RTHS Bring & Brag
Article by Giulio Maffini
Photos by Giulio Maffini, Maureen McPhee, and Owen Cooke.
January, 2020.
This year’s Bring & Brag held at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Kars was splendid. There were nine presentations and exhibits of personal treasures and their stories. Each presentation was chockablock full interesting insights into the past. The stories told informed and entertained everyone. In this report, a sample.
Allan Haan presented a family heirloom: his Great Grandfather's German Pipe. The pipe was about 200 years old and made of different materials. Some of the parts are beautifully carved. Tassels were attached later adding even more to the distinct character of the pipe. Because of the ceremonial quality of the pipe Allan recalls that he was told it was reserved for use on Sunday’s.
Dennis Osmond brought a simple souvenir Brass Ashtray and unraveled the story behind its origin and the story. The cast brass ashtray depicted a triumphal gate in relief which turned out to be of the Menin Gate Memorial. The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown. The ashtray which was cast from the casings of shells fired during the battle is an example of Trench Art.
Owen Cooke gave a presentation focused on the story of the phrase Remember the Maine. The USS Maine was a United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor in 1898, contributing to the outbreak of the Spanish–American War. It was claimed in newspapers of the time that the ship had been sunk by the Spanish.. The phrase "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" became a rallying cry. Resent research suggest that the destruction of the ship was due to a boiler malfunction. This was a cautionary tale of how unfounded journalism reporting can impact public attitudes to war.
Melanie Hayes displayed the Moustache Cup design with a semicircular ledge inside to serve as a guard to keep a moustache dry was invented in the 1860’s by Harvey Adams. Adams patented the design and did very well as many famous Pottery houses replicated his design. 1The end of the era began in the 1930’s as the fashion of mustaches declined.
Janice Willis told a story and brought some Books & References from the original Carnegie Library. Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie offered $100,000 to the City of Ottawa to build the library if the City agreed to maintain it. The Library was built and opened in 1906 at the corner of Metcalfe Street and Laurier Avenue West. Janice recounted her memories of the going to the Library from her school on Kent St. Mrs. Jackson an artist neighbour also collected and kept children’s books for them to read. Janice brought some of these remainder books from her past to display. That Carnegie Library was replaced on the same spot by the Main Library in the 1950’s.
Dorothy Gray told the story and brought a precious family heirloom the WWI Silver Cross Medal awarded to Charles Cameron her grandfather who fought in WWII. Dorothy’s grandmother received the Silver Cross when he died. These medals were sent to the mothers and wives of Canadian soldiers who died on active duty or whose death was consequently attributed to such duty. Unlike most military medals the Silver crosses could be worn by the recipients anytime, even though they were not themselves veterans. Dorothy plans to pass the Silver Cross on to her third cousin who is now only 7 years old. Eventually he will have it as memorabilia of his great, great grandfather.
Susan McKellar presented an exhibit of Family Books & Photos which brought to life memories of her childhood. They included a signed volume of Burgess Bird Books for Children, Andersen’s Fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland and her father’s Farm Diary. The diary was full of entries providing insights into the daily and seasonal life cycle of an Ontario farm during the Second World War and up to 1949.
Giulio Maffini displayed the content and told the story of a 1703 Letter (317 Years ago and 137 years before the first postage stamp - the Penny Black was issued). Reading old letters brings back to life those who wrote them. In those days only private postal services were available and were paid with a Bishop’s Mark handstamp. This letter from Eli Harcourt (The Mother-in-law) to Mr. Ringer (Her Son–in-law) was addressed to the Golden Ball in London, on Wattling St on the corner of Friday St. Eli wrote to Mr. Ringer advising him that he was the father of a baby boy.
