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living life to the absolute Florence Nasmith Farmers should use survey to make debt boards accountable Brigid Pyke, president of the On- tario Federation of Agriculture, urg- ed all farmers who receive a federal questionnaire on farm debt review to take the time to fill out the survey. Pyke said: "To make the debt review boards truly effective we need a realistic assessment of the review process as it exists now and the results it is producing. The survey is a step in that direction. I strongly urge all respondents to add other information and comments that would help us make that realistic assessment." Pyke cited four key areas where farmers-respondents may want to add comments on: * who the major creditors were at the start of the debt review process * which creditors were involved in forming the agreement * which creditors remained players after the deal was made, and * what the tarmer was left with at the end of the debt review process. An original set of questions for the survey was first formulated by the Liaison Committe of Farm Organizations, an umbrella group of seven Ontario farm organizations who lobbied for farm debt review to be legislated. However the final questionnaire approved by Ottawa overlooked the above listed four areas of questioning. The survey was mailed out this week by the federal government to the approx- imately 500 Ontario farmers to date who have gone through debt review. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has long supported changes to the debt review process which would see some of the more difficult cases referred to a special court for final arbitration, upon recommendation of the debt review board. Mrs. Florence Nasmith, nee McCaw, formerly of Port Perry will celebrate her 100th birthday in Vic- toria, B.C. on August 28th. In 1877, two new homes were under construction in Port Perry. One, a lovely Victorian mansion on the south-west corner of Cochrane and McDonald Streets, would be oc- cupied by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Bigelow, Mrs. Nasmith"s grand- parents. The second, also an impos- ing, but smaller brick dwelling at 41 John Street was to be the home of Mr. & Mrs. William H. McCaw, Mrs. Nasmith's parents-to-be. Some years later, Mr. & Mrs. McCaw, with a growing family, moved into the Cochrane Street home to live with the Bigelows, Mrs. McCaw's parents. By 1895 that household consisted of grand- parents, parents and eight daughters born to Emma McCaw. The sisters, Elizabeth, Mabel, Cora, Emma, Florence, Marion and (twins) Aileen and Kathleen, were to maintain close family ties throughout their lives. This happy and close-knit relationship may in part have contributed to the fact that, with one exception, all members of that family lived well beyond the age of 80, and over 90 was not uncommon. W.H. McCaw owned a jewellery, 'china and gift store on Queen Street. This shop was also the location of the first telephone exchange in Port Perry, and Florence McCaw was one of the first "NUMBER PLEASE?" operators. After Mr. McCaw's death, the store was operated briefly by a Mr. Robert- son, and then purchased by Mr. I.R. Bentley, who carried on the business until his death more than 20 years ago. It is now known as Pentland Jewellers. In the present shop are beautiful antique show cases from the original store: others may be found in the Scugog Shores Museum. . The Cochrane Street home was occupied by Bigelow descendants until 1980. The last residents, Mr. & Mrs. William Carnegie (son and daughter-in-law of Mabel and Art Carnegie) finally sold the huge, lovely old mansion and now live in Oshawa. At that time they donated oil portraits of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Bigelow to the Port Perry Town Hall. These paintings, which once graced a wall of the drawing room in the Cochrane Street home, now hang on either side of the Town Hall auditorium. Florence McCaw was born in the . John Street home on August 28th, 1887. In 1915, she married Harry Nasmith, a widower with a young son, Dugald. Harry's first wife was Emily McBride, daughter of the then principal of the Port Perry High School. The Nasmith family moved into 495 Queen Street (a house believed to have been built by a Mr. Crandell around 1840 'when that area was called Borelia). With the exception of three years during World War I, when Mr. Nasmith's work with the accounting firm of Clarkson-Gordon, took them to Toronto and Montreal, Mrs. Nasmith lived in this home until 1972. With six children born to the Nasmiths: Malcolm, Clara, Hugh, David, Florence and Stuart, the first two now deceased. All attended school in Port Perry. Mrs. Nasmith's three sons live in the west with their families: Hugh and David in Victoria, and Stuart in Seattle. Dugald, a long time resident of Mon- treal, visited Victoria with his wife Marguerite for two weeks in April. Daughter Florence (Mrs. Gordon PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, August 18, 1987 -- 21 Florence Nasmith, a century of Annison) of Willowdale, Ontario, where she teaches High School, has been a regular visitor every sum- mer for the past twelve years. So, Mrs. Nasmith has many close relatives and friends who keep in constant touch with her. Three other McCaw sisters re- mained in Port Perry after their marriages: Mrs. Arthur Carnegie (Mabel), Mrs. David Carnegie (Marion), and Mrs. Harold Emmer- son (Aileen). When it was fashionable to have afternoon teas and card parties in Port Perry, each of the sisters had a ready-made table of four before inviting any outsiders. After his retirement as a chartered accountant, Mr. Nasmith maintained an apple orchard on the fourteen acre property across from his home. The old orchard site is where the R.H. Cornish Elementary School now stands, between Queen Street and what is now 7A. The backs of Ella Street homes formed the Eastern boundary of the Or- chard. Ottawa Street was non- existent. In later years, Mr. Nasmith became the Town Clerk. From 1930 until 1950, the Nasmith family had a summer cottage on Pigeon Lake near Bobcaygeon. All of the many family relatives recall happy visits there during summer holidays. After Mr. Nasmith's death in 1949, Mrs. Nasmith remained in the Queen Street residence, spending most winters with sisters in Florida, two of whom had permanent homes there. In 1972, at the age of eighty- five and a true pioneer spirit, Mrs. Nasmith decided to "Go West." She moved to a small apartment in the city of Victoria where she still lives, and where she had soon made many friends among other local Senior Citizens. She continues to make weekly visits to a Senior's Residence, where she enjoys a fresh hair-do, luncheon, and visits old friends less fortunate than she. Mrs. Nasmith enjoys good health, is up- to-date, and interested in current af- fairs as well as everything and everyone around her. She reads several books a week, watches . television, and still does cross-stitch needle work, making cushion covers. She has a quick wit and a delightful sense of humour. Port Perry relatives recently visiting in Victoria, recounted how, one early January morning after the sidewalk snowplough had passed by, they found their morning paper shredd- ed along the snowbank beside their front walk. Mrs. Nasmith"s im- mediate response: '"'That's certain- ly a different way to spread the news!" She still radiates the gracious warmth and charm so readily remembered back in Ontario. Mrs. Nasmith regrets not having been able to attend the recent High School Reunion in Port Perry. Possibly she is the oldest living graduate. About her own school days, she recalls starting school at the age of six in a small two-room building on the west side of Rosa Street near McDonald Street. Woodstoves in each room and coal oil lamps provided heat and light OFFICE FURNITURE Filing Cabinets ~ Desks - Chairs - etc. PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street 985-7383 fullest when necessary. Slates and slate pencils were used in this little schoolhouse. Pencils and paper were reserved for the upper 'Books' and 'Forms.' Sanitary ar- rangements were outhouses (really frigid in winter!). Miss McNeil was her first teacher, and Miss Rachael Horton her second. Miss Horton liv- ed with a niece Mrs. Jim Forman. To get to school, Florence had only to step out her back door, cross the back garden and there she was! Then came the "Main School" on Queen Street (destroyed by fire in April 1926). At first she thought part of this building was called the High School because the senior classes were conducted on the upper floor! Some of the High School students came by horse and buggy from Manchester, Prince Albert and Scugog Island: others came by train from Seagrave. Horses were stabl- ed in the shed behind the Baptist Church on the north-east corner of Queen and Rosa Streets. The High School principal, Mr. McBride, taught Latin and Greek. Mr. Stone taught .mathematics, and Miss McArthur was the French and English teacher. Mrs. . Nasmith, then Florence McCaw, graduated in 1903, two years after the death of Queen Victoria. For some years, Mrs. Nasmith, an accomplished musician, acted as organist for the Baptist Church. Eventually, the old building was moved to the Fairgrounds, and the new Emmanuel Pentecostal Church now stands on the old Baptist Church site. Mrs. Nasmith still loves walking, and does so every day the weather allows, although recently she com- mented that if she walks and talks at the same time, she seems a little short of breath! Travel has always been a favourite pastime. Her diaries, which have been faithfully kept for more than sixty years, recall visits to much of Canada and the United States, as well as a tour of Great Britain and Europe. A brief Hawaiian holiday with daughter Florence at age ninety, was so suc- cessful that two years later she returned to Maui with David and his wife. The last travel adventure was a trip to Alaska on a Russian Cruise ship with Dugald and his wife in 1982 -- she was ninety-five! Perhaps the secret of Mrs. Nasmith's longevity lies in her adaptability, and her calm accep- tance of changes in life style -- her own and that of others. In Hawaii, for example, when told that tickets had been purchased to attend the Boom-Boom Club, she was heard to remark as they departed for a night on the town 'I'm going to enjoy this, whether I like it or not!' And when asked what she intends to do on her birthday, she replied with similar certainty "Stand up straight!" She will spend the day quietly with her family. All of Mrs. Nasmith's relatives and friends in the East are happy to join with the Staff of the Port Perry Star in extending to Mrs. Nasmith congratulations and very best wishes, on August 28th, 1987, One Hundred Years Young! SCHOOL SUPPLIES Pencils - Lined Paper -Erasers - Note Books - Math Sets - etc. PORT PERRY STAR 235 Queen Street 985-7383