2010 Grey County Heritage Certificate Recognition to Knox Normanby Presbyterian Church

This year, the Grey County Historical Society awarded two Heritage Certificates of Recognition. The first went to Jim Brunow and the second went to Knox Normanby Presbyterian Church for their church and community history book.
Janet Iles presents the representatives of Knox Normanby Church: Norman Marshall, Edythe Dixon, Fay Harrison and Marydale Scales.

Knox Normanby Presbyterian Church is a small country church that claims to be in the middle of nowhere, as there is no village, no hamlet, just an early settlement that recognized the need for a church in their community. Located in the former Normanby Township, it is now part of the Municipality of West Grey and it can be found south of Varney and 1 1/2 miles west of Highway #6 on Maplewood Road.

In 2009, Knox Normanby Presbyterian Church would celebrate 150 years of Christian witness in that rural community and 125 years since the construction of the current building. To recognize such a significant anniversary, the congregation decided to produce a history book that would be more than just a Church history. Norman Marshall, Edythe Dixon, Marydale Scales and Fay Harrison initiated the idea, spearheading the committee and the Knox families who worked on the book.

The committee’s goal was to record the vibrant rural community where the church was centre. Many families are long time residents, representing four, five, six and even seven generations. The book includes stories that had been passed down from generation to generation, along with family photographs and records of the daily life and customs of the community.

On the June 27, 2009 weekend, the book Recollection, Anecdotes and Newsworthy Tales was launched. The congregation reunited with many former members of the community who had returned to Normanby to celebrate and acknowledge the impact that Knox Normanby had made in their lives. A Saturday evening banquet was served. At the 11 a.m. Sunday morning service they had an overflow crowd, which required many to listen to the service on loud speakers in the large outdoor tent. After the service, friends visited with one another over lunch.

The book is exceptionally well done and filled with photographs of church and community activities and information about each family—past and present. The book’s format has been nicely arranged into different sections: church history, family history—organized under each family‘s name so there is easy access to their information and their memories of Knox Normanby and community history.

Only 150 copies were published but the books have found their way to most provinces of Canada and into the United States.

Some Church History
In the 1850s, pioneers came to this area. Some of the early settling families were Greer, McCalmon, McGowan, McIlvride, and McNeice. It is believed that the people met for worship in either homes or in the school house until a church building was erected.

On October 23, 1861, Rev. Patrick Greig was inducted into the pastoral charge consisting of Hampden, East Normanby now Orchardville, and Middle Station, now Knox Normanby Presbyterian Church. Shortly after Rev. Greig’s arrival, a stone church was built at Middle Station, where the congregation worshipped for about 15 years.

In 1884, the present brick building was built at a cost of $1200.00 on donated land on the south east lot of John Marshall’s farm. A brick yard west of Durham manufactured the brick used.

From 1878 to 1958, Knox Normanby was associated with Amos and Dromore. Since 1958, Knox Normanby Church has been a pastoral charge with Amos Dromore and Knox Holstein.

In the early years, a precentor led the singing of the old psalms and paraphrases. For many years, Robert Watson served in this capacity and he was followed by his son James. The congregation stood for prayer and remained seated for the singing.

The majority of the members of Knox Normanby was against union with the Methodists and Congregationalists in 1925. Those who supported Union joined either the United Church at Varney or Durham.

Some Community History
Area women belonged to the Victory Women’s Institute, organized in 1941. During the war, they supported the young men who served by sending a parcel each month.

Area children attended area public schools: SS#1, SS#14, and USS#1 Varney. After passing their entrance exam, the young people went to Durham for high school.

The book includes the childhood memories of Archie Shaw Watson (1884-1965). He recalled his school days and some of the lessons learned from his teachers. He vividly describes his first paying job, “lighting the school fire” in winter. He earned $1.00 a month.

Congratulations to everyone who had a part in seeing this project completed. The GCHS is pleased to recognize your notable Grey County historical accomplishment.

Information is from the brochure prepared for the evening. The presentation photograph taken by Peter Chepil.

2010 Grey County Heritage Certificate of Recognition to Jim Brunow

The Society decided to honour two of the nominees for the Heritage Certificate of Recognition this year.

The first was Jim Brunow, who unfortunately was unable to attend. His wife, Sue Lavigne accepted the award on his behalf.

Sue Lavigne receiving the framed certificate from Janet Iles.

Jim Brunow restored two heritage homes in St. Vincent Township, Grey County, Ontario.

The first is known as Riverside Farm on the E 1/2 Lot 12, Concession 8, St. Vincent on Side Road 13, Meaford.



. The Crown granted Lot 12, Concession 8, St. Vincent Township, consisting of 200 acres, to Donald Cameron on May 29, 1843. In 1845, Cameron sold the 200 acres to Robert Bell for 75 pounds. In 1870 Eleanor Bell, presumably the wife of Robert Bell, sold the property to Walter Bell “and others”.

That year, the 200 acres of land was divided equally among the family passing from Walter “and others” to Robert Bell, Margaret G. Bell, Annie C. Bell and Mary Elizabeth Bell who had married William Clark. On November 4, 1891, Annie C. Bell and Margaret G. Bell sold their two 50 acre parcels (E 1/2 100 Acres) to William Cramp. William and his bride, Mary Ann Moon, lived in a tent on the property until he could construct their first frame home. The frame home became the back portion of the later yellow brick Ontario Gothic style house. He also built the large barn, which still stands on the property.

In 1926, when his parents retired to Meaford, William John Cramp and his wife, Ada Shields took over the farm. William had named his property “Riverside Farm” as the Bighead River bisected the 100 acres . For years, the bridge over the river was referred to as the Cramp Bridge and when the iron bridge with boards was replaced with the cement bridge in the late fifties, the name became official.

In 1969, the Cramps sold their farm to a person from Toronto. He rented the house and land for the next 23 years; it passed through a number of hands. The buildings were sadly neglected. When Jim Brunow discovered the property, the frame portion had deteriorated badly and was a candidate for demolition.

Jim Brunow purchased the farm and under his skillful supervision began the restoration of the house. Most of the flooring and much of the woodwork could be saved. Since the brick house had a gothic peak, Jim removed the square dormer on the early frame house and replaced it with a matching gothic peak; installing new Gothic windows and other windows. The yellow brick was cleaned, the roof replaced with cedar singles. Finials were added to the apexes of the gables. New lacey bargeboard, sometimes referred to as gingerbread, was added to the steep gables and roof lines, and accentuated with decorative Gothic drops.

A wrap-around veranda was added including the delicate treillage and Gothic drops. The decorative posts were set on plinths. The earlier section was covered with board-and-batten. The new owners have since extended the living space of the home and the whole house is now decorated in a soft yellow with white trim. From the bridge the home now resembles a Picturesque Gothic Revival style and peaks over the tree tops. It can be viewed from the Cramp Bridge on Side Road 13 off County Road 12, Meaford.

The original barn received extensive repairs and was given a new steel roof.

As part of the Bighead River Enhancement Project, the river corridor was reforested and a steep clay bank was stabilized with a layer of protective rock, ground cover and cedar seedlings. The land has been brought back into productive use and is beautifully planted, treed, and landscaped.


The second restoration project was the James Storey home at Scotch Mountain, Lot 5, Concession 9, St. Vincent Township.
When James Storey (1809-1889) arrived in Upper Canada from Roxburghshire, Scotland, he settled in Lanark County in the mid-1830s. The stoney land of Lanark was unsuitable for farming. The inhabitants faced starvation. The British Government cancelled the debts of the Lanark settlers and offered them 200 acres of free land in St. Vincent Township. In 1836, James Storey, along with other Scottish settlers moved to the southern edge of the Big Head Valley where a rise in the Niagara Escarpment was given the name Scotch Mountain.

He received the Patent for Lot 5, Concession 9 on December 16, 1839; that year, he married Esther Free (1821-1896). The couple raised six children: Ann, William, Henry, Esther, Mary Jane and Fanny.

When James died in 1889, he willed the north half of his property to his son, William and the south half to his son, Henry. The acreage continued in the Storey family until the mid-1960s.

Today James Storey's totally restored house sits on a most beautiful 100 acres with views in all directions over rolling and manicured countryside. In the distance is Georgian Bay.

The beautifully crafted fieldstone and limestone house was built around 1860 in what is sometimes referred to as, “Wilderness Georgian” because of its center hall plan. The formal door is termed an “Ontario Door” featuring a rectangular transom and sidelights designed to let light into the entryway. Dentils add a touch of simple elegance under the eves.

Once again the house had been left to deteriorate and was in very poor state of repair when Jim Brunow came along to save it in the early 1990s. He began his restoration work with the foundation, replacing the roof and chiseling and re-pointing all the stonework.

The interior of the house was gutted. Exterior walls were framed and insulated to code. The only parts of the home that were salvageable were the stone wall, the two-inch thick pine floors, interior framing, the handsome staircase and some of the fixtures.

The original oversized trim of the house was reproduced, ornamental interior cornices and moldings were added, decorative and antique plumbing and electrical fixtures and hardware were sourced from architectural supply houses and antique sales across Ontario.

The kitchen emulates, as close as possible, what a kitchen would have been like in the late 1800s or early 1900s with a stone floor, an antique corner cupboard, antique flat-to-the-wall cupboards, a working Enterprise wood cook-stove and original gas light fixtures converted to electricity. A huge handsome center island was designed and built by a very fine craftsman and provides preparation space along with a harvest table in the spacious kitchen.

A board-and-batten sunroom extension was added off the kitchen that provided views to the gardens and lawns on three sides of the house and enhances this exceptional restoration.

Congratulations, Jim and thank you for preserving a part of Grey County's history.

photo of presentation courtesy of Peter Chepil; other photos supplied by Jim Brunow; information from brochure distributed the evening of the presentation

June 2010 meeting at Coffin Ridge

Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at Annan - Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery [Note change in day of week]

Enjoy a tour, wine tasting and vintner's plate at Grey County's Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery. Historian and author Andrew Armitage will thrill you with the legends of Coffin Hill and a colourful account of early breweries in Grey County.

Please Note: This event is open to the public but limited to 75 people. You must register with the coordinator and order your vintner's plate by June 10. Vintner's plates include local bread, artisanal cheese and seasonal fruit. They are $18 and serve 2.

Directions: from Owen Sound, take highway 26 east towards Meaford. Turn left on 2nd Concession North. Drive almost 8 km and the winery will be on your left.

Contact Coordinator: Aly Boltman 519-371-3222 - reserve your spot with Aly.

43rd Annual Dinner - Farming and Food

Do you know where your food comes from? Our ancestors did in the early years in this country. Grey County is still mainly rural with small villages, towns and the city of Owen Sound, the largest, at 22,000 residents, spread out through the County.


Farming and Food: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow was the theme of the 43rd Annual Dinner of the Grey County Historical Society that was held in the Village of Walter’s Falls on April 19. President Rodney Saunders gave a brief synopsis of the influx of pioneers flowing into the Queen’s Bush and establishing early dwellings and plantings between the stumps of the great forest saying, “This was the beginning of agriculture in Grey County.” He then introduced the panel of Carl Spencer, Freeman Boyd, Shane Ardiel, and Bruce Saunders who addressed their field of farming and food specialty while responding to various questions from the floor. Attendees will likely check the packaging more closely when shopping to see where the food was grown and perhaps ask questions if not labelled.

Aly Boltman provided a colorful, illustrated presentation of the Society’s accomplishments over the past year and an introduction of the up-and-coming monthly programs planned for the coming season. She also organized a Silent Auction fund-raiser, which generously fed the GCHS’s coffers by the end of the evening.

A highlight of the evening was the presentations of the GCHS’s Heritage Certificate of Recognition, which acknowledges individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to Grey County Heritage. This year the Society presented two awards: Jim Brunow of Meaford, who was honored for his outstanding restorations of two heritage homes in early St. Vincent Township, and the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Normanby Church, who were recognized for their superb book, Recollections, Anecdotes and Newsworthy Tales, recording the history of their church, community and its families.

Over 100 members and guests enjoyed a delicious Grey County Roast Beef Dinner provided by Milena Wells and her Walter’s Falls Committee.


- from notes by Paula Niall

Grey County Historical Society now on Facebook

Last February, we started the blog and created a website. Yesterday, we debuted on Facebook with our own page. If you are on Facebook and want to keep up with what is happening with the Society, this is another way for you to do so. Here is the page.

Click Like and you will receive the updates from the Page right on your own wall.

If you are not on Facebook, this terminology will seem foreign to you.

Our blog is also available through Networkedblogs on Facebook.

Grey Roots Regional Heritage Fair

You hear people lament that young people aren't interested in history and their family history. On Thursday, April 29, Grey Roots hosted their 4th heritage fair. About 60 young people demonstrated that they were indeed interested in the history of Canada and their local area. Some of the projects had connections to their own family. Twenty adjudicators volunteered their time to review and talk to the young people about their work.
The Grey County Historical Society was pleased to be one of the sponsors of this year's event by providing a donation. Three members of the Society were also adjudicators: incoming director, Pam Woolner and directors, Aly Boltman and Janet Iles.

The topics were varied. Some were presented in French. Students from grade four to eight, who had participated in a heritage fair at their school, were chosen to come to participate in this fair.
To see photos of this day, see the posting from the Ontario Heritage Fairs Association website.

The young people participated in several activities when they were not being interviewed about their projects. The adjudicators met to decide on who would receive the various awards before all gathered in the Grey Roots Theatre for the presentations.

Janet Iles presented the prize to the winner of the Grey County Historical Society Award. The project was on Meaford's Longest Serving Police Chief.


Thank you
to the staff at Grey Roots for their work to orchestrate a wonderful day,
to the adjudicators who volunteered their time,
to the teachers, parents, and grandparents that encouraged and permitted the young people to be involved in this event
and of above all, to the young people for your interest, enthusiasm and hard work to research your topic, prepare your displays and to answer the questions of the adjudicators.

It would be wonderful if more schools would participate in this event. Regional heritage fairs are held across Canada.

43rd Annual Dinner

Do you have your ticket for this year's Annual Dinner in Walter's Falls?

Farming & Food" : Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow is the theme of the panel discussion. Many settlers came to Grey County because of the land. Our panelists will discuss the different types of agricultural practised in our county, past and present. Do you know where your food comes from?

The President will present the 2nd Annual Heritage Certificates of Recognition.

Walter's Falls Community Centre
5 to 6 p.m. Silent Auction
6 p.m. Dinner
Presentation of Certificates
7:30 p.m. Panel discussion

Tickets $22.00 must be purchased in advance (by May 10)
If you wish a vegetarian entree instead of the roast beef, it must be requested when you purchase your tickets.

For more information contact 519-372-0225 OR info AT greycountyhs DOT ca

We look forward to seeing you. You do not have to be a member to attend this evening.

April Meeting - Recap

The first stop for members of the Grey County Historical Society in April was a the 1896 Solomon Hill House now known as Holly Hill Manor.

Solomon Hill built the Queen Anne style home in the late 1890s. Special features of the home are arched windows, stand glass, wood trims and an octangular tower. An outside elevator was used to take coal to the summer kitchen in the basement.

The living room fireplace has been restored. The woods have never been painted. The main level floor woods are of oak and those upstairs are of pine.

Solomon Hill was the son of George William Hill and Dorcas Richards who came from Devonshire, England to Canada. In 1874, Solomon married Sarah Ellen Smith of Trenton.

Solomon Hill and his brothers William, Silas, John and Thomas built the Hill Brothers General Store.

Solomon and Sarah Hill had eight children.

The Hill House has had five owners. For part of its history, it was a funeral home under the ownership of Bert and Jean Hamilton who lived there from 1964-1987.

It is now a bed and breakfast.

At Cooke's Church Hall, the following were nominated and were acclaimed as members of the Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2010:
President: Janet Iles
Past President: Rod Saunders
Vice-President: Susan Schank
Secretary: Bonna Rouse
Treasurer: Michael Kirby
Carol Black, Lynda Chiotti, Tom Cole, Doug Henry, Sarah Redmond and Pam Woolner.

Our guest speaker was Ruth Cathcart, author of How Firm a Foundation: Historic Houses of Grey County and The Architecture of a Provincial Society: Houses of Bruce County, Ontario 1850-1900. She gave an illustrated talk about the architecture of Grey and Bruce counties. She explained the different architectural styles that can be found in both counties as she showed samples of the beautiful homes during her slide show. Some styles that can found are: Ontario Gothic, Regency Gothic, Wilderness Georgian, High Victorian and Queen Anne.