Branching Out 1991

Spring 1991

We invite you to attend the official launching of our new book Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch, U.E.L. Association of Canada.

Sunday, June 16, 1991 at 2:30 pm
Woodlands Cultural Centre

This active Branch had many educational and historically informative meetings in 1990 besides gathering material for its new book Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch U.E.L. Association.

To an overflow crowd at the Guelph Civic Museum in March 1990, Mr. Gordon Thede of Dundas (in costume), gave a unique and humorous talk, illustrated with slides, about his ancestor, “Pioneer Militiamen & Rebel” Ludwig Wideman.  The speech covered Wideman’s life until after the 1837-38 revolt in Upper Canada.

In April, at the Eva Brook Donly Museum in Simcoe, to a large crowd, descendants of the Gilbert family spoke on their line of descent from the Loyalist Josiah Gilbert.  The author of a book on the Gilberts, Mrs. Winnie Walker celebrated her 90th birthday with us.

At Central Presbyterian Church, Brantford, in May, Margaret Haupt, an archivist, described the difficulties and methods of preserving documents and pictures.

In June, at St. John’s Anglican Church, Elora, we heard about the history of this old church and Florence Nightingale’s influence on an early rector.  A picnic followed the meeting.

July found us at the Waterford Museum where Mr. Henry Barrett of Port Dover kept us spellbound with his slides and talk on “Lore and Legends of Long Point”.  Another picnic ensued.

In August, Mary Nelles arranged for Branch members to tour the huge old mill in Caledonia, and a sight-seeing trip along the Grand River to York.  Here we viewed St. John’s Anglican Church, cemetery, old anchor and an historical display panel.  The trip ended at Haldimand County Museum in Cayuga where Dr. David Faux showed slides and told us about his U.E. forebearers in Mohawk Valley.

In September, we met in Cambridge-Galt at Valley Trinity Anglican Church where we viewed displays and were informed about the history of quilts and the meaning of some of their designs – speaker, Evelyn Murray.

Field Cote Museum staff at Ancaster hosted our October meeting, Betty Lampman spoke on Ancaster’s early settlers and showed us the Dough Boxes that museum workers made and filled with Loyalist articles.  The boxes will be shown to school children when their teachers take the boxes to classes.

The final meeting of the year, our Christmas Sale and Party was held in First United Church, Waterloo where Susan Burke gave a talk and showed slides on “Historic Wallpaper”.

Besides all these educational meetings, we contributed money to the library in the Eva Brook Donly Museum to buy books in memory of those members who died during the year.  A contribution to buy research material and books on Ontario or Canadian History was also provided.

Continuing grants to Loyalist Lane at Taquanyah Nature Centre, Decewsville (near the town of Simcoe) have been given to add to plantings of Carolinian flora.

Fall 1991

Grand River Branch 
 

This active Branch had many educational and historically informative meetings in 1990 besides gathering material for its new book Loyalist families of the Grand River Branch U.E.L. Association.

To an overflow crowd at the Guelph Civic Museum in March 1990, Mr. Gordon Thede of Dundas (in costume), gave a unique and humorous talk, illustrated with slides, about his ancestor, “Pioneer Militiamen & Rebel” Ludwig Wideman.  The speech covered Wideman’s life until after the 1837-38 revolt in Upper Canada.

In April, at the Eva Brook Donly Museum in Simcoe, to a large crowd, descendants of the Gilbert family spoke on their line of descent from the Loyalist Josiah Gilbert.  The author of a book on the Gilberts, Mrs. Winnie Walker celebrated her 90th birthday with us.

At Central Presbyterian Church, Brantford, in May, Margaret Haupt, an archivist, described the difficulties and methods of preserving documents and pictures.

In June, at St. John’s Anglican Church, Elora, we heard about the history of this old church and Florence Nightingale’s influence on an early rector.  A picnic followed the meeting.

July found us at the Waterford Museum where Mr. Henry Barrett of Port Dover kept us spellbound with his slides and talk on “Lore and Legends of Long Point”.  Another picnic ensued.

In August, Mary Nelles arranged for Branch members to tour the huge old mill in Caledonia, and a sight-seeing trip along the Grand River to York.  Here we viewed St. John’s Anglican Church, cemetery, old anchor and an historical display panel.  The trip ended at Haldimand County Museum in Cayuga where Dr. David Faux showed slides and told us about his U.E. forebearers in Mohawk Valley.

In September, we met in Cambridge-Galt at Valley Trinity Anglican Church where we viewed displays and were informed about the history of quilts and the meaning of some of their designs – speaker, Evelyn Murray.

Field Cote Museum staff at Ancaster hosted our October meeting, Betty Lampman spoke on Ancaster’s early settlers and showed us the Dough Boxes that museum workers made and filled with Loyalist articles.  The boxes will be shown to school children when their teachers take the boxes to classes.

The final meeting of the year, our Christmas Sale and Party was held in First United Church, Waterloo where Susan Burke gave a talk and showed slides on “Historic Wallpaper”.

Besides all these educational meetings, we contributed money to the library in the Eva Brook Donly Museum to buy books in memory of those members who died during the year.  A contribution to buy research material and books on Ontario or Canadian History was also provided.

Continuing grants to Loyalist Lane at Taquanyah Nature Centre, Decewsville (near the town of Simcoe) have been given to add to plantings of Carolinian flora.

Founding of Upper Canada:

Grand River Branch celebrated the Founding of Upper Canada (Ontario) with two special events.

The Burning of Dover Mills by the Americans under Captain Campbell, in the War of 1812, was commemorated May 19 at Port Dover with the 14th Annual Heritage Walk organized by Dover Mills Historical Association.  Grand River Branch, following its banner and flag, marched with four pipe bands, stopping for a brief service at the cairn to Sir Isaac Brock, at Heritage Park where the Branch planted a pyramidal English Oak to celebrate Ontario’s Bicentennial.  After three anthems, the American, the Royal and the Canadian, the tree was ceremoniously planted by Branch Member Mrs. Harriet Walker.  The walk then continued to the cemetery for a memorial service at the grave side of MacQueen who was at the Seige of Louisburg, served with Wolfe at Quebec, and was the founder of Dover Mills.

Loyalist Families of Members of Grand River Branch, U.E.L. was successfully launched June 16 at Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, by Irene MacCrimmon, Branch President and Branch Editor of the book, with several hundred in attendance.  Scottish dancing and guided tours of the museum’s exhibits by Angela Files were enjoyed.  Dominion President, Arnold Nethercott brought congratulations on the book and installed the 1991-92 Executive.  Loyalist Families received overwhelming response from Branch Members and is receiving good reviews from the press and genealogical societies.  It will be a valuable resource for students, historians and genealogy researchers.  Grand River Branch expresses appreciation to all contributors to Loyalist Families and to the Government of Canada, Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Horizons Programme for the grant to mark the bicentennial of the founding of Upper Canada with this meaningful and lasting record for our Loyalist ancestors.

Three hundred and seventy copies remain of this printing.  Anyone wishing to purchase a copy is requested to act quickly, especially if it is to be a Christmas gift.

At the April meeting, Mrs. Glen Bell, daughter of Dora Hood, outlined the fascinating life of her g.g.g.-grandfather Thomas Ridout who married May, daughter of Alexander Campbell, U.E.  Thomas became the first Surveyor-General of Upper Canada and was a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Education-Outreach programmes of the Branch received continued support with donations to Loyalist Lane, Taquanyah Nature Centre, Cayuga for $600.00.  A memorial book fund of $50.00 in memory of deceased members was also donated to Loyalist Library.

The Branch was proud to receive the Dominion awards at the Annual Convention for the greatest increase in membership for the last year and gives credit to the efforts of members of the Branch plus the interest generated by the book Loyalist Families.

Programmes upcoming (when submitted August 1991); September 15, 2:30, Central Presbyterian Church, Brantford, Mary Beacock Fryer, Speaker.  Topic: her new book on Elizabeth Simcoe.  October 20, 2:30, Eva Brook Donly Museum, Simcoe, Josh Carter, Speaker.  Topic: An Armchair tour of historic buildings on the Talbot Trail from Windsor to Niagara-on-the-Lake.  November 17, 2:30, First United Church, Waterloo, A celebration of our book Loyalist Families a chance to have your book autographed and a birthday party for Ontar-ari-ario.

Irene MacCrimmon
President, Grand River Branch

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