Heritage

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Port Elgin Friends of the Library kicked off a new series, 'Library Live' that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the early history of the region.

The series is for adults, but the first presentation held Thursday, October 21st, would also have been of interest to the grandchildren of those who attended.

George Walker

It was an opportunity to learn about the early days of Port Elgin as long-time Port Elgin resident George Walker used images from the 1940s to illustrate several aspects of those early years.

As a teenager, George reminisced about caring for the delivery horse that hauled a baker’s wagon around town as many in the audience nodded in agreement at their own memories.

Two old friends reminisce ... (L) Bill Waring and George Walker

The history of local downtown buildings, such as the Wismer House, were also discussed.  "Mrs. Wismer," explained Walker, "was in fact a mid-wife who delivered many of the area's babies."  Many of those in the audience then recounted stories of their own relatives who had been delivered by Mrs. Wismer.  Today, the Wismer House is a local pub and restaurant.

The 'Warings' (Bill and Joan) enjoyed seeing old friends on Reverend Massecar's film

According to the 'locals' and/or long-time residents, born and/raised in Port Elgin, when the automobile arrived, Port Elgin had eight service stations and another eight stores that sold groceries ... this with a population of only 1400 people.

Most in the room had attended high school in the building now known as Maple Square Mall.  They  remembered days during the winters when snow was as high as the tops of telephone poles and students from the countryside were boarded 'in town'.

Fedoras for the men and sailor suits for the boys (1948)

An Eby haircut in the 40s ... still going on today

When home delivery still mattered

Walker has conducted several walking tours of the main street, and now has begun recording his recollections in written form so that the early history of the town won't be lost. 

In addition to Walker's photos, the library showed a film on DVD that was 'shot' in June, 1948 by the Reverend Roy Massecar, available for those who want to visually see what the area was like in the 1940s.  The film features many local residents, including the 'famous' Eby brothers who have owned and operated the same barber shop since the 1940s.

'Friends' is a group of volunteers that supports the library branch by funding special children’s programming and purchasing of DVDs and amenities. Currently, the 'Friends' are paying for the refinishing of the table and chairs that have been a long-time part of the library's furnishing history. 

For anyone interested in the history of the area, the public library is a vast resource for photos, film and recordings in print.

The new 'Library Live' series is more than a simple history of an area and its landmark buildings.  It is about the culture of a by-gone era ... when milk was delivered to each home, when everyone smoked cigarettes or pipes, when children helped in family businesses.  Library Live is about preserving the past and educating for the future.

For more information about the series, contact the Port Elgin Library.

Click here for more Library Live

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Friday, October 22, 2010