The Amherst Island BEACON

20 Pages·2003·0.57 MB·English

The Amherst Island BEACON

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- Ian Murray, Editor
We continue to get a
steady stream of good ar-
ticles, photos and sketches
from our readership and it
is much appreciated here
at Beacon World Head-
quarters. I quite look for-
ward to seeing the writ-
ten submissions as they
arrive; and also to see what
photos / sketches have
shown up. I also look for-
ward to seeing what pho-
tos and sketches Tom has
chosen for each issue.
The General Store ran
out of copies of the last
issue so this month we’ll
increase the order to 325
from 300.
Two teenagers enjoying a slow day on the Island in 1947- Eldon Willard and Ed McCormick
*****
mug for the camera on the hood of an old Dodge pickup. Picture from Betty Windsor
NNNNNEEEEEIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHBBBBBOOOOOUUUUURRRRRHHHHHOOOOOOOOOODDDDD
- Lyn Fleming
of Kingston at Cooks-Portsmouth United mer.
Get Well wishes this month to Peggy
Church, followed by a reception at the Jun- Barb and Harry also hosted Russel and
Coulter, Anne-Marie Hitchins, Calvin
ior Officers Mess in Kingston. Family at- Alice Filson recently when they visited the
Thornhill and Earle Tugwell.
tended from Toronto and Nova Scotia and
Continued good health wishes to Syke
points between. Following a honeymoon in
Fleming, Phil Silver, Sally Bowen, Lillian
Toronto, Doug and Kim will continue to live
Miller and Dave Youell.
in Kingston.
Congratulation to Elsie Densem, who
Wrapping up this year’s wedding season,
recently celebrated her 96th birthday. I
was Larry’s and my son, Jason’s wedding,
believe Elsie is now our oldest permanent
on September 20th. Jason married Angela
Island resident.
Conners at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in
Well, September wound up a very busy
Napanee, followed by a reception at the
summer of Island connected weddings.
Howard Johnson’s overlooking Confedera-
Starting the month off was Jill Caughey,
tion Basin in Kingston. Out of town guests
daughter of Bruce and Susan. Jill was mar-
came from Leamington, Peterborough, To-
ried to Mike on September 6th at St. Paul’s
ronto, Winnipeg and Florida. Following their
Presbyterian Church. The wedding was
honeymoon in Florida, they will move into
followed by a reception at the water’s
their house (formerly Jason’s great-grand-
edge at Jill’s family home, Poplar Dell Bed
father, Pete Wittiveen’s home) on the Is-
and Breakfast, with guests attending from
land.
Indiana as well as many areas on this side
Doris and Joe Crackle of Hollywood,
of the border.
Florida spent several weeks on the Island in
The next weekend, Douglas Gavlas, son
their Winebago at Harry and Barb Filson’s.
of George and Ida, was married on Sep- Newlyweds Adam & Barb Miller
Doris and Joe’s daughter and her family, also
tember 13th. Doug married Kim Sherman at their reception August 9, 2002
of Florida, visited as well, late in the sum-
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2
The lunch included all the food groups TTTTT
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and a few sweets too. David’s balanced ee e ee
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approach to life and health allows a treat eeeee
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occasionally! ooccocoocc
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The regular business meeting of the 12
W.I. members present then took place
with the usual opening and reports. We
welcomed a guest, Mary Liz Best, who is
the mother of the speaker.
Among the correspondence were an-
nouncements of district gatherings at
Maple Ridge (09 Oct. - W.I. 70th anniver-
sary celebration) and Hawley ( 08 Oct. - a
Christmas decoration workshop). The area
convention will be in Selby on 21 Oct.
The current Tweedsmuir book in which
we keep photos, pictures, newspaper clip-
pings and other historical write-ups is
now almost full. It will be photocopied
for our files and the original sent to the
Lennox and Addington County Museum
in Napanee.
Judy Harrower has been organizing more
clean-up and beautification projects in the
public places of Stella. The toilets at the
dock have been painted and fall flowers
placed in the planters. Paint and roofing
have been provided by the Township and
Tom deHaan has offered to do the roofing
free of charge. Brushing and run-down-
fence removal at Centennial Park has im-
proved that space. Shrubs in Glenwood
cemetery have been trimmed and ferti-
lized.
In most of these endeavours Judie has
been assisted by some members of the
W.I. but especially by high school students
Will and Chris Reed, Candace Youell, Justin
Hutchings and Crystal MacGinn, a tem-
porary Islander who has since left us. We
appreciate their help and are glad to pro-
vide some opportunities for them to earn
the 40 hours of volunteer work they need
to graduate.
If anyone has ideas for further projects
which W.I. members could supervise us-
ing the time and talents of our students
let Judie know.
Amherst Island Women’s Institute has
had a successful few months. We have
earned funds through several ventures
which Islanders and friends have gener-
ously patronized - our June Strawberry So- In this 1948 photo,
cial, the book sale, bake sales and our mar- L-R: Vaughn McMullen, Howard Cochrane, Bill Sharp
ket table. As a result we had a lengthy Photo from Betty Windsor
discussion at the end of our meeting on
ways in which we could utilize our funds
3
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ooooofor the benefit of the community. More
ccccc cently a Black Vulture
aaaaatime is needed to make decisions but
eeeee was reported at Long
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“things” are in the works.
ee e ee Point, Prince Edward
hhhhh The 2004 calendar is soon to go into pro-
TTTTT County so we should
duction. Advance notice was given of the
perhaps take second
Seniors Christmas Dinner (07 Dec.’03) and
looks in our identifica-
a committee struck.
tion of these vultures.
Our next meeting on 15 Oct. at 7 p.m.
Like the immature Tur-
will be at St. Paul’s church hall and again
key Vulture, the Black
will be open to all. The speaker will be Dan
Vulture has a black
Clost of Connons Nursery. His topic will
head but the differ-
be “Native, Underused Plants that Grow
ence is white wing
Locally”. Come and bring a friend.
tips.
We plan to be at the Farm-
An interesting visi-
ers’ Market until Thanksgiving.
tor, soon named
Drop by.
Tweety, showed up at
*****
Laurie Kilpatrick’s and
JJJJJAAAAANNNNNEEEEETTTTT’’’’’SSSSS JJJJJOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTIIIIINNNNNGGGGGSSSSS
John Moolenbeek’s
- Janet Scott
feeder this past July. It
A wonderful summer has come and gone
stayed until almost
and I know you hate to admit it but Fall is
Labour Day and
upon us. There are signs around the Is-
taught its lower class
land and vicinity that definitely point out
feathered friends
that the inevitable is here!
about feeding and
The deer are coming now in the evening drinking from china
and early morning to eat the apples fallen dishes while they tried
from the old Barnyard Apple tree that is to teach it about dust
the last survivor from the Girvin apple or- baths. The Budgie
chard. The Macs are ripe on the dwarf tree would land on a hand
in the front and they are more easily to feed, liked people
reached right on the tree. To add crunch and even entered a
to their diet the chestnuts are falling and cage although it pre-
they crunch right through that spiny husk ferred sitting on the
to reach the nut inside. The old doe with open door. One just
Ross Haines and his cherished windmill JH
the lame right hind leg keeps coming with never knows what will
a pair of fawns in tow year after year. She show up at a feeder!
recently so I would think our own Island
knows the sound of my car and just stands
Kestrals have done well this year and are The birds are gathering and collecting
there looking at me when I drive in or leave
being joined by their cousins to the north. along the South Shore road as they wait
but seemed more perturbed the other day
Sightings of Osprey, Bald Eagles and Per- to migrate - Robins, Water Pipits, a vari-
when I was using the bus. She doesn’t
egrine Falcons have kept our eyes turned to ety of hawks, shore birds and sparrows -
hurry away just calmly checks me out and
the skies. so keep your eyes alert and binoculars
saves her energy for when she really has
ready.
The European Starlings are gathering in
to jump that fence and disappear into the
migratory flocks and already their beaks Thanks for keeping me alerted to those
brush.
have turned from yellow to black and their special birds and thanks Angela for the
The Northern Harriers that could be seen
iridescent feathers are dull now and nests.
all summer hunting the fields west of the
streaked. The small hawks like Sharp-
Good Birding
Stella 40 Foot are more adept at landing
shinned are diving and harassing the flocks
now. In July and August they were far from *****
of Starlings as they spiral and circle the fields
the elegant raptors they are as they
landing in masses in tall trees and screech-
thumped into the field after voles. Now
ing their indignation.
they have their landing gear under control
Both on the Island and on my beautiful
and deftly land and take off with minimum
morning drives to Enterprise I watch circling
effort and a great deal of grace. They have
Turkey Vultures as they soar and ride the
been joined by more hawks pushing south
thermals. Earlier in the summer as many as
following the migratory birds . The local
12 would be circling the Island skies. Re-
American Kestrals’ numbers have swelled
4
TTTTT
CCCCCOOOOOUUUUUNNNNNCCCCCIIIIILLLLL GGGGGLLLLLEEEEEAAAAANNNNNIIIIINNNNNGGGGGSSSSS left the Island to live in New York state. Kitty article she wrote on families. How amazedhhhhh
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died in 1951, and her grandchildren are Kitty, Bessie, Ellie and Beattie would haveBB B BB
- Ian Murray scattered throughout the United States. been to see their photograph in a Califor-aaeeaeaaee
ccccc
Duncan Ashley was the only person to Elizabeth Gertrude Wemp was born April nia magazine more than a hundred yearsnnoononnoo
file papers to represent Amherst Island at 3, 1881, and was 19 years old when this after that exciting trip to Kingston when
Loyalist Council for the next 3 years. picture was taken. ‘Bessie’ married Richard they were four young women.
When I was in a similar position, I pre- O’Connor, a home boy from England sent *****
ferred to think that I was unopposed be- to Amherst Island. They had two children, DDDDDOOOOOWWWWWNNNNN TTTTTOOOOO EEEEEAAAAARRRRRTTTTTHHHHH
cause of my good work and not because Lorne and Phyllis. Lorne died following
of the apathy of my fellow citizens. - Judith Harrower
World War II after service in that war. Phyllis
*** Page still lives in Kingston with her daugh- Fall is a busy time for any gardener and
ter Marie Letourneau. Bessie died in 1956. particularly on Amherst Island.
Long-term service awards have been
given to the following Township employ- Ella Minerva Wemp was born October Transplanting is ideal this time of year,
ees: Douglas Shurtliffe, 25 years; Lloyd 30, 1882. ‘Ellie’ was 18 years old in this not only financially as nearly all garden
Wolfreys, 30 years; and Raymond Wemp, photograph. In 1907, she married Robert centres/nurseries have everything on sale,
35 years. Glenn, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Glenn and but also because winter is a dormant stage,
Margaret Wemp. Her daughter, Pauline not requiring new growth.
***
Glenn Taylor, gave birth to twin daughters,
Transplanting bushes, shrubs, perenni-
The cost of re-roofing the Neilson Store
Joyce and Jean in 1943. Ellie died in 1956.
als, trees or propagating may be done right
Museum was expected to be about
She was my grandmother.
up until the ground is frozen. Fall lets
$30,000 but the tenders were more than
Beatrice May Wemp was born January 26, plants ‘rest’, no new growth required while
twice that amount. The roofing specifica-
1887, the youngest child in the family, and allowing roots to get adjusted to the new
tions are being reviewed by the Commit-
was called ‘Beattie’. She was 13 years old location. The only major difference be-
tee.
on this memorable day. She and her hus- tween spring and fall planting is when one
***
band, Amherst Island native and Kingston buys container items, DO NOT remove as
“Moved by Councillor Ashley . . . that police officer Willie John McKee, raised a much soil around the roots as you would
the Clerk’s report, September 3, 2003 re. son, Vance. Their grandchildren, David, Bill in the spring, just free up a few of the major
Parking - Amherst Island be received and and Liz, live in the Toronto area and the roots. Generally container plants have been
that staff monitor the two problem areas Yukon. Beattie died in 1972. in the containers for months and some-
and investigate a plan to install “no park- times years. [In spring, to stimulate the
At the time of the Wemp reunion on the
ing” signs near the Presbyterian Church, roots into spreading out, remove the con-
Island, Kitty’s granddaughter, Catherine
Stella 40 Foot and the Anglican Church, tainer soil and spread the roots evenly
Richards, lived in San Mateo, California. She
Front Road, on Amherst Island by the around the hole.] This results in the plant
was the editor of a new age living maga-
spring of 2004. And further that Centen- in establishing itself more quickly.
zine, and included this photograph in an
nial Park also be monitored for problems
Prior to planting it is a good idea to
next spring. Motion carried.”
get new soil, I buy mine in bags as I can
***** store it anywhere over the winter, easy
FFFFFOOOOOUUUUURRRRR YYYYYOOOOOUUUUUNNNNNGGGGG WWWWWOOOOOMMMMMEEEEENNNNN to transport to various locations and no
major pile to get rid of. If you need a
- Joyce Brown
large quantity I have not bought A-1
What excitement these four young topsoil, but rather the scrapings which
women from Amherst Island must have is ½ the price. This includes black earth,
experienced one morning in 1900. All were garden soil, sand, and lower grade soil
dressed in their best ‘waists’ and skirts and seems to be just fine. Bags cost
and travelling to Kingston to have their around $4.00 and do about 3-4 bushes
photo taken at the Sheldon F. Davis stu- or one tree.
dio. They were the daughters of William
Once you have your hole with new
Wemp and Sarah MacKenzie Howard and
soil, then add bonemeal/bloodmeal
great grand daughters of U.E.L. pioneer
which is natural rather than chemical
Barnabas Wemp of Amherst Island.
and does not burn/damage the new ex-
Catherine Jane Wemp was born Octo- posed roots (my bushes/trees have not
ber 31, 1875. ‘Kitty’ was 25 years old in shown any symptoms of mad cow).
the picture and was married to William Water at this point to ensure that the
Richards. She was the mother of three chil- bottom of the hole is moist, place you
dren, Blanche, Orliff and Cecil, all of whom tree/bush and fill alternating with origi-
5
nnnnn nal soil and new soil, water again. Na- straw and especially the green sludge from when it has a burlap wrap.
ooooo
aaccacaacc ture in the fall usually assists with wa- along the lakeshore. During the summer This month all coniferous (evergreens)
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BBBBB tering but not always so go back in three keep mulch about 6" away from the trunks need a GOOD and DEEP watering. Leaving
hhee he hhee days and water again, repeating until it but in winter cover right up to the trunk at the hose trickle slowly is one way and al-
TTTTT
rains. least 8" deep and as wide as the limbs reach
lows you to do other things. So water thor-
out in width. I also use bags of sheep/cow
I favour staking as with the wind on oughly, add bonemeal/bloodmeal, mulch,
manure (no smell) before the mulch, and it
the Island, it blows the tree/bush trunks which should protect you evergreens.
washes down in gradually over the winter.
back and forth for months compressing When watering by hand, hose or container,
the soil away from the trunk. Then air gets Winter-burn is a major disaster here and spray the whole tree as moisture washes
in and dries the soil around
the trunk and roots. After a
year usually stakes aren’t
needed. Stakes may be
bought but try the new con-
struction sites on the Island,
ask for discarded lumber for
tying, I use soft wide ties
from Canadian Tire used for
staking tomato plants. These
ties do not damage the bark
and give enough that the tree
is not rigid which could snap
off the tops.
When buying new trees
buy small as most of the Is-
land has little topsoil and the
bedrock is not very far down.
Small trees’ roots are able to
grow into and break up lime-
stone far easier than large
roots. You may not be around
to see the tree at its full
height but I am leaving
something behind for the
Shed on The Second Concession JH
next generation, just as we
enjoy the labour of those
unless you cover everything in burlap your off dust and pollutants and your bushes/
who planted the trees along the roads es-
garden will suffer. This past winter many trees like a bath.
pecially.
trees/bushes suffered extensive wind-burn,
The clay soil on the Island cracks in dry
To keep the shape and a healthy bush/
those parts that were exposed above the
weather. To help the clay retain moisture
shrub/tree, trim extensively in the fall.
two layers of snow and the layer of ice.
you can use peat moss, lakeshore sludge
Any bush/shrub can be trimmed to suit
However, once a plant has suffered wind-
or any other better soil. My approach is one
the location or what height/width you
burn you can save the tree/bush by cutting
of doing certain areas not the entire prop-
want. This also prevents major wind-burn
the tops off or extensive trimming which
erty, as the cost is too dear. There are dif-
in the winter and the plant’s energy goes
allows the roots to produce new growth.
ferences of opinions as to the length you
into the roots. Even very old lilac bushes
Always cut at a 45-degree angle to prevent
should cut your grass for the winter, but
can be drastically trimmed, which will
water sitting on the new cut area and seep-
generally longer protects the roots as it does
help rejuvenate them for the next spring.
ing into the trunk. Wait until June at least,
throughout the summer, but also provides
Around everything mulch is wonderful, to remove what you think may be dead or
length perfect for vole tunnels. Fall fertiliz-
reduces weeds, keeps moisture around not worth salvaging. I use burlap screens
ers are excellent and seep slowly into the
the roots, prevents weed eating from scar- to protect the most vulnerable areas or cer-
soil in the winter months and reduces work
ing or damaging the soft bark and assists tain delicate plants/trees. The screens may
for the spring. But remember that most of
in breaking up the clay soil. Wood mulch, be unsightly but the snow often banks
the Island’s drainage goes into the lake so
available sometimes at our dump site but against them and helps hide them. Placing
use wisely.
always at the Loyalist dump on Violet burlap right up against the plant is not as
Voles, voles and still more voles this year
Road, grass cuttings, pulled weeds, hay, effective as a screen as the wind seems to
will be a gardener’s bane. I have purchased
burn right through to the bushes/shrubs
6
a fine plastic black screening, relatively in- or the Southern Fish. TTTTT
hhhhh
expensive from Home Depot, which comes Fomalhaut is the brightest star of the au-BB eeB eBB ee
in various heights and lengths. For my eeeee
tumn constellations, but is stuck more oraaaaa
‘holding garden’ where I have planted my less all by itself in the south. It is fairlyooccocoocc
nnnnn
seedlings that I bought two years ago from
easy to find now, because it is the just a
the Ministry, I am putting a barrier of this
little to the south from Mars. It is the only
around this area, digging about 1 ½” into
bright star in the neighbourhood of Mars.
the soil. For bushes/shrubs, whose little
In case your were wondering, Fomalhaut
stems are too flimsy for the white plastic
comes from the Arabic and means fish’s
wrap, I have found ‘garden tape’ at Cana-
OOOOOCCCCCTTTTTOOOOOBBBBBEEEEERRRRR SSSSSKKKKKIIIIIEEEEESSSSS mouth. It is part of the longer Arabic
dian Tire, which goes on like scotch tape.
phrase meaning mouth of the southern
I wrap anything else in the white plastic - Alan Kidd
fish.
wrap. Dig about 2" into the soil and start
As we move into autumn, Mars contin-
Fomalhaut is quite close to us, only 25
the wrap below the soil level, fill back in
ues to be a very bright object in the south-
light years away. This is about the same
and wrap well up to the bottom limb for
ern skies. However, the Northern Cross and
distance as Vega (discussed in the July ar-
protection. There is little one can do if we
Lyra, the constellations that dominated the
ticle) but Fomalhaut is not as bright be-
have deep snow and the deer or voles are
summer skies, are slowly moving into the
cause it is a smaller star than Vega. It still
able to eat the tops, but the plant will
west and another constellation is beginning
has 16 times the luminosity of the Sun
survive if the lower portion is protected,
to occupy the zenith (that part of the sky
however.
you’ll have less height next year.
that is directly overhead)
Saturn continues to rise earlier, and by
A commercial product, Skoot, is good
In many ways the autumn is the best time
mid month it is above the horizon by 11:00
but must be applied only after a freeze,
for stargazing, since the bugs are pretty well
PM. Mars still dominates the evening sky,
not when there is rain, as it will wash off.
gone, along with most of the summer haze.
although it will start to fade noticeably this
December is often the best time if we have
However, the nights are not so cold as to
month as it moves further from Earth. By
mild weather until then. Clearing away
prevent us from spending some time out-
the end of the month Jupiter appears in
wood piles and cutting the grass around
doors looking at the heavens. Late in the
the east just before sunrise.
plants will assist you in not attracting
evening during mid October, there is a pat-
voles, but this year it would appear that On the chart I’ve added the Great Square,
tern of four fairly bright stars directly over-
the Island is infested and all our efforts as well as the positions of Fomalhaut and
head. This is the constellation of Pegasus,
may be for naught. Having cats and dogs Saturn. [Editors note: when you hold the
also called the Great Square. The Great
is very beneficial, especially a terrier type chart over your head, west and east are as
Square of Pegasus is the major landmark of
dog but I am not recommending adopt shown in the sketch].
the Autumn Skies. Pegasus, of course, is
one just for the winter to protect your
the great winged horse of mythology. In
garden, borrow one!
the skies Pegasus is flying with his head
Flower beds again may be cleared of dead d o w n ,
plant material or some prefer to leave it pointing to-
to protect the root systems, however, this ward the
provides excellent coverage for voles and south.
snakes to use in the winter. Flower bulbs
If you ex-
may be planted right up until the soil
tend a line
freezes and there are a host of varieties to
connecting
choose from. Tulip bulbs do not last as
the western
long as daffodils, narcissus and will need
most two
to be replaced in about 4 to 5 years.
stars of the
Mulching really does keep the weeds down
Great Square
as well as retaining moisture - saves time
southward
weeding and the cost of watering.
almost to
I have not experienced deer damage and the horizon,
have no information to pass on, but per- you will
haps a reader will offer what they have come to the
found to be effective in previous winters. s t a r
Would readers also write Ian and provide Fomalhaut.
other helpful tips about winterizing and In the con-
protecting gardens over the winter and stellation
those who have vegetable gardens. P i s c i s
Austrinus,
*****
7
nnnnn
ccoococcoo AAAAAnnnnn IIIIInnnnnttttteeeeerrrrrvvvvviiiiieeeeewwwww wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh DDDDDOOOOOUUUUUGGGGG WWWWWIIIIILLLLLSSSSSOOOOONNNNN
aaaaa
eeeee
BBBBB
hhee he hhee ----- ZZZZZaaaaannnnndddddeeeeerrrrr ooooofffff DDDDDUUUUUNNNNNNNNNN IIIIINNNNNNNNNN
TTTTT
For over 50 years I’ve
wondered what was in
the big metal-covered
barn across from the Stella
General Store on Front
Road. I knew, of course,
it had been a Blacksmith’s
shop. The sign “W. Brown
and Son, General Black-
smith” told me that. I had
heard many stories about
the shop and about the
buildings around it. I had
heard, for example, that
Wes Brown’s people came
to Amherst Island around
1845 and, not long after
that, erected the shop for
business. I had heard
about how sturdy the
building was and how
popular a meeting place it
was in “the good old
days.” Like many tourists Doug Wilson in his workshop Zander Dunn Photo
I had admired the build-
ing itself and had taken
pictures of it. But I had never been inside School, in the technical department, he in frustration and discomfort. He remem-
it. I had never seen what it contained. All became an electrician and was hired by bers how on that tour the enemy subma-
that changed when I knocked on the door ALCAN where he started to work in 1940 rines sank 16 freighters carrying goods to
of Doug Wilson who resides at 5680 Front for about 12 cents an hour. Later in the same support Britain’s war effort.
Road on the corner of The Stella Forty Foot. year (by which time he was being paid 20
His seasickness was so bad he was
Doug had agreed to talk to me about cents an hour), Doug joined the Royal Ca- dropped off in Iceland on the return trip.
himself and the Blacksmith’s shop which nadian Navy
is one of the biggest and most impressive where he served
buildings on Amherst Island. But it was his country un-
not Doug who greeted me when I knocked til 1945. Doug
at his door. I was welcomed loudly by The claims he joined
Boss, Doug’s 107 pound, muscular, brown the Navy to get
Doberman Pinscher. In fact, The Boss was away from the
so eager to greet me, Doug had to pull 12 hour shifts at
him off and put him in his cage in the front ALCAN.
room. Doug did not
Doug modestly said he had not much take naturally to
to tell and had not lived that long on the the sea. In fact,
Island. But my few questions launched him he was so sea-
into sharing a most interesting life history. sick during his
Doug was born July 22, 1917, in Kingston, first tour of duty
right next to St. George’s Cathedral. He on a convoy to
lived most of his early life in Kingston with Ireland that he
his mother. When he graduated from High was ready to HMCS Guelph, a Corvette Doug served on.
jump overboard
8
Iceland had milder weather than TTTTT
hhhhh
Canada in January and he enjoyed ee e ee
BBBBB
his time there. He was later returned eeeee
aaaaa
to Canada on a destroyer. ooccocoocc
nnnnn
Back in Canada he was assigned
to the Gaspe region of Quebec, at
the mouth of The St. Lawrence River,
to help open a naval base. It seemed
to him the Canadian Navy lost al-
most as many ships in the St. Law-
rence as it did in the Atlantic. From
there he was posted to Halifax and
then to Longeuil across from Mon-
treal and then to Collingwood where
he helped prepare a new corvette,
H.M.C.S. “Guelph,” for sea trials.
That ship was so much better than
an older corvette on which he had
served - “Camrose.” As an engineer
on the Camrose he had to walk from
his living quarters in the forecastle
over the open deck to the rear of the ZD
ship to go down into the engine
Members of the Royal Canadian Navy which is built right snug up against the
room where he worked. This was not only
were paid much more than their equivalent property lines.
inconvenient, it was dangerous. On “The
ranks in the Royal Navy. Men in the British
Guelph” he lived above his work station Every car on its way to the ferry must
Navy could not converse with others in
and could get to it quickly and safely. pass his home.
lower or higher ranks. In the Canadian Navy
Doug travelled across Canada and far- The whole corner property - 160 feet to-
the men were free to talk with seamen and
ther afield to work in various Navy ward the ferry and 98 feet toward the Back
with officers alike. Travelling across Canada
postings. He especially enjoyed a training Kitchen - was purchased for $5,000. The
on official business Doug, as a Petty Of-
session in Bermuda. Doug even got a ride arrangement is that Doug can live there
ficer, went first class. The Royal Navy per-
in a submarine which had no heat. He for as long as he likes. When he leaves or
sonnel were allowed to claim only third
could not understand why anybody would dies the property goes to Earl Bilow’s three
class treatment.
volunteer to be a submariner for the 25
When the war
cents a day extra that such a position paid.
ended, Doug
Doug’s rank gained him $3 a day but he
went back to
felt he deserved much more when he had
ALCAN and
to endure the terrible seas - the huge
worked as a
waves, the rolling ships and the danger of
tool-and-die
enemy attacks.
maker until he
Only by a finger, a disabled finger he still
took early retire-
carries, had Doug been refused entrance
ment in 1977.
to the Army and also to the Air Force. His
He came to
handicap was no problem for the Navy
Amherst Island
which took him on and educated him un-
that same year
til he retired in 1945 as a Chief Petty Of-
in response to a
ficer.
suggestion from
Petty Officers, like Sergeants and War- his friend, Earle
rant Officers in the Army and Air Force, Bilow, that they
are the back-bone of the armed forces. buy a house to-
They were treated well by the standards gether - half and
of the day. When Doug compared his ex- half. The house
periences with that of Billy Bulch, who they bought is
fought for the Royal Navy, he realized how the one in which
fortunate he had been. Doug now lives Doug and “the boss” ZD photo
9
nnnnn children.
ooooo
ccccc
aaaaa When he arrived the
eeeee
BBBBB house was a mess. Doug
ee e ee
hhhhh gutted the inside com-
TTTTT
pletely, applied insulation,
erected partitions, rewired
the building and installed
a furnace and air condi-
tioning. The house, which
still has a small cistern,
lacked a good well. On the
day when five wells were
drilled, Doug’s was the
only one to strike water -
good water. The authorities
would not allow him to lay
out a septic system so he
became the first island resi-
dent to install a holding
tank. The house, which has
no basement but is built
on logs which run east and
west but do not meet in
the middle, is now solid
and comfortable for one
man and his man-sized
dog.
Although Doug has de-
molished the old shed and
a small barn and has
cleared away much debris,
the blacksmith shop re- Nancy Dunn & Ian Murray at the Saturday morning market in Centennial Park. ZD photo
mains in its original con-
dition. As Doug points gue, trade, get ideas and gossip. No doubt
treasures Doug has picked up or purchased
out, the elm beams are as strong and as it was called the Dog House because the
over the years. Others have been on the
hard as steel. Hanging from them are the men liked to think they were put out of their
property since he took it over.
blacksmith’s tools - pliers, hammers, houses by their wives and found refuge to-
To see inside the Blacksmith’s shop, the
tongs, horseshoes. The forge waits pa- gether in this location.
Dog House and his workshop is an educa-
tiently, the bellows leans nearby, the an-
Around the old Quebec heater the men
tion in itself. Doug has so many of almost
vils sit stolidly, the vices and grips are ready
would socialize in the winter and perhaps
everything he is willing to give it away or
to use. Among them are piled pieces of
play a game or two of cards. A bottle or
lend it without charge. His attitude is that
beautiful wood, cans of nails, tools of every
two of gin would help lubricate the action.
when he does something good to some-
description - all of which Doug has col-
Today this shed and the workshop attached
body for free, that person, in turn, will help
lected over the years.
to Doug’s house are full of every imagina-
him at no cost. He values, far more than
It has been Doug’s purpose to keep the ble tool, every known device, every possi-
money, the good relations he has with so
Blacksmith’s shop in good shape. He has ble attachment. Doug has all the electrical
many Islanders. Because he has done so
painted it, has kept the metal roof in good tools anyone would ever need. He has one,
much for others, and is willing to help even
repair and has kept the grounds trim. Once or more, of every hand tool ever created.
more, he is confident the Islanders will
the sign - “W. Brown and Son, General Many of his treasures are antiques and he
treat him with the same open hearted cour-
Blacksmith” - which weighs about 300 has thousands of them. Screws, nails, bind-
tesy and respect. There was a time, years
pounds, fell down and Doug had to go to ers, wires, nuts, bolts, are arranged in jars.
ago, when he figured he’d done a favour
considerable trouble to get it repainted and Auto parts, construction implements,
for almost everybody on the Island and
restored. wood-working instruments and electrical
could expect the same treatment in return.
Doug showed me “The Dog House” - a connectors adorn the walls and ceilings.
It was a non-islander who gave him only
separate shed where the men of the Is- Doug declared, “If I don’t have it, it’s prob-
$2 for a framed picture he had found in
land used to gather to chew the fat, ar- ably not worth having.” Many of these
10