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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 23, 2007 - 23 Looking back in time By David Lead OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An afternoon tea held at Gairloch Gardens Oakville Gallery Wednesday served as a reminder, not only, of the amazing historical heritage Oakville still possesses but also how easily it can disappear forever. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, who hosted the event, kicked off the day's presentation. "As the MPP for Oakville, I can assure you that we, as a provincial government, share Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn the passion you have, the interest you have and the commitment you have to land or lake. the heritage of our community," he said. On Feb. 7, the Ontario Municipal Board "That's why we thought that the theme for issued a decision allowing this heritage building this year's Heritage Week should to be moved, by developer be `Community Heritage, Birchgrove Estates, from its Celebrating 40 years of place of history to erect condos. Conservation." "People go to see the history Flynn's words were followed of Europe, well we'll never have by slide show of the numerous any history because we keep tearheritage buildings in the ing it down," said Harry Barrett, Oakville and Bronte areas. who spoke at the presentation. Each had its own story to tell. "It's our cultural background, A modest looking house that it's our heritage is what it is and still sits at the corner of King if we destroy that we can't reinand Navy streets was among the vent it. When it's gone, it's gone." images shown as it once Barrett is sick of seeing a dolbelonged to a man named Capt. lar value put on the irreplaceable. Robert Wilson who helped run"The decision that came down away slaves reach Canada before in Bronte was strictly based on Harry Barrett the American Civil War. the dollars and there has to be "He had a schooner and he more to life than the almighty would sail across Lake Ontario to the American dollar," he said. side. There he would sit in his boat while James "If they build that 12-storey down there you Wesley Hill, himself a former slave, would risk might as well write Bronte off as a heritage dishis life going into the states and trict. It'll just be another faceless gather up runaway slaves," said community." Barbara Savage, Oakville Flynn is optimistic that recent Historical Society. legislative changes will work in "He would bring them back to favour of heritage preservation. Capt. Wilson's boat and then "We have made changes to the they'd sail them back to Oakville. Heritage Act, bestowed more They did this numerous times power on the municipality to and altogether they managed to deal with someone who comes save 720 runaway slaves." along and says `I want to tear this While many of the former building down,'" he said. slaves moved on, Savage "I think the municipality will explained, many would come start to come out on top because back every summer and honour we've been on a bit of a losing Wilson with a picnic in George's streak." Square. "We've got a lot here that's Other heritage buildings worth saving." Barbara Ann McAlpine included the Murray House Things have changed so Hotel, which dates back before 1857. much, the Bronte Historical Society marked Now completely restored, the Murray House Heritage Week with a guest speaker on When Hotel contains hidden compartments historians Bronte Was the Green Countryside. believe may have been used to Andrew Schell, from the either hide runaway slaves or Toronto City Mission, recounted bootleg alcohol during prohibithe story of the 60-plus years of tion. the Bronte Fresh Air Home last Ontario's longest standing night. granary can also be found in Summer after summer beginOakville with the brick and limening in 1907, this remarkable stone building dating back to the example of philanthropy gave 1850s. Toronto inner city children and Making the public aware of their mothers the opportunity to the history in their own backexperience the fresh air and yards is the reason why Barbara sandy beach of Bronte. McAlpine says she participates in Schell was at the Bronte Heritage Week presentations. Historical Society's annual gen"People are interested in hereral meeting held at Sovereign itage when they know about it, House on West River Street in but a lot of people have just Barbara Savage Bronte. never given it any thought," she said. "People need to be educated more about this kind of thing. Canada is not that old a country but our buildings do have stories." Keeping these stories alive is a very real fight with no example of the lose of heritage more recent than the proposed relocation of the Glendella House. Built 1845 as an inn, the Glendella House was strategically placed on the old Lake Shore Road at the harbour to attract customers who came either by Reading | Writing | Math | Spelling | Grammar | French | Study Skills LITTLE READER INSIDE EVERY CHILD IS A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT. For every age, for every need, Oxford Learning has a program to help your child succeed! 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