Canada Day Tickets Available Now

Due to the restrictions of COVID-19 we have to limit the number of people we have on the grounds and in the museum for Canada Day. 

Tickets to reserve your decorated picnic table with activities for 1 hour $10 and tickets for 30 minute museum tours $5/person are now available at Eventbrite. 

Bring your own picnic.  We will be selling drinks, small bags of chips, old fashioned candy, and a selection of items from our gift shop using contactless payment.  There will also be a twonie fundraiser to assist the museum with general operations while we were closed to the public. 

519-762-3072  info@backuspagehouse.ca 

Canada Day 150 in Dutton

Happy Canada Day

A very Happy Canada Day to one and all!

We are open today (Friday) 10:00am - 4:30pm.

Saturday and Sunday noon - 4:30pm

Closed Monday.

World War Wednesdays: The Day the Greatest Country in the World Proved It

     Happy Canada Day! The day we celebrate being citizens of the greatest country in the world. How fortunate we are to have the ability to enjoy the countless freedoms afforded to us by a nation renowned for its goodwill. Of course, as we all know, this has not come without a price. Countless people have given their lives in order to uphold the significance of this day, making it well worth the recognition. One day in particular stands out when we think of Canadians making a name for themselves in times of war, and will be the topic of today's post: April 9, 1917 at the capture of Vimy Ridge.

Canadians searching captured German trenches for Germans still hiding on Vimy Ridge, April 1917
Library and Archives Canada

     At 5:30 a.m., April 9, 1917, Easter Monday, the creeping artillery barrage began to move steadily toward the Germans. Behind it advanced 20,000 soldiers of the first attacking wave of the four Canadian divisions, heavily laden with 32 kilograms of equipment per soldier. There was some hand-to-hand fighting, but the greatest resistance, and heavy Canadian losses, came from the machine-guns in the German intermediate line. Overcoming this resistance, three of the four divisions captured their part of the Ridge by midday, right on schedule. In the final stage, the 2nd Canadian Division was assisted by the British 13th Brigade, which fell under its command for the operation.

     The 4th Canadian Division's principal objective was Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the whole Ridge. Once taken, its summit would give the Canadians a commanding view of German rearward defenses in the Douai Plain as well as those remaining on the Ridge itself.

German front line from the Canadian trenches Vimy Ridge Hill 145 

     

     Because of its importance, the Germans had fortified Hill 145 with well-wired trenches and a series of deep dug-outs beneath its rear slope. The brigades of the 4th Division were hampered by fire from the Pimple, the other prominent height, which inflicted costly losses on the advancing waves of infantry. Renewed attacks were mounted using troops that were originally scheduled to attack the Pimple. Finally, in the afternoon of April 10, a fresh assault by a relieving brigade cleared the summit of Hill 145 and thus placed the whole of Vimy Ridge in Canadian hands. Two days later, units of the 10th Canadian Brigade successfully stormed the Pimple. By that time, the enemy had accepted the loss of Vimy Ridge as permanent and had pulled back more than three kilometers. Ultimately, Vimy Ridge marked the only significant success of the Allied spring offensive of 1917.
     The Canadian achievement in capturing Vimy Ridge owed its success to sound and meticulous planning and thorough preparation, all of which was aimed at minimizing casualties. But it was the splendid fighting qualities and devotion to duty of Canadian officers and soldiers on the battlefield that were decisive. Most of them citizen-soldiers, they performed like professionals.

Canadians attacked German machine-guns, the greatest obstacles to their advance, with great courage. They saved many comrades' lives as a result. Four earned the Victoria Cross for their bravery in such dangerous exploits, among them Wallacetown's own Ellis Sifton. Of these, three were earned on the opening day of the battle.

Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton of the 18th Battalion 

    The Canadian record, crowned by the achievements at Vimy, earned for Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the war. Back home, the victory at Vimy, won by troops from every part of the country, helped unite many Canadians in pride at the courage of their citizen-soldiers, and established a feeling of real nationhood. That pride is still felt today every time we reflect upon our country's contributions in times of war. As we celebrate this great nation today, it is important to do it with gratitude for those who gave us the true reason to be proud. 

   Cheers, thanks for reading, and enjoy your Canada Day!

      Delany

Supplementary information courtesy of veterans.gc.ca.

Behind The Scenes Sundays

Things Backus-Page House Museum staff said last week: "It's not giant hogweed, it's cow parsnip."

A belated Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day!  Sarah and I spent the afternoon on Tuesday at the Canada Day Celebrations in Dutton.  We took our new banner (shown in the photo), some gift shop items, and upcoming event flyers.  As always, the salt water taffy and maple kisses were the favourite with shoppers and History Camp for Kids was our most asked about event.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say Hello. 

 

 

Our 2013 financial audit is completed and I was able to submit two grant applications (Community Museum Operating Grant and Ontario Seniors Community Program) before month end.  Last year was the first time we reached the $100,000 in revenue milestone.  As a charitable organization, this comes with many changes in bookkeeping, which I won't bore you with, but does take extra time from staff.  Now that we've had the first audit, next year should be a much quicker process for us and our accountant. 

 

This has been a sad week for nature with high winds coming through last weekend and knocking down a large walnut tree just to the east of the museum and branches blocking part of the Spicer Trail.  By the time you read this post, all will be cleaned up thanks to Talbot Tree Service and volunteers Larry and Paula Graftsein and Rob and Janice Ellis.  Betty McLandress and staff spent alot of time weeding vegetable gardens.  Everything (including the weeds) are growing really well, except for the beans I planted which some birds decided looked tasty, so no Lazy Housewife Beans this year.   

 

Since our Sunday Summer Teas start today (1-4pm, $10/person includes tea and tour), the parlour was set up on Thursday to accomodate 2 tables of 4.  Tablecloths, linen napkins, flower arrangements, and cups and saucers are all ready for our visitors.  Volunteers will be donating the weekly baked goods made from 1850's recipes and I hear seed cake and apple cake might be served today.  Traditionally Mary Jane Backus would have hosted tea in the dining room of the house for her guests. 

 

Listen on St. Thomas MyFM for our summer commercials.  Leave a comment below telling us what baked goods you prefer to have with your tea and what topics you are curious about "Behind the Scenes at Backus-Page".  

 

 

Angela Bobier

Cultural Manager

 

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