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Cottage Shack Articles: Food for Thought – Feb. 18, 2022

To view the original article and others in this series visit the online Cottage Shack magazine

From my window I watch snow blow across the bay as I continue to work on projects brought home from the museum. Today, I am leafing through some vintage cookbooks from our copious collection at Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM). The pile grows higher as I add my own books to the stack. Alongside, I set my mother-in-law’s old tin recipe box, filled with family favourites.

I am quite sure many concoctions came out of Mother’s head, a memory from her childhood, something popular from her grandmother’s table, a favourite never written down, just passed along as oral history.

Eventually, tin boxes, filled with index cards filed under various headings, were used. Many of the cards have cheery salutations, written by the author, describing just how good the recipe is. Credit to the recipe’s creator was also often acknowledged. This additional provenance gives these recipes life beyond their ingredients.

The first cookbook I peruse is titled The Five Roses Bread and Pastry Book. It was printed in Montreal in 1913. Its age is not exceptional. Written recipes have been traced as far back as 1700 BC. Three clay tablets from that era are thought to contain the first known recorded “recipes.” Reputedly, De Re Coquineria (of Culinary Matters) was the first cookbook. It was written in Rome by Apicius in the first Century A.D.

Moving forward in history, the first known North American cookbook, written by Amelia Simmons, was entitled American Cookery. Previously, any cookbooks printed or used in the colonies originated in Britain or Europe.

As they were gaining popularity in Western cultures, cookbooks evolved from simple compilations of brief notes into detailed step-by-step instructions. Canada’s first known cookbook was titled La Cuisinaire Bourgeoise. It was written in 1825 by Menon. However, many feel that it was just a reprint of a French book. The first English language Canadian cookbook was called The Cook Not Mad or Rational Cookery. Like it’s French counterpart it was first thought to be a reprint, in this case, of an American book.

As the years passed many familiar authors and titles appeared on the culinary scene. Below is a short list of cookbooks in our collection at CCHM. Depending on your age, you may recognize one or more of these names from your mother’s or grand-mother’s kitchen shelf:

Fannie Farmer, Coronation Cookbook, Five Roses, Joy of Cooking, Better Homes Cookbook, Curity, Julia Child, Betty Crocker, Frugal Housewife.

We also have copies of recipe compilations produced and sold for fund-raising by local organizations such as, brownie troops, PTAs, church women, sports teams and auxiliary groups. It is quite moving to see a recipe written by a family member or friend in one of these booklets.

Another cookbook that I am studying, as I write this story, is typewritten and held together with binder rings. Some of its pages are stuck together, others show telltale signs of food stains. Perhaps these recipes were the “old reliables” of a former owner.

In recent decades there has been an avalanche of cookbooks, some of which are even too pretty to ever take their place on a flour-sprinkled countertop.

With technological advances many of the tools mentioned in older cookbooks no longer appear in today’s publications. Grinders, mashers, moulds, readers and hand-mixers have given way to food processors and a slew of older “Kitchen Aid” gadgets. Mrs. Catherine Woodrow’s life would certainly have been easier with these modern conveniences.

Stepping into the Homestead kitchen, you enter a world of simplicity and homeyness.

Please plan to join us at CCHM in the Spring and take a walk down memory lane.

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Cottage Shack Articles: Lost Souls – Feb. 11, 2022

To view the original article and others in the 2022 series visit the online Cottage Shack magazine

As our little homestead winters beside the Coldwater River flowing under a magical glaze of ice, I tramp through feet of snow to gather up some old photo albums. Rummaging through the archives I am astonished at how large our collection is. My goal is to identify some of the people in these pictures, many of whom appear to have originated in England and Scotland, not surprisingly as many Scottish and English immigrants settled in Simcoe County during the mid to late 1800s. Too many of these photographs have nothing written on them to identify the subjects.

It would seem logical that our photographs were donated to Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM) by descendants of the people in the pictures. Over the last few years, we have even made a “montage” of these unidentifiable folks and asked our visitors if they recognized anyone. But we have had little success at identifying anyone.

As my sorting begins, I am haunted by one recurring characteristic. Few of the pictured men, women or children are smiling. So, I googled this phenomenon and found that this is “Time” researcher’s rationale. Apparently smiling for the camera did not become the norm until the 1920s. Since the first known photograph was taken by a French scientist names Joseph Nicephore in 1826 that is 100 Years of some pretty sober faces!

One reason for not smiling was concern about dental issues. Bed teeth led to closed-mouth grins.

Additionally, because it would often take so long to set the pose and to take the picture, the subjects often found it difficult to hold a smile.

One humorous anecdote suggested that smiling with a wide toothy grin was associated with madness, rudeness or drunkenness. So, many photographers would encourage their subjects to look formal and refined, as if they were posing for a painting.

One farmer was quoted as explaining, “I can’t smile; life is just too damn hard!”

One visitor to (CCHM) suggested a unique and unexpected reason for an expressionless stare. Drawing attention to a photo of a young girl that hangs in our sewing room, the gentleman quietly informed us that she was actually dead when her photo was taken. Here was a picture of one of the Woodrow family granddaughters. Her name was Catherine and she died at age 12. We are fortunate to have that information written on the back of the frame.

Apparently, it was common practice to put a picture of a deceased on the death announcement and funeral card. If no picture existed, the local photographer was called upon to pose the deceased and capture their image. This would clearly explain why Catherine was not smiling!

While searching about CCHM for old photos, I discovered that, among our substantial collection, there are surprisingly quite a number on funeral cards, primarily within the Robinson Funeral Home display which includes an old pump organ, embalming tools and a wicker body basket. The rich history of this memorabilia will be covered in a future article.

Upon examining another small stack of pictures, I was impressed by the lovely clothing that many of the people were wearing. However, many of the men were photographed in tattered and torn shoes. Again, with a little research, I discovered many people did not have the type of attire suitable for picture taking. So, an accommodating photographer would keep on hand a small collection of suits, collars, shirts, vests and jewellery to dress the subjects. Just don’t look at the shoes!

As time went on, advancements in the field of photography showed no limits. Having one’s picture taken became increasingly popular even though few people owned a camera. Our collection reflects the craze. We have boxes of photos and albums covering everything from babies to Ballerinas.

Our daguerreotypes (metal plate images) are quite interesting. This unique photographic process was prominent in 1840s and 1850s. Each image is one of kind and is produced one a silver copper plate. These small pictures were very fragile and survived best when framed. We have some excellent examples in our vintage camera display.

So, back to the task at hand. Although, I have found some pictures of the same people, I have not yet been able to identify any of hem. If you have roots in this community, perhaps I am looking at one of your ancestors. A trip to the museum may be in order for you to help us put names to these lost souls.

By Patricia Turnour, Curator

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Cottage Shack Articles: A Helping Hand – Feb. 3, 2022

To view the original article and others in the 2022 series visit the online Cottage Shack magazine

“When we have lost sight of the past, we have lost the ability to look forward intelligently.”

One of my many responsibilities as a director and a volunteer at the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM) is to have a solid base of knowledge about the historical artifacts at the museum. Well! Easier said than done! When one begins to research any of the artifacts; say, farm machinery, clothing, books, furniture one can very quickly find oneself going down a rabbit hole . So, the rabbit hole I would like to share with you is the plethora of small, single cylinder gasoline engines that came on the market in the late 1800’s and, in some cases, before.

Lots of PHD papers have been written on the subject of the industrial revolution and of innovative creations of machinery such as the Balun and Watt steam engines of the period 1760 to 1775 or the power loom designed by Edmund Cartwright in the 1780’s. Some eve have been written about the impact these innovations had on rural communities.

The development of better casting methods and more precise machining processes improved the ability to build a more efficient steam expansion engine as far back as 1712. Much later came the development of the internal combustion engine. In some schools of thought the advent of steam power had more impact on urban and rural communities than the computer chip.

I am not going there! Instead, I would like to look at how the single cylinder gasoline engine became a helping hand in the rural community. Try to imagine doing everything by hand: grinding corn, cutting wood, pumping water and thrashing wheat, to mention a few.

One manufacturer’s name that has stood the test of time is Briggs and Stratton. We see it today on our lawn mowers, root-tillers, water pumps and other devices. Stephen B. Briggs and Harry Stratton formed the company in 1908 – evidence that some things do survive, if only in name. Meanwhile, most of their competitors have either turned their attention to other products or have a long since faded away.

As farming became more of a business, increasing productivity and expansion was a way to success. Small gasoline-powered engines afforded a farmer time to address other work on the farm like mending fences, maintaining structures, mucking out the barn. He would have had to weigh the purchase cost of an engine against the benefits to the farm operations as this would have been a substantial investment in those times. If he were looking to purchase a one-half horsepower New Holland engine in 1912 his cost would have been $57.50. What would the equivalent of that be in today’s dollars?

When I looked at the Hercules and Fairbanks Morse engines at CCHM, I marvel at the number of small engine manufacturers that operated in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It appears almost every letter in the alphabet was used in the company names including ‘X’ in Xargill Mfg. Co, U in Utica New York 1904 and ‘Y’ in Yonkers Mfg. Co. of Yonkers, New York 1885. What a competitive industry! So, I think it is clear there was a demand for these products both in small industry and on the farm.

Much of the focus of CCHM is on our agricultural heritage, so our interest in this technology pertains to its application to farming. Here are some examples: to power a water pump for livestock and the homestead; to power a beet or corn grinder providing better silage for the livestock; to power a 32-volt generator of the time for lighting the barn; to power a buzz saw providing fire wood; and to power a saw mill for lumber to sell or use on the farm. How many of these jobs could be done by hand? All of them! But when this technology became available productivity increased significantly.

If one of these small engines failed, all these tasks could still be done by hand, though not a desirable prospect. I wonder if the same thing could be said when a computer chip fails in modern machinery!

Times have changed, but not so the pursuit of more efficient and more powerful devices. The idea of a machine freeing us from manual labour is not a new concept. In 1678, French physicist/inventor Jean Hautefeuille proposed the use of a gunpowder motor to pump water from the Seine to Versailles. No doubt the learning curve was steep. The lessons of many failures ultimately led to technological advances in this exciting bygone era. The American Book of Gasoline Engines has 584 pages cataloguing a plethora of small engines.

We strive to preserve this intriguing history at CCHM with documentary evidence and with functioning examples of old engines. Their preservation and the story of their development is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. Without small collection, we like to think we are honouring this legacy.

Our collection consists of: a 7 H.P. Fairbanks Morse-powered buzz saw purchased from Chris Janson with funds donated by Tom Smith; a 5 H.P. Hercules-powered buzz saw donated by Jack Bird, and a 7 H.P. Fairbanks Morse-powered turnip and corn grinder Donated by Frank Janson.

Visit the museum on one of our event days and hear a popping emanating from these wonderful examples of a time one can now only imagine.

CCHM is very fortunate to have members that are so knowledgeable about our artifacts and exhibits. Much of my research for this article stemmed from dialogue with Frank Janson whose hobby is building and restoring antique small engines. Frank has a collection of some thirty plus engines, most restored and running. Thanks for sharing, Frank!

If any of our readers have information or artifacts that they would like to share with us, please feel free to contact Richard at uniqueironworks@hotmail.ca

By Richard Jolliffe

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Cottage Shack Articles: Teacher, Teacher Can You Teach Me! – Jan. 20, 2022

The Schoolhouse Series – Part 2

To view the original article and others in the 2022 series visit the online Cottage Shack magazine

As curator of the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM), I have had the opportunity to welcome into our collections so many amazing artifacts this past season. Our co-op students have done a great job researching them and creating signage and labelling. The A-Team group of volunteers have worked hard to provide additional storage and display areas for our ever-expanding collection.

Already we are planning World War 1 and World War 11 displays, a new veterinary office and a lovely picnic area by the river. Even through the winter months, all of our dedicated volunteers are planning and preparing for next season’s displays and events.

Part 1 in this series was about our “Eady” schoolhouse. As the resident schoolmarm, I re-create a typical day in the late 1800s. Being a city girl, I lack the personal experience of a one-room school. My program, instead, is based on research and the heartfelt memories of many of our visitors. An abundance of old textbooks, slate boards, desks and inkwells are part of our assemblage of favourite treasures. The entire room is reminiscent of bygone times.

Our schoolhouse is open to visitors every museum day. The school program is available each Tuesday (Community Dat at CCHM), each Wednesday, and at special event days. We also accept reservations for families and small groups.

The children’s school day begins with me wandering the yard, ringing the leather-handled bell. Students responding to the bell line up outside the schoolhouse entrance – boys in one line, girls in another. As it was believed that cleanliness is next to godliness, each child’s finger nails are inspected. I am certain that the nail polish I see was not an issue in the 1880s.

As the students enter, girls are told to curtsy and boys to remove their hats. Upon finding a desk they then read the wall chart that enumerates the school rules. In my previous article I told of these rules, but suffice it to say here they were very strict. Some children get a little overwhelmed by them. I reassure them that we are just taking a flight into make-believe. Once we have settled in, the girls are invited to don one of our pinafores. We have yet to come up with something special for the boys to wear.

Roll Call follows in which each child is required to stand up and address the teacher with “Good Morning.” At its conclusion we all stand and sing “God Save The Queen” while I hold up a picture of Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch of the day. Unfortunately, not many Canadiana children today are familiar with this anthem, so I usually end up singing a solo.

Next comes a Bible reading, often by a senior student. In the one-room school it was common for teacher to regularly call upon the older students to assists him or her with the younger pupils. As an example, I often have the Olmert students lead in the singing of “O Canada” – even though it did not officially become our national anthem until 1980.

Depending on how long the students are with me, our daily schedule typically includes all or part of the list below:

  • Printing/Cursive Writing – always hold your pencil correctly, keeping you head up and use your right hand.
  • Reading in small groups with the teacher (Ontario’s Reading Program Texts)
  • Arithmetic – doing sums
  • Tour of the museum
  • Storytime
  • Crafts (prepared by my co-op students)
  • Singing time
  • Archaeology – digging in our sandbox for buried treasure
  • Recitation -poems and verses are taught and recited

To complement these mainly academic pursuits, music has an important role in our program. Having been a music teacher and choir director, I use my experience to introduce the children to songs of by-gone days. I also use puppets to engage the students. We attract many passing visitors when the schoolhouse bursts into song. I also play old-time records on the record player and have the students march around the room following the leader.

I have been told that in the past students would march around the room for the main purpose of keeping warm. Next season I hope to incorporate a rhythm band into our march.

At recess on Community Days, we provide snacks, but often families bring picnic lunches. After eating, we go outside to enjoy such games as Tag, Red Light/Green Light, Hide and Seek, Duck/Duck/Goose and a Tisket/a Tasket. We sing “Farmer in the Dell,” “Punchinello” and “My Bonnie.” Parents and grandparents often join in the fun.

At the days end we return to the schoolhouse to tidy up and collect the student’s work. After singing a goodbye song, the students are asked what chore they would have to do when they got home to the farm. I am always amazed that so many children have embraced the pioneer spirit and answer with jobs such as feeding the horses, cleaning the barn and collecting eggs.

On days when the homeschooling groups come, up to 40 children experience pioneer school day. At the end of these days, I feel like the actual 1880s teacher must have felt at the end of her day. Exhausted!!

Check out our website and make a plan to visit our olden day Eady schoolhouse when we reopen in the Spring.

By Patricia Turnour

(My next article will examine the life of the pioneer school teacher.)

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Cottage Shack Articles: Our Schoolhouse Rocks – Jan. 14, 2022

The Schoolhouse Series – Part 1 – By Patricia Turnour

To view the original article and others in the 2022 series visit the Cottage Shack online magazine

As curator of the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM), I have many opportunities to research and restore our precious artifacts. I wholeheartedly thank everyone for thinking of us as the forever home for their treasures.

As we begin a new year, I would also like to share my appreciation for our wonderful volunteers. We are like a colourful quilt made up of a patchwork of friendly, talented, caring people.

Being curator does keep me busy, but I still manage to find time for my other occupation, schoolmistress. Having being a schoolteacher for almost 40 years puts me in good stead for this position.

We have a unique schoolhouse attached at one end of our display barn. Not that long ago, it had a gravel floor, gaping holes beneath the wall boards, a leaky roof and sagging rafters. The room was also shared with an abundance of wildlife.birds nesting in the corners of the ceiling were a common site. Bats also enjoyed hanging from the rafters.

However, things were about to change. We began with minor repairs to the schoolhouse walls. It took the vision of our A-Team to really get things going. After much blood, sweat and tears (literally) the current “school” emerged (perhaps the subject of a future article about the A-Team).

Today the school house proudly boasts a shiny new metal roof and a display wall for maps and pictures. It houses a well-loved collection, from times long past, of local pictures, textbooks, story books and memorabilia. Perhaps our family name is inside one of the covers. Our oldest book is entitled The Plays of William Shakespeare (1811).

And here my story begins.

Our previous school teacher was “Miss Grace” Willmott. She is fondly remembered by many young visitors whom she put through the paces of a typical pioneer school day. “Miss Lorraine” Garside often served at her side as her educational assistant. These lovely ladies still do help in the schoolhouse on special days and tours.

Today, though, it is I, Miss Patti who now takes centre stage as schoolmistress. In yesteryear my day would have started long before the arrival of the schoolchildren. Lighting the wood stove, pumping water from the well, preparing the lamps and ensuring that lessons have been planned for all eight grades, just to name a few!

When visitor children come to our school, I explain that we are imagining attending school in the village of Eady in the 1800s in the original Eady SS #14. Our records indicate it was built in 1879. Mr. Alpine was the first teacher whose wages were $360 per year. Some of the original teachers were Dan Coffey (1907), Miss Amy Weaver (1916) and Miss Alma Walker (1922). Unfortunately, that school burned down in March 1925, so classes were temporarily kept up at the Thompson house. A new brick school was soon constructed and remained in service until 1963. Eventually, it evolved into a private home.

Most of the children attending school back in those earlier times would have come from farm families and with a great distance to walk. My mother attended a one room country school and I have certainly heard just how far and how deep the snow really was.

Visiting children are also given a quick course on “School Rules.” The students take turns reading the Rules chart aloud. There are many sources online for this information.

Children must:

  • Obey your school master and accept his punishments
  • Help and love each other
  • Refrain from fighting and teasing
  • Be silent during lessons and speak only when spoken to
  • Not leave your seat without permission
  • Raise your hand and stand to speak
  • Always write with your right hand
  • Remember cleanliness is next to godliness
  • Stand when an adult enters the room

After reading these rules, the children do look a little worried about the consequences of misbehaving. On this note, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. One such punishment is the infamous dunce chair. Once seated there. A pointed hat is placed on the naughty child’s head. He/she is stuck there until the teacher has determined that he/she has learned his/her lesson. There is never a dearth of eager students willing to demonstrate this.

Another punishment involves me putting three dots on the chalkboard placed about a foot apart and directing the miscreant to put a finger of the right hand on the right dot, a finger of the left hand on the left dot and their nose on the middle dot. Again, no lack of volunteers (even the parents join in). I am certain that the consequences of misbehaving in the early days were a little more severe! Spare the rod, spoil the child comes to mind!

And so, our school day begins; and that is the subject of my next article, “Teacher, Teacher Can You Teach Me,” part 2 in this series.

In conclusion, I would just like to thank the many visitors who have walked down memory lane with me and shared their schoolhouse experiences. Being born and raised in the city, I did not have the opportunity to attend such an inspirational place. We truly appreciate your memories and musings.

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Cottage Shack Articles: Tea For Two – Dec. 23, 2021

To view the original article and others in the 2021 series, visit the Cottage Shack magazine online

“Afternoon tea…The mere clink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose.”

From the private papers of Henry Ryecroft, by George Gissin

My name is Patricia Turnour and I am Director and curator of the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM). Although we have closed things up for the winter, we have hopes and plans for next spring. One such custom we hope to preserve is our weekly Devon Tea. Due to Covid restrictions, we have certainly missed this event for the last two seasons.

Since CCHM was established over 50 years ago, the house has been abuzz with many people every Wednesday afternoon. The cozy fireplace room is the perfect setting for an afternoon of relaxation and good company. Our volunteers and co-op students don period costumes and aprons to enhance the ambiance. A variety of teas and home-bakes scones with preserves are served in fine china at tables clothed in vintage linens. Children feel all grown up as they sip tea from our daily teacups. This weekly event soon became well known as the “Devon Cream Teas.”

The “Cream Tea” has a fascinating history rooted in British tradition. Food historian Matthew O’Callaghan found that teas became very popular in the 1840s just as tourism was beginning to flourish. Well-to-do ladies would often take train journeys into the countryside. There seemed to be something lacking between the mid-day and evening meals. Thus, late afternoon teas became very popular, filling this gap. They were relatively expensive and, therefore, out of the reach of most commoners. For the upper-class fancier fare such as sandwiches, fruit, ripened cheeses, dipped chocolate, crumpets and tea cookies were soon added. The more risqué was not for the tea-totalled, daring to add port, bourbon, sherry or even champagne to this afternoon delight. Eventually, afternoon tea became a staple of almost all British households.

The origin of Devon cream has even deeper roots in British history. When Tavistock’s Benedictine Abbey had been badly damaged by marauding Vikings in 997 AD, Ordulf, Earl of Devon oversaw repairs, and the monks rewarded the workers by feeding them bread, clotted cream and strawberry preserves. And so, the Devon cream tea was born. It was so well liked that the monks continued serving it to passing travellers. Unfortunately, the Abbey was destroyed in the 1500s but the legacy of its “clotted cream” lives on.

Another interesting anecdote comes from a long-standing controversy between Devon and Cornwall England. In Devon people first put the cream on their scones and then the jam. In Cornwall they put the jam on first. Queen Elizabeth apparently puts jam on first. When visiting CCHM and enjoying our Devon tea we will have you be the judge.

On many of these Wednesday afternoons artisans and craftsman are on the grounds demonstrating their skills. Some have product to sell.

All of our buildings are open and yours can be guided or self-guided using a map.

The schoolhouse is always open and with me as school mistress. Children are invited to experience the “pioneer school day” as we sing songs, play games and study the three Rs.

Local speakers are often available to talk about an activity that was popular in days gone by.

As one of our long-time volunteers has been quoted as saying: “Our teas are about keeping the past alive.” It is so important to preserve local history for future generations. These teas have also been an important social link to the community. Whether as a weekly volunteer or as a visitor from near or far, we welcome all our tea lovers to our cozy cabin.

See you in June! Tea is served.

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Cottage Shack Articles: Be It Ever So Humble – A Woodrow Christmas – Dec. 17, 2021

To view the original article and others in the 2021 series, visit the Cottage Shack online magazine

Being curator of the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM) afford me many interesting glimpses into our past. Sitting before the massive stone fireplace, warmed by a racing fire, I begin to form an image of the Woodrow Family huddled together around this hearth so very long ago. I see the children pushing and shoving to get closer to the heat. Woollen mittens, socks and scarves hang from the mantle overhead, perhaps to dry there after a day of skating on the river or building snow forts in the yard.

My focus shifts to a family portrait hanging on the wall nearby. Archibald, Catherine and five of their 10 children posed for it. Just imagine what life was like for this large family living in this small home that originally consisted only of this “keeping room” and an upstairs loft where the children slept. It was not until the 1860s that the cabin was expanded.

So, this very room where I am sitting has certainly stood the test of time. A place where folks felt safe and secure in such a wilderness; where the fellowship of family and the companionship of friends were vital to life in this rugged New World.

Catherine, Archibald and their young daughter Catherine immigrated to Canada in the 1830s from Islay, Scotland. Although little has been written about their early days in Canada, I am sure their experiences were common among other immigrants. They likely tried to re-create as many Scottish customs as possible.

Celebrating the Yuletide surely would have been one of the most important ones. Unfortunately, most luxuries would not have been available to them back then. More likely their home would have been meagrely decorated with greenery taken directly from the forest. Cedar boughs reaffirmed that life goes on in an uncertain world. It was not until much later in that century that the Christmas tree became popular and eventually traditional.

Most ornaments or decorations would have been lovingly made by the family. A few Christmas cards may have been placed on the mantel. The custom of writing on Christmas cards and mailing them our did not become common until after the 1850s. These earlier cards portrayed cherubic children, animals, birds, Father Christmas and religious messages. Some cards even pictured wistful, sun-dappled scenes – reminders of the summer to come. Here at CCHM we have a wonderful collection of this early ephemera (printed memorabilia).

Undoubtedly, food would have been part of the magic and charm of Christmas Day at the Woodrow homestead – from the morning oatmeal spruced up with brown sugar, cinnamon a pat of butter to the roast goose features at the evening table complemented with vegetables carefully harvested from the garden and brought up from the cold cellar. Dates, figs, nuts, candies and other delicacies might be enjoyed in a year when the farm had done well. In the days leading up to Christmas Catherine would busy herself lovingly baking fruit cakes, plum pudding, cookies – all the family favourites. We have a great collection of Vintage Cookbooks that include some of her recipes.

Simple handcrafted gifts would be shared and enjoyed. Store-bought dolls, dresses, hats, hair ribbons, toys or games would have been very special. Is m sure that with 10 children, hand-me-downs were certainly in the mix.

Christmas carols, games and other merriment would have filled the walls of this little cabin. Eventually the Woodrows may have owned a piano, a pump organ or a dulcimer – a sounding board with strings stretched across and held on the lap of the player who strikes the strings with two small hammers. We have a wonderful example of one of these early instruments. Although the children were taught how to play simple tunes, most often it was Father who played for the family.

The telling of the Christmas Story and prayers would have been led by Archibald.

A sleigh ride to the Village for Christmas Eve church service may have been an annual ritual. Our Robinson cutter is a fine example of an early horse drawn sleigh. It is on display in all it refinished splendour in our carriage barn.

With the embers of the fire fading I reflect about how much I have enjoyed writing this article. I am reminded of simpler times and about the true meaning of this holiday.

I gaze out of the window. Snow is falling softly. The season has begun.

By Patricia Turnour

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Cottage Shack Articles: Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits! – Dec. 9, 2021

To view the original article and others, visit the Cottage Shack magazine

My name is Patti Turnour and I am curator of the Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM). As we were putting the museum to be for the winter, I couldn’t help reflect on the past year. To say the least, the past two seasons have been far from normal. Without the revenues from our signature events such as the weekly Devon Cream Teas and Heritage Day, it has been challenging. However, our dedicated team of volunteers will spend this winter planning and preparing for what we hope will be a better, more normal 2022 season.

Cleaning our display barn last week, I came upon an interesting article from the Orillia Packet and Times titled “End of an Era in Coldwater.” It talked about the famous local barber Mr. Lloyd Bell who served the area for 57 years.

Born in 1911, Lloyd began work in the shipping department of the T. Easton Company rising to the position of head shipper before becoming a barber. Her apprenticed in Richmond Hill and then moved to Coldwater with his wife Edith and daughter Barb. Soon his little shop became a hub of activity. Good skills, reasonable prices and great conversation proved to make Lloyd quite popular with the locals. One of his long-time clients, Harold Greenwood was quoted saying; “It was just a good place to take a rest, for a few minutes.” Lloyd knew everything that was going on and was usually willing to share his opinion.

As far back as ancient times barbering included this social aspect. Greek men were known to gather in the agora (market square) to have their hair, and beards trimmed. Rowdy debating and idle gossip ensued. This notion of gossip was the main reason that school teachers in the 1800s were not permitted to get a shave or a haircut at a barber shop. How times have changed! As the years passed Lloyd became a mainstay of the community. This was especially evident on Saturday nights when local farmers customarily came into the village to do their weekly errands. Mr. Bell kept the shop open very late to accommodate every customer, some of whom came in just to chat.

A very polite and kind man, he would be seen wearing his renowned fedora hat, always tipping it to the ladies. His family, his shop and his Coldwater United Church were the things he cared about most.

Lloyd remained very independent in his later years, driving until the age of 94, and cutting hair at 95. Many devoted friends and neighbours helped him get his mail and groceries, as needed. He would often arrive at one’s door with flowers in hand, to show his gratitude.

Upon Mr. Bell’s passing in 2007, his daughter Barb Jefferies deemed his chair and all his barbering equipment be donated to the museum.

A tribute to this fine man lives on in the form of a dedicated room in our display barn. Gary Brandon and a group of volunteers constructed this mini shop version and therein staged all of the barbering tools. Front and centre is the beautiful, vintage barbers hair, surrounded by scissors, razors, mirrors, shaving mugs and brushes. My co-op student lovingly buffed and shined them until they all gleamed. Three pictures of Mr. Bell and his barbering certificates grace the walls.

This past summer one of our volunteers brought her grandson to Mr. Bell’s shop at CCHM to see the legacy of the man who had cut his father’s hair. Many of our visitors share stories of times they had spent in that very chair and delighted in a social moment in the company of this fine man. He touched the lives of so many local folks.

Mr. Lloyd Bell was a very special person who we are honoured to recognize and celebrate at CCHM. It is fitting that the Godfrey beauty salon – the subject of the previous story – is directly across from his barber shop in our display barn.

Some information for this article came from the archives of Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum and some from an article by Courtney Whelan of the Orillia Packet and Times. Mr. Bell’s daughter was another wonderful source.

Come and visit us when we reopen in the Spring and experience a walk in the past through our display barn. Then tour the many other attractions.

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Cottage Shack Articles Museum Articles

Cottage Shack Articles: Co-Op A Novel Idea, A Local Beef Ring – Nov. 26, 2021

To read the original article and others in this series visit the Cottage Shack magazine

Being curator at the Canadiana Heritage Museum (CCHM) requires me to learn all I can about our wide variety of artifacts and buildings.

The Woodrow log house is the only building on site. Though a few of the outbuildings have been built by volunteers, most are genuine originals donated by former owners from off-site and reconstructed here. Some came with many fixtures, tools and furnishings, authentic to the structures; they serve to further the credibility of the museum’s representation of a particular feature of earlier rural life.

All my previous articles have been related to fashion. This entire is vastly different as I have chosen to write here about what I feel is our most interesting building on site – The Eady slaughterhouse. Our guests either find it very intriguing or a little unsettling – sometimes both. During a tour, when we describe and explain the reasons for such things as a blood trough, bleeding our and butchering, a visitor’s attention soon becomes focused on the true purpose of the operation that was once performed here.

Doug Binns, one of our volunteers has researched this building extensively and written an article published in an issue of the Coldwater Current newspaper titled “Fresh Meat – What a Luxury.”

In today’s world we think nothing of going to the supermarket to purchase fresh beef, pork or poultry for our dinner table. But in the 180s and early 1900s, the lack of fresh meat was a real concern. Area farmers generally did not lack animals as sources of protein for their families, it preserving large quantities of meat certainly was a challenge. Thus, the emergence of the beef ring.

In the Medonte/Coldwater area around 1904, Mr. Sam Dunlop came up with the original co-operative idea. Most visitors to CCHM are surprised to learn that co-ops were around at the turn of the last century – not a more modern concept. Mr. Dunlop gathered together 25 families to form the original group. A slaughterhouse was constructed on the Russell farm on the 10th line of Medonte just north of the Village of Eady.

Each shareholder family was, in turn, required to deliver an animal to the slaughterhouse between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. of their designated day to be slaughtered the next day by the resident butcher, Mr. Scarlett. This process happened regularly very 2 to 3 weeks. Once the animal was slaughtered, hung to bleed out and butchered, the meat was then wrapped in brown paper and the package was tied with a string. The family whose animal was processed received the best cuts of meat – juicy steaks and choice roasts as opposed to boiling beef. Packaged meats were placed in labelled boxes attached to the walls of the slaughterhouse, each co-op member having a numbered box. The butcher would then let the members know that their meats were ready for pick up. If a family did not eat the meat promptly, they would often preserve it with brine.

Beef rings grew in popularity as they were a very efficient way to ensure that fresh meat was always available. The Eady beef ring grew in size at one point to 35 members. Here are the names of some local families that were recorded as members: Dunlop, Johnston, Walker, Hawke, Ball, Kent, Wilson, McFarland, Merced, Bell, Graham, Blaney, Spence, Orion, Rose, Moon, Reid, Kellington, Russell, and Young.

In 1965 the co-op was disbanded. However, local farmer Geordi Kent continued to slaughter his cattle and pigs there well into the 1960s. The locals were enjoying grocery stores providing their meats and farmers had long since begun shipping their cattle to meat packing plants located in the major centres. Though the slaughterhouse remained on the Russell property, serving for some years as a storage shed, it retained much of the specialized equipment that had been incorporated into it.

Bill Wilson, who had spent his youth on a neighbouring family farm, returned to the area in 1979. He and his wife Linda purchased the Russell farm and settled into their retirement there. Shortly afterwards they donated the slaughterhouse and contents to CCHM. The structure was dismantled and carefully delivered to the museum. It was reconstructed on our site and restored to its original purpose.

While many of our visitors find the experience to be quite gruesome, some of our local folk have fond memories of this place. A brother of one of our volunteers actually was at one time an assistant to the butcher.

You might want to visit us at Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum in the Spring to see our slaughterhouse firsthand…if you dare!

By Patricia Turnour

Editor’s Notes:

It is often the case that when someone makes a donation to CCHM their interest is piqued to the point that they themselves become volunteers and, in some cases, member of the board of directors. Such was the case of Bill and Linda Wilson.

While researching this subject I got a look at the original Minute Book that recorded the annual meetings of The North River Beef Ring from 1928 to 1954. It belongs to and was loaned to me by Bernice Dobson, a great grand-daughter of Archibald and Catherine Woodrow whose homestead is the main attraction at CCHM. What also makes this book of value to Bernice is the fact that many of the eateries were made by her father Joe Walker, one of many grandsons of the Woodrows.

Because much of the script is extremely difficult to read, I chose to rewrite the entry from 1928 to provide some insight into how a typical co-op functioned. The 1928 minutes were the only ones that provided sufficient legibility for a good excerpt from it. You can see that the meetings were structured and that the shareholders took their rules and responsibilities seriously.

I also found it curious that they annually held an oyster supper. Reference to it appears in the Minute Book as late as 1937.

North River Beef Ring Minute Book

An excerpt from the meeting of October 13, 1928

Moved by: Norman MacDonald, Seconded by: Mel Lovering That Les Archer and George Lovering be judges for coming year. Carried.

Moved by: Les Archer, Seconded by: Judy Kitchen The price of beef be the same as last year – 12 cents/pound. And kill two in May.

Moved by: Dave Lovering, Seconded by: Les Archer Anything under four hundred the price to be be $10.00. Carried.

Moved by: Clint Archer, Seconded by: P. Lovering A fine of $10.00 is not put in proper turn in the ring. Carried.

Moved by: P. Lovering, Seconded by: Les Archer P. Hawke be paid $5.00 for repairs to the slaughterhouse and Nora Lovering $1.00.

Moved by: Les Archer, Seconded by: A. Hawke The secretary write The Johnson Farmhouse, for the full amount due to the ring is not settled for his share to be sold and (he) put out of the ring. Carried.

Moved by: P. Lovering, Seconded by: P. Hawke That every share holder is to be present at the fall meeting or a representative, is not his share be forfeited from the ring. Carried.

Moved by: Clint Archer, Seconded by: Mell Lovering The laws of the ring be posted up in the slaughterhouse. Carried.

Moved by: P. Lovering, Seconded by: Les Archer We have an oyster supper on the 27 Oct…(unintelligible).

Andrew Lovering Received Cash $53. 38

Expenses – $45:00

Balance in the bank – $12.73

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Cottage Shack Articles Museum Articles Museum Initiatives

Community Fun Days Announcement – March 17, 2022

By Patricia Turnour

To view the original article and others visit the Cottage Shack magazine.

For the last two years, the world has been anything but normal and it is unclear what the end normal will look like. Old, time-honoured traditions may take on new looks. CCHM board president Richard Jolliffe and I admit we are somewhat apprehensive about the future. How, after the pandemic, do we get back in step with out activities and events? Looking forward to the 2022 season is exciting, if somewhat daunting. Even so, we are going forth with an aggressive plan of action. Optimistically, our board of directors and committees are working with a variety of community partners and friends to put our plans in place.

Last summer, our programming was constrained by the government-mandated protocols of Covid 19 that were so stressful and time-consuming for everyone. All our regular events had to be put on hold due to gathering restrictions. CCHM was, however, able to open for precooked, small group tours.

Additionally, Linda Wilson, one of our directors, and I put our heads together to design and launch a new weekly event that would reach out to the local citizenry. Tuesday Community Fun Day emerged.

Linda has wonderful handiwork skills and I am a retired school teacher. The result of our collaboration was a day that encouraged adults to come and learn new skills. It was also advertised as a date to experience the museum to socialize, and demonstrate one’s handiwork. A group who shared ideas, patterns and technique soon evolved. Even my two co-op students mastered the skill of rug hooking. The gazebo provided an ideal setting for the group – a pot of tea completed the ambiance.

We hope to attract even more crafters in the coming season.

Because we wanted the day to have a family feel to it, parents and grandparents were encouraged to bring along youngsters to do crafts and to experience a “pioneer” school day. Although it started out slowly, very soon we were welcoming between 30 and 40 kids each Tuesday. Occasionally we found it difficult to accommodate everyone in the schoolhouse, so a “crafts” tent was erected where the co-op students taught the children a variety of crafts – corking, beadwork, paper bag puppets, whirligigs, butterflies and hand turbines to name a few. The children rotated among the different activity centres.

In the schoolhouse, groups under My tutelage experienced the routines of a “typical” pioneer school day. At recess they were introduced to old favourites such as Farmer in the Dell, Ring Around the Rosie, I Wrote a Letter to My Love and A Tisket (a) Tasket. Time was also spent singing songs and performing with puppets. The students practiced printing and cursive writing, read stories and studied the ABCs.

A quick trip around the museum sometimes attracts an audience watching my “pupils” walking in a line holding a long role.

The new playhouse is a favourite of the younger children. Whether playing with Lincoln logs, Lego, a tea set, stuffed animals or reading a storybook, a fun time was had by all.

Although some families came for a few hours only, many made a day of it. A welcome sight it was to see many people picnicking on the grounds. This summer, the picnic area will be expanded to accommodate additional tables currently under construction by the A-Team.

Thanks are due to “home schooling” groups that attended our Community Fun Days. Their positive feedback was encouraging. I hope to see all of these youngsters again this summer, and perhaps some new faces.

Stay tuned to our website as we begin to advertise this and other events and activities. The weekly Community Fun Days are being shifted to Thursdays (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), the first scheduled for July 7, 2022.

We hope to see you there!