Category: News

Dalkeith Historical Society (2012) Annual Meeting Friday May 10, 2013

DHS held its first major activity in its new home. The meeting started off with a welcome & introductions.
Ms. Uwizeyimana- Jacob, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration, Tourism, and Culture & Sport Regional Advisor were our guest.
DHS has started a tradition both at the Executive Meetings & the General Meetings that someone present will be responsible for sharing a “history tidbit.”
This meeting’s history tidbit began with a song— Carlton Weavers by Clancy Brothers

The song goes as follows:
“I am a weaver, a Calton weaver…I am a brash and a roving blade…I have silver in my pouches..And I follow a roving trade…chorus.
As I walked into Glasgow city…Nancy Whiskey I chanced to smell…I walked in, sat down beside her…7 long years I loved her well…chorus.
The more I kissed her, the more I loved her…The more I kissed her, the more she smiled…I forgot my mother’s teaching. .Nancy soon had me beguiled…chorus Now I rose early in the morning…To slake my drouth it was my need…I tried to rise but was not able…Nancy had me by the knees …chorus I’m going back to the guild of weaving…I’ll really make those shuttles fly…I’ll make more at the Calton weaving…Than ever I did in a roving way…chorus So come all ye weavers, ye Calton weavers…Weavers where e’re ye be…Beware of Whiskey, Nancy Whiskey…She’ll ruin you like she ruined me : CHORUS: Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy whiskey …Whiskey, whiskey, Nancy O”

The CALTON WEAVERS were an exemplar community of well-trained Handweavers. They were located just outside Glasgow on the river Clyde. As the Industrial Revolution gained strength many Scottish cottars were forced off their lands ending up in the mills looking for work and depressing prices considerably. The development of the powerloom also contributed to the glut of weavers on the market. In 1878 the Calton Weavers went on strike for increased wages. The Police were called in and 6 weavers were killed. Many Weavers immigrated to Eastern Ontario in the early 1800’s and John could have been one of them. Documents reveal that he was in Upper Canada in 1803 when his eldest surviving daughter, Mary was born. When John signed an agreement for Lot 7, he identifies himself as a Weaver. The song first appeared in print around 1900 but its origins are from a much earlier time period. Dalkeith John Robertson was in his early 30 in 1803 and from documents researched he appears to have been a more serious weaver than the one described in the CALTON WEAVERS song. This new bit of research identifying John as a Weaver adds a new dimension to Dalkeith (On) History.
The Annual meeting then continued as follows:

ONE: A motion for approval of DHS by-laws was submitted & approved by the membership.
TWO: Election of Officers-all slots were filled.
THREE: Treasurer’s Report-The Treasurer reported positive statistics for 2012.
FOUR: President’s Report-2012 was an exciting year as DHS gained its charitable status and became property owners. As well DHS supported a number of successful community events and ended up the year (2012) with 22 paid members…
FIVE: Ms. Jacob & visiting guests were invited to say a few words to DHS members.
SIX: The Meeting was adjourned. SEVEN: Ms. Jacob was invited along with those present to Robertson Mills Park for a tree planting ceremony. Ms. Jacob planted an 1812 Heritage Rose that was donated to DHS. The Tulips that were donated & planted last fall were in full bloom.
EIGHT: Lunch & camaraderie followed.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the annual meeting day activity the resounding success that it was. There were so many busy hands all the previous week doing all the little & not so little things in preparation. Many, many thanks.

The Canoe/Kayak Paddle from Lochinvar Bridge to Robertson Mills Park on the Upper section of the  Rigaud River took place Sat April 20. The water levels on the river had risen and dropped several times in the last weeks -so this seemed the most likely and possibly the last seasonal opportunity. 1000’s of snow geese were part of  the welcome committee at the bridge as some 12 paddlers got prepared to head off.

Mother Nature’s welcome was white like the snow geese but not quite as inviting  to watch nor to participate in-some dark rolling clouds came quickly rolling in from the north west dumping some nasty stuff on the would be paddlers causing them  to wonder  what the blink was happening. Visibility was nil for a bit.  It was an intense spring squall that finished as quickly it started.

The paddlers departed in 2 separate groups-with a fairly long time delay between departures. The first of the two groups finished around 11;30 and were welcomed at the RMP by the DHS  hospitality committee. The second group of paddlers  were waved off from the bridge  by a number of  well wishers  who had gathered. The second group of paddlers  took somewhat longer not getting to Robertson Mills Park till about 1:30.

The hospitality committee was stalwartly waiting with hot soup & chile & goodies to renew everyone’s energies. The big red farm wagon & tractor snuggled in  to provide a wind break for the  Hospitality crew & food table. God bless them for waiting.

What had happened that the second group took so long?  Somewhat like in the comics things happen. Paddlers now know there is a monster in the Upper Rigaud and his name is ‘de Graisse” and he specializes in tipping canoes. Capsizing is such an amazing adventure- nothing like it  in 6 degree waters. One moment the paddler is as bone dry as the Sahara desert and the next minute the paddler has little fishes & beavers  for company looking for a nibble or figuring out  how to  untangle  themselves from  the paddlers  gear. Or so it seems.

Or how about having a Canada  goose for company under the canoe with you. A new nest site! You have not seen the world until you look at it from underneath a canoe with your feet no where touching solid footing. In that split second you can count  & think about everything.—silly things–like how much is that box of Kleenex going to weigh now that its soaken wet? Forget thinking about grabbing the paddle – lunch -where the frig is the lunch box.  And  what about the thrill of stripping in the bushes to get into a dry set of clothes(provided by some very experienced paddlers who always paddle “prepared’). With 40, 50 K winds a blowing there is no need  to press the hot air button to get dry.  Capsizing makes a photographers day–there is just something about that action that tends to get (one) on the front page of the sports section. Thankfully this particular dunking moment  rests only in the  minds of those who were present.  No picture means no proof and so easy to turn into a good story.

All the other paddlers came to the rescue and after an energy break  the paddlers were off again-not much worse for wear. The rapids were a delightful challenge with just the right amount of white water. The wild life on and off the water was considerable: a Brown Thrasher, 2 Greater Yellow Legs and a few Teals, a Kingfisher,  a Northern Harrier  as well as the regulars at various points along the trip.The wind was tricky as the river wanders in all directions. However All is well that ends well.

Big Thanks to the Vankleek Hill Canoeists who provided canoes, gear,  leadership & expertise  and to  the Dalkeith Historical Society for getting together a hospitality committee  to welcome and feed everyone at the end of the paddle. thanks to the several  photographers who supplied  photos of the outing.   Should you wish to be notified of future paddling outings on this river  check out either www.dalkeithhistory.com or http://www.betterfarming.com/vkh/c_home.html.

Because the water levels fluctuate so quickly on this river it is usually short notice for the Paddle date. Its a lovely little old river with lots of history & scenery & well worth the time spent to explore .

Hi everyone,

Here are some ideas and coming events to get you thinking about canoeing this year.

The Rigaud River is finally open. Rain is forecast this week so levels should be good for at least a week or so. Weather permitting we will try the Rigaud Saturday April 20. If it rains Saturday we will try Sunday. Put-in is 8:30 a.m. at the bridge at the intersection of Lochinvar and Military road. Take-out below the bridge at Dalkeith. Bring a lunch. Trip lasts about three hours. Please let me know by Thursday night at the latest if you will need canoes or equipment for this event.

Robert Irwin

VKH Canoeists
http://www.betterfarming.com/vkh/c_home.html

DALKEITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS-JANUARY, 2013
(Inc not for profit,2011—Charitable status & Chapel/Museum, 2012-www.dalkeithhistory.com)

ROBBIE BURNS CELEBRATION
DALKEITH, LOCHIEL WARD ,GLENGARRY COUNTY, ONTARIO
Saturday January 26, 2013….10-1@ Dalkeith Library
(A Dalkeith winter carnival event)

Well we forgot to count exactly how many people showed up, but we know it was our best Robbie Burns Brunch ever. Visitors, Guests and Patrons came from Montreal, Kingston, Brockville, Nova Scotia, and throughout our own Glengarry Counties. Ian MacLeod Fiddlers were first on the floor entertaining the crowd with their toe-tapping music. These Fiddlers are renown not only in their native Glengarry but throughout North America as well. What a treat.

Our HAGGIS from Muir’s Bakery in Maxville was paraded in with full honours as you can see from the above picture. Frances Fraser played the pipes leading, first, the haggis bearers Allan Campbell & Stewart Irvine followed by distinguished guests: Jim Finlayson who would address the “Great Chieftain o’ the pudding race” in fine fashion and then Diarmid Campbell, hand somely kilted in the best o’tartan fashion who would lead the toast to Robbie Burns. Jim Finlayson through RB verse described the haggis as worthy of grace & a glorious sight & a divine taste and “if ye wish her grateful prayer, gie her a haggis’ he concluded. Burns elevated the status of the haggis (the common man’s food) to international levels through his poem “To a Haggis”.

Diarmid Campbell honoured the Bard with some fine words testimony to the forged international, national and local community links Burns’ poetry & music have created through the centuries and concluding with the wish that the tradition be passed on to future generations.

It is at this event that the Dalkeith Historical Society announces the winner of its Educational & Cultural Bursary. This years’ winner was the local chapter of the Civil War “Blues & Greys,” a Montreal based group that is hoping place a monument at Upper Canada Village in honour of the “Canadians” who served . Stewart Irvine accepted on behalf of that group.

Patrick Taylor Ironworks & DHS donated the much sought after door prizes that various patrons won.

The Food & Drink Tables were laden with goodies prepared by DHS CHEFS for the delight & palate of the visiting patrons.

Many thanks to one & all who made the event possible-Clara Taylor, Enid MacDougall, MacLeod Fiddlers, Cory Olsthoorn, Peggy Phillips,Douglas Irvine, Jacques Lavigne, Nicole St. Pierre, Emerson MacGillivray,Winston Brodie, Monsieur Eric, Marjorie & Allan Campbell, Frances Fraser, Jean MacLennan, Maggie Dean, Louis Loczy, Helen Kaufman & you our patrons— thank you so much for taking the time to come & have some fun celebrating not only a Scottish poet but an international poet whose renown carries on after some 250 years.

The first recorded Burns celebration was in 1801 when his friends gathered to celebrate Burns memory Both haggis & the water of life were on that 1801 menu. Burns was a man who loved wine (water of Life in his case) women & song. He spoke to the common person (through the ages) with just the right note of appeal. (He spoke English & French & most certainly read Latin). World wide there are said to be 12-15,000 Burns celebrations each year. N.B. Regular DHS meeting Library Feb. 16 10:30