Park project reminds us of those who must not be forgotten
Planned improvements at Mad River Park in Creemore have prompted residents to wonder if the passage of time has resulted in certain events fading from the community’s collective memory.
On the heels of media coverage about Clearview Township’s plans to make improvements to the park and a tribute to Creemore Springs Brewery founder John Wiggins, subsidized by the brewery, community members reached out to The Echo to voice concerns that some people have been overlooked. The concerns are twofold: that the park was once dedicated to the memories of four young victims of a 1979 fire that devastated the village, and that in paying tribute to Creemore Springs Brewery founder John Wiggins, there is no mention of co-founder Russ Thornton.
Mad River Park is an unassuming greenspace at the foot of Mill Street, which is most often used to access the river in summer, and has served as the location of the brewery’s Copper Kettle Festival.
But to Adrian Hare it is a memorial to his brother, who was one of the four youth who died on July 7, 1979.
Local boys – Calvin Hare, 12, Stephen Price, 14, John Gabriel, 12, and Stephen MacLeod, 12 – had gone on a weekend campout at their shelter in a wooded area west of Creemore, between the county road and the Mad River, when their makeshift hut caught fire, killing all four.
Hare was only 15 when he went looking for his brother and discovered the tragic scene. He reported it to a neighbour, who then alerted the authorities.
Hare said he was in a bad state at the time and doesn’t recall if there was a ceremony but he does recall a park dedication and the planting of four memorial trees, but he’s not sure if they are surviving.
The news coverage about park plans caught him off guard, he said, and made him worry that the young victims had been forgotten. He said a comment he made on Facebook comment hit everyone and made people question the park project.
Hare said he believes the tragedy has been overlooked in the historical narrative of Creemore as it evolves to include an influx of newcomers, but that in reality it has also been forgotten by people who lived here back then.
“The way I understood it, years ago, they had dedicated that park to the kids and now all of a sudden there is nothing being said whatsoever about them,” said Hare.
Hare acknowledges that Wiggins has done a tremendous thing for Creemore. “I’m not making a great big deal about it now,” said Hare. “I think [John Wiggins] very well deserves some kind of a dedication there for sure but I just don’t believe that Clearview Township should just walk over and crush a park and turn it into a John Wiggins beer factory dedication and them boys just get tossed in the river, and down they go.”
Hare doesn’t have any specific ideas as to how the memorial should be reinstated.
“If they are going to put up a plaque or something for John Wiggins, I don’t see why they can’t do the same thing for those four boys.”
Despite searches facilitated by Simcoe County Archives and the Township of Clearview’s historical records, The Echo was not able to locate any records of the park dedication but we did learn that days before the tragedy, on July 3, 1979 council for the Village of Creemore voted to purchase the property at the foot of Mill Street, owned by Carl Gowan, at a price of 5,000.
Looking ahead, future improvements are intended to create an “enhanced event location” and may include shade features, new benches/tables and upgraded electrical servicing.
The municipality has budgeted $10,000 for the project, and an additional $10,000 is coming from Creemore Springs Brewery.
The brewery’s senior brand marketing manager Steph McLarty said, “plans have yet to be confirmed for our contribution and, of course, we wish to honour all founders who have left their mark/legacy for the future of our Village.”
Although he had partners including Don Mingay, Russ Thornton, and Doug Babcock, Wiggins was the name and the face of Creemore Springs Brewery. News articles of the day document Wiggins as the brainchild and marketing expert behind theoperation.
Heather Harding, manager of events and community experience, said the conversation about the park started back in May, around the time of Wiggins’ death. The brewery began exploring ways a donation could be tied to some kind of recognition at the park. She said all founding contributors are important to the history of the brewery and are very much an integral part of the brewery’s historical narrative.
Councillor Thom Paterson said this topic is part of a bigger conversation about how to utilize park space, including recognition and that the input from the community has been received and will be taken into consideration.
Early discussions have included exploring ways to recognize Creemore’s founders, people who had a big influence on the village. The working group which includes township staff, politicians, representative from the Tree Society of Creemore, will nowinvestigate options and other avenues for recognition.
In regards to the article giving references to the four young boys from Creemore who passed away in a tragic outdoor camping fire, l lived in the town at the time and was totally devastated. For Adrian Hare to speak out about renaming the park I stand with Adrian and the other families who lost there children that day. They should not be forgotten. Gary Pickering
As a brother to John Gabriel I was not aware of four trees dedicated to the boys. I, as Adrian, was in a messed up spot for a while after the accident and do not remember this happening. I have permanent connection to the area with John’s resting spot. I think it would be shame to not recognize the loss of the four boys to the community. I would like to participate in some fashion to the park rejuvenating.
As the oldest of the MacLeods, this was a very devastating time for our family on not only our brother but also the 3 family’s. The park I remember as there was a tree planted for each family dedecated at the park a year later. . Adrian and I talked about what happened at the time and could not wrap out heads about this tragedy.
And so the park is a memorial park, add to it, but maintains it in its present name.
I was a kid same age as the boys when this happened it haunted me then and still does to this day even though I never knew them. As a kid me and my friends built forts in the woods, camped in them, had cook outs and camp fires. Devastating to say the least to the family members and the collective soul of the community…I have enjoyed this park and cooled off in the waters of the Mad River never knowing this park is a memorial to the four boys. I think a plaque with the pictures from the archives and stories of each boy who they were and what they loved to do and their connection with the town of Creemore would be nice, and keep the park primarily as a memorial about the boys but allow other events…perhaps commission a local artist may be a sculptural artist to design something along with a plaque…just a thought…I stand with the living family members..my respects and thoughts.