October is Family History Month

Happy Family History Month!  It's near the end of October, but there is still time to do something about passing on the history of your family.  I thought I'd share some ideas of quick and easy things to do by yourself or with others since the key is to SHARE your history. 

1. Label your photographs.
There is nothing more frustrating as a family historian, genealogist, museum curator or archivist than to have photographs with no names, dates or places.  I suggest using a light hand with a pencil or a fine point marker that is photo safe, non-toxic, permanent ink, fade resistant, dries quickly, will not smear once dry, and won't bleed through.

2. Tell your children or grandchildren a story about when you were young and record it on video.  Send them the video and save it in the cloud.

3. Make a visit to the cemetery to say "Hello".  Take your family and tell them who they people were to you.

4. Make a family history related craft.  Here is a link to 13 ideas.   https://www.familytreemagazine.com/premium/family-history-diy-projects/

5. Visit your local museum or archives to see if they have documents or books about your family.  Backus-Page House Museum currently requires an appointment to visit since we are on the off season.  519-762-3072

Family History Friday: Poorhouse Cemetery, Simcoe Dedication

                                                Poorhouse Cemetery Dedication

A Dedication Service is scheduled for the Poorhouse Cemetery in Simcoe this Sunday (June 5^th) at 2:00 p.m.

Located on County property northeast of the Norfolk County Court House, this site is the final resting place of many Norfolk County residents who resided at the Farm, more commonly known as the Poorhouse/County Home.

The Cemetery was designated as a Norfolk County Heritage site in 2007. It is also recognized as an official cemetery within Norfolk County

Reverend Paul Sherwood of Trinity Anglican Church will officiate. Mary Caughill, Chair of the Norfolk Heritage Committee, and Bill Terry, a member of the former Norfolk Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, will also participate in the service which will be emceed by Norfolk Councillor Peter Black. 

Ms. Caughill notes that the Heritage Committee began to plan the event some time ago. Last year a Storyboard had been installed beside 28 memorial markers that had been dug out of a wooded area and laid flat in a cement pad in the early 1970’s.

Bill Terry has unearthed a newspaper article from 1968 that appeared in the Port Dover Maple Leaf on the 100 anniversary of the home.  The article quotes from the records of Monroe Landon (1859).  The final two paragraphs offer a fitting reference point for the dedication event.

“It is the county’s intention to plant trees again on the flats and no doubt that area will eventually become part of a park system. It would seem of future historic interest to preserve and mark the site of the old house, the first cabin, the spring, the sugar maple still standing that the boy Landon planted in the southeast corner of the barn yard about 1840 and most important the old cemetery near the northeast boundary. Some of the old split cedar fence rails that were produced on the place may still be found along this cemetery. 

The old cemetery was cleaned up this winter by the reforestation crew, under Mr. Cecil Pettinger, and is deeply appreciated by all those who have noticed the improvement. We hope to plant it to ground covers and bulks.”

The public is welcome to Sunday’s event which will take place rain or shine.  Parking is available at the courthouse and along the roadway.  Attendees will be required to walk to the site.

Melissa Collver

Manager, Heritage & Culture

Norfolk County

Ph: 519-426-5870 ext. 1347

Fax: 519-427-5901

Behind The Scenes Sundays

Things staff at Backus-Page House Museum say: "Let's name him Simon Flower Pepe."

This past week we have a very cute park resident hanging around and eating from the kitchen garden.  We had to put up the fences to keep out our new friend.  He (or she) casually walks away and hides under the deck of the carriage house whenever he sees one of us.  So if you visit the museum, be on the lookout for our skunk.  We're trying to get his picture, but he seems to be camera shy. 

The board held their monthly meeting on Thursday and spent about 45 minutes brain storming.  By January, we want to have a five year plan to present to the membership.  It's important to know where we are headed and set goals for the future of Backus-Page.  We focussed on ideas regarding Membership and Donors, Events and Programming, plus Large Projects.  I am very excited with the contributions of volunteers and staff, and encourage you to leave comments on this post with your thoughts.  I will take all ideas to the next board meeting, so tell us what you want to see at Backus-Page House Museum from now until 2019. 

It's family reunion time, so we've had many visitors asking about family records and resources in our records.  We have two reunions booked so far this summer to be held on the museum grounds.  One was held today which is why this post is late as it was my husband's family and we were hosting the event.  It was the 50th Annual Bobier Reunion!!  We were excited to have many attendees who had not been out in years.  The compliments on the Backus-Page grounds, the atmosphere, and the nearness to St. Peter's cemetery, where many ancestors are buried were numerous.  Next Saturday another reunion on site and I hope they have as great an afternoon as we did.  I look forward to meeting them all and touring them around the interior of the museum. 

The internet is still not working properly, as the nearest tower is having issues.  We are able to send and receive emails, but it's hit and miss on when we can and when we can't and how long it takes.  Please have patience if you send us something or we are trying to send you something.  Until next week, I wish you all the best.

Angela Bobier, Cultural Manager