Ilderton Villager
and area
September 2024 Issue 38
We’re reviewing how we provide customer service to ensure we are meeting your needs. Let us know how we can serve you better by taking part in an upcoming focus group. • July 12, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Coldstream Fire Hall Building Permits & the Planning Process • July 12, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Komoka Wellness Centre Booking Parks & Recreation Facilities • July 13, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Virtual/Online Building Permits & the Planning Process • July 13, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Virtual/Online General Customer Service To register, visit middlesexcentre.ca/cs-review or call 519-666-0190. Komoka Youth Centre opens in September A few years ago, we launched the Ilderton Youth Centre. Working in partnership with BGC London, the centre offers drop-in and specialized programs out of the Ilderton Arena and Community Centre. Building on that success, we are excited to announce the opening of the Komoka Youth Centre this fall! Located in the Komoka Community Centre at 133 Queen St, the new centre will offer both drop-in and specialized programs operated in partnership with the Middlesex Centre YMCA. We’re inviting everyone to the Komoka Youth Centre Grand Opening on Friday, September 13, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Kids can get to know the new space by taking part in games and group activities, testing their skills at video-game sessions, and unleashing their artistic side with hands-on crafts. Don’t miss this exciting event as we celebrate the launch of this new space that fosters friendship, creativity, and positive experiences for our youth. Whether it’s making new friends, exploring hobbies, or simply having fun, the Komoka Youth Centre is the place to be! Outdoor Movie Night in Ilderton Join us and the Optimist Club of Ilderton for the final outdoor movie night of the year. We’ll be showing Despicable Me 3 on Friday, September 13, starting at dusk (around 8:00 pm) at Deerhaven Optimist Park, 200 King St, Ilderton. Admission is free, with tasty snacks available for a small fee. Don’t forget to bring your own chairs and blankets. Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable movie under the stars! For more information about any of these fall fun events, please visit the Middlesex Centre website at middlesexcentre.ca or contact the Komoka Wellness Centre at 519-601-8022 ext. 5110 or recreation@middlesexcentre.ca.
Middlesex Centre – Municipal Minute Fall is for Fun! The Municipality of Middlesex Centre is getting ready for fun this fall! Our recreation program continues to expand, with the return of popular programs like pickleball, line dancing, yoga, tai chi, and youth soccer and archery. This year, we are introducing several new programs, including Pilates, painting and quilting. Programs take place at community centres across Middlesex Centre. To find and register for programs for you or your family, visit middlesexcentre. ca/rec-programs and use our online registration portal.
HAVE YOUR SAY
September also marks the return of recreational skating and pick-up hockey (shinny) programs at both the Ilderton Arena and Komoka Wellness Centre. There are skating programs for all ages, from preschool to older adults. You can find the schedule on the website at middlesexcentre.ca/skating or pick one up at either arena.
Page 2 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
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Ilderton Canada Day Celebration Fireworks Photos courtesy of Ilderton resident, Ralph Bridgland.
• Cottage, Beef & Chicken Pot Pies • Soups • Pizzas • Fresh Bread • Black Sombrero Chirozo • Speciality meat boxes • Gift Baskets • and more!
• Farm-raised beef • Chicken • Pork products • Fresh eggs • Local honey • Maple syrup • Baked goods • Dips • Seasonings • Cheeses • Lasagnas
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Ilderton and Area Villager September 2024 • Page 3
Message from the Mayor Hello, everyone. I hope the summer provided you with opportunities to relax, take a break, and do some of your favourite things. Now that autumn is on the way, your new schedules and activities are falling nicely into place! Speaking of activities, I’d like to highlight two dates you may want to add to your September calendar! First, the Middlesex Women’s Leadership Conference is coming up on Saturday, September 14th, and like last year, it will feature a “lineup of speakers and engaging activities designed to empower, connect, and inspire.” More information is available on the website at www.thejeancollective.ca/2024-conferences. Second, the annual Ilderton Fall Fair starts Friday, September 27th, at the Ilderton Fairgrounds (www.ildertonfair.ca). There are activities for everyone in your family, including exhibits, competitions, displays, rides, food, and the parade on Saturday morning! Work on the 2025 municipal budget is underway and some of you will have already participated by completing the budget survey,
Aina DeViet, Mayor 519.666.0190 x 5234 deviet@middlesexcentre.ca www.middlesexcentre.ca
Sunrise over farmland in Ilderton. Photo by Sun Up Sun Down Photography. Ilderton and Area Villager Issue #38 September 2024 Your local community connector The 100% locally owned and produced Ilderton and Area Villager is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Managing Editor & Advertising: Tami Martin Tami@villagerpublications.com 519-851-0961 All articles written by Tami Martin unless otherwise noted. Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
which just closed on August 25th. If you would like to learn about the results, you can watch the presentation to Council (September 18th meeting) or review the results online on the 2025 budget web page towards the end of the month (www.middlesexcentre.ca/budget2025). Later in the fall, that page is where you will be able to view the draft budget, including proposed capital projects and purchases. Construction work at the municipal office continues! Everything is on track to move staff from their temporary locations across the municipality back to Coldstream in the new year. We look forward to holding 2025 Council meetings in the newly renovated building. Once everything is unpacked and organized, we will give members of the public a chance to drop in and see the changes – so stay tuned for details! Enjoy the colours of the coming season, Announcing the Ilderton and Area Villager Holiday Season Cookbook! Ilderton and area residents are invited to share their favourite holiday season recipes in our new community cookbook. Available free at select local shops this December, while quantities last, the keepsake cookbook will feature recipes from your local friends and neighbours. To participate, send in your recipe (in a Word document), with separate high-resolution photo(s) no later than October 20 to tami@villagerpublications.com. Please include your address (for verification purposes, not to be published) and name as you would like it to appear with your recipe. Space is limited – it might not be possible for all recipes received to be included. Aina
NOTE TO BUSINESS OWNERS: You can support this community initiative while getting your message to thousands of readers in Ilderton and beyond. The Ilderton and Area Villager Holiday Season Cookbook will be a keepsake – read this year and in future. Inquire with Tami for ad rates and booking. Space is limited: book soon!
Please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com for more information regarding any of our local community magazines. Visit our website at villagerpublications.com to read them all. YOUR JULY-AUGUST 2024 VILLAGER PUBLICATIONS LINEUP
We’d love to hear from you. Cover photo and article suggestions welcome! Contact Tami at Tami@villagerpublications.com
Your July-August 2024 Villager Publications Lineup
Page 4 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
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Learning In the One-Room School by Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Teachers influence learning in the classroom. In the early years, it seemed anyone with some education was qualified to teach. In 1847, teacher education began with the establishment of the Provincial Normal School in Upper Canada. Gradually, the Normal Schools were established in various urban centres such as London (1900) and Stratford (1908). The requirements for teacher education varied from as low as Grade 12 and six- week summer school in the 1950s, to Grade 13 and a year at Normal School in the 1920s.
of stories and poems. Some who attended these schools can still recite poems that they had to learn for weekly memory work. Arithmetic, Social Studies and Science texts from Ministry-authorised textbooks gave similar information to all students. Often natural science was learned through first- hand observations in the schoolyard or on the walk home. Art and Music were enhanced if the teacher was gifted in these subjects. The hectograph-jelly method of making worksheets compares to today’s photocopies but they were a lot more complicated and a lot more work to produce a very limited number of copies. The chalkboards were filled each day with exercises to be copied and completed. Often touted, these one-room schools are said to have fostered self-reliance and character building. True, but so did their environment and culture at home. Older students helped younger students. Students listened to lessons taught to older students and became advanced for their age. Likewise, students could review skills as they listened to lessons taught to younger students. Multiple grades were combined for easier curriculum delivery. “Rote learning” was the primary means of learning. Textbooks and curricula had little application to rural students’ lives. With so many students and grades, teachers had little time or opportunity to help students who struggled with learning. Despite the challenges, the one-room school produced some of Canada’s foremost leaders and successful businesspeople. For others, it was less than adequate for the students it served. However, it was what was available at the time and history cannot accurately judge these schools based on today’s values.
To advertise here, please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com The reading series in rural schools were much the same as in urban schools … Dick and Jane and Alice and Jerry for beginning readers. The Canadian Reading Series – Up and Away, Wide Open Windows, All Sails Set – were anthologies Former Superintendent of Schools for the Middlesex County Board of Education, Don McIntosh, in his essay The Transformation of Rural Education, commented that the 1930s were the golden years of education in the one-room schools. Teachers who had graduated from Normal Schools in the 1920s and 1930s had great difficulty obtaining positions in the Depression years. Teachers, who otherwise would have migrated to urban schools with only one or two grades to teach, were glad to have employment even if it was a multi-grade one-room rural school. Consequently, the quality of education in rural schools improved. In his essay, McIntosh commented that it was the married woman who returned to teaching who saved rural education. They were strong, well-trained teachers who became mentors to the young, inexperienced and less qualified teachers. Until the 1940s, rural education was dominated by the High School Entrance Exam. These were introduced in 1873 to improve the work of secondary schools by keeping students with learning issues or poorer marks out. ‘The Entrance Exam’ was a major school-leaving point and obtaining that certificate was coveted. Often students who were deemed unable to pass the exam were not allowed to take it. Teachers and schools were judged on their ability to produce successful students and the marks appeared in the local newspaper for all to see… and to judge. Weeks before the exam, candidates attended before and after-school classes for extra coaching. Although officially discontinued in 1939, in some schools the Entrance Exam persisted into the 1950s. London Normal School under construction at the corner of Wortley Road and Elmwood, 1899.
Ilderton and Area Villager September 2024 • Page 5 Komoka School, SS# 1 Lobo, 1912. Built in 1895, it was used as a school until 1965. Image from the Ron Davis Collection, MCA.
H2 Beauty Nails Salon is a full-service nail salon by Richard Young Owned and operated by sisters Hana and Kate Vu, H2 Beauty Nails Salon is a welcome addition to the Ilderton community. Open since May 2024, the salon offers manicures, pedicures, and waxing and specializes in nail art design. “Our name H2 Nails comes from our original Vietnamese names,” explains Hana. “My sister’s name is Hang, though she goes by Kate here, and my Vietnamese name is Ha. I go by Hana.” Hana followed a long and circuitous route to Ilderton. “I learned to do nails as a teenager since beauty was always my passion. I was born and raised in Vietnam, went to study in Switzerland at the age of nineteen, and became an independent nail tech there while studying business administration,” she says. “I moved to Prince Edward Island in 2012 to continue my business studies. While a student I had a chance to work part- time as a nail technician.” Studies finished, Hana visited friends in London and then moved there, working full-time from 2014 to 2015 as a nail technician. She started working in the banking finance sector in 2016 but continued to work seasonally as a nail technician. “I decided to open my own nail salon with my sister since I just love it so much,” says Hana.
“We strive to create a friendly, warm environment where we get to know our clients,” says Hana. “The salon always updates with new techniques and trends which are not only provided through our professional supplies but also self-taught through social media. Hygiene and healthy beauty are our trademarks.” The sisters say there are a lot of new colours and nail designs for fall coming out in September and October. “As part of the Ilderton community, we feel so much comfort and appreciate the warm welcome we have received from the town’s residents,” said Hana and Kate. Follow H2 Beauty Nails Salon on Facebook and Instagram to see more samples of their work and to learn of promotions and specials.
13196 Ilderton Road 519-666-1888 h2beautynails.salon@gmail.com Manicures • Pedicures • Waxing • Nail Art Design
Monday – Friday 9:30-6:30 Saturday 10-6 • Sunday 11-5
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 | 1-8 PM Come and join us for some fun in the sunflower field. Shop from our vintage and upcycle-focused vendors, as well as food, music and even a petting zoo! In the evening sit and enjoy a beautiful fashion show in the sunflower field. Sunflowers • Kids Barn • Pumpkins OPEN ALL FALL
Local and passionate about flowers!
13236 Ilderton Road, P.O. Box 168 Ilderton floraltemptations.com • (519) 666-2032 Flowers, Plants and Gifts for all occassions Come in for Sunflowers and Fall Mums
The Crump Family Farm 5372 Egremont Drive Ilderton
Page 6 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
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Council Communications by Debbie Heffernan
for everyone! More than 350 committed volunteers operate the fair through a variety of committees – but there’s always room for more: many hands make light work! If you wish to join this wonderful community group, please check out their website www. ildertonfair.ca for further information. The 2nd annual Women of Inspiration conference is coming up September 14th. This forum is put on by Middlesex County Mayors, and Councillors. Don’t miss out – a worthwhile opportunity to network and learn! For tickets check out thejeancollective.ca. Remember to shop local and DRIVE SAFELY! See you at the Fair!
July 15th and 16th, 2024: The days we had torrential rainfall in our area! Who can forget?? Several streets were temporally inundated with water almost knee high; sump pumps were overwhelmed to the point they couldn’t keep up and many
basements suffered damages. Believe it or not, our municipal infrastructure functioned well under these extreme conditions with the water dissipating on the streets as they should, once runoff worked its’ way down via the underground storm sewer system or by surface overland flow routes. In rural areas, more than fifteen road closures occurred, mostly in the north-west areas of the municipality, sports fields were closed, acres and acres of crops were lost, and tons of gravel were needed to make several roads passable. Not something we want to see again, anytime soon! Thank you to all municipal staff! Moving on to our famous annual event: The Ilderton Fair’s 173rd edition is coming up on Friday, September 27th, opening at 5:00 pm. The parade begins Saturday, September 28th on Main Street (Ilderton Road) at 11:00 am and on Sunday, September 29th there are more games, food booths and rides. There are competitions in Homecraft, Juniors, Photography, Art, Grain, and Livestock including horse shows, and 4-H as well as special events such as the Tractor Pull, Reptilian Trailer, Ag Awareness, FMX Edge Freestyle Motocross and Demolition Derby: something
519-666-2115 • 13235 Ilderton Rd. September Pizza of the Month Cheeseburger Pizza
Created by Charlotte
Monday to Thursday 11 am – 8 pm • Friday 11 am – 9 pm Saturday 2 pm – 9 pm • Sunday 4 pm – 8 pm. PIZZA SLICES MON-FRI 11–3 Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, Battered Mushrooms and more! Uber Eats • Gift Certificates
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Ilderton and Area Villager September 2024 • Page 7
Ailsa Craig’s Anniversary Weekend Celebrations
The Ailsa Craig 150th Anniversary and the Gala Days 50th Anniversary celebrations on July 26 to 28 were a wonderful success! The weather was beautiful, and this year’s attendance saw over 1800 people through the gate on Saturday alone! The Ailsa Craig’s 150th and Gala Days committees, along with North Middlesex Mayor, Brian Ropp, would like to express their sincere gratitude to the volunteers and all the generous sponsors, the weekend’s success was attributed to your
incredible support. The participants in the events, the bands, the vendors and everyone else involved in the festivities all did an amazing job, and all of their contributions were very much appreciated. And of course, to everyone who came out to enjoy the celebrations, they hope you all had a great time! Photos courtesy of Ferlin Sovereign, Tanya Gregory, and Tessa de Almeida.
Ailsa Craig
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO FALL BACK!
It was a great weekend of events!
It was a great weekend of events!
Page 8 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
Thank you, Ailsa Craig for a great weekend! Original Art Custom Woodworking Laser Engraving & Cutting 1 16 James St., Ailsa Craig
Congratulations on the amazing anniversary weekend celebrations!
Page 8 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024 149 Main Street • (519) 293-3202 Monday – Friday 8-6 • Saturday 9-5 • Closed Sunday Muskoka Fire Pits, Home & Garden, Mums and Bulbs, Hallowe’en & Fall Decor and more!
www.theauldbarn.com
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“Thank you to all who made this memorable event possible.” Charlene McNair-Kestle Highland Games Coordinator
Happy Anniversary Ailsa Craig and Gala Days. Congratulations on a great weekend! Visit our studio for great gift ideas.
RMT & Certified Professional Hypnotist 519-293-1022
115 Ness St. • Ailsacraigvillagepottery.com
EARL S. ROSS Inc. Aluminum, Stainless Steel & Steel
Happy 150th Anniversary for Ailsa Craig, and the 50th for the Gala Days! Congratulations to everyone involved in creating a weekend to remember! Well done!
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Ilderton and Area Villager
September 2024 • Page 9
Remembering Ailsa Craig’s Earl Ross, Canada’s Racing Legend by Richard Young Ailsa Craig’s Earl Ross (September 4, 1941 – September 18, 2014) was a Canadian race car driver who competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1973 to 1976 driving the Carling Red Cap #52. On September 29, 1974, at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, he became the only Canadian to win what is now the Sprint Cup Series. His victory helped him secure the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of his historic achievements. “Twenty-five years after my Dad’s Martinsville win, we went back to the track for the race and to celebrate as a family. We were treated like royalty. We were even invited to join the drivers in the pits and shake their hands during driver introductions. Dad took us to race shops and to visit Junior Johnson and his wife Flossy whom my parents had remained good friends with over the years,” recalls Earl’s youngest daughter, Lisa Ross VanderWal.
NASCAR Cup win at Martinsville was his first season out. Today his Rookie of the Year jacket is on loan and displayed at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. After competing in two events in 1975 and 1976, Earl retired from NASCAR racing and participated in regular Friday night racing at the Delaware Speedway before his ultimate retirement in the late 1990s. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2000, FOAR SCORE (Friends of Auto Racing Seeking Cooperation Of Racing Enthusiasts) Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2011. “Over the years my Dad was presented with many awards in Canada and the U.S. and asked to speak at engagements
Earl was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I. where his father had a farm and ran a small sawmill. When he was eleven, the family moved to London, Ontario. In 1970, Earl and his wife Bonnie moved to Ailsa Craig. He was always described in U.S. racing programs and newspapers as being from Ailsa Craig, Canada, never London, Canada, or London, Ontario, and the fans liked him even more for that. Lisa says her Dad started racing by accident. “When he owned a gas station in the 1960s, a gentleman came in and asked him to build a race car. When the gentleman took it to the track, he realized he was too scared to drive it so he asked Dad if he would like to try driving it. Dad did, he won the first time out and was hooked.” Ron Ling, later a member of his pit crew, and Earl built a stock car out of a 1953 Plymouth sedan, worked on it in their spare time, and took turns racing it through the summer season at small southern Ontario tracks. “In 1971, the McKickan brothers invited my Dad to attend a really big race they had heard of in the U.S. It was the Daytona 500. My father was in awe. He turned to one of the McKickan brothers and said how amazing it would be to be on the track racing one of those cars against those drivers,” says Lisa. Earl eventually moved up to racing late-model stock cars, won several Canadian championships, and was then asked by Carling O’Keefe Breweries to drive for its racing team on a full-time basis. He finished in the Top 10 ten times and the Top 5 five times. His
Page 10 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
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across North America. Every speech started the same way,” says Lisa. “The number one message he wanted to convey was that he may be the one being presented with the award, but he was just one person on a team. He never got to the podium on his own. The winner circle included his pit crew, family, sponsors, and fans.” Lisa recalls Earl’s unfailing sense of humour. “Later in his life he suffered from Parkinson’s and needed the assistance of a motorized wheelchair. At his induction into the London Sports Hall of Fame, they did a wonderful introduction heralding his many on-track accomplishments, then invited him to the stage. Dad took several minutes on his motorized wheelchair to go from the table around the back of the stage up a ramp, across the front of the stage to get to the back of the podium. Once there he started his speech with ‘I used to be faster.’” “My Dad was incredibly humble and believed everyone was the same. I have photos of him having dinner with President Jimmy Carter. While he may have spent time with executives of large companies negotiating sponsorships, he always had time to talk to anyone who stopped him on the street asking for an autograph. Even near the end with advanced Parkinson’s he could be found on his motorized wheelchair signing autographs at local events,” says Lisa. “I wish Mom and Dad were here to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his Winston Cup Series win,” says Lisa. “Instead, many friends and family will make the pilgrimage from across Canada and the U.S. to Martinsville. We have a whole section at the start and finish line dedicated to his fans. It will be an emotional day for my sister Liz and myself.”
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DRIVE THROUGH WINTERIZING October 25 & 26 OPEN HOUSE AND TREATS ON THE 26th
Ilderton and Area Villager OPEN ALL WINTER 7 DAYS A WEEK! Monday-Friday 9-6, Saturday 9-5, Sunday 12-5 RICHMOND STREET NORTH Just 10 Minutes from Masonville at 15 Mile Road 519-666-0286 – OPEN ALL YEAR – September 2024 • Page 11 23778 RICHMOND ST NORTH (519) 666-0286 • crunicanorChardS.COM
To advertise here, please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com www.GreatEscapeRVCanada.com 519-227-4700 • Toll Free: 1-888-716-4542 Great Service & Great Prices meet at the corner of Hwy’s 4 & 7 Just north of London www.GreatEscapeRVCanada.com 519-227-4700 • Toll Free: 1-888-716-4542 Great Service & Great Prices meet at the corner of Hwy’s 4 & 7 Just north of London
The Last Day of School by John Caverhill On the last day of school before the Summer Holidays, carrying nothing, not even a lunch pail, and feeling light, one would head down the road to school. It would be after nine when the school bell rang, and we would troop inside to a classroom that without its ornamentation of schoolwork and seasonal decorations felt strangely foreign. Miss Chute would give us a brief end-of-year talk with special parting words for the grade eight students. We would each receive the buff- coloured envelope containing our report card and then we would rocket out of the door and arrive home by ten o’clock to spend the day eagerly anticipating the late afternoon picnic that concluded each school year. Even though haying was in full swing, on the school picnic day fieldwork concluded early and the barn chores were finished by five o’clock. Some families would already be there when we arrived and would be setting up picnic tables (on loan from Poplar Hill Park) in a row under the big maples on the south side of the yard. My eyes, however, were on the north side of the yard under where the ball diamond lay. Some young fellows were already warming up for the “pickup” game which was the big attraction for me. All the local young bucks including past and present attendees of the Bear Creek School from age twelve to mid- twenties took part. Being farm boys, when they connected with the ball it was not uncommon to see it sail through the tall Spruce trees on the far side of the yard and land in the adjoining pasture field. We usually played three or four innings and then would come the call for supper and avid ballplayers as we were, this summons was a call of power. The noon hour meal was long past and having been followed by several hours
of hard work in the hayfield along with the ballgame, there was no need to repeat the call. The picnic tables, set end-to-end, their weathered tops covered with snowy-white paper, were laden with standard country picnic fare. No trimming off bread crusts here! The standard sandwich was a full slice of bread, the filling, another slice of bread, and then it was cut in two on the diagonal. Meat predominated, thick slices of beef, pork or chicken, all homegrown and laid between lavishly- buttered bread slices. Commercially made mayonnaise was still in the future; butter was the lubricant for all sandwiches. There would also be egg salad and salmon sandwiches for extra variety. Accompanying the sandwiches were green salads, jellied salads, and potato salads along with lettuce, green onions and radishes fresh from the garden. Devilled eggs, dill, sweet, bread and butter and beet pickles, along with relishes and chilli sauce added their tang to this meal as well. Lemonade made from lemons, sugar and cold well water, along with tea and coffee were the beverages with sugar and pure cream to fortify the hot drinks. Now for dessert. It was too early in the season for most fruit, but strawberries and rhubarb were available along with lemons and raisins as pie ingredients. To take up the slack, if it could be called that, were many kinds of cake – white, chocolate, lemon etc. often layered with creamy filling and topped with a thick layer of icing. To accompany one’s pie or cake, there was the queen of desserts – ice cream! Nowadays with refrigerators and freezers a part of everyday living along with countless retailers offering a wide variety of 2015.0011-V.29-008 S. S. 7 Lobo circa 1912. The school was located on Bear Creek Road and Ivan Drive - the old 7th Concession. Looking for a New Shed this Summer?
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Enter for a chance to win an amazing doorprize! Our Fall Market offers something for everyone.
Your Perfect Match awaits you at The London Animal Care Centre and The Catty Shack!
Bringing people and pets together www.accpets.ca
Let us make the Custom Made, Locally Built Shed Your Back Yard Deserves! Hand Crafted – Custom Built Mini Barns • Work Sheds • Play Houses Pool Change Rooms
Page 12 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024 C atty S hack THE London Animal Care Centre – Licensing, Bylaw Enforcement, Adoption and Lost/Found Services: 121 Pine Valley Blvd., (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack: 756 Windermere Rd., (519) 432-4572
Since 1974 10055 Carter Rd.
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Poplar Hills & District Lions Club Wheelchair Swing Fundraiser The Poplar Hills and District Lions Club thank all donors to their wheelchair-accessible swing fundraiser. Here are some recent donors. You can find the link to donate at phlions.ca.
frozen treats in addition to ice cream, it’s hard to comprehend what a rare treat ice cream used to be. Not until well after the war ended in 1945 did home appliances start to become available at affordable prices. The ice cream had to be bought and eaten on the spot or wrapped in a blanket, rushed home and consumed quickly before it melted. As a result, it was a treat enjoyed only a few times a year. Aty McNair operated a daily route delivering milk from local farms to Silverwoods Dairy in London. On picnic day, he would pick up the ice cream which came in two and a half gallon pails. These pails were put in cylindrical, insulated containers that could hold up to three stacked on top of each other. The ice cream would still be firm when opened that evening. The perfect dessert was a large piece of dark chocolate cake nestling beside two large scoops of icy-cold, silky-smooth vanilla ice cream. Finishing off the picnic supper with this queen of desserts – and tomorrow was the beginning of the Summer Holidays! Things couldn’t get any better than that! Some games and races for the kids while the adults visited together concluded the event by nine o’clock. Families made their way to their cars, the kids calling good-byes to each other. In many cases, we wouldn’t see each other until September and for grade eight graduates, it was off to high school and a whole new adventure. Graduation ceremonies for public school students were still in the future when consolidated schools came into being. Nobody thought of any special treatment because you were simply doing what was expected of you. Summer Holidays started tomorrow and that was enough.
The Poplar Hill and District Lions wish to send a big thank you to Sherry and Tom Schofield from Colden Homes https://coldenhomes.ca/ who recently donated $1,000 to the wheelchair-accessible swing project. The photo shows Sherry and Tom Schofield (center) presenting the cheque to Barney Lawn (far left) and Jamie Zavitz (far right) from the Poplar Hill & District Lions Club. The cheque presentation took place in Poplar Hill Park near the future location of the swing. This donation puts us one step closer to achieving our fundraising goal.
John Caverhill is the younger son of the late Ernest Caverhill and Susie Boyd of Lobo Township. John’s writings often reflect his experiences and observations of growing up on the family farm, attending the one room school, S. S. No. 7 Lobo (Bear Creek School), and Vanneck United Church. John’s sense of humour and story-telling skills are legendary. His keen observation skills have augmented his repertoire .
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President Jamie Zavitz of the Poplar Hill and District Lions Club (left) is delighted to announce a generous donation from Doug and Wendy Durnin for the construction of a wheelchair-accessible swing in Poplar Hill Park. Doug and Wendy, esteemed members of our community and owners of Saratoga Homes, have once again shown their unwavering support. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their continued dedication to the Poplar Hill and District Lions.
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Harrison Crossan would like to thank Matt, Sherri and the Family of Precision Homes London for purchasing his 2023 Ilderton Fair Class-Winning Market Steer! See you this year at the Ilderton Fair Market Livestock Show & Sale.
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Ilderton and Area Villager September 2024 • Page 13
Artists’ Alley
Lisa VanderWal by Cathy Wood “Painting really feeds my soul. It’s my happy place. I have always loved painting and other kinds of crafts but did not have time for that while I was working,” explains Lisa VanderWal. “18 months ago I retired from a 32-year career in Finance and last September, I took up online painting lessons with Ali Kay.” Lisa says that most of her paintings to date (the rain boot painting at bottom right being an exception) are the results of lessons to learn technique, but she’ll soon be doing more of her own creations. Her paintings, which are based on photographs, are in the Modern Impressionism style and layer rather than blend paint colours. “I love watercolour and oil, but my preferred medium is acrylic as it dries much faster. I only use nine paint colours and mix them to create what I need for each painting.” Lisa finds every subject an adventure and a challenge. “I learn something with every painting. Faces are difficult. Landscapes are a bit more forgiving.” Most of her paintings, some of which have been featured on tote bags, have been gifted to family and friends. Others may be seen at Whimsy Salon and Gifts in Ailsa Craig. Lisa has lived in Ailsa Craig her whole life. “There are so many wonderful people in the community,” she enthuses. “It was a great place to grow up and raise my daughter. We know our neighbours and we are lucky to have so many terrific people around us.” Her other hobbies include spending time with family, friends, and her dog, travel, reading, and cooking. “Occasionally I even make an edible meal!”
Come and check us out!
EXHIBITS: August 31 – October 9 “Poetry in Stitches” with Georgina Fibre Artists. MONTHLY GROUPS : Writing Group, Book Club, Water Colour Group (Monday mornings), Sewing Social (1st Tuesday of the month), Card Making (2nd Tuesday of the month). Check the calendar on our website! UPCOMING CLASSES: Hand Made Paper, Weave a Christmas Runner, Round Willow Basket, Knitting Socks (beginner friendly), Acrylic Painting, Watercolour Painting.
Visit our gift shop featuring handmade cards, and work from previous exhibitors and local artisans. 160D Main Street, Ailsa Craig Open 1 – 4 pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
For a full schedule of classes go to ailsacraigartscentre. wildapricot.org
Georgina Fibre Artists
Page 14 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024
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Puzzle #1
Puzzle #1
Puzzle #1
Ilderton and Area Villager Puzzle Page How to Play Sudoku: Sudoku is played on a grid of nine squares. Within the rows and columns are nine squares made up of three by three spaces. Each row, column and square (nine spaces each) need to be filled out with the numbers 1 – 9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.
3 6
5 1
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8 5 1 4
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5 3 1
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5 6 1
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1 2
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4 7 8
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Easy Hard Solve the puzzle with names of the advertisers from the July-August 2024 Ilderton and Area Villager listed below . Medium Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
ILDV - Sept 2024 A N U U F B D E R T N E C X E S E L D D I M H T A K L T H S F U S K S F F S J J L L L I J N H A M R B X H A N L H Y D E P A R K B I A L M Q O N Q B K L F F M O O Q T L A B N P J F H H X P G I E M J J O S R M I R S S H H M E T U I B S Q T M T K I E A O A S I T A F N V R R Y L H U W C O A M P O D G Y M C N D A L O B V I H H H S L L W L F J H M D A H E U I D E T U G F F O Q N N H N C K S T L O L N Q R R G L R E R J H J X V F T C A V E W S Y K E I Y S A D E C M P S K I A N C Y R Q I J E Q F A S A B F W O S K P I O I L X B C E R Q B W E P X H E R A A E H E C T Z J N O A L C O K D M G T G U O X D F M S R X O A Z F N S E E H C C H R C P I I M C M G I T E C R T A M T S N V U L B W C C E M I E O R R L Q K O M I S A M T P T Y N R U I N A F S H U A E Y N A U O O A Y R I Y T I G W B E C Y G S A N F A F P B N T N K E R L I D R S V W S U O L H R T N T A H E T S S E E K M A Y N C G M S X G H T D Y O E R G I Y U K P U J J B J U G L F U M A V Q W L S S M G N M C C R U N I C A N O R C H A R D M A I N C M B N P O R T S T A N L E Y T H E A T R E R B I A B M O G N I R O O L F N O C A E D N E D R E R B P P I B E R T N E C S T R A G I A R C A S L I A O E E R K U X S N O I T U L O S S S E N L L E W R R R L L H W K D A E T S E M O H N O O M W E N C Y F V ACURAWEST AILSACRAIGARTSCENTRE ANIMALCARECENTRE BLOOMERSFAMILYFARM BONNIEBAKERHODGINS CRUNICANORCHARD CUSTOMROCKCREATIONS DEACONFLOORING FLORALTEMPTATIONS FOURPIZZASAKE GREATESCAPERV HOGTOWNCYCLES HYDEPARKBIA KOMOKAHOMEHARDWARE MIDDLESEXCENTRE MIDDLESEXCOUNTY MIDDLESEXCOUNTYLIBRARY NEWMOONHOMESTEAD PORTSTANLEYTHEATRE ROBINSONFARMDRAINAGE SWEETPEAYOGA WELLNESSSOLUTIONS Create Your Own Puzzles at www.CreateWordSearchPuzzle.com © 2024 Robert Bruce and Associates (.com) Copyright © 2024 printablecreative.com | For personal use only
HOGTOWN CYCLES HYDE PARK BIA KOMOKA HOME HARDWARE MIDDLESEX CENTRE MIDDLESEX COUNTY MIDDLESEX COUNTY LIBRARY NEW MOON HOMESTEAD PORT STANLEY THEATRE ROBINSON FARM DRAINAGE SWEET PEA YOGA WELLNESS SOLUTIONS Copyright © 2024 printablecreative.com | For personal use only
Copyright © 2024 printablecreative.com | For personal use only
ACURA WEST AILSA CRAIG ARTS CENTRE ANIMAL CARE CENTRE BLOOMERS FAMILY FARM BONNIE BAKER-HODGINS CRUNICAN ORCHARD CUSTOM ROCK CREATIONS DEACON FLOORING FLORAL TEMPTATIONS
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Jim Deacon, Owner 519-870-RUGS (7847) • 519-472-2992 1900 Hyde ParkRoad, London N6H 5L9 jim.deacon@deaconflooring.com
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Ilderton and Area Villager September 2024 • Page 15
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