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Times Advocate, 1997-12-03, Page 7FAMIT.Y Authors of boat building book set sail for Exeter December 12 By Craig Bradford T -A Reporter EXETER - If you ever wanted to find out more about the history of Canadian boat building or its significance to the growth of the country, mark Dec. 12 from 1 p.m. -3 p.m. on your calenders. That's when co-authors Peter Watts and Tracy Marsh will be at the Times -Advocate for a hook signing session to promote their new hook, W Watts & Sons Boat Builders — Canadian Dc s. g as f or Work and Pleasure I842-1946. Watts, the great grandson of W. Watts & Sons' founder William Watts, and Marsh, curator of the Collingwood Museum, have travelled across Canada over the last year conducting research, interviews and collecting data on the Watts family. The book, published by Oshawa's Mackinaw Productions, explores over 100 years and three gen- erations of the important boat building family. Watts built more fishing boats than any other builder on the Great Lakes and his designs are known internation- ally as the Collingwood skiff or mackinaw. The book examines many more designs than the mackinaw and details Watts' connection to important events including the Riel Rebellion, the start-up of the North-West Mounted Police and their marine unit, the Klondike Gold Rush, geological surveys of Canada in Hudson and James Bays, the rise and fall of com- mercial fishing, the wreck of the Asia and the expansion of the country to the Pacific Ocean and the Watts' impact on fishing there. William Watts emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1842 and first settled on Toronto Island. By 1850 Watts had chosen Collingwood as home. Watts said writing the book and seeing it to print was "very important', to him and he is• still "very font" of the Collingwood arca he still calls home (aithgjlgh part-time) and where the Watts family business started. "My dad (Reg) was the last true connection to the family business," Watts said, adding there was no cut and dry reason why the company dissolved. Watts explained his grandfather Fred became ill in the early 1940s and may not have "perpetuated" the business in his sons though they, wanted to. continud the tradition. Watts said they received "'great support" from those they met in Their travels and with information still trickling in from their contacts, another edition may be published. "The interesting thing about it is the company was pigeon -holed into one type of skiff, the Collingwood," Watts said. "Over the last year Tracy and I have come across a mind-boggling amount of information." Some of that information points to a more local angle to the Watts story. William's brothel Matthew built boats in Kincardine and Goderich and his designs influenced what came to be known as the Huron skiff. Matthew later went to Lake Winnipeg where he was instrumental in helping the North-West Mounted Police establish their marine unit. William Jr. is the most well-chronicalled of William Sr.'s chil- dren. William Jr. made his way out west and eventu- ally co-founded the Vancouver shipyard. His designs influenced what came to be known as the Columbia River skiff (similar to the Collingwood skiff) still used in the salmon fishing industry. Watts said there a few Watts boats still in use in the Muskokas and his ancestors built boats for all kinds of .uses like life boats, fishing tugs, racing, rowing, pleasure and steam tugs in both sailing and power categories.- Peter ategories.- Peter Watts and Tracy Marsh Marsh said. Their Marsh said despite the fact much of Canada was explored and developed through waterway travel, not a lot has been written about small vessels in Canada. . "Small boats were an impor- tant part of transportation and in the country's development," she explained. "And they aren't chronicled very well." The longevity of the Watts business as well as its rich oral history and documentation made much of the project possible, next biggest resource was early Canadian government reports. Since they finished writing the book their presenta- tions have been well received from various groups including Toronto's Association for Great Lakes Maritime History, Marsh said. "They were very pleased and said a book like this was long overdue," she said. The book's 224 pages include 150 photographs and illustrations from private and public collections, some never- published before, and a variety of the Watts' classic designs. The book is distributed by Grand Bend's Between the Lines Book Wholesale and retails for $34.95. For information on the book signing or the book itself, contact ttie T -A's Sue Rollings at (519) 235-1331. Watts' and Marsh's next book will tell the story of a railroad that ran from Toronto to Collingwood. That yet untitled book is due in '98. DEC. 1 UNTIL DEC. 7 YOUR ONE STOP HOLIDAY SHOPPING eIectt erfect Iresent:. STOREWIDE Times -Advocate, December 3, 1997 Page 7 School children unharmed after accident By H. Davis Saintsbury correspondent SAINTSBURY' - The Davis and Alce children are safe after the school bus they were riding and boarding was hit by a car on the Whalen Line Thursday. Fortunately all were safe, but shook up and frightened. St. Patrick's held their Evening Prayer service on Saturday at 7 p.m., the beginning of the new Church year and the first service in Advent. The church was decorated with creche, Christmas tree, bells, angels, Christmas lights and can- dles, all symbols of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Heather MacGillivray led the service, Kimberley Kelley assisted with the scripture readings and Margaret Carroll gave the message. The children's focus was the mean- ing of Advent and the Advent Wreath. Cody Kelley lit the first candle for Hope. In Sunday School the children worked on the Jesse Tree, symbolizing the extended "family tree" of Jesus, including his ancestors in faith. The symbols rep- resented people who prepared the way for Christ. The Davis's this week attended the "Forever Plaid" performance o+I 'Shaft -13 In' 400. MORE THAN A BED & BREAKFAST tY` large conference room (22 capacity)' tr heated indoor pool large bedrooms ' dinner party facilities ti comfortable country setting 0= a Perfect Country Get -Away RR1 CENTRALIA 228-9969 Fax 228-9968 Wednesday at the Drayton Festival Theatre in St. Jacobs, guests of Audrey McFalls and family. They also called on Lorne. June and Jason Daer of New Hamburg and Friday attended the Biddulph Township dinner at the Lucan Community Centre. Bob and Heather MacGillivray entertained several children to lunch and a movie on Sunday to celebrate Caleb and Corbin's tenth birthdays. Those attending were friends Lucas Durnin, Scott Thompson, Nick White and David Duenk, also cousins Harley and Travis Davis and sister Katie - Scarlett MacGillivray. St. Patrick's will celebrate the Holy Eucharist service on December 7 at 10:30 a.m., the sec- ond Sunday in Advent. The Rev. Stanley Jay will officiate. Women of St. Patrick's will meet for their Christmas A.C.W. meeting of Monday evening, December 8 at 7 p.m. for dessert and coffee. You still think Anstett prices are too high? Have you been in the store lately? Check out these prices! ANTWERP DIRECT DIAMOND SPECIALS SIZE REG. PRICE ANSTETT PRICE U4 ct. 1/3 ct. .45 ct. U2 ct. 3/4 ct. 1 ct. 950.00 !1350.00 ' 1895.ti0 '3150.00 '4750.00 '7995.00 ' 675.00 ' 950.00 '1325.00 '2200.00 '3325.00 '5595.00 ANSTETT JEWELLERS, SINCE 1950 Clinton London White Oaks Exeter St. Marys Goderich WE'RE ON THE INTERNET hup'J/www. mum com .You want style. You appreciate beauty. You want SOLARIAN' FLOORS. 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