HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-30, Page 1112 .:THE:H.00NgXp0.0t0:kOcTOBER 3O. 1980
Brass i
Blyth
`GeOrge$timpson, John.
. .
*D0Wdea and Jame $ $Prigg
individually have pih.yedwith.
Smug of the top orchestras in
North America, Now, as
merabers. of the The Brass
Company 'they're setting out
to Make their mark as a
group.
The brass, trio, vaguely
reminiscent r of the world-
famous Canadian Brass
quintet, will open thp winter
series of -music events at the
Myth Centre for the Arts on
Wednesday, Nov: 12 at 8
p.m. Tho trio of talented
musicians has a repertoire
'fhatranges from the Renais-
sance and Baroque periods to
modern jazz and folk music.
Much of their milsic was
written for brass trio, but
sime-ftas-been-adapted--and --
arranged to suit the unique,
linear sound produced by the
Q3mbination of trumpet,
french horn and trombone.
George Stimpson even as a
high school student in Ala-
bama, was playing his french
horn professionally with the
Mobile Symphony and the
New Orleans Opera Com-
pany. He played with the
Philadelphia Orchestra, the
Grand Opera Company, the
Toronto Symphony, Hamil-
ton Philharmonic, the CJRT
Festival orchestra and Tor-
onto's Boss Brass jazz band.
John Dowden is currently
on the faculty of the Royal
Conservatory of Music in
Toronto. He and his trom-
bone have played with the
National Arts Centre Orche-
stra, The National Ballet. the
Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the
Hamilton Philharmoric, The
CJRT Festival Orchestra as
well as playing with the
National Ballet and The
Toronto Symphony.
As well as combining their
musical talents. the three
blend their wit and humour
and make it an evening of
enjoyment for everyone,
music experts and neophytes
alike.
Tickets for this event can
be purchased from the Blyth
Centre for the Arts box
office. Box 291. Blyth at SS
for reserved seats. Tele•
phone reservations may be
made by calling 523 -9300 or
523-9636. Tickets for this
concert can still be bought as
part of the winter series
along with The Huggett
Family. Maureen Forrester
and The Tapestry Singers for
only 516 for all four events.
Leo dance
Saturday
Sharon Wilson
Colleen Ryan anmiunced
the Leo Club dance at the
Arena Sat Nov I %ill feature
Disc jockey R:ck Moss Sha•
mn Wilson read the minutes
and Demse Dupuis gave thc
up-to-date reports an the
accounts. The Lion advisor.
attended the Leo meetin'A
Oct. 20.
Don't forget about the
dance. everyone's welcome.
WHITE
CARNATION •
liolmesvMe
Presents
Shannon
SAT., NOV. 1ST
Dancing 930 • 1100 a.m.
Buffet 1:00 a.m.
5C 00 per person
482-9228
After ht„urs 524-4133
Pall course hot
smorgasbord available
until 8 p.m.
The story. of Cannington Manor, meant t9 be "a little
England 91# the prairies", has all the (IMMIX Of a historical
romance but it'a trite. Today, tumbledownpin ains of
onee-gracious tnatisions still and stand inCorigruously on
tire NOUt11 $askatchewan prairie, reminders 'Of the days
when tennis, 'cricket, and tea parties were a way of life for
settlers,
The man behind Cannington Manor was Captain
Edward Pierce, a former English army officer, who lost
Much of his wealth in a bank failure. Instead of despairing
about his reduced fortunes, he studied advertisements in
British newspapers offering 160 acres of land in the
Canclian West free to those willing to try their hand at
homesteading. He and his family set off for the colonies
and Major Pierce, the poorer Canadian settlers in the area
PLAYED AT BEING SETTLERS
The town's' residents, many of them young English
bachelors, played at being prairie settlers, but spent far
more of their time and effort racing, gambling, drinking or
attending evenings sponsored by the local literary and
—theatrieil dubs.
When Captain Pierce and his family moved to Canada,
he and his eldest son left the rest of the family behind in
Toronto and set off the ,North West Territories
(Saskatchewan) to inspect the land offered to potential
homesteaders.
The Pierces decided a parcel of land 40 miles south of
the present town of Moosomin looked most promising, but
when they went to lay claim to the land, they discovered
the area was closed to settlement.
Captain Pierce then called on his reserve of British
"pluck." He made his way all the way back to Ottawa and
demanded an interview with Prime Minister John' A.
Macdonald.
Major Pierce outlined a plan to write a series
of letters to English newspapers which would attract
Englishmen of the upper classes to the praries, where
these men could "live like princes on the money required
in England just for taxes." Sir John A. as so impressed
with the plan he opened settlement for One day -long
enough for Pierce and his sons to claim ftve homesteads,
the future site of Cannington Manor.
•
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
Sure enough, Major Pierce wasted no time in firing off
his letters extolling the virtues of prairie life to the English
papers. He also devised the scheme of opening an
agricultural college, where for L100 pounds annually, the
sons of English aristocrats would be boarded, fed and
taught the nidiments of prairie farming. He knew families
with sons who were -a nuisance, an embarassment, a
financial burden or all three, would cnsider L100 a wise
investment.
A son safely tucked away in Saskatchewan
relieved many a Victorian patriarch of one worry.
Now unfortunately, many of the young Englishmen who
arrived at Cannington Manor had little intention of
working, especially at the backbreaking labour of clearing
a prairie homestead. The pupils, nicknamed the
"Captain's pups" by other -townspeople, spent far more
tint pursuing the same interests they had in England -
pla 'ng tennis. gambling. even riding to the hounds. As on
poor 61gured farming instructor once remarked, "I was
glad wherithe young gentlemen took up tennis so I con, d
get on with the work." •
The students, eventually 60 in number. lived in rather
crude bachelor's shacks erected around the town. Some of
the bachelors furnished their dwellings elegantly -with
furnishing and china imported from England. freighted by
ox -team over the Moose Mountain Trail from Moosomin.
Today. the Saskatchewan government has rebuilt one
of these bachelor's shacks on the Cannington Manor site.:
But while a few of the bachelors were gourmet cooks. most
either paid one of the other settler's wives to do their
baking and cooking or coaxed as many invitations as
possible from the parents or prospective brides.
Since ihe English aristocrats were traditionally
members of the Anglican faith. as soon as settlers had
erected homes. Captain Pierce donated land for an
Anglican chauel.
In 1884. the community held a bee. and
raised both the church and vicarage. Today. services are
still held in All Saints Anglican Church th town's only
original building still standing twice a month.
Relatives and church supporters back in England
Tuckersmith
tDay Nursery^
invites you to our
OPEN HOUSE
Vanastra Rec. Centre
Thursday, October 30th
6130 - 8:30 p.m.
Core andbring your children and see our excellent
Educational toys - Music - Crafts • Acthe and quiet
play time • Indoor and Outdoor play areas • Hot meal -
Children fully supervised - Staff of early childhood
education diplomas.
Open: Monday through Friday. 6:30 a.m.
for ages 2-6 years.
Fee: S6-50 per day fincome tax deductible)
For more information phone 482-7634
Mitchell-Seaforth
CABLE TV
For service, account, installation,
local announcements, line locates
Call 345-2341
11 Channel selection!
Supplying 8 networks and
independents to over 1250 homes.
'
• •
Serendtptty.
by Alice Gibb
supplied most of the furnishings for the church, although
the choir stalls, Bishop's chair and. faldstool were carved
from Moose Mountain birch, one of the townspeople's rare
acknowledgements of their surroundings.
Once settlers were established. Captain Pierce realized
it was time to set up an -industrial base. First came the
flour and grist mill, and then the Moose Mountain Trading
Company. The;stere.tried to cater to all its customers
' from providing the practical farm implements needed by
Canadian settlers in the area to importing Crosse and
Blackwell marmalade, again by ox -team, so the English
Settlers celald continue their tradition of aff—erneon tea.
A. wurrg HORSE/
As with any grairie settlement, a hotel was soonerected.
The Mitre Hotel, where Many of the English bachelors
spent the better part of their time, was run by a former
North West Mounted policernan. The hotel also doubled as,
the local court. One interesting case was that of a settler
charged for shooting a neighbour's white horse which had
frequently lunched on part of his crop, Tbe settler pleaded
not guilty to the charge and told the jury, "I mistook, it
(the horse) for a white owl." White owls were rare indeed
in Saskatchewan in the summer, but the jury, all farmers,
themselves, sympathized with the farmer who was
protecting his crops, and returned an acquittal.
Although Cannington Manor, not far, from what was
eventually the Manitoba border, wasn't the most central
place for visitors, some interesting characters did pass
through, For example, the. blacksmith told othersettlers
about a little Englishman who di.QPPP4 by his bu, sinegs,
andflvh
fireden heleft m
a round. ofyshop,
questions.ob%1 aitcosy
hoirn, pre ,i110i,,t,,x0
business than 1 did: The smartest little, damn EillisprOn
I ever sawl" The little Englishman might•ifave been
slightly taken a back to hear the description sinCe'o'ctually
he was a Welshman, through and through. But'thetypting
man, practicing law in Whitewood, was smart- hiS„kiturie
was David Lleyd George and he was the Mari whO *Mid
guide Britain through the troubled days of World
as their prime minister. ,
Next'week: Didsbury and the I3eckton brothers :-English
country life comes to the prairies. "
NOTE: I'd like to do a short series on the harye'st
excursions west, once a common way for many yOntig
Huron County farmers to earn some extra dollars. Anyone
who wor,ked on the harvest excursions or has 'some biles
they'd like to share, is invited to call me at 527-040,, •
Thurs. Fri. Sat.
October 30th
October 3 lsf.
November 1st
//
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VARNA, ONT.
CUL
262 3313 Std9
Open 7 days a week including Thurs. & Fri, WI 900, Sat. 9-5, Sun
JUST OFF HWY 4 BETWEEN HENSALL AND BRUCE Fl E LD
262-3318.5809