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OF MIDLAND by Shirley Whittington Dorothy Duncan is a detective who specializes in tracking down the personalities of some of Ontario's most historic and venerable buildings. She's a Museum's Advisor for the Heritage Administrative Branch of ¢ the Ministry of Culture and Kecreation. and offers wise and seasoned °F advice on how to recreate the warmth and history of the past. Visitors to Fort York in Toronto. Old Fort William at the Lakehead, and the Naval and Military Establishments at Penetanguishene have felt the touch of history recreated in the gleam of pewter. the warmth of hand, woven rugs un- derfoot, and the homely charm of furnishings that are exactly right for the period. The search for correct ; period furnishings is said the proprietor.-"It's never dulland sometimes. a plate warmer that provides delightful might be suitable for Fort surprises, like the time York." He added that he Dorothy walked into an thought it had originally antique shop in Toronto come fron ny "1 *have something here Penetanguishene. that will interest you." It -happened that Looking for F: i the unusual Sy J} CANADIAN CRAFTS Authentic Indian and Eskimo work e Parkas, Mitts e indian Dolls e Soapstone Carvings e Moccasins Painted skins e Quebec wood carvings Russican, German, Mexican Crafts School Supplies Basement We have in stock, a good selection of ° Refills e Pencils e Pens e Notebooks e Rulers Lunch Buckets Buster Brown ; _Jee-shirts cuery 500 *OeD® Regularly $8.00 We also have a lovely selection of Dresses _ sizes 4 to 14 Jean Overalls up to 6x also Jeans - Stretck & Denim Special Purchase Coats Junior sizes 7 to 13 only °23.99 Supply is limited so you should Shop Early Al Junior Misses Summer Dresses sizes 5 to 24% ¥3 of f Don't forget to see our selection of JUNIOR SHOULDER BAGS and e Matroshka Dolls e German Pottery e Mexican Figurines THE TAMARACK 245 King St., Midland - 526-2171 and Balm Beach Rd. - 526-7762 Carole Richards sketch, Duncan interior 'Keating house, British Naval and Military Establishments, Penetanguishene Penetanguishene was Dorothy's current project. She grabbed the warming cabinet, and it can he seen today. returned to its original position before the huge fireplace in the stone Officers' Quarters on the Sai 0) ah wens of Penetanguishene Bay. Most of the Penetanguishene buil- dings have been recon- stracted according fo original Admiralty plans. The plans, alas, included no detail about how they were furnished and decorated, and this is where Dorothy Duncan's combination of sleuthing genius and intuition came In. "We know that of- ficers brought tons of furniture with them when they came out to.a posting like | Penetanguishene,"' says Dorothy. "Very few lists exist, but we assume that a man would bring his desk, his favourite chair. his books." Sometimes a detail from a diary or a letter provides a tantalizing hint. One officer wrote that he had put "rugs"' on his floor to keep out the draughts. "But at that ALL WORK GUARANTEED FU 24 HOUR SERVICE AVAILABLE MIDLAND --526-8759 RANCES CLEANED AND CONDITIONED Midland Oil Burner Service 191 WILLIAM STREET INSTALLATIONS Save up to 70% Junior Sportswear Fall Pants Gabardine ® Flannel e Corduroy 20% off Good selection of Skirts & Jeans We also have a good selection of Sweaters in Turtle-necks, stripes & plain, plus the new: Cowl Neck in a variety of styles and colours. Plus wrap arounds & tunic sweaters We now carry a full line of Max Factor make-up Some made especially with the Young Ladies in mind You'll find these products at the Self Service counter. (Front of store) BANKRUPT SALE atElectryon Audio Ltd. © (Sounds Amplified - Mantronicss) 521 BAY Street, Midland, Ont. Save up to time."' says Dorothy. "a rug could mean a blanket or a carpet. J think he meant carpet. and that's what I've put down." Diary-keepers are the darlings of restoration experts. The Gibson house in North York was one of Dorothy's projects. "Gibson was a surveyor who kept a daily journal as part of his work Fortunately, he included personal glimpses. One entry mentions that he had put up the pipes for his stoves. And on that evidence. we included a couple of stoves in the restoration." In Penetanguishene. some officers brought their wives with. them, and a new dimension entered the picture. '"We have to give those wives a personality, and we then infuse the house with that personality. What sort of women would have lived here? Did she like to collect things? Did she sew? Would she care if everything matched?" Other clues are picked up from diaries and letters written by people in the community, "The Misses Hallam. in Penetanguishene mention going to a ball at the Officers' Quarters. Not much to go on, but it gives us an idea of the activities that went on there."' Dorothy Duncan is frequently approached as a consultant on the restoration of existing buildings. Her battle plan is impressive. "First I listen to all the local folklore about the place," she says. '"'and then I put it completely out of my mind. The first thing you learn in this business is never to take 70% $500,000. STOCK OF NAME BRAND STEREO EQUIPMENT ¢ TAPE DECKS eACCESSORIES ETC SONY* EPICURE®TEAC® BICeKOSS* WOLLENSAK® DBX® PILOT® KENWOOD*ESSe DYNACO® SOUNDCRAFTSMAN® JBL ETC SUPER SPECIAL 1 Kenwood 2400 Receiver (20W/ch) 2 Kenwood 333A Speaker Systems 1 Kenwood 1022 Beltdrive Turntable oe Magnetic Cartridge U BANKRUPT 95 $658" $379 PRICE with Magn. Cartridge PRICE SUPER SPECIAL 11 Kenwood 1400 Receiver (10W/ch) 2 Goodnan Speaker Systems 1 Kenwood 1022 Turntable compl. SUG PRICE BANKRUPT $229 SUPER SPECIAL 111 Lloyd's no. 9910 am-fm Receiver with 8-track Player-Recorder 2 - 2 Way Speaker Systems 2 Microphones & 1 Headphone SUG LIST PRICE BANKRUPT PRICE $169 SUPER SPECIAL 1V Wollensack 8 Track Recorder with Dolby $474" BANKRUPT PRICE $279" SIMILIAR SAVINGS ON ALL MERCHANDISE SALE TO START--THURS.SEPT. 10 am SALE CONDUCTED BY WINIKER INDUSTRIAL AUUCTIONER LTD 36. ADDINGTON AVE, WILLOWDALE, ONT STORE HOURS MON. - SAT. 10a.m. - 6 p.m. FRIDAY OPEN TIL 8 'reality which transports | Designer offers advice on recreating warmth and.-history of the past anything for granted." An exterior tour of the building provides clues about architectural deletions and additions. "We look for anything unusual - a row of dif- , ferent bricks, a patch in the wall, a difference id) wood around doors and windows." Inside, sleuthing continues. "There may be a patch of new plaster - why? Or a bulge in the floor. worn stair treads. or a scrap of wall paper, hidden behind a baseboard." Simultaneously. so- mebody is out digging in archives registry offices, and libraries. "Why did the taxes on the property go up suddenly? What families lived in the building? Did they have children? Animals?" From there, the search goes on for diaries, and geneological information which give the house its character. Meanwhile, Dorothy continues her interior work peeling down as many as eleven layers of paint to find out the original colour, lifting linoleum to find out what was underfoot. deter- mining, if a staircase had heen moved, and why. Two important decisions must be made before work can progress. "We decide on a Terminal Date, which just means what, period in that building's life was most important. And we find out how the site is to be interpreted. This is im- portant. I'm working now on a building which after restoration is to be used as a centre for the teaching of crafts. I'm suggesting that they not fugnish with too many priceless antiques. | Reproductions would be 1} much more practical b} here." Then the reconstruction begins. Modernities like the oil furnace are removed and invisible electric ceiling heating is installed. ~ Obvious electric lighting fixtures are taken out. Notices are sent out to selected antique dealers ("Those who have an } interest beyond merely } buying and selling') and the search begins for the | kind of furniture and accessories that Dorothy | feels would be right for that particular house. ] "J am also aware of | what museums have in | their store rooms," she | says. "and we may | borrow. pieces from private collectors." Hl Then, with the aid of ij floor plans, and sometimes scale models, the rooms are put together. The hallmark of | Dorothy Duncan's work is the feeling of warmth and the visitor instantly into times beyond his ex- perience. There are open books, half written let- ters, and ink tipped pens lying on tables. There may be bunches of herbs tied near the doorway ("People used to. think that they kept the flies away') or piles of fresh vegetables on the kitchen table. There may be open sewing cases, and articles Cont'd on p.9 Home Gifts You'll be amazed at the scope and variety of gifts for the home! we've assembled for | your selection. Sensibly priced, too, in the tradition we have proudly upheld for many years. Drop in and browse. We'll welcome the | Opportunity to serve you. FOLEY'S & Appliances Hwy. 26 COLLINGWOOD Nene