Myno Van Dyke, vice-president of the NVDHS board has written a fascinating article published in the Clarington Promoter about the old training school in Bowmanville. The property has been designated a National Historic Site and the Clarington branch of The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and the Jury Lands Foundation have been working to preserve it.

The Training School – Clarington Promoter, Sept. 2019

More info: https://www.clarington.net/en/live-here/future-vision-of-the-jury-lands.asp

Left to right: Vic Suppan, Chair, Clarington Heritage Committee; Myno Van Dyke, Vice-President, NVDHS; Chief David Mowat, Alderville First Nation (Ojibwa); Bob Malone, Immediate Past President, NVDHS

By Bob Malone

As proponents of the Newcastle Wilmot Creek Heritage Park, we have been working with David Mowat, formerly historical advisor to the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation in Port Perry, to ensure that Anishinaabek cultural interests are well represented in the proposed Park. We attended the inauguration and swearing-in of Chief Mowat of the Alderville First Nation (Ojibwa) on the morning of July 22, 2019.

The ceremony included a smudging bowl; a pouch of tobacco for participants in the proceedings; a  traditional Ojibwa bonnet presented to the Chief and a circle of those involved in the ceremony around a medicine wheel. The speaker related the story told by the ceremonial wheel and spoke of the responsibilities the new Chief and his Council faced going forward.

We were honoured to have been invited and the Chief acknowledged our presence during his inaugural remarks. He also pledged his continued involvement in the plan to establish the proposed Wilmot Creek Heritage Park, which is intended to celebrate European and Anishinaabek peoples uses of the lands around the Creek.

By Myno Van Dyke

On June 5, 2019 at the Season’s Retirement in Bowmanville, NVDHS presented Hazel Crago and Murray Walton with Lifetime Member Awards. These two long time members have been extraordinary members for many years.

Myno Van Dyke and Erla Jose present Hazel Crago with a Life Member Award

Hazel Crago, nee Powell, was born in Clarke Township to a family with four boys and four girls. She was initially educated at Lakeshore School and ironically when she finished her education she went back there to teach at her old school. She became a hairdresser after teaching and had a hair salon in her home on Beaver Street for over 20 years. She married Jack Crago and he was also a barber and hairdresser. Jack passed away in 2004 at age 88. Hazel was very active in the community – she was the recording secretary at Newcastle United Church for 23 years, active in the Newcastle Horticultural Society as well as the Pioneer Button Club. Hazel was one of the early members of our Newcastle Village & District Historical Society. She is a wonderful writer; she wrote articles about our community and its residents for many years in the Newcastle Independent which was part of the Canadian Statesman. She also wrote two books; one on the Powell Family and one about her former school called Life at Lakeshore. It is our great pleasure to present Hazel with our Lifetime Member Award.

Bob Malone, Murray Walton, Myno Van Dyke, Sher Leetooze and Erla Jose as Murray receives his Life Member Award

Murray Walton is a descendant of one of our first families in Clarke Township, the Bates, who arrived at Bond Head in 1796. The Walton family was well known in Newcastle in business as well as politics. In 1955, Murray and his uncle George Walton founded Waltona Park which was at Mill Street South, south of the CNR tracks. This was a popular spot for many years. Murray’s working career was in General Motors in Oshawa where he was a General Supervisor. In 1981, Murray was instrumental in forming the Newcastle Village & District Historical Society and served on the very first Board of Directors holding the position of Vice President for many years. Since then, Murray has been an active member of our Society. When you look through the Walton File in our Historical Room you will see the detailed information he has provided about the Waltons over the years. We are very pleased to present Murray with our Lifetime Member Award.

Dear Members and Friends,

Thank you very much for your continuing support of NVDHS. The mission of the NVDHS is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Village of Newcastle and its immediate environs. On June 8, we will participate in the annual Doors Open event. This year is a celebration of Clarington’s agricultural heritage and agribusinesses. It is truly an outstanding event. Flyers for this event are available at the NVDHS. 

The NVDHS will be open during the summer, every Tuesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. We have many resources that allow our community to research our local history. 

We are proud to recognize Hazel Crago and Murray Walton as lifetime members of our Society. Hazel was the editor of the Newcastle Independent section of the Canadian Statesman. Her articles brought the local news of and to our village for many years. Murray was one of the original founders of the NVDHS and was a co-founder of Waltona Park in Newcastle. I think every child raised in Newcastle in the 50s and 60s learned to swim at Waltona Park. Murray and Hazel have made outstanding contributions to our village and we are honoured to recognize them as lifetime members.  [continue reading…]

Newcastle Community Hall – Lion’s Room
May 7 @ 7 to 8:30 p.m

Speaker: Dan Buchanan, The History Guy

38 Hours To Montreal: William Weller and the Governor General’s Race of 1840 

The Governor General was in a big hurry to get to Montreal in February of 1840 and he contracted with William Weller, the Stagecoach King, to do the job in under 38 hours. This Canadian history takes us from Beverly House in downtown Toronto to the Exchange Coffee House in Montreal, changing horses 24 times and avoiding damaged bridges and mud holes. Find out how Mr. Weller could have accomplished this feat and what the Governor General accomplished when he finally got to Montreal.

Come and hear the very engaging author and speaker Dan Buchanan speak on the remarkable race to Montreal in the winter of 1840. All NVDHS and community members welcome!

On Saturday March 23rd we celebrated Jack Gordon’s 9oth birthday with an open house at the Historical Room. Lots of people to dropped in to wish Jack a happy birthday and enjoy refreshments and of course, a birthday cake. We also honoured new Life Members Jean Rickard and Hazel Crago. Congratulations to Jack, Jean and Hazel! And on March 30, we honoured new Life Member Farncomb Le Gresley, who had been unable to attend the previous week. Congratulations, Farny!

A Gift of Art at 187 King Ave. E. in Newcastle is offering a free speaker series on Thursdays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Upcoming speakers include:

• February 28 – Christine Murphy: Humane Society of Durham
• March 7 – Marilyn Glassford: Lakeshore Tours
• March 21 – Kiley Percy: Clarington Public Library
• March 28 – Sheila Burns: Primrose Donkey Sanctuary
• April 4 – Mayor Adrian Foster: Your Clarington – an update

Refreshments are free – but the conversation that follows will be “priceless.” For more information, call 905-987-2264.

Dear Members and Friends,

Thank you very much for your continuing support of NVDHS. I always appreciate the opportunity to communicate with our members and friends of the Society during our regular hours (Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon) and via our quarterly newsletter. 

We have been successful in raising funds from the community to finance our digitization project. Bob Malone, Director and our Past President, has been instrumental in leading this funding effort. We are grateful for Bob’s efforts. This project will computerize the records and assets of the NVDHS for easy access by the Community and all interested parties. We look forward to completing this task.

Upcoming Spring events include our Annual General Meeting, a General Meeting with speaker, and participation in Doors Open. During the summer we anticipate participating in the Wooden Boat Show and hope to hold a member’s potluck as we did last year. The Fall will bring our participation in the Orono Fair, the Newcastle Fall Harvest Festival, Newcastle’s Santa Parade, and the Historical Room will host a Remembrance display and our Christmas party. Please check this website and newsletters for dates and particulars.

I would like to personally thank all of our executive and directors and volunteers for their work throughout the year. They are special people. 

During the final quarter we exhibited a memoriam honouring the men and women from Newcastle and District who served to preserve our freedoms and way of life. It was truly a memorable and educational display. Our Christmas Party gave us the special opportunity to meet many people from the area who really have been major contributors in making Newcastle and District the great community that it is today.

On behalf of the NVDHS, I extend our best wishes to all of our members, friends, and supporters.

Tom Wallace

Join us Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. for our Annual General Meeting and Show & Tell in the Historical Room at the Newcastle Community Hall, 20 King Ave. W. Members of our Society and Community bring and discuss items of historical significance to our community. Got an interesting photo, tool, letter, or anything else of historical interest to Newcastle residents? Bring it along!