2013 CMHS Newsletter -Volume 5 Final..

Contents* The Year 2013

* “Pioneer Times” Raffle Winners

* Ongoing Projects

* Museum Historical Exhibits

* Donations to the CMHS

* President’s Report

* Special Thanks to...

* The Hoosier Cabinet

* 2013 Executive

* An Early Home in Providence Bay

* The Threshing Machine

* 2014 Membership /Renewal Form

The year 2013 was another interesting one for the Central Manitoulin Historical Society. • Our Pioneer Museum opened for the season on July 2.

With the help of our members, volunteers and the 3 students, Alicia VanVolkingburg, Ben Cranston and Kennedy Lanktree, visitors were welcomed to the museum on Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• On July 10, members of the Wagg family dedicated a bronze plaque at the site of the Wagg’s Creamery stone beside the Welcome Centre. This plaque acknowledges the contribution made to the community by the early Wagg pioneers .

• There were 1730 Pioneer Times Quilt Raffle tickets printed as a CMHS fundraiser and all of them were sold. Tickets were available at the Saturday Mindemoya Market, at Foodland, and at the Welcome Centre. Lorene Martell organized the selling of all these tickets.

z Preserving Our Past zCMHS is dedicated to the collection and preservation of materials, pictures and artifacts from the Pioneer Period on the Manitoulin.

V O L U M E 5 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Central Manitoulin Historical Society

Newsletter

• A major project this year was “Ethel Mulvany’s Prisoners of War Cook Book” compiled by Pat Costigan, Norma Hughson and Marilyn Irish. Three hundred copies were printed and the sales have been very good.

• The two main displays in our museum this summer focused on Ethel Mulvany and Senator Thomas Farquhar.

• Two smaller displays highlighted the War Veterans of Central Manitoulin and Cliff Tann’s Oxen.

• Since our Manitoulin Fire Pies & Scary Fire Tales cookbook was so successful last year, more copies were printed for this season.

• On August 18, 20 & 21 we held our second quilting bee. The beautiful flannel backed quilt made use of the remaining Pioneer Times Challenge Quilt Blocks from last year. Thanks to the many volunteers who not only quilted but also those who provided the lunch. We had enough blocks left to also complete a table runner and a pillow.

• On October 2, the Central Manitoulin Historical Society hosted the fall meeting of all the Manitoulin museums. Joel Gauthier and Nancy Recollet represented the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports. Also attending were members of the Little School House in South Baymouth, Kagawong Museum, Centennial Museum and Central Manitoulin Pioneer Museum. The draw for our Quilt Raffle was made at this meeting. The names of the winners are listed below.

Central Manitoulin Historical Society“Pioneer Times” Quilt Raffle Winners

1st Prize - Queen Size Quilt Sharon Duhamel, Lively, ON

2nd Prize - Double Size Quilt Donna Cortolezzis, Sudbury, ON

3rd Prize - Telescope Jamie Yule, Dobbinton, ON

4th Prize - Table Runner Roberta Taylor, Lively, ON

5th Prize - Pillow Mildred McCormick, Espanola, ON

================================================================ Ongoing Projects

Our members are involved in a variety of historical projects throughout the year. These projects include:1. A War Veterans’ Photo Album, featuring many of our Central Manitoulin soldiers, was started by Norma

Hughson and Ted Taylor. We are still hoping to receive more pictures of our “missing” veterans. Since 2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI, it would be great to get as many WWI pictures as we can.

2. A School Bus Project has been initiated by Burt Cooper. Did you know that the Manitoulin had one of the first school bus routes in Ontario? We are still looking for more pictures and information to be used in a display for the summer of 2014.

3. Wilda Campbell is working on a picture record of all the Reeves of Central Manitoulin. 4. Early Homes of Carnarvon Township by Barbara Orr, Donna Hallett and Pat Costigan is almost done!

We would like to finalize the history of all these homes this summer.5. A picture album of all the churches of Central Manitoulin is being organized by Wilda Campbell and Pat

Costigan. Vivian Rattray-Eaton has taken the photographs.

Lorene Martell and Pat Costigan sold tickets on our “Pioneer Times” quilts at the Saturday Mindemoya market.

Quilt Bee #2

Shown here quilting our second quilt are Pat Costigan, Marilyn Holmes, Mona Lewis and Darlene Orford.

Historical Society members hosting the October meeting of all the Manitoulin Museums: Jan McQuay, Pat Costigan, Barbara Orr, Lorene Martell, Bill Taylor, Nancy Recollet, Tom Martell, Joel Gauthier and Ted Taylor. Nancy and Joel represented the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports.

Museum Historical Exhibits 2013

1. Ethel Mulvany DisplaySince Ethel Mulvany’s Prisoner of War Cook Book was published this year, we continued to show the exhibit that highlighted her life. We have now received hundreds of items from Ethel’s Treasure Van, donated by Marion King, so these treasures will be exhibited at the museum during the summer of 2014. You will not want to miss this outstanding display!

Ethel Mulvany’s Prisoners of War Cook Book is not only an amazing collection of recipes made by the starving women prisoners of Changi Jail in Singapore during WWII, but also a glimpse into the fascinating life of Ethel Cannard Rogers Mulvany. Born and raised on the Manitoulin, Ethel taught school at Perivale at the age of 17. She went to university before sailing to the Far East to do a survey for the Canadian Society of Literature and the Arts.

On board ship, Ethel met a British Army surgeon, a romance developed and five months later, Ethel married Denis Mulvany in India in 1933. Living a life of travel and excitement, they were in Singapore on December 7, 1942 when the Japanese launched aerial attacks on the island. Denis was a doctor at the military hospital and Ethel was an ambulance driver for the Australian Red Cross until they were taken prisoner. Their lives changed abruptly. Ethel was interned for 1,294 days. In this book she tells about her horrific experiences as a Japanese prisoner of war. The idea of a cook book originated in Changi Jail when a friend, whose weight was down to 55 pounds, asked Ethel, "Tell me all about the different kinds of omelets you've made." Her eyes lit up as she listened to Ethel talk about food. That made Ethel wonder if salivary glands could be activated by suggestion. Could these women be revitalized by just talking about different recipes?

Ethel decided to test her theory and the result is this superb collection of recipes for cakes, pies, roasts, soups and fish dishes!

But most important, writing and talking about these recipes made the women feel more alive.

Ethel continued to think of ways to make life more bearable for the women in prison, e.g., the Changi quilts and the Silence Hut. Even after the war, Ethel was concerned about the welfare of others. By 1952, she developed the idea of a travelling "Treasure Van". This van brought exotic and unique items from more than 40 countries to universities across Canada. All profits were used to send Canadian university students abroad and to bring others here. In this way, Ethel hoped that the students would get to know each other, and this might help eliminate wars.

When Ethel retired to the Island in the 1970s, she still had things she wanted to do. That’s because she was “A Manitoulin Girl” and proud of it!

You will want to buy your copy while this book is still available. Price: $20.00

2. Senator Thomas Farquhar Display - His Time Line1875 - Thomas Farquhar, son of William Farquhar and Jane Nixon, was born in Simcoe County, ON.1877 - At the age of 2, his family moved to Kagawong. Here he received his early education.1896 - Tom spent the next seven years mining and prospecting in the Kootenay District of B.C. 1903 - Tom returned to the Manitoulin and farmed on the homestead that he had bought from his

parents when they moved to Sault Ste. Marie, ON. 1906 - Tom sold his farm and moved to the Sault, working in several different businesses.1914 - He married Amy Wiber of Billings Twp. 1918-1919 Tom became actively involved in the community, serving as an alderman in the Sault. 1920 -1921 He was elected Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie. 1922 - Tom gave up his clothing business and moved back to the Island to buy and operate a farm.1922 - On July 1, Thomas Farquhar bought the farm on Lake Mindemoya from Richard Cushing.

Thomas and his wife moved here with their three children, Stan, Ruth and Tom Jr.1922 - In December, Thomas was elected Reeve of Carnarvon Municipality by acclamation. He held

this position for four years.1926 - He accepted the nomination for the United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) Party but later, with the

consent of his executive, he contested the election as a joint UFO-Liberal candidate and was elected to the provincial legislature with a majority of 99 votes.

1929 - In the provincial election, Thomas contested the riding as a straight Liberal candidate and was

defeated by three votes.

1935 - Tom ran in the federal election and was elected as a Member of the House of Commons for Algoma-Manitoulin riding. He was elected again in 1940 & 1945.

1948 - He was appointed a Member of the Senate. This was the last appointment made by Prime Minister Mackenzie King, before he retired from office.

1935 - Tom sold his herd of beef cattle, bought a herd of purebred Ayrshire cows and went into the dairy business. They bought the dairy at Little Current in 1936. 1944 - Thomas moved off the farm at Mindemoya & took up residence in Little Current. His son, John, who

had been working with Stan in the dairy, moved to the farm & took charge of the work there. 1945 - They formed a company known as Thos. Farquhar & Sons Co. Limited. The four sons, Stan,

Tom Jr., John and Allan were all shareholders in the company.1947 - The farm was sold to their company, Thomas Farquhar and Sons Ltd. Tom and his wife Amy

spent much of their time at their residence in the Sault. The balance of Tom‘s time was spent in the Senate in Ottawa and in Little Current which was really "Home".

1960 - Tom suffered a severe stroke and his health deteriorated. 1962 - In October, Thomas retired from the Senate and remained President of the Thos. Farquhar &

Sons Co. Limited. Eventually, he turned over all active control but still enjoyed helping guide the actions of the directors who were all immediate descendants, sons and grandsons.

1962 - On December 24, 1962, at the age of 87, Thomas died at his home in Little Current. His wife Amy, died two years later. They are both buried in the family plot in Mindemoya.

1981 - Tom Farquhar and Sons bought Waggs Ltd. 1987 - The farm was sold to Richard & Myra Tallman.Sources: Manitoulin Genealogy, Land Registry Records.

3. Cliff Tann’s Oxen Display Thanks to Cliff Tann’s picture display this past summer, I learned something that I didn’t know before. Oxen are really cattle! However, they have been trained as draft animals to do jobs such as clear trees, plough fields, pull carts and haul wagons. Oxen were commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals easier to control. Cows or heifers could also be used. Cliff Tann, of Mindemoya, had always been interested in oxen and trained his calves from 6 months of age. He said that they learned to work with the yoke very easily. He just put the yoke on them and took them out to the barn yard so they could get accustomed to travelling together with the yoke. His oxen never forgot how to “do it”, even after several years had passed. He had 3 sets of oxen over 4 years: Maggie & Jiggs, Johnny & Billie, Jake & Bear . Oxen were great for clearing the land and ploughing since there was no double tree harness to get caught on the stumps and trees. Although oxen were slower than horses, they could pull a larger load. The yoke was placed on the oxen’s neck just in front of the shoulders and was secured there by the bow which went around the oxen’s neck. A chain or the tongue of the jumper was attached to the ring in the centre of the yoke. The oxen were driven by voice commands and the use of an ox goad, a stick about six feet long, which could be used to guide the oxen. Verbal commands for draft animals vary widely throughout the world. In North America, the most common commands are:

• Get up (also giddyup or giddyap, contractions for "get thee up" or "get ye up"): go

• Whoa: stop• Back: back up • Gee: turn to the right• Haw: turn to the left

Oxen were usually yoked in pairs. Oxen are thought to have first been harnessed and put to work around 4000 BC.

Other Manitoulin Oxen

Around 1887 a team of trained or broken oxen was worth $100.00.

Owners of other Manitoulin Oxen include:1. Robert Stocks Sr. - Mindemoya2. William Farquhar - Kagawong3. Charles Sinclair - Providence Bay - father of Capt. Jack Sinclair - he never used horses, only oxen4. John Gilchrist - Grimesthorpe5. Charles Moody - Big Lake - named “Buck & Bright “ - their red yoke is the Pioneer Museum6. John Skippen - cleared his farm mainly with government oxen loaned to him by the Indian Chief,

Wandabeanse

4. War Veterans’ Display In August 2014 the world will mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.The First World War was a turning point in world history. It claimed the lives of over 16 million people around the globe and had a huge impact on those who experienced it. It was the first real instance of total war. Whole nations were pitted against each other; millions of men fought on land, at sea and in the air; modern weaponry caused mass casualties and civilian populations suffered hardships and came under threat of enemy attack. The war and its consequences shaped much of the twentieth century, and the impact of it can still be felt today. Now, one hundred years after it began, we would like to make sure that those who lived, fought and served during the years 1914-18 are remembered. The war reached out and touched almost everyone’s life in some way or other. Children grew up in the shadow of battle, their fathers absent or lost. Women became directly involved, picking up the pieces of industry and agriculture as the men went off to fight. By 1918, they too could join the army and serve their country. Visit our museum and check our War Veterans’ Picture Album. Do we have pictures of any of your relatives? If not, would you be willing to bring them in so we could copy them for our records?

This is a photo of some of the Kay boys who fought in World War I.

Their grandparents, John and Sarah (Towns) Cay/Kay, moved to Carnarvon Twp. in 1882 from the Collingwood area. They settled on what became the Government Road. Bill Dick, Jack, George and Dan are sons of Dan & Emma (Sterling) Kay. Cousin Bill in the son of Thomas & Susannah (Sterling) Kay.

Donations to the CMHS We received many wonderful and interesting donations to our museum this year. Visit the museum to see them when they are on display. Some of these items include:

* A drill used by Fred Moody, the barn builder, to put wooden pins in logs, donated by Grant Moody.

* Andrew McDonald’s harness-making tools donated by his granddaughter, Nola Haner.* Benjamin Bock’s 150 year old family Bible donated by Maddie Becks* A turnip pulper donated by Harold Kirk.* A great collection of miscellaneous items donated by Betty (Hutchinson) McGregor.* Hundreds of Treasure Van items donated by Marion King.

Benjamin Bock Family BibleBenjamin Bock Marriage Certificate

Betty Hutchinson McGregor skated on these skates all over Sandfield Bay.

Harold Kirk’s Turnip Pulper

Three items from Ethel Mulvany’s Treasure Van

President’s 2013 Report by Ted TaylorThree quilts that were made up from the 2012 quilt block competition were raffled off for a very successful fundraiser.The 1918 Fordson tractor was cleaned up, repainted and delivered back to the museum grounds.A new roof of cedar shakes is proposed on the log cabin.The Ethel Mulvany cookbook with her biography as an introduction was produced and sales have been very good.We received a number of articles from the Ethel Mulvany Treasure Van and more are to come in 2014.The Farquhar display has been up for the 2013 season.A plaque was installed at the Wagg’s Creamery stone telling the history of the Wagg contribution to the area.We received a turnip pulper from Harold Kirk. It has been rebuilt and painted ready to display in 2014.80 fence rails were donated by Murray and Gloria Haner. With the help of Darrell Dewar, a start has been made on the construction of a typical Manitoulin snake fence.All in all, it was a reasonable successful year and all made possible by the help of our many volunteers.Respectfully submitted,Ted Taylor, President

================================================================Special Thanks to.....

1. Dick Bowerman from South Baymouth for the quilt racks he made to store our antique quilts.2. Our Raffle Quilt #2 quilters: Marilyn Holmes, Darlene Orford, Mona Lewis, Gayle Corelli, Marlene

Dewar, Rolanda Tovey, Irene Montgomery, Jan McQuay and Pat Costigan. 3. The Wagg Family for donating the brass plaque for the Wagg Creamery stone at the Welcome Centre.4. Gloria & Murray Haner for donating the cedar rails for a snake fence around our log cabin museum.5. Marion King for donating the hundreds of items from Ethel Mulvany’s Treasure Van.6. Brenda and Bud Seine for delivering the boxes of Treasure Van items. Brenda & Bud inventoried and

photographed all the many items as well.7. Betty Hutchinson McGregor for her wonderful collection of antiques. Betty passed away on Dec. 19.8. Peggy Grey (Noble) for donating the two large wooden fire truck replicas. 9. Lorene & Tom Martell for organizing the Quilt Raffle ticket sales.10. Cliff Tann for his picture display of the last oxen on Manitoulin. 11. Vivian Rattray-Eaton for all the photographs she has taken of the houses and churches of Central

Manitoulin.

================================================================Did you know that.... The dream for a covered arena in the Mindemoya community began to take shape in the spring of 1939. The person leading the way was James H. Burt who donated the land where the arena is located. He and the building committee and the residents gave their time in labour and raised money by putting on movies and dances at the community hall in the Old School. The World War in 1939 halted supplies of materials, such as steel, and only half of the building and ice arena was covered by 1941. The building was completely finished in the fall of 1946. It was named the J.H. Burt Memorial Arena. -Written by Burt Cooper

======================================+++++++++++++++++=========

The Hoosier Cabinet This cabinet was donated to the Central Manitoulin Historical Society by Loraine Moody Bryant(1927-2008), wife of Doran Bryant. Lorraine was the daughter of Norman and Violet (Spry) Moody and was an original member of the Central Manitoulin Historical Society. The cabinet, a Simpson’s Special, was sold in Toronto at the Simpson’s Store and apparently cost about

$28 at that time. It was known as a Hoosier cabinet because it was first developed in the early 1900s by the Hoosier Manufacturing Company in Indiana, and was popular into the 1930s. The Hoosier cabinet and its many imitators soon became an essential fixture in North American kitchens. Often billed as a "pantry and kitchen in one," the Hoosier brought the ease and readiness of a pantry with its many storage spaces and working counter right into the kitchen. It was sold in catalogues and through a unique sales program geared towards farm wives. The "hoosier" became extraordinarily popular and actually started a gradual shift towards increased cabinetry and workspaces in the kitchen. Nearly four million Hoosier cabinets were produced from 1900 to 1940, the majority built between 1915 and 1930. The Hoosier Manufacturing Company, founded in 1898, created this compact design to provide the housewife with a "modern, efficient kitchen."

They could be purchased from the Simpsons [Sears] catalog or other merchants and delivered by railroad. Originally made from sturdy oak or pine, the Hoosier contained a great deal of storage in a compact 6 feet. The Hoosier-style cabinet included bins for flour, sugar, and other dry staples. The flour bin could hold 50 pounds and had a built-in sifter. A pullout work surface doubled as a cutting board. Drawers for utensils, and shelves for dishes, glassware or mixing bowls, perhaps a coffee-bean grinder or bread bin, could be found behind the doors and cabinet front. Some had spice racks, or even ant traps. The Hoosier was an amazingly convenient cabinet!Thanks again to the Loraine & Doran Bryant family for this wonderful addition to our Pioneer Log Cabin kitchen.

================================================================CMHS Executive - 2013

President - Ted Taylor 377-5649 [email protected] President - Bill Taylor 377-5140 [email protected] - Doug Tracy 368-0847 [email protected] - Jan McQuay 377-4045 [email protected] Treasurer - Ruth Frawley 377-5700 [email protected]

Board of Directors: Wilda Campbell, Burt Cooper, Pat Costigan, Norma Hughson, Lorene Martell, Tom Martell, Barb Orr, Richard Stephens.

Acting Curators - Pat Costigan 377-6640 [email protected] - Norma Hughson 368-3416 [email protected] Editor - Pat Costigan

mailto:[email protected]














================================================================An Early Home in Providence Bay

The McNichol House - 79 McNevin St. This was the home of Mick & Annie McNicol, the most hospitable people in Providence Bay. It was built around 1891 by their father Tom McNicol, and is one of the oldest houses in Providence Bay. Thomas McNicol (1853-1928) came to Campbell Twp., Manitoulin, with his family about 1878. Three years later in 1881, he married Janet McKechnie, daughter of Charles & Ann R. McKechnie. Their 3 children were born in Campbell Twp.: Charles Alexander (b. 1883), Malcolm (b. 1885) and Ann Jane “Annie” (b. 1887). In 1899 they moved to Providence Bay living in a house across from J. F. McDermid’s until their new home was completed in 1901. Mr. McNichol's business life was spent in Providence Bay. For a time he was manager of Mr. John Mutchmor's branch store, which later became Mr. McGillivray's hardware store. Afterwards he held the position of clerk in the store of Mr. Alex. Mutchmor and then Mr. B. F. Mutchmor. Later he entered into the grocery business which he carried on successfully until the store was destroyed by fire with no insurance on the goods. Undaunted by this disaster, he again established his business, and later was joined in partnership by Mr. Wm. Love.

Our 2013 Museum & Welcome Centre Summer Students:

Alicia VanVolkingburg, Ben Cranston and Kennedy Lanktree

Annie recalls a happy childhood in this town, attending school at the No. 2 Monument School in Carnarvon Twp, walking back and forth every day for many years until the No. 6 Providence Bay school was built. In her teens, many an evening was spent attending concerts, dances and the old-time favourite - Box Socials.

“The girls would have a box lunch packed and the boys had to bid on them,” recounts Annie. “Mind you sometimes they would run the price up to five or ten dollars! My would the young fellows be mad when they ended up with the wrong box because someone was raising mischief and switched them! We always had a good time. I well remember my mother telling me how they used to walk all the way to Mindemoya to a dance and then back home again. Can you imagine that!”

When Thomas’ wife, Janet, died in 1904 and then their oldest son, Charles Alex in 1908, Tom lived here with his other two children, Malcolm “Mick” and Annie. After Thomas died in 1928, the brother and sister continued to live in the grey-shingled house until 1970. The little building still standing on Lot 19 McNevin St. West, diagonally across the street from the Community of Christ Church, was Mick’s boat building shop. Most of the boats were built in the yard where they also had a steamer apparatus to steam the oak ribs. This operation was discontinued 1938 when Mick went to Little Current to work for Mr. W. C. Boyle. Annie wrote the Providence Bay social news for many years. There have been several owners of this home since that time.Sources: Manitoulin Genealogy, “Who’s Who on the Manitoulin” The Recorder May 9, 1979.Photography courtesy of Vivian Rattray-Eaton.

================================================================Thrashing or Threshing Machine

Donated by the Jack Paisley Family

The Thrashing or Threshing Machine thrashed (or beat) the grain, separating the grain from the stalks and husks. The sheaves of grain, placed on the table at the front of the machine, were drawn in and beaten or shaken until the grain and the straw were separated. The grain came out the spout at the bottom and the straw

was blown out the large pipe at the top onto the straw stack. For thousands of years, grain was separated by hand with flails, and was very labour intensive and time consuming. Early threshing machines were hand-fed and horse-powered. Later machines were steam-powered, driven by a portable engine or traction engine. By the addition of rakes, or shakers, and two pairs of fanners, all driven by the same machinery, the different processes of thrashing, shaking, and winnowing were all performed at once and the grain was ready to be used.Shown here looking at our museum’s threshing machine are Owen Costigan Miller and his friend from Japan, Yoh Shiroma.

================================================================Please renew your membership for 2014 by completing

the form on the next page.

Central Manitoulin Historical Society

2014 Membership or Renewal Application FormThe Central Manitoulin Historical Society (CMHS) is a registered nonprofit charity organization that is dedicated to the collection and preservation of materials, pictures and artifacts from the Pioneer Period in this area.The CMHS is an Affiliate Member of the Ontario Historical Society.

The Annual Membership Fee is $10.00 per person.

With this Membership:✔ You will be supporting the collection & preservation of our local history.✔ You will have unlimited admission to the Pioneer Museum. ✔ You will receive the annual CMHS Newsletter published each year.✔ You are encouraged to attend our meetings held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Central Manitoulin Municipal Council Chambers in Mindemoya. Please check for times.✔ We hope that you will volunteer for the CMHS activities that interest you.

If you know of anyone else who might be interested in our Historical Society, please call Jan McQuay at 705-377-4045.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________

Would you be interested in helping with any of the following activities? Be a tour guide at the Pioneer Museum. The digitization of our artifacts. Keeping our files up to date. Volunteer at Special Events. Set up displays in the Welcome/Historical Centre. Help teach a class or conduct an activity at the Museum.

Thank you for your support.Please return this form with your $10 Membership Fee to the:

Central Manitoulin Historical SocietyP.O. Box 320 Mindemoya, ON P0P 1S0

2013 CMHS Newsletter -Volume 5 Final..

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