Village Squire, 1979-04, Page 27place of honour in the museum. The
change came with a visit from Professor
William Dale of the University of Western
Ontario two years ago. Prof. Dale spotted
the scrawled signature in red in one corner
of the painting and recognized the
importance of the work. It turned out to be
the work of George A. Read one of
Canada's most important early painters.
Actually the painting is just a detailed
sketch done by Mr. Reid as his diploma
piece as a member of the Royal Canadian
Acadamy. The completed version of the
painting is in the National Gallery of
Canada.
The painting will have a spruced up
appearance when it goes on display with
the opening of the gallery in May. Prof.
Dale's discovery recently took part in the
U.W.O's nation-wide exhibition The Image
of Man in Canadian Painting: 1878-1978
and was given a new frame by the sponsors
of the exhibition.
Mr. Reid was born on his parents' farm
near Wingham in 1860. He studied at the
Ontario Street School of Art in Toronto and
-later at the Academy of Arts. Philadelphia
and the Academis Julien in Paris. In 1954
he became the first Canadian artist to have
a plaque erected in his honour by the
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of
Canada.
HISTORY HITS THE STAGE AT
WINGHAM
Many other Wingham historical charact-
ers will tread the boards in May when the
Wingham Towne Players celebrate their
town's centennial.
In the biggest project the theatre group
has ever undertaken, it decided last year to
commission a play about the history of the
community. Sandra Lee, president of the
group first approached Wingham-area
native Harry J. Boyle who began his
broadcasting career in Wingham at
C.K.N.X. radio. Mr. Boyle made a start on
the play and was unable to devote the time
required so another local playwright Keith
Roulston was called in.
The play picks up Wingham's history
with the landing of the first settler in 1852
and follows it through to the present day.
The emphasis in the show is in the fun to
be found in the town's history. Comedy
and music have a large part to play in the
revue -style play.
Rehearsals began in March with a large
cast under director Jack Gillespie of
Wingham.
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April 1979, Village Squire 25