Times-Advocate, 1987-06-24, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, June 24, 1987
Usborne Strang home
gets heritage honors
Usborne Township council recent-
ly gave final reading to a bylaw nam-
ing the Strang farm house as a
heritage property, giving that
designation for the first time to any
building in the township.
The building at lot 29, concession 3,
has been steeped in historical
significance as it has housed a former
reeve and has been the township of-
fice served by two other Strang fami-
ly members. It is now the home of
current clerk -treasurer Sandra
Strang.
The land at this site was first own-
ed by the Canada Company and was
purchased from them by Robert Bell.
In 1850, John Strang emigrated from
Scotland and carried out his trade as
a stone mason for two summers in
Hamilton and Cayuga. In March of
1852 he purchased the land in Usborne
Township from Mr. Bell.
In 1865 John Strang built the old
stone house, that presently stands on
this land, from field stone that was
secured from boulders in the Ausable
River Valley on Lot 7 North Thames
road, which was then owned by ;Ilex
Fowlie the brother-in-law of John's
brother, Peter Strang. Lime stone for
the window caps and sills was cut
from the stone quarry in St. Marys,
and transported by horse drawn
wagons to the site. The oak joists us-
ed for construction were made from
timber cut on this farm.
It is situated on the highest point in
Usborne Township and affords a view
for many miles in all directions.
In 1855, John Strang was elected as
the reeve of Usborne Township. Since
then this house has served the
municipality as the site of the clerk's
home and office for many years. In
1893 John Strang gave the house to his
son Henry who served there as clerk
from 1919-193?. In 1937, Henry pass-
ed the old home to his son Harry who
used the back kitchen as the clerk's
office from 1947 to 1965, when he mov-
Mark Phillips
Continued from front page
The disabled equestrians are not
charged for their lessons. There are
presently three staff members who
help make the operation run
smoothly. But S.A.R.I. could not be
operated without the volunteers who
unselfishly give their time to be train-
ed as instructors, leaders and helpers.
The benefits of therapeutic riding
are being increasingly recognized by
the medical profession. Riding pro-
vides disabled people with useful and
enjoyable exercise. As a physical
acitivity it encourages the use of re-
maining capacities and the develop-
ment of compensation for weak or
paralyzed areas.
CurrentlyS.A.R.I. serves 150 riders
and supports this number with five
volunteer instructors and about 75
volunteers including a
physiotherapist and a handful of
nurses.
The program consists of 12 horses,
plus one in training and one on trial.
In addition the group has a pony train-
ed to drive and two pony carts; one
conventional cart and one especially
designed by one of the rider's parents
to accommodate a wheelchairs.
In addition to his competing sue
cesses, Captain Philips is also an en•
thusiastic teacher, encortraging
young riders through his teaching all
over the •'orld, including Australia,
New Zealand, Canada, the USA and
Japan.
He suffered two major disappoint-
ments in 1986, missing a place in the
British Team at both the World
Championships at Gawler, in
Australia, and at the CCIO in Poland
through minor injuries to his horse
Distinctive. However, he is hl ging for
better fortune in 1987, with Distinctive
back on the road and the other rising
star in the Range Rover Team, Car-
tier, competing at Badminton.
The year 1986 also brought some
very exciting news, with the an-
noupcement by Gleneagles Hotel in
Scotland that Captain Philips was go-
ing to run the new three million pound
Mark Ph' nip Equestrian Centre to be
built at hotel opening in February
1988.
In order to put something back in-
to the sport he loves and that.has
given him so much pleasure over the
years, Captain Philips agreed to
organize Horse Trials at Gatcombe
Park and since 1983 has played host
to the Croft Original Championships.
He personally designed this exciting
course, which has proven extremely
popular with both riders and spec-
tators alike and in 1987 Gatcombe will
host the Croft Original British Open,
incorporating the National Champion-
ships for the second successive year.
Captain Phillips joined the Queen's
Dragoon Guards in 1969 and served in
the army until 1978 when he retired
and started his new career as a
farmer. In 1973 he married H.R.H.
The Princess Anne and they now have
two children, Peter and Zara. In ad-
dition to his work on the farm and his
equestrian activities, Captain Philips
is involved with official duties both in
the U.K. and abroad.
On location or Studio
Bart DeVrie
PHOTOGRAPHY
• COMMERCIAL WEDDINGS
• PORTRAITS • GROUPS
• PUBLICITY
Telephone 235-1298
137 Thames Rd., Fast, Exeter, Ont.
ed to a new home on Highway 4. The
stone house was vacant for a few
years until Harry's son Keith mov-
ed in during the summer of 1969.
Keith and his family presently occupy
the house.
The house is representative of other
houses in the area that were built by
John Strang, such as those located on
concession 1, Lot 35; concession 2, lot
33; concession 3, Lot 33; and a home
situated in Russeldale.
This old stone house is a statue to
the honour, and stability of our
municipality's past and present and
is most deserving of the honour of be-
ing designated a heritage site that is
worth preserving for the future, the
bylaw explains.
The main floor of the house includes
a living room, kitchen, dining
room,laundry and a back kitchen that
was the township office.
Mrs. Strang explains that the back
room is still used as an office facility
by her husband and their three
children and also a rnudroom.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms
and a large bathroom which she
smiles is adequately filled. However,
at one time the house had at least nine
people within its confines.
}
GRANDPARENTS' DAY — The junior choir at Exeter public school presented a special program for grand,-
parents. Narrator Kate Farwell shows the music book to grandfather Peter Koekstra, Mitchell. Looking
on are Diny Hoekstro, Cecilia Farwell and choir member Mike Coolman.
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