Over the past three years that I’ve been covering the Dunvegan beat, I’ve referred to the Dunvegan Women’s Institute’s Tweedsmuir Histories on numerous occasions. The Tweedsmuir Histories project was named after Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of the Governor General of Canada from 1935-1940, Lord Tweedsmuir. Lady Tweedsmuir’s vision was a series of “living history” scrapbooks that documented life in the villages and rural communities across Canada, including each region’s settlement, economy, churches, schools and people.
Here in Ontario, Lady Tweedsmuir’s clarion call was taken up by the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario. The organization encouraged Women’s Institute branches across the province to compile histories of their communities. One such compilation was the one done in the 1970s by the Dunvegan branch of the Women’s Institute. But, as I discovered this past summer, these plywood-bound books were the second editions of the Dunvegan Tweedsmuir Histories. The original one was assembled thirty-odd years earlier in April of 1942.
When the Dunvegan WI disbanded, its archives were entrusted to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. And it was here, as I was taking a cursory glance at some of the material in this collection, that I came across version 1.0 of the Histories. Encased in an oxblood-coloured, split cowhide, three-ring binder with a brass zipper, the 150 page document had the following typewritten note taped to the cover:
This is the first volume of the Tweedsmuir Village Histories compiled by the early members of the Dunvegan’s Women’s Institute. This is the Pioneer History of Dunvegan and area, written by some of the pioneer women too modest to sign their names. In order to make certain that the History contained therein shall be safe, two copies of this book has (sic) been made. One is held by the Curator of the Women’s Institute, in Dunvegan, and the other copy will be placed in the Alexandria and District High School Library along with other area Histories for the use of students.
Unfortunately, this plan to safeguard the 1942 Histories went awry.
First of all, a number of photographs and clippings are clearly missing. It would appear that, when version 2.0 was created in the 1970s, they were “borrowed” for the new edition.
Second, the back-up copy of the Histories is no longer part of the collection at the Glengarry District High School’s library. The librarian recalls seeing it at one point in the Local History section. However, during a summer break a few years ago, a school board directive to trash books, enforced by a zealous vice-principal at the time, apparently resulted in the handmade book being filed in the rubbish bin.
This cavalier approach to our region’s history is tragic, made even more so by what I came across in the 1942 Histories… a hand-written page entitled “Names of Places on the Map.” Obviously this is the legend for a map of the Dunvegan area showing the location of the skating rink, the tinsmith shop, the blacksmith and many other historic points of interest. Unfortunately, the map itself is missing.
I had hoped to find a copy of it in the high school’s library, but no such luck. So I turn to you. If you have a copy of this treasure of a map, or know where I might find one, please contact me.
A wee ray of sunshine
My remarks last week on the Pioneer Museum’s War of 1812 Education Day brought forth one ray of sunshine… a call from Keith MacRae of Glen Sanfield. His daughter was part of the class of 25 that did attend and he wanted me to pass along his daughter’s thanks.
I’m told that his little girl thoroughly enjoyed the day’s outing and couldn’t stop talking about it when she returned home. Keith wanted the re-enactors and volunteers to know that the day had not been a total loss; the one class that did show up had a once in a lifetime experience and the parents were very grateful.
“Signs of a past” Contest
As you’ve no doubt noticed, this past summer, the United Counties place signs coming into Dunvegan were updated to the new design standard. The change was inevitable; it was only a matter of time.
That’s why, to preserve this small sliver of recent Dunvegan history, I contacted the Counties Roads Department last winter to request that, whenever the changeover took place, the old signs be set aside for me. Why? Because I thought they might be put to better use than moldering in a landfill somewhere.
I saw giving one of the signs to the Dunvegan Recreation Association to be used on the equipment shed at the DRA soccer field or auctioned off at an event to raise funds for the organization.
Similarly, I wanted to give the Glengarry Pioneer Museum one of the signs. I know it’s too modern for their collection. But I thought that they too could incorporate it into a fund-raising auction.
Last, but not least, I wanted to reserve one of the signs for my readers. Obviously, at 24” x 72” in size, you have to have the space to display this piece of memorabilia. You also have to have interest in acquiring such a sign. But if you do, I am planning a contest, the winner of which will be the proud owner of a brand old “Dunvegan” sign. Within the next few weeks, I’ll have details on how the contest will work. In the meantime, you can contemplate where you might hang it, if you are the lucky winner.
It should be noted that none of this would have been possible if it had not been for the tremendous community spirit demonstrated by the SD&G Transportation and Planning Department… especially, Benjamin de Haan, P.Eng., Director of Transportation and Planning Services and Dave Bourbonnais, the East Patrol Supervisor with SD&G’s Transportation and Planning Services. Thank you gentlemen!
“Suicide Loss” Evening
Were you aware that SD&G and Prescott-Russell have the highest suicide rate in the province — TWO times the provincial average? Or that approximately 10 Canadians die by their own hand each and every day? But what these shocking statistics don’t address is the tremendous impact these deaths have on families and friends left behind.
That’s why the focus of this year’s Suicide Prevention event in this region is “Living with Suicide Loss.” Organized and sponsored by Dunvegan’s Katherine and Alistair MacDonald of Munro & Morris Funeral Homes, the informative evening will feature Larry Pegg, a father who lost his beloved daughter to suicide.
The event will take place Tuesday, October 13 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Glengarry District High School. If you’ve experienced this sort of tragic loss, remember you’re not alone. Come and learn how others are coping.
Tidbit #1
Belated congratulations are due Mark and Jade Fraser from the 8th Concession. This past August 3rd, they became proud parents to Olivia Mary Fraser. According to grandparents, Linda and Jack Fraser, she is a lovely sister for Lauren and was named after her great-grandma, Mary Fraser.
Tidbit #2
I have also just learned, indirectly, that Lindsey Howes (Pioneer Museum event coordinator extraordinaire) and her beau, Steve McDonnell, were married last Thursday evening in a small ceremony at their home in Bainsville. How Lindsey and Steve managed to arrange even the tiniest of ceremonies, given the countless hours Lindsey spent organizing this year’s Harvest Fall Festival is beyond me. Nevertheless, it happened and I would like to wish them all the best on behalf of their friends in Dunvegan.
“Tidbit” Tidbit
As I was writing the above headlines, it occurred to me that I had no idea of the origin of the expression “tidbit.” So I took a few moments to look it up. Its primary meaning is a small piece of tasty food. Its secondary usage is to describe a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.
As for the origin of the word, things get a bit hazy. One dictionary suggests that the word evolved from a mid 17th century word of unknown origin, tid, meaning ‘tender.’ A second source postulates that the word comes “from tit- (as in titmouse) + bit” and that its first known use was circa 1640.
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