09 13 1994 History Minutes
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T~ΠTOWNSHIP OF ORO-~iliDONTE
HISTORY COMMITTEE
bŒETING - September 13,1994
The Township of Oro-Medonte History Committee met this evening in
accordance with the schedule set out at a meeting held on April 2,
1994 and at the call of the Chairman.
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The following members were present:
Opening
Minutes
Absent
Tim Crawford
Loreen (Rice) Lucas
Henry Neufeld
Walter Hutchinson
Earl Robertson
Jadeen Henderson
Bernice Hickling
Mary Garbut
The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 7:30 p.m.
The Minutes of the last regular meeting held on May lO,
1994 were on motion of Loreen (Rice) Lucas and Jadeen
Henderson adopted as printed and received. All members
having received a copy of same.
(Several meetings and work meetings were held through the
summer at which no minutes were taken)
Business arising from the Minutes
- meeting of Kay lO, 1994.
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No. matters were brought forward.
Correspondence and Communications
(a)
Cb)
(c)
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Cd)
Secretary presented copy of letter forwarded to Mrs. D. Woods
in response to her letter of July 6,1994. As no meetings were
held in July, Secretary after contacting members of the Committee
regarding the enquiry in search of family burials at Knox, for-
warded a letter on August 22, 1994, advising of all infDrmation
available.
Presented a letter from Mrs. Lois Thompson, an enquiry of tracing
family historp on a Grant Family, advising brothers and sisters
of the Grant family. Secretary again contacted members of the
Committee, since no regular meetings were held during July and
August, and responded to the letter, forwarding photo copies of
a number of pages from "Kith 'n Kin". Also presented a letter
from Mrs. Thompson acknowledging receipt of the information and
the ~hoto co~ies.
Presented a photo copy of an article by Brian Baker of the
County Historical Association, who was present at the Memmrial
Service held at the African Episcopel Methodist Church on June 12,
1994. The article appeared in the Barrie Examiner on July 9, 1994.
Presented a letter from Robert Richards of Richards Equipment Inc.,
expressing appreciation of the participation of this Committee
on Heritage Day Celebration. The Committee displayed pictures
of threshing in the olden days and other related photos of various
equipment used. . Richards expressed that such photos brought
back memories some and educated the younger as we . Letter
expressed thanks to Committee members and par s.
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Jadeen Henderson for her enthusiasm end use of her an~iques.
Adding that he felt certain that her contribution to the
Committee must be a~preciated.
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Presented letter from the Townshi~ Clerk which had been for-
w~rded in May, but did not arrive in time for the ~ay 16th
meeting. Advising that Council by resolution sup~ort tn.
endeavours of the History Committee and arranging for a memorial
Service at the African Episcopel Medthodist Church and have
authorized funding to off-set expenditures in the amount not
to exceed $250.00 (It may be noted that after the collection
at the Service the cost of exDenditures did not exceed the
allocation by the Council) -
Letter advises that Council had adopted a By-Law appointing
members to the Oro-ffiedonte History Committee at a meeting held
on Ma~ 4, 1994~ namely:- Loreen (Rice) Lucas, Walter Hutchinson,
Bernice Hickling, Earl Robertson, Henry Neufeld, Tim Cr~wford,
Jadeen Henderson, Mary G~rbutt and Carl Campitelli.
Tim Crawford presented each member of the Committee with a copy
of "News and Viewsll published by the Sin:coe County Historical
Association. It may be noted that Tim Crawford is the Editor
of Newsletter.
(f)
It was moved by Earl Robertson anå seconded by Walter Hutchinson
that the corres~ondence as presented be received and filed for
future reference.
(a)
Old and Unfinished Business
(b)
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(c)
Report on the l45th Memorial Service held at the African Episcopel
Methodist Church on June 12, 1994. The Service was well attended
and guest Minister was Rev. Wilfrid Sheffield, assisted by Rev.
Rãymond LeDrew. A write up on the Service appeared in the Barrie
Examiner as written by Brian Baker, President, Simcoe County
Historical Association. A copy of this write up is appended to
the Minutes. Also a copy of the News and Views of the Simcoe
County Historical Association which refers to this service as well.
The Methodist Gospel Choir of the Heritage Community Church,
Collingwood, added greatly to the program.
Report on the Farm Heritage Day held at Richards Equipment Inc.
held on August 13,1994. The History Committee participated by
display of Antique items related to earlier days as well as by
Video taping of the events of the day. As mentioned under cor-.
respondence a letter was received from Richards Equipment Inc.
expressing appreciation of the participation by the History
Committee. Letter and copy of the days rrogram is also a~pended
to the Minutes of this meeting. The Chairman and Jadeen Henderson
reported verbally on the days events.
Rerort on Canada Participation. - The Committee again participated
as requested by the Canada Committee by a display Publications
of the Township and Community picture books, as well as other
pictures related to past history in the Township. Also a book
of the pictures of Reeves of Oro Township over the years.
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Con~'d from page 2.
(d) Summary of activities since last meeting - May 10,1994.
(i) Very successful anniversary service at the African Church
(ii) ~ade contribution to Richards' Farm Equifment and Antique
show - Farm Heritage Day held August 13, 1994
(iii) Video taped many of the displays with the idea that clips of
the tape can be used to enliven our two la-videos for the
schools.
(iv) Continued with project of sorting material and clearing out
both old vaults at the Township Hall. (Almost all material left
is worth saving, and may ultimately be turned over to the
Simcoe County Archives)
tv) A number of meetings (informal) including one to plan the
Committee's involvement at Oro Fair.
(vi) Small group meetings to develop additional strategies for
further work on school videos.
Let the records show that the Oro-Medonte History Committee
will be hosting the executive of the Simcoe County Historical
Association in October, which will feature a tour of Earl
Robertson's extensi~e collection of antique farm tools.
New Business
Presented a letter from the President of the Ontario Geneo-
logical Society with respect to prepar~tion of the premiere
edition of "Who's Who in Ontario". Letter further advises
that the Chairman of the History Committee is a Nominee, the
apparent success and standing in the Community distinguishes
that person for inclusion in the 1994-l998 Rdition. Enclosed
a biography form to list this person's achievements, affiliat-
ion and geneology, etc. The comp1etiom of this form is essent-
ial to the publishing guidelines. Participation in this
venture is entirely voluntary and places no obligation. Letter
requests that the form be completed as soon as possible in
order that the name may be ~cluded in the edition.
The letter amd request waS considereΠby the Committee with
no immediate action decided, since it waS not clear as to
what person the form should be completed for. Accordingly
the letter was tabled.
The matter of participating in the Oro Fair WaS discussed
and it WaS suggested that the Committee, efter baving been
~dvised by a person on the Fair Board that space could be
made available on the grounds to place a motor home on a
site. Loreen (Rice) Lucas advised thst she could get a
motor home for use at the Fair. This way the Artifacts, farm
tool§ and household antiques could be displayed in the motor
home and on tables outèide the unit. It would also allow a
better way of displaying the Township publications end
pictures.
The Chairman brought up the matter of asking for an appoint-
ment with Council to present a show and tell of the activities
of the Committee. so the proposal future anc cpated,
activities. It was left that the Secre make arrangemen~s
th the Township Clerk for an appointment ( 15 minutes)
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:::tisiness cont' d
The Chairman brought forward a proposal for another book to be
considered by the Committee, and suggested several items fer contents
in another ~ublication. Such as stories of the olden days,
enecdotes and sayings, GS a st~rter. The suggestinn Was discussed
and left for further consideration at future meetings.
The Chairman presented accounts for Archival materials add Video
tapes to at total of$254.49.
It w~s moved by Earl Robertson and seconded by Jadeen Henderson
that the account as presented be accepted and be presented to
the Township Treasurer for approval by Council and payment.
There being no further business at hand it was moved by Earl
Robertson that the meeting adjourn a 9:10 p.m.
The next regular meeting ãccording to resolution of the
meeting in April is to be held on October 11,1994 at 7.30 p~m.
Henry Neufeld,
Secretary.
Tim Crawford,
Chairman
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RICHARDS EQUIPMENT INC.
Box 583, Hwy. 93
Barrie, Ontario
L4M 4V1
FARM FLEET
KONGSKILDE
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Ontario
HistOr\T
-
Founded 1978
Ref!zstered CanadIan
Dedicated to the Study of Black Hlstorv In Ontano
IN RECOGNITION OF
THE 145th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE A.M.E. CHURCH
June 12, 1994
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On behalf of the Ontario Black History
Society, I congratulate the commitment and
dedication of the committee responsible for
restoring and maintaining the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Oro Township.
On behalf of the Ontario Black History
Society, I am pleased to honor the original hard
work and sacrifice of the first Black pioneers in
the Oro community.
On behalf of the Ontario Black History
Society, I am honored to remember the early
Black settlement with a wreath, for as long as
we remember them, they are not really gone.
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Rosemary Sadlier,
President, .B.H.S.
The Ontario
Adelaide Street East, Suite
867-9420 Fax 867-8691
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Local black community
remembers its heritage
Memorial service
celebrates 145th
anniversary of
Edgar-area church
EDGAR - Laughter, joy, fond
recollections, singing and even
tears marked an emotional me-
morial service dedicated to the
145th anniversary of the African
Epig('opal Methodist Church near
Edgar on Sunday afternoon, June
12.
Over 150 visitors including local
friends and neighbors, guests and
descendants of the original Oro
black settlers joined forces to
bring history to life around the
little church with its black-
boarded exterior walls that other-
wise stands so forlornly at the
corners of the Upper Crossroads,
a kilometre west of Edgar.
Stepping inside, we noted the
similarity in design to the old
one.room schoolhouses, only in
this case the interior log walls
were whitewashed and there
were no refinements to the bare
wooden seat benches, A simple
pulpit dominated the front. But as
the event progressed, more and
more it struck us that this could
have been a scene straight out
from the Mississippi Valley and
the Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer
stories,
In keeping with our Canadian
tradition, we felt perfectly at
home with our black brothers
and sisters: we cmùd laugh with
them, we could cry with them.
"It is indeed a pleasure to wel-
come everyone to this special me-
morial service," greeted Oro-Me-
donte Historical Society
president Tim Crawford. "As the
walls of this little church reverbe-
rate with much the same music
and words of hope that brought
joy and consolation to the origi-
nal black settlers of the Oro Wil-
berlorce community provide a
memorable experience for us all,"
He introduced special guest
ministers the Rev. Wilfrid Shef-
field, pastor Raymond LeDrew,
choir leader Carloyne Wilson, pi-
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RURAL
ROUTES
BRIAN
BAKER
anist Sylvia Wilson, presiden(of
the Ontario Black History Society
Rosemary Sadlier and historian
Les MacKinnon.
"I bring warmest greetings from
Simcoe East and the Ontario Leg-
islature," said MPP Alan Mc-
Lean, "I would like to thank Tim
Crawford, Loreen Lucas and all
those who have worked to make
this event a success. The old peo-
ple (black settlers) are gone now,
but their descendants can be
proud of the heritage they left be-
hind."
"Without the hard work of the
Oro-Medonte Historical Society
and concerned individuals (e.g.
Walter Hutchinson and late How-
ard Campbell), this church would
not be here today in its present
good state bf preservation," re-
marked Simcoe County Warden
and Mayor of Oro-Ivledonte Rob-
ert Drury. "My grandfather, E. C,
Drury, for whom one of the last
residents of African Hollow, Mr.
Thompson, worked during his I
later years, was a real champion.
of the black people in Oro and
wrote extensively about them,
Congratulations to you on this
145th anniversary,"
"New Year's Eve in African Hol-
low," taken from the writings of
the late Hon. E. C. Drury, was
read by Rosemary Sadlier. The
Rev. Sheffield likened the tragic
storv of the African slaves to that
of the Israelites who also suffered
bondage (to the Egyptians) and
were eventually liberated, only to
be dispersed far and wide like the
black people from Oro who had
found freedom here from the slav-
ery of the Southern plantations.
He sang a solo, "The Lord In
Whom You Delight."
Other stirrings and spiritual
hymns sung by the choir and
some combined with the congre-
gation, accompanied by piano
and guitars, included Down By
The Riverside, In My Father's
House, The Lord Is My Shepherd,
Love Divine, Unto The Hills and
Walk On the Water.
Videotaping the service from
the side of the second to the front
seat, I saw some of the emotion as
visitors of both races wiped tears
from their eyes. Only in the sense
of greatest respect did I focus in
on one lovely black lady, a por-
trait of serenity, wearing a straw
hat, her eyes almost closed, the
hint of smile on her face. The mu-
sic of her people most surely
brought back profound memories
to her!
Followed by refreshments pro-
vided by Clowes WI the service
was concluded by a ceremony
paying respects at the memorial
cairn outside "to those brave
(black) pioneers and seekers-of.
freedom who are buried in un-
marked graves in this cemetery,"
The injustices from which these
people fled from the plantations
of the American South to even-
tually settle in Oro Township as
early", 1819, we g;o"""ly hoped I
this day we had helped to as-
suage!
SP
CAr
Abram's
BNR Equ
Bayfield
BennerêJ
Beaver L
Blair & R
Culligan
Central C
Casey's I
Canadial
Egon Mo
Goodfell
Hill Refr
Jackson'!
Kelly's P,
Mr. Tran
Norman
Music Pr
PMCL
Phil Wal
Richvie,'
Roberts 4
Robinsor
Sarjeant
Stinson 1
Sexton's
Sampsorl
Subway ~
TelecoP1
The Rox,
VinylGrc
Young D
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A Word 01 Thanlui .
'" to Loreen (Rice). Lucas and ,the l~~e ~rof. .l::Iume who
worked to have the church ¡~)figiIJ~), refpr~i,hfqi J
* the Council of the TownshIp of Oro c i947 for Its
willingness to listen and to act
* to the late Howard Campbell and Walter Hutchinson
who under trying circumstances replaced the floor
* to the Oro Horticultural Society and Parks and
Recreation of Oro-Medonte for helping to maintain the
grounds, year after year
'" to current members of the Oro-Medonte History
Committee for the work of re-chinking the logs,
painting the ceiling, white-washing the walls, and .
ge rieral cleaning, particularly,. J adeen Henderson, Henrý
Neufeld, Walter Hutchinson, Earl Roberston, Mary
Robertson, (for painting the ceiling) with
scaffolding from Tom Shaw.
'" The Oowes Women's Institute
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Note: The spiritual By His Word, which was sung by the chou today, was
written by "Oro Soo" Wishart Campbell and was recorded by the great
Mahalia Jackson and is available 00 ooe of her albums.
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Memorial S.,rvice
Tp Commemorate the 145th Annive~sary
Ätrlca~;Eplscopal Metho~lst cHUrch
West of Edgar In Ora Township
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Sunday, June 12, 1994
2:30 p.m.
Rev. Wilfred Sheffield
Pastor Ray leDrew
Methodist Gospel Choir
Heritage Commulty Church
Collingwood, Ontario
Carloyne Wilson, Choir leader
Sylvia Wilson, Pianist
Under the auspices of the
Oro-Medonte History Committee
a comm lItee of the
Oro-Medonte Council
.
~gnrm
Prelude: 2: 15 - 2:30
Selections by Methodist Gospel Chojr
Welcome and Introduction of Ministers:
Tim Crawford
Oro-Medonte History Committee
Hymn: The Lord's My Shepherd
Invocation: Opening Prayer Pastor LeDrew
Introduction of special ~ests:
Alan McLean, MPP
Robert Druu.
Warden of Simcoe County
Mayor of Oro-Medonte Township
Rosemary Sadlier .
President, Ontario Black History Society
Les MacKinnon, Historian.
Offering
I
Yø.e~~
The Choir and Minister combine in weaving
song, story, prayer and praise much in the same
way they worshipped long ago.
Readi!lgs will includê:
New Year's Eve in Mrican Hollow--a
description of a service in this church,
about 1.00 years ago. From the writing of
E. C. Drury.
Choir selections include:
Heaven Bound Traveller
In My Father's House
Wade In the Water
Walk on the Water
Swing Low Swee* Çh. arlòt
Steel AWa~ I i F i i
Down By The RIver Side
By His Word
Soon And Very Soon
.
Recessional A
Honoured guests, choir and congreg.n
will proceed to the stone cairn to pay our respects
to those brave pioneers and seekers-of-freedom,
who are buried in unmarked graves in the
adjacent cemetery.
Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before Us
(at the Stone Cairn)
Light Refreshments Provided by The Clowes
Women's Institute
On tbe Sbanty Bay Road is an bistoric plaque with tbe
following words:
Black SettlemEnt in 01"0 Township
The only governmEnt sponsored Black
settlement in Upper Canada. the 01"0
Community. was established in 1819 to help
secure the defmce of the provincËs northern
frontier. Black veterans of the War of 1812
who could be misted to meet hostile forces
advandng from Georgian Bay. were offered
land grants here. By 1831 nine had takm up
resldmce along this road called Wilberforce
Street. after the renowned British abolitionist
Bolstered by the Black settlers who had been
attraded to the area. the community soon
numbered about 100. The settlemEnt
evEntually declined however. as farmers
discouraged by the poor soil and harsh dimate,
graduaDy drifted away. Today only the African
Episcopal Church erected near Edgar in 1849
remains as testamEnt to this early Black
community.
Betty
John Laking
Helen Spanis
Social Convenor Joseph Lundy
Publicity Alex McInroy
Membership Harold Hyne
Research Burton Ford
News and Views Editor Tim Crawford
Assistant N & N Editor Margaret Verbey
Book Convenor Helen Spanis
Programme Brian Baker and Mary Haskin
Historical Plaques Burton Ford, Brian Baker
Area Representatives
Essa Burton Ford
Rama Harvey and Sue Anderson
Innisfil Helen Spanis
Orillia Betty Glenesk
Collingwood Jack Poste
Directors at Large
Josephine Boos, Isabel McBride, Pat Langmuir
SCRA Presents Life Memberships
Catharine MacKenzie of Victoria Harbour and Mary
Haskill of Midland were recently made life members of
the association for their dedication and contribution to
the preservation of history in Simcoe County.
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Events
Sept 17: The unveiling of the
Marine Monument will take place in
Collingwood, at 1:30 p.m. Sheffield Park
Highway 26, on Long Point Road.
Sept 16, 17, 18: Simcoe County Museum will
County Arts and Crafts Quilt and Rug Show. The sale
crafts will begin at 9:00 a.m. on the Friday. This is a very
popular regional show!
Sept 17, 18: Huronia Museum & Indian Village
hosting the Wye Marsh Photographic Exhibition and Sale.
The festival ànd photo workshops take place Sept 17 and 18.
Works will be on display. at the museum from Sept 17 ~ 30
Sept 20: SCRA regular monthly presentationu President
Brian Baker will talk on: a) Tall Ships Visit Huronia,
b) Trains of Past and Present. The meeting begins
the Parkview Centre on Blake S1
at
Sept 23-25: The Collingwood Museum will have a
the Great Northern Exhibition, Sept 23 - 25, featuring
Smart Family of Collingwood (Smart's Canning Factory
family), Drop by for a look,
Oct 8, 9: POW WOW at Rama On thanksgiving weekend
there will be a spectacular Traditional Pow Wow
Native dancers and drummers from across Canada and
U.S. will entertain.
Colourful native arts and crafts will be available for your
inspection and purchase. Call Sue and Harvey Anderson
(705) 325 0806 for more information.
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Oct 9: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Oro Station is
celebrating its 100th Anniversary this Thanksgiving Weekend.
The church was built in 1894 in about 2 months and cost
about $1200, A mason jar time-capsule has been