HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-09-28, Page 55n
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Master story teller
w s raised with
Van Egmonds
BY SUSAN IYIJNDERTBIARK
'Old Mrs. Van Egmond, the Colonel's wife, always
carried a large ring of keys around wherever she went. One
of the keys on that ring opened the lock to her wine cellar
which was known for miles around for the wine she
produced from it for company. But, she always kept that
cellar door locked except for one day when she forgot to lock
it behind her.
°°The Van Egmond boys were mischievious and
adventuresome like any other boys in the village. Down by
the river, the boys used to swim and dive by the mill which
could be dangerous because of the fast current. And, one
day after swimming by the mill, the boys did not come home
for dinner. Dusk fell and a search party was formed and by
morning, when the boys were still missing, it was generally
believed they had drowned.
The local minister came to commiserate with the Van
Egmond family the next day. Because he was a guest, Mrs.
Van Egmond headed down to the cellar for some
refreshment to find she had not locked the door.
And, inside were the two boys, drunk as hoot owls on the
Van Egmond wine."
ORIGINAL FAMILY
Jim Doig, whose family was one of the original families to
settle in Tuckersmith near Egmondville, told that story at a
liar's contest a few years ago at the Van Egmond House
during Ciderfest. It's an indication of the knowledge Mr.
Doig possesses of the Van' Egmond family. He heard the
story after story as a boy at the knee of his aunts who were
taken in by the family and after growing up with the
Colonel's descendants.
"Anything I say has been reported to me as authentic.
There's little use in retaining history if it isn't accurate,' ° he
says.
Arriving from Thornhill, Scotland in 1868, Mr. Doig's
grandparents, Paul and Katherine, settled in Egmondville.
When his grandfather died during a diptheria plague in the
1870s, his grandmother was too poor to look after the
children who were taken in by, various area families.
Daughters Ellen, Margaret, and Katherine Doig were
taken in and raised by the Van Egmonds. The story of the
wine cellar happened while his aunts were living there, says
Mr. Doig.
RECOGNITION
"We owe them a debt of recognition at the very least for
their help. Opening up the house to my aunts was a rarity in
those days and we've always tried to uphold our obligation
to the Van Egmonds for helping the destitute," he says.
That obligation has been filled by Mr. Doig's
involvement in the preservation of the Van Egmond house.
Appointed chairman of the board in 1971 when the move to
prdserve the house began because "I had a big mouth or
something," Mr. Doig served on the foundation for years.
"The Van Egmonds were the backbone of the commUnify
and Col. Van Egmond fought to improve the conditions for
the settlers. He donated the land for the first church and
school in the area and contributed to the environment,
Please turn to page 18
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