Wordless Wednesday - Scarecrow Invasion

In honour of Halloween this Saturday, I have done something spooky with the photos I took.

© 2009 Janet Iles

COG 83 - Play me your favorite instrument.

poster by fM

Musical Instruments

• Do you play a musical instrument or did one of your family members?
• What instrument do you play or did they play?
• If no one in the family played an instrument, what is your favorite instrument and what is your least favorite one?

Submissions are due November 1.

Include a brief description of your article.

Click here to go to the form.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Brass bands - how I love them

It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.

 --Johann Sebastian Bach

Well, Johann Sebastian Bach makes it sound like it is quite simple to play a musical instrument. Oh yes, you might make a sound but is it pleasing to the ear? To play an instrument well takes skill and practice. You also have to enjoy it too.

I took piano lessons for a few years. My brother and I took lessons with a woman who lived near our school. I must admit I was not one to practice a lot but I did learn to play. I progressed to grade eight but we didn't take exams or perform in recitals. In addition to our music books, I learned to play hymns from the hymnary. These days, if I am to sit down to the piano to play, it would be most likely a piece from one of our hymn books.

Other than my Iles relations, I do not know whether anyone on my mother's side of the family played a musical instrument. When I think of the Iles family, I primarily think of them playing brass instruments. Some played woodwinds, such as the saxaphone (not my favourite instrument) but it is always the brass instruments that I remember.

I enjoy very much listening to a brass band, especially when they play a good rousing march or a steering or thoughtful hymn. Perhaps, this comes from attending band concerts as a child or listening to band music records. I love the sound of the Salvation Army band.

My grandfather, William George Iles, played the cornet. He began playing it when he was fourteen years old. I don't know if he joined the Salvation Army after he had started to play or whether he learned the instrument after he joined the local corps in Birmingham. When he came to Canada, he re-organized the band in Owen Sound. Later, he played an active part in the development of the Owen Sound city band.Grandpa played until he was seventy-six years old

In an earlier posting, Genealogist's Parade, I talked about the various instruments played by my family. I never learned how to play a brass instrument. I don't know if I could at this stage in my life.

This posting was written for the 83rd Carnival of Genealogy. It will be hosted here at Janet the Researcher. I look forward to hearing about the musical instruments played in your family. To submit your submission click here.

© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Owen Sound signage Highway 6 & 10

© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Robinson Reunion 1960

© 2009 Janet Iles

Big Bruce - a Carnival of Postcards

Have you ever seen a beef cattle that stood 15 feet tall?

I have.

It now proudly stands in Chesley, Ontario but at one time he travelled around to fairs and other events.

This postcard shows Big Bruce. See how he towers above the other cattle?

I don't know in which year the postcard was made. The postcard was never mailed. There is nothing written on it.

Bruce County is the neighbouring county and it is known for its good quality beef. Big Bruce was constructed in 1976. To read more about Big Bruce and Bruce County beef. Click here.

This is posted for the Carnival of Postcards - quadrupeds
© 2009 Janet Iles

Why did I join our genealogical society? - Carnival of Genealogy

Genealogical societies -- do you belong to any? Yes, would be my answer.

In March, I wrote about the local branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society when I talked about the Ontario Genealogical Society. I am a member of the society as a whole and three branches: Bruce-Grey, York and Toronto.

I am also a member of the National Genealogical Society (based in the US).

The question posed for the 82nd Carnival of Genealogy is "Why do you belong to a society? "

To be a member of a branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, you must now be a member of the parent group.

Why did I pick the three branches listed above?

Bruce-Grey

• I live in the area so I can attend many of the meetings.
• I started speaking to the group before I was even a member.
• My Iles line came directly to Owen Sound when they came from England.
• I wanted to make connections with people in the area who are interested in genealogy. 
• When I began doing my own research, I wanted to learn from the more experienced members.
  
• The newsletter that is published in February, May, August and November includes interesting articles and news. 
• Monthly meetings (except December) have informative speakers.
• In the months of January, February and March, the meetings are held on Saturday afternoon.
  
• The Fall event, held on a Saturday during the day, has brought many outstanding speakers to our area.
• I have made many friends within the group. We have a great time at our meetings and when we go to the annual conference.

Toronto Branch
I have never attended a meeting of the Toronto Branch.

• When I first joined the branch included York Region.
• My great-grand mother Elizabeth Fields Robinson was born, according to family information,  in "Muddy York" 0n 6 December 1859.
• The newsletter is very interesting.

York Regional Branch
I have only attended one meeting.

• My Hemingway, Stiver, and even my Johnston family who eventually moved to the Manitoulin, lived in York County.
• The newsletter includes interesting and helpful information for my research.

Unfortunately, there is no Ontario Genealogical Society branch that focuses on the Manitoulin area. For a short time, I tried both Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury branches, but they didn't provide much  information on the area. I have to also take into consideration my budget.

Our local public library receives on deposit the Bruce-Grey Branch newsletters that the branch receives on exchanges, so I have easy access to the past five years if I wish to read the newsletters of other OGS branches. They also have the newsletters from provincial societies across Canada. One of the perks, when I was working full time in the library, was that I could read the newsletters of interest before I entered them into the collection.




© 2009 Janet Iles

German Pioneers' Day - the Tuesday after the Canadian Thanksgiving

 To mark German Pioneers' Day, the Markham Berczy Settlers Association will meet for its annual meeting at Bethesda Lutheran Church, in Unionville.

First, a small delegation will go to the Markham Civic Centre at 7 p.m (101 Town Centre Blvd.- Warden Avenue and Highway #7, Council Chambers) to celebrate German Pioneers Day at the Town of Markham Council Meeting

Lorne Smith will make a short presentation to Council recognizing the immense contribution the German pioneers made to the start of Markham and to the economic, cultural and social life of the community since their arrival. Lorne will introduce representatives of local German heritage organizations.

This will also be an excellent opportunity to visit the Bicentennial Plaque at the Civic Centre.

The meeting will follow at the Bethesda Lutheran Church. (8 p.m. start)

Annual meeting
Presentation by Bob Stiver about the restoration work of the Stiver Mill

Refreshments will be served.

You are welcome to attend if you are in the area and want to learn more about the Markham Berczy Settlers Association and the restoration plans for the Stiver Mill.
© 2009 Janet Iles

Time to Vote

It's time to vote. No you didn't miss a news item saying that there is an upcoming election.

It's time to vote for some of your favorite genealogy blogs. Last month, Family Tree Magazine, asked for nominations of your favorites. The staff went through all the nominations and created ten categories. Depending on the category it will determine how many you can vote for.

I was excited and honored to see this blog in the personal/family category and the Graveyard Rabbit of Grey  County, Ontario is in the cemetery category. There are many interesting and well done blogs, so making a choice is difficult.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

FootnoteMaven prepared a list of all the nominees with a link to the blogs. Thank you.

The May 2010 issue will proclaim the top 40 blogs. The voting will narrow it down to 80 and the editors will make the decision on which ones will be featured as the top 40. 

To vote go here.



© 2009 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Allan Gardens 1

© 2009 Janet Iles

Tombstone Tuesday - Catharine Walker Tackaberry (Necropolis Toronto, Ontario)

When walking through the Toronto Necropolis, Cemetery and Crematorium, I saw this most interesting monument.  

Catherine Walker Tackaberry
June 16 MDCCLI [1851]
December 7 MCMVIII [1908]

TACKABERRY

She was married and lived at 144 Park Road at the time of her death. [1] Her husband was Richard Tackaberry, a dry goods merchant. Robert's business in 1878 was Tackaberry, Joselin & Co. at 10 Colborne Street. They lived at 14 Maitland. [2] The company imported American dry goods. In 1901, Catherine was found with her husband, his cousin and a domestic in Ward 2 of Toronto.[3] Her date of birth matches that shown on the marker above.

Richard was born in Ireland and came to Canada in 1866. [3] They were married in Yorkville on 3 June 1874. He was the son of George and Mary Tackaberry. Catherine was the daughter of  Robert and Mary Walker. [4]

I didn't look at the other side to see if other names were inscribed.

[1] Catherine Walker Tackaberry Ontario death registration #005317 (8 December 1908); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca ; accessed 3 October 2009), citing microfilm MS 935, Reel 134, Archives of Ontario, Toronto
[2] Toronto directory for 1878, containing an alphabetical directory of the citizens, and a street directory, with classified business directory, and a miscellaneous directory; to which are added directories of Ben Lamond, Brockton, Don Mount, Leslieville, Parkdale, Seaton Village and Yorkville, p. 422; digital image, Toronto Public Library digital collections, (http://digitalcollections.torontopubliclibrary.ca accessed 4 October 2009)

[3] 1901 Census of Canada, York East, Toronto, Ward 2 p. 22

[4] Richard Tackaberry - Catherine Walker Ontario marriage registration #011797 (3 June 1874); digital image Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca ; accessed 3 October 2009), citing microfilm MS 932 Reel 15, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

© 2009 Janet Iles

10th Anniversary - National Institute for Genealogical Studies

While browsing through old emails and deleting those that need to be gone from my inbox, I discovered an email from 5 years ago - "National Institute: 5th anniversary" dated 4 October 2004 from Louise St. Denis. Wow! If it was 5 years on 2004, then now in 2009, it would be 10 years.

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies and the University of Toronto, PLC, celebrate their 5th anniversary!

On October 4th, 1999 the online course Methodology Part 1-Getting Started was offered for the first time.

I registered for that first course. I can't believe that it was  10 years ago that I took the first course towards receiving my Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies. When I took the first one, I hadn't really thought of retiring and doing genealogical research as a business. I only signed up for the first one but before it was completed, I had signed up for the first year of courses. It took me four years to complete the three years (40 courses).

All the courses were taken online. As part of the first class to take each of the early courses, we saw changes as improvements were made in the courses. I liked how we were able to get instant feedback on our exams. Immediately you knew your mark and what was the correct answers. The questions were true or false and multiple choice but they made you think and read the questions many times. Chat classes done via texting in a chat room provided contact with the instructor and other students. As technology has changed, so has the courses. Chats are entering the world of live voice chats. [Must get the problem with the headset resolved.] Except for several methodology courses, the assignments were done online. Some answers were public and could be read by classmates, and some were private because there was only one correct answer.

I completed my Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies Canadian records in October 2003. Two courses remain to be done to earn a PLCGS in English records. Perhaps, early next year, I will take those courses. As I took each course, I realized there is still so much to learn. This is one reason that I love genealogy.

The National Institute of Genealogical Studies is now affiliated with the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto.

Happy Anniversary to the Institute!


© 2009 Janet Iles