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Letter to Editor GUY GAMSBY HOUSE Oroiio Wvvklv I lines, Wednesday, April 12, 1989-3 Kendal Hall News Report 5125 Main Street, owners, Gordon and Pam Werry (note a new addi- Dear Roy: In last week's letter to the editor, LACAC Chairman Phyllis Dewell, states in her last paragraph, "I hope that this information will show that careful research has gone into the history of the house which we associate with Guy Gamsby, and that perhaps it is not the credibility of the LACAC which should be called into question." The information given shows that research went into the architectural description at 5085 Main Street (Barry and Carol Lamont's home), but, careful research into the house history, NO! In fact there was no research done into the house history. There is not a shred of evidence showing any connection with the Guy Gamsby house. If any research had been done the house would have been termed the "Presbyertian Manse," as it was known for many years. I hope that by presenting evidence to support my first letter to the editor, my credibility will be preserved. In this instance, the writer believes she is correct, but will admit to having made errors in the past. Research in the Registry Office is no picnic and can be difficult and confusing. For those who haVe not been involved in research there, it's main purpose is to record land transactions. transactions. Houses are not mention-, ed, although by comparing se'veral deeds one can help date a house by the rise in price of the loi. Houses, have been known to have been built years before a deed was obtained, obtained, such as in the case of the home of Guy's son LorenZé. 1 do not believe that the best available documentation can be based on Registry and Regional Assessment Office records. Historical research also plays an important part in that "element of conjecturé." As to Regional Assessment roll records, the date of the Guy Gamsby house is incorrect at ,1900, but part of the house does date near this time period. One must examine their source. Did they ask property owners? The average property owner has little knowledge of the 'date of his home and less knowledge on how to go about » researching same. The EVlbENCE offered is mainly mainly due to twenty-three years of historical research which took several hours to locate in many Files. Registry Office records show that Guy Gamsby purchased 54 acres in the south part of Orono in September 1848. The: census of 1851 notes that Guy and family were living living in a 1 Vi storey frame house in the village. Although Guy was deceased when the 1861 census was taken, his widow Mary and children still resided in a 1 'A storey house "built in 1847" (perhaps she had forgotten the exact year). In order to date the house earlier than 1851, genealogy was used. According to family tradition, the youngest son Walter was bom in the Orono tion replaced the porch). home. Because the event took place in mid-March 1849, this placed the date of building back in the fall of 1848 when Guy bought the land. If someone finds this fact irtad- missable, the house still dates back to 1851. Many years pass before we again find mention of this property, i.e. an Orono News item in 1897, "Dwelling House and Garden for sale in Orono - the well-known late Guy Gamsby homestead...situated on Main Street sought and faced on streets on the west, south and east", (At that time the brick house (John Reid) to the south, and the house to the east, (Edward Millson) had not been built). Another gap brings us to a 1920 newspaper which stated that Richard Morton was living in the original Guy Gamsby homestead, rebuilt (the addition was later than 1900). You might now ask how do we know where Richard Morton lived. I had learned of this fact years ago, but a telephone call was made to a former owner of the property, Edward Edward Millson, who, although he had never heard of the property being being owned by Guy Gamsby, had knowledge of it being owned by R. Morton. Ed said the north part of 5125 Main was "built like a barn" with timber construction, pegged beams and rough sawn studding. Then a visit was made to Gordon Werry, present owner, who confirmed confirmed what Ed had told me. We climbed down the steep, narrow stairway and I personally saw the squared beams which frame the building. The floor joists are large, round logs, flattened aft'he top. Only a portion of the basement was excavated and one can see' the rub- blestone cellar walls. Returning upstairs again; Gordon said that he had removed all the old lathe and plaster from the walls. The plaster had been held together with hair as was the custom years ago. Hopefully, all of the above will , establish beyond a doubt that the Guy Gamsby home is the north part of 5125 Main Street. Perhaps now the designation of 5085 Main Street (the Lamont home) may proceeds if desired, but please call it the "PRESBYTERIAN MANSE."* ' Helen Schmid * See #10154, Canada Presbyterian Church to Eber. Kendal News (Continued from page 2) closer. The red taillights were on an orange pickup being hauled by a tow truck I was relieved. Undoubtedly Undoubtedly the pick up was being taken to a garage in Forest Grove. If I followed it, I could make it home. Clarke High to present four plays Although St. Patrick's Day has passed by it is not too late to enjoy "Something Green", a Clarke High School Drama Club production of four plays by Michael Green. Green's plays are written and performed performed in a style known as coarse acting. This technique emphasizes the difficulties encountered by amateur actors. On the nights of April 27, 28, and 29 Murphy's Law is the rule because anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Enjoy "Streuth", a spine chilling murder mystery that turns into a mass of hilarious mishaps. Watch as a Shakespearean drama disintegrates into the funniest historical farce you've ever seen. Visit a great English hero as he facs death in a Nazi war camp amid ridiculous technical difficulties. difficulties. Journey to the French Riviera to meet Oliver and Lavinia, two old flames that try to rekindle their love. Witness the destruction of the elegant ambiance of this Noel Coward style play by a series of amusing accidents. In keeping with the evening's amateur theme, appropriate musical entertainment and door prizes will be provided throughout the night. Don't miss this exciting event! Come out and enjoy "Something Green" at Clarke High School. We came to Main Street - but we passed the repair shop. The tow truck drove on. It kept going. To my amazement it turned into the dead end road where we lived. With a sigh of relief 1 turned into our driveway, then quickly got out to thank the driver of the tow truck that had led me home. There was no driver. There was no tow truck, it had not turned around to exit from the dead end. I stood staring into the silent fog at the end of our road. Mary Petit Holmes, Forest Grove, Oregon. Pete Lander to Sports Hall of Fame (Continued from page 1) Scugcg Cleaners and finally joining the senior Oshawa Tony's in 1968 where he played until 1971. He then played with Campbell River in western Canada and in 1972 joined the Weyburn Canadians Canadians winning the Canadian Championship. Championship. , For 1973 and 1974 Landers played for the Toronto Globals. " He was chosen to augment the Ontario entry, Oshawa Tonys, in the Canadian championship in 1974. Again Landers was part of the championship success of the Oshawa team. In 1975 he returned to the Oshawa Tonys. He was chosen to be part of the pitching staff of the Bates Construction team of British Columbia which entered the World Championship in New Zealand and played to a final three-way tie. Pete was chosen the Most Valuable pitcher in the International International Softball Congress in 1977 and Second All-Star in 1980. He was a member of.the Oshawa MCL team and the Genosha Hotel team as recent as 1982. The Orono resident returns to the diamond this summer in Orono when he takes oh the tiuty of coaching PeeWee hardball under the banner of the Orono Amateur Athletic Association. On Friday, Ma'rch 31st, there were 14 tables of euchre players out, high score was taken by Dora MacDonald, 2nd high score Wally Boughen, 3rd ' high score Chad Switzer, and 4th high score Debbie Morrison. The 50/50 draw was won by Fred Yeo, the next euchre will take place on Friday, April 14th. See you there! The men of Kendal L.O.L. met at the hall on Wednesday, April 5th. Three teams from this Lodge competed in the Lecture Contest held by Purple Hill Lodge. The Happenings TOWN HALL EUCHRE RESULTS team of Chad Switzer and Richard Lowery placed 1st and the team of Wayne Lowery and Frank Drinkle placed 3rd, Brad Switzer and Dean Policy came in 4th. All of these teams represented the Kendal Lodge. The Junior Lodge are busy every Thursday practicing their degree work for Grand Lodge. The Ladies Lodge are also busy on their degree work. Keep an eye on this column, for news that will be coming coming out soon regarding the 12th of July Parade in 1990. • • • • The Orono Town Hall euchre results for April 5 with 11 tables in attendance are as follows: High scores for the evening were Olive Little with 88; Ni Hayward with 86; Jean Allen with 85; Marg Linton with 81 and Norma Moffat with 76. Low score for the evening Edgar Millson. Winners of the draws were Tom Wilson; Carol Hooper; Norma Moffat and Joyce Cowan. Euchre is held every Wednesday night starting at 8:00 p.m. Ladies please bring lunch. JOIN US AT THE NEWCASTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY The Bowman ville Branch of the Nêwcastle Public Library will be holding the following events for your enjoyment beginning with Plimpton, editor of the Paris Review, takes us on a tour of his hometown in "Armchair Travels" to be held Wednesday, April 12th from 2:90 - 3:00 p.m. Come out and meet a local author bn Wednesday, April 12th, Mr. Humber author of the book "Let's Play Ball: Inside the Perfect Game". Book signing at 7:00 p.m'., programme from 7:30 to 7:30 p.m. * Both events will be held in Meeting Room 2. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. ATTENTION All former Kinettes and Kinsmen of the Great Pine Ridge .The Kinettes are celebrating 15 years of service service to the community on May 13, 1989 at 8:00 p.m. in ,St. Francis of Assisi, Church Hall, Newcastle. The present members would be honoured to have you celebrate with us. Please contact Helen at 983-9558 or Janet at 987-5341 before May 1, 1989 for tickets $15.00 per couple MASTRO PIZZA NOW QPEN at 285 King St., Newcastle, Ont. ;$ Buy 1 Large Pizza $ and Receive $000 OFF SttSÊBiï <|j . WED. Thru WED. LL, Clip 8fid S8V9 - -- Eat-in or take-out * Offer valid with this coupon $J 987-1234 Phone ahead for fast pick-up