Back to HomeFeature Article - May 14, 2009 August festival in honour of a historic logging feudby Jeff Green

Actually it is the end of the feud that is being celebrated.

MERA (McDonalds Corners Elphin Recreation Association) will be presenting the Mississippi River Heritage Festival on August 22 and 23 to mark the end of the Lumberman's Feud between two lumber baron families of the Mississippi River, the McLarens and the Caldwells.

The story of the Lumberman's Feud is of political significance, because its resolution established the public's right to use waterways in this country. It is also of commercial significance for the lumber trade that ruled Frontenac and Lanark counties in the 19th Century. Its ultimate resolution came about because of, you guessed it, love and marriage in McDonalds Corners.

It all started in the 1870s when Peter Mclaren and Boyd Caldwell both owned lumber mills in Carleton Place, and ran logs from logging camps in north western Lanark and Frontenac County down the Mississippi River system.

McLaren invested in a log slide at High Falls, which is located on Dalhousie Lake between Snow Road and Watson's Corners, for his own use. He decided that because of his investment, only his logs could pass over the falls and down Dalhousie Lake to Mississippi River and Carleton Place.

Boyd Caldwell did not agree, and the dispute that started on the remote shores of Dalhousie between logging crews ended up being argued at Parliament Hill and in courtrooms in Ottawa, and ultimately, London, England.

After winning legal and political battles in Ontario (1881, 1882, and 1883) and promptly losing them due to federal rulings, Boyd Caldwell appealed to the Committee of the Privy Council in England, and won. A subsequent version of the Ontario Streams and Rivers Act was not challenged, and the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act followed, guaranteeing public use of Canadian waterways to this day.

The Caldwell-McLaren dispute did not end when the political issue was solved, however. It took a Christmas dance at McDonalds Corners to do that.

An account of those events was written by Harry Walker, a writer for the Ottawa Journal, and was reprinted in Hilda Geddes book, “The Canadian Mississippi River.”

Walker said the story came to him “as told by an unknown writer in an old clipping in a district paper”.

As the story goes, a dance was being held on Christmas Eve in “McDonald's 'stopping place' at McDonalds Corners.

Since McDonalds Corners was considered a Caldwell stronghold at the time, the foreman of the McLaren Shanty had forbidden his men to go near the dance.

We'll let Harry Walker tell the rest of the story.

“But Ronald Grant, a McLaren man, was in love with Jessie Mcllquham (or “Mucklewham” as the district Scots pronounced it), the best dancer in Drummond township. She was the daughter of stern Calvinistic David “Mucklewham”, an uncompromising Caldwell supporter. Jessie's father had refused his consent “to a McLaren man takin' bairn o' mine in wedlock”. In the black bitterness of his heart, young Grant brooded over that refusal, and became more of a '“McLaren” man than ever.

Jessie “Mucklewham” was to be at the dance, and Grant, tortured by visions of that lovely Highland girl with her dark, flashing eyes, determined to go. He taunted his foreman with the charge that if McLaren men did not put in an appearance they would be branded as cowards. Stung by such a suggestion, the grizzled old foreman declared: “McLaren men are afraid of nothing that walks, dances or fights on the Highland Line. Put a bundle of axe-handles in the sleigh and go”.

Down the moonlit road raced the sleigh with its McLaren cohorts, and Ronald arrived to claim his quota of dances. How Ronald won his bride right there at the dance while McLaren and Caldwell men applauded is a story that brightens the annals of Lanark County. There was no more warfare on the Mississippi.”

With a history like that, it's a wonder that a festival honouring the end of the “Lumberman's Feud” has never been held in McDonalds Corners before; but the wait is now over.

On the weekend of August 22 and 23, MERA, in conjunction with the McDonalds Corners Agricultural Society and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority will be holding a two-day festival, with events being scheduled for Centennial Beach on Dalhousie Lake, as well as at MERA and the Agricultural Hall and grounds.

The festival committee has applied for a grant from Festivals Canada, but approvals have been delayed this year. A couple of weeks ago, the committee decided the festival would happen whether the funding comes through or not. Among events that are in the planning stages are dressing up the MERA schoolhouse as a 19th century Shanty town. There will be historical displays about the area, traditional logging demonstrations, music, discussions about the historical and current state of the forests, as well as a youth-based drama about the McLarens and the Caldwells.

The culmination of the Saturday portion of the festival will be a log drivers’ dance at the Ag. Hall to celebrate the dance that ended the feud.

The final itinerary is still being worked on, and some of the scale of the festival will depend on funding, but with such a rich history to work from, the Mississippi River Heritage Festival promises to be a highlight of the '09 summer season.

For further information, contact Marilyn Barnett at 613-259-2269 or Mary Vandenhoff at 613-259-5654. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 21, 2009 Spirit solidifies at SLHSBy Chava Field Green

Sharbot Lake High school has a new mascot! The big fuzzy panther arrived and was unveiled at the school last Friday May 15, to the delight of students and staff. The mascot was out and about the school giving hugs, high fives and dancing around as any mascot should.

The mascot was purchased, through funds generated by pop machine sales, from Maydwell Mascots of Toronto.

It will be more than just a sports mascot, but also a school mascot. Representing SLHS, the panther will make appearances not only during school events such as winter carnival and leadership camp, but also community events such as the Relay for Life.

There is a contest to decide the official name; students just have to submit a name to Head of Student Services and big advocate for school spirit Elizabeth Steele-Drew. A name should be chosen by the end of this week.

Steele-Drew is trying to coordinate a mascot protocol training session with a representative from either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Ottawa Senators. The school is hoping to have three students lined up for next year to bring the mascot to life during the school year.

The SLHS panther will be introduced to the community on June 5 at the Family Fun night at Land O’Lakes Public School. Come out to get a glimpse and a hug from SLHS’s newest personality!

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 21, 2009 Public Meeting about "The Point"by Wilma Kenny

Over 40 Sydenham residents came to the township hall last week for a meeting to discuss concerns and planning for the Point. All agreed that the Point was a valuable community resource, but one with a number of issues that needed to be addressed.

The meeting was called by the Greater Sydenham Community Association (GSCA), and chaired by Lorie Reid and township works manager Mark Segsworth.

In introducing the evening, Segsworth noted that since the popularity of the “Bubba Bowl”, there had been a growing interest on the part of area parents to have permanent lights installed at the football field. Concurrently, the GSCA has pinpointed a need for various improvements at the Point, and in order to develop a vision for the park, obtained a grant from the Frontenac Community Development Centre to hire architect Bruce Downey to develop a “concept drawing”. As part of this process, there had been consultation with various interested groups, including the Loughborough Recreation Committee, the Women's Institure, the Legion, and immediate neighbours.

This was the first public meeting.

History of the Park - Officially called "Loughborough Memorial Recreation Centre" but popularly known as "the Point", the park has been a community picnic and swimming area ever since the area was settled.

Until 1947 the Point was part of a privately-owned farm. At that time, the Sydenham Women's Institute (WI) and the Sydenham Board of Trade took an option to buy the property.

In 1971, the WI transferred the property to Loughborough Township, with the understanding that it would be kept in perpetuity “for the benefit and enjoyment of all its citizens”.

Present Use - Every summer, the Loughborough Recreation Committee hires staff to teach swimming lessons and run a children's recreation program at The Point. There is a (lighted) ball diamond, a tennis court that is now used by skateboarders, a boat launch site, bandstand, football field - also used for soccer, and a running track.

The park is used for general swimming and picnicking, Canada Day celebrations, Sydenham Canoe Club regattas, and will be the headquarters for a triathlon event this summer. It's also the site of the Sydenham water treatment plant, and the property abuts the township hall and library on the northwest, and the Loughborough schoolyard to the south. Several years ago, the township agreed to lease the football field to Sydenham High School for a nominal annual fee. In return, the school agreed to maintain the football field and track (installing underground watering system, sowing and sodding as needed, and mowing.) However, the football field remains part of the township's property.

Maintenance - Through its volunteer recreation committee, the township hires a private contractor to mow the grass and do basic maintenance. This summer, the committee will be hiring students to do extra upkeep on this and three other township parks. The organizers of special events are responsible for providing extra toilet facilities when deemed necessary, and for all clean-up related to their events.

In spite of all this, vandalism, littering and lack of adequate toilet facilities and change rooms are ongoing concerns. Vandalism in the area has extended to destruction of the picnic tables at the LPS outdoor classroom.

At the public meeting, several residents asserted that the vandalism and littering were worse during the daylight hours when school was in session, but were less during the summer, when there was more general use of the park. (It was noted that students have also held clean-up drives.)

The skateboard area in particular seemed to be a focus for noise, graffiti, destruction and littering. Mark Segsworth, in pointing out that the township had no parks committee per se, said that the recreation committee was made up of volunteers, who should be commended for the enormous amount of time and work they devoted to organizing recreational events in the township.

Football Field Lights - Neighbouring residents dreaded having their properties subjected to such brilliant lights during summer, spring and fall evenings. They were concerned that Sydenham would become a centre for sports tournaments, and also expressed concern about the increased noise and traffic generated by night games.

Parents with children on football and soccer teams said night games would give more opportunities for working parents to watch their children play, and expressed willingness to help raise money to pay for the lights.

A soccer league representative said there were over 700 children in the area playing soccer, and although most teams don't use the Sydenham field at present, that would change, if it were lighted.

Others suggested the field was already in poor condition, and unable to accommodate heavier use.

Traffic - Neighbours expressed concern about traffic, particularly speeding and noise in the park and along Wheatley Street. Noon hours during the school year seem to generate particularly heavy motor traffic in the park.

The Beach - Not a natural beach, and heavily used during summer, the swim area often has too little sand and too many weeds.

Other Issues - The list of issues was long: is there interest in re-opening the tennis courts? Where and how can the skateboarders be accommodated? Are there better locations in South Frontenac for playing fields? How can we provide available, clean washroom and change room facilities and protect them from vandalism? What about building a meeting-room/conference space above the washrooms? Where might a permanent storage space for football equipment be located? Can the 'passive-use' spaces be improved by developing walkways?Could the school parking facilities be used more for large events at the Point? Can the water and power supplies be centralized?

Now What? - In summary, Lorie Reed said the community association would review the concerns and issues, and put together a proposal to go to the recreation committee, who in turn could make recommendations to council.

She reminded the group that while no proposal could please everybody, but clearly nobody seemed happy about the status quo, either. She said the present design concept was available to anyone who wished to read it. For more information, or to contact the GSCA, go to their website: tgsca.ca

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 28, 2009 Local riders “dash for cash”by Julie Druker

Jessica Nedow on "Sunny Dayze" dashes for the cash in Parham at the first of four NCRHC horse shows

Competitive and hobby horse riders had a chance to show off their skills at the Parham fairgrounds on Sunday at the North Country Riders Horse Club’s (NCRHC) first horse show of the season.

For a small fee riders could enter seven events including barrel racing, pole bending, musical tires and the grand finale: the “Dash for Cash“.

For many riders like Dale Mallett, the show offers a chance to get out on his horse and enjoy a hobby that he has always loved.

For others like 14-year-old Jessica Nedow of Heads or Trails Boarding Stables in Parham, who competes in shows every weekend during the summer, it is a chance to hone her competitive skills close to home.

Jessica recently placed first in the 3rd Division of the National Barrel Horse Association competition, an event that includes competitors from all over Ontario and Quebec. She enjoys coming out to these local events and is not shy to give it her all.

These types of show races are all about control and speed and Jessica and her horse Sunny Dayze most definitely had everyone else biting their dust. An accomplished rider who been holding the reins since she was two years old, it is not surprising, given her experience and dedication to barrel racing, that she won all seven events that she entered in Sunday’s show in Parham.

In the final event she and Sunny Dayze clocked in at 7.7 seconds and took home the $30 pot in the finale Dash for Cash event.

Rhonda Babcook, who owns a hobby horse farm in Sydenham, is president of the NCRHC. She explained that the shows are open to riders from ages four and up who are at various skill levels. “Everyone is welcome to enter these events and moms and dads can even enter their youngsters and get into the ring and lead them around.”

If you like to ride or simply are looking for a local event that is enjoyable and exciting to watch, the NCRHC shows in Parham are a great place to be. The riders are also often willing to let you get up close and personal with their horses, which for me is as good a reason as any to get out to the races.

Sunday's NCRHC show was the first of four scheduled to take to place in Parham this season. The second show will be held in Parham on June 7. For more information, visit the NCRHC website at www.ncrhc.piczo.com 

 

Back to HomeFeature Article - April 16, 2009 Sharbot Lake High School students go hungry for the cause.By Chava Field-Green

Mandy Wilson, Ashley White and Liz Marshall

There are two big events in the SLHS school year: one is the climactic Winter Carnival that takes place in February, and the other is the 30-hour Famine. Every year students from grades 9-12 spend 30 hours in school after school hours, without food. It sounds more like a teenager’s nightmare; nevertheless, the weekend of April 3 & 4, 87 students volunteered to fast after receiving pledges from family and friends to help raise $5200 for World Vision’s projects worldwide, especially in third world countries.

“The Famine rocked my starving socks”, said committee volunteer Lucy Keller, and other students around her agreed. The word “awesome” was thrown around a lot. Students helped create a banner, participated in gym sports such as basketball and floor hockey, played computer games and movies, and of course danced away their hunger pains Friday night at the dance.

This year students could nominate each other for good citizenship awards. Students who helped keep the school clean, and helped to run events were nominated and three winners were Ray Ranger, CJ Turkenkopf and 30-hour Famine committee co-chair Kara Irwin. Along with Kara, Candace Granlund and 13 staff members helped run the event, including asking for, and retrieving donations from countless organizations in Perth, Kingston and from all over Frontenac County.

Dave Gervais, one of the staff volunteers, said that he was most impressed with how the students left the school, “In the past students have done a pretty good job of tidying up but this year the school was sparkling clean”.

Back to HomeFeature Article - January 29, 2009 Frontenac Heritage Festival taking shape – Feb. 19th – 22ndBy Carol Coupland

The third annual Frontenac Heritage Festival is slated for February 19-22.

This year’s version of the Festival will be kicked off at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn on the morning of February 19th. Following the opening ceremonies, Jan Bonhomme will be the keynote speaker on the topic of “The Value of Festivals” at a business breakfast.

Events will include horse drawn carriage rides, cross country skiing, displays and more.

Displays and events are slated for the Crow Lake Schoolhouse, St. James Major Church Hall, and Maples Restaurant.

Local Authors are invited to St. James Major on Saturday (February 21) and the popular Variety Show will take place on Saturday night at he Oso Hall. (those interested in participating are asked to contact Dave Willis (279-2844) or Carol Coupland (279-2963).

And don't forget the photo contest. The deadline is February 12th. Send entries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Throughout Central Frontenac, events are planned for the celebration of the past and the present that is the Frontenac Heritage Festival.

The fourth annual festival will include many of the features from previous years, and a few new events as well. Events will run for three days this year, between Friday, February 19 and Sunday the 21st.

One of the focal points of the festival will be the Crow Lake Schoolhouse, where interactive demonstrations about what life was like in rural Ontario about 200 years ago will take place on Friday and Saturday.

Inside the building up to 15 people will demonstrate traditional skills, including wool knotting, traditional foods and herbs, including some that were used as medicines. On Saturday, lunch in the form of goulash and pie will be available at reasonable prices.

Outside the schoolhouse, local residents Bob Miller and Mike Procter will be joined by a number of other people that have an interest in the way things were done in the era before machinery and electricity. “The skills that people needed to have in order to be able to survive interest those of us who get involved in this kind of activity,” Mike Procter said. “People needed to have a lot of ingenuity and self-reliance just to get by.”

Among the skills that will be demonstrated are: fire starting using flint and steel, the use of a variety of hand tools and tool-making equipment, and weaponry in the form of muskets. John DeWagner, who makes long bows, will also be on hand.

Bannock will be prepared, and for sweetening, Matthew Wheeler will be on hand to prepare maple taffy.

Mike Procter will have a busy day on Friday. Before demonstrating at Crow Lake, he will bring some of his passion for the past, along with some of his vision for tourism and perhaps an old joke or two, to the Sharbot Lake Legion. He will be the speaker at the kick-off event for the festival, a Business Over Breakfast on Friday morning at 8:30 am.

OTHER FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Photo Contest Extended! For those shutterbugs who have missed it thus far, entries can still be made for the photo contest because the deadline for entries has been extended. Entering the contest is easy. There are three categories, People – Nature – Recreation (action shots) and there is a special category for youth (16 and under) as well. Simply email a jpeg version of a digital photo to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., indicating which category it is to be judged in, by Monday, February 15 at 5 pm.

On Friday evening the Legion will also be hosting a Roast Beef Dinner, starting at 5:30 p.m., and at 7:00 p.m. at the Maples Restaurant the winners of the Heritage Festival Photo Contest and the Snow Sculpture contest will be announced, and a slide show of the entries will be shown.

Saturday

The feature day of the Heritage Festival starts off the way any cold winter day should start, with coffee at a country store, in this case at the Parham General Store, where in addition to coffee there will be a display of local photos.

In addition to the Crow Lake Schoolhouse events, which will continue on Saturday from 10am – 4pm, the Soldiers Memorial Hall (Oso Hall) in Sharbot Lake will be the site of displays from the railway committee, the heritage weavers, spinners, cheese making, and more.

At the beach in Sharbot Lake, a girls’ pond hockey tournament will get underway at 10 a.m., as well as horse-drawn wagon rides. At noon, also at the beach, frozen turkey curling gets underway (organizers note that no turkeys will be harmed during this event)

Meanwhile, in the village of Arden, the Skills and Thrills event will get underway at 11:00 a the rink. Participants will need to bring skates, a hockey stick and a helmet to participate.

The Tichborne rink will be hosting a 3 of 3 hockey tournament, starting at noon as well.

While all this outdoor activity is underway, the Sharbot Lake Legion will be hosting a Chilifest, with judging taking place after noon. A Jam Session and Hockey & Wing Night follows.

While in Sharbot Lake, there is one added event that people should go to. At the Seniors’ Centre (across from the Freshmart in the former United Church Manse) Northern Frontenac Community Services is sponsoring a Quilt Show And Sale, featuring a silent auction with reserve bids, between 12-4 pm on Friday, and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday.

In the evening, Jim MacPherson will be hosting the annual Variety Show at the Sharbot Lake High School Cafetorium, and the day will be capped off with fireworks at the ball field next to the school.

Sunday -

Sunday is more of an informal day at the festival. It starts with a heritage breakfast, put on by the Sharbot Lake Anglican Church Women's Group. (Anglican Church Hall – $5)

There will also be a heritage snowmobile ride guided by Wayne Harris. A family skate and fun day will take place at the Tichborne rink, followed the playoffs from Saturday’s 3 on 3 hockey tournament. After the tournament, the closing ceremonies will take place.

Celebrate Valentine’s and Family Day in Sharbot Lake

A few years ago the Oso Recreation Committee put on Canada Day events and maybe one or two other events a year, but lately that has changed, and this weekend is a prime example of that.

The committee will be presenting two events: a Valentine’s Dance for the grownups and a fun day at Sharbot Lake Beach on Family Day.

The dance will be held on Saturday night, February 13 at the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake. It is a licensed event, featuring the Cellar Hounds, who are brothers Joe and Tim Asselstine, Randy Kempe and Pete Davis. Tickets are $10 per person, and are available in advance at Fit Plus and the township office.

Tickets have been selling well, but there will be some available at the door. The hall only holds 120 people so people are advised to come early or buy their tickets beforehand.

Family Day activities – Spencer Robinson's zamboni has been spotted on the west basin of Sharbot Lake. The rink is ready for the broomball game, and the oval is ready for the skaters as the February holiday approaches.

Free events are all scheduled to start at 1 o'clock on the school holiday, Heritage Day, Monday, February 15. Smoosh races, skating, broomball, snow shoeing, horse-drawn carriage rides and snowmobile/trail safety are all featured events, and everything is free, including spider hot dogs, hot chocolate and snow taffy. The recreation committee is even providing equipment for people to use if they don't have their own.

 

Rachel Asselstine, Tom VanKoughnett and Zoe are served breakfast by volunteers fire fighters Chris Holton, Kurtis Barber and Jamie Drope

Many moms and their families from the Sydenham and surrounding area enjoyed a Mother’s Day breakfast courtesy of the Loughborough Firemen’s Association and volunteer fire fighters at South Frontenac Fire and Rescue’s Station 5 in Sydenham.

An annual fundraiser, the event included a silent auction with over $10,000 in goods donated by individuals and businesses from the community.

Kids took turns at the helm of one of the station’s large pumpers and diners enjoyed the music of Picket Fences who played a number of favorites for moms, including Merle Haggard’s “Mamma Tried” and “Waltz across Texas”.

Jerome Slater, President of the Loughborough Firemen’s Association, pointed out that all of the money raised from the event goes back into community projects like the revitalization of the point, and events like the annual Santa Claus parade that Station 5 has been hosting for the past 20 years. The brunch is also a way to thank moms and the community at large who do so much to support the fire department throughout the year.

 

Photos: Moms and their families enjoyed Mother’s Day at Station 5 in Sydenham

9404-l-r volunteer fire fighter Dan Nelson with Krystle Holton and her kids Victoria, Elizabeth and Mary-Jane

9411-l-r, Nick, Aydan and Aja Farley enjoy Mother’s breakfast courtesy of volunteer fire fighters Chris Holton and Kurtis Barber

 

 

 

 

Sustainability has a green connotation these days, but for the Land O'Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA) it also has to do with survival.

The 67-year-old association, which boasts 223 member businesses in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties and the Municipality of Tweed, has been able to maintain a $200,000 annual budget over the past several years thanks in part to its role as a delivery agent for a series of Rural Economic Development (RED) projects, most recently for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

The current two-year RED program that LOLTA is running is an accessible wilderness program, which provides a 40% rebate for marketing programs by member businesses that have invested in accessible infrastructure. In addition to providing benefits for members, the RED program provides $50,000 each year to the tourist association.

Ken Hook is the General Manager of LOLTA, and it is no coincidence that he was hired just after the Accessible Wilderness Program was confirmed last year because without the program his position could not be funded. “The writing is on the wall,” he reported to members of LOLTA at their Annual General Meeting at Rivendell Golf Club last Thursday, April 29. “There will be no replacement for the funding when it runs out in two years. We need to make changes.”

Hook's proposals include increasing membership fees, from $165 in 2010 to $185 in 2011 and $195 in 2012. The number of members in the association increased by over 50 last year and the goal is to increase it by 50 this year as well to bring in more money. Advertising costs in the popular tourism magazine and guides that LOLTA produces are also slated to go up.

The association is directly supported by Lennox and Addington County and member municipalities in Frontenac County, and Hook proposed that an increase in the funding they provide be sought.

In terms of cost cutting, a $5,000 decrease in the $20,000 office budget is planned.

If all the measures are implemented, LOLTA would see a $60,000 improvement in its bottom line by 2012 when the Accessible Wilderness funding runs out. “Hopefully, at that point we will no longer be dependent on having a government funding program on the go at all times,” Hook said.

Other highlights from the past year for LOLTA include the development of the first comprehensive paddling guide ever produced for the region, which will be available soon, and a wholesale rebuild of the Travellandolakes website.

Shaun Levy and Bryna Jones from Engine Communications of Belleville brought members a sneak peek of the new site, which will be going live later this month. The site has a new look, and is designed to make the information that is already included in the existing website easier to find. The website includes profiles of member businesses, tourist opportunities in the region, a calendar of events, and booking information.

The new site promises to greatly improve the online booking option, make the calendar of events more complete and dynamic by making it easy to identify events by the day, the week, category or location.

The site is designed to be accessible to blind people and has other accessibility features. It is also available, simply by clicking on one of the flags on a banner at the top, in over 50 languages.

Bryna Jones outlined how a blog feature and incorporating Facebook and Twitter will bring the Land O'Lakes into the brave new world of marketing through the use of social media.

An enhanced members’ section of the site will also enable members to take better advantage of the marketing potential of the web. 

 

Kevin Wenkoff with one of the signs

Since the revitalization campaign of the Bell Rock Community Hall Association (BCHA) began in August of last year a lot has changed in the community of Bellrock.

Included in that change are seven brand-new signs for the village and the community that will be erected by the end of the month.

The signs were acquired by the BCHA after they received a $9000 grant from the Local Initiative program, which is funded by the Eastern Ontario Development Program through the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC).

The seven signs were made by local artist Donna Larocque of Artemisia Gallery and Art Services. Two large welcome signs will be erected on the Bellrock Road at either end of the village, two will be located at the community hall and 3 signs will direct people to the hall.

The timing could not be better since this year the BCHA is celebrating its 60th anniversary and the community hall its 140th.

The community hall was built in 1870 as a one-room schoolhouse and closed in 1949. In 1950 the Bellrock community purchased it and began running it as a community hall. It now remains the last single public building in the community and in 2000 it was incorporated as not-for-profit community building.

Kevin Wenkoff, who moved to Bellrock with his wife Karen four years ago and who now chairs the BCHA, joined together with long-time members of the BCHA and spearheaded a revitalization campaign that invited new and old members to join forces in order to keep the hall open and running.

After a team completed a door-to-door community survey last summer it was agreed that the association should focus on signage promoting the natural and historic beauty of Bellrock.

Wenkoff is thrilled with the new signs. "The grant provided us with an immediate opportunity and we seized it,” he said.

According to Wenkoff the goal of the signs is three-fold. “We are hoping to raise awareness of the natural and historic beauty of Bellrock, especially the local and area gardens and also draw attention to the historic community hall and the various community events that are being held here." He added that the new signs will help make Bellrock a tourist destination and encourage people to settle in the community.

Since the BCHA's revitalization last summer new events at the hall have included yoga classes, a fall harvest potluck supper, ongoing Euchres and lunch held every other Thursday, an ongoing flea market, and a Valentine's Day dinner and dance. The events are an opportunity to generate funding for the hall and also to provide a chance for the community to come together.

The association has divided itself into various groups in charge of activities like fundraising, entertainment and others and Kevin admits that the group is still in much need of members and volunteers. He encourages others to get involved.

Upcoming at the hall on Saturday April 17 from 7-10pm is an evening of Celtic traditional and contemporary music and dancing with the Kingston Ceili Band. Joining the event are Steve and Julie Rainer of Bellrock who will be calling the sets and dances. All proceeds will go towards supporting the hall, which still requires a number of renovations. Tickets are $10 and are available at Local Family Farms, Toppers, Verona Hardware and Starke’s in Harrowsmith.

Anyone interested in joining the BHCA can contact Kevin Wenkoff at 613-545-5165. The hall is located at 6034 Leveque Road.