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B2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday December 13, 2000 W O R L D 'S F IN E S T Sfieardncjs k is Piece of Bronte history recorded The Bronte Horticultural Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, Joan Leslie has compiled the organization's history into a book. Titled The Story o f Bronte Horticultural Society, it describes the group in decades, some of them titled Sensational Sixties, Swinging Into the Seventies, and Moving Into the Eighties. It also lists its presidents since 1925, service awards, speakers and pro grams. The society received its certificate from the Minister of Agriculture in 1925. Membership stood at 56, who each paid an annual fee of $1. The group's aim, since the beginning, was to beautify Bronte. Its first event was a Gladiola Show, with each participant growing a dozen bulbs in numbered quart sealers to avoid an unfair advantage of displaying in special containers. The Great Depression hit Bronte hard, and the Bronte Horticultural Society fell victim to economic hard ship in 1929, when only five people showed up at a September meeting. All activities were put on hold until 1938. As the end of the Depression neared, 72 people attended a meeting, and the society was revived. Membership dues remained at $1. A garden competition was held and a fountain was donated to a local park. During the Forties, membership declined as a result of World War II, then grew to 85 in 1949, drawing peo ple came from Oakville, east Burlington, Palermo and other small surrounding villages. An eyesore known as The Gore, at the northeast comer of Lakeshore and Bronte Roads, became a pet project. The society paid $1 a week to have the grass cut and $5 a year to have water for the plants. The area, which became Bronte Gore Park, was purchased with a loan from D. A. Allan during the late 1040s, and deeded to the Village of Bronte in 1954. Cleaning up a local dump was another of the society's campaigns. It approached a local ratepayers associa tion for support in presenting a petition to the provincial government and town- Featuring the W orld's finest lightest-weight sheepskin-shearlings European designed in the newest fashion hues. Also featuring the finest leathers, fabulous furs and cashmeres in elegant designs to suit your individual taste. Pick your discount from our tree! 1S%40% ( Blue Willies - W e Pay The Taxes Save Free parkin" in the parking garage on Church St. Mon.-Fri. 9:30-9:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00. Sun. 12-4:00 Reynolds St. at Lvakeshore Rd. E.. Downtown Oakville S44-2510 Photo by Ron Kuzyk Jo a n L eslie, rig h t, p resen ts Ilse C sefko, p re sid e n t o f the B ronte H o rticultural Society, w ith a copy of h e r book detailing the g ro u p 's 75-year history. In the background is the society's new banner. ship council to clean up the dump and Bumby were awarded life member move the dredges and barges from ships in 1986. Bronte Harbour. Once this was com During the 1960s, the Bumbys over pleted, the society planted 300 trees saw the planting of flowering crab trees between Lakeshore Road and Lake at Bronte Athletic Field and at the Ontario. seniors homes at Woodhaven Park, By the end of 1949, membership Fireman's Park and the YMCA. Two had climbed back up to 85 people. flowering crab trees were planted at In 1956, five years after Bronte was Coronation Park to symbolically wel officially incorporated as a village, the come home Otto and Maria Jelinek Oakville Horticultural Society was from the Olympics. formed. That year, the Bronte During the 1970s, the society con Horticultural Society decided to land tinued with its tree plantings at church scape Bronte's four churches, and to es and schools, a tree was donated to contribute plants to Coronation Park Kinoak Arena, and participation in the and Bronte's firehall. (The former Hopedale Charity Bazaar became an Village of Bronte and the Township of annual event. Trafalgar were officially amalgamated The society also began making char with the Town of Oakville on Jan. 1, itable donations to Community Living 1962.) Oakville, Oakville Big Sisters, and During the 1960s, the name Bumby Queen Elizabeth Park School library, rose to prominence in the society, and plus cash prizes were donated to the remained there almost to the present. former General Wolfe High School Alvin Bumby served as president from (now White Oaks Secondary School 1959 to 1964, and was appointed hon north campus) to be given to its top two orary president in 1976. He served horticulture students. again as president from 1984 to 1986; During the 1980s, the society began and his wife Irene was president in supporting the Lion's Foundation of 1969 and 1970, and again in 1987, and Canada's Dog Guide Training Centre. in 1995 and 1996. Alvin and Irene (See `Bronte Horticultural . . .' page B3) Meet the Team A C O N T IN U IN G "C A N A D A 'S SERIES PROFILING THE STAFF OF BEST C O M M U N IT Y NEWSPAPER" Peter Toomey As a long tim e em ployee of the newspaper industry, 23 years, Peter Toomey has enjoyed the past 12 years with M etroland newspapers, the last 4 with the O akville Beaver. A m em ber of the circulation department, Peter oversees carrier routes and the recruitment of new carriers. Peter enjoys the people contact his job offers. "This job allows flexibility and I enjoy meeting new people. It's self motivating - not like a job where you punch the clock and your day is controlled." 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