By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — “I’m just waiting for a message on my phone, but I scooped you this time Connie (editor of Whitewater News),” said Mac Coughlin as he pulled his phone out of his shirt pocket, flipped it open and silently read a message as a crowd of people sat silently in their seats at the Orange Hall in Foresters Falls Tuesday evening.
This occurred near the end of the Trip Down Memory Lane presentation that evening.
Looking up from his phone, Mr. Coughlin announced that a Whitewater Region council meeting had been called due to a concern with the roads department. There was a disagreement with the union so the council “terminated everybody and hired a maintenance gang.”
The astonishment by those in attendance was evident by the oohs and aahs.
Mr. Coughlin continued, “They needed a crew in case of an emergency, so they hired a new temporary road gang until they get things ironed out with the union.”
He then showed a slide of the new gang, bringing with it many sighs of relief, as well as laughter, as he showed a picture of the former Ross Township roads gang from back in the mid-1940s. In the photo were Hugh McLaughlin, Delbert Broome, John Bell, Bill Pettigrew, Joe Bennett, Miller Bennett and Veldon Bennett.
This was just one of the many slides shown during the presentation, which was by Mr. Coughlin and John Bell with Dave Alexander at the computer.
Using no notes, Mr. Bell said he would regal the crowd with stories he has read, told and not forgotten.
His photos included the demolition of the dairy/cheese factory which used to be located on the Queens Line near the intersection with Foresters Falls Road. He showed various photos of the Coleman Store and a variety of post cards that were scenes from the village.
Mr. Bell pointed out there were small, wire fences around many homes, and at that time it was to keep the cattle out of their yards, because cattle were just pastured along the roadsides.
He showed the Waite Brickyard, which was also the skating rink in the winter.
Mr. Bell noted that many of the foundations for the large homes were built with stone from a quarry in Douglas
The Orangemen used to meet in the Temperance Hall, but in 1886 built their own, which also doubled as a school from 1926 to 1934. He said the current school was too small, and a new wing wasn’t added until 1934. It was later turned into an apartment building, which is still used today.
When St. Aidan’s Anglican Church was moved to Foresters Falls from Alice Township, the bell and tower were removed and taken to the Anglican Church in Beachburg, Mr. Bell said.
A photo taken in 1880, showed two of the three blacksmith shops that were in Foresters Falls at that time, and he noted they were all busy.
When Mr. Coughlin took over the microphone, he showed various slides of barns under construction way back when, and spoke about them.
One of the more interesting topics was the Edith Cavell Range (Herb Millar Prop.) barn on Moxam Road behind Howard Cemetery.
Ms. Cavell was an English girl who was a nurse in Holland during World War 1, Mr. Coughlin said. The story is that she helped 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium, was arrested, found guilty of treason and executed. She was buried in a community grave. She was eventually brought back to England and given a propery burial.
There are many stone monuments to Ms. Cavell, as well as a park. For more information on Edith Cavell, please go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Cavell.
However, Mr. Coughlin said, the connection between Foresters Falls and Ms. Cavell isn’t known.
“If anyone knows the connection, could they please let us know,” he said.
Other photos shown and talk about by Mr. Coughlin included Bing Ross’ truck filled with 30 dozen eggs on its way to Montreal; a harvest in 1899; the Lime Kiln; the construction of the first building in 1942 at Timinco Mines; the Herb Ross hay press; Gordon McGregor with a load of loose hay on his truck; Ruby Bulmer in her long christening gown on her way to the church; Johnny White with a load of logs; Glen Byce loading logs with a jammer; Jack Gibson and his gravel box; foals on Ed Pettigrew’s farm; and Fred and Eva Ross’ house under construction – this large, white house is now owned by Sandra and Gary Smaglinski on Foresters Falls Road; Merle Kohlsmith putting ice in the ice house where Ron Laronde currently lives in Cobden; Ken Robinson cutting ice on Muskrat Lake; a wood sawing bee using Clarence Orr’s saw; Hugh Gordon’s steam engine with water tank using a horse team on a threshing mill; Robert Gibson’s threshing mill and the VE Day Parade in Beachburg.
“That was a huge celebration,” Mr. Coughlin said.
The final slide was the discussion about the road gang.
Mr. Coughlin thanked the people for coming out and supporting the Whitewater Historical Society.
Just a reminder, the Ross Museum, which is operated by the Whitewater Historical Society, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
