Historic Places Day: Show us your Selfies!

This year the national trust for Canada is hosting #HistoricPlaceDay. However, as many of Canada’s historic places remain closed to the public, and social distancing measures are put in place they’ve set up new ways for everyone to celebrate and share in virtual visits online.

From Saturday July 4^th to July 31^st you can submit digital selfies via historicplacesday.ca, to get a chance to win 1000$ for yourself and 1000$ for the site you visit!!

There is also a Giveaway, where submitting a photograph and memory of your favourite Canadian historic place could find you picking up one of many awesome prizes!!

As more historic sites are opening, we at the Backus-Page House want to help people get excited and be aware of the museums they are encouraged to visit. By visiting historicplacesdays.ca you can virtually visit over 550 museums and heritage sires all over Canada, us included!

So take the time to explore the site and take a digital selfie using the photo of the front of the Backus-Page house and see what other marvelous sites are waiting to be explored!

Fun Fact Friday #25 - You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry...🎅

      Did you know that Santa Claus was a real person? 

The first depiction of the red suit Santa wears.
Thomas Nast c. 1869

     Of course you did!  Most people know that he is based off of somebody known as Saint Nicholas, but historically, we do not know much more about him. According to tradition, or legend, Saint Nicholas was known to to be the secret gift giver to children on December 6, the day the Church celebrates him and supposedly the date of his death. In Europe it became a custom for people to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth on his day.

      It is a popular notion that these traditions of gift giving in North America come from the Dutch when they founded New Amsterdam (New York) and then passed around from there. 

       Ever since the anonymous poem "The Night Before Christmas" was popularized in 1823, Santa was depicted as an elfin figure with "a little round belly/That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.". Even today the image of the jolly big guy continues to thrive.

Learn more about the history of Christmas traditions at the Backus-Page House Museum. Book a tour today!
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072
     

Fun Fact Friday #24 - O Christmas Tree 🎄

The Royal Family's Christmas Illustation

      Did you know that it was Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, that popularized the modern and familiar Christmas traditions?

      Prior Prince Albert's influence, Christmas was scarcely celebrated and treated much more religiously than it is today. By 1870, in Canada, the holiday had become a community and family celebration. This is also when familiar attributes such as Santa Claus, Yule logs, holly and mistletoe, caroling, and Christmas trees became extremely popular. 

      Although the royal families had been decorating Christmas trees since at least 1800, Prince Albert's family were the first ones to display their tree in an illustration that was published in 1848. The general public liked this idea and started doing it themselves and it was eventually brought over to Canada due to British immigration. 

Learn more about early Christmas traditions when you book a tour at the Backus-Page House Museum.
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #23 - What Wood You Do In The Winter? 🌲

Late 29th Century Canadian
Lumberjacks

      Did you know that most farmers in the 19th century were also lumberjacks during the winter months?

      It is well-known that farmers cannot continue growing their crops when it's negative degree weather outside. Farmers during this time also could not just do nothing during the months from November to February. So, instead of farming, men would productively use their time felling and collecting lumber. This time of the year was best for cutting down trees because the sap would be frozen.

      Then, during spring, the lumber would be sent to saw mills and the lumberjacks would be farmers again. After the fall harvest, loggers were back on the job, building camps and clearing roads to get ready once again for winter. 

       Book a tour today at the Backus-Page House Museum to learn more about life during the winter in the 19th century.
2924 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #22 - Hockey Night In Canada 🏒

Port Stanley, ON Today

      Did you know that Port Stanley and the Stanley Cup are named after a father and son?

      Colonel Thomas Talbot was a major part in the distribution of land along the shores of lake Erie in early 19th century. In 1824 Talbot decided to rename a settlement after his dear friend, Lord Edward Smith Stanley. This is now known as the small beach town, Port Stanley. Lord Stanley enjoyed the area so much and would visit when he could. He eventually became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and had three children with his wife, Emma. 

2018 Stanley Cup champion, Alexander Ovechkin

      One of those three children was Fredrick Stanley. Fredrick was a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom who served as Colonial Secretary and then the sixth Governor General of Canada. He was also very interested in sports. His sons became avid ice hockey players in Canada, playing in amateur leagues in Ottawa. Finally, in 1892, he donated a treasured national icon, the Stanley Cup. This now-famous cup bears Stanley's name as tribute to his encouragement and love for sport in Canada.

Come visit the Backus-Page House Museum for more information at:
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #20 - The Little Pier That Could 🌊

      Did you know that Canadians living on the coast of Lake Erie built a pier to sell goods to the Americans across the lake during the Civil War?

What is left of the pier at Tyrconnell.

      In April of 1861 the Dunwich Pier Company was established in order complete the building of a 500 foot pier at Tyrconnell. The pier was 30 feet wide so that horses were able to turn around at the end and people would still be able to pile products, usually grain. The selling of grain bushels to the United States while the war was on created a very profitable economy for the farmers in the Tyrconnell area. The pier was considered so important that it became a possible landing spot for invaders from the U.S. 

      Unfortunately, after the war was over the pier was not used nearly as much and eventually, in 1890, became unsafe to use entirely. These days there is not much left of the old pier that used to be there, but is still an interesting story to tell locally.

Come visit the Backus-Page House Museum in Wallacetown to find out more interesting stories about the history of Elgin!
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #19 - Movie Buffs 🎥

Movie Poster for
"That Old Feeling"

       Did you know that a Hollywood movie was filmed in little old Wallacetown at the St. Peter's Church?

      St. Peter's Church in Wallacetown received it's 15 minutes of fame in 1997 when "That Old Feeling", starring Bette Middler and Dennis Farina, filmed a scene there. Although the church can only be seen for a few seconds, it did not stop the locals from a feeling of pride. 

St. Peter's Church

      Keith Large was the movie location manager for the film and was looking for "an Upper-New York State or Connecticut-style clapboard church" somewhere in Southwestern Ontario. The beautiful St. Peter's was the perfect fit for everything on their check list including a bell tower and a big window for one of the characters to look out of. 

Come see the church for yourself right next to the Backus-Page House Museum at 29526 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, Ontario. Call the museum for more details 519-762-3072 or visit www.stpeterschurchtyrconnell.org. 


      

Fun Fact Friday #18 - A Proper Education 📚

       Did you know that in the 19th century female education was altered to that of male?

A classroom of young boys and girls (approx. 1850)

      Although today women are well represented in schools as teachers and students, it was not the same during the 19th century. There was public schooling available to both boys and girls, but it was very general. If a person wanted a more advanced education they would have to enter private schools. Except these schools focused more on domestic personal, and social properties rather than mathematical, scientific, or even reading and writing. The curriculum was made to have women practice "the arts and graces of life".  Thank goodness we have come a long way since then.

Visit the home of a woman who immigrated to Canada with only her two children and no husband in the early 19th century. A very difficult task at the time indefinitely.

The Backus-Page House Museum
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #16 - Trick or Treat! 👻

      Did you know that children did not start trick-or-treating until about 1911?

Something children might have worn
on Halloween (approx. 1911)

      Trick-or-treating is a classic Halloween tradition that is practiced all over the world. In Canada it did not come around until 1911 in Kingston, Ontario. It was reported that children went street "guising", which basically means running around dressed in costume, on Halloween in between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. They would visit shops and neighbours to gather as many nuts and candies they could. To win the treats they would have to perform a song or rhyme and if the audience enjoyed they would toss them something tasty. The term "trick-or-treat" did not show up until around 1927 in Blackie, Alberta.

Come and visit an old Victorian home where children who began the trick-or-treating tradition in Canada might have lived, now called The Backus-Page House Museum!
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
519-762-3072

Fun Fact Friday #13 - Don't Forget to Wipe! 🚽

Manila Hemp Paper - Now usually
used for crafting and pulp.

      Did you know that toilet paper was not invented until about 1857?

      Joseph Gayetty was an American inventor that originally thought of the idea of cleaning your behind with something other than leaves or rags. He found that using flat sheets of manila hemp paper was much more comfortable and was advertised it as "the greatest necessity of the age". He then made it into a medically lubricated paper with aloe used for hemorrhoids. 

Scott Toilet Paper - 2018

Unfortunately, Gayetty's business failed and in stepped Thomas, Edward, and Clarence Scott. They founded the Scott Paper Company in 1879 and began selling paper on a roll instead of common flat sheets. This is now the brand you know as Scott Toilet Paper. 

Come and check out some of the old toilets people used in the 19th century at the Backus-Page House Museum:
29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, ON
(519) 762-3072

Fun Fact #10 - Weather Watchers ⛅

      Did you know that early settlers were able to read the sign language of nature? 

Farm equipment used to plow fields (approx. 1850)

      Farming was extremely important not only now, but also during the 19th century. Farms and crops were essential for living away from cities or towns. These days farmers are able to just check the weather network to see if it's going to rain, snow, or be sunny and hot all day long. The weather network, of course, was not around in the 1800's. Instead, farmers had to be able to figure out the signs of different weather conditions and then move forward accordingly. For example, a light dew and no wind, a bright sky with clouds that had dark middles, a fog on hilltops, and a possible wind coming from the east could mean that rain was on it's way. 

      Farmers have always been coming up with clever and productive ways to improve their fields. 

Back Pages Band

Come check out Tyrconnell Heritage Society's Heritage Farm Show this weekend (Sept. 8 & 9 10:00 Am to 4:00 PM) to find out more interesting facts about the history in the agriculture industry! There will be 165 heritage farm artifacts on display and the Back Pages Band will be performing in both days! It is $8.00 admission and kids under the age of 12 are free. 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, Ontario. Call 519-762-3072 or visit www.backuspagehouse.ca for more                       information.