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charge of $5.00 for all postal or e-mail inquiries. Copying and postal charges will be added to the fee. Inquirers will be informed of the charges before our volunteers proceed. All monies will be put in the Archives budget of the Society. RAMAUTARSINGH DIES One-time member of the EHS, and former local High School teacher, Tom Ramautarsingh died on Friday 27 February, 1998 at Georgetown Hospital. He was 71 years of age. A memorial service was held on 25 April at Jones Funeral Home. DEATH OF ERNIE HYDE The former mayor of Georgetown in 1960, 1961, and 1963 died on 5 April, 1998 in Duncan, British Columbia. He was born and raised in Georgetown and was active in the Santa Claus Parade, the Georgetown Rotary Club, and a long serving Town councilor. He was buried at Acton's Fairview Cemetery. LITTLE THEATRE TRAGEDY We were all shocked to learn of the total destruction of the Georgetown Little Theatre headquarters in Stewarttown on March 30lh. A drive past the site shows the devastating impact of the disaster. While presenting seemingly insurmountable problems for the Little Theatre, it also is a great loss to local history. The story of the entire township was wrapped up in that building. It began life in 1849 as a 2 1/2 storey building built as a dance hall, exhibit hall for the Agricultural Society, shops and hopefully the Township Hall. Alas the plan to sell the hall to the Township of Esquesing did not sell with the ratepayers until 1925! Esquesing moved from their cramped quarters across the road to their "new " headquarters. Here was stored assessment rolls and vital statistics for the Township, occasionally being washed by the flood waters of Black creek. Time, wear and tear took its' toll and in 1949 the upper storey and a half was removed as the building was remodelled. In 1963, the Township built an award wanning headquarters north of Stewarttown on Trafalgar Road. It was used as a Works Department facility until 1985 when it was sold to the Georgetown Little Theatre. Ironically, the Little Theatre have lost their possessions by Fire before. In 1968. their temporary home in the former Georgetown Town Hall on Guelph Street, was consumed by fire. BLACK HISTORY HIGHLIGHTED Local black history was highlighted at the April meeting when Rev. Brant Loper of St. John's United Church gave a talk on the underground railway. He outlined the workings of the railway, its history and sources for further reading. He contacted the Ontario Black History Society and shared some brochures, one of which outlines plans to build an Underground Railway Museum in Toronto. Karen Hunter and other members shared information about local black families. Karen perused the 1901 Census records for Halton and noted all Black families, including the Shepherds of Georgetown. Dr. Mark Hassard of Acton and Mrs. Eileen Evans of Georgetown provided photos of two black gentlemen in each town. Marion Gilmore borrowed the photos and had laser copies made. We now have the beginnings of a File on local blacks to add to the Archives. Thank you to everyone who helped. GLEN LAWSON PAMPHLET The latest member of our pamphlet family will be available this spring. The hamlet of Glen Lawson is featured in a pamphlet written by Acton member Mac Sprowl. It will sell for the usual price of 25 cents. It becomes the tenth pamphlet on Esquesing communities. MEMBERSHIP We trust everyone has renewed their membership in the Society for 1998. We have a total membership of 90 as of April 30th. Please encourage interested people to join the Society. It is certainly a rare bargain at S8 for an individual membership. Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter 4