Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth December 23, 2013
During the writing of this column the past year, there are a few highlights on which to reflect. One might say they all fall under the "found" category.
One of those columns was inspired by a journal written by the late Tom Spratt. This led to being able to justify the name Kinsmen Park and why it was named. Tom laid out in his journal the hard work and commitment by the Kinsmen Club and its members during a long period of time from the 1950s onward to lay the foundation of what we have today.
Many of those same members, K40 guys today, continue to take a keen interest. A few are also Special Project members. The one span bridge at the mill race to the dam area was built by Special Projects. The new dam in 1980 was totally supported with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) by Kinsmen members and the Towpath from the bridge to the dam was another initiative.
This past summer's amazing additions to Kinsmen Park from the Ron and Nancy Clark Foundation have another connection - Ron is one of those K40 guys and Nancy was a Kinette.
The James Murray trunk, filled with many amazing historic documents dating back to the 1850s, was moved into the light of day by Nancy Lynn. The trunk had been left in the 24 Renfrew Street West home by James Murray’s descendants when Nancy's family, the Donalds moved in.
Nancy retrieved the trunk and after some years got to it during the Christmas holidays in 2012. After having a look, the column about Pioneer James Murray's documents was a must-read in early 2013.
The Seneca tablet appearing at the Caledonia Cenotaph was a bit of a mystery until information seemed to unfold. One of the late Elizabeth Hyslop's scrapbooks contained a newspaper picture from 1947 that told the story. The tablet commemorating WWII veterans and those who paid the supreme sacrifice was unveiled on November 16, 1947 at a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Seneca Municipal building in York. Gathering dust in the Haldimand Museum for many years, the tablet was retrieved, restored and erected at the Cenotaph this past year.
Another find made the For What it's Worth column. Logs or what was determined to be the stringers from the Old Plank Road (1843-1860s) were found underneath Argyle Street at the south end of the bridge. This allowed some repeated history to be told about the Plank Road.
The Almas Construction crew was working on Wigton Street and had to renew some underground piping when they came across the discovery. Removal was necessary. The logs were wet, heavy, large in circumference and long. They sat along Forfar Street West for some time, eventually drying out.
It was expected residents would remove pieces of the logs as a souvenir or perhaps carving something of sentimental value. Steve Peacock did just that. He created a beautiful piece of work, giving credit to the old and highly treasured wood.
Happy New Year everyone!
