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02 13 1995 Township of Oro-Medonte - Correspondence - History Committee/Script for Oro VideoTHE CORPORATION OF THE TOW:\eSKIP 6/e0 6edoz?,k February 13, 1995 Oro-Medonte History Committee c/o Mr. Henry Neufeld R.R. #1 Hawkestone, Ontario LOL 1TO Dear Henry: I wish to inform you of the following action Council has taken in regards to various correspondence and the minutes of the History Committee held January 19th as follows: 1. Council have appointed Councillor Neil Craig as their representative to meet with the Huronia Tourism Association, the Simcoe County Historical Association, the Oro-Medonte History Committee and the black community in Collingwood to improve public awareness to the African Episcopal Church located in Oro-Medonte; 2. $1,500.00 has been set aside within the 1995 Budget for the Oro-Medonte History Committee; 3. Council concur that two additional members be appointed to the Oro-Medonte History Committee and respectfully request the Committee to seek those individuals who they feel have good knowledge and specific interest in the history of the Township and are willing to volunteer on your Committee and Council will take your recommendations in this regard. If I can provide any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. Y -rs truly, Darlene Shoebridge, AMCT Clerk DS/la Box 100, Oro, Ontario LOL2X0 Telephone (705) 487-2171 Fax (705) 487-0133 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOW February 13, 1995 Oro-Medonte History Committee c/o Mr. Henry Neufeld R.R. #1 Hawkestone, Ontario LOL 1T0 Dear Henry: I wish to inform you of the following action Council has taken in regards to various correspondence and the minutes of the History Committee held January 19th as follows: 1. Council have appointed Councillor Neil Craig as their representative to meet with the Huronia Tourism Association, the Simcoe County Historical Association, the Oro-Medonte History Committee and the black community in Collingwood to improve public awareness to the African Episcopal Church located in Oro-Medonte; 2. $1,500.00 has been set aside within the 1995 Budget for the Oro-Medonte History Committee; 3. Council concur that two additional members be appointed to the Oro-Medonte History Committee and respectfully request the Committee to seek those individuals who they feel have good knowledge and specific interest in the history of the Township and are willing to volunteer on your Committee and Council will take your recommendations in this regard. If I can provide any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours truly, Darlene Shoebridge, AMCT Clerk DS/la Box 100. Oro. Unrario LOL2X0 Teiennone (705) 487-2171 Fax (705) 487-0133 HURONIA TOURISM ASSOCIATION Simcoe County Building Midhurst, Ontario LOL I X0 Telephone Lines Barrie Area: `'' 726-9300 Orillia Area: ;. 326-7397 Midland-Penetanguishene: 526-2261 Collingwood-Wasaga Beach: 428-3143 Huronia South: 729-2295 * Ask, for Ext. 220 Fax: (705) 726-3991 January 16, 1995 Henry Neufeld Oro-Medonte History Committee Oro-Medonte Township Office P. 0. Box 100 Oro, Ontario LOL 2X0 Dear Mr. Neufeld: doo Atb 0 9 rij, 40% vh RECEIVED > 1995 ORO-MEDurc TOWAISillP z l For the past two months the Huronia Tourism Association has been conducting research and evaluating black heritage sites in Simcoe County. As the most significant remaining site, the African Episcopal Church on County Road 11 and the 4th Concession is in Oro-Medonte. We would like to discuss with representatives of your committee the possibility of improving public awareness of the church and its historic significance. We plan to invite representatives of the black community in Collingwood, the Simcoe County Historical Association and Oro-Medonte Township Council, to get the broadest possible input on any idea discussed. If there are other groups or individuals your committee think should be invited, please advise us. HTA would like to schedule a meeting as soon as possible, subject to the convenience of those indicating they would like to attend. Please contact me in this regard or if the History Committee has any questions. Thank you for your assistance in this regard. Sincerely, Ken Sitter Project Coordinator KS/jp Script for Oro Video Clearing the land, tillage, haying, grain crops When the pioneers came to Oro in the early 1800s one of the most important tasks to be started was clearing the land. This was a difficult and arduous task, accomplished little by little year after year. The settlers used the logs, stumps and stones that they cleared to help them build other necessary things. Slide 1 -- Log house The first permanent homes in Oro were constructed of logs, taken right off the settlers own property. In all likelihood the stone fireplace was also built of local stone. This house belonged to and was likely built by John McNiven when McNiven's first came to Oro in the early 1800s. Slide 2 -- Log barn The barns were also built of logs --and used to store hay, grain, and other crops, as well as housing animals over the long cold winter. The roof on this barn would originally have been wood shingles. The shingles were originally cut by hand --by a tool especially designed for this task. Later, mills would cut shingles. Slide 3 -- Log barn close-up Notice how the logs were shaped by axe and fitted together --smaller pieces of wood were cut and used to fill the cracks. But the resourcefulness of the pioneers did not end with houses and barns. They built fences from stumps, stones, and split logs (rails). Slide 4 -- Stump machine This is an example of a machine used to remove large stumps. It worked on a system of block and tackles, with horses pulling the stumps on ropes and pulleys. Slide 5 -- Stump fence Here is a stump fence which can still be seen on Concession 8 of Oro. Slide 6 -- Snake fence Rail fence, snake fence or stake and rider fence. Rail splitters were hired to build the fences from trees. These were called split rails and they were split by a hardwood wedge. The trees used were either pine or cedar. The riders were used to strengthen the fence. The stake was driven into the ground. It is thought that the snake and rider would be the older of these kinds of fences. Slide 7-- Pole Gate Slide 8--Stoney Field Unfortunately, even after stumps were removed, in many parts of Oro, the fields had many stones, on the surface and just under the surface. Before crops could be planted successfully, these glacial boulders had to be removed. Slide 28 -- fork Notice the construction of this handmake fork. It was probably made of basswood. Slide 29 -- Team Mower Horse drawn mowers made the job of cutting hay much faster. We are told that the scythe was used to clean the corners where the mower missed. ("we are missing a team mower") Slide 30-- Field of coiled hay Once mowed, the hay was piled by hand into round domes called coils. Horse drawn rakes pulled the hay into windrows to make it easier for the farmer to do the coiling. Slide 31 Dump Rake team The dump rake dragged hay caught in its tines. When enough had been gathered the operator lifted up the tines, by foot trip, and left the bunch of hay behind to form windrows. Hay was coiled to cure. The coil is designed to have the rain run down the outside of the coil, keeping the hay inside dry. If the hay was not properly loaded on a wagon, it large sections of it would suddenly slip off, before the wagon got to the barn. If the hay had too much moisture in it, it would heat up in the mow and cause a spontaneous fire, causing many barns to burn down. It was difficult to judge just how much moisture in the hay was safe enough so that it would not cause such a fire. The load of hay was sometimes dumped on the floor of the barn on which ropes called slings were laid out. The slings were hooked onto a pulley and the pile of hay would be lifted to the top of the barn's roof, and would then run along a rail up in the peek of the roof. When it was over the appropriate spot in the mow, the farmer would "trip the sling" and the hay would drop into the mow. Another method was called a "fork" which was driven down into the hay while it was still on the wagon. Little flaps would flip out and when the fork was lifted the way would go with it. Again, it was raised to the peek of the roof, then travelled along a rail and at the appropriate time the flaps would be triggered and the hay would slide off the fork into the mow. Slide 32 & 33 script seems to be missing -- Tim Slide 34 -- Buck rake Another way of collecting hay was with the buck rake. It was usually made by the farmer out of an old truck. The rake, it was really a very large fork, would be driven along a windrow of hay and when it was filled, the rake was lifted. Slide 35 -- Tipped buck rake The buck rake would tip if too much hay was loaded in it. Slide 36--1970s Foraging Modern farmers either bale hay or forage it with machines. Foraging means chopping up the hay and blowing it into a mow, silo or storage bin. (advantages of foraging???) GRAIN HARVEST As well as hay, turnips and corn, farm animals needed grain and straw. While plowing and planting were much the same, the harvest of grain crops was very different from harvesting hay. Slide 37 -- Cradle The first pioneers cut grain by hand with a cradle. The cradle cut the grain and bunched it together. Women would come along behind the tie the bundles together into sheaves, tying the sheaves with a strands of the grain stems. Slide 38 Flail The grain was separated from chaff (straw) by a flail, a method developed from ancient times. Slide 39 Flail This flail was used in Oro in pioneer days. Slide 39A? Two stones were used to grind the grain into "chop" or flour. One stone was stationary and the other moved. The top stone was quite rough and this roughness helped to grind the grain. Slide 40 -- Reaper Next came the horse drawn reaper. The grain was cut and bunched. Still someone had to come behind and tie the grain into sheaves. There was a time in the past called the industrial revolution. That was a time when clever machines were developed to take over many of the heavy labour tasks on the farm. Slide 41--Early binder This binder not only cut grain, bunched it, but also tied it into sheaves. Slide 42 -- Binder The strings used to tie the sheaves was called binder twine. Today binders are seldom used, but the string developed for binders is still commonly used for other things. Opening the field was an expression used to describe the practice of doing one round in the field the wrong way, using two horses to make a path so that less grain would be tramped down, then the three horses would be used. It was reported that in some cases the first round would be scythed by hand, so that no grain would be lost. "Waste not want not." Transportation Slide 1 -- Map Oro's first inhabitants were first nations who travelled mainly on foot. Indian trails existed throughout the township. Tow of the most used were the Ridge Trail and the Hawkestone Trail. Nothing remains of the latter path which took both Indians and settlers to the high hills of Oro along the banks of the Hawkestone Creek. The "ridge trail" later became the Ridge Road and is used to this day. Slide 2 -- Canoe Indians used birch bark canoes which they paddled on Lake Simcoe and Bass Lake. Slide 3 -- HWY #93 Between 1812 and 1814 the British with some Canadians were at war with the Americans. The British moved artillery, military goods and regiments from Old Fort York (now Toronto) to Fort Penetanguishene along this newly surveyed road which we call Highway 93. The Penetanguishene Road ran from Kempenfelt Village to Fort Penetang. Lots were surveyed along this road and Oro's first settlers came shortly after 1819 to begin the task of clearing the land. This view of the road is from what is now Highway 11, looking south along Wonder Valley with Hewitt's Hill or Crown Hill in the background. Around 1820 surveys were made of the remainder of Oro Township. If you can imagine a grid with lines running North, South and East-West, this was how Oro was surveyed. The North -South lines were built into Concession Roads 7/8th of a mile apart. The East-West lines became the boundaries of our Oro farms. Several roads were marked out, such as the Ridge Road, 2021 Crossroad or side road, Mitchell Square Side Road, Old Barrie Road and Bass Lake Side Road. Slide 4 -- Old Conc. Rd The old concession roads or lines were very rough. Settlers travelled on these trails hauling goods, travelling to church, to town and to visit their neighbours. Loads of logs and of grain were also taken to local mills. Slide 5 -- Conc. Rd These roads were built and maintained by the settlers themselves. Roads built through swampy areas were made of logs --this was called a corduroy road. Many sorts of vehicles and animals travelled on these roads in days gone by. Slide 6 -- Oxen Often oxen were harnessed to haul loads. Carts were made of wood, including the wheels which had a steel rim. It was not uncommon to see yoked oxen in local villages such as Hawkestone. Slide 7 -- Monty Leigh had this yoke as part of his antique collection. Slide 9 (note new sequence) On some occasions farmers and other township residents took to the road on horseback. Mr. Nichols of Shanty Bay is ready to go out for a pleasure ride. Slide 8 -- The Coulson store on what is now Horseshoe Valley Road at Concession Line 7 was a gathering place for pioneers to pick up mail, buy groceries, and exchange local news. Slide 10 -- In summer for pleasure driving and for trips to town many residents had a double buggy. Mr. & Mrs. Nichols are seen here in front of their summer home, west of Shanty Bay. The beautiful home had to be demolished in 1994 because it was so costly to heat. Slide 11 -- Double buggy Double buggies were also common at churches or other special occasions. Slide 12 -- The single buggy The single buggy was also popular. Note the foal which was tagging along beside its mother (without any harness or halter) at the Edgar store owned by Sandy Miller. Slide 12 (again?) The back portion of this store is still on the north east corner of Edgar on the Old Barrie Road...about 200 ft east of the corner. The last person to keep store here were the Hicklings. The whole front part of this store was removed and it is now a house. The 4th person in on the right is believed to be Alexander (Sandy) Miller. Slide 13 -- Slide Memorandum January 25, 1995 To: The Mayor and Council of Oro-Medonte Township From: Tim Crawford, Chair of The Oro-Medonte History Committee Re: Report and Budget Background A significantly new council deserves some background on the history committee. 1. It has been in place for the last 30 years or so. 2. It has produced 2 major books, The Story of Oro, and Kith 'N Kin, and a number of booklets. In most cases the cost of production is recovered from initial sales: subsequent sales goes into general revenue of the Township. 3. It has served Council in a number of ways: -- doing necessary research and answering inquiries from outside the county on historical aspects related to our township; -- preparing displays for Canada Day, the fall fair, etc.; -- sorting township documents and files which are no long required, identifying and preserving documents of historical interest; -- cleaning out almost a ton of material stored in long term storage; -- assisting in acknowledging and preserving important historical features of the township (Marion Keith Cairn, African Methodist Church). 4. It has served the citizens of the township in the following ways: -- collected photographs of the present and the past; -- catalogued and preserved slides and photos; -- given talks and demonstrations to local groups including school groups. 5. In "rough cut" form are two videos made up mainly of a script and a series of slides from our archives which depict: 1) transportation, and 2) farming in pioneer days. It is our intent that the two 15-minute videos would be used in schools to show students how their community functioned many years ago, and, could be used by various local citizens groups during their meetings. 6. The committee is aware that we are about to lose the community history of the 1920s, as those who lived and worked in that era pass along. It is proposing that we begin to collect narratives of those who worked and lived here in the 1920s with the ultimate goal of producing another book. The book could include some of the gems we have found in our sorting of Township materials. Structure and Function The structure of the committee evolved. People just came together to work on projects. As members dropped off, new members were added in an informal way. It was the goal of the committee to keep together a team of "workers" --those who didn't pull their weight were dropped off. There has been a tradition that, there is a "working meeting" for every formal "planning meeting". During a "working meeting", documents are sorted, slides are catalogued, booklets are written, (The Hills of Oro and other Pioneer Landmarks), video scripts are written, etc. The Budget In keeping with the role of a committee of council, minutes are kept of all planning meetings, and a budget has been provided. In most recent years we have not come close to spending ,our budgeted amount --we only spend what we have to spend to do the job we are working on. The cost of the committee is modest. To preserve and catalogue our historical documents we require suitable "archival" materials such as 3-ring binders of material which will not produce gases to affect the documents, clear Mylar to preserve the documents, etc. (We have been trained to do ordinary preservation, avoiding procedures which have been found to be inappropriate.) At the current rate these materials would cost us about $600 this corning year. We have in the past done some photocopying of photos, making booklets of the photocopies for researchers (keeping the actual photos secure). Although we have had a photo copy "user number" at the administration office, we have used it so little recently that the office staff run the odd bit of photocopying under a general number. The cost of "producing" something varies with the product. Most of the work is labour intensive and is done on a volunteer basis. The production of the two video tapes will require many hours of work, but only modest costs for blank tapes, etc. The production of a book is also labour intensive. With the use of computers and good quality "popular cameras", the actual preparation of the "first copy of a book" requires little funding. The mass printing of a book is expensive. New Structure of the Committee We have briefly discussed the structure of our committee. Here are some ideas which have been raised: 1. Making more open the appointment of people to the committee, perhaps when there is a vacancy, appointing new people on a one-year basis (sort of probationary). If the person proves to be a good worker then we would make the appointment permanent. 2. We should consider enlarging out committee to provide a better balance in "background knowledge" of the north section, and the south section of our township. At a recent meeting a motion was passed that two more people be added to our committee who have a good background knowledge of the former Medonte Township. 3. We recommend that the committee remain totally volunteer, in that we are not paid an honorarium, nor are we paid gas mileage. The 1995 Budget In the past the History Committee has had a budget of around $2000. In light of current economic restraints, and, due to the fact that we seldom spend our total budget, the Committee is requesting a budget of $1500 for ordinary operating expenses, materials for preserving documents, and incidental costs in finalizing the two videos currently in "rough cut". Of course we will continue with our tradition that we will only spend what we need to do the job. RECOMMENDATIONS that a budget of $1500 be approved for the Oro-Medonte History Committee. that two additional members be added to our committee who have good background knowledge of the north part of our township. •iaafgns tuna u, • are Xagi ata • M ants isag inoM gartiM sastnoa pautnags gamut pun xtul mom pun sassa • a tre stiigua.tjs anutapnan .lath Moux pinoA sa2nnpn.d g apIJV Iin 1sougW .6 apn.t2 ut s-ap Joj paau ou ag mom atom `ioogas knnnuawaia ut aanid ui st uminattJno oa age .taljn pan to iaminj ag una �I .sins Inuopnaon aignninn �.t Memorandum January 19, 1995 To: The Mayor and Council of Oro-Medonte Township From: Tim Crawford, Chair of The Oro-Medonte History Committee Re: Report and Budget Background A significantly new council deserves some background on the history committee. 1. It has been in place for the last 30 years or so. 2. It has produced 2 major books, The Story of Oro, and Kith 'N Kin, and a number of booklets. In most cases the cost of production is recovered from initial sales: subsequent sales goes into general revenue of the Township. 3. It has served Council in a number of ways: -- doing necessary research and answering inquiries from outside the county on historical aspects related to our township; -- preparing displays for Canada Day, the fall fair, etc.; -- sorting township documents and files which are no long required, identifying and preserving documents of historical interest; -- cleaning out almost a tonne of material stored in long term storage; -- assisting in acknowledging and preserving important historical features of the township (Marion Keith Plaque, African Methodist Church). 4. It has served the citizens of the township in the following ways: -- collected photographs of the present and the past; -- catalogued and preserved Slides and photos; -- given talks and demonstrations to local groups including school groups; 5. In "rough cut" form are two videos made up mainly of a script and a series of slides from our archives which depict: 1) transportation, and 2) farming in pioneer days. It is our intent that the two 15-minute videos would be used in schools to show students how their community functioned many years ago, and, could be used by various local citizens groups during their meetings. 6. The committee is aware that we are about to lose the community history of the 1920s, as those who lived and worked in that era pass along. It is proposing that we begin to collect narratives of those who worked and lived here in the 1920s with the ultimate goal of producing another book. The book could include some of the gems we have found in our sorting of Township materials. Structure and Function The structure of the committee evolved. People just came together to work on projects. As members dropped off, new members were added in an informal way. It was the goal of the committee to keep together a team of "workers" --those who didn't pull their weight were dropped off. There has been a tradition that, there is a "working meeting" for every formal "planning meeting". During a "working meeting", documents are sorted, slides are catalogued, booklets are written, (The Hills of Oro and other Pioneer Landmarks), video scripts are written, etc. The Budget In keeping with the role of a committee of council, minutes are kept of all planning meetings, and a budget has been provided. In most recent years we have not come close to spending our budgeted amount --we only spend what we have to spend to do the job we are working on. The cost of the committee is modest. To preserve and catalogue our historical documents we require suitable "archival" materials such as 3-ring binders of material which will not produce gases to affect the documents, clear Mylar to preserve the documents, etc. (We have been trained to do ordinary preservation, avoiding procedures which have been found to be inappropriate.) At the current rate these materials would cost us about $600 this coming year. We have in the past done some photocopying of photos, making booklets of the photocopies for researchers (keeping the actual photos secure). Although we have had a photo copy user number at the administration office, we have used it so little recently that the office staff run the odd bit of photocopying under a general number. The cost of "producing" something varies with the product. Most of the work is labour intensive and is done on a volunteer basis. The production of the two video tapes will require many hours of work, but only modest costs for blank tapes, etc. The production of a book is also labour intensive. With the use of computers and good quality "popular cameras", the actual preparation of the "first copy of a book" requires little funding. The actual mass printing of a book is expensive. New Structure of the Committee We have briefly discussed the structure of our committee. Here are some ideas which have been raised: 1. Making more open the appointment of people to the committee, perhaps when there is a vacancy, appointing new people on a one-year basis (sort of probationary). If the person proves to be a good worker then we would make the appointment permanent. 2. Perhaps over the next year or so we should have two subcommittees, one to focus on Medonte and one to focus on Oro. The people from Medonte have material ready for finalizing into a book, and the people from Oro are collecting material which might become a book in 3 or 4 years. 3. Appointing �/2 uncil me a who might hav history as a 1iiitonith our coithrt ee. ar ii e n The 1995 Budget In the past the History Committee has had a budget of around $2000. In light of current economic restraints, and, due to the fact that we seldom spend our total budget, the Committee is requesting a budget of $1500 for ordinary operating expenses, materials for preserving documents, and incidental costs in finalizing the two videos currently in "rough cut". Of course we will continue with our tradition that we will only spend what we need to do the job. (We are not—t o-sure-if-thhe--Me& rnt /uuk.1i o& hd be pro i nds- orthc, ;.111.1 titzIrrun would -have -to -be -found,) RECOMMENDATION that a budget of $1500 be approved for the Oro-Medonte History Committee. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP -6-it°' ea&,k Box 100 Oro, Ontario LOL 2X0 Telephone (705) 487-2171 Fax (705) 487-0133