The Times Advocate, 2005-11-30, Page 13Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Exeter Times -Advocate
13
Culbert book explores Lucan's past
Lucan-raised Terry Culbert examines Lucan's history in his new book,"Lucan:
Home of the Donnellys." In addition to offering new information about the
Donnellys, the retired television cameraman/reporter tells many tales of Lucan's
past including the history of Wilberforce, sports, entertainment and local charac-
ters. (photo/Scott Nixon)
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
LUCAN — Terry Culbert is at it again.
The retired television
cameraman/reporter has recently
released his second book, "Lucan: Home
of the Donnellys."
As the title suggests, Culbert spends a
chunk of the book telling the story of the
infamous Donnelly tragedy. But the book
is much more than that — Culbert
unearths new information about the clan
from Tipperary and writes of
Wilberforce, one of Canada's first black
settlements and many stories from
Lucan's past and present. Culbert shares
with readers his own upbringing in his
beloved Lucan and talks of local sports
heroes, actors, personalities, businesses
and musical performances.
Culbert, born in 1942, says his ances-
tors arrived in Biddulph from Ireland just
before the Donnellys made their way to
the area. His parents owned and operat-
ed Main Street business Mel Culbert's
Five Cents to a Dollar Store. While
Culbert left Lucan at 18 to pursue his
career behind (and in front of) the cam-
era his roots are still in Lucan, where
family and friends remain.
"I've loved Lucan all my life," he told
the Times -Advocate last week, explaining
that since he was in his 20s he has want-
ed to write a book about his hometown.
He credits his aunt Muriel Culbert of
Lucan with giving him the push a couple
of years ago to go ahead with the book.
Culbert has a passion for history and
has visited Ireland several times to
explore his family's past.
During the Donnelly portion of his new
book, Culbert offers new information in a
chapter called "Seven Years in Prison,"
detailing James Donnelly's time in jail in
Kingston.
In another chapter, Culbert tracks
down a descendant of the Donnellys,
Ottawa lawyer Richard Egan.
Culbert also writes of the Lucan Area
Heritage Society's efforts to build a new
12,000 sq. ft. $1 million museum down-
town at the former site of the old Central
Hotel. Fundraising for the museum con-
tinues and Culbert is donating $1 from
the sale of each book to the new muse-
um.
Culbert, who lives on Amherst Island at
the mouth of the St. Lawrence River with
his wife Barbara Hoegenauer, says atti-
tudes in Lucan towards the Donnelly saga
have changed over the years — while the
Santa. Claus parades this weekend
EXETER — Christmas will be in
full stride this weekend with
parades in both
Lucan and Zurich.
The Lucan
Santa Claus
Parade will roll
through the
streets of Lucan
Dec. 3 starting at
6 p.m. from
Saintsbury Line
and Nicoline.
During the
parade, firefighters will be collect-
ing donations along the route for
the Ailsa Craig Foodbank.
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TIMES ADVOCATE
Following the parade, which ends
at the Lucan Community Centre,
Santa will be on hand for a visit
with children.
To participate in the parade, con-
tact Ann Marie at the Wicker
Basket at 227-4158 or at home at
227-4047.
Sunday night, the Zurich Santa
Claus Parade will start at 6 p.m.
and will be followed by a visit with
Santa at the Community Centre in
Zurich.
Floats for the parade are to line
up on Walnut Street at 5 p.m.
To register for the parade, con-
tact Vicki at 263-5343.
Avon= French Immersion
Maitlarici Registration
Uufoeking rhe Porenriti WO*. ll of Our Learners
The Avon Maitland District School Board is exploring the possibility
of offering French Immersion programs in a number of schools
across the district. In order to determine program viability the
Board will be conducting French Immersion registration from
December 5 - December 9, 2005. Students currently in Senior
Kindergarten and Grade 1 are invited to register for Grade 1 and
Grade 2 French Immersion to begin in September 2006.
School sites chosen for potential French Immersion Programs are:
Community Area
Listowel Area
Mitchell Area
St. Marys Area
Wingham Area
Goderich Area
Clinton Area
Exeter Area
Desicinated School Situ
Listowel Central Public School
Upper Thames Elementary School
South Perth Centennial School
Turnberry Central Public School
Victoria Public School
Clinton Public School
Usborne Central Public School
Students who live outside the attendance areas of the designated school sites,
may be accommodated on existing bus routes servicing area secondary schools.
Registrations forms for French Immersion are now available at your area Public
Schools or at the above School sites chosen for the potential programs.
For more information please call: 1-800-592-5437 ext.116
To contact us by email: info@fc.amdsb.ca or visit our website.
GEOFF WILLIAMS
Director of Education
www.yourschools.ca
MEG WESTLEY
Chair
THIS CHRISTMAS!
topic used to be considered taboo, folks
are now open about discussing Lucan's
history.
Lucan also has a proud history of sports
involvement and Culbert writes of the
famous Lucan Irish Nine baseball team,
the Lucan Leprechauns who appeared on
the Ed Sullivan Show, Lucan's horse rac-
ing history and a visit from the 1952
Montreal Canadiens.
Another big thrill for Culbert growing
up in Lucan was meeting Johnny Cash,
who played at the Lucan Arena in the late
1950s during his first tour in Canada.
Culbert, who took pictures at the concert,
was able to show them to Cash two years
later during the country legend's second
trip to Lucan. Cash liked the photos so
much he asked Culbert to take pictures at
that night's Lucan show as well as a con-
cert in Guelph the next night.
"I was on top of the world," Culbert
said.
Culbert, who did freelance work for the
T -A and the London Free Press in his late
teens, worked at CFPL television for 10
years, the CBC for seven years and Global
for 24 years.
When asked why he has so much fond-
ness for Lucan, Culbert points to the
happy memories of his childhood and the
village's "fabulous history." He also gives
credit to the Heritage Society's work at
keeping the past alive.
"I really take my hat off to them."
Culbert says he enjoyed the process of
researching and writing "Lucan: Home of
the Donnellys." The book also gives him
the opportunity to show off his sketching
skills, as his original drawings of Lucan
personalities are featured throughout.
Writing the book was a two and a half
year process, involving many lengthy
trips between Lucan and his home on
Amherst Island. He thanks his wife for
being "a rock" for him
"Lucan: Home of the Donnellys" is
available at the Times -Advocate and vari-
ous businesses in Lucan. Culbert also
hopes to have it for sale eventually in
London.
POLICE BRIEF
Several collisions in
Middlesex County
MIDDLESEX — Middlesex County OPP
report between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, 64
motor vehicle collisions in the Middlesex
County area. They also report over 30 vehi-
cles in the ditch.
THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
ON YOUR LIST THIS CHRISTMAS!
1 • Office Chairs
• Filing Cabinets
• 2006 Day Planners
• Brief and Business Cases
• Laptop Bags and Executive Portfolios
• Printing Calculators
• Printer Cartridges
• Great Markers and Highlighters
• Pens, Pencils and Office Basics
• Chalk, White or Cork Boards
• Fireproof Safes
• World Globes
• Printers and Fax Machines
• Personalized Stamps and Labels
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Visit Us At 92 Main St. S. Exeter
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
LOTS OF STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS HERE!
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