I spoke to an enthusiastic bilingual crowd at the Cumberland Township Historical Society http://www.cths.ca/ on March 2, 2011. The meeting was held in the Police Station on St. Joseph’s Blvd and 10th Line Road in Orleans. My friend, Martin Connolly helped me set up and laughed doing ‘crowd control’ as I autographed books. I’m happy to report that book sales were brisk again and it looks as if a second printing will be sooner than later.
I learned about John Darby Ferguson who was an evangelist with the Plymouth Brethren and regularly visited one-room schoolhouses (S.S. No. 5, 6 & 10 Cumberland) to preach. He would often walk from his home “Chestnut Cottage” in Cumberland Village. His granddaughter is Jeannie Smith who has produced the “Caboose” newsletter for many years. I met Verna Cotton who had attended S.S. No. 8 Cumberland (Leonard School). I was also pleased to reconnect with Allan (S.S. No. 10 Cumberland) and Ethel Findlay (S.S. No. 9 Cumberland) who are featured on pages 170 and 172 of my book. It was wonderful conversing with members of the Cumberland Township Historical Society in both French and English and meeting some young people that are interested in local history.
I learned about John Darby Ferguson who was an evangelist with the Plymouth Brethren and regularly visited one-room schoolhouses (S.S. No. 5, 6 & 10 Cumberland) to preach. He would often walk from his home “Chestnut Cottage” in Cumberland Village. His granddaughter is Jeannie Smith who has produced the “Caboose” newsletter for many years. I met Verna Cotton who had attended S.S. No. 8 Cumberland (Leonard School). I was also pleased to reconnect with Allan (S.S. No. 10 Cumberland) and Ethel Findlay (S.S. No. 9 Cumberland) who are featured on pages 170 and 172 of my book. It was wonderful conversing with members of the Cumberland Township Historical Society in both French and English and meeting some young people that are interested in local history.
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