1644-166:

     "The Iroquois, who make themselves dreaded in the great river, St. Lawrence, and who every winter, for some years have been hunting men in these vast forests, have compelled the Algonquins who dwelt on the banks of the river, to abandon not only their hunting grounds but also their country, and have reduced them this winter to come here near our Hurons, in order to live more in safety, - so much so, that a whole village of these poor wandering and fugitive tribes came near the Village of Saint John Baptiste. We were obliged to give them some assistance, and for that purpose to associate with Father Antoine Daniel, who had charge of the Huron Mission of which I have spoken in the preceding chapter. Father Rene Manard, who having a sufficient knowledge of both languages had, at the same time, charge of this Algonquin Mission, to which we have given the name of Sainte Elizabeth."

     Notations in the text indicated that Ste. Elizabeth "was as nomadic as were the Algonquins it served."

     "Father Antoine Daniel (1601-1648) came to Canada in 1632 and went to the Huron Mission a year or two later. He remained there, except for the years from 1636-1638, until his death in the Iroquois attack on St. Joseph, July 1648. Father Rene Manard (1605-1661) was sent to Canada in 1640. He worked at Huronia, first with the Mission of the Holy Ghost, later with that of Sainte Elizabeth. After the destruction of Huronia in 1649, he ministered to the Iroquois and to the tribes on Lake Superior."

     According to the text of the "Jesuit Missions," published in 1920, "Father Rene Manard, while following a part of Algonquins to the wilds of Wisconsin, lost his way in the forest and perished from exposure or starvation." 

     Thomas Guthrie Marquis, author of "The Jesuit Missions," suggests that from the new central mission at Sainte Marie (Midland), "the missionaries went forth in pairs to the farthest parts of Huronia and beyond. The good work went on, notwithstanding trials and reverses. The story of the Cross was being carried even to the Algonquins and Nipissings of the upper Ottawa and Georgian Bay. The teaching and example of the fathers was winning a way to the hearts of the Indians. In 1648 eleven or twelve mission stations stood throughout Huronia, among the Algonquins, and among the Petuns, now settled in the Blue Hills of Nottawasaga Bay. Seven of these stations had chapels and in six it had been found necessary to establish residences. The chapels had bells -  some discarded kettles served this purpose. To call the flock to worship; and crosses studded the land. Huronia was in a fair way of being completely won; and the missionaries were already looking to the unexplored regions round and beyond Lake Superior, and even to the land of the Iroquois."

     (Father Paul Ragueneau's Report on Algonkin Mission - 1645 - Jesuit Relations)  "Father Claude Pijart and Father Leonard Gareau, who had wintered with the Algonquins on the shores of our great lake, and in the midst of the snows, which cover these countries more than four or five months, followed those same tribes throughout the summer, upon the bare rocks which they inhabit, exposed to the heat of the sun; and thus spent with them almost all the past year. They had left us at the end of the month of November, after four or five days's journey - in which they had to combat the winds, the snows, and the ice which was beginning to form in every direction - they saw themselves constrained to leave their canoe, still distant more than three leagues from the place they were aiming to land.

     "Father Jean de Brebeuf went, toward the end of autumn to a place named Tangouaen, where dwell some Algonquins and where some cabins of Hurons have taken refuge, in order to live there more sheltered from the incursions by the Iroquois, for it is a retired country, and surrounded on all sides by lakes, ponds, and rivers, which make this place inaccessible to the enemy. It was a journey extremely difficult for the Father, and for a young Frenchman who accompanied him thither; but their consolation much surpassed their hardships, when they found in the midst of those profound foresters and those vast solitudes a little church which they had gone to visit. By this, I mean a whole family of Christians, who find God by these woods…..The Father, having spent some days in that solitude, was in haste to accelerate his return, fearing to be surprised by the ice and winter which was beginning, and which in fact, stopped him on the way, and placed him in danger of dying from both hunger and cold, and of perishing in the lakes and rives which they had to cross."

     Florence Murray's text however, indicates that "There is no direct evidence to show where the Algonkins were living at this time. The Jesuit Relations suggests that Tangouaen was on the north side of the Severn River, in Baxter or Wood Township." Murray also notes, "Father A.E. Jones, a noted researcher of Jesuit missions, believed that rather than Muskoka, Father Brebeuf had actually made it to the north of Lake Nipissing. Jones equated the time factor of the trip to determine the distance travelled. In an earlier piece written by Gabriel Sagard (1623-24) he tells of exploring some regions of Muskoka from its Georgian Bay shoreline. "Two days before our arrival among the Hurons, we came upon the fresh water sea (Lake Huron) over which we passed from island to island, and landed in the country so greatly longed for on Sunday, the Festival of St. Bernard about midday, with the sun beating down perpendicularly upon us." Murray reports, "On the return journey, Sagard and his company spent a day in an Algonkin Village, thought to have been on Beausoleil Island, and its geographically part of Muskoka."

     Maybe one day we shall find the location of Sainte Elizabeth. I would love to be the one who makes that discovery. I have secured a number of First Nation artifacts from the Severn Bridge, Washago area, and I will tell you all about in tomorrow's blog. Thanks so much for joining me for this historical feature blog, on a topic I've enjoyed for most of my career as a regional historian. I've been to Ste Marie-Among-The-Hurons so many times, I could be considered a permanent resident. Our whole family has found it to be one of the most compelling of all the historic sites we've ventured to, in this province, and if we even visited seven days a week, we'd still make discoveries we hadn't the time before.

     See you soon! More on Ste. Elizabeth tomorrow

W. D. LeSueur Versus Stephen Leacock, Gravenhurst

WHY WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE DR. WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR - THE MAN WHO NAMED OUR TOWN

AS A POSTAL AUTHORITY HE WAS FUTURE-MINDED - TO WRITERS LIKE STEPHEN LEACOCK - HE WAS AN UNWELCOME MEDDLER

     THIS PAST SUMMER, I WROTE A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE SERIES ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY, OF THE NAMING OF OUR TOWN, IN AUGUST 1862, AFTER THE TITLE OF A BOOK, WRITTEN BY BRITISH AUTHOR, WILLIAM HENRY SMITH. HIS BOOK, PUBLISHED SHORTLY BEFORE THE OPENING OF OUR POST OFFICE, IN THE FORMER MCCABE'S LANDING, WAS ENTITLED "GRAVENHURST; OR THOUGHTS ON GOOD AN EVIL." I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING TIRED OF READING ABOUT THIS, BUT TODAY I HAVE A RARE PIECE OF EDITORIAL MATERIAL, THAT PROFILES THE CHARACTER OF DR. WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR, CIVIL SERVANT BY DAY, LITERARY CRITIC AND HISTORIAN AFTER HOURS. HE BECAME A HIGHLY RESPECTED LITERARY CRITIC AND AN ACCOMPLISHED CANADIAN HISTORIAN. AND HE DECIDED THAT MCCABE'S LANDING JUST DIDN'T SUIT OUR HAMLET, IN 1862, BUT HE WAS THINKING WELL PAST THIS POST OFFICE OPENING. AS I HAVE REITERATED ABOUT LESUEUR, IN 1862, HE WAS KNOWN IN INTELLECTUAL CIRCLES, AS ONE OF THE FLEDGLING NATION'S BRIGHTEST MINDS. HE WOULDN'T HAVE SELECTED A NAME FROM A BOOK HE DIDN'T APPROVE. HE WASN'T KNOWN TO BE A PRACTICAL JOKER. IF HE HAD ONE GLARING FAILURE, IT WAS THAT HE FORGOT TO TELL THE FINE FOLKS OF "GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO," WHY HE SELECTED THE TITLE OF A BOOK, BY A BRITISH PHILOSOPHER, TO ADORN OUR NEW POST OFFICE. TO THIS DAY, IT'S THE ONE THING THAT STANDS IN THE WAY, OF THE TOWN'S ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CHAPTER OF LOCAL HISTORY……AND FROM ATTACHING ANY REAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES INVOLVED. WHICH IS A SHAME, BECAUSE LESUEUR WAS AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED WRITER AND HISTORIAN, AND SMITH WAS A HUGELY ACCOMPLISHED AUTHOR / PHILOSOPHER, AND IN FACT, THE BOOK WE ARE NAMED AFTER, IS STILL IN DEMAND TO THIS DAY, IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

A LITTLE BIT OF UNKNOWN HISTORY ABOUT W.D. LESUEUR

     Why would we make a big deal out of a career civil servant? Would we be the first community in Canada, to erect a statue of a postal authority. For us, right next to Dr. Norman Bethune, in front of the Opera House? How weird would that be? Well, LeSueur was not as colorful and well known as Dr. Bethune, and it would be hard to relate even his historical authordom, to what Bethune was accomplishing on the battlefront. Field surgeon, surgical innovator, martyr? LeSueur, a Federal postal authority responsible for naming hamlet post offices, colleague to some of the best known philosophers of his time, and a Canadian historian who wasn't afraid of any one, including the future Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King, grandson of the firebrand, William Lyon Mackenzie King. Mackenzie King was so pissed-off at LeSueur, for writing an expose, of his grandfather, that diminished his stature as a key player in the 1830's Rebellion in Upper Canada, that he lobbied his publisher to kill the project. When LeSueur dusted himself off, and went to another publisher, they too got a message that it wasn't a good idea to publish this particular biography. In fact, Mackenzie King was so determined to stop LeSueur, that protracted litigation kept LeSueur's book from being published until the late 1960's. Now it is an accepted and welcome edition to the study of William Lyon Mackenzie, and the rebellion of 1837 I believe. LeSueur had found information on Mackenzie, that determined him to have been nothing more than a Scottish pain in the ass, and that he caused more problems with the course of events, than if he had just followed the leadership of others. LeSueur was a big believer in the critical approach, and he was very interested in examining every possible source of information, before he compiled such a biography. What he found, with this in-depth research, was that history had been way too kind to Mr. Mackenzie, and he was intent on exposing the differences of opinion. His grandson, quite happy with the Mackenzie legend, didn't feel it was LeSueur's responsibility to change history, because of a few recollections of his grandfather, he hadn't heard before.

     In the Public Archives of Canada, the "W.D. LeSueur Papers," contain an interesting critique of the historical writing of well known Canadian author, Stephen Leacock. LeSueur was not at all impressed by the popular histories, of which Leacock had penned a timely version. On October 26, 1906, the man who afforded us the name "Gravenhurst," challenged Stephen Leacock, via letter, offering his opinion of the writer's version of what constituted important Canadian history. Here is how the challenge commences, in words from a fellow who factored heavily in our municipal history, here in South Muskoka. He named Bracebridge's post office, in 1864, after the titled of a book, written by American author, Washington Irving….."Bracebridge Hall."

     In the words of Dr. LeSueur, in a letter penned to Stephen Leacock, (in regards to the history he wrote, that didn't quite measure up); "A few words now on the question of Responsible Government. I quite recognize that a book can be written on the lines of yours that will give satisfaction, to a large section of the public, but my feeling was that in dealing with Baldwin, Lafontaine and Hincks, an opportunity was afforded for doing something a little better, than repeating that twice told tale, however, skillfully, the retelling might be done," argued LeSueur, as diplomatically as he could, under the circumstances of reading a work he believed was shallow and complacent with accepted, convenient fact.

     "I was hoping for a book that would make, or, if that is impossible, would at least invite people to think dispassionately and unconventionally on the course of Canadian history." He reports to Leacock, that "Considering the point at which we have arrived in our political development, and the many evils which have fastened themselves on our political system, the time is ripe for very critical treatment of our political conventions and catch words. The note of your book, on the other hand, is the one of finality. It is finished. We have Responsible Government.

     "Yes we have 'Responsible Government,' and corruption has so enlarged itself that witnesses in the book almost jeer at the magistrate who enquires into their inequities, and a horrible cynicism in regard to every profession of political virtue, has taken solid possession of a very large portion of the community. Is this the time to persuade people that their welfare is accomplished, and that they may sit down in peace under Responsible Government, as under a combination vine and fig tree? I do not say you distinctly say so in your book, but I do say that you have done it negatively by missing a great opportunity of presenting certain questions, as open questions instead of as eternally settled ones. It is the note of enquiry, that not of what Balfour calls, 'philosophical doubt,' that I miss in a book that gave exceptional advantage - for more than the book I am writing - for introducing it."

     If there is one opinion of W.D. LeSueur, that I have adopted as my own mantra, in the study of regional history, and the examination of politics, it is this statement: "Criticism should be the voice of impartial and enlightened reason. Too often what passes for criticism is the voice of hireling adulation or hireling enmity. Illustrations of this will occur to everyone, but there is no use blaming criticism, which, as has been said, is an intellectual necessity of the age: the foregoing remarks have been made in the hope that it may help to clear away some prevalent misconceptions, by showing the organic connection, so to speak, that exists between criticism as a function, or as a model of intellectual activity, and the very simplest intellectual processes. Such a mode of regarding it should do away with the odium that in so many minds attaches to the idea of criticism. Let us all try to be critics according to the measure of our abilities and opportunities. Let us aim at seeing all we can, at gaining as many points of view as possible. Let us compare carefully and judge impartially; and we may depend upon it; we shall be the better for the very effort."

     The above biographical material was taken from the book by A.B. McKillop, Carleton University, and the biography, "A Critical Spirit - The Thought of William Dawson LeSueur." In McKillop's observation, "LeSueur deserves, then, the attention of anyone interested in the intellectual and cultural history of Canada."

     We should of course, be proud in this town, of our inherent association with this Canadian scholar, William Dawson LeSueur, and author William Henry Smith. We got two historical legends in one simple act of naming a hamlet post office. Do you think one day, the Town administration will ever come to believe this is a story worth investing in……and promoting? An historian can always hope!

     Or will they remember me, the badgering historian, who just now, as if an act of providence, wrote down the quotation, "Stop trying to explain the meaning of life….and just live it!" Let LeSueur's and Smith's reputations fend from their own ranking of distinction. God's telling me, you see, that there are bigger fish to fry…..in a proverbial sort of way!

     Thank you for spending some time with me today. It's always as pleasure.

  

Stuart McLean and The Vinyl Cafe in Gravenhurst

CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST WITH STUART MCLEAN'S VINYL CAFE - WHAT A NICE BOOST FOR THE OPERA HOUSE AND US!

WITH A NEW ROOF HOW ABOUT A NEW ATTITUDE?

     I HOPE THAT ONCE THE ROOF RESTORATION IS COMPLETE, AND THE OPERA HOUSE IS TRIM AND FIT AGAIN, WE WILL SEE A MORE AMBITIOUS PROGRAM OF ENTERTAINMENT IN 2013. ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO PITCH THE IDEA OF CREATING AN OPERA HOUSE LIAISON COMMITTEE. A HUGELY ENERGETIC GROUP TO BE MADE UP OF KEEN CITIZENS, WHO WANT…..NO, INSIST ON CONSERVING, UPGRADING, MAINTAINING,  AND BY ALL MEANS POSSIBLE, USING THIS OUTSTANDING, HISTORIC MAIN STREET THEATRE VENUE FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED. TO BE A HELL OF AN EXCITING PLACE, IN THE CENTRE OF THE GOOD OLD TOWN. AND OF COURSE, BE THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE, AS AN ECONOMIC BOOSTER, IN OUR UPTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SHOW ME THE BOOB WHO WOULDN'T WANT THIS DEGREE OF SUCCESS……AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO THE OPERA HOUSE.

     HAVING STUART MCLEAN'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EDITION OF THE "VINYL CAFE," AT THE OPERA HOUSE, FOR TWO DAYS IN NOVEMBER, IS AN ENDORSEMENT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK. I'M SURE THAT'S BEEN DONE, BECAUSE THE SHOWS HAVE ALREADY SOLD-OUT. NOW THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. VERY EXCITING BUT NOT UNEXPECTED, BECAUSE THE LEGENDARY CANADIAN STORY-TELLER, HAS THIS HAPPEN ALOT AS HE CRISS-CROSSES CANADA…..ESPECIALLY DURING THE LEAD-UP TO CHRISTMAS. JUST HAVING HIS NAME UP ON THE MARQUIS MAKES US LOCAL YOCALS FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES. WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT TO CHEER ABOUT RECENTLY, AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING PRETTY FED-UP WITH OUR OWN COMPANY…..SO HAVING A GUEST LIKE MR. MCLEAN TAKES THE HEAT OFF OUR SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

      I WAITED TOO LONG TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE SHOW, AND BY GOLLY, I FOUND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT MY BRIDE OF MANY YEARS…..I HONESTLY HADN'T KNOWN. SHE'S NOT AS FORGIVING IN HER MORE MATURE YEARS. I USED TO GET AWAY WITH A LOT OF STUFF EARLY IN OUR MARRIAGE, LIKE STAYING OUT ALL NIGHT WITH THE LADS, AFTER LATE-NIGHT SHINNY, AND CLOSING THE LOCAL WATERING HOLES WITH BUDDIES, WHILE MY DINNER WAS KEPT WARM, AS A PROMISE OF MARRIAGE, BY AN EVER-DOTING WIFE. THE EVER-DOTING PART HAS COME TO AN END, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. SO WHEN I HAD A CHANCE TO REDEEM MYSELF, FOR A LENGTHY LIST OF INTIMATE SHORTFALLS, AND GIVE THE WOMAN A REALLY NICE NIGHT OUT, WELL SIR, I FORGOT TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR ANTIQUE SHOP, TO BUY TWO TICKETS. I REMEMBERED THE PIZZA FOR LUNCH, AND PAYING THE EGG-MAN FOR THE DOZEN HE BROUGHT IN FROM THE FARM. I EVEN REMEMBERED THE BANK DEPOSIT, MAILING TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS, AND BUYING SOME STAMPS. I JUST FORGOT THE TICKETS. COME ON! YOU'VE FORGOTTEN STUFF BEFORE? LIKE FLOWERS FOR ANNIVERSARIES? DATES OF BIRTHDAYS? THAT THE SHOPS CLOSE EARLY ON CHRISTMAS EVE? I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE GOT BURNED ON THIS. I'M A PROCRASTINATOR OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. AS SUZANNE NOTES, "IF IT WAS TO GET TICKETS FOR THE ARGOS, YOU'D HAVE BEEN AT THE TICKET OFFICE AN HOUR BEFORE OPENING!" THAT'S TRUE.

     "YOU WOULD HAVE GOT THOSE TICKETS IF IT HAD BEEN GARRISON KEILLOR PERFORMING AT THE OPERA HOUSE," SHE BARKED AT ME, KNOWING OF MY LONGTIME AFFECTION, FOR THE AMERICAN STORY-TELLER, AND HIS AMUSING ANECDOTES FROM HIS DAYS IN VICINITY OF MINNESOTA'S LAKE WOBEGON; AND THEN THERE IS HIS RADIO SHOW, THE PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, OF WHICH I HAVE DOZENS OF TAPES I LISTEN TO ON BITTER WINTER NIGHTS…….AS THE MUSKOKA WIND RAGES OVER THE FROZEN LANDSCAPE,  ALL THE WAY FROM MINNESOTA, SOME FOLKS SAY. "THAT'S NOT FAIR TO STUART MCCLEAN, TO PIT HIM AGAINST KEILLOR. IT WOULDN'T BE A FAIR FIGHT; KEILLOR'S SEVENTY YEARS OLD, FOR GOD'S SAKE. YOU SHOULDN'T THRUST STUART INTO THE FREY, JUST BECAUSE I LIKE GARRISON KEILLOR. I LIKE THEM BOTH," I QUALIFIED, TO HER EMPTY CHAIR, THE NIGHT SHE HID MY CASSETTE TAPES SOMEWHERE IN THE GUEST BEDROOM. "I REALLY WANTED TO SEE THE SHOW," SHE REMINDED ME, AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWELVE MINUTES, THE OTHER EVENING, WHEN SHE ASKED ME WHERE I'D PUT THE TICKETS. GEEZ, SHE HAD EVEN GIVEN ME THE MONEY TO BUY THEM. WELL, AT LEAST I DIDN'T BLOW THE MONEY ON BOOZE, OR BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS……OR OLD BOOKS, WHICH SHE JUST ASSUMES, I'LL SQUANDER OUR LAST COMMUNAL NICKLE. "I WAS BORN A BIBLIOMANIAC, SO GIVE ME A BREAK," I RESPOND, CHOKING BACK THE TEARS.

IT WILL BE A GOOD SHOW FOR GRAVENHURST……AND WE WILL BE EXCEPTIONAL CHRISTMAS HOSTS

      As a family, we've been listening to Stuart McLean on CBC Radio for a lot of years. I mean that! I can remember many times, putting the car radio on, while camping in Algonquin Park, so that we'd have his stories told over a crackling fire, while Suzanne would be cooking up the eggs and bacon for a campsite breakfast. (Just before I get crucified on this one, I am forbidden to cook for our family, as I routinely hurt myself, and others, with cooking misadventures)

     Andrew has worked on the technical crew for the Vinyl Cafe at both the Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge, and previously at the Opera House. Stuart is a kindly soul, and always mentions his name at the conclusion of the performance. I think he and Robert will both be connected to the Christmas program this November, depending on the technical requirements of the show. It's a gig Andrew really looks forward to, and was pretty sure he'd be able to look out from the tech-deck, and see mom and pop in the front row, beaming respect for this master story-teller. You know, it's not like I spent the money on magic beans or anything. The money is still tucked in the envelope at the shop, taunting me every time I see it, with its big white smile, all smug and self righteous. I mean, if I'd lost it playing poker, or billiards, or because of a friendly bet on the baseball playoffs, that would be one thing…..and although I'd still feel I let my wife down, it would at the very least, seem, that I had been pathetically human……and didn't make my wife's social / entertainment agenda a priority. Being forgetful is regrettable, and must clearly show the good woman, that her husband is losing his marbles. Maybe he should be put out to pasture, and never be asked to do important things, like buy theatre tickets again. I hate when she's mad at me, because I like to talk a lot, and now there's just the sound of a sewing machine being throttled in the next room……and just two cats who never talk back…..unless it's meal-time.

     So here's what I'm relying on. A few years back, when Fred Schulz was managing the Opera House, the Irish Rovers were playing two back to back shows, the same night. I didn't tell Suzanne this, but I got Fred to set aside tickets for both shows. Now there is no group more alluring to my wife, other than the Dave Clarke Five, that can make her get wild and crazy. So when we got to the end of the first show, and she was getting up to leave, I made family history, by pulling her back into the seat, for the "second verse, same as the first." She said "I love you Ted Currie, you old fart. (said with an Irish accent….faaart!" Well, I could have done without the faaart part, but what the hell. She was happy, and it made my life happy as well. Adding to this little past achievement, as the doting husband, I was able to get her a back-stage pass, for the Irish Rovers when they appeared at Bracebridge's Caisse Theatre. Andrew was the sound technician, and with a little coaxing, he got his mother a free up-close-and-personal audience with her Irish heroes…..and now she has at least fifty signed records. I mean, really, how many signed records do you really need, to call it a complete collection?

     Suzanne likes the Vinyl Cafe, and she has followed Stuart McLean for years and years. We listened to it this morning in fact, like we do every Saturday morning on CBC 2, while we head out on the weekend antique hunt, on the "stock for the shop," tour, to bulk-up the business we run for son Robert, in the former Muskoka Theatre Building, across from the Opera House. "Oh, turn it up dear, it's the Vinyl Cafe," she said, as we drove along through the beautiful cathedral maples, and the spiraling cascades of yellow and red leaves, gently falling along that picturesque drive along Gravenhurst's Muskoka Beach Road. "I have to listen to Stuart McLean on the radio….because I missed getting tickets to his show…..you know the one he's doing four blocks from our house?" "Yes dear," I answer, like good husbands the world over, when they're neck deep in the trouble they stirred up from thin air. By just being God's "guys", we can get into so much trouble, trying to remember things, like buying Opera House tickets, to see Stuart McLean.

     So I had this idea. You remember the Carol Burnett Show, when at the end of the program, the old char-lady starts mopping up the stage…..but it's really Carol? So I thought, for the show, Suzanne could get a volunteer gig with a pail and mop, and heck, see Stuart McLean for the price of some basic tidying-up. You know something, she would have actually hit me with that frying pan she swung at me, if it hadn't been cast iron, and the fact she had a bout of tennis elbow. "Dear, Andrew and Rob will tell us all about the show anyway," I said, as she was pouring the tea into my cup…..which was precariously close to my crotch.  Ah, she's a sweet girl really, and I'm a good but forgetful "faaart of a wee lad." We make quite a pair.

     I hope Stuart McLean has a great two-night run here in Gravenhurst, and I know everyone who got a ticket, will enjoy themselves immensely. This may be the start of a great new modern day tradition, in show business, for the historic Opera House, which has been a little down on its luck recently, with a leaky roof, and the weather getting in some cheap shots. Hey, how about those Irish Rovers again? I could really use the good-will something like that could generate. Or if you could arrange it, the Dave Clarke Five would definitely take some heat off.

     I told Suzanne that there's a good chance Stuart will wander over to the shop, while he's here in town, so she might get to meet him then. Meanwhile, I'm putting all our Vinyl Cafe books together, just in case. I'm not only a maniac for books. I'm an autograph zealot, as you might have recognized if you've visited our shop. That's pretty crass isn't it? First I miss getting tickets for the show, and then I plan to profit from his kindness when he autographs my books. I'm conflicted these days. Does it show. Must be all that political opining that's warped my perspective on things.

     Thanks again, for taking a few moments to view this site. I hope you liked it enough, to visit yet another day. See you soon.

More Volunteer Services To Tap...What About Poaching Students?

I'VE GOT A JOB FOR GRAVENHURST COUNCIL -

FIND OUT ABOUT THE FAIR PLAY OF ATTRACTING STUDENTS FROM ONE SCHOOL TO BOLSTER ANOTHER - OR POACHING FOR A GOOD ENROLLMENT

     I'VE GOT A BIG NOSE FOR NEWS. MY BLOG ON SERIOUS ENROLLMENT ISSUES, IN MUSKOKA SCHOOLS, WAS FIRST OUT TO THE PUBLIC, WELL BEFORE THE LOCAL MEDIA'S NEWS ARTICLES THIS WEEK. I HATE TO BRAG BUT I WILL ANYWAY.

    BUT HERE'S THE TROUBLING THING ABOUT IT ALL. FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 12TH ISSUE OF "WHAT'S UP," I LEARNED THAT ENROLLMENT AT BRACEBRIDGE'S ST. DOMINIC CATHOLIC'S SECONDARY SCHOOL IS 247 STUDENTS. NOT GOOD. IT'S A BIG SCHOOL. LOTS OF DESKS TO FILL. WHAT REALLY CONCERNED ME WITH THE ARTICLE, AND THE COUNTER MEASURES TO REVERSE THE TREND, WAS THE MENTION OF THE SCHOOL'S ONGOING INITIATIVE TO ATTRACT NEW STUDENTS, AND IN A TIDY INCLUSION, IN THE SAME STORY, THERE'S A PARAGRAPH ANNOUNCING THAT THERE IS A BUS COMING FROM GRAVENHURST, AS WELL AS HUNTSVILLE. THIS ISN'T NEW OF COURSE. HERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE TIDBIT OF INFORMATION, SOME FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO ATTEND.

     I READ THIS ARTICLE THREE TIMES, AND EVERY TIME I FINISHED, (SITTING SPEECHLESS FOR A MOMENT), I BECAME MADDER THAN THE TIME BEFORE. THE ONLY WORD I COULD THINK OF, TO DESCRIBE THEIR DESIRE TO INCREASE THE SCHOOL'S ENROLLMENT, WAS "POACHING." GOOD OLD FASHION POACHING. IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED, CREATE A DISADVANTAGE FOR SOME OTHER INSTITUTION. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL IT, WHEN THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY STUDENTS IN THE REGION TO ENROLL, AND WE'VE GOT THREE OTHER MAJOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, EACH WITH STUDENT POPULATION ISSUES .

     OUR TOWN COUNCIL HAS, I'M SURE, THE OPINION THAT I'M JUST A BLOW-HARD, WITH VERY LITTLE FOUNDATION TO MY ARGUMENTS. I'LL TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF TODAY'S BLOG. BUT HERE'S THE BIG PICTURE. WE HAVE LOST STUDENTS TO ST. DOMINICS IN THE PAST. SOME WHO WERE NOT CATHOLICS. AT THIS TIME WHEN THE ENROLLMENT AT GRAVENHURST HIGH SCHOOL, IS A HAIR'S BREADTH FROM BEING UNDER-ENROLLED, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY, WHAT SENSE DOES THIS MAKE TO ROB ONE SCHOOL TO HELP ANOTHER. I WARNED COUNCIL A YEAR AGO, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND FROM WHAT I'M READING, THE POACHING SEASON MAY BE GETTING UNDER WAY…..AND I THINK THIS SUCKS. BRACEBRIDGE HAS TWO HIGH SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ONE. WE REALLY NEED OUR SCHOOL TO SURVIVE, SO FRANKLY, I THINK GETTING AGGRESSIVE FOR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS GROSSLY UNFAIR. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THEIR CAMPAIGN IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WERE TO LOSE FIFTY TO SEVENTY-FIVE STUDENTS BY NEXT SEPTEMBER…..WHICH BY THE WAY COULD PUT THE SCHOOL IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY WITH THE TRILLIUM LAKELANDS BOARD? NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF A TEACHING JOB.

     I DON'T CARE IF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST THINKS I'M A MAD MAN, OR AN OVER-REACTING RADICAL WITH A BLOG. THEY SHOULD START TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, AND PUSH PAST THE MEDIA RELEASES, AND  RHETORIC, AND MEET WITH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES. AND HERE'S A QUESTION THEY CAN ASK A BOARD OFFICIAL. "IS OUR GRAVENHURST SCHOOL, ALLOWED TO POACH BACK…..AND WILL THE BOARD FUND OUR ENROLLMENT PROTECTION CAMPAIGN? BUT SOONER OR LATER THIS WAS GOING TO BECOME A PRESSING ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SLOWLY FOR YEARS. NOW IT'S PRECARIOUS, BECAUSE THERE AREN'T THE STUDENT BULGES TO SATISFY ALL THE SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR MORE ENROLLMENT. SO WHAT WILL OUR TOWN COUNCIL DO, TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOL, FROM LOSING EVEN MORE OF ITS STUDENT BODY? NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME PRO-ACTIVE AND YES….."MOVE FORWARD." ANY STEPS BACKWARD, AND WE'RE IN TROUBLE. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD

INVESTING IN GRAVENHURST THE OLD FASHION WAY - SWEAT EQUITY AND PRIDE

     I CAN BE CALLED A LOT OF CHOICE NAMES, SOME THAT ARE RATHER FETCHING; OTHERS NOT SO MUCH. I WILL NEVER CHALLENGE YOUR RIGHT TO AN OPINION, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MINE. IN REALITY, THE ONLY DEROGATORY REFERENCE I WILL VEHEMENTLY CHALLENGE YOU ON, IS IF YOU WERE LABEL ME, OR MY FAMILY, EITHER "COWARDS" OR "QUITTERS." THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A SURPLUS AMOUNT OF HUBRIS OR MISPLACED BRAVADO, OR ANY BELIEF THAT WE ARE MORE PROFICIENT, DETERMINED, STRONGER, OR BETTER SUITED THAN ANYONE ELSE. IF IT HAPPENS, THAT AT SOME TASK, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE REQUIRED WORK, OR PROJECT WELL, THEN THIS IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. BUT CONTRARY TO SOME OF OUR CRITICS, WE DO NOT WAVE-ABOUT THE FAMILY FLAG, ON EACH OF OUR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. AS FOR BEING CAMERA FRIENDLY OR PUBLICITY HOUNDS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. IF THERE IS ANY SELF-PROMOTION IT'S BECAUSE I'M A COLUMNIST / BLOGGER, AND I OFTEN WRITE ABOUT MY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY'RE FUNNY PEOPLE.  IF WE WERE GOING TO CARRY ANY FLAG AT ALL, IT WOULD BELONG TO GRAVENHURST. AND WE KNOW LOTS OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO CARRY OUR BANNER, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY IN HEART, EVERY TIME THEY STEP UP TO THE PLATE…..TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT PUTTING SOMEONE ON BASE, WITH THE IDEA OF SCORING MORE RUNS FOR THE HOME TEAM.

     THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, WITHOUT APOLOGY, I GET PROFOUNDLY MAD AT OUR TOWN COUNCIL, FOR PERCEIVED SHORTFALLS IN THEIR ADMINISTRATION. SHORTFALLS THAT INEVITABLY AFFECT THIS COMMUNITY. I'M POSITIVE THERE ARE THOSE ON COUNCIL, WHO DREAD MY LATEST TOMES, AND REFUSE TO READ THEM BECAUSE I'M "SO OVERLY CRITICAL AND NEGATIVE." DWELLING ON WHAT I THINK THEY'RE DOING WRONG, OR WHAT KIND OF RECKLESSNESS PREVAILS, REGARDING SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES. I DO UNDERSTAND THIS.

     IF ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY WERE TO TRUST THE EDITORIALIST, WHO DOESN'T MAKE A DIME OF PROFIT OFFERING HIS OPINION, OR REPRESENTING SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS, IT MIGHT JUST SUDDENLY POKE THROUGH THE FOG OF CONTROVERSY, THAT NONE OF THE CRITICISM FLIES WITHOUT A SOLID FOUNDATION OF ARGUMENT. YOU CAN ARCHIVE ME BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND THE COMMON THREAD THROUGH EVERY BLOG, EVERY EDITORIAL I'VE EVER WRITTEN, IS THAT OF PROFOUND RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY ABOVE ALL ELSE. WHEN I AM CONFRONTED BY SOMEONE ANGRY ABOUT A POINT OF VIEW I'VE HERALDED, I DON'T SHY AWAY FROM A RESPONSE, OR AN EXPLANATION…..BECAUSE I DON'T WRITE WHAT I CAN'T DEFEND. I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, AS AN EDITOR, DURING ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PERIODS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER HISTORY, THAT IT IS CAREER-ENDING TO MAKE MISTAKES. EVEN SMALL ONES. BEING DAMN SURE OF THE FACTS, WAS AS IMPORTANT IN DAILY LIVING, AS FEELING FOR THE PULSE ON YOUR WRIST. IT IS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO CHIRP CRITICISMS AT THE REFS, FROM THE BLEACHERS, IF YOU REFUSE TO MEET WITH THEM AT THE END OF THE GAME, TO DISCUSS DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.

     MY ARGUMENT IN GRAVENHURST, AND NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF ANY CRITICISM I MIGHT LEVEL AT THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, HAS AS ITS ROOT, MY SINCERE BELIEF, RIGHT OR WRONG, THAT CERTAIN DECISIONS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED MORE EFFICIENTLY, WITH GREATER RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, IF THEY HAD TAKEN THE TIME, AND SHOWN THE PATIENCE, TO GET ADVICE FROM BEYOND THE COUNCIL TABLE. IN THIS TOWN, WE HAVE SO MANY WELL-EDUCATED, HUGELY EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING A COUPLE OF FORMER DISTRICT CHAIRMANS, LONG SERVING COUNCILLORS, FOR BOTH THE TOWN AND DISTRICT, AND AN ARMY OF SAVVY RETIREES, WHO WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THEIR HOME TOWN…….AS VOLUNTEER ADVISORS. THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT IS OVER-LOOKED, BYPASSED, IGNORED, AND DISMISSED AS LARGELY IRRELEVANT TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE FAILING OF THE PRESENT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL. THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE ADVICE FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND THOSE WITH IMMENSE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, WHO COULD HAVE PROVIDED THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WITH CRITICAL NAVIGATION TIPS, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THIS MOST CONTENTIOUS, DIFFICULT TIME OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE.

WHAT IS EXPERTISE, IF IT IS NOT USED AS A RESOURCE FOR OUR BETTERMENT?

     There is a mistaken perception, that once a government is elected, the power shift is supreme and almighty. While political candidates are eager to seek out advice prior to the election, the moment they are sworn-in, they assume wrongly, that they no longer need the same kind of sage advice as earlier. This is a foolish presumption. They are so sure of themselves, that they actually start believing, the right to govern is all-encompassing, like being a wizard or enchanter. As they began humble and open to suggestion, before the election, the oath of office prevails upon them to look upon unsolicited advice, as an unwelcome intervention on their rights to govern; based on the electoral will of the people to put them in office. To this I say, get a grip. Look at the turn-out numbers. Consider the number of citizens who have given up voting at all levels, because they assume every elected official turns-out the same way. An indifferent bully sitting up on a pedestal, ignoring the actuality of all our new realities. Generally, they insulate themselves, but the better word would be "isolate," and feel it is incumbent, to be seen as tough, unflinching deciders, in a mysterious, cloaked municipal environment. Even if they make questionable decisions, as a group, that they wouldn't have endorsed as non-elected members, (as constituents), they become so adamant they made the right choice……well, it becomes unfathomable to change their minds. In other words, they can't see the forest for the trees, or the tree for the forest.

     I learned in my first year of university, to get what I needed from my professors, when it was required; and even if it may have inconvenienced them to stand awhile after class with me, I paid for their services aftereall. Their job? To educate me! I got twenty-five percent more time with these professors, than other students who, although having questions to ask, were to bashful or impatient, to follow-through. As a fledgling writer and historian, I asked for help constantly, and never assumed I knew all the facts, before I'd tapped into all the available sources to make sure. I'd regularly ask Canadian writer, and friend Wayland Drew, what he thought of my work…..not just because I wanted his endorsement of my writing, but rather, how he would suggest I make it better, and more endurable as I continued my career. I can't tell you how incredible it was, to have this outstanding writer, critique my work. I looked forward to his critical overviews. He never once wadded-up my work, or made a gesture to throw it into the garbage bin. He was patient and caring, but even if he had been nasty and brutal, I would have stood there, and consumed every last comment or directive. I wouldn't have asked his opinion, without having clear knowledge, of Mr. Drew's exceptional writing capability; so evident in the landmark Canadian book, "Superior; The Haunted Shore," in company of one of the country's best known landscape photographers, Bruce Litteljohn. It was an honor to be critiqued by someone with Wayland Drew's writing credentials. I have exposed myself to many literary critics, and although sometimes a little hard on the ego, all of it has influenced my work today. Some don't like criticism. I've been fueled by it!

     The problem we have in Gravenhurst, if any one thing stands out for me, as a regional columnist and political watcher, it is in this reluctance of our upper administration, to seek out the kind of volunteers they could benefit from…..in terms of professional knowledge and experience. It seems they would rather muddle along without, than truly take the time, to listen to the advice of others, even if it could save the town money, and move a project along more efficiently. There is no loss of stature, or prominence, for the keen councillor, who asks for a second and third (or more) opinion from a constituent-in-the-know, about a certain position to be taken by the town on our behalf. Not everything is confidential, and smothered by protocol. There is more to be gained, not just asking for public input, but welcoming it, as a course of good governance for ongoing business. Going back on the past two years, and what has been called a debacle by many citizens watching from the sidelines, it all could have been mitigated by the networking of old fashion, time honored, good citizenship. Council has a lot of willing resources out there, if only they would loosen up to the possibilities. Allowing themselves the freedom of movement, to seek opinions and advice from that other group of volunteers; ones who may not be ladling out soup at a free dinner, or canvassing for the Christmas food drive; but who would be willing to share a wealth of experience from their respective professions.

     I said to one candidate in the last municipal election, that my best advice, for not only an enhanced knowledge of the town, and a more dynamic campaign, would be to spend some money on lunches. I strongly suggested that the candidate spend some of the campaign budget, to meet with former town and district councillors, including a highly accomplished former District Chairman, living amongst us, and ask for some advice, on their perception, of our most pressing needs……., and the way to become better at representing the constituents, and improving our community at the same time. I even offered to help set up these luncheon meetings, because I am a huge believer in this kind of networking, and respect for accomplishment and wisdom. Well, maybe my advice came too late, or there wasn't the will to follow through, but I stand by this advice. I have suggested this many times to other councillors, and the council itself, (even recently) to build an advisory group that is the best of the best…..and whether it offers blunt criticism or not, it is important, and precisely what's needed, to make a better, more pro-active council for the balance of this term of office. Paid advice isn't the end-all. So tap into an exciting, dynamic, under-used reserve of professional service, that has been largely bypassed despite its inherent value to us all.

     The Opera House Advocacy Committee, that I have suggested for the past year, and most recently, since the roof re-surfacing began this fall, is a case in point. A three to five person volunteer committee, to represent the best interests of the historic Opera House building, to liaison with management, and elected council. This would be a group of people, dedicated to Opera House preservation, not tithed by any pay-for-services protocol. Expertise on this historic building is long overdue, and it is free of charge. Locally! Now imagine that? For the simple price of admitting, that seeing as there are no curators on staff, or anyone who has extensive background in heritage buildings being on the inside during this restoration, "Yes, it's true, we could really use some extra advice and in-house monitoring." While some councillors may see this as highly "out of order" on my part, and a violation of strict protocol on how the municipality conducts itself, it's neither of the above. Fearing intervention is foolish, if it means a project can be done more proficiently for historic conservation. Wouldn't it have been great if the Titanic hadn't hit that iceberg? It could have been avoided, you know. The legendary ship could have been built better? I hate when people say, hindsight is 20 / 20. If they can utter this statement, then they could have sided to the opposite, and been, as they say, "ahead of the curve," instead of using a cliche to explain a disaster.

     It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It is not a harbinger of poor governance, to admit help is needed. It is not a compromise to the democratic process, to seek the help of constituents after an election. In fact, it is insightfully democratic, to appreciate the advantages of human resources, and the dynamic of experience, especially from the people who live and work here…..who have a vested interest in making this a better, and more durable home town. It is faulty logic, to assume that because of a mistaken interpretation of municipal protocols, that it must always be a case of "them and us," when it is the complete opposite that holds most sensibility.

     Council becomes us, as a governing body, by extension of our democratic privilege to vote for the candidates we feel will best represent our interests. There is nothing that stops the dynamic exchange of wisdom from constituent to elected official, except plain old "will" to do so. So this is the question we must ask, looking forward two years. Is there the will to increase transparency, welcome input, and govern with the people, instead of over-ruling them?

     With the recent Town of Gravenhurst Spirit Awards, so profoundly demonstrating once again, the importance of this voluntary co-operation, to keep our town competitive, and responsive to needs, internal and external, it might also be considered by our elected officials, a workable, common sense plan, to look at how much there is to gain in the largely untapped region of volunteer expertise…..still waiting to be invited to participate in future-building.

     Thank you for joining today's blog. I greatly appreciate your support.

Gravenhurst Spirit Awards; Would We Like a Casino?

SPIRIT AWARDS - NOW THAT'S GOOD STUFF FOR A GOOD OLD TOWN

     SUZANNE AND I WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2012 SPIRIT AWARDS, AT THE HOPEFULLY DRY OPERA HOUSE. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING POLITICAL ABOUT OUR ABSENCE SO I HOPE COUNCILLORS WON'T FEEL IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL SNUB. ON THE OTHER HAND, MY LADS AND THEIR BEST BUDDIES MIGHT BE TICKED-OFF, NOT SEEING MOM AND POP IN THE FRONT ROW TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, BECAUSE THANKS TO FRED SCHULZ, MANAGER OF THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE, THEY WILL  RECEIVE THEIR SPIRIT AWARDS, FOR THE VOLUNTEER WORK THEY DO, EVERY SUMMER SUNDAY AT GULL LAKE PARK. FRED TOLD SUZANNE AND I IN THE SUMMER, THAT HE PLANNED ON NOMINATING THE FOUR AMIGOS, WHO HAVE BEEN WITH FRED NOW FOR THE MOST PART OF A DECADE, AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS FOR THE SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS. THE FOUR LADS (SOUNDS LIKE THE OLD MUSICAL GROUP) INCLUDE JAMES LUCIABELLO, LUKE THOMPSON, ROBERT AND ANDREW CURRIE. FRED CAME INTO OUR SHOP LAST WEEK AND WAS BEAMING WITH THE BIG NEWS……THAT HIS NOMINATION OF THE BOYS WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND THE AWARD COMMITTEE HAD DECIDED THEY DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR THEIR VOLUNTEERISM. THE BOYS AND FRED HAVE BEEN A TEAM FOR A LONG TIME NOW, THROUGH A LOT OF GOOD WEATHER AND BAD, CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, AND SITUATIONS RIGHT OUT OF THE FUNNY PAGES; BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THEY SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF EACH SEASON, AND VOW TO RETURN ONCE AGAIN, TO KEEP THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE GOING. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THEY THINK THE WORLD OF MR. SCHULZ, AND BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIM……WELL, IT'S IN A LEAGUE BEST DESCRIBED AS A "SPECTACULAR" HONOR.

     I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF AWARD WINNERS, BUT I'D BE GLAD TO POST THEM ON THIS BLOG IF I WAS PERMITTED. WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO APPRECIATE THE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS WHO GIVE UP THEIR PRECIOUS TIME TO HELP OTHERS…..AND BEST OF ALL, HELP OUR COMMUNITY MAINTAIN ITS VITALITY, COMPASSION, GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS, AND COMPETITIVENESS. THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE HOMETOWN, AND THIS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD. WHETHER IT IS SERVING DINNERS TO THOSE IN NEED, AT WEEKLY SOCIALS, OR BAKING HUNDREDS OF COOKIES AND PIES AS FUNDRAISERS, RUNNING CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES, DRIVING PATIENTS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TENDING COMMUNITY GARDENS, COLLECTING FOR CHARITIES, KNITTING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. IT MAKES YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD, TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT FIGHTS SO HARD TO MAKE UP FOR SHORTFALLS, WHERE MONEY ISN'T AVAILABLE. IT'S NICE THAT THE TOWN RECOGNIZES JUST HOW MUCH OF OUR CHARACTER, IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF INDIVIDUAL BENEVOLENCE, TO KEEP US SELF SUSTAINING, AND EVER-READY FOR AN EVEN LARGER SCALE NEED…..SHOULD ONE DAY, AN EMERGENCY PREVAIL THAT NEEDS ALL HANDS ON DECK.

     SUZANNE AND I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER IN SO MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, IN MUSKOKA, AND NEVER ONCE, HAVE EITHER OF US FELT, AT THE END OF A PROJECT, THAT IT HAD ALL BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. MY GREATEST PLEASURE, WAS WORKING WITH SOME OF THE FINEST CITIZENS ON EARTH……RIGHT HERE, A HANDSHAKE AWAY…..IN GRAVENHURST.

     THANK YOU MR. SCHULZ FOR YOUR MANY KINDNESSES, AND FOR LOOKING AFTER YOUR VOLUNTEERS….YOUR FRIENDS, AS IF THEY WERE FAMILY. BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK THESE LADS, THEY'D TELL YOU…..THEY ARE FAMILY. THE BARGE FAMILY.

INSTILLING PRIDE BACK INTO OUR TOWN - SEEING OUR YOUTH RETURN TO INVEST IN THEIR HOME TOWN - NOW THAT'S PROGRESS

THE CHALLENGE TO RESTORE OURSELVES - MEANS FIGHTING BACK LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS

     AS I HAVE MENTIONED MANY TIMES IN THESE BLOG-A-TORIALS, I BEGAN MY APPRENTICESHIP IN HISTORY, AT YORK UNIVERSITY, WHERE I MAJORED IN CANADIAN HISTORY.  BUT NOT BEFORE STUDYING WORLD AND AMERICAN HISTORY FIRST. WHEN I ARRIVED BACK HOME TO MUSKOKA, I HELPED LAUNCH A FAMILY ANTIQUE BUSINESS, THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND THE EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN'S FIRST MAJOR HISTORIC SITE - WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM. I'D LOVE TO SAY IT WAS STILL A GOING CONCERN, BUT I'D BE TELLING A PORKY.

     WHEN I BEGAN WORKING FOR MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, I APPRENTICED WITH ROBERT J. BOYER, FORMER MUSKOKA MPP, AND CHAIRMAN OF ONTARIO HYDRO, WHO WAS THEN, IN THE EARLY 1980'S, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN HISTORIANS ACTIVELY WRITING IN THE REGION. I LEARNED EARLY ON WITH MR. BOYER, THE IMPORTANCE OF READING HIS BOOKS, BEFORE ASKING HIM ANY HISTORY RELATED QUESTIONS. IF I HAD AN ENQUIRY THAT COULD BE ANSWERED BY READING "A GOOD TOWN GREW HERE," OR HIS BOOK ON THE EARLY SURVEYS OF MUSKOKA, HE'D JUST CHOMP DOWN ON HIS CIGAR, TWIST AROUND IN HIS CHAIR, SORT OF SNORT, SAYING, "HAVE YOU READ MY BOOK MR. CURRIE?" IF I RETORTED, AS A SMART ASS JUNIOR HISTORIAN, THAT I HAD INDEED READ HIS BOOK, BUT STILL COULDN'T FIND WHAT I NEEDED, HE'D SHOOT BACK SARCASTICALLY, "THEN YOU DIDN'T READ IT WELL ENOUGH." ON OCCASION, IF I WAS WORKING AGAINST AN EDITORIAL DEADLINE, HE WOULD REACH OVER INTO HIS CLUTTERED BOOKCASE, AND RETRIEVE A HANDFUL OF NOTES HE KNEW CONTAINED THE ANSWER. INSTEAD OF RE-READING A WHOLE BOOK, I'D HAVE TO READ ABOUT THIRTY PAGES OF NOTES. I ALWAYS FOUND WHAT I NEEDED, BUT I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT HOW HE COULD, SO QUICKLY, PUT HIS HAND ON THE RIGHT STACK OF PAGES, OUT OF THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PAGES WITHIN ARMS REACH, IN HIS TINY DICKENSIAN OFFICE, AT THE OLD HERALD-GAZETTE BUILDING THAT HAD BELONGED TO HIS FAMILY.

    THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT THE GOOD MR. BOYER, OR ABOUT THE HISTORY DEGREE I EKED OUT, THE MUSEUM I HELPED FOUND, OR ABOUT BRACEBRIDGE. WHAT I LEARNED IN THE EARLY YEARS AS AN APPRENTICE HISTORIAN, WAS THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS CERTAINLY THE BENEFACTOR OF MUCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC GOOD FORTUNE SINCE THE 1860'S, AND ALTHOUGH MR. BOYER, GOD REST HIS SOUL, MIGHT BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS DECLARATION, IN 2012, POLITICS SURE SEEMS TO HAVE PLAYED A ROLE. I STILL HAVEN'T ANALYZED EVERY ADVANTAGE BRACEBRIDGE HAD OVER GRAVENHURST AND EVEN HUNTSVILLE, BUT FOR ME, THE ARGUMENT THAT BRACEBRIDGE GOT MORE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS CENTRAL IN THE REGION, SEEMED A LITTLE FLIMSY TO A FLEDGLING HISTORIAN. AS YOU GO THROUGH LOCAL HISTORY DECADE BY DECADE, YOU START TO SEE A TREND, THAT BRACEBRIDGE'S GAIN WAS ALMOST ALWAYS OUR PROFOUND LOSS. OVER AND OVER. AND WHILE BUILDING THE PROVINCIAL COURT HOUSE IN BRACEBRIDGE, WAS SEEN AS STRATEGICALLY AND CENTRALLY LOCATED, TO SERVE THE JUDICIAL NEEDS OF THE REGION, THE FACT IT WASN'T AWARDED TO GRAVENHURST DID HAVE A CENTURY PLUS IMPACT. TO THIS DAY! YOU CAN USE THE "CENTRAL" AND "STRATEGICALLY  LOCATED" ARGUMENT A LOT, TO EXPLAIN THESE BRACEBRIDGE ASSETS, BUT IT'S FAIR ALSO TO NOTE, THAT IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO AGAINST GRAVENHURST, AT TIMES WHEN THEY COULD HAVE REALLY USED A BREAK. MOST RECENTLY, IT IS SAID, OR RUMORED, THAT GRAVENHURST MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAND A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS……AND THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT BRACEBRIDGE'S JUBILEE PARK……WELL, MIGHT STILL BE A PARK.

     NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT, BETWEEN THE THREE TOWNS, THE MIDDLE ONE BECAME A DESTINATION OF FAIR PROPORTION, AS CENTRAL PLACES LIKE THIS TEND TO BE, OF COURSE. BRACEBRIDGE WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT A LOT OF INVESTMENT FROM GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE LAND REGISTRY OFFICE, THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA HEAD OFFICE, THE MUSKOKA BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA HEALTH UNIT, THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. BEFORE SMMH, WAS THE LATE NINETEEN TWENTIES ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RED CROSS HOSPITAL, ALSO IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE FACT THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS GEOGRAPHICALLY CENTRAL WAS A CREDIT, I SUPPOSE, TO THOSE FIRST BRAVE SETTLERS, WHO HUDDLED TOGETHER, IN THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THE BRINK OF THE BRACEBRIDGE FALLS. THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (NOT JUST FOR HYDRE GENERATION) WOULD BE OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE DOWN THE PROVERBIAL ROAD. THE FOUNDERS OF GRAVENHURST BELIEVED THEY HAD ESTABLISHED THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSKOKA COMMUNITY……THE LITERAL GATEWAY HAMLET TO ALL ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE NEWLY OPENED ONTARIO WILDS.

POLITICS OR SOMETHING ALWAYS SEEMED TO POKE GRAVENHURST IN THE EYE

     I'm positive that Mr. Boyer would not have allowed me to get away with the bold statement, that politics played a role in Bracebridge's many advantages over the years, attracting government spending. It is hard to prove now that most who knew how political it was, have passed on. Now don't get me wrong here. If there was political favoritism, and Bracebridge was a touch more savvy getting it over Gravenhurst, I'm not suggesting there was anything wrong with wooing, or even strong-arming those with governmental authority. I don't want long time Gravenhurst citizens feeling insulted either, when I suggest Bracebridge was a little better positioned, or represented, to benefit from government investment. It may seem the historian is taking a walk out onto a thin bough, on this one, but it's something I've been actively researching for many years, starting from that apprenticeship with Mr. Boyer, who gave me every reason to read and challenge accepted thought.  What I found, time and again, was that Bracebridge kept winning, and Gravenhurst seemed to be losing…..and most of the time that wasn't determined on the hockey rink or the baseball diamond….because we had some fabulous teams here. It just appeared Bracebridge shot out of the gate, much more aggressive and challenging, to get new investment, that like government headquarters, would attract more companion business, and require housing for staff. Bracebridge capitalized on all of the opportunities it was afforded.

     There are those older citizens of Gravenhurst, who adamantly believe our town should have been the site of the new regional hospital in the 1960's, when South Muskoka Memorial Hospital was built, taking over from the former Red Cross Hospital, on the same site. As we had the huge Sanatorium facility here, and a highly qualified medical staff, it was thought reasonable, that an expansion to the property, would have made a reasonable alternative to the Bracebridge hospital. The central argument won out again, but there were some people who felt Gravenhurst had once again fallen victim to the pull of politics. Ironically, one of the key people involved with the hospital and its expansion, was Gravenhurst's George Beard, and his wife Margaret, who certainly deserve recognition for their work on behalf of the fledgling hospital. There were, of course, many other Gravenhurst contributors to the hospital.

      Think about it for a moment? What would a regional hospital have meant to the Town of Gravenhurst in perpetuity? In fact, what would it have meant for our town, if we had been chosen as the best location for the Provincial Court House, the Land Registry Office, Regional Government Headquarters. The potential of these government establishments became magnets for a lot of other developments for the good of the Bracebridge economy.

     I have always believed as a local historian, that Bracebridge's one major regret, is that they hadn't figured out, how to influence the change of the municipal boundary, so that they could have taken possession of both the Muskoka Airport and Beaver Creek, and the new Fenbrook Institution. It's never seemed right to some Bracebridge politicians, whining over the decades, how we snagged both, within a short hop to the municipal boundary, especially in modern thinking of the issue, and the airport's increasing relevance and use; plus the huge new investment in the federal correctional facility. I can recall arguments about service roads, when Fenbrook was being proposed, and how they (municipalities) would provide improved access to the combined correctional facility……and it always seemed to me, that Bracebridge was determined to bend the boundary to their advantage……if just the flow of traffic. If a war broke out, we'd be fighting them over these installations, and probably the ReStore, which they still think is in their town…..but it's not. It would be an interesting statistic to know, just how many correctional services staff, live in Bracebridge, versus Gravenhurst. I overheard conversations one day, in a Bracebridge coffee shop, suggesting that while Gravenhurst may have the prison, we have the staff living in Bracebridge. Competition between our towns hasn't always been in sports. The economy has been a big playing field.

WHAT NEXT? THEY CAN'T TAKE THE LAND AWAY FROM US…..CAN THEY?

     How ridiculous would it be, to learn that the Province of Ontario, might have a project for the former Muskoka Centre property, that we might not like…….? Now I want to stress this as hearsay, without a shred of fact, or any word from a reliable news snitch on the inside. With all the talk about new casino locations being discussed, and sites proposed, in Ontario, is it remotely possible, that the multi-million dollar lakefront oasis, might be on a list we don't know about…..for consideration? If I was still in the day to day news game, here in Muskoka, I would assign this story, to find out, just how the province intends to handle the former Muskoka Centre acreage. As far as debt reduction, it does seem relevant today, to market the property, before real estate values diminish, as is the prediction over the next two years. While the announcement the other night, that Premier McGuinty is stepping down, does throw the brakes on, as far as new casinos…..at least for a wee hiatus…..others in Gravenhurst have certainly thought about the possibility…..the former Muskoka Centre property could be on the long list of potential sites. As far as it making folks nervous around here, this is to be expected. I'm not sure what a poll would reflect, of those against and those in favor, but as far as economic incentives, it would be hard to deny a casino would be a huge boost to the main streat, of which the complex would be just up the road…..and not a long drive at all, from the BIA zone. Bracebridge would have to come to us this time.

     Now you might parallel what I've just written, as one might feel about a theatre-goer, who yells fire on a hunch, to empty a room. Suggesting a casino might fit the property, will create a lot of opinions around town…..and some of them vigorously angry. Some may even jump the gun, and contact the province to say….."bring it on!" Wouldn't that make Bracebridge crazy jealous? I just like to mess with their emotions.

     Of course it is a possible site. You don't need me to tell you that. The province is looking to create more casinos and they own one of the best, most valuable properties in Muskoka…..one of the best known vacation regions on the continent. Considering that they've messed around for years and years, trying to figure out what to do with it, doesn't it seem strange that in the last year, they've finally started to play some of their trump cards. What are they holding back? Now keep in mind, that those areas that are most likely to receive the nod for a casino, may throw the offer back, in protest, refusing to have their communities burdened by gambling problems. If a few of these proposals are blocked or for any reason dismissed, it certainly is reasonable to believe, the Muskoka Centre property is more than suitable, for a luxury resort and casino facility. Hey, you can always re-tweak a road, to accommodate more traffic. Here's a reality the nay-sayers need to take into account. There are many hundreds of Gravenhurst citizens who travel to Casino Rama regularly to gamble, and to see the exceptional entertainment they offer. While I expect Casino Rama may not be too happy about sharing the gaming and entertainment audience, I'm not sure how that's going to be judged by the province in any location they select.

     So here's the question? If we were asked to vote on acceptance of a casino being built in our community, how would that turn-out? Based on the need of the local economy for jobs, and spin-off business investment, and retail advantages, how close would the vote be to fifty percent for, and fifty percent against? Or would it be overwhelmingly rejected as we don't want gaming in our municipality. Or would it be endorsed by a huge margin, because we want to tap into some advantages for a change……and Bracebridge can't do a thing about it?

     I know this may be far fetched. But here's what isn't. The Town could make a play for one of the new casino locations, even without us endorsing it. They would simply be making an enquiry, on the premise, the citizens would have to be consulted before its acceptance. My point is, are we interested in such a development for our town? The province will do something with the Muskoka Centre property, sometime soon, and we should be a part of the process…..as to what we would like to see on that beautiful chunk of lakeshore.

     Our sons and daughters may benefit from whatever is built on that property…..more so if it is commercial versus being divided and sold-off for cottage lots, or a lakeside subdivision. I don't like casinos, and I've never once visited one, but I can tell you now, I would not vote against one…..because the bottom line, is that we have an economic need here, and a piece of valuable land that has sat vacant for far too long, offering us no clear advantage one way or the other. I will say this however; that I will not, outside of this hearsay bit of gossip, make a strong promotion to get a casino either. I would abstain from voting. It's a personal choice. The debate and vote on a casino, would be up to the citizens, at large, to decide, and my only hope, is that the town would seek approval in this fashion, with a referendum.

     Is there a casino proposal coming? Why not?

     As for jobs for our sons and daughters, at home here in Gravenhurst? Love the idea or hate it, you have to consider the economic advantages versus the inherent disadvantages associated with casinos the world over. But I think it would be of interest, just to be asked if we'd consider the idea! I'm sure the cottager association will have a strong opinion, and we should be prepared to listen…..just as they should listen to other points of view.

     Have I started something here? I hope so. We need to get to motivate the province to get moving on the Muskoka Centre property……as it is very much an opportunity for economic development…..and this is to our advantage…..for a change.

     Thanks so much for joining me today. Please come again.

Opera House Advocacy Group Should Be Formed Now

BRACEBRIDGE'S WOODCHESTER VILLA NEEDED ITS LIAISON COMMITTEE - ITS FOUNDING HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE NEEDS A CURATORIAL, ADVOCACY GROUP NOW

     THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE OF WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM WHEN IT WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED. IT WAS WHAT THE TOWN AND THE ROTARY CLUB, THAT TOOK THE LEAD ROLE IN THE WOODCHESTER RESTORATION, INSISTED ON, BEFORE THEY AGREED TO INITIATE THE LARGE-SCALE AND EXPENSIVE PROJECT. IT WAS WHAT I CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD WHEN ROTARIAN GLEN COATES FIRST BROUGHT UP THE POSSIBILITY, PRIOR TO 1978, AND IT IS EXACTLY HOW I PROCEEDED, WHEN WAYLAND DREW, THE EVENTUAL PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED SOCIETY, AND I, GOT TOGETHER AT HIS HOME, TO DISCUSS HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH ITS ORGANIZATION. WAYLAND DID MOST OF THE WORK, THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT THE ROTARY CLUB WOULD FIND A HALE AND HARDY, BRAND NEW HISTORICAL SOCIETY, READY TO PARTNER ON THE MUSEUM PROJECT. THE TOWN, WHILE RELUCTANT, AGREED TO WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES, AND THE END RESULT, WAS A NICELY RESTORED OCTAGONAL HOME, BUILT BY BIRDS WOOLLEN MILL FOUNDER HENRY BIRD. THE ROTARY CLUB WENT ON TO OTHER COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS LEFT TO RUN THE MUSEUM.

     THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING, ARRIVED WHEN GOVERNMENT FUNDING WAS CUT-BACK, VOLUNTEERISM WENT INTO DECLINE AFTER THE PEAK OF THE GRAND OPENING, AND THE TOWN WANTED TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE BUILDING ENTIRELY. THIS BLOG ISN'T SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WOODCHESTER, BUT IT DOES REGARD THE EXAMPLE, THAT UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE CREATED, WHICH IN ESSENCE COULD BENEFIT GRAVENHURST TODAY…..SPECIFICALLY THE OPERATION OF THE OPERA HOUSE.

     WHILE A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS HAD TO TAKE PLACE, AND A DEAL WAS MADE WITH MUSKOKA ARTS AND CRAFTS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MUSEUM ANNEX (OUR SECOND MUSEUM BUILDING), AS A MUSUEM REPRESENTATIVE, WITH A GREATLY DEPLETED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE HAD TO DEMAND THE TOWN STEP-UP AND ASSUME MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT WAS A COMMUNITY ASSET. AND YES IT WAS THE PROVERBIAL BALL AND CHAIN, FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONTEND. TOWN COUNCILLORS KNEW IT WAS COMING, AND DIDN'T GREET THE PROPOSITION FOR MORE INVOLVEMENT, WITH OPEN ARMS. WITH THE HUGE DEMAND FOR VOLUNTEERS, ALL YEAR ROUND, TO HANDLE SOCIETY BUSINESS, AND WORK ON THE HOUSE AND THE PROPERTY, AND VERY LITTLE MONEY FOR STAFF, EVENTUALLY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FAILED AND FUNDAMENTALLY DISAPPEARED INTO ITS OWN HERITAGE.

     THIS IS THE SHARP POINT OF THE STICK. THE ONE GROUP THAT COULD HAVE, AND SHOULD HAVE ADVOCATED FOR WOODCHESTER VILLA, AND SAW TO IT THAT THE VERANDAH WAS PROPERLY REPAIRED, TO HANDLE A TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA SNOWLOAD (WHICH IS WHAT COLLAPSED IT), WAS DEFUNCT. OUTSIDE OF THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE CHAPEL GALLERY, AND MUSKOKA ARTS AND CRAFTS SHARING THE PROPERTY, WOODCHESTER LACKED THE CONNECTEDNESS TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAD CREATED IT INTO A TOWN MUSEUM. WHILE IT'S UNFAIR TO SAY IT WAS LEFT ALL ALONE ON THAT HILLSIDE, OVERLOOKING THE MUSKOKA RIVER, IT DIDN'T HAVE THE PROTECTORS IT HAD WHEN IT OPENED ITS DOORS IN THE EARLY 1980'S. AS WE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE VERANDAH TO THE TOWN, PRIOR TO 1989, A PARTNERING SOCIETY WOULD HAVE KEPT NAGGING TO GET THE PROBLEMS ADDRESSED, AND SOME OF THE REPAIRS THE TOWN IS FACED WITH NOW, MIGHT HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH OVER TIME……AND NOT ALL AT ONCE; WHICH IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE MUSEUM GETS FUNDING APPROVAL FOR YET ANOTHER RESTORATION PROJECT.

OPERA HOUSE……HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THE WOODCHESTER EXPERIENCE?

     In essence, the Gravenhurst Opera House is not only an historic landmark in our town, it is as much a museum as an entertainment venue. It requires special attention, and not just from staff, town hall administration and municipal council. It needs more. It requires a group of passionate volunteers, to become its curatorial guardians. As the Bracebridge Historical Society would and could have intervened to ensure the historic house was being properly conserved, it was a distant memory. Gone when needed the most. While this isn't to suggest that Gravenhurst should seek the formation of an Opera House Historical Society, it absolutely needs a group of about three to five citizens, who are passionate about its preservation. I could come up with a chairman and board members, and none of them would be me. From experience however, I can tell the people of Gravenhurst honestly, the Opera House is in peril without a liaison group, charged with representing its best interests…..and dealing with its list of future restoration needs.

     The Town Council needs to look at the realities it is facing with the Opera House. There are no curators or conservators on the town payroll to my knowledge. There are those members of a committee dealing with heritage matters, but nothing to my knowledge that targets our most important heritage building. The business of operating the Opera House is one thing. The welfare of the building is quite different, and it's where I'm deeply quagmired with worry. The parallels to Woodchester Villa are becoming clearer each week that goes by, with a big roof under construction.

     Hypothetically, an Advocacy Group, of three members, with the privilege of communicating concerns to both Opera House management, town administration, and elected representatives, probably would have thrown out the situation, that it is never a good idea, to be inside a heritage structure under renovation, without a hard hat. I'm willing to bet they would have come up with a recommendation, that in order to make the roof restoration as efficient and on-schedule as possible, all events should be cancelled during the most critical stages of roof work. This would certainly have helped the construction company, because it can't be easy working around inclement weather, Opera House events, of which there have been a few, and a Farmer's Market in the courtyard….beside the dumpsters full of restoration debris. I think an advocacy committee would have felt strongly about getting the roof completed long before the onset of winter. They would have advocated for tarps to be used inside the Opera House, in case of any contamination falling, and they would have done the same for any vulnerable roof region, that may have been a source of leaks. Their assignment would be to liaison, not to be a-holes, causing delays in the project. They would be in place to represent the heritage property, and its well being, and would be entitled to express their concerns about certain situations, and those problem areas that can be inadvertently exposed when ripping up layers of shingles.

     The advocacy group wouldn't be political. It has no reason to be. It's task would be to make sure the building isn't being damaged in the process of restoration. Everyone should welcome such a group, because it promotes co-operation, and might have even, in the most recent days, been a useful liaison with the press…..from a heritage-watchdog perspective, yet working with the town and administrators…..and the roofers, to get the job done correctly, and without consequences to the building.

     There isn't any reason, why Town Council couldn't appoint an emergency advocacy or liaison committee to assist with the ongoing Opera House restoration project, at this point, simply as observers…..and as representatives of the constituents of this town, who own this wonderful main street building. The town may decided that Mr. Currie, as usual, is full of baloney, and ignore this entirely, but I'm hoping one or two councillors might see the advantage, of allowing citizens to accept some of the burden for this important restoration project. It would be a giant step to improve community relations, and promote transparency. As I see it, the committee's job isn't to cause work stoppages, or intervene where they have no authority, but instead, be willing to provide a semi curatorial guardianship of its historic integrity……..as a trial run, during the balance of the roof repairs. It would be a good opportunity to see how such a committee could partner with the town, as there are other restoration upgrades that have to be addressed in the future.

     The town should have no fear, that by inviting the formation of an advocacy group, to work on the Opera House's behalf, there will be a future threat to their administration, or a healthy new conduit of information to this blogger. In terms of public relations, I've got to tell you, it would be a marked improvement in constituent relations, to relax some of their self-imposed, restrictive protocols, that cause them more backlash than promote good will and cooperation.

     We do have a big stake in our historic landmark, remaining safe on that corner of the main street, for many years to come. Just because we want to get involved to help it weather the work, doesn't mean a government overthrow is in the works. Council can approve this as a temporary measure, in an advisory capacity, just to help ensure the well being of the building…….which does need special care as a heritage landmark. There are more than a few people in this neighborhood who would qualify, and be agreeable to take on such a chairmanship, and I would be delighted, as the promoter of such an idea, to offer the names of candidates for their consideration.

     Why would the town be indifferent to getting good advice from the people who know the Opera House best? Or who have curatorial, historic site experience? The Opera House, is more than just a theatre…….it is an old theatre, and it needs constant stewardship……to ensure it has a future.

     Thank you for joining today's blog. Please visit again and again. I always enjoy your company.