Spring Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BHS Quarterly Volume xI, No.1 Brant Historical society 2oo4 ISSN i2oi-4o28 Spring, 2004 Peter and Eliza Jones at Credit River Mission This is Part 2 of a three-part series compiled by Robert L. Deboer from Brunt Count!/.. 17le Sto7{/ o/its People, Vozume I, by Jean Waldie and "The Beaver: Magazine Of The North," Summer 1977, by Donald B. Smith. n late September 1833, Rev. Peter Jones arrived at the Credit River Mission with his English I bride. It is difficult to imagine how the settle- ment must have looked when Eliza first saw it. The Government Inn at the river mouth, the solid oak and pine forest on each bank, and her new home in the Indian village two miles upstream no longer exist. Well over a century and a half have passed and urbanization is in full control: high rise apartments, A & Ws, gas sta- tions and power transmission lines. In excess of 25o,ooo people live in the area that several hundred Indians once claimed as theirs. The original inhabitants are gone and time has erased all but the tribe's name, dutifully preserved in the name of the Toronto suburb, Mississauga. A memorial to Eliza does not exist. A blue and gold historical marker erected by the Ontario Government indicates the site of the old Government Inn by the har- bour at the mouth of the Credit River. It was here at the river mouth in 18o5 and 1818 that the Mississauga sur- rendered what today is some of Canada's most valuable real estate, a huge tract of land of 2,ooo square miles Eliza Jones with an unidentified child. lying between present-day Hamilton and Toronto. On Photo courtesy of the Brant Museum & Archives Mississauga Road, about two miles from Lake Ontario, just north of the Queen Elizabeth Way is another of the government's historical plaques. It stands close to the Inside th s ssue fence enclosing the grounds of the Mississauga Golf and Country Club. The plaque, simply headed "CRED- IT INDIAN VILIAGE, 1826," gives the following account: In 1826 the Government assisted a band of Mississauga, who had recently converted to Christianity, to settle in this vicinity, and within five years laid out a village plot, and constructed log cottages and a sawmill. Methodist missionaries, notably Peter Jones and Egerton Ryerson, ministered to the converts, who in 1829 built a combined Please see Page 8 for a schedule of Continued on Page 4 general meeting speakers. Celebrating 96 years of preserving local history Page 2 B.H.S. Quarterly - Spring, 2oo4 B.H.S. Quarterly - Spring, 2oo4 Page 3 President's Reflections Cupa+op's Copnep nual meetings are seldom exciting, but they are need for a second site require increasing amounts of ie democratic way of deciding future paths. I was money. The problem is compounded by costs over which we have recovered from our programming special displays in the past couple of months. We were at Ancouraged by the large number of people present have no control - level grants and other decreasing sources litz at Christmas and are getting ready for the Brant Visual Heritage Project Expo and presentation, at the Annual General Meeting on Feb. 18, 2oo4, and espe- of income. But problems are really opportunities in disguise. Wi--'ur March Break camp. Debbie is busy put- Grand River Heritage Day in Paris, and the Grand RIver cially thank some of our new members for pointing out There are brighter possibilities. The Market Square ting together "Art Attack" with the help of local artist Chorus wine-tasting evening and auction. We have also what we all need to remember. When speaking of the past, redevelopment is exciting. Whatever the solution will be, Nico Kuilboer. You may remember his exhibit of water- recently changed our display at the County of Brant we tend to speak in shorthand, forgetting it is not under- we are directly affected. The developers have recognized the colours last summer. If you have children, grandchildren, council chambers. stood by many. I have been challenged, and in future as importance of heritage and have included the museum in nieces or nephews between the ages of eight and 13, reg- As always, we are looking for help at the museum. If chair, I hope I will recognize that problem so that all mem- their proposals. They have been most generous in their ister them for some creative fun starting March 15! you have a little spare time, why not volunteer to help bers feel part of the decisions of the society. description of the museum, but . can we accept the offer? I would like to welcome our newest staff member, answer some of our research requests, catalogue an arti- Most important for many were the recommendations of Our task is now to review the possibility and in due time ask Carrie Sorensen. Carrie is the new Assistant Curator. We fact or two, or help with our fundraising events, like the the building committee to divide the historical society into the membership for their response. Until that has been are sharing this position with Myrtleville House Museum Film Group or bingo? We will soon need help with our two separate incorporated organizations. While these were done, the historical society has no official response to make. and strengthening our community partnerships. Carrie gardens too. Contact me at the museum if you are inter- defeated, the building committee was instructed to investi- The process has begun. is a recent graduate from the Sir Sandford Fleming ested in helping out. gate the desirability and feasibility of such a separation. Should it be impossible for the board or the membership Museum Management and Curatorship program. Since the committee recommendations were the result of to accept this route, then we are faced with solving the We have partnered with local organizations to create Staceu MCKe,lc]p such investigation, I interpret it to mean it is the desire of problems of providing a museum within the existing space the membership that we continue our work, but return with at Charlotte Street or building a new museum. Not new more detailed answers to questions raised. Among these questions, but perhaps demanding that decisions be made. issues were relationships, ownership, funding and endow- Meanwhile, the museum expression of the historical The Ups and Downs of a Boomtown: Images of ment. The committee has yet to meet, so my interpretation society continues to grow and to be faced with opportuni- may not reflect their understanding. ties. We have been called "an undiscovered jewel" and we We did not address our financial situation. Bob Glass are faced with revealing that jewel to the Brant community. Brantford,s Downtown Past and Glenn Gillis detailed visually our challenge and their For that reason, I see the growth of our education pro- information is available to members. Are we victims of our gram as well demonstrated by Debbie Olsen and the chil- own success? As the museum grows, increasingly, the per- dren's video, and the announcement of the historical essay Coming soon! centage of our resources directed to that aspect of the soci- contest, as marketing tools. Both can grow as expressions of A catalogue of vintage photographs fea- ety must increase. This means that the amount directed to the historical society if each of us promotes them within our tured in the current photographic exhibit at what some may see as purely matters of the historical soci- own circle of influence. the Museum in the Square will be available ety decreases. In addition, the Scheak collection and our Calvin G. Diegel for sale at both Brant Museum sites in March 2004. Brant Historical Society Board of Directors The exhibit, entitled ``The Ups and Downs President Calvin Diegel of a Boomtown: Images of Brantford's Vice-President Robert Glass Downtown Past," showcases over 6o photos Secretary Robert Deboer of downtown Brantford until April 2. Please Treasurer Glenn Gillis check with the Museum in the Square at 752- Past President John Wyatt 8578 for details or to reserve your copy of this Directors John Bonfield, Margaret Glass, Gloria Neamtu, very special memento. Peter Oakes, Michael O'Byrne, David Partridge, Anne Westaway Brant Museuln & Archives The Museum in the Square Copyright information Acknowledgments 57 Charlotte St., Brantford, Ontario N3T 2W6 A Satellite of the The Brant Historical Society gratefully acknowledges 519-752-2483 The copyright on all articles and submissions con- Brant Museuln & Archives tained in the "B.H.S. Quarterly" is vested with the support from: Admission: Adults $2.oo Seniors/Students $1.5o Main Level, Market Square Mall,1 Market St., authors. Permission to use any article or submission in The County of Brant Children $1.25 Under 6 free B.H.S. members free Brantford, Ontario 519-752-8578 whole or in part must be obtained from the authors. The City of Brantford Hours: Wednesday to Friday lo a.in. to 4 p.in Authors can be contacted through: The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Saturday 1 to 4 p.in. Admission by voluntary donation The Brant Historical Society Recreation For July and August: Sunday 1 to 4 p.in. Hours: Monday to Friday lo a.in. to 4 p.in. 57 Charlotte St., Brantford, Ontario N3T 2W6 Web site: www.brantmuseum.ca For July, August and December: Open Saturday Phone: 519-752-2483 E-Mail: [email protected] Page 4 B.H.S. Quarterly - Spring, 2oo4 B.H.S. Quarterly -Spring, 2oo4 Page 5 Peter and Eliza Jones at Credit River Mission Peter and Eliza Jones at Credit River Mission Continued from Page 1 or Peter Jones - his two names, Mississauga and Continued from Page 4 European, indicate his two cultures - was the son of a beside it, and sent the drawing to her friends in England.