In this episode we reflect on the life and times of an amazing woman who brought “lilies for the soul” to our community through beauty and colour. Mary McKay’s story and her connection to Collingwood is both as vibrant and inspiring as her artwork.

After the story we invite everyone to check out our sidewalk exhibit on Hurontario Street, celebrating women in local history. A joint project with the Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural Museum, it runs until March 20th. Make sure you find all twelve unique signs showcasing business owners, war-workers, medical professionals, artists (including Mary McKay) and sports heroes. A quick thank you to Carole Stuart at the Collingwood Public Library’s Local History Department is long overdue. Much of the research for this podcast wouldn’t be possible without the resources to be found there.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or story ideas we would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at www.facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum or [email protected]

Episode Picture:

Collingwood Museum Collection, TR1871. Nina Ridley (left) stands beside Mary McKay (right).

Research:

Isabel Griffin, Enterprise Bulletin March 18, 1981

Obituary Notice Enterprise Bulletin January 1987

The Group of Seven, Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/group-of-seven

Collingwood Public Library Local History files on the McKay family.

The quiet routine of daily work and life is shattered by an explosion that rocks the shipyards and surrounding area. Windows are shattered, and a huge piece of the ship crashes down outside of the shipyards. The press of questions come raining down almost immediately. What caused it? Could it have been prevented? Was anyone hurt? And what happened after the dust and debris settled?  Join us to hear the explosive tale of the Norman P. Clement.

After the story we express our on-going gratitude to the shipyard workers and their lasting legacy in town. We invite your feedback and ask for your story suggestions. We also highlight our Black History Month activities in partnership with the Town of Collingwood and Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural Museum. And lastly, we invite everyone to join us for Family Day (Feb. 20th) when the museum will be open with games and activities for young and old alike. We hope to see you all there!

Episode Picture:

The Norman P. Clement (being towed out by the tug Dana T. Bowen)  [Collingwood Museum Collection 2010.8.185.]

Research:

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/54664/data

Maritime History of the Great Lakes.  https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/24427/data?g=d

Toronto Telegram October 22, 1968

Enterprise Bulletin. October 17 1968 p.1

Enterprise Bulletin. October 23, 1968 p.1

Links:

“The Night the City of Collingwood Burned” Season 1, Episode 22 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/The-Night-the-City-of-Collingwood-Burned-e1hrehb

A second-hand sign with a risque past and a paragon of family entertainment for nearly a century come together to tell the story of "bright lights, small town." Join us as we look at the history of a cherished local landmark of downtown Collingwood, the historic Gayety Theatre.

After the story we invite our listeners to share their questions, comments, or suggestions for a future story we should tell. We love hearing from you. Send us an email ([email protected]) or leave us a message (www.anchor.fm/cwoodstories)  We also take a moment to hand out a few well deserved thank you’s in time for the new year and let everyone know about our upcoming Winter Wonderland PA Day program on January 27 for children ages 6-12. For more information and to register, please go to our web page www.collingwood.ca/museum.

Episode Picture:

Gayety Theatre [Collingwood Museum Collection X968.551.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983),  p178

Cowley, Christine E. “Butchers, Bakers and Building the Lakers: Voices of Collingwood”, 2008. Pgs. 56, 280.

Collingwood Bulletin May 30, 1929 Talkies at Gayety (C3)

Enterprise Bulletin February 25, 2003 The Passing of a Cinematic Era (p6)

Enterprise Bulletin May 2, 2003 A New Life for the Gayety (p3)

Enterprise Bulletin February 28, 2013 Gayety Gets a Facelift (p11)

Links:

“Deck the Hull” Season 2, Episode 4 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/Deck-The-Hull-e1rloe2

While the festive mood of Christmas has been a constant for the people of Collingwood, the shape of their celebrations has seen some interesting changes through the years. Like when the town’s Christmas tree wasn’t a tree at all! Join us as we travel back to the lean years between the two world wars to see what shape the holiday season took when times were difficult. We hope you will find the stories as heartwarming as we do!

After the story we talk about family Christmas traditions and invite the listeners to join the Museum in some of our newest holiday traditions. And we ask for your help in locating pictures of a shipyard hull decorated for Christmas in years past. Do you or your family have one you would be willing to share? Contact us at our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum) or send us an email to [email protected]. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Episode Picture:

Boy, Dog, and Sled [Collingwood Museum Collection X2007.188.1]

Research:

Cowley, Christine E. “Butchers, Bakers and Building the Lakers: Voices of Collingwood”, 2008. Pgs. 64, 260, 328.

Miles, Anita. “The Chicago of the North”, 2004. Town of Collingwood. pg. 51, 52

Bryan, Ruth Carmichael. “Tales of Collingwood”, 1967. pg. 10-11

Links:

“The Bells of St. Harry” Season 1, Episode 15 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/The-Bells-of-St--Harry-e1bhac7

Just in time for Remembrance Day, we look into the story of not just one local man, but six – and all of them brothers – who took up the call to serve King and country in the First World War. One will have the distinction of serving as honour guard to the King himself on one of Canada’s most important days. But each man’s story is equally important and will range from close to home to Azerbaijan and every place in between.

After the story we can’t help but make an incredible story even more so with some added details we know you will like. We also encourage the listeners to find the Ridgway brothers in the Remembrance Day Banners the town puts out each year, and to join us on the museum grounds for the Remembrance Day Service on November 11. The museum will be open special hours for that day so you can come in and see our extensive WW1 exhibit ... including a life-sized picture of Tom Ridgway. Visit our website or our Facebook page for full details on the hours we will be open.

Episode Picture:

The Ridgway Brothers  (Back Row: l to r Eddie, Laurie, John, Tom; Front: l to r Bert, Ernie)

[Photo supplied by Cathy DeRuiter]

Research:

Extensive Research for this Episode came from the Genealogical Files and Ridgway Brother’s Service records compiled by Cathy DeRuiter

Smedman, Lisa. Dunsterforce, Vancouver Courier. https://cdbe6920-b060-4736-bf2a-58f92dcfee21.filesusr.com/ugd/5273e0_0ebf14d8fa5d427fa57c4ae3899efe17.pdf

Brown, Eric and Tim Cook The 1936 Vimy Pilgrimage. Canadian Military History, Volume 20, Number 2, Spring 201, pp 46-47, 52. https://allnationsstampandcoin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5-Brown-and-Cook-Vimy-Pilgrimage-v-2.pdf

Links:

Phyllis Ridgway Story https://globalnews.ca/news/7922913/phyllis-ridgway-dead-canada-toronto/

“The Museum That Wasn’t” Season 1, Episode 23 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/The-Museum-That-Wasnt-e1ig37a

Sometimes the most fascinating history is hidden in plain sight. In this episode we look at a tragic and pivotal moment of our town’s early history through the lens of an underappreciated building in our downtown. A building you have probably walked past and looked past many times already. Come back in time with us as we talk about the day that could have brought an end to our town, but instead only strengthened our resolve to rebuild and continue on, better than before!

After the story we invite our listeners to come and visit us in our lovely building to see all that is going on, and to check out our upcoming Children’s Spook-tober PA Day Program on October 24th. Go to our website, Facebook page or give us a call for more information.

Episode Picture:

Downtown Fire 1881 [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.593.1]

Research:

Collingwood Bulletin, September 28, 1881.

Skelding, Douglas. Ordeal By Fire: A History of the Collingwood Fire Department 1852-2005(Barrie: Northern Printworx Inc., 2005), 32-33.

Isabel Griffin, Enterprise Bulletin September, 1981

Library Files on the Land Title of properties on Hurontario Street.

Links:

“A Day of Tall Work and Many Tears” Season 1, Episode 10 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/A-Day-of-Tall-Work-and-Many-Tears-e18694q

In the very first story of our second season we listen as powerful men make big plans and pretty speeches and it is left to an elegant lady to do the heavy lifting of creating our town ... practically from nothing! We travel back to January 1, 1855 to witness the arrival of the Lady Elgin and trace the myriad of ways that historic day and its visitor impacted every part of our town’s history right up to today.

After the story we dig a little deeper into a couple of the characters associated with the events detailed. One famous fellow (he has his very own Canada Heritage Minute devoted to his story) has very strong connections to our town and the other person has a very dubious connection to our host. We also give you an update of all the fun and exciting activities happening at the museum (boy are we busy!) so you won’t miss out on the excitement and as always we invite your feedback.

Episode Picture:

The Lady Elgin [Collingwood Museum Collection X976.256.1]

Research:

Isabel Griffin, Enterprise Bulletin March 21, 1984

Isabel Griffin, Enterprise Bulletin May 21, 1980

Walker, Frank. Four Whistles to Wood Up: Stories of the Northern Railway of Canada. Upper Canada Railway Society Inc. Toronto 1953. p 5-13.

Sewell, John. The History of Collingwood. 5 Lectures. 2003

Messenger, William. Building of the First Railway. 1969

The Story of Collingwood. Enterprise Bulletin Presses Ltd. 1958 p 18-22

Links:

“Fair Play” Season 1, Episode 11 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/Fair-Play-e18r8g2

Sir Sanford Flemming Heritage Minute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiTgrhEqw5A

To finish off our first season we circle back to our very first episode through the high arctic and a monumental archaeological discovery that our town had a small, but vital part in. History has a unique way of connecting every story eventually, and the many stories of our town are no exception. We can’t wait to make more of those connections in our next season of stories.

We take a moment to thank the behind-the-scenes team that have worked so hard to make these episodes available. We hope you have enjoyed them.  And finally, we invite you, the listeners, to come out and join us in person for some of our exciting programming over the summer months. As always, more details will be posted on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum.

We will be back with season two in September.

Episode Picture:

CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Copyright Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, https://inter-j01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fdat/vessels/100

Research:

Watson, Paul. “The Star with the Franklin search: How the Franklin wreck was finally found” Toronto Star July 12, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/09/09/the_star_with_the_franklin_search_how_the_franklin_wreck_was_finally_found.html

Warrior, Claire and Jeremy Mitchell “HMS Terror and Erubus.” Royal Museums Greenwich.  https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/hms-terror-erebus-history-franklin-lost-expedition

In this episode we go back in time to observe the annual Orange Day Parade through the lens of a fiery local character. And while there on that hot July day we see patriotism, prejudice, a practical joke and just a little bit of profanity all come together to take a very serious (and controversial) international movement and put a decidedly local (and funny) twist on it. After all, a community is defined by its resident characters, no matter what else is going on in the world around it.

After the story we let you know about the upcoming summer activities at the museum including late night openings for Jazz and Blues at the station and our children’s summer programs, which you won’t want to miss! We also say good-bye to Elise Barr-Klouman, Museum Program Director and Podcast Producer, without who’s energy and excitement this podcast wouldn’t be. We are sad to see her go, but know she will be awesome in her new job. Thanks Elise!

Episode Picture:

Orange Day Parade, July 1925 [Collingwood Museum Collection X968.844.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 191.

The Orange Order in Canada https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/orange-order

Orangemen’s Day in Canada https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/orangemen-day

Grand Orange Lodges of Ontario http://www.orangeontario.org/about-us/brief-history/

Orange Order in Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Order_in_Canada

Take a stroll with us down by the water, not just in the evening but back in time as we explore some of stories that show the changing nature of our town’s waterfront through the years. From the community hub and enter of activity it is today, to idyllic postcard scenes of unspoiled nature of yesteryear, to an absurd tale of nature fighting back against those who would try to tame it, this episode may have you looking at the waterfront in a new light.

Following the story Ken has a humorous tale of his own losing battle with nature and we highlight both the trails of Collingwood (many of which run down by the water) and a music festival coming up in honour of the same. See the links below so you don’t miss out on either.

Episode Picture:

Methodist Choir Picnic, early 1880’s  [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.344.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 2,6.

Links:

Trail Tunes information and schedule can be found at www.cyclesimcoe.ca/trailtunes

The Collingwood Trails Map is available in the Museum or online at https://www.collingwood.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/trails_map_final_for_website.pdf