Issue 7 2024 February 22 NG Times

Page 1

This is Heritage Week 2024 in Ontario and this is our annual Heritage issue of the Times. The focus this year is on two of our heritage institutions: the Kemptville Agricultural School (KAS), also known as Kemptville College, and Kemptville District Hospital (KDH).

KAS is no longer around, but the new Kemptville Campus is carrying on a community role on the site of the old College. KDH is very much still with us, and is a central plank in

the life of North Grenville. Lynne Clifford-Ward has produced a series of articles on the Hospital, how it came to be, and where it is going in the future. Part 1 of that series is in this issue.

We also publish in the Times the latest Newsletter of the North Grenville Historical Society (NGHS), another vital component in preserving and promoting our history. Maintaining the NG Archives, now located on the grounds of the Kemptville Campus, as well as the storefront site of the History Hub on Prescott

Riverside Park, c. 1908

Street in Kemptville, the NGHS is the custodian of our documentary history and continues its program of public talks and displays. We have also included some items from North Grenville of a hundred

years ago. Insights into the municipal council of the day (same size as our current one!), the cost of living and the service for the dead make interesting reading, we hope!

1 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca The Voice of North Grenville Vol. 12 No.7 www.ngtimes.ca Reaching by direct mail 8,500 homes and businesses in North Grenville February 22, 2024 HERITAGE WEEK 2024 10510 Loughlin Ridge Rd, Mountain,Ontario www.bdlequipment.com 613. 209.3122 NOW IN STOCK TYM Compact Tractor with Snow Blower Attachment Cub Cadet Walk Behind Snow Blowers Service available on all makes and models www.laurieropticalkemptville.com Kemptville Eye Exam Clinic Kemptville Mall info@laurieropticalkemptville.com Frames Lenses Coatings Upgrades INCLUDED 2 1 for frames and lenses see in store for details EVENT TRUE " D o n ' t l e t t h e w i n t e r b l u e s f r e e z e y o u r d r e a m s L e t ' s f i n d y o u a h o m e t h a t s h i n e s a l l y e a r r o u n d " a r n e s | B r o k e r k n e r | R E A L T O R ® e r b a r n e s c o m u e B J o h n C a r c a r k n 613-258-1990 139 Prescott St. Kemptville, ON C a l l u s t o d a y , w e a r e h e r e t o h e l p y o u C h r i s D r o z d a | B r o k e r C h r i s D r o z d a c o m OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 2794 County Rd 43, Kemptville www.kemptvillefamilyrestaurant.com 613-258-6821 NEW WINTER HOURS Sun- Thurs 7:30AM - 8:00PM Fri and Sat 7:30AM - 9:00PM SUNDAY NIGHT SPECIAL 10 oz RIBEYE STEAK for $19.95 Every Sunday after 4pm With choice of potatoes & vegetables Soup to start
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important life skills.

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Free Virtual Art Therapy at Beth Donovan Hospice

In the midst of grief and bereavement, art therapy emerges as a profound tool for healing, offering solace and support to individuals navigating the complexities of loss. Beyond traditional forms of therapy, art provides a unique avenue for expression, allowing individuals to process their emotions and experiences in a non-verbal and deeply introspective way. This complementary therapy serves as a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind, enabling participants to explore layers of their grief that may be difficult to access through words alone.

By engaging in the creative process, individuals can uncover buried emotions, confront unresolved issues, and ultimately find moments of peace and acceptance. As a result, art therapy not only aids in the healing of emotional wounds but also empowers individuals to navigate their grief journey with resilience, courage, and newfound insight.

With this understanding, the Beth Donovan Hospice will be hosting a free virtual art therapy series, Creating Hope: Healing grief through art, facilitated by Kristin Maybeck, Registered Psychotherapist and Art Therapist.

Beginning Wednesday March 6, this online series offers four weekly immersive sessions of art therapy focused on rest and restoration in grief where participants will be invited to witness their inner truth, feel empowered, and get a little messy!

For more information, or to register, please contact Megan Dillenbeck at counselling@bethdonovanhospice.ca, or 613-258-9611 x 4. Registration is limited.

Rotary puzzles, puzzles and family fun

Puzzle enthusiasts and families alike are gearing up for an exciting event organized by the Rotary Club of Kemptville. On February 25, St John’s United Church at 400 Prescott St. will be buzzing with excitement as teams gather for a day of friendly competition and brain-teasing fun.

The highlight of the event? A family and friends puzzle challenge that promises thrills for all ages. Participants are encouraged to team up in groups of two or more to tackle a series of puzzling challenges. The action kicks off at 2 pm with the first challenge: piecing together a puzzle of less than 200 pieces. With the clock ticking, teams will race against each other to complete their puzzles in record time, vying for the coveted title of fastest puzzlers. Prizes await the top two teams who conquer this initial challenge.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! At 3:30 pm, the in-

Bishop’s Mills WI support KDH Foundation and local Repair Café

Bishop’s Mills Women Involved (BMWI) member, Tricia Habberjam, has been working on hosting a Repair Café to be held at the NG Public Library on February 24. The goal of this initiative is to help reduce garbage going to landfills by repairing items, and sometimes teaching people how to do simple repairs. To volunteer, or for more information, contact Tricia at pmjh@snowie.com, or call 613 258 3683.

BMWI has held a charity auction each December for decades, but not since the pandemic lockdowns. As an alternative, the group decided, once again, to host a non-auction and ask members to bring a financial donation that would have been comparable to the items they would have donated for the auction and the food, as well as what they might have spent bidding on items. Funds raised were donated to KDH Foundation for the CT Scanner for Kemptville District Hospital.

Prompted by the Quilters Guild and the NG Historical Society Quilt Documentation initiative last summer, local members are documenting all of their quilts. This was done once before, in the late 1990s, but many quilts have been made or acquired since then, so photos and details of each will be added to the Tweedsmuir collection.

These Bishop’s Mills Women, along with their neighbours and friends, continue to work together and make a positive difference in the community. Plans for the next meeting in March are in the works. For information about attending local meetings, please contact Jeanne Lambert at jeanne.lambert828@gmail.com.

The Bishop’s Mills Women Involved group has been around since 1985, sharing stories and building community. The Bishop’s Mills WI holds monthly meetings and welcomes new members interested in meeting their neighbours and getting involved in their community.

If you are interested in finding out more about the larger scope of WI, see the provincial organization’s website: www.fwio.on.ca.

tensity ramps up as teams face off in the 500-piece puzzle challenge. With more pieces and greater complexity, this round promises to test the skills and teamwork of even the most seasoned puzzle aficionados. Once again, speed and precision will be key as teams strive to outsmart their opponents and claim victory.

Organizers remind attendees that the location is accessible and to bring indoor footwear to ensure everyone’s comfort throughout the event.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for families and friends to come together, have fun, and put their puzzle-solving skills to the test,” says Nancy MillerMcKenzie of the Rotary Club of Kemptville. “We’re thrilled to host this event and look forward to seeing the community come out in full force.”

With anticipation building and excitement in the air, the Rotary Club of Kempt-

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ville invites puzzle enthusiasts of all ages to join in the excitement on February 25. Whether you’re a puzzle pro, or a newcomer to the world of jigsaws, this event promises an afternoon of fun for the whole family. So, mark your calendars, gather your team, register and pay $25 per team challenge, and get ready to puzzle your way to victory!

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Unusual fund raiser for hit and run victim

In our last issue, we published the story about a local resident who was involved in a hit and run accident in Colonnade Mall on February 6. The man involved, Jim Anderson, is an employee with Canadian Tire Kemptville who was on his lunch break when he was hit. After being taken to hospital, Jim underwent hip replacement surgery and he remains in the Ottawa General Hospital recovering from the accident and operation.

As a seasonal worker, Jim’s friends are concerned about the loss of wages involved in his stay in hospital and the time he’ll need to recuperate once he’s released, so they have organised a “Slush Bucket Challenge”.

Jim has not lost his sense of humour, so this challenge is very appropriate. All three volunteers have worked closely with Jim for years and all have stated they would do anything for Jim.

The Voice of North Grenville 2 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024 Celebrating 10 years in business

Kemptville College: The Early Days

The lands that were once the homesteads of pioneer families, then the location of an institution of learning and research, are now the home of the Kemptville Campus, setting out on a new era as a vital community hub for North Grenville. As it moves into the future, it’s important to remember the past, the heritage and history of a site that has been at the core of life in Eastern Ontario for more than century.

On September 21, 1916, the Kemptville Agricultural Society was holding its Annual Fair. The guest of honour was the Honourable G. Howard Ferguson, Ontario’s Minister of Lands, Forest and Mines and local boy made good. The country was in the middle of World War 1, and the area needed some good news which Ferguson was happy to provide. Stealing the thunder of the Minister for Agriculture, whose announcement it should have been, Ferguson revealed that the Ontario Government would be establishing “a two-year course in Agriculture and Domestic Science in the Village of Kemptville”. As an ex-Reeve of the Village, and coming from a family with deep roots in the community, it is, perhaps, only fair that Ferguson got to break the good news.

But it would take some time to get the courses operating. First of all, land had to be found, and two farms were bought in 1916 from Thomas Murphy and Alex Armstrong, one on either side of the Ottawa-Prescott Highway (now CR 44) in Concession 4 of Oxford-on-Rideau Township. Over the years, the College would purchase other parcels of land. The house on the Murphy farm had been built by an earlier owner, Thomas McCargar, in the 1840's and was completely renovated in 1918 to house the new President of the Kemptville College, W. J. Bell, and his family. Over the years, various alterations were made to the building, and it still survives today as The North Grenville Learning Centre, a non-profit, co-operative organization run by parents and community members.

It was not until 1919 that classes officially began at the College, then known as the Kemptville Agricultural School, when short courses were offered in Farm Power, Agriculture, and Domestic Science. The old barns on the Murphy farm were torn down and a new Judging Pavilion and Gymnasium were built in their place. This building is today known as Purvis Hall and was used as a Hall and Gym, where sports like indoor softball and basketball were played. Regular dances were held there over the years, as well as dancing classes, and in the last decades of the College, it contained the College Library upstairs

The downstairs space of Purvis has seen many events over the years, but was originally used for livestock demonstrations and classes. In 1919, there were 444 students using the building. From 1927, when the first College “Royal” was held, students showing their cattle would walk them across the highway from the farm buildings and into the Judging Pavilion. The building was used for the Royal down to very recent times. In 1920, the two-year course program started, as well as short courses in Domestic Science. The students had a curriculum that contained twenty-two subjects, including Public Speaking and English Literature, as well as the expected courses in various agricultural subjects and economics. This was the year of real progress in construction. The Administration Building was erected that year, and included student accommodation, a kitchen, dining room, assembly room as well as classrooms and offices.

In the 1920's, summer courses were offered to public school teachers through the Ontario Department of Education, when as many as 300 teachers would spend the summer months preparing gardens and growing and maintaining what they had developed. Staff from the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa also came to the KAS to help teach classes and do research. The grounds of the Campus are still impressive and the landscaping owes a great deal to the work of A. J. Logsdail, who arrived at the Campus in 1920 and spent the next thirty years laying out the grounds, the walkways, choosing native species of trees and shrubs, and maintaining the orchard, while carrying on his responsibilities as teacher of Horticulture, Botany and Entomology. The paths were particularly welcome: before they were paved, they consisted of a line of planks, laid two by two, with the unfortunate habit of tilting up when you stepped on one end, often resulted in skinned knees and shins.

This was the beginning. By 1929, the Kemptville Agricultural School was just starting on a long and exciting history. The coming decades were to see unbelievable change and major strides in research and education, traditions which are being carried on in the new Kemptville Campus, paving the way for generations to come..

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3 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca
Optometrist
Dr. C.L. Eamon
ON
The College in 1925, with left to right, Purvis Hall, the Administration building, and the Student Residences on the right.
73's into a stall with eight scheduled games left

Another Wednesday evening of entertaining action as the Hawkesbury Hawks swooped into the Kemptville barn to solidify who was supreme, as they were evened out with two apiece in their last meetings. Kemptville were not sharp from top to bottom as Hawkesbury took advantage to steal the game with the helping hand of a hot goal tender who held their opponents at bay to post a 4 to 1 win.

Hawkesbury came on strong in the first, dictating the play before Kemptville could penetrate the neutral zone. Hawks struck first as Fournier with Billequey found Remi Gagne for power play goal under Jacob Biron pads at 8:03.

The second stanza

was a repeat of the initial frame as Aiden Stubbings combined with Skoczlas for the game winner at 16:22 to give Hawkesbury a three goal lead. Another man advantage when Remi Gagne PPG marked his second with helpers from Fournier with Billequey for the insurance for the Hawks at 17:45. An assignment miscue by the 73's with the extra attacker awarded Brayden Besner a shortie at 19:56 to dig the hole deeper by four.

Kemptville pushed hard in the last twenty to try to make a comeback and find the back of the net. Finally, at 5:34, Matthew O’Doherty from Trottier after winning the draw to wire a clapper glove side by Caleb

Chabot to deflate his SO. Kemptville pulled their stopper a couple of times to try and scale the hole they were in, but the Hawks’ stingy stopper shut them down for a 4 to 1 victory. Kemptville outgunned Hawkesbury by 36 to 26 SOG.

On the road cross country for a matinee to confront the Navan Grads that have been a nemesis for Kemptville as they have been victims in their previous contests and today was no different as they suffered a 3 to 2 loss. The initial frame was a see saw battle, with Dax Easter being tested with a penalty shot from Kiki Brown that he turned away at 8:02 to close

the first scoreless. Navan with man advantage assisted by Crete with Roy to Nicholas Paone PPG to beat Dax Easter at 5:11 for the ice breaker. Kemptville answered back with one of their own when Bennett with Melvin to Ryan Rutley in the slot to put it behind Jaeden Nelson at 6:02. Then a shortie from Devon Savignac with helpers from Jenken with Crete for the Grads’ tie breaker at 8:57. Game winner in the final twenty from MacDougall with Carpenter to find Sebbie Johnson for a Navan two marker lead at 7:51. Kemptville on a push with extra attacker from Fennell with Esposito so Tyler Melvin could pull the trigger to move them within one at 12:40. Kemptville removed Dax Easter for extra attacker at 18:53 without results as Navan held on to a 3 to 2 win. Kemptville was outshot by 43 to 37.

The 73's host the Navan Grads for their matinee Family Day Excursion and then Renfrew Wolves on Friday evening. Back on the road into Carleton Place to face the Canadians for a Sunday matinee meeting.

Hockey with EDGE... see you around the boards.

Kemptville District Soccer Club is pleased to announce the creation of the Kemptville Soccer Leadership bursary.

Each year, two male and two female players graduating from the U18 age group will be awarded with a $250 bursary. The recipients of the award will exemplify the following attributes:

- have played with KDSC for a minimum of three (3) years;

- have registered with KDSC in their graduating year of high school;

- demonstrate a love for the game;

- respectful of all participants of the sport – opponents, coaches, referees and spectators; and

- active in the Club outside of playing –coaching, refereeing and/or volunteering. Players interested in applying for the bursary should send a 250 word email to vicepresident@kemptvillesoccer.com by May 31, 2024.

#30

Dax Easter

Name : Dax Easter

Nickname : EASTER

Birthplace & Date : Brockville, ON. 8/23-2003

Hometown : Brockville, ON.

Position : Goalie

Previous Team : Smiths Falls Bears

Hockey Hero : Carey Price

Most Inspiring Person : Mom / Dad

Favourite Movie : Good Will Hunting

Favourite Food : Chinese Food

Favourite Musician : Drake

Favourite Actor : Brad Pitt

Favourite Sport (beside hockey) : Golf

Best Hockey Moment : Winning Minor Bantam Championship with besties

Life as a Jr. A Player : 7 months cycle of weekly games, repeat, grinding, friendships, worthy One Word that Describes Me : Competitive

The Voice of North Grenville 4 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024
COMMUNITY EVENTS
To all of my family, friends and neighbours who organized and took time out from Super Bowl Sunday to help celebrate my 65th Birthday on February 11 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Kemptville, I wanted a party with live bands, food and fun! You all delivered! We danced, we ate and played games, and took time to smell the flowers. If I was to list names, I know that would forget someone. You all know who you are! I’m truly blessed, and humbled. Deb Well that was a party!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Soccer bursary at Kemptville Club WHEN HEN REGISTRATION EGISTRATION JIGSAW PUZZLES IGSAW PRIZES RIZES WHERE HERE ROTARY CLUB OTARY PUZZLE COMPETITION UZZLE Ke ptville St John s United Church 400 Prescott St Kemptvil e st & 2nd place teams in each challenge w n a pr ze A fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon while support ng your ocal Rotary Club Pre-reg strat on Required $25 Ma mum 20 teams per cha lenge Minimum 2 per team Sunday 25 February 2024 2PM Fam y Cha enge (192pcs) 3 30PM Expert Cha enge (504pcs) Register at Kemptvillerotary@hotmail com Stoned again by a hot hand...after a pass from Grady Loguethrough the seam Emile Trottier gets robbed by Caleb Chabot duringWednesday evening contest with Hawkesbury Hawks to fall short 4 to 1.

Bishop’s Mills

It could have been called Doyleville, or even Bassville, but the hamlet of Bishop’s Mills was eventually named after the family that built the mills around which the settlement grew. The greater part of the hamlet of Bishop’s Mills lies in lot 3 of the Ninth Concession of the old Oxford-on-Rideau Township. The lot was first patented to Thomas Doyle from Augusta Township on September 29, 1803, but it was forfeited by him for non-payment of taxes and settlement dues in 1831, without ever being inhabited by Doyle, or anyone else.

Joseph Bass bought the 200-acre lot that year for just over £40, basically the amount owing in taxes on the land. Bass did very well out of the deal. In 1846, he sold the 70 acres lying south of the Kemptville Road to Elisha Dakins for £125, and the northern 130 acres to Chauncey Bishop for £200, a very nice profit indeed.

Chauncey Bishop bought the east half of the adjoining lot 2, concession 9, in 1847 from the King’s College, now the University of Toronto. Lot 2 had been what was called a Clergy Reserve, that is, land that was set aside for the benefit of the Anglican Church in Canada. When leased or sold, the proceeds would go towards the expenses of that church. It had first been settled by Jonathan Mills, from South Gower who leased the land in 1805.

Chauncey sold part of his land to his brother Ira in 1852, and began the process of selling off half acre lots to new arrivals who settled around the crossroads, as the hamlet grew up around the saw, shingle and grist mills the Bishop brothers erected on their property. One of the small lots, about one acre in size, had been sold to Hezekiah Winslow, a shoemaker, in 1849. It was situated at the corner of the Kemptville Road and Mill Street, and sold for £6.5.0 (worth at that time about $26). By 1864, a quarter of that lot was bought by Moses Waldron for $600, so it is likely that Winslow had established a business at that spot in the previous decade.

It is an interesting fact that the crossroads were there before the hamlet. There was already a road running across lot 3

“commonly known as the Kemptville Road” according to one deed from 1849, and one that linked that road to Burritt’s Rapids. This would later be known as Mill Street, when the Bishops had built their installation. Waldron was a merchant, and he opened his store at the crossroads in 1864. The building was featured in a drawing which appeared in “The History of Leeds and Grenville” in 1879. It still stands there today and served as a store from Waldron’s day until 2002.

The Bishop’s Mills Post Office was located in Chauncey Bishop’s house from 1853 until 1878. In the short time I lived in the house, I can remember the letter box still existing in the wall of the summer kitchen. Sadly, it was demolished soon after. For many years, the Post Office was in the Moses Waldron store at the crossroads. The Nottell family acted as Post Masters for forty-one years; Mildred Adams, nee Nottell, was the last in that position when the office was closed in 1970, after serving for a quarter century.

Movies in 1924

5 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca In 1985, Mike Ogilvie, current founder and owner, purchased the garage with help from his father, Gord Ogilvie, when he was just 15 years old. Since then, he has spent the last 39 years, turning Ogilvie’s Auto & Fleet Service into what it is today. We are excited to share that we are currently expanding our facility (for the 4th time)! This new facility will not only provide us with more square footage, but will be equipped with all of the latest technology to keep your vehicle running at peak performance! In the rst phase of construction (pictured left), we will be adding two additional garage bays (for our heavy duty truck side), to allow us to extend our car side of the garage. We will also be expanding our of ce, waiting room and parts room in the second phase of construction, which will take place this summer. 714 Kilmarnock Rd. Jasper, ON
day: First phase of construction is underway
Present
is completed
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2024: Concept drawing of garage once expansion
1985:
General Store,1930's

A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS

A Kemptville Miscellany

Did you know that.... when Lyman Clothier first set foot in what was to become Kemptville, the entire population of Oxford Township was just fourteen - all one family? The Harris family from Ireland were renting land near Burritt’s Rapids.

...when Kemptville separated from Oxford in 1857, there had to be a special Act passed because Kemptville didn’t have the 1,000 inhabitants required for independence?

...Kemptville remained only a village for more than a hundred years after separating from Oxford? It only became a Town in the 1960's.

...Kemptville has provided two provincial premiers? G. Howard Ferguson was Premier of Ontario, and Alexander Rutherford was the first premier of Alberta in 1905.

...Clothier Street east was originally called North Main Street?

...the oldest surviving church building in Kemptville is at 116 Clothier Street West? It was built in 1847 as a Baptist church, and it served as such until 1914. It was finally sold in 1927.

...Kemptville had its own movie theatre from as early as 1921? It was located where the Post Office is today and only closed as a theatre in December, 1959.

...until 1998, Riverside Park was outside of the limits of Kemptville? The Town had to rent, and later buy, the land.

Burritt’s Rapids

Before 1830, the Rideau River roared over the rapids below the present dam, providing the water power that allowed the community to grow up around grist and woolen mills. A bridge had been built across the river in 1824, the first to span the Rideau River.

It had been built by Eli Hurd, and £100 had been granted for purpose by the Legislative Assembly. Hurd was actually only paid £50, and the Bridge Commissioners, Walter Gates and Henry Burritt, asked to use the balance of the grant to pay for a bridge between Wolford and Montague.

At that time, there was no island at all: where the canal flows today was a dry hollow or channel running almost a mile and a half parallel to the river. It is most likely that this channel was flooded each spring as the narrow passage of the rapids was overwhelmed by the high waters. But aside from that short period, the channel was a dry creek.

When Colonel John By was reconnoitering the route of the Rideau Canal in 1829, he noted this channel, which was called the Oxford Snie, and realized that it would make an excellent means of bypassing the rapids. By building a dam upstream from the settlement, the Rideau waters were backed up and forced down the Snie instead. Locks were built at the far end of the snie to control water levels in the new canal channel. Once the snie was flooded, the new island came into being, and the village of Burritts Rapids would grow up on the newly separated land.

Burritt’s Rapids is a divided place: part of it lies in North Grenville, and the rest, north of the river, is part of the City of Ottawa. There was, however, at least one very serious attempt to end that division. In November, 1854, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada - Parliament of the day - received a petition from John Strachan French, and others, asking that the island of Burritt’s Rapids, “certain Lots in the 1st Concession of the Township of Oxford”, be detached from that township and transferred to Marlborough. This was a serious petition: French was one of the earliest settlers of the village, and owned a great deal of the land and commerce of the village. He had bought the large grist mill, as well as the saw and shingle mill, on the river bank in 1840. Around the same time, he had built a large store (now the Community Hall) on the Mill Site, as well as the large house across the street.

Other businessmen of the village were far from convinced of the wisdom of French’s plans. William Kidd was another important entrepreneur of Burritt’s Rapids. In March, 1855, Kidd, backed by the Municipality of the Township of Oxford, sent a petition to the Assembly asking that “no alteration or separation may be effected with respect to the boundaries of the said Township of Oxford”. French submitted a second petition on March 26, signed by residents of the Village of Burritt’s Rapids and asking “that a portion of the Township of Oxford be annexed to the County of Carleton”. Basil Church, Reform Member for North Leeds and Grenville, introduced a Private Member’s Bill in favour of French’s petition to annex Burritt’s Rapids to Carleton County. The Bill, “to detach a certain island at Burritt’s Rapids from the Township of Oxford, in the County of Grenville, and to annex the same to the Township of Marlborough in the County of Carleton”, was read a first and second time, and then referred to the Committee on Miscellaneous Private Bills. And there it died a silent death, left Unresolved. The island of Burritt’s Rapids, literally carved out of Oxford Township, remained part of that Township. And so the Village remains today, separate, divided, a unique place in so many ways.

The Voice of North Grenville 6 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024 613.258.7462 215 Van Buren Street, info@jansenlaw.com www.jansenlaw.com Barristers, Solicitors & Notaries Public JANSEN Paul A. Jansen, B.A, LL.B. Rachel S. Jansen, B.Comm., J.D. Real Estate - Wills & Estates - Corporate - Family Law Black Family Farm circa 1870 Oxford Station LAW www.harvex.com The right people The right products The right services Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection Oxford Station 613-258-3445 888-342-7839 Crysler 613-987-5241 877-376-3378 Addison 613-924-2632 877-246-5013 Rube McClellan and his wagon carried cheese from the factory to the railway station at Oxford Station, returning with goods and travellers to the general store, pictured behind him. C. 1920's.
The mills and the bridge over the Rideau River, Burritt’s Rapids, 1908

Council update

Following several weeks with no regularly scheduled meetings, Council got back to business last week with a relatively short virtual meeting, and a second closed session meeting. Council had been on break from regular meetings attending other business, including a meeting of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association.

A regular meeting on February 14 began with the usual introductions, including the reading of the land acknowledgment. Then, Michael Whittaker of the Grenville Indigenous Trail Group proceeded with a presentation regarding the Anishinaabeg Trails. Michael went into detail about the various rivers in our area, and how Indigenous people historically used them as important routes of travel and trade. He also discussed a few trails which were originally established by First Nations people, which turned into recognizable roads in North Grenville, including County Road 44.

Following Michael’s presentation, various Council members took turns discussing the importance of learning about the Indigenous roots in North Grenville as one of many steps toward achieving Truth and Reconciliation. It was universally agreed that involving local Indigenous people

in this learning process – and accepting Indigenous people as leaders in this regard – is the only acceptable approach.

Lisa Poushinksy of the Kemptville Street Piano was up next with a presentation regarding a pilot project called Concerts on Campus. Lisa applied for a grant from Heritage Canada, the approval of which rests on demonstrated financial support of at least $9,891 from the Municipality for the Street Piano. The Street Piano was awarded a community grant of $8,500 this year, while Concerts on Campus was awarded $2,179.63. Lisa therefore made a request that Council move $1,391 of the allocated Concerts on Campus funding to reflect as a grant for the Street Piano instead. After some deliberation, the idea was well supported.

A closed session took place following the open session meeting on February 14. It dealt with civic award deliberations, an appointment to the Housing Advisory Committee, site plan negotiation, and the disposition of lands.

Another meeting has since taken place on February 20, but it could not be covered in this issue of the Times due to deadline constraints. That meeting was slated to involve talk about the Municipality’s

2024 budget, including the separate water and wastewater budget. Two public consultations took place regarding the budget. The in-person meeting in January saw a few questions asked by members of Council (who were seated in the audience), but no questions from ordinary residents. A virtual consultation took place on February 1, with three members of the public in attendance to ask some straightforward questions.

Gareth Jones asked about obtaining a budget summary, and North Grenville CAO Karen Dunlop stated that the summary is available online and also offered to send him one if needed.

Next, Shelley Mitchell from the Old Town Kemptville BIA board of management took the opportunity to ask for a follow up on some BIA budget requests that were put forward last year. CAO Dunlop gave a quick line-by-line summary, confirming that funding is proposed to begin flowing for new parking signage, beautification, and some Buskerfest banners, while other items such as a new pathway, water bottle filling station, and large street banners for the downtown area will be considered more closely this year for consideration in next year’s budget.

Finally, Deron Johnston

of the BIA chimed in to state that he was really hoping for the banners this year. He also asked about capacity for funding a large-scale event, not on the same scale as the recent International Plowing Match, but similar. CAO Dunlop responded that this would have to be proposed as a budget request, and the Municipality would be open to the idea as long as the Municipality is not looked upon as a “constant funder” of such things. Deron added his idea that funding for additional parks, recreation and culture staff would be great due to lots of events, and CAO Dunlop answered that municipal staffing is advancing one step at a time.

It is anticipated that the final draft 2024 municipal budget will be prepared and presented for Council’s consideration on March 5.

Dominion Stores

Prices were good in 1924. Campbell’s soup just 15¢, 2 lbs of seedless raisins for just 25¢, and a 5lb pail of Buckwheat honey was only 63¢. Plus, there was a money back guarantee!

www.northgrenville.ca

What’s going on? See our events calendar: www.northgrenville.ca/events

Stay informed! Council Meetings: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings

Need to see us? Municipal office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 285 County Road 44, Kemptville

Need to reach us? Contact us: Call 613-258-9569 or email: general@northgrenville.on.ca

Need additional information? Visit us: www.northgrenville.ca

HELP WANTED

The Rideau Glen Golf Club is looking for club house staff & outside workers for the 2024 season. Smart Serve required for club house staff and experience with equipment preferred for outside workers .

Students considered with right qualifications Send resume to therideauglen@gmail.com

www.ngtimes.ca

7 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville
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Those were the days

There’s a lot of confusion about what, exactly “heritage” is. How is it different from “history”? What is it then, that we’re celebrating in Heritage Week? The Cambridge Dictionary defines heritage in two ways. One is: “features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance”, while the other defines it as “a person's racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural background”. Given those two approaches, heritage can be something shared with the wider community, or it can be personal to the individual within that community.

I think that it can be seen this way: history is the story of what has happened in the past, heritage refers to the culture and traditions produced by that story. It used to be said that Canadians tended to define themselves as “not being Americans”, rather than having a clear idea of what being Canadian meant in and of itself. That sense of heritage was the result of history,

of the need to maintain a separate identity, politically and culturally, from the big and often threatening neighbour next door.

I’ve even seen it stated by some historians that Canada “became a nation” because of Vimy Ridge, or Passchendaele, or other World War I battles. This does such a disservice to those who formed the country, to the pioneers who settled it, to the immigrants who chose it as their home.

The case of the Indigenous peoples is different and they perhaps have a very diff erent idea of what it is to be Canadian.

When we see a building, or an artifact, a book or a song as heritage, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the item in itself is valuable or culturally significant. It says that it has meaning, that it stands for something. This building housed certain events, or was the home of an important person or group in the making of this country or this local community. This battered old book is heritage because of who owned it, or wrote it, or how it was quoted in a particularly important historical moment.

Heritage is all those

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

To the honest person who found a purse in the Walmart parking lot on February 3rd, I wish to extend a sincere thank you. It warms my heart to know there are still so many good, honest people in the world. And thank you also to the staff at the Walmart service counter who safely guarded it until I was able to locate it.

Best regards, Gail M.

Dear Editor,

The decision by Ford (since his proposed jail seems to be close enough to his heart, as it were, that he would have been involved with this decision, if not the instigator of the attack) to attack the CAPP and JOG groups with a $15,000 bill is purely spiteful, as was his decision to reduce the size of Toronto's council size when he was first elected Premier. It's just mean and vindictive. This calls for our Mayor and Council to take action - which has been woefully lacking - and

things, events, stories, or people who give meaning to our shared story, our history. That may seem a very vague and broad definition, but it simply means that heritage is all those things that make our community, local, provincial, and national, what it is today. Heritage is what we have inherited from those who came before, and by celebrating heritage, we celebrate them also.

Then there is the second definition of heritage: “a person's racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural background”. A country like Canada was built on a wide variety of peoples, from the original inhabitants, to the most recent refugees and immigrants from all over the world. This has created conflict at times, where older immigrants demand that newer immigrants adopt the culture and traditions of the older immigrants, who themselves resisted adopting the traditions of the original immigrants!

Complicated.

The earliest European settlers learned to survive and thrive in this strange country because of the lessons learned from the Indigenous peoples they

met here. Canada was then settled in the early days by French settlers, followed by Irish, Scots, and Welsh, with a fair sprinkling of English too. Then came a fantastic wave of other “racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural” peoples bringing their own contributions. This was a problem at first, but, over time, something different emerged, something distinctly Canadian.

It has taken a long time for this new identity to emerge clearly and permanently, and perhaps it is still not a completed process. Multiculturalism, as it is officially termed, is only fifty years old in Canada; not a long time in the context of history. It is a fact that still

raises disagreements and argument, but it is one of the defining characteristics of Canada, a central part of our shared heritage. Making differences the foundation of common unity and identity is an amazing idea, and one that has, once again, been the product of our history.

This hasn’t meant that we, as individuals, have had to turn our backs on our cultural identity. I am still very much an Irish man, but that has only added to my identity as a Canadian citizen, neither has been diminished in the transaction: quite the opposite. And that can be true for each of us.

History is the story of how we came to be here together on this land at

this time. Heritage is the meaning we give to that story, the value we place on it, the acknowledgment of the role played by all those who came before us on this land, with all of their different languages, traditions, religions, and cultural traits of every description. Being Canadian is our heritage. That is worth celebrating, I think. Those were the days, and these are the days to remember.

Celebrating Heritage in North Grenville

show some support for these groups. And they are not just groups; they are residents of our community - Victor Lachance and Kirk Albert. Here's a shout-out to Victor and Kirk!

These two gentlemen are fighting on our behalf for something they believe in and which, I would surmise, most citizens of North Grenville believe in, that a jail should not be built here.

It is obvious that the Mayor and Council are doing their best to not provoke our very own MPP (the one who facilitated the jail debacle rather than stand up for his constituents!, and whose name I won't even mention).

What can the Mayor and Council do? First, they should challenge Ford on this outrageous act and urge him to rescind it - as he has had to do for numerous other projects of his. (Interjection: Ford's freeze on wages of public servants, such as the nurses we desperately need, has been found by the Ap-

peals Court to be unconstitutional! That's just the way he rolls.) If that is unsuccessful, our Municipality should pay the $15,000 bill. Truly! I would love to see part of my taxes go to this end. The Municipality should write a cheque on a large piece of paper and take it to Toronto to present to Ford himself, telling him he can't treat our individual residents in the manner he has done. They could even invite our MPP to attend with them so he wouldn't feel bypassed (I'm sure he would not accept such an offer).

And what assurance has the Municipality received that the Province will not saddle us with the additional policing costs, which will be huge?! I presume that they have received nothing, because the Province intends for us to pick up this tab. So there goes some of the "economic benefits" of having a jail here. Why not insist that the Province contract directly with the OPP, just

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as we do??

The Mayor and Council have done a lot of good things for our municipality. They should add to the list by defending our individual residents, Victor and Kirk.

Sincerely,

John Brooks, a long-time resident of the Municipality

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the article by Marc Nadeau entitled “In defense of our forests and woodlots”. The quality of the air we breathe in Kemptville is dependent on these tree lots and small forests. How many people think or care about wildlife? What if we had none? No trees for the birds to live in. Probably not everyone likes squirrels and other small rodents, but they are all a part of a healthy ecosystem, I believe. People in concentrated areas usually don’t want these animals around, as they are considered pests.

Also, thank you to Steve Gabell on his article “The

Israel-Hamas war”. I also believe that the Palestinians have been persecuted for too many years and I believe that this present situation is a genocide and a massacre. The hate, as a result, will go on forever. His words are so very wise.

I very much appreciate both of these articles, and thank you to the Times for printing them.

Sincerely,

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the interesting background story on the old Kemptville town hall. As a frequent user of the public library, I saw the renovation work progressing on the structure. However, I was disappointed to see that the workplan did not attempt to bring the build up to modern energy efficient standards since buildings generate nearly 30% of all greenhouse gases. Progressive buildings, today, are having two-thirds of the

required insulation installed on the outside of the building shell. Think of it as wearing a parka or thick wool sweater during the coldest days of winter. This, coupled with extensive air sealing, is reducing heating and cooling costs for owners to a bare minimum, in some cases a few hundred dollars per season. This level of detail does cost a bit extra, but may be recuperated with time by the building occupants. I got involved in energy efficient building practices during university when a research comparison study was being done by a team of my engineering professors. For anyone interested in this aspect of building science, additional resources can be found at the passive house website: www. passivehousecanada.com/ passive-house-resources, or from the Canadian Green Building Council at: www. cagbc.org.

The Voice of North Grenville 8 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024 Editorial
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Winter 2024

President’s message

Dear Members and Friends,

Newsletter

Greetings everyone and welcome to the North Grenville Historical Society’s winter edition of our newsletter. We would like to acknowledge and thank Marguerite Boyer of the North Grenville Times for her invaluable assistance in putting together this newsletter and her ongoing support of the Society in all of it’s endeavours.

We are pleased to announce a number of significant donations to the Archives that include items from the Norenberg, O’Neill and Anderson families. Our volunteers at the Archives are busy assessing, documenting and protecting these artifacts for future generations. We are very appreciative and thankful to these families for helping us preserve our local history.

Please come visit us at The History Hub located at 148 Prescott Street, Kemptville. We are open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Browse around and see the trophy awarded to G. Howard Ferguson by the citizens of Kemptville in 1923 or have a look at the model of Bishop’s Mills created by local resident, Tom Graham. All are welcome.

We are always looking for volunteers, either at the History Hub or in our Archives located on the Kemptville Campus, 820 Heritage Drive. If you have a couple of hours a week or even a few hours a month we would love to have you join us. We need volunteers to staff The History Hub, work in the Archives helping to sort our collections, complete inquiries research, update our social media, assist with fundraising, etc. For further information please call us at 613 258-4401.

The Anderson Collection

The North Grenville Historical Society was delighted to receive a recent acquisition from the old Anderson General Store. The items being offered are from the great great-grandson of Wil-

liam H Anderson and are all related to the family and history of the store in Kemptville.

This site was the first, and largest, department store in the town of Kemptville. Equipped

with extensive warehouses, stables and sheds at the rear and the south, the business was bought out by an employee, William H. Anderson, who further expanded it. Business was so good that, in 1897, Anderson took on as a partner, Albert Langstaff, and the store became Anderson & Langstaff’s. The partners expanded until the business occupied 20,000 square feet of merchandise. In addition to the twelve employees who looked after the customers, the store also employed another dozen in making clothing for sale. The sketch of the business dating from 1873 shows that, even then, a

large storehouse had been added on the south side to accommodate the Hardware and Large Stock.

In 1903, the store handled a very wide range of goods: dry goods, groceries, shelf and heavy hardware, shoes, carpets, ready-made and bespoke clothing, furnishings, furs, oils and varnishes, tiles, and much more. For many years, in the driveway which runs beside the building, there was a water mill, which pumped water up from a well to a trough where horses could be watered while their owners shopped in the store.

In 1957, the store was described as: “Carrying

a complete line of modern goods in every department. Grocery, meat, electrical, hardware, paint and wallpaper, floor coverings, ladies wear, etc.”

In late 1952, an addition was built on the north side of the store to house a Men’s and Boy’s Department. In later years, it became the Red & White store and has had various tenants since the store closed. One section of this historic building is now the home of the North Grenville Historical Society’s History Hub. An appropriate location.

Endowment Fund!

As we continue our mission to safeguard and celebrate the heritage of North Grenville, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Endowment Fund. Managed in collaboration with the Ottawa Community Foundation and the North Grenville Community Fund, the North Grenville Historical Society’s Fund ensures a sustainable future for the NGHS. By contributing to this fund, you play a pivotal role in securing the financial foundation needed to support our programs, projects, and preservation efforts for years to come.

Your donation becomes part of the NGHS’s legacy, supporting our community's historical initiatives for generations and directly contributes to the preservation of North Grenville's unique history and heritage. The Ottawa Community Foundation's professional expertise ensures responsible fund management and optimal impact.

How does one Donate?

Go to Google and search for the “North Grenville Historical Society Fund”. You will be directed to a secure page for the NGHS. Scroll down to the donate button. Follow the prompts. Once your donation is processed, you will receive your charitable income tax receipt within a few minutes.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to securing a vibrant future for our North Grenville Historical Society.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to preserving the rich history of North Grenville. Should you have any questions regarding the Fund please contact Geraldine Taylor at 613 808-8912

February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca
Support Our Legacy: Donate to the New North Grenville Historical Society’s
This drawing of Anderson's Store (now the History Hub) is based on an illustration in the Canadian Illustrated News, dated 13 July 1878. At that time the store was owned by Andrew Blackburn."

"Mary Boudreau inherited this 98" x 87" quilt with over 2000-2.5" coloured blocks. This is one of the quilts that her mother, Eleanor O'Neill, made after she retired from teaching at Holy Cross School in Kemptville. The quilt was made for the year of the millennium, 2000. Its 2000 different prints form a concentric-colour pattern. Absolutely amazing and so colourful. It is made of cotton and polyester and is very heavy."

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Note: we will not sell or provide any of the information you provide here to any third party.

Quilter’s Guild

In May 2023 volunteers from Kemptville Quilters' Guild and North Grenville Historical Society undertook the documentation of 127 quilts as part of the Eastern Ontario Quilt Documentation Project. Quilting history captures not only the finished work but also the stories of the people who made the quilt and the reason that the quilt was made. These stories are local stories, family stories and stories that might be lost to the future if they are not written down now by the people who know them. A book with these stories and a colour photograph of each quilt was published in December 2023 and is available at The History Hub, 148 Prescott Street, Kemptville ON, for $25.00. This book will be of interest to both quilters and to history enthusiasts alike. Proceeds from the sales go to support both organizations.

Membership Application Date:

Board Members

Karen Nickleson (President)

Kenneth Mews (Past President)

Donna Gould (Vice-President)

Kerrie Kossatz (Treasurer)

Caroline Paterson (Secretary)

Bill Kinnear (Director)

Mike McFee (Director; Volunteers)

Dr. Fred Schueler (Director; Natural History)

Amanda Gould (Director; Archives)

Geraldine Taylor (Director; Fundraising)

Dr. David Shanahan (Historian Emeritus)

This special centrefold is made possible by the NGTimes and many advertisers that support local Newspapers

List of Sponsors

Membership Type: Youth ($25) Single ($35)

Household ($40) Patron ($200)

New Renewal Paid by Cash Cheque

Pay by e-transfer to our e-mail address (please type “Membership” in message box ), mail us a cheque or bring cash to our next meeting.

Last Name:

Additional Names in Household:

Address:

Postal Code:

First and Middle Names:

Telephone: E-mails:

Contact by: E-mail Canada Post Telephone (e-mail is the easiest and most economical mode of communication for the Society)

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Archives: Computer data entry Sorting, shelving

Collection sorting Administration

Display case management

Regional archival relations

Projects: Research local history topic

Maintain website

Organize monthly meetings

Assist teachers, speak at schools

Other

Board: Participate as Board member

Raise funds

Assist with administration

Inquiries research

Other

Organize book publishing projects

Publish “Quarterly”

Speak at local functions

Summer student management

Committee member

Media relations

Government relations

Relations with other Historical Societies Other

Contact: NGHS, PO Box 1239, Kemptville ON K0G 1J0

Telephone (613) 258-4401 E-mail: nghsociety@gmail.com

On behalf of the North Grenville Historical Society, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the generous support of our sponsors. Their contribution has played a crucial role in our fundraising activities and remind everyone to please support these and other local businesses.

• Taylor-Burke Realty

• Mortimer Kostioutchenko Patel

– Chartered Accountants

• North Grenville Times

• Coba Printing

• Desjardins Insurance

• Justin Rice Insurance

• Sustainable Success

• Kemptville Windows and Doors

• Connie Lamble Law Office

• Stevens Creek Shutter Company

• Caroline Risi Realty

– The Axiom Team

• Compass Accounting

• The Score

• The Co-operators

– Carmichael Insurance

• Graham’s Bakery

• B & H Your Community Grocer

• Courtney James Counselling and Psychotherapy

• J.M. Automotive

• Catered Affairs

• Kemptville Florist

The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024

HISTORY VIGNETTES

It seems that quite a crime spree took place in Kemptville in the summer of 1872, according to an Ottawa newspaper. There was no local newspaper here at the time, so these reports were sent by the Ottawa paper’s Kemptville correspondent.

From the Ottawa Free Press, August 9, 1872

KEMPTVILLE

During the time of the procession of O’Brien’s Circus troupe through Kemptville yesterday, two daring and clever robberies were committed. The store of Mr. McKeon was entered whilst the clerks were at the door looking at the long line of caravans, and the cash box, containing valuable papers, was carried off. A similar robbery was made at the store of Bower, Porter & Bower [the Oddfellows Hall]. The safe was entered and the cash box, containing money and papers, being taken under exactly the same circumstances. We do not know whether any trace has yet been discovered either of the robbers or the booty. Store keepers had better take warning.

From the Ottawa Free Press, August 14, 1872

KEMPTVILLE

A theft was committed here yesterday, by a man named Wilson, employed as stone mason by Mr. Fenton. He complained of being sick, and left work and went back to his boarding house, and ransacked his fellow boarders’ rooms, breaking open the trunks. He took a large amount of money and clothing, and decamped by the first train.

Most people in North Grenville have heard the story that claims a famous criminal resident here. But Al Capone is not the only such figure to feature in our colourful past, at least as far as rumour records.

Advance, July 8, 1948

Cannot find any trace of Jesse James having resided in Kemptville The story that Jesse James, the famous outlaw and train robber of Oklahoma, had at one time resided in Kemptville and run a horse raising business, which appeared in an Ottawa paper on Tuesday, seems hard to trace to this town.

Enquiries of some older residents bring no information and the story is looked upon as most unlikely, although it is hardly expected that he would go under the name of “Jesse James” if he was in this locality

From the Ottawa Free Press, July 26, 1872

KEMPTVILLE

A Gold Excitement Raging

A short time ago a party of exploring Americans paid Kemptville a visit, but what their mission was they kept a profound secret. Yesterday, however, the news spread like wildfire, that gold had been discovered at Flint Hill, which is but a short distance from the village. A piece of rock, weighing 40 pounds, was sent to a celebrated assayist in New York, and found to contain 39 cranes of gold and 35 grains of silver, the value of which is $1.60. The excitement in the village yesterday was immense, and enormous prices had already been offered for the land.

The Independent Order of Good Templars belonging to this village made an excursion to Oxford Mills yesterday, where they held their annual picnic. The day, with the exception of a few showers in the afternoon, which slightly dumped their spirits and Dolly Vardens, was fine, and “all went Merry as a marriage bell”.

Celebrating North Grenville’s Heritage

February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca
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Clothier St E, Kemptville, ON 613-258-9492 www.solutionone.ca info@solutionone.ca
Clothier built this edifice as his family home around 1861, from bricks made from clay taken from the river bank, where his family owned a brick yard. Originally, a cupola topped the building, which was transformed into a feed store and home by Henry Dell after 1868. e Law O ce of Connie Lamble 222 Prescott Street, Kemptville www.lamble.ca connie@lamble.ca 613.258.0038 Real Estate . Wills & Estates . Corportate
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Indigenous Trails Group

Eight individuals met at the History Hub in December to discuss commemoration of the First Nations’ lasting imprint upon the landscape by their traditional trails, portages, and waterways south of the Rideau River. Along these routes in Anishinaabek territory, Europeans were first guided to what we know as North Grenville and Merrickville-

Wolford.

The discussion established a number of themes, further considered through online conversations. The group, as yet to be named, acknowledges we are on Anishinaabek territory. The outreach to the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation will be fostered with timely updates, and their assertion of title confirmed.

Given many roads originated in whole or in part as trails and portages, identifying, mapping, and naming trails and portages linking water routes would be a primary objective. Charting traditional First Nation resources, and use First Nation names where possible, are important. Public outreach will include an online presence, handheld maps, informative signage, and the use of QR codes.

To introduce this organization, a delegation will attend a North Grenville Municipal Council meeting. A future event will be held to raise public awareness. Local museums, archives, historical societies, schools, and post-secondary institutions will be contacted.

A follow-up meeting is in the works.

NGHS introduced the community to the Kitchi-sibi Trails Project with a talk by Jim Stone last June

Indigenous origins in North Grenville

The Algonquin traditional territory included most of what is now North Grenville, but their territory bordered on that of another group, one that has become an historical mystery. A number of very old native settlements have been discovered in the area north of the St. Lawrence, and it is quite likely that others existed but have left no obvious remains. One of the largest sites excavated to date is just outside North Grenville, between Roebuck and Spencerville. It is called the Roebuck Site, and it seems clear from the long house-style buildings and the many pottery artifacts uncovered there that it was an Iroquoian settlement. This makes it quite likely that the people who lived there were part of what is known as the St. Lawrence Iroquoians. Comparisons with similar sites elsewhere indicate that these sites may have been inhabited from as early as 1200 A.D. The Roebuck Site is just one of a number of such settlements in the region around North Grenville, although none have been found within the Municipality's borders as yet. They were large villages, estimated to have had a population of about 1,500 each.

However, there is disagreement among anthropologists and archaeologists about whether there was a single tribal group involved in these settlements, or if they were of related groups. What is clear is that all of these settlements seem to have been abandoned around the same time, and no-one can be sure why, or where the inhabitants went.

The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024
115 Clotheir St., E., Kemptville 613.258.2317 www.grahamesbakery.com Gr�h���'� B����� K����n� H��ita�� A���� OPEN Tuesday- Friday 5:30 am-5:00pm, Saturday 5:30am 3:00 pm. CLOSED Sunday and Monday.
Lt. Gershom French’s map of 1794 showing the Indian portage routes between the Ottawa and St. Lawrence, connecting the South Nation and South Branch Rivers

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

RECURRING EVENTS

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families.

PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome

BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155

KLUB 67 EUCHRE Join us for fun, social euchre games taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1pm, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome, $5. To play, cash prizes Friendship Lunch every Friday at St. Johns United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. The meal begins at 11:30 and is free of charge. A good will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.

Drawing from Life - Portrait and figure drawing clothed models. Fridays, 4pm to 7pm, St. John's United Church 400 Prescott Street. Artists at all levels are welcome. Drop in fee $15. For information contact gowjb5@gmail.com

Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario EUCHRE on Tuesday, February 20, March 5, 19, April 2, 16, 30 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debiar@ ymail.com.

BID EUCHRE on Tuesday, February 27, March 12, 26, April 9, 23 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debiar@ ymail.com.

WIZARD CARD GAME TOURNAMENT on Sunday, March 10 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 12:30 and play starts at 1:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Ferguson Forest Centre (FFFC) for the year 2023 will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024, in the Community Room, Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colonnade Drive, Kemptville. Please register by 10.00pm, Tuesday, February 27 (tadams500@gmail.com – Tel: 613 558 9007)

Fairly Funny Frolic, Comedy Show & Dinner. Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The Drummond Building

22 Ryan Street, Spencerville.

https://www.spencervillefair.ca/fairly-funny-frolic

St Michael Spring Craft Show, Saturday April 27. (:30 - 3:30. Admission: $2 or Canned Food Donation

ACROSS

1. Assist illegally

5. Simple elegance

10. Style of hairdo

14. Detective ____ Wolfe

15. Radiolocation

16. Jetty

17. One of three copies

19. Uterus

20. And more

21. Drama set to classical music

22. Certain coniferous trees

23. Less reputable

25. Aircraft

27. N N N

28. Constructors

31. Not solids nor liquids

34. Surveys

35. Rodent

36. Anagram of "Nose"

37. Twice thirty

38. 6th Greek letter

39. French for "No"

40. Declines

41. Apple-based alcoholic drink

42. Collector

44. Prohibit

45. Style of building columns

46. A state of prosperity

50. Ready for anything

52. Blatant

54. Fifty-two in Roman numerals

55. Tie up

56. Stimulating (Br. sp.)

58. Behold, in old Rome

59. Get together

60. Skin irritation

61. Dregs

62. Aromatic compound

63. Borscht vegetable DOWN

1. Initial wagers

2. Docking spot

3. Genus of heath

4. Not bottom

5. Complains

6. Formula 1 driver

7. Jewish month

8. Launchers

9. Before, in poetry

10. Into the wind

11. Blazed a trail

12. Greek district

13. Spheres

18. Lower part of the abdomen

22. Friends

24. D D D

26. Easter flower

28. Pugilist

29. Assess

30. Asterisk

31. Percussion instrument

32. Dwarf buffalo

33. Consciousness

34. Strobiles of pine trees

37. Indian dress

38. Metal used in brass

40. Departed

41. Desert plants

43. Legions

44. Minced beef patty

46. Durable fabric

47. Gentry

48. Subsequently

49. Spectacle

50. Cain's brother

51. Vermin

53. Green, in heraldry

56. An uncle

57. Brother or sister

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku Solution

Crossword

13 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca
to last week’s
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- William RETIRED CARPENTER

Never ignore the symptoms of early heart failure

Years ago, after interviewing Dr. Michael McDonald, I asked, “Will you be my cardiologist?” Now, as I reach my 100th year, I’m grateful his sound advice has kept me alive. He’s associated with the world class Peter Munk Cardiac Centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. During my visit, he stressed that more patients would be living longer if they reported to their doctors the early signs of heart failure. Prevention is always better than cure.

Never forget this fact. We are all living longer, and so is our heart. Today, if you’re over the age of 65, heart failure is the most common reason for being admitted to hospital. And when heart failure starts, this means a life expectancy of 2.1 to 5 years.

I never fail to be amazed when I listen to a patient’s heartbeat. It only stops beating when life ends. In the meantime, by the age 70, this remarkable machine has been beating 2.5 billion times without any holiday. What other organ of the body would agree to such punishment?

What can go wrong to trigger heart failure? The main cause is a previous heart attack that has caused death to part of the heart’s muscle. This injury reduces the heart’s ability to pump an adequate amount of blood to the rest of the body.

But there are several other less obvious factors, such as birth defects, injured heart valves due to infection by rheumatic fever, a blood infection that scars heart valves, hypertension, and aging.

What are the symptoms of early heart failure? Patients may complain of early fatigue, or notice a lingering slight cough. Later on, there may be shortness of breath and swelling of the ankles. Or an X-ray of the lungs, done for other reasons, shows an enlargement of the heart.

What can be done to increase the length of life when the body begins to falter? Timing is essential, as injured muscle cannot be restored. Drugs are available that decrease the heart rate, thereby decreasing the workload of the heart. Water pills will also decrease the disabling symptoms of heart failure.

But the larger question is why have heart failure and other forms of cardiovascular disease become the number one cause of death?

The blunt answer is the ongoing pandemic of both obesity and type 2 diabetes. It’s well known that 95 percent of type 2 diabetes is due to obesity. Just look around you to see what’s happening and it is shocking. Type 2 diabetes is also notorious for causing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). These hard arteries cause extra strain on the heart’s muscle. It’s the prime example of the Gifford-Jones Law that one health problem leads to another and another.

Dr. Michael McDonald and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre cannot fight these diseases alone. Rather, it will take Draconian measures to achieve increased physical activity and watching calories to reverse the obesity bandwagon that’s the ultimate cause of it all.

President Abraham Lincoln sounded the alarm years ago. He reminded people that they have two legs and to use them. We would add, buy a bathroom scale and step on it daily to prevent surprises.

What about me? At 100 years, I’ll need to be alert and watch for shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, swelling of ankles, or a slight cough that fails to end. Make sure you also report these early signs of heart failure to your doctor.

Shakespeare was right when he reminded Brutus, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves...”

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

Kemptville District Hospital at the Crossroads 1960-2024

The Kemptville District Hospital Foundation is in the process of raising $2.2 million to bring a CT Scanner to the hospital. What follows is the hospital’s chronological story, how it came to be, how the community has generously supported the hospital over the decades, how it has physically transformed since 1960 and why the current fundraising campaign is such an important Crossroads for the hospital and the community.

The Hospital’s Early Beginnings

There have been three significant attempts to build a public hospital in Kemptville - 1939, 1946 and 1954. One attempt was derailed by the Second World War and the other, by a community project competing for limited financial resources.

In 1954, the idea of a hospital was proposed by a small group of enterprising businessmen. They recognized the community’s urgent need for a hospital and the business opportunities it would offer. On October 6 that same year, the hospital was incorporated and received its Letters Patent from the Province.

The first Directors were issued a Charter the same year “which constituted them and any others who become members of the Corporation, without share capital, under the name of Kemptville District Hospital, to establish, construct and operate a public hospital”. These directors included William Bryden George (W.B. “Baldy” George), an extension soil specialist at Kemptville Agricultural School and Dr. Oswald Beamish - who would be one of the first physicians at KDH - as well as veterinarian Dr. Lloyd George Coleman, plant manager Francis George Wallace and Stanley James Sanderson, a cheese distributor.

However, lack of financial support stalled the hospital project once again.

Surprisingly, it was Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) which provided the catalyst to make Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) a reality. WDMH Management declared that they no longer had the capacity to look after the ever-increasing demand from the sprawling population of 10,000 residents which included North and South Gower, Mountain, Osgoode, Marlborough, Oxford, Wolford, Augusta and Edwardsburgh.

Kemptville was most certainly at a crossroads. A crucial decision had to be made.

Build a hospital!

And so, in 1958, responding to the Winchester declaration, and fearful of no longer having access to the Winchester Hospital, an urgent “call to action” was issued to the Kemptville community: “build a hospital”. Local doctors championed the idea, including Dr. Beamish and Dr. Jackson Flay, Dr. Orville Wilson and Dr. Dennis Jones.

A public meeting held March 25 was attended by 400 local residents who voted unanimously to build a hospital. Following the meeting, committees were established to study all aspects of the proposed hospital, including site, size, physical construction, charter, management and financing. Another committee, tasked to select candidates for the Provisional Hospital Board, included Edna Bustard, Rev. S. Kerrison, Mrs. Earl Reddick, Dr. L.G. Coleman, Norm Goldberg and Patrick Maloney (1930-2019, the last living member of this Committee). All the Committee reports were submitted by May 13.

Institutional consultants, G.A. Brakely and Co. were retained on May 14 to organize the fundraising campaign. By May 29, architects Balharrie, Helmer and Morin of Ottawa were retained by the hospital; they quickly drew up plans for the proposed half-million dollar building with 32-beds.

The Community Blitz Campaign in 1958

To make this dream a reality, an exciting Blitz Community Canvass was held June 23-28, 1958, with a lofty goal of raising $250,000. The community support was outstanding, reaching $282,000 in cash and pledges, the 2024 equivalent of over $2 million. Local employers and employees, service groups, dairy farmers - the community - rose to the challenge of bringing a hospital to Kemptville.

Gordon Goldie, the institutional consultant assigned to the Campaign, wrote in a June 23, 1958, letter to the Managing Editor of The Toronto Star, “the enthusiasm here is so great… this small rural village, (is) taking their hospital needs in their own hands, raising its own big share of the money needed before appealing to others for help. It could be a model for the whole province.” Fundraising events were held for the “Building Fund”, such as Kemptville’s first Charity Ball. Held in November at the Kemptville Armories, it was described as “the district’s top social event of the year”.

Next week: Building challenges and a new Foundation

The Voice of North Grenville 14 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024
KDH Candy Stripers, 1974. Miss Hawkins, RN, Administrator, described them as follows: “these girls add a ray of sunshine in the lives of those who are ill and injured”. Photo by Daykin Photographic. KDH under construction

Clothier Hotel, 9 Water Street, Oxford Mills

Here is a building that no-one but older residents of Oxford Mills will recognise. It was constructed c 1835 of timber frame and served as a hotel until 1914. It had a 2nd storey balcony and 1st storey veranda both of which ran the length of the front facade. It was built by Asa Clothier and was owned by numerous individuals, many of whom also used the property for other businesses such as shoemaking, over the years. The last hotel keeper was Thomas Warren, who left here and moved to Kemptville, where he ran the White House on the corner of Clothier and Prescott Streets for many years. It was sold to the Loyal Orange Lodge No. 72 in 1915. The Lodge and Regalia rooms were on the 2nd floor and there was a large hall on the ground floor that saw many community dances, masquerades and dinners. The Hall had its own Band which played here regularly. From its days as a hotel, there were horse sheds and stables between the Hall and the river. But the old building, with its wood frame construction, was not necessarily the most comfortable place. It took five wood stoves to keep the interior warm.

The Lodge had as many as seventy members at one time. The Lodge ‘went into darkness’ in the 1970s and the library operated from the first floor. The building was owned by Harold and Bernie Patterson for many years, from which they operated their electrical and plumbing business, before it was bought by Gerry and Debbie VanGurp. They transformed the building into Olde Porch Primitives, and it is completely unrecognisable from the old hotel. It is now preserved for another century through their work.

In the original plan for the Village of Oxford Mills, a road allowance ran to the north of this property, from Water Street to the riverbank. By Street, as it was to be called, remains an unopened road allowance today, and is marked by the Canada Post post boxes standing on that side of the road.

15 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca A new municipal-wide, on-demand transit launched in North Grenville. This will provide residents with an affordable public transit option. This service is provided anywhere within North Grenville’s boundaries.
Blaise app Or by calling 613-368-5620
The
ride.blaisetransit.com DWYER Tree Service Darren Dwyer Certified utility arborist 613.531.1544 TRIMMING & TREE REMOVAL FREE ESTIMATES . FULLY INSURED THOMAS M. BYRNE Barrister and Solicitor General Practice Corporate / Commercial Family Law Estates Real Estate Wills & Powers of Attorney tom@tmblaw.ca 613.258.1277 222 Prescott St., Kemptville
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MacNaughton, Allister Reid

April 17, 1923 - January 27, 2024

Peacefully with family by his side at the Kemptville District Hospital in his 101st year. Beloved husband of the late Magdalin MacNaughton (Reddick). Loving father of Joan (the late Harry Brown), Jim (deceased), Bob (Donna). Grandfather of Philip, Andrew (Katlyn), and Stacey. brother of the late Carlyle (Joan), (late Leslie (Lena), (late John) Helen, Langley, B.C. (late Marion) Bill Clarke, Brockville. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Son of the late Matheson Victor McNaughton and Olive McNaughton (Reid). Missed by sister-in-law Joan Reddick. Brother-in-law Don Price. Born and raised in Kemptville. Allister started work at McNaughton's Dairy at the family farm and Kemptville Hydro in early years. Construction at Burritts Rapids Correctional Centre, Rideau Regional Centre Smiths Falls. LaCave Dam Mattawa, Ontario. Returning to work for 32 years at R.C.A. Victor in Prescott. His side hustle was his skate, tool and saw sharpening business which he started in 1960 and ran until he closed shop in 1996. After closing the shop, he spent his time doing family biorhythms, family trees, working in his wood shop and taking care of his home. For his entertainment in the 1940's he played his trumpet in the Kemptville Citizen Band and also Cedric Coleman's 5-piece orchestra. Allister was a long-time member of the Presbyterian Church in Kemptville. A Celebration of Allister’s Life will be held at the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 805 Prescott Street, Kemptville on Friday, May 24, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm. A special thank you to the nursing staff and Doctors at the Kemptville District Hospital for their compassionate care. Donations to the Kemptville District Hospital would be appreciated.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations

Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-258-2435

Bond, Karen Ruth Sloan

Peacefully surrounded by her family at the Brockville General Hospital Palliative Care Unit on Friday February 16, 2024. Karen Bond age 51 of Spencerville. Beloved wife of Burt Sloan. Loving Mom of Maysen Sloan. Cherished sister of Lori K. Hodges (Jamie Crook) and Charles W. Bond “Chuck”. Dear sister-in-law of Cleland (Jean) and Sterling (Karen) Sloan. Missed by her aunts Ruth Bond (Al Hoy) and Janice (Reg) Hyndman. Fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews Brody Hodges, Rebecca Hodges, Quentin Bond, Jason Sloan, Todd (Heather) Sloan, Emily Sloan, Heidi (Dave) Bailey, Landon Bailey, Trent and Camden Sloan. Predeceased by her parents Sharron (Dillabough) and Timothy Bond. By Karen’s request her body has been cremated.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the George Drummond Memorial Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville on Saturday March 9, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. Special Memories may be shared at 2 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca

Baldwin's Birds

Just for a (Horned) Lark!

Having struggled to think of garden bird things to write about for my last week’s article, the other day I, decided to venture out of my own territory into another one, that of the countryside! My immediate thought was, even though our weather hasn't been too severe, to try and see if there were any Snowy Owls in the location where I had photographed them a couple of years ago. I wasn't really expecting to see one, but being ever the optimist, I ventured out and drove to where they might be. I actually didn't see any Owls, but the very first side road that I turned into was rewarding, for there, just a couple of yards (metres) in, was a bird standing in the road. I half expected it to be a Snow Bunting, but due to it being a little bigger than that, I guessed that it was a Horned Lark. What a lovely surprise!

I pulled up quickly and got a couple of pictures of it through my windshield before the bird moved just across the road from me, allowing me to lower my side window for better shots, seemingly not too worried about my presence. He walked very quickly and was foraging on the roadside verge and heading towards another three or four of its relatives who were a little further away from the road on the snowy field. They did come towards the roadside verge and they too didn't seem to be worried about me driving my car a little closer along the road, and I was able to get more pictures through my open side window.

I didn't see any Snow Buntings, or catch any glimpses of Snowy Owls, but spent a super three quarters of an hour watching the Horned Larks. These, by the way, are named "horned" because there are two small tufts of feathers on either side of their heads, sticking up like little horns. I did get a couple of pictures from behind them, but the horns are barely discernible and wouldn't have shown up in this newspaper, so are not included. There are some lovely pictures of them on the internet if you google "Horned Lark".

I hope that you are getting to see more of your own birds on these bright but sunny, cold days.

Stay safe and well, Cheers,

Tid bit musings

The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" has a corresponding equation of "it takes YOU to make the village/ community." Humans were not designed to live in a vacuum and although there are the "lone wolf" types, social interaction is key to well being. Mind you, toxic or destructive behaviours are not conducive to harmony or positive growth. The key point is how do you contribute to your community? How can you begin to make a change? Can you measure a person's ethics by whether they do for themselves or for others? If your contention is with protocols, can you assist in directing someone to the appropriate channels to institute change?

Winter months are known for carnivals as summer is for fairs and festivals. Most of these are operating completely on volunteers for the planning, operations, cleanup and evaluations. That volunteer needs to be YOU. Your donation of ideas, manpower, operational time or constructive post event evaluations is vital. When you notice the same faces year after year, you are witnessing decline of the community. Burnout results and the events are cancelled. In the same vein, allowing new ideas and faces is also key to successful succession. Can you let go of the reins so someone new can learn the ropes? Too often, things get steeped in tradition and people feel that they are not validated with their new ideas. Your participation is also a key component of success. Compromise is a tough sell but vital for continuity and development on both personal and community levels. Alienation is non-productive. You be the catalyst for growth.

Failure to become involved results in apathy and consequently an isolated solitary community. This cycles into depression and contrite hearts. Being victimized is not a pleasant situation to be in regardless of whether it is spurred by discrimination, race, religion, cultural or economic/disability factors. The focus can be an individual or the area (ie Gypsy Lane) being the vice for discontent. Common littering along the roadside devalues the community. You are the community!

Your community may be limited to your immediate neighbours. Doing a community watch for them or kind deeds brightens their sense of safety and inclusivity. Never underestimate the importance of a smile or wave. With social media being at the forefront, the ability to verbally converse with the locals is minimized, possibly even negated. Gossip is harmful when its purpose is to hurt someone, but when it includes a learning factor, gossip is positive. Learning the parameters of interactions institutes respect, privacy and boundaries. Be gentle at all times or as the Bible says "Love one another." Loving entails caring for someone with positive intentions. Love is not cruel, exclusive, abusive, demoralizing nor self- serving. Forgiveness is a 12 step process but learn to tread gently as you seek forgiveness. Forgiveness is a great healing balm. To error is human but to forgive is divine.

When folks are in distress, the first cry is to churches, while churches are closing due to lack of attendees. Are you celebrating your faith by gathering together? Research the venues you choose to offer your support. True enough, sometimes the dynamics within an organization are marginally destructive due to particular individuals but do your research and ask questions about their philosophies and operational practices. Everyone has their own passions. It takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel but don't become the bad apple. Follow your passion. If you don't have time to give, can you give by financially supporting locally operated food banks or other options? Regardless, you can be supportive with kind words and a smile.

Today is the day to step forward and be part of your community in a caring supportive manner. Although the local communities are becoming a bedroom location for city employment, one has to give locally to preserve the quaintness that lured you to live here.

Step forward and say thank you to one person each day. Smile or wave at someone each day. Chit-chat with someone in a lineup while you wait. You are the character of our community – make it shine with positivity!!

The Voice of North Grenville 16 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024
Horned Lark

Municipal affairs in 1924

One hundred years ago this month, February, 1924, the Kemptville Village Council held its monthly meeting to deal with outstanding issues. There were bills to be paid, as the Auditor’s report indicated, and so Council agreed to pay the phone bill, all of Telephone $4.35. There was an item for Freight, 65¢, and money owing to Dickinson’s Garage, $2.18.

The big item was for “Gravel and work on Joseph and Thomas Streets, $275.85", a major investment in infrastructure one hundred years ago. One issue which is of interest to dog lovers was the decision to put a tax on the animals, with a genderbased levy: “tax on dogs placed at $2, and on bitches $5 for the first and $7.50 for the second bitch”.

Today, North Grenville has to pay a rather large sum to the OPP for policing services in the community. Things were not as complicated in 1924. There was but one police officer for the Village, and even he was not considered a full-time requirement. Council recorded that: “Moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Dr. Patterson, that Gordon Ault be employed as police and general worker for the town for the current year”. So, the Village Constable also served as the general worker, and, as Constable, his duties were not particularly demanding.

Council “instructed the constable that he was expected to stop the snowballing on the streets. That after a warning, if it was persisted in, the culprits were to be brought before a magistrate”.

There was, however, one serious incident for Constable Ault to look into, and it concerned a dispute between the Village and Dan Bowen, who operated a mill in the village using power generated at Andrewsville, then an industrial hub on the Rideau at Nicholson’s Locks, and now a quiet rural beauty spot with a heritage bridge and little else. Ault was sent to order Bowen to stop his operations, which Bowen refused to do, and an injunction was required to force his concurrence. But that is a story for another time, fascinating as it is.

Robert Hossie - Sales & Service

James Hossie, Sales & Service

Terry Vandemheen, Sales/Office

17 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS Dinah Boal Crystal Lang 2 - 4 Industrial Rd, Kemptville, South Gower Business Park Bradley Mehlman CPA Clare Deans Amanda Craig T: 613.258.3282/ F: 613.258.4391/ www.wapc.ca/info@wapc.ca Robert Walker, CPA, CA, LPA Ron's Small Engine Repair 613.258.9720 (across from old Bingo Hall) ronssmallengines@outlook.com 1 Jayland Drive, Kemptville Dare to Dream ... South Gower Industrial Park #2 Industrial Rd., 613-258-7464 •Kitchens •Vanities •Planning & Design •Countertops •Replacement & Installation •Windows & Doors kwandk@bellnet.ca LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED YOUR LOCAL AGGREGATE SUPPLIER - SERVING DUNDAS & GRENVILLE COUNTIES WWW.WKCLTD.CA DELIVERY AVAILABLE » TOPSOIL » SAND » GRAVEL P: 613-258-0223 admin@wkcltd.ca

The club recently challenged us to photograph a frozen bubble. Turned out to be more work than I thought. First off, I checked the internet for a bubble formula, I needed water of course, dish soap, glycerin and corn syrup, I used a straw to blow the bubble. Next, wait for a really cold day to freeze the bubble, find a sheltered spot out of the wind and finally take the photo before the bubble pops. Took many tries but finally came up with this one. Image by Dave Percy.

The Voice of North Grenville 18 www.ngtimes.ca The North Grenville Times February 22, 2024 Mayor Nancy Peckford Deputy Mayor John Barclay Councillor Deb Wilson Councillor Kristin Strackerjan Councillor Doreen O’Sullivan In a world where you can be anything, be kind. -Your North Grenville Council PINK SHIRT DAY FEBRUARY 28, 2024 Wear pink and say NO to bullying!
The North Grenville Photography Club KAS 1924 Work.... .... & Play

Cereal food drive “Cereal-ously” greeeeeat!

Elementary School's Tigers roared with success as they recently concluded their "I Cereal-ously Love You" food drive, collecting an astonishing amount of over 300 cereal boxes for those in need. The students, staff, and North GrenvillecCommunity rallied together, showcasing their generosity and community spirit.

The food drive, organized by the school's parent council, aimed to raise awareness about food insecurity in the community and provide much-needed support to those in need. The Tigers went above

and beyond, surpassing all expectations by amassing an impressive collection of various cereals.

The outpouring of support from the community was truly remarkable. Local businesses, organizations, and individuals all came together to contribute to this worthy cause. The generosity of the community will undoubtedly make a significant impact on the students and families who rely on the school's food program.

Over the course of two weeks, students and their families brought in boxes upon boxes of cereal, filling the designated collection area to the brim. The

school's hallways were transformed into a sea of colorful cereal boxes, showcasing the students' dedication to making a difference in their community.

To celebrate the successful conclusion of the food drive, the Tigers decided to add a touch of excitement and creativity. They organized a spectacular event, turning the school hallway into a thrilling domino rally using the cereal boxes.

With careful planning and precision, the boxes were set up in a path, creating an intricate domino effect. As the first box was tipped over, a mesmerizing chain reaction ensued, with each box knocking down the next in a display of teamwork and coordination.

The dominoes cascaded through the school hallway, drawing cheers and applause from the students and staff who had gathered to witness the spectacle. The excitement was palpable as the final box tower fell, marking the end of the cereal box dominoes and the successful conclusion

of the food drive.

Principal Preston expressed her pride in the Tigers' efforts, stating, "Our students have truly shown what it means to be compassionate and caring individuals. Their dedication to helping others is inspiring, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements."

The collected cereal boxes will now be donated to local food banks, ensuring that families in need will have access to a nutritious breakfast. The South Branch Elementary Tigers have not only made a positive impact on their community, but have also learned valuable lessons about empathy, teamwork,

and the importance of giving back.

As the school year continues, the Tigers are already brainstorming new ways to support their community and make a difference. With their unwavering spirit and determination, there is no doubt that they will continue to leave a lasting impact on those around them.

Grenville OPP and the North Grenville Fire Service teamed up on Saturday for a public skate with community members, followed by a 3-on-3 match-up and skills competition against North Grenville youth. Thanks also to the OPP Auxiliary and Cadet Blair for providing cruiser tours too. It was a great day in the Municipality of North Grenville.

19 February 22 ,2024 The North Grenville Times The Voice of North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca Your Centre for Active Living Live Vibrantly, Move Boldly: Embrace Active Living! 613-258-3203 www.seniorscs.ca 215 Sanders Street, Kemptville
Some of the Tigers’ collection of cereal boxes on display

Funerals and furniture - 1924

An interesting aspect of life in 1924: the funeral homes were also furniture manufacturers! These two advertisements were placed side by side in the newspaper, and to distinguish one from the other, Kidd & Dickenson pushed their beds, springs and mattresses, their florist and picture framing services, and their private ambulance. They had it all covered. McCaughey’s also had a florist service, and advertised their horse and motor drawn hearses.

The Food Corner

One of the specials we served at Salamanders for Valentine’s Day 2024 was lamb chops. Canadians have always had a love-hate relationship with lamb, and particularly with mutton. It seems that during the last couple of world wars, our troops were fed fairly economical meat, which at the time happened to be mutton. Many a veteran returned from Europe with the taste of Lanolin still in their mouths. This set the stage for families avoiding such great dishes as leg of lamb and lamb chops. Fortunately, the lamb we get today, whether from Down Under or from local producers, is very high quality and the cooking of lamb dishes is supremely easy. Today’s recipe is Baked Rosemary Lamb Chops.

Baked Rosemary Lamb Chops

Main Ingredient

· 3 lamb chops ¾ inches thick per person you are serving (check Costco for these)

Rub Ingredients

· cup olive oil, enough to cover all of the chops

· 1 teaspoon of black pepper

· 2 tablespoons of crushed rosemary leaves

Preparation

· Preheat your oven to 375 F

· Combine the olive oil, pepper and rosemary

· Paint each of the chops generously with the mixture using a basting brush

· Place in a suitably sized roasting pan lined with a grille

· Bake the chops to medium rare (please don’t overcook)

· Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before bringing to the table

It doesn’t get any easier than that. By the way, a lot of online recipes call for garlic on your chops. It’s up to you, but I wouldn’t use garlic in your coating as I find that it overcomes the delicate flavour of the chop. As with leg of lamb, you can accompany your chops with wild rice. Another great vegetable to serve with your chops is cauliflower florets with a homemade cheese sauce. As per the Beth’s leg of lamb recipe of March 2023, you can prepare a cheese sauce by placing ¼ cup of processed cheese in a saucepan and letting it melt at low heat. Then, grate in some nippy cheddar cheese (also to melt), 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, and a couple or three shakes of Tabasco sauce. Bring the cheese sauce to the table piping hot, preferably in a gravy boat. Serve the cauliflower as is and let your guests spoon or pour the cheese sauce. Now, let’s discuss mint sauce, which is usually recommended for accompanying lamb. If you are planning on using it, I recommend getting the real stuff and not mint jelly. Mint sauce will be quite liquid and

have mint leaves floating around in the bottle. As an alternative, however, you might wish to take a trip to Mrs. McGarrigle’s in Merrickville and select a nice light fruit chutney. Don’t forget to pick up the Grahame’s Bakery buns.

Your menu, then, is: Baked Rosemary Lamb Chops, wild rice and

cauliflower with cheese sauce, with a basket of warm buns. Your wine selection might be the same as for leg of lamb: for white, an unoaked Chardonnay; for red, maybe a Baco Noir. I hope you will try this simple and tasty dish. Please let me know if you did and how it turned out at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

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