News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

No one alive today has seen our faces.
No grandchild has heard our voices or felt our touch.
We did not intend to die.
We were ordinary men and boys for whom circumstances
Caused us to do an extraordinary thing.

We gave our lives so that you might live free from tyranny.
We are now only names on cenotaphs
And fading pictures in family albums.
Remember us please.
We would like to have known you.

~Leslie Wilson

Newcastle Village and District Historical Society will be mounting a Remembrance Display in the History Room at the Newcastle Village Community Hall for the month of November. Please come and remember with us.

The History Room is opened 9:30 to noon every Tuesday and Saturday, but as a special community outreach, we will be open on Armistice Day/Remembrance Day from 9:30 to noon as well. We will be open before, during and after the service at the cenotaph on November 11th at 11 a.m.

On display will be artifacts from both wars, as well as photos and bios for the Newcastle area people who served during these conflicts with recognition of our nurses and other women who served here at home.

Curatorial Assistant, Leslie Wilson, a volunteer at the History Room, will be heading up the team who are putting this display together.

See you there!

“Lest We Forget” by Lisa Sabater-Mozo, CC BY-ND