Monday, February 27, 2012

ADELAIDE HOODLESS FINAL RESTING PLACE


On the anniversary of her birth, I visited the Hamilton Cemetery this morning to find out where Adelaide Hunter Hoodless’ grave marker is located.

At the Cemetery office, they gave me a nice history of the cemetery (for free!) by Elizabeth Manneke and edited by Crystabelle B. Fobler (2nd edition, revised August, 2008).

There is a page dedicated to Adelaide – which gives the location of her monument in section C of A-A (Church of the Ascension Section A), Lot 360.

The photo in the booklet is not the best, but you can see that the monument is quite prominent and features a statue at the top.

At the cemetery office, they also gave me a map of the Cemetery to show where to look - she is in one of the oldest sections of the Cemetery dedicated to parishioners of the Church of the Ascension.

She is not far from the cliff that overlooks Highway 403 and close to the end of the cemetery that abuts the houses off of Dundurn Street North.

The Church she and her husband attended still stands at the corner of John Street, between Forest Avenue and Herkimer (opposite St. Joseph's Hospital).

The headstone is shared with her husband and also her son, John Harold, who died young after drinking unpasteurized milk.

She also shares the monument with a daughter and a grandson killed in World War II.

I didn’t have my camera with me today, but I will try to go back and get some good shots.

It also struck me that the headstone could use some cleaning up – I wonder whose permission we would need to arrange that?

In the Saturday edition of the Hamilton Spectator, the SDHS sponsored an "In Memoriam" ad for Adelaide with the following text:

HOODLESS, ADELAIDE SOPHIA (nee HUNTER)  Died suddenly on February 26, 1910 in the midst of a speech in Toronto – the day before what would have been her 53rd birthday.  Her public life began after the tragic death of her fourth child, John Harold, from what was then called the ‘summer complaint’ – drinking impure milk. Adelaide thereafter campaigned to raise the level of education for girls and to put supports in place for women so that they might safeguard their families. She is credited as a co-founder of the now international Women's Institute movement, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the National Council of Women and the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), and she was a major force behind the formation of three faculties of Household Science.  On Monday, February 27th, 2012, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, you are cordially invited to the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, National Historic Site, to celebrate her life and legacy, and the anniversary of her birth. There will be tours, tea, snacks and birthday cake. Admission is $3 for Adults, WI members $2, Children ages 5 – 12 $1; family rate $6.  359 Blue Lake Road, just west of Brant Road (Hwy 24), St. George, Ontario.

It ran with a photo of her on page 3 of the Classified section - hopefully catching the attention of a few readers!

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

HARLEY MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE SAT FEB 25th, 2012

The Burford Township Historical Society will be hosting an Open House at the Harley Museum this Saturday, February 25th, 2012, from 11 am to 3 pm.

Harley is the name of the little hamlet just to the west of Burford (which makes it part of our Brant County family).

This is not a motorcycle museum by the way. 

Come and hear why the local residents are still miffed at the Americans for their dirty deeds during the War of 1812.... 

Also learn about the Battle of Malcolm's Mills and more. 

Information and directions can be found at http://www.burford.on.ca/bths-location-map.htm

The BTHS was founded in 1986, and one of its founding members, Clayton Barker, will be on hand to answer questions and explain the significance of items in the Museum's collection.

Friday, February 10, 2012

FAMILY DAY AT WESTFIELD VILLAGE


Family Heritage Day


Hosted by Westfield Heritage Village

February 20, 2012

12:30 pm until 4:00 pm

At Westfield Heritage Village

1049 Kirkwall Road , Rockton Ontario

LOONIE DAY AT BELL HOMESTEAD FEB. 20, 2012



"LOONIE" FAMILY DAY!
 
Where: Bell Homestead National Historic Site
February 20th, 2012 from  9:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
 
Take time with your family to visit Brantford's world-renowned family home for the special admission price of $1 per person (children 6 and under free).
 
Explore the 1870's surroundings that inspired the Bell's genius son to invent the telephone.
 
Don't forget to visit the Henderson Home and try telephones without numbers!

Phone: 519-756-6220
Wheelchair Accessible: yes
Accessible Parking: yes
 
 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

ST. GEORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS!

2012 marks the 100th anniversary for the St. George Fire Department.  Members of the current force have been researching the history and preparing for events in the coming year to mark the anniversary.

Paul McConkey has compiled a brief (and nicely illustrated) history of firefighting in St. George that is available through the County of Brant Public Library website - or by clicking the link: http://images.ourontario.ca/brant/228/Exhibit/1

Paul adapted and updated the history compiled by Gilbert F. Mannen (which is available in the local history collection at the St. George library).

If you have photographs, artifacts or memories related to the history of firefighting in St. George and South Dumfries which you would be prepared to share, please contact the St. George Museum and Archives at 32 Main Street South (519-448-3265) or contact Paul McConkey at the St. George Fire Station, 72 Main Street North, St. George, Ontario N0E 1N0.


History of the South Dumfries Fire Department
From the County of Brant Public Library Digital Collection
http://www.brant.library.on.ca/



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee


February 6th: Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne after the death of her father, King George VI in 1952, at the age of 25. Her coronation followed on June 2, 1953.

There will be events across Canada to mark this anniversary and the St. George Museum and Archives would like to contribute as well - by collecting up royal stories from the South Dumfries area.

At the last meeting of the Brant Heritage Committee, Mayor Ron Eddy recalled going over to a neighbour's house to watch the Coronation on television.  This was the first televised Coronation - and there were not many television sets in all of Canada at the time.

If you have royal memories - either of the young princess Elizabeth or of her reign as the Queen - we would be pleased to help record and share them as part of a display and one of our public meetings.

As well, if you have ideas of how we should help commemmorate the Diamond Jubilee, please let us know as well.  Should we serve tea?  Should we have some corgis on hand?

The South Dumfries Historical Society, Box 472, St. George, Ontario N0E 1N0 - or phone us at (519) 448-1053.

Here is a link to the Heritage Canada website for more information on how our country is joining international celebrations of the anniversary:

http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1296669421850





Addie's Birthday Party - February 27th!


This year the birthday of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless will be celebrated on Monday, February 27th, 2012!

Please join the good people of the Hoodless Homestead for an afternoon of historic house tours, fellowship, tea and birthday cake!

The Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead, is a National Historic Site recognizing the birthplace and childhood home of one of Canada's most eminent citizens!

Adelaide was born on February 27, 1857 and died on the eve of her birthday in 1910.

The Homestead is owned and operated by the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada.

The Homestead is located in Brant County, Ontario on the outskirts of the village of St. George: if you are coming from the East, take Highway 5 /Beverly Street and continue through St. George and across Highway 24 - the name of the road become Blue Lake Road on the other side of Hwy. 24 - the Homestead is a short distance along on the right hand side.

For more details, visit the Homestead website at: www.hoodlesshomestead.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone: 519-448-1130
Fax: 519-448-1150
Email: adelaidehoodless@gmail.com


Street Address:
359 Blue Lake Road, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 209, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0



 

B. Bell & Sons Plough donated to the Museum by Mayor Eddy


Mayor Ron Eddy has donated to the St. George Museum and Archives a wonderfully restored plough from the B. Bell & Sons Foundry in St. George.  There is a great story behind this plough and how it came to be in the mayor's hands - and he will tell that when the plough is formally unveiled at our Annual General Meeting.  In the meantime, you can get a sneak peek at the plough Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm.

(Photo by Cliff Jones, Jr.)

 

ROBERT NIXON FEATURED ON THE AGENDA WITH STEVE PAIKIN

"Robert Nixon: Ontario's First Political Family" - was one of the topics on the January 31st, 2012 edition of TVO's popular show, The Agenda with Steve Paikin.

Politics in the family: The Nixon family represents one of Ontario's true political families. In 1962, Robert Nixon was elected to the Ontario Legislature, a position to which he has been re-elected three times. Robert Nixon sits down with Steve Paikin to reflect on his - and his family's - political life.

For those who missed the approximately 11 minute segment, it is available to watch or download on the TVO website; and it is also available as a free downloadable podcast (in either audio only or video formats) at iTunes (search for The Agenda under podcasts).

 
The link to the Agenda webpage for the Jan. 31, 2012 episode: