Fun Fact Friday #4 - O Canada! 🍁

Calixa Lavallee

      Did you know that the man who wrote the Canadian national anthem fought in the American Civil War?

      Calixa Lavallee was a French-Canadian musician and Union Army band musician during the Civil War. He is best known for writing "O Canada" in 1880, which eventually became the Canadian national anthem in 1980. 

      He was a world wide singer and performer that played shows in multiple countries including Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. He returned to the U.S after touring around and enlisted in the 4th Rhode Island Volunteers of the Union Army as a cornet (a brass instrument similar to the trumpet) player. He attained the rank lieutenant, but was wounded in the Battle of Antietam. He then made his way home and spent most of his life playing music in Canada and the U.S. 

      Come on out to Tyrconnell Heritage Society's Civil War reenactment this weekend (July 28 & 29 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) to learn more about Canadians and the American Civil War! There will be music, food, artifacts, and even a reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg! It is $8.00 per person and free for children 12 and under. 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, Ontario. Call (519) 762-3072 or visit www.backuspagehouse.ca for more information!

Tourism Thursdays

Whats Happening in Elgin County? 

CANADIAN CONNECTIONS TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

The war between the US states is at its peak. Step back to the 1860s with Union and Confederate military reenactments, vendors, food, exhibits, and hands on activities. Backus-Page House goes Gone With the Wind at the American Civil War Re-enactment.  Also the 155th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Discover little known connections to Elgin County.  Museum and Barn open for tours during the event.  Admission $8/person. Children 12 and under FREE.  No debit available.  Cash and credit card accepted.     

Website: backuspagehouse.ca

Phone: (519) 762-3072

Email: info@backuspagehouse.ca

Date: 

Saturday, July 28, 2018 - 10:00 to Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 16:00

Location: 

Backus Page House

29424 Lakeview Line

Wallacetown, ON N0L 2M0

Trailblazer Tuesdays

Trailblazer Tuesdays

In Canada there are 521 plant and animal species at risk that are listed under SARA and the list is growing. The reasons can be as varied and complex as the species themselves, however, many result from human activity. Plants, animals and microorganisms are essential to the natural processes that keep the Earth’s atmosphere, climate, landscape and water in balance. They help ensure our health and economic prosperity – now and for the future. This is why the Government of Canada introduced the Species at Risk Act to protect endangered and threatened species and the spaces they need to flourish. 

Species at risk is a designation given to plant and animal species that are threatened with extinction, extirpation, or endangerment in a given geographic region. Species can become at risk from a number of human-induced influences, including changes in land use, loss of habitat, pollution, and the spread of invasive species. Once a species is classified as at risk, it is added to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ Species at Risk in Ontario List.

There are four categories, or classes, of at risk:

1. Extirpated: A native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but still exists elsewhere (e.g., Greater Prairie-Chicken)
2. Endangered: A native species facing extinction or extirpation (e.g., American Chestnut tree)
3. Threatened: A native species at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario (e.g., Blanding’s Turtle)
4. Special Concern: A native species that is sensitive to human activities or natural events that may soon cause the species to become endangered or threatened (e.g., Monarch Butterfly). 

This link below shows you a list of all the endangered species in Ontario!

https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-risk-ontario

Here are some tips to help you protect our endangered species and species at risk!

Make your home wildlife friendly. 
Secure garbage in shelters or cans with locking lids, feed pets indoors and lock pet doors at night to avoid attracting wild animals into your home. Reduce your use of water in your home and garden so that animals that live in or near water can have a better chance of survival. Disinfect bird baths often to avoid disease transmission. Place decals on windows to deter bird collisions. Millions of birds die every year because of collisions with windows. You can help reduce the number of collisions simply by placing decals on the windows in your home and office. 

Native plants provide food and shelter for native wildlife. Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your plants. The spread of non-native species has greatly impacted native populations around the world. Invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction. 

Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are in fact hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain. Predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes can be harmed if they eat poisoned animals. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat. .

Slow down when driving. 
Many animals live in developed areas and this means they must navigate a landscape full of human hazards. One of the biggest obstacles to wildlife living in developed areas is roads. Roads divide habitat and present a constant hazard to any animal attempting to cross from one side to the other. So when you’re out and about, slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife.

Never purchase products made from threatened or endangered species.
Overseas trips can be exciting and fun, and everyone wants a souvenir. But sometimes the souvenirs are made from species nearing extinction. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, coral. 

Protect wildlife habitat. 
Perhaps the greatest threat that faces many species is the widespread destruction of habitat. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the special places where they live. Wildlife must have places to find food, shelter and raise their young. Logging, oil and gas drilling, over-grazing and development all result habitat destruction. Endangered species habitat should be protected and these impacts minimized. By protecting habitat, entire communities of animals and plants can be protected together. Parks, wildlife refuges, and other open space should be protected near your community. Open space also provides us with great places to visit and enjoy. Support wildlife habitat and open space protection in your community. When you are buying a house, consider your impact on wildlife habitat.

Thanks for reading

Resources 

https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-risk-ontario

https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/protecting-species

Fun Fact Fridays #3 - Sleep Tight...

      Did you know that the saying, "sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite", comes from rope beds that were made in the 19th century?

      

      Instead of having a box spring holding up the mattress, people would use ropes tied in a square pattern. To keep the mattress from sinking to the floor, people would need to tighten the ropes before going to bed.  Therefore, "sleep tight". 

      Mattresses were not nearly as comfortable as they are today. Most mattresses these days have either memory foam or some type of fluffy material to keep people comfortable and happy while sleeping. In the 1800s, though, people would stuff their mattress with either grass clippings or straw/hay. Usually bugs would be swept up along with whatever the mattress was stuffed with. Therefore, "don't let the bed bugs bite". 

Hay/Grass Clippings/Leaf Stuffed Mattress

Rope Bed "Box Spring"

      

Tourism Thursdays

What's Happening This Weekend In Elgin County? 

1ST ANNUAL EDISON MYSTERY CRUISE

Vendors open by 10 am, music & 50/50 lottery throughout the day, Cars to arrive by 4 pm with BBQ from 4 - 8 pm. Car Rally participants & attendees are encouraged to follow Vienna Line to Community Centre.

Proceeds support THE EDISON, VIENNA & AREA MUSEUM, o/b Bayham Historical Society. Info at Facebook, Twitter or contact: bayhamhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com or 519-773-8798.

Date: 

Saturday, July 21, 2018 - 10:00 to 20:00

Location: 

Lions Community Centre & Edison Field

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

Take a ride with Thomas, meet the railway controller Sir Topham Hatt, have fun in the Imagination Station, see authentic engines and enjoy tons of other activities in a city near you! All Aboard!

Hosted by the Elgin County Railway Museum at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre on July 14th, July 15th, July 21st and July 22nd.

See ticket website for times.

Tickets: https://www.ticketweb.ca/venue/st-thomas-elgin-memorial-centre-st-thomas-on/24955?pl=thomas18&REFERRAL_ID=dowtsplash

Website: http://ecrm5700.org/Thomas/index.html

Date: 

Saturday, July 21, 2018 - 08:45 to Sunday, July 22, 2018 - 17:00

Location: 

St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre

CANADIAN CONNECTIONS TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

The war between the US states is at its peak. Step back to the 1860s with Union and Confederate military reenactments, vendors, food, exhibits, and hands on activities.

Website: backuspagehouse.ca

Phone: (519) 762-3072

Email: info@backuspagehouse.ca

Date: 

Saturday, July 28, 2018 - 10:00 to Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 16:00

Location: 

Backus Page House

29424 Lakeview Line

Wallacetown, ON N0L 2M0

Fun Fact Fridays #2 - Summer Lovin' 🌞

Backus-Page House (Today)
Outline of Summer Kitchen

      Did you know that most houses in the 19th century had an attachment called the summer kitchen? These were used as another space to cook food in. In the summer months it can get scorching hot and air conditioning was, of course, not invented yet. To keep the house a little cooler people would cook their food in the summer kitchen. Today, when we want to keep the house cooler, we cook our food outside on the barbecue. This is a very similar concept.

      The summer kitchen at the Backus-Page House, we believe, was made out of wood. Unfortunately the summer kitchen is not still standing, but we can assume it was wood based on an old picture we have. It was unusual to make your summer kitchen out of wood because wood is easier to catch on fire, but it is less expensive than building it out of another material.

To see where the summer kitchen used to be visit at at:
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
(519) 762-3072

Backus-Page House
Bottom Left Side of House - Summer Kitchen is Visible

Tourism Thursdays

Whats Happening This Weekend?

HIGH TEA & HISTORICAL FASHION SHOW

Enjoy a special high tea while you watch a historical fashion show featuring men's, women's, and children's clothing from the 1700's to the later 1900's. Tickets  $30.

Website: villageofsparta.com

Phone: (519) 775-2292

Email: tcg@execulink.com

Date: 

Saturday, July 14, 2018 - 14:00 to 16:00

Location: 

Sparta Church Museum

6073 Quaker Road

Village of Sparta, ON N0L 2H0

ANNUAL DUTTON STREET DANCE

This annual event is held to raise money for the local sporting groups and the recreation department. 

Website: duttondunwich.on.ca

Phone: (519) 762-2204

Date: 

Saturday, July 14, 2018 - 21:00 to Sunday, July 15, 2018 - 01:00

Location: 

Co-Trac Ford Dealership

204 Main Street

ST ANNUAL EDISON MYSTERY CRUISE

Vendors open by 10 am, music & 50/50 lottery throughout the day, Cars to arrive by 4 pm with BBQ from 4 - 8 pm. Car Rally participants & attendees are encouraged to follow Vienna Line to Community Centre.

Proceeds support THE EDISON, VIENNA & AREA MUSEUM, o/b Bayham Historical Society. Info at Facebook, Twitter or contact: bayhamhistoricalsociety@hotmail.com or 519-773-8798.

Date: 

Saturday, July 21, 2018 - 10:00 to 20:00

Location: 

Lions Community Centre & Edison Field

Vienna, ON

Fun Fact Friday #1 - Another Brick in the Wall

      Before we get started on this new weekly blog I'd like to introduce myself! My name is Beth and I am a Historical Interpreter at the Backus-Page House Museum in Wallacetown, Ontario. I'm a student at Fanshawe College and love to spend my time learning new things (hence why I applied for this job haha) I'm so excited to share all these fun facts with you every Friday! I find them all interesting and fun. Don't mind my bad humour every once in a while too. I hope you enjoy and let's juts jump right into it!

      Did you know that the Backus-Page House was built with over 72,000 bricks? To put that into perspective, to build an average house today you would need an estimated amount of a little over 8,000 bricks. This is most likely due to the fact that the outer walls are very thick. The walls are approximately 2-4 bricks thick. This is to keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There was no air conditioning or heating in 1850 so people needed to find a suitable alternative.

      The bricks are, also, red in colour. This was a very desirable colour due to the rarity of red clay in this part of Canada. Most houses can be seen with yellowish colour bricks and that is because white/yellow clay is much easier found than red.

      To check out these incredible brick walls in person you can visit the Backus-Page House at:
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
(519) 762-3072

Tourism Thursdays

Whats Happening in Elgin County? 

Saturday, July 7th is the annual Southwold by Tractor event! Registration is $10 - registration is available in advance at the municipal office as well as the morning of the event.

Departure from the horse barn at the Shedden Complex followed by a tour to Dutton to view an antique tractor collection and free lunch with stops along the way! The tour will end back at the starting point in Shedden. Dinner will be available afterwards at a modest cost.

Still want to join Southwold by Tractor but don't have an antique tractor to enter? The Rosy Rhubarb "People Mover" will be available for those who wish to attend the event but are without the necessary mode of transportation!

Any questions regarding the event, please contact Deputy Mayor Ian Chard at 226-926-5339

Whats Happening at the Museum? 

July 28 & 29th 2018 

Backus-Page House goes Gone With the Wind at the American Civil War Re-enactment.  Museum and Barn open for tours during the event.  Admission $8/person.  Children 12 and under FREE.    Food and gift shop items available for purchase.  No debit available.  Cash and credit card accepted.     

Backus-Page House Museum

29424 Lakeview Line
Wallacetown, Ontario N0L 2M0

Phone:

519-762-3072

Trailblazer Tuesdays

Trailblazer Tuesdays 

Lake Erie, the shallowest lake of the five Great Lakes, is home to an abundant supply of fish. All year, there are some species to be found in this body of water that forms most of South Western Ontario. Learn a little about some of the most prevalent Lake Erie fish. Fishing on Lake Erie is a popular pastime throughout the year. Hardy souls even ice-fish on the lake during the middle of winter. All those fishing on Lake Erie is required to have a fishing license. BUT right now is FAMILY fishing week, until July 8th, anyone can fish, no need for a license. 

The largemouth bass, also called a black bass, grows to be around 12" to 15" long. This Ontario native is found in virtually all over the Province, especially in Lake Erie. The largemouth bass is typically around 1 to 3 lbs.

Bluegill, also known as Bream, inhabit almost all lake, rivers, and streams in Ohio. These fish are typically around 6"-10" long, and although colors vary, all Bluegill have a black spot on their ear flap.

Lake Erie Catfish, also known as Channel Catfish and Spotted Catfish, is an Ohio native. This tolerant species thrive in all kinds of conditions but prefers deep, still waters. Lake Erie Catfish average 12" to 14" in length and can reach 10 lbs.

Black Crappie, native to western Lake Erie as well as other Ohio streams and rivers, prefer clear water with little vegetation. They are ​identifiable by the seven to eight spines on their dorsal fin.

The Northern Pike is a long, slender fish, native to Ohio. It is found primarily in the Lake Erie waters surrounding Sandusky and Maumee Bays. These fish prefer marshes and bays and average around 20" to 32" in length and around 2 to 10 lbs.

Walleye, a medium-sized freshwater fish, is plentiful in the Great Lakes and the rivers and streams that flow from and into the Lakes. In Ohio, the fish is a springtime fishing favorite, particularly in the Maumee River near Toledo and in the Canadian waters of Lake Erie. Also called a Pickerel, this fish averages 14" to 22" in length and ​weighs an average of 2 to 4 lbs.

The yellow perch has a yellow to brass-colored body and distinct pattern, consisting of five to nine olive-green, vertical bars, triangular in shape, on each side. Its fins are lighter in coloration, with an orange hue on the marginsIn many populations, yellow perch often live 9 to 10 years, with adults generally ranging from 4 to 10 inches (10–25 cm) in length.

Thanks for reading

Sabrina Merks

Refrences

https://www.utoledo.edu/nsm/lec/pdfs/Lake%20Erie%20species%20list-1.pdf

https://www.fisherie.com/Lake-Erie-Fishing