Article by Mark Currie re: “The Evolution of a History

The Township of Oro-Medonte

Heritage Committee Agenda

Robinson Room

Monday, February 24, 2020

6:00 p.m.

The Township of Oro-Medonte is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment that is based on respect for the dignity and rights of everyone within the

organization and for those individuals visiting our organization.

The Township of Oro-Medonte supports and fosters an environment that is safe, welcoming and respectful for all residents, visitors, members of Council and staff.

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1. Agenda Approval:

a) Motion to Approve the Agenda.

2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest:

3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting:

3 - 7 a) Minutes of Heritage Committee meeting held on Monday, November 18, 2019.

4. Deputations:

8 - 11 a) 6:00 p.m. John Crawford, on behalf of the Oro Agricultural Society re: Partnership Opportunity with Oro Agricultural Society.

5. Communications:

12 - 22 a) Article by Mark Currie re: “The Evolution of a History: Examining Commemorative Markers at the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site”.

23 - 24 b) Article by John Merritt, Orillia Museum of Art and History re: Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church.

25 c) Magazine excerpt from Ontario Heritage Trust re: Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church.

6. Reports of Members of Council/Municipal Officers:

a) Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services re: 567 Line 11 South Update.

26 - 28 b) Catherine McLean, Planner, email correspondence from Robert Stewart, University of Houston re: Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church.

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29 - 30 c) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Doors Open.

31 - 53 d) Catherine McLean, Planner re: List of Cairns, Plaques, Monuments, Cemeteries and Churches in the Township of Oro-Medonte.

e) Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services, Planner re: Site Visit Guidelines.

7. Next Meeting Date:

Monday, March 16, 2020 (TBC).

8. Adjournment:

a) Motion to Adjourn.

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The Township of Oro-Medonte Heritage Committee Meeting Minutes

Council Chambers

Monday, November 18, 2019

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor H.S. Hughes Councillor Cathy Keane, Chair Chris Eaves Ruth Fountain Dorothy Moore Kayla Thibeault (arrived @ 6:03 p.m.) Bob Tudhope Regrets: Councillor Ian Veitch, Vice-Chair Staff Present: Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services; Catherine McLean,

Planner; Janette Teeter, Supervisor, Clerk’s Services/Deputy Clerk 1. Agenda Approval: a) Motion to Approve the Agenda.

Motion No. HC191118-1 Moved by Fountain, Seconded by Eaves It is recommended that the agenda for the Heritage Committee meeting held on November 18, 2019 be received and approved.

Carried.

2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest: None declared.

3.a) Minutes of Heritage Committee meeting held on Monday, November 18, ...

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Heritage Committee Minutes – Monday, November 18, 2019.

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3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting: a) Minutes of Heritage Committee meeting held on September 16, 2019.

Motion No. HC191118-2 Moved by Moore, Seconded by Tudhope It is recommended that the draft minutes of Heritage Committee meeting held on September 16, 2019 be received and approved as printed and circulated.

Carried.

4. Deputations: None. 5. Communications: a) Correspondence dated October 30, 2019 from The Look Local Team re: Featured article

in issue of Look Local.

Motion No. HC191118-3 Moved by Eaves, Seconded by Tudhope It is recommended that correspondence dated October 30, 2019 from The Look Local Team re: Featured article in issue of Look Local be received.

Carried.

b) Correspondence from The Muse News re: Autumn Edition 2019.

Motion No. HC191118-4 Moved by Fountain, Seconded by Eaves It is recommended that correspondence from The Muse News re: Autumn Edition 2019 be received.

Carried.


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c) Correspondence from Community Heritage Ontario (CHO) re: Quarterly Publication, Fall 2019.

Motion No. HC191118-5 Moved by Thibeault, Seconded by Moore It is recommended that correspondence from Community Heritage Ontario (CHO) re: Quarterly Publication, Fall 2019 be received.

Carried.

6. Reports of Members of Council/Municipal Officers: a) Catherine McLean, Planner, correspondence re: Doors Open and Alternative Funding for

Program.

Motion No. HC191118-6 Moved by Thibeault, Seconded by Eaves It is recommended 1. That the correspondence presented by Catherine McLean, Planner, re: Doors Open

and Alternative Funding for Program be received. 2. That staff survey the Simcoe County municipalities to confirm interest and report at

the November 27, 2019 Council meeting. 3. That It is recommended that Council proceed ____ not proceed ____ with the 2020

Doors Open event. Carried.

b) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Locating and Characterizing Burials using 3D Ground-

Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Terrestrial laser Scanning (TLS) at the Historic Mueschke Cemetery, Houston, Texas.

Motion No. HC191118-7 Moved by Eaves, Seconded by Thibeault It is recommended that the correspondence from Robert Stewart, University of Houston re: Locating and Characterizing Burials using 3D Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) at the Historic Mueschke Cemetery, Houston, Texas and presented by Catherine McLean, Planner be received and referred to staff for a response.

Carried.


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c) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Map of Properties with Buildings of Potential Historical

Value.

Motion No. HC191118-8 Moved by Thibeault, Seconded by Eaves It is recommended that the Map of Properties with Buildings of Potential Historical Value presented by Catherine McLean, Planner be received.

Carried.

d) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Index Register of Heritage Designated Properties with

Photos

Motion No. HC191118-9 Moved by Moore, Seconded by Tudhope It is recommended that the Index Register of Heritage Designated Properties with Photos presented by Catherine McLean, Planner be received.

Carried.

e) Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services and Catherine McLean, Planner re:

Heritage Committee Orientation Presentation, October 29, 2019, Gravenhurst.

Motion No. HC191118-10 Moved by Thibeault, Seconded by eaves It is recommended that the Heritage Committee Orientation Presentation, October 29, 2019, Gravenhurst, presented by Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services and Catherine McLean, Planner be received.

Carried.


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f) Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services re: 567 Line 11 South Heritage Designation Update.

Motion No. HC191118-11 Moved by Eaves, Seconded by Thibeault It is recommended that the 567 Line 11 South Heritage Designation Update presented by Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services be received.

Carried.

g) Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services re: Rugby Cemetery Signage / 2020

Budget Deliberations.

Motion No. HC191118-12 Moved by Tudhope, Seconded by Fountain It is recommended that the Rugby Cemetery Signage / 2020 Budget Deliberations presented by Andria Leigh, Director, Development Services be received.

Carried.

7. Next Meeting Date: TBC. 8. Adjournment: a) Motion to Adjourn.

Motion No. HC191118-13 Moved by Tudhope, Seconded by Eaves It is recommended that we do now adjourn at 7:11 p.m.

Carried.

_______________________________ _______________________________ Councillor Keane, Chair Janette Teeter, Deputy Clerk


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Request for Deputation Before Council/Committee

Any written or electronic submissions and background information for consideration by Council/ Committee must be submitted to the Clerk by 9:00 a.m. 7 calendar days prior to the preferred meeting. Electronic submissions should be submitted in Microsoft PowerPoint /Microsoft Word format.

Preferred Meeting and Date:

I am requesting deputation to speak:

a) on my own behalf; orb) on behalf of a group/organization; please state name below. By stating the group/organization name

below, you confirm that you are duly authorized to act on behalf of the identified group/ organization andthat the group/organization hereby gives its approval for you to act on this matter.

I would like to use: projector laptop

Name(s) of Speaker(s) A deputation wishing to appear before Council/Committee shall be limited to no more than two (2) speakers with a total speaking time of not more than ten (10) minutes. Name: Name: ____________________________________

Have you presented a deputation previously on this matter? Yes No

Subject of Presentation Please describe below, the subject matter of the requested presentation in sufficient detail, to provide the Township a means to determine its content and to assess its relative priority to other requests for presentation. Weight will be given to those requests that provide more detailed descriptions of the content of the presentation, particularly defining how the subject matter aligns with Council’s Mandate.

Please identify the type of action you are seeking of Council/Committee on this issue. No Action, e.g., an awareness of topic or organization. To Request Action. Please describe in detail.

________________________________________________________________________________

If you are requesting action, have you been in contact with a staff member to seek a resolution with regard to this matter? Yes No

If yes, who were you in contact with? ___________________________________________________

4.a) 6:00 p.m. John Crawford, on behalf of the Oro Agricultural Society ...

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Reason why this presentation is important to Council and to the municipality:

Date of Request:

Name of Requestor:

Address:

Telephone: Fax:

Email:

Note: Additional material may be circulated / presented at the time of the deputation. If you intend to include handouts or a presentation using electronic devices, any material will be attached to the public agenda. Please bring fifteen (15) hard copies of any additional material.

It is the responsibility of the presenter to ensure that they have received consent for any third party information.

Scheduling will be at the discretion of the Clerk, and will be confirmed no later than the 1st business day of the week of the meeting.

There are no guarantees that by requesting a certain date(s) your deputation will be accepted, as prior commitments may make it necessary to schedule an alternate date suggested by the Clerk.

Please email your request to [email protected]

The Clerk’s Office will confirm receipt of the request, however if you do not receive a return email, please contact the Clerk’s Office 5 days after the request is submitted.

Personal information on this form is collected under the legal authority of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 as amended. The information is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record thatis available to the general public pursuant to Section 27 of the Municipal Freedom of Information andProtection of Privacy Act. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Clerk’s Office, TheCorporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte, 148 Line 7 South, Oro-Medonte, Ontario, L0L 2E0.

10/2016


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mailto:[email protected]

I would like to thank the heritage committee for allowing me the time to present this evening

I am here on behalf of the Oro Agricultural Society and would like to propose an idea to the committee.

As you know the Oro Agricultural Society own the fair grounds that are adjacent to the Township ofOro-Medonte South Works yard on Line 7. Our organization operates the Oro Worlds Fair, a 167yeartradition celebrating our rich agricultural history. Over the years the agricultural society and thetownship have and continue to have a excellent working relationship

Last year the Oro Agricultural Society built with the cooperation of many community business partnerswho kindly donated in kind approximetaly $50,000. towards a new 60 by 100building as the OASlooks toward the future growth of our fair.

The Oro Fair also hosts the school fair which is very important to the growth of not only awareness ofthe fair but to build on our youth volunteer base.

Building the new building means we now have the opportunity to relocate the school fair displays fromthe old building to the Presidents Building. In the opinion of the board of directors of the OAS theschool fair had outgrown the space many years ago. It is time to move a new space with lots of roomfor people to view the displays the school age children have worked so hard to have on display at thefair in hopes of winning the ultimate ?rst prize ribbon.

The board of directors of the OAS passed a motion last fall after the 2019 fair to relocate the school fairdisplays to the presidents building and move the existing vendors into the new building

What does that do for the fair and this cornrnittee....Itprovides us with an opportunity and that is why Iam here today ...To provide to the committee the opportunity to work in partnership with the OAS totransform the old school fair building into a historical display building

During the spring and summer of 2020 we are starting to convert the school fair building into a antiquedisplay building. The fair has a good start on collecting smaller antiques that will displayed in thebuilding but will probably need a lot more to ?ll the building. These antiques will be displayed insideinstead of outside on the grounds saving our volunteers the work related to moving them in and out ofthe building, ultimately saving ware and tear on articles being moved around. The result will give usmore area for other displays or activities on the grounds which is so desperately needed.

We also envision a row of tables down the middle of the building for fair attendees to sit at to not onlyget in out of the weather but to sit reminisce about the days gone by, as they look at the antiquessecured to the walls and shelves. A few of these tables could also have glass on top of the tables toprotect and display historical pictures of Oro-Medonteas well as the fair.

I am sure as we get involved in this exciting project more ideas will ?ow, and more people will want tohelp and donate articles for the display. The plan is that each display will have a plaque stating whodonated and what the article is and what it was used for, if the informationis available

I come here not looking for ?nancial help but the help of this committee and eager communityvolunteers to help the Oro Agricultural take advantage of the opportunity to display a part of the historyof Oro-Medonte

The OAS has applied for a grant to through the County of SimcoeTourism in the amount of $5000 tohelp with the expenses and we are hopeful they will be in support of this exciting project.

Thank you once again for allowing me the time to present this evening and if there is any questions Iwould be more than happy to answer them.


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The Evolution of a History: Examining Commemorative Markers at the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site November 20, 2019 No Comments on The Evolution of a History: Examining Commemorative Markers at the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site

Mark T. S. Currie

At the corner of Old Barrie Road West and Line 3 in the Township of Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada sits the Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church (OAMEC). Now open for tourists, special ceremonies, and celebrations, the church was originally built in 1849. Along with the plot of land on which it sits, it is a designated national historic site.

The site is surrounded mostly by farmland. But where there is a church, there is (or was) community. And with community comes history.

This community, originally named the Oro Wilberforce Settlement, was established in 1819 by racialized Black[1] former soldiers who fought for Britain in the War of 1812 with the promise of land in return for military service. The church, and the plaques and monuments around the church property, are the only commemorative markers of the former Oro Wilberforce Settlement. It was once comprised of approximately 60 homes and properties belonging to racialized Black individuals and families.

5.a) Article by Mark Currie re: “The Evolution of a History: Examining C...

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The Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oro-Medonte. Photo taken by author.

The brief narrative presented above is not simply a retelling of a history inscribed upon a single plaque. Rather, it is pieced together using various descriptions from numerous plaques that have been erected on the site since the late 1940s. Instead of removing an old plaque and replacing it with a new one, old markers have been left standing while new ones have been placed alongside them.

The oldest marker is a concrete monument unveiled in 1947; the most recent is a plaque put in place in 2015. Each plaque and marker tells a part of the community’s story. They add or omit details and use different terminology for the racialized Black inhabitants of this place. No two plaques have been put in place by the same government committee or sponsoring organization. So, while plaque designers may have examined the already-present plaques to take note of what information was already presented, none of the plaques read as if they continue a narrative that was started by a previously-placed plaque. Instead, more recent plaques attempt to update the language of the same story already told.

The occurrence of a new plaque being put in place while the older plaques are not removed is rare. Can this observable timeline of commemoration develop an historical narrative of this community?

The monument from 1947 was presented by Simcoe County and the Township of Oro (now Oro-Medonte). It makes no mention of ‘race’ and simply lists 24 family names of those known to be buried at the site. This “colour-blind” commemoration leaves open possibilities for monument readers to imagine the people as equal pieces in the ongoing assemblage of a national puzzle. On the other hand, by not acknowledging their racializations, the monument disregards significant elements that position the people and community within particular historical contexts. This monument only establishes one foundational point: we can identify the people who were there, and their stories can be told.


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1947 monument listing family names of OAMEC members buried in the church grounds. Photo taken by author.

The next plaque is not dated, but it is chronologically next because it was produced by the Simcoe County Tourist and Industrial Committee—a committee that no longer exists and whose most recent available records are from the 1950s. The plaque reads, “Between 1830 and 1850 some 24 Negro Families who had fled from slavery in the United States to freedom in Canada” created homes in the community.

Simcoe County was named for Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, who, in 1793, introduced the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada. This act allegedly intended to gradually abolish slavery in what became Ontario. There is no mention on this or any of the plaques, however, of the 1793 act or of slavery in Canada being legal until the introduction of the Slavery Abolition Act, which was passed by the ruling British Parliament in 1833 and put into force in August 1834 throughout all of the British Colonies. On this plaque, slavery remains an American institution while Canada is presented only as an historical safe haven for Freedom Seekers.


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Undated plaque donated by Simcoe County Tourist and Industrial Committee. Photo taken by author.

The 1999 plaque acknowledging the 150th anniversary of the building of the OAMEC refers to the “Black Pioneers who settled in this area.” It states that the community founders were “soldiers of


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Capt. Runchey’s ‘Company of Coloured Men’ who fought the Americans in the War of 1812” and adds, “The next wave of settlers were ‘freemen’ from the Northern U.S.” Here, the inclusion of slavery is only insinuated through the use of “freemen.” Labeling them as ‘pioneers’ who fought for Britain and as ‘settlers’ tells a story of people committed to developing a nation which they were welcome to join and to which they could contribute. These terms perpetuate a terra nullius view of a landscape to be conquered, ignoring the colonialism that disrupted and displaced Indigenous communities. Additionally, ‘pioneers’ and ‘settlers’ place these racialized Black people in positions of historical equality, which was not the case. The facts that the community’s original inhabitants had to petition the (then British) government for the land promised to veterans, and that it took five years after the war’s end for these former soldiers to finally receive their land compensation, is effectively swept under the grand nationalist rug.

1999 plaque marking the 150th anniversary of the OAMEC. Photo taken by author.

A 2002 plaque created by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada states that Oro Wilberforce Settlement was “one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada” and was “the only Black community sponsored by the government.” Setting aside queries of the logistics of being a racialized Black community sponsored by the government in 1819, my focus moves to the suggested nature of the relationship between the government and the community members. The word “sponsor” suggests at least approval, if not active support. But, as the next plaque reveals, there was no government assistance given. Should “sponsor” be equated with “approval?” As the narrative


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is presented on the plaque, the racialized Black people of Oro Wilberforce Settlement established a relationship with the government well enough to be the only racialized Black community accepted, in some way, by colonial powers.


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2002 plaque donated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Photo taken by author.

Yet another plaque from 2015 is a belated marker for the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812, and is presented as a tribute to the racialized Black soldiers who fought for the British in the war. On the plaque is a declaration that, “All Canadians are indebted to those veterans.” Framing these soldiers in such national terms pushes a narrative of patriotism and national unity at a time when Canada was not yet a country. The racialized Black soldiers’ reasons for military service may or may not have been for any national or political allegiance to Britain or even to the land that became Canada. Nonetheless, this plaque also identifies those who first established the Oro Wilberforce Settlement as “Black Settlers” and “Black Pioneers.”

The developing label of the settlement as a Black community and of the people as Black Pioneers is vaguely but intentionally defined on the 2015 plaque. Stated on the plaque is that “Settlers” and “Pioneers,” with all the colonial connotations to these terms that I discussed earlier, were the people who “struggled in this area for survival, without roads or government assistance, so as to carve out of the wilderness a harsh and challenging life [but nonetheless a] life of freedom and racial equality at a time when Black slavery was considered ‘legal and necessary’.” By stating that slavery was legal when the community was established, this plaque comes closest out of them all to acknowledging slavery in Canada. But the plaque does not clarify that, in 1819, slavery was legal in Canada as well as the United States. When read in relation to the other plaques, this plaque continues to emphasize the dangers faced by racialized Black people south of the Canadian border, but not in Canada itself.


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2015 plaque commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812. Photo taken by author.

While these markers together may portray an evolution of efforts to recognize and engage histories of racialized Black people and communities in Canada’s history—histories that indeed need to be told—these histories become couched in colonial narratives that reify the authority of a colonial government[2]. The changes over time shown through the markers indicate increasing space devoted to the telling of previously-silenced histories, but the space formed is such that racialized Black bodies must be qualified before being permitted to “fit” into dominant historical narratives. Increasingly, the markers reveal a historicity that shapes the inclusion of Black bodies in ways that adhere to a grand nationalist collective memory, placing the racialized Black people and community as contributors to nation-building, yes, but as secondary arrivals to an already-established country. With each added plaque, the lesson increasingly taught to site visitors has been one of racialized Black people patriotically joining what would become Canada and being varyingly positioned to do so by a benevolent government that showed a growing commitment to equality.

Mark T. S. Currie is a PhD Candidate and Teacher Educator in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. He focuses his research around public pedagogies, sociohistorical spaces, and enacting antiracisms.

Notes

[1] “Racialized Black” acknowledges the social construction of categories of ‘race’ as a process, ascribing and subscribing to identities that have historically been (re)created using different terms (e.g. Negro, Coloured, African-Canadian, Black). The former soldiers mentioned above are referred to using these various terms to identify them in terms of ‘race’. Each term highlights how these people were and are seen, rather than how they identified themselves.

[2] Moreton-Robinson, A. (2015). The white possessive: Property, power, and Indigenous sovereignty. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.


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Speaker to discuss history of Oro African Church - OrilliaMatters.com https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/speaker-to-discuss-history-of...

1 of 2 2/3/2020, 12:02 PM

5.b) Article by John Merritt, Orillia Museum of Art and History re: Oro ...

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Speaker to discuss history of Oro African Church - OrilliaMatters.com https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/speaker-to-discuss-history-of...

2 of 2 2/3/2020, 12:02 PM

5.b) Article by John Merritt, Orillia Museum of Art and History re: Oro ...

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http://online.fliphtml5.com/qnqes/uzbb/

2 of 2 2/18/2020, 9:18 AM

5.c) Magazine excerpt from Ontario Heritage Trust re: Oro African Method...

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From: Stewart, Rob <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2019 1:00 PM To: McLean, Catherine <[email protected]> Subject: Oro African Church Hello Catharine: Very best of the Season! In terms of a project outline, I would suggest: 1) Assemble small working team and framework; aggregate history, land surveys, aerial photos, and possible burial areas of the site (February - May, 2020). 2) Undertake aerial drone survey with photogrammetry, sparse GPS land survey with drone calibration points. Produce detailed topography and infrared imaging of site (June, 2020). 3) Conduct further ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometer surveys. Produce anomaly maps and possible burial locations for Heritage Committee consideration. Part 1) would just entail travel and meetings ($2,000). Part 2) would be several days work by a group with some sophisticated equipment. I work with a company in Houston (Raptor Aerial Services) who travel to sites. The travel, surveys, and processing would be about $8,000. You may have done some of this already. If not, it would likely be interesting and useful for the area and associated presentations and publications. Part 3) would again be several days surveying then several days analyzing results. Cost $8,000. Report generation to follow. Given that interest and momentum builds around this project, we would likely be able to attract help from geophysical and surveying companies (Sensors and Software in Toronto) and other groups. Best regards, Rob. PS. I’m in Barrie over Christmas until December 29th and could meet to discuss ideas. Sent from my iPhone Robert R. Stewart Past President, Society of Exploration Geophysicists Director, Allied Geophysical Lab Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences SR1 131C University of Houston Houston, Texas 77204 USA Cell: 1 832 244 1893 Office: 1 713 743 3399 Email: [email protected] Fax: 1 713 748 7906

6.b) Catherine McLean, Planner, email correspondence from Robert Stewart...

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On Dec 19, 2019, at 11:20 AM, McLean, Catherine <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Rob, Thank you for following-up. I do not have any of the information that you require; however, I will ask the Heritage Committee members whether they can assist in answering your questions. Approximately how much do you estimate the equipment and other logistical expenses would costs? I will let the Heritage Committee know at our next meeting in January. Depending on the estimated cost, they will make a recommendation to Council who will decide whether we will proceed with this research. Sincerely, Catherine Catherine McLean Planner 705.487.2171x2109 Township of Oro-Medonte From: Stewart, Rob <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2019 1:28 PM To: McLean, Catherine <[email protected]> Subject: Oro African Church Hello Catharine: Thank you for your note. I hope that all is well with you and the Heritage group. It was encouraging to hear that a team had tried to find evidence of the burials using GPR, but disappointing that they didn’t find interpretable possibilities. In that general regard, just a quick note, which I’m sure is assumed: Any discussion, writing, or activities by me and associates related to the Oro African Church site would be completely under the enthusiasm, discretion, guidance, and management of the appropriate authorities in Oro-Medonte and elsewhere. Moving forward, it would be helpful to know a little more about the burials to try to propose what methods could be used to try to locate them. Some questions:

‐ Has anything been written to date about the burials? Background research. ‐ How were the burials constructed? An excavation and refill? Any rocks, wood, metal? ‐ What kind of soils are in the area of the burials? ‐ Were the deceased buried with any belongings? Metal or collapsible? ‐ Were the burial surfaces reworked?

Concerning budgets: At this stage, I would just try to evaluate whether further geophysical measurements could be useful given what is known about the burials and their current state. If we think that more advanced GPR could help then we could approach a company (Sensors & Software from Toronto), with whom we’ve worked quite a bit, to potentially loan us some equipment under some type agreement. If burial collapse or subsidence could have occurred, then we’d try to find a detailed LIDAR system or topography measurement. In addition, we could also propose flying a detailed aerial drone survey for topography and infrared signatures. If there’s anything metallic, then


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of course, magnetometers could be used. Once we have a better idea of the burial type and environment, we could prepare a budget. I would contribute my time free, but there would likely be equipment and other logistical costs. Best regards, Rob. Robert R. Stewart Past President, Society of Exploration Geophysicists Director, Allied Geophysical Lab Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences SR1 131C University of Houston Houston, Texas 77204 USA Cell: 1 832 244 1893 Office: 1 713 743 3399 Email: [email protected] Fax: 1 713 748 7906


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1

McLean, Catherine

From: Llewellyn, Roz

Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 1:00 PM

To: Binns, Shawn; Leigh, Andria; McLean, Catherine

Subject: RE: Doors Open Simcoe County

It’s that time to start working on Doors Open and wondering if this will be a function of

the Heritage Committee or will remain a special event under Community Services,

maybe make it a combined effort? I don’t mind continuing to do the event but didn’t

want to step on any toes if the Heritage Committee would like to be involved.

Doors Open is more than just heritage, and Dave Yauk gave us the idea of opening up

the doors of other facilities as well to give residents the opportunity to learn about

some of the cool things we do (eg. the new water tower, the new fire station, etc. )

Given this year’s theme of the “environment” I think both of those sites would be great

additions to the event.

Thoughts?

Roz

Roz Llewellyn

Coordinator, Community Recreation

Township of Oro-Medonte

From: Dubeau, Brianne <[email protected]>

Sent: January 6, 2020 12:28 PM

To: Dubeau, Brianne <[email protected]>

Subject: Doors Open Simcoe County

This email originated from outside of Oro-Medonte's email system. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email.

Good afternoon municipal partners,

I’m Brianne Dubeau, the newest Experience Development Coordinator at Tourism Simcoe County, taking over

the cultural portfolio from Donna Goodwin.

Tourism Simcoe County will once again be hosting Doors Open Simcoe County in 2020, and I am gathering a

list of potential locations. The theme this year is “Environment” and our event will be held on Saturday,

September 26th from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.

As a first step, I am looking for your help to identify (and hopefully connect me with) potential Doors Open

locations in your communities. HERE is the list of locations from last year, but please think outside of the box!

6.c) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Doors Open.

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Any help you can provide would be appreciated, and if there is someone more appropriate to contact within

your municipality, please pass it on.

What is Doors Open Ontario?

Doors Open Ontario is an annual cultural tourism initiative administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust. The

Trust works with communities and partners to open the doors, gates and courtyards of their unique and most

fascinating cultural sites to encourage Ontarians to discover the stories inside these exceptional spaces, in

communities all across the province. From historical houses to modern marvels of construction, Doors Open

Ontario showcases the buildings, natural spaces, infrastructure and cultural landscapes that shape and define

our communities.

Selecting Properties

The range of suitable Doors Open Ontario heritage sites is varied and can help participants expand their

understanding of heritage properties. It should include sites and buildings that are, and have been central to,

the character of your community. Examples could include: commercial buildings, places of worship,

cemeteries, inns, schools, Indigenous sites, factories, theatres, boats, gardens, museums, fire halls, railway

stations, lighthouses, sports complexes, observation towers, private galleries, civic buildings, lookouts, jails,

industrial sites and private homes. Event coordinators are also encouraged to incorporate natural heritage sites

and trail systems into their events, where possible. Remember, that admission to these properties must be free

on the day of Doors Open Simcoe County.

Brianne Dubeau Experience Development Coordinator Tourism Simcoe County County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Branch 1110 Hwy 26, Midhurst, ON L9X 1N6 Phone: 705-726-9300 ext 1620 Mobile: 705-818-2113 Email: [email protected] Experience.simcoe.ca

This email was scanned by Bitdefender

6.c) Catherine McLean, Planner re: Doors Open.

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October 11, 2019

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List of Cairns, Plaques, Monuments, Cemeteries and Churches in the Township of Oro-Medonte Cairns

Cairn Description Location Photo

Stone Cairn on Huron Site

Line 3 N, north of Highway 400

East Oro drill shed cairn

Records the interesting tradition of maintaining a militia in each community, prepared to defend against invasion or insurrection.

Huronia historic sites association

792 Line 11 N

Oro African Church cairn

Erected by the County of Simcoe and the Township of Oro in memory of the following families who worshipped and are buried there.

1645 Line 3 N

Clowes cairn In memory of Clowes Primitive Methodist Church

1867-1958 2191 Line 2 North

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E. C. Drury To commemorate and recognize the services of Honourable E.C. Drury.

Born in the Township of Oro in 1878.

Instrumental in establishing Simcoe County Forest.

Served as Premier of Ontario from 1919-1923.

Old Barrie Road East, north side, on the curve between Line 7 and Line 8 (On the County Road allowance) (West of 316 Old Barrie Road East)

Bayview Memorial Park

Donated in 1944 to the Township of Oro by George Kirkpatrick in Honour of Those from the Township who served in our armed forces in the war 1939 to 1945.

687 Lakeshore Road East

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Stone Cairn at the Flanagan Site

East half of lot 8, Concession 3

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Plaques

Plaque Description Location Photo

Oro African Church

National historic site

Simcoe County historic site

Acknowledges the contribution Blacks made to the development of the area, and the unique situation that brought them here.

1645 Line 3 North

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St. Thomas Church plaque

St. Thomas Anglican Church is a significant central settlement structure for the Shanty Bay area. The church’s construction was completed in 1842 and is settled amidst towering spruce, a cemetery including the local O’Brien family and mausoleum dating from 1913. The unusual craftsmanship of the structure is evident in the interior wood elements (pews, lectern, pulpit, plan flooring, wainscoting, ceiling beams and reredos and interior paneling with adze marks). The structure is built on a land grant provided to and then donated by Lt. Col. Edward O’Brien, a half-pay British officer who influenced the design and direction of the construction.

28 Church Street

Langman Homestead plaque

Langman Homestead (1832-1992) Settled by Nicholas Langman from South Petherwin, Cornwall, England. Married Mary Baskerville (1833) of Leigh’s Corners, Oro Township and raised their family of 12 children.

2400 Bass Lake Sideroad East

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Marian Keith plaque

1873-1961

Mrs. Esther MacGregor – nee Miller

Beloved author, who in her many books, portrayed affectionately the live of the people and early time of this part of Oro as well as Ontario. Representative of her writings are novels ‘Duncan Polite’ and ‘Silver Maple’ area 1920.

“Teacher and novelist whose characters and fictional situations reflected what she saw in her community” (Township’s website).

Simcoe County historic site

1911 Old Barrie Road East (Rugby)

E.C. Drury plaque

Hon. Ernest Charles Drury A descendant of one of this area’s pioneer families. Drury was born on this farm in 1878. His father, the Hon. Charles Drury, had served (1888-1890) as Ontario’s first minister of agriculture. A graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College. E.C. Drury was appointed secretary of the Canadian Council of Agriculture in 1909 and became first president of the United Farmers Of Ontario in 1914. The U.F.O. formed a political party in 1918 and with support from labour won the general election of 1919. Returned as member for Halton, Drury became Ontario’s eight prime minister. Following his party’s defeat in 1923 he retired from provincial politics but later held various public offices in Simcoe County.

669 Penetanguishene Road (just north of Highway 11)

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Black Settlement plaque

Black Settlement in Oro Township The only government-sponsored Black settlement in Upper Canada, the Oro community was established in 1819 to help secure the defence of the province’s northern frontier. Black veterans of the War of 1812 who could be enlisted to meet hostile forces advancing from Georgian Bya were offered land grants here. By 1831 nine had taken up residence along this road, called Wilberforce Street after the renowned British abolitionist. Bolstered by other Black settlers who had been attracted to the area, the community soon numbered about 100. The settlement enventually declined, however, as farmers discourage by the poor soil and harsh climate gradually drifted away. Today only the African Episcopal Church erected near Edgar in 1849 remains as a testament to this early Black community.

Line 1 South at the Rail Trail Parking Lot

Ed Sutherland

Ed was born in New Brunswick where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in forestry in 1968. After joining the department of Lands and Forest in Ontario his career took him to Chapleau, Lindsay and finally Midhurst area where he began working in the Simcoe County Forests in 1973. After retiring from the province in 1996, Ed became the Forester for the County of Simcoe, a position he held until 2005. The Ed Sutherland tract has been established in the memory of Ed and has more than 30 years of management.

Bass Lake Side Road just east of Line 5 North (Simcoe County Forest – Sutherland Tract)

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Historic Hawkestone (Hodges’ Landing)

Acknowledges the interesting history of a community established to receive settlers.

Township historic site

Between the Fire Hall (375 Line 11 South) and the Rail Trail

Juno Beach Commemorative brick on the Juno Beach Centre’s Memorial Kiosks.

“Remembered for Eternity, The Council and Community, Township of Oro-Medonte”.

Juno Beach, Normandy, France Brick location: Kiosk: K10 Panel: 4 Position: 115

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Private George Robert McNutt Plaque

Private McNutt left the home farm in May 1942 for active service in the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment of The Canadian Infantry Corps leaving his widowed mother & brother home on the farm. On October 4th, 1944 while serving in the Perth Regiment, he was killed in action in Italy at the young age of 26 years.

3525 McNutt Road

Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society

Donated by the Oro-Medonte Horticultural Society in memory of the dedicated service to our society and the community of Past Presidents:

Ellwood McLaughlin (1923-2016)

Jean Crawford (1925-2017)

Marjorie Bell (1937-2018)

687 Lakeshore Road East (Bayview Memorial Park)

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Bayview Memorial Park Plaque

Dedicated to the people of Oro – past, present and future generations. It is through their efforts that this Township first settled in 1819 was, is and shall continue to be a fine place to live and grow

687 Lakeshore Road East (Bayview Memorial Park)

Private Kevin Thomas ‘Mickey’ McKay

In memory of Pte. Kevin Thomas ‘Mickey’ McKay (1986-2010). Kevin grew up in Horseshoe Valley. He was deployed to Afghanistan in the autumn of 2009. Sadly, Kevin was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on his very last nigh patrol, just two days before the end of his tour of duty. He was buried with full military honours in the National Military Cemetery, Ottawa.

3375 Line 4 North

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Ian Arthur Beard Community Complex

Dedicated on October 20, 2002 In memory of The late Ian Arthur Beard “Are we having fun yet” Mayor of the Township of Oro-Medonte December 1, 1994 – March 1, 2002

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Monuments

Monument Description Location Photo

Sir Sam Steele monument

Sir Samuel Benfield Steele KCMG CB MVO Born January 5, 1848 at Purbrook Son of Capt. Elmes Steele and his wife Anne. 35th Regiment Simcoe Militia – 1866 A battery royal Canadian artillery – 1871 North West Mounted Police – 1873 March West in 1874 Kootenay expedition and Fort Steele Yukon – the cold rush – 1898 Raised Strathcona’s horse – 1900 Commanded in South Africa 1900-1901 Aglo-Boer War South African constabulary – 1901 Promoted Major General – 1914 Knighted KCMG – 1918 Died January 30, 1919 at Putney, England Buried at Winnipeg, Manitoba

North of 4632 Line 11 N (on the curve of the road)

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Monument Description Location Photo

Old Town Hall Cenotaph

Township monument records the names of those who fought in the two world wars.

Township historic site

833 Line 7 North

Four-Township War Memorial (Tiny, Tay, Flos and Oro-Medonte)

The monument was originally erected in 1920 to honour the men lost in the Great War, from the four surrounding townships of Medonte, Tiny, Tay and Flos. Waverly is at the crossroads of these four townships. After the Second World War, four steles were added to the grounds, once again one for each of the four townships, each with a list of names of those lost in the war. A marble statue of a WWI soldier stands on top of the original monument. The entire park is surrounded by a black metal fence with a gate at the front of the grounds. This is a very attractive memorial, well kept and treasured by the local citizens. The names of their ancestors forever carved in the stones.

223 Darby Road (Intersection of County Roads 27 & 93 in Waverly)

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Historic Sites

Historic Site Description Location Photo

Site of Cahiague Native Village

14 Cahiague Road

The Plaque has been removed.

Old Coldwater Road

This highway follows much the same route as the ancient Indian portage from the Narrows (Orillia) to Coldwater, the major east-west trail between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay. Prehistoric Indians, fishing at the Narrows as long as 4,000 years ago, may have come this way. Over this trail in 1615 Champlain travelled with the Hurons to winter at Cahiague (near Warminster). Hurons and Ojibways, French and British used it as a fur-trading route. Later it served pioneer traffic to mills, stores and steamboat landings. The modern road was cleared in 1830 under Indian Agent T.G. Anderson, for the Coldwater and Narrows Indian Reserve, situated here 1830-38.

____ Highway 12 (East side of Highway 12, just south of Warminster)

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Cemeteries

Cemeteries Description Location Photo

Leigh’s Corner Cemetery

Township took over the cemetery in 2014

Dedicated to the memory of John Leigh Family

540 Line 12 North

Abandoned Cemetery

To the east of 610 Old Barrie Road West

Moon Private Cemetery

Lot 15, Concession 9 (Medonte)

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Cemeteries Description Location Photo

African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery

1645 Line 3 North

Rugby Cemetery

1933 Old Barrie Road East

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Churches

Church Description Location Photo

St. Thomas Church

St. Thomas Anglican Church is a significant central settlement structure for the Shanty Bay area. The church’s construction was completed in 1842 and is settled amidst towering spruce, a cemetery including the local O’Brien family and mausoleum dating from 1913. The unusual craftsmanship of the structure is evident in the interior wood elements (pews, lectern, pulpit, plan flooring, wainscoting, ceiling beams and reredos and interior paneling with adze marks). The structure is built on a land grant provided to and then donated by Lt. Col. Edward O’Brien, a half-pay British officer who influenced the design and direction of the construction.

28 Church Street

Oro African Church

Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Line 3 North and Old Barrie Road West. This modest church, constructed of hand-hew logs, and is the last built remnant of a community of early African Canadians settlers in Simcoe County. The British government granted 25 plots to Black settlers in Oro Township from 1819-1826. By 1831, thirty more families joined the settlement and the church construction was completed by 1849. The Church was active until 1900 when the community faded away and was declared abandoned in 1916. It was designated a National Historic Site in 2000. An unmarked cemetery is also located on the property. A stone cairn displays plaques commemorating the history of the former church, including the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque and a stone tablet engraved with the names of the families buried in the cemetery.

1645 Line 3 North

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Bethesda Congregational Church

Bethesda Congregational Church 1859-1899

1562 Old Barrie Road West

Coulson Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 301 Horseshoe Valley Road West

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Knox Presbyterian Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 1604 Old Barrie Road East

Willis Presbyterian Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 3353 Line 10 North

Esson Presbyterian Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 1430 Old Barrie Road East

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Central Presbyterian Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 80 15/16 Sideroad East Oro-Medonte

Oro Station Presbyterian Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 697 Line 7 South/703 Line 7 South

Guthrie Presbyterian Church


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Guthrie United Church


Hobart Memorial Church


West Oro Baptist Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 1058 Bass Lake Sideroad West

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St. Luke's Anglican Church, Price's Corners

Listed in the Township’s Register 9160 Highway 12 West

Mount St. Louis Church


Sacred Heart Church

Listed in the Township’s Register 1804 Warminster Sideroad

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O. Reg. 9/06: CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING CULTURAL htlps://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulotion/060009

‘ R mm &\\.esm \\»A.\\ awOntarioa K9&\§ls‘\. ‘to Cskm \l\\§.2we

\c:§?:Ontario Heritage Act

ONTARIO REGULATION 9/06

CRITERIA FOR DETERMININGCULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE OR INTEREST

Consolidation Period: From January 25. 2006 to the e-Laws currency date.

No amendments.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

Criteria

L-(1) The criteria set out in subsection (2) are prescribed for the purposes of clause 29(1) (a) ol the Act. 0. Reg. 9/03.s. 1 (1).

(2) A property may be designated under section 29 of the Act it it meets one or more of the followingcriteria for determining whether it is oi cultural heritage value orinterest:

1. The property has design value or physical value because it.

i. is a rare.unique. representative or early example of a style. type. expression. material or construction method.

ii.displays a high degree ol craftsmanship or artistic merit, or

iii.demonstrates a high degree oi technical or scientific achievement.

2. The property has historicalvalue or associative value because it.

i. has direct associations with a theme.event. belief.person. activity. organization or institutionthat is significant to a community.

ii.yields. or has the potential to yield. information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.or

iii.demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect.artist.builder.designer or theorist who is significant to a community,

3. The property has contextual value because it.

i. is important in defining. maintaining or supporting the character of an area,

ii. is physically. functionally. visually or historically linked to its surroundings. or

iii. is a landmark. O. Reg. 9/06.s. 1 (2).

Transition

; This Regulation does not apply in respect of a property if notice of intention to designate it was given under subsection 29 (1.1) ol the Act on or before January 24,2006. O. Reg. 9/06.5. 2.

of I 2/24/2020, 9:27 AM

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Documents

Article by Mark Currie re: “The Evolution of a History