General Meeting

The Burlington Historical Society’s

Gazette Preserving Burlington’s History for Today and Tomorrow

Volume 7 Issue 1 January 2012 Coming Events

Executive Meeting

Monday Jan. 2nd - 7:00 PM History Room Burlington Central Library

Annual General Meeting

Monday Jan.9th -7:00 PM Centennial Room

Share a good thing At our January meeting Zig Misiak will tell us about the involvement of Bring a friend to the Six Nations in the war of 1812. Zig is shown here in the dress of an the next Officer of Caldwell’s Rangers General Meeting General Meeting Program

What’s Inside The War of 1812 &

Page 2 President’s Report The Six Nations Speaker Page 3 New Year

Page 4 Historic Oak Zig Misiak

Page 5 Do You Remember Monday, January 9th, 2012 Page 6 Nomination Report Meeting at 7:00 PM

Page 7 History in The Making. Burlington Central Library

Page 8 Executive Council Centennial Room

BHS GAZETTE President’s Report Peggy and I had a very to see how small the rooms now nice vacation in Myrtle appeared compared to the eyes of a Beach in October and seven year old. November. The only sad part of being away was that we missed two very auspicious occasions. Les Armstrong The plaguing of the great Oak tree on Allview Avenue and the unveiling of the Brant Inn Memorial plaque. By all reports both ceremonies were a great success. The editor along with brothers Frank and A piece of my personal history Beezer in front of our farm house on the Guelph Line in 1938 has recently disappeared from Burlington. The home that I was born Please note the below in, on the corner of the Guelph Line announcement for our Annual and St. Clair was demolished to make general Meeting. Hope to see you all room for a new monster home. I had there. the opportunity to view the interior **** prior to it’s destruction. It was strange Notice Annual General Meeting The annual General Meeting Of the Burlington Historical Society will take place on January 9, 2012. In the Centennial Room of the Central Library Burlington beginning at 7 pm. The purpose of the meeting is to:

Elect the Executive of the Society

Hear the report of the Internal Audit Review Committee

And any other business that may properly be brought before the meeting.

2 BHS GAZETTE The Year Ahead

2012

2011

JANUARY FIRST WINTER YOUTH OLYMPICS FEBRUARY DIAMOND JUBILEE of QUEEN ELIZABETH MAY WORLD EXPO YEOSU SOUTH KOREA JULY SUMMER OLYMPICS LONDON NOVEMBER 100th ANNIVERSARY BURLINGTON CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

Burlington Central Public School Opened in 1912 3 BHS GAZETTE Historic Oak on Allview Avenue Plaqued

Included in the crowd at the at the ceremony where Mayor Goldring and Councillors Craven and Dennison.

Volunteer Archivist f you have an interest in history and/or the community and the people of Burlington and I are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity perhaps helping out in the Historical Societies Archives would be the opportunity you are looking for. The archives are located in the History Room of the Central Library. Space in the History Room is shared with the library. Duties vary according to the volunteers interest. They may include sorting and arranging paper records, scanning of photographs and other images, research projects, writing articles for the societies newsletter or other projects that are of interest to the volunteer. Work times are flexible and working from home on a computer is also possible. Training is supplied by other BHS Archives volunteers. Three BHS volunteers in the past have taken archival management courses through Mohawk College (on line) sponsored by BHS. The BHS Achieves is part of a regional group of volunteer supported achieves. If you are interested in this rewarding opportunity for volunteering please contact Jane Irwin at 905-637-7266. or by email at [email protected]

4 BHS GAZETTE DO YOU REMEMBER? By Jane Irwin any residents from the Six Nations The Archives also has brief remem- M Reserve along the Grand River used brances of Alex Barnes, a Mohawk who was to travel to work in what is now Burling- manager of the Maple Avenue farm of M. M. ton, as pickers on farms, or in industrial Robinson. Barnes retired to a house at 1043 businesses. Greenwood Drive in 1957. Edna Robinson and Many long-time Aldershot and Bur- the Barnes children attended S. S. # 14 School, lington residents remember these families, as did BHS member Mary (née Kirby) Robson. and some residents attended school with An image of students of the one-room school their children. in 1941 / 1942 shows Elmer, Ronnie, Edgar The Burlington Historical Society has and Georgina Barnes. (see page 6) an opportunity to work in partnership with a Another Archives photo from 1953 group of people connected with East Plains shows Alex and Georgina Barnes with new im- United Church, thanks to a connection made migrants Dick, Matt and Weiki Kamstra. The by BHS Past President Noreen McNairn. Kamstra family, who knew no English when The goals of the group are two-fold: to they immigrated, remember the Barnes family erect a memorial marker in the East Plains as kind friends. Mary Robson also recalls them United cemetery, and to create a broader as “very fine people -- friends of the Kirby awareness of the history of Six Nations family”. workers throughout Burlington. Another wonderful image in the BHS If you can supply surnames of Six Archives is of Seneca and Cayuga berry pick- Nations people in Burlington, or memories ers at the Fisher Farm on Guelph Line, circa of them, or places where they lived, please 1900. As of 1976, seven of these people were contact Jane Irwin at still living . burlingtonhistoricalsociety @yahoo.com. Please help the BHS contribute memo- If you have no email, please telephone 905 ries to this project in partnership with East 637 7266. Plains United Church! The BHS Archives has very brief ref- **** erences to two Maracle families who worked for Aldershot Cold Storage.

On the Farm of Bobby Robins On the Fisher Farm

5 Volume 4 Issue 6 BHS GAZETTE DO YOU REMEMBER?

This picture of the children of S.S.# 14 Nelson School taken in 1941 shows the Barnes children :Georgina 11th from left back row, Edger 9th from left middle row, Ronny1st , Elmer13th from left in front row. Report of the Nominating Committee The following Members have been nominated to the following positions for the year 2012

President Les Armstrong

1st Vice president Alan Harrington

2nd Vice President TBD

Treasurer Brian Ryder

Secretary Noreen McNair

6 BHS GAZETTE History In The Making

The new library in Aldershot opened at 10am on December 1st.

It is located at 550 Plains Rd E.

Plans are under way for a Grand Opening Celebration in the New Year. Membership Memberships are for the calendar year, January 1st to December 31st each year. 2012 renewals are now being accepted. It would be a big help if you would use the form in the Gazette and mark it renewal. This is essential if you have any change in information.

7 BHS GAZETTE Burlington Historical Society Executive Council

President Les Armstrong 905 637 2270 Past President Dave Morris 905 336 6503 1st Vice President Patrick Sweeny 905 634 5177 2nd Vice President Alan Harrington. 905 319 4277 Secretary Noreen McNairn 905 637 6400 Treasurer Brian Ryder 905 336 2105 Dir. Digital Imaging Jane Irwin 905 637 7266 Archivist TBA Convenors Greeting Cards Anne Wingfield HUG Representatives Les Armstrong Heritage Burlington LACAC Jane Ann Newson / James Clemens Membership Team Brian Ryder / Ken Davy Meet & Greet Team Dohn Nagy Newsletter Editor Les Armstrong Plaques Alan Harrington Program Ken Davy Promotion Team Display Judi McNairn Publications Judi McNairn Special Events Ruth Borthwick Publicity Dohn Nagy Telephone Committee Iris Davy Web site Convenor Dave Morris Membership Application

Name Telephone

Address

City Postal Code

Email Address Membership dues (Please check which one)

New Member Renewal

Family: $40.00 Single: $30.00 Senior: $25.00

I wish to make a donation to the society in the sum of A tax receipt will be issued for all donations totalling $25.00 above the cost of membership. Please complete and mail this application, making your cheque payable to: The Burlington Historical Society Membership Convener PO Box 93164 1450 Headon Road Burlington, Ontario. L7M 4A3

The Burlington Historical Society’s

Gazette Preserving Burlington’s History for Today and Tomorrow

Volume 7 Issue 2 February 2012 Coming Events

Executive Meeting

Monday Feb. 6th - 7:00 PM History Room Burlington Central Library

General Meeting

Monday Feb.13th -7:00 PM Centennial Room Burlington Central library

Share a good thing The McQueston family Circs 1890 L to R Hilda, Thomas, Mary Baker, Margaret Edna, Mary Baldwin, Bring a friend to Ruby, Calvin the next General Meeting General Meeting What’s Inside Program

Ruby & Thomas McQueston Page 2 President’s Report Speaker Page 3 Burlington’s Name Mary Anderson Page 4 War of 1812 Monday, February 13th, 2012 Page 5 Obituaries Meeting at 7:00 PM

Page 6 Farm For Sale Burlington Central Library Centennial Room Page 7 West Plains Church

Page 8 Executive Council

BHS GAZETTE President’s Report

ur January O meeting set an all time record for Membership attendance. An overflow crowd filled the room and unfortunately there were some people who Memberships are for Les Armstrong were turned away the calendar year, January because of lack of space. st st The annual meeting went well 1 to December 31 each with all persons elected to all positions year. 2012 renewals are on the executive save for the Second Vice President. We will continue to now being accepted. It search for a person to fill that position. would be a big help if you I believe that the increase in would use the form on the interest towards our society is in the fact that we have over the past year back page and mark it partnered with several organizations renewal. This is essential if to help further our mandate, to “Preserve Burlington’s History for you have any change in Today and Tomorrow”. The information. February General meeting will be a collaborative effort of the society and Brian Ryder will be the Burlington Public Library. We are glad to accept your 2012 partnering with the Friends of renewal at the February Freeman Station to restore and relocate the Freeman station. We partnered with the Burlington Horticultural Society and the City Arborist to get provincial recognition of the Historic, Allview White Oak Tree. Happy Currently we are partnering with 100th Heritage Burlington to preserve and designate the Panton Homestead in Birthday Kilbride. There are many more ong time instances were we are working with L member of other groups within the city to further BHS Herma our mandate. Bailey will celebrated her 100th birthday It is our plan to see that your on Sunday January 22nd with a party at society is much more that just monthly thee Burlington Seniors’ Centre. She was meetings. It’s strength is in it’s born January 30, 1912 and started dedicated volunteers who are working teaching in a Saskatchewan one room to make Burlington the place that school during the early 1930’s. remembers its history .

2 BHS GAZETTE EDITOR’S NOTE I have long been suspicious of the urban legend which credits the name Burlington to the misspelling of Bridlington. Knowing that the name Burlington was used elsewhere in North America I spent some time researching other locations in North America that use the name Burlington. I found cities and towns called Burlington in Newfoundland, Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado, Washington, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, Kansas. As well, Burlington counties are found in California and New Jersey, Townships are found in New York and Kansas. One night after a LACAC meeting, in discussion with a fellow member I discovered that he had the same view as I did in regard to our city’s name. Below is an article he wrote outlining his theory.

Is Burlington Really a Misspelling of Bridlington? Robert Lyng

he name Burlington is often attributed An early patron of Handel, he also encour- T to be a misspelling of the name Brid- aged the production of Italian opera in Lon- lington, allegedly the name assigned by John don.” Graves Simcoe to the bay and heights at the The peerage Burlington ceases when he Head-of-the-Lake. This attribution is dubi- dies in 1753 without a male heir. However, ous. It fails to recognize that the name Bur- his only child, Charlotte Elizabeth, married lington was well known in Simcoe’s era. the very successful William Cavendish, 4th And it fails to recognize the practice, carried Duke of Devonshire and Lord Lieutenant of out by Simcoe himself, of naming places to Ireland (1775), First Lord of the Treasury & honour important or powerful people of the Prime Minister (1756). Their third son, a con- day. temporary of John Graves Simcoe, was Burlington is recognized in English George Augustus Henry Cavendish. George peerage extending back to 1664. But it is Cavendish was owner of extensive lands in Richard Boyle (1695-1753), 3rd Earl of Bur- southern England, particularly as a result of lington and 4th Earl of Cork, a highly ac- his marriage to Elizabeth Compton, the heir- complished and influential architect, that ess of the 7th Earl of Northampton. When brings the name to prominence. George Cavendish was later elevated to peer- The National Portrait Gallery says of Rich- age in 1834, he resurrected the title 1st Earl of ard Boyle: Burlington – evidently in honour of his mater- “Burlington's profound architectural knowl- nal lineage. edge and his position in society made him Undoubtedly, Simcoe would have been the arbiter of English architectural taste. keenly aware of the power and prestige of the Called 'The Apollo of the Arts' by Horace Cavendish family. Following his own exam- Walpole, he was inspired by the work of Pal- ple in naming Dundas after his friend Henry ladio and Inigo Jones and promoted the Pal- Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, and naming ladian style, a reaction against the Baroque. (Continued on page 4)

3 BHS GAZETTE

(Continued from page 3) York, the present day Toronto, in honour of Frederick, Duke of York, George III’s second son, Simcoe’s naming of features at the Head-of-the-Lake as Burlington Bay and Burlington Heights was almost certainly in- tended to honour or ingratiate himself with Cavendish. Bestowing such an honour upon the Cavendish, whose land holdings in southern England were in the vicinity of Exeter, where Simcoe eventually acquired his own estate, more likely reveals Simcoe’s good career planning rather than a later misspelling of Bridlington.

Robert Lyng was a member of Heritage Burlington LACAC and Chair of the Heri- tage Properties Sub Committee.

Editor’s note; Coincidentally George Cavendish and John Simcoe were born and died the same years. ****

Check out the societies web site at www.burlingtonhistoricalsociety.ca

4 BHS GAZETTE Two Past Presidents Pass Mary Frances Fraser Florence Meares

lorence passed away at Joseph Brant F Hospital on November 10th. She was 97. Florence was named Burlington’s Citizen of the Year for 1987 and the International Year of the Older Person for Burlington South in 1999. She won an Ontario Residential Care ary was born in London ON, June 2, Association Award in 2001 and was named M 1921, passed away peacefully at Ontario Retired Person of the Year in 2002. Joseph Brant Hospital Friday December 23, Her teaching career spanned 40 years 2011. Wife of the late Duncan Fraser. Mary starting in the one-room school at Fisher’s is survived by four children. corner in 1934. Her unflagging efforts in documenting Ms. Meares, who never married, went on local history resulted in a provincial award to become the first female principal appointed for outstanding achievement in volunteerism. by the Burlington Board of Education when Mary was involved in many projects she became principale of Kilbride Public including the Historical Society, the Joseph School in 1960. She later became principal at Brant Museum and Burlington’s Lakeshore P.S. and lastly at Elizabeth Gardens Architectural Conservation Advisory Elementary. Committee. Intense lobbying led by Mary Florence was so respected in the convinced Burlington City Council to community that a school called the Florence purchase Ireland House in the 1980s. She Meares Public School, was named after her., also produced an inventory of historic located on Berwick Drive. It opened in 2002. buildings. Mary was named Burlington’s At the time the board was deciding the name of Citizen of the year in 1984 for her work in the school the Historical Society, The Nelson documenting and preserving local history. Women’s Institute and many individual ballots Mary served as President of BHS in supported Florence's nomination. 1983 Florence served as President of BHS in 1987. 5 Volume 4 Issue 6 BHS GAZETTE The following is taken from the Garden of Canada book Printed about 1902. The property, located on Carolyn Street is the current location of Wellington Square United Church.

"SUNNYSIDE," RESIDENCE OF D. P. CROSBY, ESQ., BURLINGTON. FOR SALE VALUABLE FRUIT FARM IN THE

VILLAGE OF BURLINGTON Consisting of twelve and a half acres, is situated in the Village of Burlington, County of Halton, one of the finest fruit-growing districts in Ontario.

SOIL. The soil is sandy loam, all well underdrained, and specially adapted for farming, gardening and fruit growing.

FRUIT. Excellent orchard, consisting of 8 acres; 250 apple trees, all bearing; 225 pear trees, all bearing; 375 plum trees; 15 peach trees, also one acre of grapes.

BUILDINGS, ETC.---Large frame dwelling, as seen in photo, in excellent condition and nicely painted; also large barn, as illustration; cellar, full size; lumber room, cow stable, large box stall, hennery, all painted. Two large cisterns, and a never-failing well (excellent water).

The whole front of the farm is adorned with different varieties of shade and ornamental trees.

The situation of the property is very desirable. It is within 80 rods of the wharf, where boats call daily for fruit shipments to Toronto; one mile from G.T.R. Station, and within five minutes walk of churches, schools and the Radial Electric Railway Station. Price, $8,000. Easy terms. For further particulars apply to D. P. CROSBY, Box 43, Burlington, Ont. 6 BHS GAZETTE West Plains United Church Celebrates 140 Years

2011 marked the 140th year of West Plains United Church congregation. The congregation first began as a Methodist Episcopal Church. After the generous donation of a piece of land on which to build a church a small white structure with seating for 90 people was erected. The church was constructed at a cost of $400 and first opened it’s doors in 1878. In 1884 the congregation of 25 members joined the Union Methodist Churches and in 1925, West Plains became a congregation of the United Church of Canada. On Sunday October 23, 2011 the present congregation celebrated its 140th year with a special service and potluck lunch. Current members, previous ministers and friends enjoyed a inspiring message by Laurie Atkins. Displays of memorabilia provided for lots of reminiscing following a delicious lunch.

The current West Plains Church located at 549 Plains Road West was constructed in 1930.

SHARE A GOOD THING BRING A FRIEND TO OUR NEXT MEETING

7 BHS GAZETTE

Burlington Historical Society Executive Pres. Les Armstrong 905 637 2270 1st Vice Pres. Alan Harrington 905 319 4277 2nd Vice Pres. TBD Secretary Noreen McNairn 905 637 6400 Treasurer Brian Ryder 905 336 2105 Past Pres. Dave Morris 905 336 6503 Dir. Digital Archiving Jane Irwin 905 637 7266

Convenors

Greeting Cards- Ann Wingfield Hug Representative-Les Armstrong Heritage Burlington Representatives -Jane Ann Newson and James Clemens Membership Team- Brian Ryder and Ken Davy Newsletter Editor- Les Armstrong Plaques- Alan Harrington Programs- Ken Davy Promotion- Display Team Judy McNairn Publications- Judy McNairn Publicity- Dave Morris and Ken Davy Telephone Committee- Iris Davy Web Site- Dave Morris

Volunteer Archivists Alan Norton Heather Mace Marianne Hubbs Peggy Armstrong Pat Taylor

Membership Application

Name Telephone

Address

City Postal Code

Email Address Membership dues (Please check which one) New Member Renewal

Family: $40.00 Single: $30.00 Senior: $25.00

The Burlington Historical Society’s

Gazette Preserving Burlington’s History for Today and Tomorrow Volume 7 Issue 5 May 2012 Coming Events

Bank Robbery Executive Meeting

Monday May 7th - 7:00 PM Bullets Fly on Brant Street History Room Burlington Central Library

General Meeting Bank Employee Shot

Monday May 14th -7:00 PM Centennial Room Burlington Central Library High Speed Car Chase Through Town Share a good thing Bring a friend to Robber Wounded in Gun Battle the next General Meeting

General Meeting Program What’s Inside War Of 1812 Page 2 President’s Report Speaker Page 3 Gun Fight on Brant St. Ken Weber Page 4 Memorial Fund

Page 5 New Life for Greenwood Monday, MAY 14th, 2012 Meeting at 7:00 PM Page 6 Web site Burlington Central Library Page 7 100 years ago Centennial Room

Page 8 Executive Council

BHS GAZETTE President’s Report This past month has been full of exciting There were also two recent events that historical events. I’m are significant to the heritage of Burlington. sure that many have First the donation of land by Lorne McMillan gotten about all they for the expansion of Greenwood Cemetery, needed on TV about and directly influencing our society was the the tragedy of the bequest of the Jessie Helen Lee Memorial Titanic. If you are Archive Fund. The latter will help our society fulfill its main goal, the preservation of Les Armstrong like me, the events of that fateful voyage Burlington’s History. hold a fascination that knows no bounds. After one of the programs which had stated the location of the wreckage I got to wondering just how close I had come on my Central Public School sailing adventure across the Atlantic Ocean to the disaster site. I got out the chart I had Turns 100 used on my crossing and plotted the location of the Titanic disaster. I found that my course line exactly crossed the spot where the Titanic went down. It was during one of the storms we encountered on our crossing so I’m just as glad that I didn’t know the significance of the location at the time. The other historical event that is ongoing this year is the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Surprisingly this war that has not had much publicity in the past has BHS Photo garnered much interest. This seems to be borrn out by the increased attendance at our Burlington School Board 1912 monthly meeting when the topic is about the War. Central Public School is celebrating its One of the projects that some members 100th birthday in September. They are of our Society have been working on is in asking former students and teachers with identifying the burial place of local residents memorabilia from the school such as who served in the war of 1812. So far the photos, yearbooks or awards to contact draft report is 52 pages in length. Research the anniversary committee at 905-592- has found the units that men served in, where 9452 or email they are buried, and some genealogical facts. [email protected]. Eventually the grave sites of these veterans will be marked as veterans of the war. This war, although started by the Americans when they invaded Canada, was the only war the Burlington Americans lost in North America. If you Loves doubt that they lost the war of 1812 bear in mind that had they won we would now all be Heritage Americans.

2 BHS GAZETTE

By LesGun Armstrong Fight on Brant Street pril fool’s Day, 1959... It was no April cruiser was forced off the road by the fleeing A Fool’s Day joke when at 11:30 AM two crooks. The chase reached speeds in excess of masked gunmen rushed into the Caroline and 90 miles per hour. Trafalgar police set up a Brant Street branch of the Imperial Bank, road block by parking two transport trucks on one going into the office of Mr. William the Tansley Bridge. The crooks then headed Pizer, the manager and the other approaching south on Orchard Road. When they got to the teller’s cage. Mrs Bernice Slack who was Upper Middle Road the car ended up in the working at the rear of the Bank, having seen ditch. One crook was apprehended under the the men putting on their masks at the car. He was found to be wounded in the doorway, pushed the alarm button and then shoulder. ducked to the floor. The second bandit headed out on the Andre Michels the bank’s accountant run across a plowed field with Constable grabbed the bank revolver and ordered the Alferink in hot pursuit. The gunman turned men out. Rather than leaving, the bandits and fired shots at the Constable from about opened fire and a gunfight ensued. Standing 150 feet away. Constable Al McQueen of the face to face, the robbers and Mr. Michels OPP Waterdown detachment emptied his gun exchanged thirteen shots with both Mr. at the fleeing man but missed. By now other Michels and one of the gunmen being police had surrounded the field and when wounded. The accountant was later treated in Chief Fred Oliver of the Trafalgar force fired St Joseph’s Hospital. One bullet went out the two shots into the ground at his feet the front window of the bank and entered the gunman surrendered. apartment window across Brant Street. After two remands, Gilbert and After the exchange of gunfire the Gordon Tait were sentenced to 15 and 10 robbers rushed out of the bank to a waiting years at hard labour in Kingston Penitentiary. car and sped north on Brant Street. The first In total 45 shots were fired in the bank police officer responding to the alarm was and during the chase. Constable Robert Alferink. A citizen gave him a description of the getaway car and the first three digits of the plate number and which way it went. When Alferink got to Freeman there was the getaway car stopped by a train crossing Brant Street. When the constable approached the car it sped off. He tried to shoot a tire but missed. A high speed chase ensued. The crooks sped west on the QEW and turned toward the Skyway. They then reversed their course and backtracked to Plains Road. Travelling west they turned up the Waterdown Road and reaching the Dundas Highway, turned east. Other police forces were now alerted B.H.S. photo and joining in on the chase. Several shots Nineteen year old Patricia Bye beside a bullet were fired at the fleeing car by both shattered window. Patricia the bank’s teller Burlington Police and the OPP. An OPP faced the gunmen. 3 BHS GAZETTE Jessie Helen Lee Memorial Archive Fund

n April 9th the Burlington Historical society received a bequest in memory of former O member Jessie Helen Lee to be used for the education of archivists and the employment of summer students interested in archival opportunities. Mrs. Lee and her husband Jack were long time residents of Burlington. Jessie was the last of the original residents of the Regency Survey in Burlington having resided on Halifax Place from 1948 until her move to Sunrise Nursing Home. She was the daughter of Dr. Henderson Bryce of Kelowna, British Columbia and is survived by two sons Bryce Lee, a member of our society and David Lee of Houston Texas and her granddaughter Catherine Helen Lee of Boston Massachusetts. Editors note, “This bequest is a most worthy memorial to Mrs Lee. It comes at a time when our archives is in need of expert work because of the influx of important archive material. The executive has set up a separate memorial account in Mrs. Lee’s name. Details of the dispersal of the funds will be worked out and the activities associated with the fund will start in 2013”. The Society is indebted to Bryce Lee for this bequest in honour of his mother.

4 BHS GAZETTE New Lease On Life For Greenwood Cemetery

Hamilton Spectator Photo

orne McMillan has added at least 30 years to the active life of Greenwood L Cemetery. The 123 year old cemetery is almost filled to capacity. Mr. McMillan has donated a two acre plot of his farm to the city of Burlington cemetery. The land, worth an estimated 2.1 million dollars is situated on the western boundary of Greenwood. The original farm was purchased in 1900 by John Alexander McMillan and the farm home was constructed in 1906. Lorne is the fourth generation to farm the land. Burlington’s Mayor Rick Goldring said the city was impressed with his generosity and called it a “a real significant gift to the city”. Mr. McMillan is keeping three quarters of an acre so that he will still be able to grow his fruit and vegetables.

5 Volume 4 Issue 6 BHS GAZETTE

www.burlingtonhistoricalsociety.ca/

It’s Your Web Site – What do you want to see more of?

The Burlington Historical Society’s web site has been up and running since late 2010. Since its inception the home page has been “hit” over 15,600 times. This is quite a bit of traffic! At the time much consideration went into what you the members wanted to see on the web site. Now coming up to its second anniversary it is time for you the members to tell us what else you would like to see. It is your web site. Perhaps you would like to see more visual montages like the one on weddings or you would like to see more old houses. How about an expanded local history story page or perhaps a member of the month? How about a picture and description of a piece from the archive collection? We have a number of ideas now but really want to hear from you first before we spend any time making changes. Ideally we would like to unveil the updated site in late summer. If you have any ideas (small or large) send a note to Dave Morris by e mail [email protected]

6 BHS GAZETTE

Anyone wishing to contribute to this loyal The Burlington Gazette project, please send donations to James Harrison, Box 3, Burlington. It will be a useful asset to 100 years ago Burlington. Sealed Tenders The committee are not able to complete Bulk and separate Tenders will be arrangements this week owing to the absence of received at the offices of Munro & Mead His Honor Sir John Gibson who will not return Architects, Hamilton up to 12 o’clock noon, from the United States till next Saturday, but the Friday, April 12th, for various trades required in Secretary has heard from his Aide-de-Camp the erection of a Major Stanley saying that he will let the Public School at Burlington, Ontario committee know next Monday the time that His Plans and specifications may be seen at Honor will arrive here, but it will probably be so the office of the Architects, and at the office of that the opening ceremony will take place at 2:30 Mr. H.J. Blair, Burlington. on the afternoon of Arbor Day, Friday, May 3rd. The lowest or any tender not necessarily We hope Burlington residents keep this date in accepted. mind and as many as possible be present at the Mr. Ed Dickenson has installed an Up-To opening. Get your flags and bunting ready and -Date Hygiene soda water fountain and counter, make Burlington show itself worthy of the which will enable him to cater to his patrons occasion. better than ever the coming season. Besides the handsome fountain, the various compartments Spectator May 3, 1912 consist of five ice cream cans, twelve syrup lifts for different flavours, six fruit bowls, two cooling systems for ice drinks and cracked ice, automatic tumbler washer and sink for dishes. The counter is marble with marble base and oak front. He has put in new tables and chairs. The new outfit adds much to the appearance of the interior of the store. NOTICE Mr. Wm. Hannon begs to announce that he has opened up business in his barn as temporary premises until the new building is Ontario Archives erected on the lot on the corner of Pine and John Streets. Have just received a car of horse “Friday, May 2nd will long be remembered by feed and chicken feed, and will be pleased to residents of the pretty little lake town of receive orders for same. A car of hay expected Burlington. Several months ago James Harrison, this week. of Burlington, conceived the commendable idea KING EDWARD FOUNTAIN FUND of erecting a public drinking fountain to be The Secretary acknowledges with many known as the King Edward Memorial. The big thanks the following donations. occasion of yesterday, on which occasion the Rev. Jas. Kendall, $1.00 fountain was unveiled and declared open for Mr. A. Hager, $1.00 public use by his Honor, Lieut.-Governor Sir J. Messrs A. Coates & Sons $5.00 Gibson, in the presence of about four thousand Mr. W.H. Easterbook $2.00 people, marked the closing point of the work of Mr. Stanley Dynes $1.00 the committee.”

7 BHS GAZETTE

Burlington Historical Society Executive Pres. Les Armstrong 905 637 2270 1st Vice Pres. Alan Harrington 905 319 4277 2nd Vice Colin Morley 905 634 1477 Secretary Noreen McNairn 905 637 6400 Treasurer Brian Ryder 905 336 2105 Past Pres. Dave Morris 905 336 6503 Dir. Digital Archiving Jane Irwin 905 637 7266 Convenors Greeting Cards- Anne Wingfield Hug Representative-Les Armstrong Heritage Burlington Representatives -Jane Ann Newson and James Clemens Membership Team- Brian Ryder and Ken Davy Newsletter Editor- Les Armstrong Plaques- Alan Harrington Programs- Ken Davy Promotion- Display Team Judy McNairn Publications- Judy McNairn Publicity- Dave Morris and Ken Davy Telephone Committee- Iris Davy Web Site- Dave Morris Volunteer Archivists Alan Norton Heather Mace Marianne Hubbs Peggy Armstrong Pat Taylor Marilyn McBride Membership Application

Name Telephone

Address

City Postal Code

Email Address Membership dues (Please check which one)

New Member Renewal

Family: $40.00 Single: $30.00 Senior: $25.00

The Burlington Historical Society’s

Gazette Preserving Burlington’s History for Today and Tomorrow

Volume 7 Issue 6 SEPTEMBER 2012 Coming Events

Executive Meeting

Tuesday Sept. 4th - 7:00 PM History Room Burlington Central Library

General Meeting

Monday Sept. 10th -7:00 PM Centennial Room Burlington Central Library

Share a good thing Bring a friend to the next General Meeting Sir Isaac Brock, The hero of Upper Canada.

General Meeting What’s Inside Program

Page 2 President Report Life & Legacy of Isaac Brock

Page 3 Heat Wave Speaker

Page 4 Stolen Pigs Webb Turner

Page 5 LePatourel’s Fire Monday, September 10th, 2012 Page 6 Train Station Meeting at 7:00 PM Burlington Central Library Page 7 S.S. Turbinia Centennial Room Page 8 Executive Council BHS GAZETTE President’s Report In the May issue of outcome of this situation. Thanks again for the Gazette we printing the article. recounted the story of the bank robbery on Yours truly, Brant Street and the subsequent shootout Robert Alferink, Staff Sergeant (Ret) between the bandits Halton Regional Police Service. and the police. (Formerly Burlington Police Dept) Les Armstrong Shortly after the publication of the Prompted by the story in our newsletter story I received an email from Robert of May, which was reprinted in the Burlington Alferink. I would like to share it with you as Post, the Thursday July 19th issue of the a most suitable postscript to the story Burlington Post featured yet another story, initiated by the Gazette’s story. It related the Dear Sir, experiences of Constable Jack Petrarca, one Thank you for choosing and of the other police officers involved in the reprinting the "Gun Fight on Brant Bonnie & Clyde type chase and capture of the St." article of April 1/1959. I recall this nefarious bank robbers. occurrence vividly including the license **** number of the get away car being 54559D, a Three of our member were honoured in commercial plate placed on a 1953 July when they were awarded the Queen's Chevrolet both stolen from Hamilton. Jubilee medals. Jane Irwin and Wynne The 45cal. handguns were obtained Stewart were awarded the medals for their by the culprits after a violent robbery and active interest in heritage downtown and vicious assault on an elderly security heritage issue over the decades. Don Smith guard at the Hamilton Armouries, on received his award for his work with seniors Burlington St. in Hamilton Ont., during and health care in Burlington. which he was severely beaten and injured. I have always considered myself **** very fortunate that I was not injured or killed In September we will continue our that day which may be partly due to my review of the events surrounding the war of being 6'3" tall and weighing only 135 lbs 1812 when Webb Turner talks to us about the and according to my colleagues the reason Canadian Hero of the war of 1812, Sir Isaac for not being struck by the many bullets fired Brock. The war of 1812, is one of the only at me must have been that I was standing two wars of aggression that I know of, that the sideways! In any event my shooting abilities U.S. of A instigated and lost. As Canadian we certainly improved after that time. don’t often celebrate our successes but after Now retired and living in Nova 200 years it’s fitting that we acknowledge Scotia's Annapolis Valley with my wife, I was those who gave us our freedom. pleased to see the printed article which was sent to me by several people. Until his Burlington recent death Chief Fred Oliver and myself exchanged phone calls every April 1st Loves thanking each other on the fortunate Heritage

2 BHS GAZETTE Old News from the Archives From Jane Irwin “Abraham D. ... says he did not steal 31 March 1834: any such, was at the place where the said pigs TWO SMALL PIGS STOLEN were said to be, but did not see any hogs of SUSPECT GETS OFF any kind, did not know there were any there.” ne of the best historic houses still Adolphus Peer, sworn as a witness, O standing in Burlington is “Limestone “says, he has seen a sow with 4 pigs owned Hall” at 6391 Walkers Line, built in 1853 by J. McGregor at some old buildings near J. for John McGregor. John received the McGregors, saw them yesterday morning, that patent for the lot in 1846. Before 1853, he is the 4 pigs, towards noon. He saw the and his wife Phoebe (née Zimmerman) and prisoner, A. Deforest between the old family – 10 children in the 1851 census, buildings above mentioned and his father’s ages 17, 16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8, 6, 3, and 1 – house, driving a yoke of oxen and having lived in the small frame house which now some hay on a rack, was about 6 Rods [about forms a rear addition to Limestone Hall. 30 yards] from him. When he saw him, he John was an eminently successful famer, heard a pig squale, and saw the said A. with a wide range of grains and livestock Deforest in the act of apparently catching and on his 307 acres. holding a pig and drove on the oxen smartly. Witness afterwards went to the place he had seen the said sow and pigs in the afternoon of same day, and there were but two small pigs. Thinks he could not be mistaken in the noise he heard, thinks it was a pig he heard squale on the rack.” “C. Harris Constable states that he apprehended the said A. D. this day at his father’s residence, that made search on the

Limestone Hall

On 31 March 1834 John McGregor made an oath before William McCay, Justice of the Peace in Hannahsville or Nelson, to say that on the previous day, “divers goods of him ... to wit, two small pigs, were feloniously stolen, taken and carried away from an open place near the premises of him ... and that he hath just cause to suspect, and doth suspect that Abraham Deforest of Nelson aforesaid, Labourer (a Minor), did steal, take and carry away the same.” Abraham Deforest was age 15 at the time. Continued on page 4

3 BHS GAZETTE Heat Wave-Summer of 1936

uring the second week of July 1936 a Many functions were called off. The D heat wave hovered over this district Hume Theatre was closed on account of the as well as the province in general. Even the heat. Residents flocked to the lakeside in the oldest of old-timers could evening in an endeavor to not recall such a heat wave cool off, and many slept on and dry spell. All high lawns during the night. records of temperature were Ice-cream dealers and broken as the thermometer pop manufacturers did travelled over the one bumper business, however hundred mark. 105 was many dealers lost their stated as high for this district chocolates as they melted in recorded on Thursday (9 the cases. Only those taken to July 1936) a basement survived the heat. With the heat came a Mr. Guy Munson one continued dry spell. Many of Burlington’s “Bee” farmers faced total crop farmers lost about a hundred failure. Gooseberries, currents and bees. The heat caused the honey to melt and raspberries cooked on the vines. Many the bees were drowned in the honey. farmers had to lay off help, as with their At least one death related to heat was crops burnt up, there was no work for them reported in the Burlington Gazette. to do. ****

Continued from Stolen Pigs on page 3 premises but did not discover any such pig or pigs and any indications to have him to SHARE A GOOD THING suppose any such had been killed or dressed BRING A FRIEND TO there lately.” J. P. William McCay’s ruling was that OUR NEXT MEETING “upon examination, no proof of the charge”, and Abraham Deforest was discharged. ****

The documentation for this Old News story Check out the societies web site is from a collection of records in the Ar- chives of Ontario, which was compiled in at 1966 - 1967 as a Centennial Project by stu- www.burlingtonhistoricalsociety. dents in Grade 10 classes at Burlington Sec- ondary Schools. A printed copy of the project is in the BHS Archives.

4 BHS GAZETTE Fire at T.A. LePatourel’s Residence

From the Burlington Gazette July 1912

he residence of Mr. T.A. T LePatourel had a narrow es- cape. Without the prompt work of the newly formed fire brigade, there is no doubt the house would have been burned. About 11o’clock Mrs. LePatourel went down cellar, and noticed there was considerable smoke in the place. She called her husband, and being unable the locate the trouble, he hurried to the town hall and rang the fire alarm. Chief Nicholson and his men were on the scene in The LePatourel’s house was moved from Elizabeth Street about three minutes. The Chief to 247 Malvern Road when it faced demolition in 1978 first broke through the plaster in the sitting room near the fire place, and here the kitchen, and soon In 1880 Tom found the fire burning quite merrily. He then extinguished the blaze. LePatourel bought the attached a small garden hose to the tap in A hole was also broken drug store at Brant and in the partition upstairs Pine Streets (now 361 and water poured in. Brant), graduating in The water from the hy- the first class of the drant was turned on, Ontario College of but was not used, which Pharmacy in 1890. His saved the interior of the daughter Daisy house from being dam- (Marion), a later aged by water. It is sup- graduate from OCP, posed the fire had eaten eventually took over through the mortar in the drugstore. Tom the fire place and ig- LePatourel was Bell nited the lath and stud- Telephone's first ding. The fire burned company agent for the up the partition and in a village, providing few minutes would switchboard service have reached the garret. himself before 1900, The loss is estimated at on weekdays from 8 $50.00 Mr. LePatourel a.m. to 9 p.m. and on is loud in his praise of Sundays from 2 to 4 the promptness and p.m. Mary, Tom and Daisy LePatourel in front splendid work of the of their home ,decorated for the queens fire brigade. jubilee in 1897 **** 5 BHS GAZETTE

The Burlington Gazette Friends Of Freeman 100 years ago Station, City Sign Lease August 28, 1912 With Ashland New Industry for Burlington The Friends of Freeman Station (FOFS) and the Large American Concern to City of Burlington have signed a lease with Establish Here Ashland Canada Inc. for a portion of Ashland's Through the effort of Reeve M.C. Smith land located just east of the Fire Station the town has secured a new live industry. For Headquarters at 1255 Fairview Street. the past several weeks our Reeve has been The land will be used by FOFS to re-locate quietly working on the matter, and it was finally and restore the historic Freeman Station, which closed on Thursday last, when the heads of the will remain the property of the City of concern were here and purchased about five Burlington. The lease is for a term of three years, acres of land from Mr. Joseph Anderson, and with the possibility of extension by mutual paid down a substantial deposit. The property is agreement. located along the Grand Trunk Railway close to FOFS board members wish to thank the the Niagara Brand Spray Co’s. factory. The staff at Ashland for their generosity in providing concern which manufactures chemicals, owns the land for a token fee of $1.00. two large factories in the United States, and will While the station is being restored FOFS establish their Canadian Branch here. Their will continue its efforts to find a permanent home architect accompanied by a surveyor, has been and use for it. at work on the property, and the plans for the The group is currently in negotiations with factory are being prepared. It is expected work the City about the re-location of the station to the will be commenced on the erection of the new site. They are looking for donations of building inside of two weeks, and the structure materials for the construction of a foundation for will be rushed to completion as speedily as the building, a large shipping container for possible. The concern will give employment all storage, and the use of equipment for grading the the year round, and will start out with about site. All donations will be gratefully twenty-five hands, which number will be acknowledged and tax receipts are available. gradually increased as the business demands. Please contact [email protected]. Reeve Smith is receiving the The Friends of Freeman Station is a non- congratulations from the citizens generally upon profit community group and registered charity, his success in landing the industry. whose aim is to relocate, restore and preserve the historic Freeman Station for the enjoyment of Editors comment current and future generations. The Freeman Station, built in 1906 by the Grand Trunk

Railway, has been recognized for its architectural The American company, Ashland Chemicals and historic significance by the Historic Sites have been a significant part of our community and Monuments Board of Canada, the Ontario for 100 years. Recently they have shown Ministry of Culture and Heritage Burlington. continuing support for the community by More information at: www.freemanstation.ca. making available to the City a part of their property facing on Fairview Street for he temporary home of the Freeman Station while it is being restored.

6 BHS GAZETTE S.S. Turbinia Enters Burlington Bay June 19, 1904

une 19, 1904 the $175,000 Turbinia The service lasted several J appeared in Burlington Bay to great summers, until a growing number of fanfare. The steamer arrived to begin automobiles and paved roads caused regular passenger service between people to lose interest in water travel Toronto and Hamilton. between the two cities. The Spectator reported the During the First World War the arrival “was announced by the firing Turbinia returned to England and was off of a cannon and the blowing of used to ferry soldiers across the whistles along the waterfront. Her English Channel to France. approach was heralded miles away Burlington’s famous resident out on the lake by shafts of light sent John Moodie’s hobby was being a out by her powerful searchlight, and passenger on ocean liners maiden she made the turn in the bay coming voyages. John and his partner Timothy into the company’s new wharf. There Eaton were passengers on the were thousands of people along the Turbinia’s maiden voyage from shore and on the wharf ready and England. Of the many maiden voyages willing to cheer lustily” Moodie took, he did miss Titanic’s.

7 BHS GAZETTE

Convenors

Greeting Cards- Anne Wingfield Hug Representative-Les Armstrong Heritage Burlington Representatives -Jane Ann Newson and James Clemens Membership Team- Brian Ryder and Ken Davy Newsletter Editor- Les Armstrong Plaques- Alan Harrington Programs- Ken Davy Promotion- Display Team Judy McNairn Publications- Judy McNairn Publicity- Dave Morris and Ken Davy Telephone Committee- Iris Davy Web Site- Dave Morris

Volunteer Archivists Alan Norton Heather Mace Marianne Hubbs Peggy Armstrong Pat Taylor Marilyn McBride Membership Application

Name Telephone

Address

City Postal Code

Email Address Membership dues (Please check which one) New Member Renewal

Family: $40.00 Single: $30.00 Senior: $25.00 I wish to make a donation to the society in the sum of A tax receipt will be issued for all donations totalling $25.00 above the cost of membership. Please complete and mail this application, making your cheque payable to: The Burlington Historical Society Membership Convener PO Box 93164 1450 Headon Road Burlington, Ontario.8 L7M 4A3

The Burlington Historical Society’s

Gazette Preserving Burlington’s History for Today and Tomorrow

Volume 8 Issue 6 November 2012 Coming Events

Executive Meeting

Monday Nov. 5th - 7:00 PM History Room Burlington Central Library

General Meeting

Monday Nov. 12th -7:00 PM Centennial Room Burlington Central Library

Share a good thing

Bring a friend to On December 24th, 1814 the signing of the Treaty of Ghent brought to an the next end the war between Britain and the United States of America. The War of 1812 started with the invasion of Canada by US troops. General Meeting Our speaker on November 12th will tell us who won the war.

General Meeting

Program What’s Inside

Who Won the War of 1812? Page 2 President’s Report Speaker

Page 3 In Flanders Field Ron Dale Page 4 Juno Beach Monday, November 12th, 2012 Page 5 Caldwell Prize Meeting at 7:00 PM

Page 6 Letters From France Burlington Central Library Centennial Room Page 7 Letters Continued

Page 8 Executive BHS GAZETTE President’s Report Good news on the effort to save the historic Freeman Station. At its meeting on Oct. 15th the City Council passed a motion that breathes new life into the station. The “APPROVAL OF A JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT WITH FRIENDS OF FREEMAN STATION” authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign the Joint Venture Agreement with the Friends of Freeman Station subject to approval of the General Manager of Development and Infrastructure and the City Solicitor; and authorize the use of the funds in capital account MB0124 for the purpose of Les Armstrong relocating the station to the Ashland lands subject to execution of the Joint Venture Agreement. There are still some hoops to go through before the station is located on the Ahsland site and restoration can commence, but the process has really started. In keeping with the long standing tradition of your Society's commitment to the saving of historically significant buildings in Burlington, like the Ireland House and Joseph Brant Museums a commitment of $10,000 dollars has been pledged to the restoration of the station. In addition the Society will match individual member’s donations to a total of $5,000 dollars. Your help in this worthwhile project will be appreciated. To make sure that you donation earns double the money make sure you make it through the Society. Make your cheque out to the Burlington Historical Society and mark it plainly to the Freeman Station and send it to our treasurer Brian Ryder.

Membership Merry Christmas Memberships are for the calendar year, January 1st to December 31st each year. 2013 renewals are now Remember that there is no meeting being accepted. It would be a big in December. help if you would use the form in Have a wonderful Holiday Season the Gazette and mark it renewal. and This is essential if you have any We hope to see you all in the new change in information. Year.

2 BHS GAZETTE

In Flanders Fields McCrae's "In Flanders Fields" remains to this "I wish I could embody on paper some of the day one of the most memorable war poems varied sensations of that seventeen days... Seventeen ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we of 1915. Here is the story of the making of that would have folded our hands and said it could not poem: French, and Germans -- in the Ypres have been done." salient. Although he had been a doctor for One death particularly affected McCrae. A young years and had served in the South African friend and former student, Lieut. Alexis Helmer of War, it was impossible to get used to the Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May suffering, the screams, and the blood there, 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in and Major John McCrae had seen and heard the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, enough in his dressing station to last him a and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in lifetime. the absence of the chaplain. As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, who had parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de joined the McGill faculty in 1900 after l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, graduating from the University of Toronto, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. had spent seventeen days treating injured men The major was no stranger to writing, having -- Canadians, British, Indians. It had been an authored several medical texts besides dabbling in ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. poetry. McCrae later wrote of it: (Continued on page 4) 3 BHS GAZETTE

took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young NCO. Allinson was moved (Flanders Fields Continued from page 3) by what he read: "The poem was an exact description of the scene in In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the front of us both. He used the word blow in that line wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that because the poppies actually were being blown that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me in a notebook. just an exact description of the scene." A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow was delivering mail that day when he spotted officer retrieved it and sent it to newspapers in England. McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson The Spectator, in London, rejected it, but Punch published approached, then went on writing while the it on 8 December 1915. sergeant-major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as he wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave." When McCrae finished five minutes later, he Juno Beach, June 6, 1944

4 BHS GAZETTE Handmade Christmas Workshop at Ireland House Wednesday, November 28th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $40 per person Pre-registration is required - only 30 spaces available. Participants are asked to bring their own garden shears and a garbage bag. All other supplies provided. The evening includes the greenery workshop which will be lead by the Burlington Horticultural Society; Elizabeth Crozier has taught at the RBG in the past and is a horticultural judge. Also included is a guided Christmas tour of Ireland House and refreshments made on the hearth (cookies and wassail). The workshop can only hold 15 participants at a time .

Please contact Brianne Crites for more information.

The President presented the Helen Caldwell Award to Olivia Pare at the graduation ceremony held for Central High School on October 5th. The prize to be awarded annually is the first one awarded from the legacy bequeathed by Helen Caldwell. The prize is awarded to the graduating student with the highest achievement in grade 12 history. The award honours not solely the highest mark, but the student that embodies a passion and curiosity for history.

5 BHS GAZETTE

During World War One the Burlington Gazette published letters received from Burlington men who were fighting in France. The following are reprints of two of those letters.

Letter From Battlefield through you, the first Mayor, Mac. Smith. I hope he will turn out successful, and during Sanitary Squad, P. P. C. L. I. his term of office succeed in making British Exped. Force, Burlington one of the most prosperous towns Jan. 24th, 1915, in Ontario. Dear Mr. Harris, I have just been interrupted in writing this I suppose you are wondering in Burlington letter to go and have a nice warm bath, and how things are going on out here in France. although it is not so comfortable as one in a I first want to thank the people of family bath in Burlington, it was very Burlington for the help they have been kind acceptable, and also managed to get a change enough to give my wife and family since I of underclothing. I don’t think there is any have been away, especially Mr. Allen for more to tell you this time, except to wish you all his kindness and trouble. Well I suppose a happy and prosperous New Year. you have seen by the papers that the Pats Yours sincerely, have at last got one in against the Germans. I can tell you that it’s pretty thick, not only Pte. CRIPPS, P.P.C.L.I. the fighting, but the mud and water. We relieved (name erased by censor) in the NOTE: Mr. Harris was editor of the middle of the night, and groped our way Burlington Gazette into the trenches, and were at once up to our knees in mud and water that was very cold. We anxiously waited for daylight and Letter from Corp. E. J. Summers saw the German trenches only 120 yds. away, and we did our best to knock out as West Sandling Camp, many Germans as we could see, but they are very good at taking cover, and it is very Kent, England, hard to get a good shot. In all the time we th were subjected to a pretty stiff fire from the June 4 , 1916 enemies big guns, who were throwing To the Burlington Gazette: shrapnel shell all around, and in the Dear Editor, - Just a line from a few more trenches. It was all very thrilling, and of the old Chaps who are getting chirperized though we lost a few in killed and whilst in England. I had just finished my wounded, I think on the whole that after our dinner of stewed onions, potatoes, beets, 48 hours in the trenches and 3 days reserve, bread and margarine ( a sub for butter) when we came out of it pretty well. The great Orderly Corp. came in with the Gazette. difficulty is to keep warm, and I am sorry to Well, it was sure as good to me as a good say that most of the casualties are from smoke, for I went right after it and read frost-bitten feet. We are now taking a few almost every word of it, and then passed it days rest and shall, before many hours have on to Jack Garnham, who is going to give it gone be at it again. Tell all the boys that to another tent, in which are Starr, C. before this is over we shall want all the men Stephenson and Hedges, who are going to we can possibly get to put a quick end to all pass it on to Adam Graham in the transport, the mad Kaiser’s plans. then it is going to get the measles and I see by the Gazette that Burlington has mumps in the hands of Art Brain, who is in become a town. Now let me congratulate (Continued on page 7) 6 BHS GAZETTE

(Letters Continued from page 6) While reading your paper I came across a an isolated part of the camp about twenty feet letter from Chas. Coleman, so read his parody from where we are. There I think it will never on “Tennessee”. Here’s one on get over the measles, and will die, but will be THE MEASLEY BUNCH given a soldier’s burial. Well to go on with Sure, a little bit of measles fell on Sandling the letter, we are having as good a time as can camp one day, be expected, as about a week ago the battalion And they moved us into some old tents about was placed under quarantine, so we are in for three hundred yards away. a few weeks but when we get out we are When the Dr. saw us, sure he got an awful going on pass to make up for it. We arrived scare, in West Sandling camp about 10 o’clock at He dropped some disinfectant around, and night , May 5th, and were billeted in huts, with said I’ll leave you there. thirty men to hut, but we are now in tents on a Then they painted us with iodine, just to kill hill a short ways from our first quartwers. the germs, you know, While in huts we were under training by You can tell it by the smell, no matter where officers and N.C.O.’s of the 39th Batt., but our you go. Col. J. Ballantyne, who is a gentleman and a And then they put a guard around us, we were soldier every inch, raised a kick and we left not to cross the line, them, and are on our own hook now, and And when they had it finished, sure they might say better off. Our training here is called it quarantine. good, but very hard, our hours being from 5:30 in the morning until 10:15 at night. Our Well, I think I have told you all for now, so working hours are from 6 to 7, drill; 7 to 8:15, will close. Kindly remember us to all. breakfast and clean up 8:15 to noon. drill; We are as ever, noon hour, 12 to 1 dinner; 1 to 5, drill; the rest The Boys of the 76th of the day to ourselves. For ten days we were Per Corpl. E. J. Summers up at 3 a. m. to go to the ranges, which are about six miles away, to shoot, and believe NOTE: Several of the “Burlington Boys” me when we get back we are pretty well tired mentioned in these letters, including Edward out. Summers, the letter writer, paid the supreme Our stay in England has been pretty well sacrifice during this war. Remember them! used up in renewing acquaintances with a few of the old Burlington chaps, namely R. N. Stephenson, Jack Church, and D. G. Henderson, who are old fourth boys. We have also met Art Allen, Harry Thomas, Walt Braham, and T. Ham So you see we are seeing a few of them. It is Sunday afternoon and is raining, so a few jokes are flying around. Jack is just beside me writing also. A few nights ago the 92nd Batt. came into camp about 300 yards from us, so we have a few more of the boys. E. A. Anderson was up to see us yesterday.

7 BHS GAZETTE

Convenors

Volunteer Archivists Alan Norton Heather Mace Marianne Hubbs Peggy Armstrong Pat Taylor Marilyn McBride Membership Application

Name Telephone

Address

City Postal Code

Email Address Membership dues (Please check which one) New Member Renewal