Telling tale and helping history
A few years ago I was reading a story at a Tea and History event put on by the Purple Hills Art and Heritage Society. Previously a number of people, who had been around for a long time, were interviewed and their stories saved on tape. They were transcribed and prepared for reading. Several different people read these stories in turn. Here is mine as far as I can remember.
This was in the late 1930s and the characters involved were two brothers, Ralph and George Shepherd, sons of George Shepherd Senior, owner of the feed mill and also reeve of Creemore. George Senior’s photo was among those displayed at the Log Cabin’s Creemore Village Fathers display in June.
Back in the 1930s the local boys liked to go to the river in winter to slide on the ice. Their habit was to send a small boy, this time George Junior, out onto the ice. If the ice broke they knew it wasn’t safe to slide there. George broke through the ice and his pants were wet. Big brother Ralph told George to go home and change his clothes.
At this point in my reading my eyes read ahead for a second and I started to laugh and couldn’t stop. Finally I got myself together and read on.
George decided to watch the sliding for a little while before going home. He went up on the bridge (the Collingwood Street bridge) and leaned over the railing. George immediately froze to the bridge. The other boys didn’t seem to notice. When Ralph got home his mother asked where George was. Ralph said he’d sent him home.
This is where our little village flew into action. The switchboard women at the Noisy River Telephone office (now Chez Michel) were called and immediately started to organize a search party. About this time George managed to free himself and ran home. One of the switchboard women saw him running by and called Mrs. Shepherd to say George was safe and was on his way home.
The Purple Hills Art and Heritage Society’s mandate is to support and promote the arts and Creemore’s heritage. Most recently they had the Village father’s display at the Log Cabin. They have put up numerous historic plaques around town. At Tea and History an account of the Petun villages in this area (1600s) was presented by Pat Raible. At another event Cecily Ross’s book, The Lost Diaries of Susannah Moodie,was presented. Moodie’s life in the bush was much like the life this area’s early settlers experienced.
This enthusiastic and active group has been preserving the history of Creemore and area for over 40 years. While most activities are arranged by volunteers, from time to time a little money comes in handy. This is where you, my readers, can help. By buying an annual membership to the Purple Hills Art and Heritage Society you are helping with this important work. Memberships are available any time at the Creemore Echo Office or online at www.phahs.ca where you will find directions for purchasing the membership. Memberships are also available at any of the society’s events.
