APRIL AT THE TOLLKEEPER'S
COTTAGEVolunteer David Woodhead, in the photo above,
has been busy for many weeks working to refresh our model of the Tollkeeper's
Cottage. A local musician, David is also a hobby model craftsperson who has made our
beloved model more realistic and animated. He has added wagons, people, horses, a cow,
and pigs--some from 3D printing. Thank you so much David! See more about David on https://davidwoodhead.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUNDAY AFTERNOON TALK:
April 21 at 2:00 pm. Returning speaker Ron Beaupre'
is a Great Lakes marine historian who has researched and written about a ship built in
Toronto Harbour by the Polson Iron Works Company, the GRENVILLE (See photo below
left). He will regale us about her many adventures over the years (we won't spoil
the ending!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We invite all members of the Community History Project (as
well as those who would like to purchase memberships at the meeting) to
our
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Sunday April 14 at 2:00
pm.
This meeting will include a formal thank you to the ONTARIO
TRILLIUM FOUNDATION for their generosity in funding our new heat pump which will allow us
to be cool in summer and warm in winter. An added benefit is that it will move us away
from fossil fuels. We also thank them for the new roof about to be built over the
resource area where we hold our meetings, workshops and talks. This is a huge gift to our
organization, which receives funding almost completely from donations and from
memberships. A representative from the Trillium Foundation will be here, and possibly MPP
Jill Andrews, if her schedule allows.
After the business part of the
meeting, we will hear from ADAM WYNNE who will speak about heritage in
Toronto.We have extended the 2024 membership to all those who purchased
memberships from June 2023 onwards. For our planning, please RSVP at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com if you will attend. Thank you!
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FORAGING FOR
TORONTO'S LOST RIVERS VIEW THIS EXCITING ARTWORK AT THE
TOLLKEEPER'S COTTAGEHave you ever wondered how tiny Taddle Creek just
west of the Cottage must have looked at the time of our tollkeepers? Artist Shannyn Porter
mixed the past with the present by layering archival photos of old waterways with images
of their present-day appearance. She has used inks from the plants near each work to add
colour, and offered the pieces to venues near the spot they depict. We were lucky to
receive one of her works and will display it starting April 6. Come take a look! https://www.shannynporter.com/new-eventsMENDING IS STILL AVAILABLE!
Don't throw out that well loved sweater, jeans, shirt,
tablecloth, toy, just because it has a rip or hole! Our menders at the Tollkeeper's
Cottage are happy to give these items new life. On any Saturday, you may leave your piece,
wrapped in a plastic bag, with the message: "To be mended" and your contact
information. One of our volunteers will be in touch when it's ready. Repairs are by
donation at the Cottage (in cash) or by e-transfer at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com. On the e-transfer you need to ask a
question with the answer "museum."
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NEW--SUNDAY
OPENINGS We
know that Saturday is not possible for all who would like to visit the
Tollkeeper's Cottage, so in addition to our regular Saturdays, beginning on
Sunday April 7, we will be open the first Sunday of every month from
1:00-4:00! |
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RON BEAUPRE'S TALK APRIL 21 AT 2:00
PM The Grenville Steamship was built by Polson Ironworks in
Toronto in 1914 as a lighthouse supply and buoy vessel. She was the first vessel
through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks in 1957. Ron will tell us in his talk about
her tragic end!
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VICTORIA DAY Are you
ready for another elegant Victoria Day Tea with fine china and biscuits? Watch for
upcoming details!
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TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE A
truly once-in a lifetime solar eclipse in the Toronto area will occur on Monday
April 8 between 2:00 and 4:00 pm and not again until 2144. Wear your solar glasses
or make a pin-hole camera--stay safe, everyone!
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THE IMPACT OF BILL
23: MORE HOMES BUILT FASTER ACT
Many of you who live in Seaton Village know that the
Residents' Association has become active again. Jeannette Mazzocato and Ed Janiszewski,
both on the Community History Project Board, have attended the SVRA meetings and we are eager
to see where collaboration will be possible on heritage matters. The issue right now is what
buildings in this neighbourhood need to be designated before their time as listed buildings
runs out, as per the province's Bill 23, passed by the provincial government in Nov.
2022. If the buildings do not receive designation by the end of 2024, they
will be unprotected from possible development and will be unable to achieve protected status
for another five years. Some of the buildings we think should be designated are:
the Russian Orthodox Church on Manning Avenue (formerly St. Cyprian's
Anglican Church), St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Bathurst Street,
the ambulance building on Markham Street; and two bank
buildings: one on the north east corner of Christie and Dupont (now Popeye's),
and the other across the street, now the A & W. We will be meeting with other
groups hoping to provide a combined response to our local and provincial elected
representatives. If you are interested in helping with this, please let us know at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com. The SVRA can be contacted through
their google group: https://groups.google.com/g/svranew
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At this year's Annual General Meeting in April, we
will formally announce and thank the Trillium Foundation for its
generous grant to us that made possible a brand NEW HEATING AND COOLING
SYSTEM. The gas fired hot water heater will be replaced with an
"on demand" and more environmentally friendly electric HEAT PUMP. We hope that the grant
will extend to replacing and insulating our 25 year old roof over the resource centre to
further improve energy efficiency. These investments will improve your experience and
comfort whenever you visit the Cottage or resource room!
MEMBERSHIP
By taking out a membership at the low cost of $20, you can support our work and
participate in the decision-making at Annual General Meetings. Current membership runs
from this January to December. You may e-transfer the funds to tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com with your name, email and home address.
Be sure to type membership in the message section. Tax receipts the following
February.
Also, we are eager to showcase the skills of
more VOLUNTEERS, including docents and people skilled in nineteenth
century crafts (spinners! YES!). We can also use people to help with maintenance,
gardening, finance, governance, tech skills. Let us know at tollkeeperscottage@gmail.com.
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Do you know a COMMUNITY MINDED ACCOUNTANT OR A FINANCIALLY SAVVY
PERSON who can spare one meeting per month to serve as volunteer
Treasurer for the Community History Project? We are looking for someone who will provide
financial guidance with a budget and a few policies to keep us on track, with lots of
help from our very knowledgeable and experienced bookkeeper. We'd be very happy to
speak to anyone considering such a role. Offering lots of support in a congenial
environment. Anyone?
You may have
noticed that the HERITAGE
PLAQUE describing the importance of
Davenport Road has been missing for many months--a victim of one of the thefts of such
coveted bronze signs around the city. Our Board of Directors has followed up and seen a
preview of the new, re-worded plaque that emphasizes local Indigenous heritage. Such is
the silver lining behind this dastardly deed! It'll take several months for the new
plaque to be installed, but do look for it, on the north side of Davenport Road just
west of Bathurst Street.
Davenport Road was known in Ojibwe as Gete-Onigaming: "at the old
portage."
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