16 more heritage plaques installed

Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society is marking the installation of a second phase of historical plaques with a Canada Day Heritage Walk celebrating Creemore’s 175-year history.

Sixteen plaques are being added to the 13 that are already installed around town. They commemorate important landmarks from the past, including May Hardware (now the brewery), the Meat Market (now Hillview Cellars Winery) The Sovereign, the old jail, the Mad and Noisy Telephone Company and several others.

Members of the Matchett family will be present for the unveiling at the site of the former Matchett House Hotel, at 178 Mill Street, now Curiosity House Books and Water First.

The July 1 ceremony is at 10:30 a.m., followed by guided heritage walks at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon 12:30 p.m. Those interested are invited to meet at Creemore Log Cabin on Library Street for a guided tour ending at the Mad River Park, at the end of Mill Street.

The heritage plaque project is sponsored by Creemore Springs Brewery. The plaques were printed by Gary Page of Page Graphics, and for the launch of the second group, Page updated and refurbished the originals, free of charge.

The volunteer plaque committee is made up of local historians – Gerry Blackburn, Helen Blackburn, Chris Raible, Dorothy Shropshire and Paul Vorstermans, who have dedicated many hours to both phases of the project.