Richmond Hill Historical Society
Preserving and sharing the history of Richmond Hill, Ontario since 1973
We are excited to welcome our own Cameron Telch to the next regular meeting of the Richmond Hill Historical Society. Cam will be presenting Breaking the Silences of the Archives: Humanizing the Shell Shock Experience of the Great War at 7:00 pm in the Event Room on the 3rd Floor of Central Library at 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Free to RHHS members, but we welcome anyone interested in this fascinating topic. There is a guest fee of $5.00.
As we continue to celebrate the Society’s 50th Anniversary, we are sharing articles from past issues of our membership magazine. In honour of our anniversary, we look back to the September/October 1998 issue of Heritage on the Hill and this article by Jim Monkman looking back at 25 years of the RHHS. Article edited by Janet Fayle and Doris Leno.
On October 18th 1973, at a meeting held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, The Richmond Hill Historical Society was founded. Its objective “To Preserve In Our Present Community An Awareness Of The Culture Of Our Forefathers ”
On January 18th 1974, at the first annual meeting, an election of officers installed Mrs. Donna Bales as President., Mrs. Dorothy Gummersall as 1st Vice President, Mr. John LeClaire as 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Janet Fayle as Secretary, and Mr. Brian Cowan as Treasurer.
The first project undertaken by the newly organized Society was the restoration of Burr House, saved from demolition at the insistence of Mrs. Patricia Hart, Chief Librarian and historian. In June of 1974 The Society urged the Town to acquire Burr House and advised that they were prepared to lease and restore it. The Town was receptive to the Society’s proposal. While the legal technicalities and paper work were in progress restoration work was begun.
In February 1975 The Society was incorporated as “The Richmond Hill Historical Society” and also was designated as a Charitable Organization for tax purposes. In May 1975 the Society entered into a lease agreement with the Town for a period of five years. The terms of the lease required the Society to pay an annual rental fee of $1.00 per year; to restore the said house, at its own expense to a structurally habitable condition before the sixteenth day of May 1976; and to carry out a restoration program of the house, with furnishings appropriate to the period when it was constructed, as funds become available to the Lessee.
By May of 1976 when Richmond Hill established a “Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC)” the task of restoring Burr House was well underway.
The Society applied for and obtained a Wintario Grant. With the assistance of the Hill Potters Guild, the Burr House Spinners & Weavers, and helped by annual financial grants from the Town, Burr House was soon made structurally habitable. Occupancy of the premises was then shared by the Hill Potters, the Spinners & Weavers, and the Society.
By 1978 the Town had acquired the Church of the Evangelical Association in North America, now known as the Guild Hall, but at that time located at the comer of Bathurst Street and Carrville Road. In July of 1978 the Society entered into an agreement with the Town to lease it under terms similar to the Burr House lease. With the assistance of the two Guilds they proceeded to relocate the building to Woods Park and to restore the building. Restoration work on Bun- House was temporally suspended and all efforts were directed to completing the Guild Hall so that the Guilds could vacate Burr House.
To obtain a Wintario Grant for the restoration of Guild Hall, the Society pledged financial funding to the project in the amount of nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-four dollars and the Potters pledged one thousand five hundred dollars. It is interesting to note that although only fifteen hundred and forty dollars worth of donated labour was pledged four thousand eight hundred and eighty-five dollars worth of labour was donated by the three groups.
The Guilds potted, spun and wove and as fundraising endeavors conducted craft classes. The Society promoted fund raising projects – Quilt Raffles, Stuff & Such Yard Sales, selling souvenir plates, post cards, hastinotes and ink and water colour drawings of Burr House at Mall displays and at the Richmond Hill Fair. Tea and scones were served regularly at Burr House and classes were offered in such crafts as chair caning, and quilting. Revenue from all fund raising projects was dedicated to the restorations as required by the terms of the Wintario Grants. The Society’s operating expenditures were limited to rental of meeting space at the Richmond Hill Library, an occasional speaker’s honorarium, and publication of a one page newsletter. When the Guild Hall was completed the Potters and Spinners & Weavers moved. At long last Burr House was vacant, restoration work was immediately resumed. It was a formidable task and took many hours of labour in dusty dirty surroundings.
During the restoration of Burr House the Society sponsored Archeological digs in the yard and under the floor of the Kitchen. “Dig” sessions for students were arranged and over 500 students participated.. Many artifacts were recovered and were added to the Society’s growing collection of histone items which had been donated by local residents. As there was no available storage space Society member’s stored the collection in their homes.
When restoration work was completed and the terms of the Wintario Grants satisfied, fund raising was continued and the money raised used to rent space in the new McConaghy Centre. The artifacts were inventoried, cleaned and placed on shelves and tables which had been donated for this purpose. The rental charge for this facility was $2000.00 per year and when we could no longer afford to pay this amount the Town provided a smaller storage space without charge. When the Heritage Centre opened the entire collection was donated to the Town.
In 1982, while restoration work was still in progress, the Society opened a craft shop and tea room in Burr House. The Shop was very successful and in 1985 the Potters and Spinners & Weavers entered into a partnership with the Society and the Craft Shop became The Burr House Craft Gallery and Tea Room, Much has been accomplished since that first meeting in October 1973. As well as restoring two houses and operating a craft shop, the Society published a book that is now in its second printing. Lectured on local history in schools, taped some oral history, expanded the one page newsletter into a media in which members and non-members can publish their memories of old Richmond Hill. We have participated in many projects and unforgettable fund raising and social events. Strawberry Socials, Christmas Parties held in members homes, Picnics at such far away places as the Museum at Midhurst, Stuff and Such Sales on the lawn at Burr House, a Fall Festival complete with costumes and cider making. Our float in the Christmas Parade; Founders Day Service in the cemetery; and Quilt Raffles! Remember what happened the year the prize quilt was stored in a green garbage bag?
Society members should be proud of these accomplishments and celebrate the 25th anniversary of our founding with glee.
Postscript
I regret that in this brief backward glance I was unable to include all of the events and accomplishments of our Society or to mention the names of the many many members who so freely gave of their time and talents to make things happen. Perhaps we should begin our next quarter century by compiling a history of our past. – Jim Monkman
Richmond Hill Historical Society 