Local historians create a rich cultural fabric
All cultures are encased in their histories. And histories are like a woven fabric where timeline threads (the warps) are crossed by people, actions, and event threads (the wefts or woof ).
Together they offer an underlying solid and identifiable substance to the presence of peoples in an area and their cultural, social and economic impacts.
The recent passing of two remarkable local historians should impress upon us how vital local history and its keepers are for all of us.
Evelyn Mclean was a remarkable woman who led the campaign to save our now famous Mackenzie Hall and iconic Baby House in
Old Sandwich. Evelyn was a person who scarcely tolerated naysayers. For her “it can't be done” was unacceptable. She brought strength of purpose and vision to her efforts to preserve important historical structures in this area. Her presence will be missed. Another significant local historian who passed away recently was Bill Gay. A quiet, intelligent man with a sense that local history especially in
Essex County really mattered. Often entering Essex's historic old railway station Bill Gay was there to answer questions and softly guide you about.
And there are so many others in Windsor-essex County who, as much from interest as curiosity, share passions for preserving, recording and protecting the fabric of our collective presence. So while many others are still active perhaps it is time to recognize a few local historians who have contributed so much to our collective cultural knowledge. For example, Don and Cathy Wilson who have dedicated themselves to preserving and making more publicly available Windsor's most historic building the remarkable Baby House.
Walkerville's noted authors and historians, Chris Edwards and Elaine Weeks, constantly remind us in publications that there has been, and continues to be, a thriving Walkerville community in Windsor. There is Elise Harding-davis. She is a remarkable person who possesses a trove of emotion and knowledge pertaining to Black history in an area of Canada where Black history is so significant. And one impressive local historian is Harrow's knowledgeable communicator, Chris Carter. Ask Chris a question about almost anything from the roots of the iron works at Olinda to the location of the only remaining 1812 munitions magazine in Essex County and Chris can direct you. And as well to locations of several forts that many residents did not even know existed. Debra and Robert Honor of Amherstburg can pinpoint significant historical locations and events in that incredible town's long and fascinating history. Retired broadcaster and local author Herb Colling has recorded both some forgotten and some frightening local history especially the view from Windsor of Detroit's uprisings. And his account of old water mills is fascinating. Mark Mckinley has undertaken a remarkable task of developing the Comber Museum in the old Maplegrove school house along Highway #77 in Lakeshore.
This Museum is becoming a major regional educational centre for local history. And in the same area Robert (Bob) Mccracken of the Leamington-mersea Historical Society is the chap who constructed a real stage coach and the world's largest ironing board. And while in Leamington, when it comes to local history and its preservation, Scott Holland deserves recognition. And, the “car guy” Tomato Bill Sherk who seems to know more about antique autos than any other local writer and historian. And there are so many others. My favourite railroad historian Windsor's Bob Mitchell who has a capacity to remember almost every train that ever travelled the rails in Essex County. Or Windsor's remarkable scuba diver, author and historian of shipwrecks, Cris Kohl who can probably direct you to almost any Lake Erie shipwreck.
Shipwrecks are heritage artifacts and Cris and his wife Joan Forsberg have made major contributions to preserving this often tragic historical story of Lake Erie and other Great Lakes. Gary Wells who consistently develops accounts of long forgotten local historical events. Or Lt. Col. (Ret) Hardy Wheeler who so brilliantly preserves the history of a proud Essex and Kent Scottish regiment. Of course, there are also local first-rate historical authors Patrick Brode and Marty Gervais.
Finally, Windsor Star managing editor Craig Pearson's enormous achievement with publisher Biblioasis producing a two-volume series “From the Vault” capturing in photos and text so much of Windsor's rich history. But back to Evelyn Mclean: She was an impressive heritage planner and her achievements deserve recognition. And so many others like Bill Gay all warrant applause and a hearty thanks for recording and preserving our local history.