IInnnniissffiill NNootteess Historical Society P.O. Box 7176, Innisfil, ON L9S 1A9 www.innisfilhistorical.ca Meeting Place: Knock School Heritage Site #7756 10 Sideroad at 9th Line, Innisfil April 2016 Editor: Anita Werda [email protected]

Happy Anniversary Examiner !

For prior issues, please go to: https://sites.google.com/site/innisfilhistory/

Page 2 INNISFIL HISTORICAL SOCIETY what is now Tasmania in order to April 16th, 2016 – 2 p.m. trace out the fascinating fate of what Robert Banting will talk to us about happened to these unfortunate his Great Uncle Fred - “patriots”. FREDERICK GRANT BANTING’s life and times. The discovery of insulin is a well April 23/16- Bradford Library 2 p.m. known story - attention will be drawn to Bradford West Gwillimbury History who he really was and why the man was so successful. This year is also the 125th Assoc. “ HISTORY OF WARFARE” Anniversary of his birth - on November 14, with George Hodgson 1891 on Lot 2 Concession 2 of Essa Township . April 26th.16 – 7:30 p.m. Mr. Banting will bring along his wife Trudi, Barrie City Hall Rotunda and friends from our neighbourhood. Mr. Arnold Banting, President of Essa Four Hundred Years of Champlain in Historical Society will also attend. Simcoe County Jamie Hunter will be speaking to the ************* Bar rie Historical Association and the OTHER EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS Simcoe County Historical Association Present & past about the visit of this early explorer ESSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY to our own area in 1615, and his April 2nd, 2016 – 1:30 p.m. importance to the subsequent history WOOD CARVING – with Ron Buffett of Simcoe County. As the retired curator of the Huronia Museum in April 6th, 2016 from 2 – 4 p.m. Midland, Jamie brings a wealth of Museum on the Boyne, knowledge on this subject. 125th Celebration of Kate Aitken With a guest speaker and her books, Mark your calendar for the AGM on Meet Kate’s family, share stories of May 31st, 2016 at the Midhurst her influence on the Canadian scene. United Church with an excellent program. Details in the next Innisfil SIMCOE COUNTY HISTORICAL Notes. SOCIETY April 12th/16 – 7:30 p.m. April 30th/16 – 1:30 p.m. Barrie City Hall Rotunda ESSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY “It was all about rebellion!’ Progress of Utopia Gristmill Dr.John Carter will be giving a Speaker: Susan Antler presentation to the Barrie Historical Association and the Simcoe County April 7th, 1825 – Sir John Franklin Historical Association regarding the rested overnight at Hewson’s home, armed invasion of Canada from the and mentioned him in his diary. United States in 1838. Hundreds of Canadians were involved in this April 12th, 1838 incident, found guilty of treason and Samuel Lount and Peter Mathews are exiled to Van Diemen’s Land. hung in the jail yard near King and Dr.Carter has made many trips to Church Streets, for their part in the 1837 rebellion. ********** Page 3 Notes from our February meeting: BRIAN RODNICK, the editor of the congratulated them on their generous Barrie Examiner, shared with us the spirit. 150-year-history of this paper. Since joining in 1998, Brian has seen the And more news about Innisfil, from THE the production with layout-staff, ELMVALE CHRONICLE-August 1893 reporters and salespeople for Frogging is a new industry which advertisements, to the present direct has sprung up at Guilford. The frogs are digital layout. But, with everyone on caught at night with the aid of canoes computers, social media and and lanterns, put into a pen made in the Facebook – the readership changes. water and kept till a sufficient number is Newspapers may become available gathered for shipping. Then they are on the internet only. His presentation killed and the hind legs dressed ready for brought back memories to some the table. They are then packed in ice members who are/ were involved in and sent to Toronto, where they realize the newspaper business. Barbara forty cents a dozen. They are worth a Kissick delivered the Examiner as a dollar a pound, and are in good demand young girl for 25 cents per week. in restaurants. My memories took me back to ********************* Toronto working for the DEUTSCHE HERITAGE: BEDROCK OF OUR IDENTITY. PRESSE. It was a weekly newspaper There are few things as important as our in the German language. I had to write past. It is the foundation on which we the invoices for our advertisers on a build the future. – to quote Paul typewriter. Every Monday, Monika Lang Calandra and I had to proof-read the pages before Driving north on Yonge Street they were delivered to the printer. towards Churchill, The Lucas Store at **************** the North/West corner is a familiar sight to everyone. It had various And here is another community little businesses in the lower newspaper-writing about Innisfil: part,(we had written about this in a THE BIG BAY POINT TATTLER previous newsletter) and even the October 1st, 1994 Gray Coach bus would stop there – On September 7th, during the evening you bought your tickets there. Built Council Meeting, the Town of Innisfil in 1869, it remains a landmark. graciously accepted Big Bay Point’s On the other side,# 6273 is the Half- charitable donation to the Volunteer way House, built in 1860. It has not Firefighters of the Innisfil Fire much of an architectural feature, but Department, Alcona Division. it was once catering to the needs of Firefighter Wayne Jones, Dan Davidson travelers in the horse and buggy age. and Lori Glazin, all Big Bay Point Drinking and dining was done on the Neighborhood Committee members, ground floor, with sleeping areas presented Innisfil Fire Department Chief above. Robert Heathfield with their summertime The Innisfil Heritage Committee has charity efforts. After the presentation of placed both historic buildings on the the equipment, Mayor Stewart Fisher town’s Heritage Registry.

A little further south in Bradford Page 4 West Gwillimbury, The Elliott- SIMCOE COUNTY Watters Log House, built 1834, at A song composed by Quirt McKinney 3762 Line 12 was designated by their At Camp Rawley 1946 Heritage Committee. It is the best Simcoe County is a place of bounty preserved log house in Simcoe And of friendship and good will. County. A simple 28’ by 20’ box of Here we work and play cedar logs on a fieldstone foundation. And wend our happy way It provides a glimpse into the lives of Through meadow, vale and hill. our pioneers. Forums, Co-ops and our recreation There are so few of them left – and Are the things that make us thrive. this one is well worth a visit. Oh, it’s good to live in Simcoe County ************* Makes you glad you are alive. ***************** THE HERITAGE TRUST has PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE presented the 2015 Lieutenant “Spring! Our favourite time of year. Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award- The days grow longer, the plants for Lifetime Achievement to David reawaken, birds and animals that we Chambers of Bond Head. He was have not seen all winter reappear. described as a champion of heritage, New Life. The birds and animals bring and a published author sharing his their young into the world. And with passion for history. David and his son it comes new hope for us, new are at times guests at the Innisfil adventures, new challenges, new Heritage Committee meetings. We blessings. sympathized with him after a fire Our March meeting featured the destroyed his former home in 150th anniversary of the Barrie Barclay. Examiner, and the new challenges in ****************** the information transfer industry. We April 16th, 2016 is our Queen’s had an informative and entertaining 90th birthday. You can send your session. personal greetings to The Queen by This month, April 16th, our focus writing either postage-free directed turns to Bob Banting of Oakville and to: Her Majesty The Queen, his stories of growing up here. He is c/o The Governor General of Canada, a member of the Banting family of Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON K1A OA1 Essa, which also had several or by visiting a Canada Post outlet for members in Innisfil. It should be a appropriate international postage – good meeting. addressed to: Her Majesty The William M. Kell Queen, Buckingham Palace, London **************** SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom. Photos for our Title Page from You can write in a way that seems Donna L. Wice natural and respectful to you – The And a note from the editor: this Queen will be delighted to hear from letter was written on my new you. Encourage younger members of computer.It took a lot of patience! your family to write. From one day to the other some ******************* writings ‘disappeared’!!!! This unit is quite sensitive, I was told.