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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-30, Page 18TWO-BEDROOM COTTAGE WITH bunkhouse at Point Clark, includes fully-equipped kitchen, gas barbecue, fire pit, horseshoe pit and much more, close to lighthouse and beach. To find out more or to book your holiday call 519-523-4799 after 6:00 p.m. tfn 1995 DODGE CARAVAN VAN for sale 7 passenger, all new tires, excellent condition. For more information please call 519-357- 2188. 17-1p -------------------------------------------- 2003 YAMAHA V-STAR 1100 Classic, original owner, only 10,000 kms. Lots of extras, like new. Phone 519-523-4907. 12-tfn VENDORS WANTED FOR BLYTH Area Farmers’ Market. Earn up to $500 a week selling your vegetables, fruit, home baking, preserves or crafts. Saturday afternoons, June 27 to Sept. 12. For information call Keith at 519-523-4792 (days) or 519-523-9636 (evenings). tfn PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009. Classified Advertisements Wanted acation propertiesV Vehicles for sale Services Tuff-Concepts Landscape & Design Tom Warner Owner, Operator 519-887-8493 519-525-1672 Professional Turf Management Sweeping, Sod Installation & Reseeding Property Maintenance ~ Garden Design & Install Spring & Fall Clean Up ~ Decks, Fences & Patios Tenders Classified advertisements published in The Citizen are now available on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca Members of the Huron County Historical Society learned some interesting facts about the county’s contribution to Ontario’s culture at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday night. David Yates of Goderich, a former Society president and current history department head of Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton referred first to a comment made by Northrop Frye about 19th century Ontario, which he referred to as a cultural wasteland, because of its pre-occupation with clearing the land and survival. Yates, however, noted that many of this county’s founders, including John Galt, Dr. William ‘Tiger’ Dunlop and Major Samuel Strickland were literate men, and published authors. But it was the “Huron County 5” who were the focus of Yates’s talk. These “extraordinary” men, he said were this area’s cultural legacy, “the interconnectedness of the men who were instrumental in creating the institutions that are not only first in Canada but cultural and heritage icons that are known around the world for their excellence.” Yates described Charles Trick Currelly, who almost “single- handedly created the Royal Ontario Museum” was the catalyst of the group. Born in Exeter on Jan. 11, 1876, Currelly had a natural charm and agility that served him well in life, said Yates. After deciding that life as in itinerant preacher was not his ideal, Currelly left the ministry and went to Europe where a chance meeting with a famous Egyptologist for the British Museum got him a spot on the Sir Flinders Petrie’s next expedition. Currelly, said Yates, was astute at spotting forgeries and obtaining valueable artifacts at bargain prices, a skill he honed to a fine art. Saying that all deals were, if not exactly ethical, legal,Yates noted that “every museum expected skullduggery” in the procurement of priceless objects. “Currelly knew how to play the game and he played it well.” His skills brought him recognition among the rich and famous and he was offered the directorship of New York’s Metropolitan Museum by American banker, J.P. Morgan. When Currelly returned to Canada in 1905, he “convinced Ontario that they needed a museum” to show the world that the province didn’t live up to Frye’s claim. Currelly, said Yates, won over the “normally tight-fisted Anglicans and Protestants” on the University of Toronto’s board and convinced the president of the Bank of Commerce to contribute money. The ROM, built at a cost of over $400,000 was officially opened March 1914 by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught. Tens of thousands flocked to see the wonders of the ancient world, science and geology, said Yates. “He truly brought the ages home.” Currelly was the ROM’s first curator-director. Yates, then introduced Dr. John Hutchison Garnier, born 1823 in Scotland and educated at Dublin University. A world traveller, who had an interest in natural history and zoology, Dr. Garnier, settled in 1860 in Lucknow. “The south side, so it’s Huron County,” said Yates. The good doctor was known far and wide for his eccentric behaviour. “Had he not been useful as the town doctor, he would have been locked up as the town lunatic.” Dr. Garnier could be recognized by the shotgun he carried over his shoulder and “which he didn’t hesitate to use whenever he saw a suitable target.” Garnier, however, was known internationally as an expert in removing cataracts and even patented a medical instrument for this purpose. He was also, said Yates, the first doctor in Ontario to use obstetrical forceps. Besides being a man of medicine Garnier won reknown as a playwright, author and translator. But it was his passion for zoology that connects him to the ROM. Garnier, said Yates, catalogued birds, snakes and other reptiles. A skilled taxidermist, Garnier preserved hundreds of specimens for study. Part of his collection, donated to the University of Toronto was lost in a fire. He died in 189. His widow eventually donated the zoology collection to Currelly and the ROM. Yates listed the total contribution as an “impressive” 660 birds, 160 mounted animals, 120 mammals, 125 mammalian skulls, 170 salamanders, 385 amphibians, close to 550 snakes and 360 turtles, lizards, horned toads, alligators and other creatures. Today, the ROM’s Dr. J.H. Garnier Gallery houses his collection of Ontario’s birds and snakes. William Nicoll Cresswell was born in England in 1818 and came with his family to Tuckersmith Twp. in 1848. His father was an Anglican church minister and later Huron County warden. Cresswell became a leading landscape artist whose paintings are still on display in the National Gallery in Canada and London’s Tate Gallery. His talent earned him a spot as one of the founders of the Royal Canadian Academy of Artists, and his landscapes won several awards. In 1876 the “middle person in the pentagon” a budding 16-year-old artist from near Wingham paid a visit to Cresswell’s Harphurhay studio.”Young George (Agnew) Reid’s future as an artist would ultimately hang on Cresswell’s judgement.” Yates said Cresswell almost immediately recognized Reid’s talent and agreed to take him on as a student. He did live to see his prized student become a recognized artist, but passed away suddenly in Seaforth in 1888. Reid, in 1878, with $200 in his pocket went to Toronto and took night classes from the Ontario Society of Artists. He later studied at the Pennsylvania Academy for Fine Arts, at the Spanish Prado, then Paris’s Julien Academy. In 1885 he established an art school and studio in Toronto. Histalents as a portaitist and genre painter of Canadian rural life earned him critical acclaim in North American in the 1880s and 1890s, said Yates. His paintings won awards wherever they were exhibited. Currelly was a neighbour of Reid’s in Toronto’s exclusive Wychwood neighbourhood. Currelly was instrumental in Reid’s appointment as principal of the newly-created Ontario College of Art and Design when it opened in 1912. In 1947, said Yates, Reid returned to painting Canadian landscapes as Cresswell taught him and entered the most prolific period of his life. He painted murals for the ROM as commissioned by Currelly, which formed the backdrop to virtually all of the exhibits until the 1970s restoration. Unfortunately, said Yates, only a few have survived, but they are currently being restored. Reid passed away in 1947. The final person in the pentagon contributed in the most unique way to the ROM said Yates, as he propelled it into a “new dimension.” Rev. Robert Mellon Menzies was born in Clinton in 1885. He graduated as an engineer in 1907 from U of T, then entered the ministry. During mission work in China, Menzies “stumbled upon” what has become known as the Wastes of Yin, said Yates. This contained the historical records of the Shang Dynasty in the form of oracle bones. “The ancient Chinese kings consulted oracles on a daily basis regarding every personal and political decision.” Menzies credited divine providence with placing this important discovery in his hands. Refusing substantial fees for his collection, Menzies insisted that it remain in China for future research by scholars. Currelly recruited Menzies for a research position at the museum under Bishop David White. However, said Yates, White, who had officiated at Menzies’ wedding, became a petty tyrant, plagiarizing Menzies’ research and blocking his professional progress. The ROM’s Menzies Gallery displays artifacts from his Chinese collection, considered by scholars as the most comprehensive outside of China. In 1957 Menzies died in Toronto. Less than a month later Currelly passed away in April. “Currelly and the others in the Huron County 5 created in less than 50 years what had taken Europe centuries, that is to create a national culture.” “Huron County can take pride in its cultural legacy to the rest of the Dominion.” Huron’s history David Yates, right, was the guest speaker at the Huron County Historical Society meeting in Brussels on Thursday evening. Yates spoke on five men from Huron who made a tremendous impact on the province’s culture. Seated is David Armstrong, Society president, from Goderich. (Bonnie Gropp photo) ‘Group of 5’ shapes Ontario’s culture By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen Disturbed by the cost of repairs needed to allow the Bluevale Hall to meet new accessibility standards, Morris-Turnberry is going to see if funding is available to build a new hall. Council voted at its April 21 meeting to apply for a Building Canada Stimulus Fund grant for construction of a new building after administrator clerk-treasurer Nancy Michie told them there might be a possibility of receiving money under the program. “If we could get a grant, I’d say that was the way to go,” said councillor Bill Thompson. Speaking about the current building councillor Paul Gowing said “It’s a great old hall, but it has problems. I’ve had more than one ratepayer say we should close it or build new.” In March, council received estimates from Darrell Weishar of Dar Cad Designs that it would cost $60,000 to $75,0000 to bring the building up to the new accessibility standards required by the province come Jan. 1, 2010. Since then councillors have reported opposition to the expenditure. Deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans said that although it would be great if the council can find a grant to cover the repairs, it also needs to get the community involved in fundraising. M-T seeks funding for Bluevale Hall By Keith Roulston The Citizen