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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 3,2001 PAGE 13 Local man pens history of Gauds Corners Book keeps part of Bowmanville's history alive BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer BOWMANVILLE - After Peter Vermeulcn's neighbour Ralph Simpson passed away in 1976, Mr. Vermeulen received a box of photographs and papers papers from the man's home. He "put it in the attic and never thought of it for a while," recalls the Bowmanville resident. But in that box of photos and papers was the beginning of a story of a longtime longtime Bowmanville family, the Gauds, a story Mr. Vermeulen has put into print in his recently-published book, appropriately appropriately titled 'Gaud's Corners.' Gaud's Corners, located at the end of Scugog Street, where it meets Concession Concession 3 and Regional Road 57, near where Mr. Vermeulen lives, was named for a family who settled on that land in H836. Mr. Vermeulen, who knew the ■family almost from the time he arrived in Canada from Holland more than 50 years ago, "had a friendship with the (Gaud) family" which included spending spending every Christmas Eve with his own [wife and children at the Gaud homestead. homestead. ;■ "Old Mr. Gaud (Ralph Simpson's stepfather) used to tell stories about the family," recalls Mr. Vermeulen, now 72 (and retired from General Motors. "It ,was interesting to me because I was a first-generation guy myself." <■' Armed with the stories and the box of photos and documents, which, it turns out, even contained the will of the first Gauds to settle here, Mr, Vermeulen Vermeulen had the beginnings of his book. But he didn't start doing research until a man from Peterborough dropped by, "asking about the Gaud family. The Peterborough Peterborough man's work on his own family tree had led him to South Carolina, Carolina, where the head of the historical society asked him if he could dig up any information on the Bowmanville Gauds. ■ "The woihtiiv said She* 1 would-ilia" Everything to find out (about the Peterborough Peterborough man's family) but (asked him), 'would you find out for me, is there anybody left from the Gaud family family in Bowmanville, because that's where my ancestors come from,"' relates relates Mr. Vermeulen, who soon began corresponding with the woman in South Carolina. Further along in his research, Mr. Vermeulen noticed that one of the sons RON PIETRONIRO/Statesman photo Peter Vermeulen has written a book on the Gaud family, who settled in Bowmanville in 1836. He is pictured at the gravesite of Mr. and Mrs. Gaud. of the first Bowmanville Gaud had mi- moved to, and sure enough, the post- grated to Manitoba. He wrote to the master knew of the family's western postmaster in the town the son had connection, and was able to fill in yet til Canabian Statesman office ■ « 623- 6161 McGregor IDA Drugs After-Christmas Sale /u off Men's and Ladies' Fragrance Gift Sets 50 % o« reg. prices Christmas Wrap, Gift Items and Selected Candies McGregor IDA Drugs 5 King St. W., Bowmanville 623-5792 another missing link in Mr. Ver- meulen's research. Mr. Vermeulen, who has also compiled compiled an extensive family tree for his own family, has travelled around and done a great deal of research, both in Bowmanville and in other places where other members of the Gaud family settled, settled, in order to complete his 27-page book. He says the book became something something of a hobby, and he didn't mind spending time and money on it. "I'm not a golfer or anything like that, and I don't have a cottage that I spend big money on," he says. He had the book proofread and typeset by a family member, then took it to Mothersill Printing in Bowmanville, Bowmanville, where 250 copies were printed. printed. Not a first-time author, Mr. Vermeulen Vermeulen has also had his work pub lished both here and in Holland, in historical historical documents and retrospective publications. He says he didn't want to see the Gaud's story get lost, due to its historical historical value for this area. "It's important to keep it (history) alive, and I think Bowmanville is doing a good job," notes Mr. Vermeulen, who, along with his wife Jennie, spends much of his retirement doing volunteer work, both in Durham Region Region and in Florida. 'Gaud Corners' is available through the Bowmanville Museum. Unlike some authors, Mr. Vermeulen Vermeulen doesn't recall feeling at loose ends when the book was finally finished. finished. "Once it. came all together and was printed, I said I'm glad I did it, and I'm glad it's over," he says with a smile. Dr. John Balenko 6)623-7412 Dr. Karl Vermeulen 6)623-7100 GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY EMERGENCY CARE AVAILABLE 0 Sedation 0 Children's Dentistry --. Q Peridontist Q Orthodontics UtserpfntîstryP 60 LIBERTY ST. SOUTH r^\ BOWMANVILLE Yf/ H 'TUB LIGHT TOUCH" . 243 King St. E. BOWMANVILLE MALL Harvest Ball Raises $38,000 The Board of Directors of the Memorial Hospital Foundation-Bowmanville were pleased to accept $38,000 from the Harvest Ball Committee 2000 towards the "Emergency Measures" equipment campaign for Bowmanville Hospital. We recognize with deep appreciation those who have helped make this possible. 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