Learning From The Past - Hometown Charity

 

Photos by Suzanne Currie

A PREAMBLE TO TODAY’S POST

IT’S NOT JUST AT CHRISTMAS THAT WE SHOULD BE CHARITABLE AND CARING OF OUR PARTNER CITIZENS

BY TED CURRIE

     I felt in incumbent upon me, a rather politically staunch, stuffy antiquarian, and uninvited advocate for the less vocal amongst us (who don’t wish to rock the boat with adversarial comments), to explain to a candidate for Gravenhurst Town Council, that it is important to appreciate that voters in the municipality are not confined to the status of “property owner.” It was during a conversation about the wants and needs of the electorate, but our conservation was totally one-sided, and that of course we needed to be clear about the rights and privileges of those who have invested in our community; whether as home, cottage, condo or business owners, and those who are amongst the biggest tax contributors to the municipal pot. I listened to the one side point of view until it became necessary to intervene. Everything that was being identified as a voter characteristic, had something to do with investments made in town, particularly in the way of real estate. But as we were talking, at the time, about winning elections, I had to point out to the candidate that a large percentage of the population of our community were not property owners, but rather, renters, It’s not a case this wasn’t understood, but it was the case it wasn’t taken seriously; meaning to me at that moment, that renters without a vested interest in the town, were most likely not going to vote in a municipal election. Now that may be true, and I did not know the percentage breakdown. What bothered me, as it still does, is that renters don’t seem to connect with elected officials the way they should, considering that they do represent thousands of votes that could be attracted to a particular candidate; if for example there was a candidate who really did care about their interests in community assets, especially recreation and social services. Point is, I finished talking with the candidate feeling that I had the very least represented a neglected truism of our town and district; and I suppose the whole darn country. Renters need more input into the operation of local government, because they do make up a huge portion of the tax hauled in by the revenuers at town hall. They pay big rents to landlords who then pay the tax bills. With the huge increases in rents being asked for in this region, we trust town hall will see a lot more money being invested in rental properties, and with of course the ridiculous prices being asked for local real estate, well, there’s even more money coming into the town coffers. Renters have rights in this municipality. They deserve respect. As well, many of the pivotal employees in local business operations are renters, and if we lose these people due to cost of living and accommodation reasons, boy oh boy is the local economy in for a rough ride in the next two years. And yes, it’s coming back to “boarding house” realities again, don’t kid yourself, and in our town right now, there are quite a few undeclared such residences; which is a way to cope with the high prices for housing and the average to low wages being earned. I used to live in a Toronto boarding house while at university, and it was great; and so was the home made grub.

     As a footnote to the above, my parents, Merle and Ed, never in their long lives together, ever owned their own property. From their marriage in the late 40’s until their last apartment residence in Bracebridge, they were happiest to be in a community of renters, and for a good chunk of that, I was still living with them, and enjoying those fine folks who also shared the Weber Apartments up on Bracebridge’s Alice Street. And they never felt part of the municipality either, and they didn’t believe they had any right to vote in municipal elections. They were ones who didn’t want to rock the boat by getting all political and well, demanding. How did they ever get an activist son like me?

     This is a particularly tough time in the world with the still-raging pandemic and its offshoots, and it is terribly difficult on the micro-scale, here at home, where home economies are taxed to the max, and the efforts of the kind folks who help keep the shelves of the Salvation Army Food Bank loaded, with so many charitable groups and citizens contributing; and all the other benevolent groups that work tirelessly here to help the less fortunate who can’t, because of the confluence of domestic and employment inefficiencies, can’t seem to improve their financial situations; and God Bless the kindness of citizens and organizers, who continue to devote thousands of hours each year to help our friends and neighbors stabilize against adversarial situations; cover and its detractions being part of the stresses of this present tense. As Charles Dickens point out in his story, “A Christmas Carol,” it is at Christmas when want and need is so profoundly felt. This Christmas will be a case in point, as many individuals and families, of all ages and all circumstances, will face “the festive season” with little to be joyous about. Many have experienced hard and unforgiving circumstances in their lives, abuse, housing interruptions, couch surfing as alternatives, all at a time when many of us are faring much better, and have actually recovered well financially, to the past two years cover pandemic restrictions and closures. So many have lost their jobs, or simply can’t return to work because of family obligations. There are a growing number of citizens who need help, who simply won’t ask for assistance because they don’t feel entitled, or are embarrassed that they can not provide adequately for themselves or family members. It is a festive time and a time of sadness in the same small town neighborhoods. We are all citizens with rights in this municipality, this district, province and country, and we should all feel comfortable asking for help when it is most needed, and deserved.

     Have a Merry Christmas season. If you can make a donation, big or small, to a local charity in your community, please do so, and help ease some of the suffering that is going on right now; long before Santa’s ride commences.

 

LEARNING FROM THE PAST - WHERE DID OUR HOMETOWN CHARITY COME FROM?

SHARING THE GOOD HARVEST BETWEEN NEIGHBORS

     THERE'S AN EARLY MUSOKA FOLK STORY ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF A LARGE MOOSE OUT OF SEASON, ACCORDING TO WILD GAME REGULATIONS, OF THE TIME, AND IT DETAILS HOW MANY PEOPLE BENEFITTED FROM THE OFFENSE. ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD A SUBSTANTIAL ROAST, FROM THE HUNT, WAS A WELL KNOWN PREACHER, AND SEVERAL LOCAL FOLKS WHO KNEW IT HAD BEEN ILL-GOTTEN. IT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST OF THE CREATURES, EVER SEEN IN THE MUSKOKA WOODS. MANY MEALS WERE ENJOYED FROM THAT ILLEGAL BUT HAPPENSTANCE MOOSE HUNT. THE ONLY REDEEMING ASPECT OF THE STORY, BECAUSE I'M CERTAINLY NOT CONDONING HUNTING OUT OF SEASON, IS THAT SO MANY OTHERS BENEFITTED WHO NEEDED IT. THE SHARING OF BOUNTY AMONGST EARLY HOMESTEADERS WAS REGULARLY PRACTICED, WHETHER IT WAS A QUANTITY OF FISH TO SHARE, MEAT FROM GAME OR THE KILL OF LIVESTOCK, OR JUST THE HARVEST FROM THE FIELDS AND THE PRESERVES, MADE IN THE HOMESTEAD KITCHEN. IN SOME WAYS, IT WAS EASIER THEN, TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO WERE DISADVANTAGED AND SUFFERING FROM LACK OF PROVISIONS. MUSKOKA WAS A SHARING PLACE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. WE STILL ARE. BUT IT'S A LOT EASIER TO BE INVISIBLE IF THIS IS WHAT A RESIDENT CHOOSES. THIS WAS A PROBLEM SUZANNE AND I SAW UP CLOSE, YET STILL MISSED BY A COUNTRY MILE. WE HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE WERE TOO BUSY WITH OUR OWN PROBLEMS AT THE TIME, TO PAY ATTENTION TO ANY ONE ELSE. I HATE RETROSPECTIVES LIKE THIS. WE KNOW ALL ABOUT PIONEER CHARITY, AS HISTORIANS, BUT WE MISSED ALL THE SIGNS OF NEED..... SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR THEM.

     I KNEW A DEAR, SOULFUL ELDERLY WOMAN, QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, WHO BELONGED TO ONE OF MUSKOKA'S WELL KNOWN RESORT FAMILIES, THAT DATED WELL BACK INTO THE TOURISM HISTORY OF OUR LAKELAND COMMUNITY. THEY OWNED A LARGE TOURIST RESORT ON LAKE ROSSEAU, WHERE STEAMSHIPS STOPPED REGULARLY WITH CITY GUESTS AND SUPPLIES....IN ITS MULIT-DECADE HEYDAY. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN LOCAL HISTORIES, AND IS A NAME THAT HAS SURVIVED TO THE PRESENT, OUT OF HIGH REGARD FOR THE FAMILY THAT OPERATED IT. I WON'T GIVE HER NAME, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS NOW DECEASED, BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE MAD AT ME IF I DID.....AND I'M PRETTY SURE SHE COULD GIVE ME A WHACK ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD, REACHING DOWN FROM THE GREAT BEYOND TO DO SO! SHE AND I HAD MANY HISTORY-CHATS, WHEN WE HAD OUR PREVIOUS ANTIQUE SHOP IN BRACEBRIDGE. SHE PROVIDED ME WITH HISTORICAL INFORMATION THAT NO OTHER AUTHOR HAS UNCOVERED, ABOUT THOSE EARLY RESORT YEARS, AND THE NEIGHBORLINESS OF PROPRIETORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES, WHERE THEY LIVED AND WORKED. SHE WOULDN'T LET ME TAKE NOTES. WHAT SHE WANTED ME TO DO WAS SIMPLE. PAY ATTENTION. ASK QUESTIONS, BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IT WAS KEPT CASUAL, AS SHE HAD BEEN MISQUOTED BY OTHER HISTORIANS, WHO I WON'T MENTION; FEELING DISPLEASED WITH HOW HER COMMENTS WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. IF SHE SUSPECTED I WAS WRITING SOMETHING, BELOW THE COUNTER, SHE WOULD STOP AND LOOK OVER THE EDGE, WHERE I HAD A LITTLE SHELF, PERFECT FOR CONCEALING A NOTEPAD. SHE WAS ELDERLY, AND WHAT I WAS BEING TOLD, COULD HAVE MADE THE GUTS OF A GOOD BOOK ABOUT RUNNING A MUSKOKA RESORT IN THE LATE 1800'S. BUT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR THESE STORIES, THAT I DECIDED TO MAKE NOTES FOR MY OWN GOOD, AFTER SHE HAD LEFT THE SHOP. THEN, SOMEHOW I LOST THEM, IN THE MOVE WE MADE BACK TO GRAVENHURST. BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT RESORT HISTORY IN PARTICULAR. IT'S WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR REGION VIA MODERNIZATION AND PROGRESS. MOSTLY, THE DE-CENTRALIZATION OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AS SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT, IN THE SO CALLED, GOOD-OLD-DAYS.

     FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS, WE'D ENGAGE IN THIS CASUAL COUNTER-TALK, ABOUT MUSKOKA HISTORY, AND HER FAMILY CHRONICLE. SHE KNEW MY WORK IN THE FIELD OF LOCAL HISTORY, AND SHE WOULD OFTEN COME IN TO MAKE COMMENT, ON THAT WEEK'S "MUSKOKA SKETCHES" COLUMN, I USED TO WRITE FOR THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, "THE MUSKOKA ADVANCE." I LIKED TO TALK WITH HER, AND SHE WAS ALSO VERY CONTEMPORARY, AND COULD DISCUSS CURRENT EVENTS, POLITICS AND PROBLEMS OF THE ECONOMY. TOWARD THE END OF OUR IN-STORE RELATIONSHIP, SHE WAS STARTING TO DRIFT IN CONVERSATION, AND THE TALK BECAME MORE INTIMATE ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONS, AND HER LIFE GROWING UP IN A RESORT ENVIRONMENT.....SO REMOVED FROM THE PRESENT, IT SEEMED AS IF SHE WAS RELIVING THE PAST IN A VERY VIVID DREAM-SCAPE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. IT WAS AS IF I BECAME ONE OF THE FAMILIAR HOTEL GUESTS, AND WE WERE BOTH BACK AT THE RESORT, LOOKING THR0UGH A WINDOW ONTO THE LAKE. HER CLARITY WAS AS SHARP AS EVER, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THE LONGER WE CHATTED, SHE WAS RETREATING FURTHER THAN BEFORE; AND REALITY WAS BECOMING MORE DELUDED EACH WEEK WHEN SHE'D COME FOR A VISIT. ALL OF US CURRIES, INCLUDING THE BOYS, LIKED HER VERY MUCH, BECAUSE SHE TALKED WITH SUCH ENTHUSIASM AND AFFECTION, AND WAS VERY GENEROUS.....OFTEN GIVING SUZANNE REMNANTS OF OLD LACE WORK, AND EVEN DOLLS SHE HAD AS A CHILD.

     THE POINT OF THIS SHORT EDITORIAL, IS THE FACT, THIS WOMAN, LIVING IN BRACEBRIDGE, HAD WALKED TO THE GROCERY STORE EVERY DAY FOR HER FOOD NEEDS. SHE CHOSE HER APARTMENT, BASED ON ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE OF THE MAJOR FOOD STORES. WHEN IT CLOSED, GETTING THE SAME PROVISIONS, REQUIRED HER WALKING DOWN AND BACK UP THE LONG AND STEEP MONCK HILL, TO THE PLAZA WHERE THERE WERE TWO FOOD STORES. THE CLOSING OF THE A&P STORE ON MANITOBA STREET, MEANT SUBSTANTIAL HARDSHIP FOR HER, AND BEING EXTREMELY PROUD AND INDEPENDENT, SHE ALSO REFUSED HELP. WHAT WE FOUND OUT MUCH LATER, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS THAT A CONTRIBUTOR TO HER INCREASING DEMENTIA, WAS THE FACT SHE WAS STARVING TO DEATH IN FRONT OF OUR EYES. SHE WAS SHOPPING INSTEAD, AT A NEIGHBORHOOD CONVENIENCE STORE, AND IT WAS EXHAUSTING HER MONTHLY INCOME. EVEN THOUGH HER FAMILY HAD OWNED A MAJOR LAKE ROSSEAU RESORT, SHE WASN'T LEFT WITH A HUGE QUANTITY OF CASH TO LIVE ON MONTHLY. HERE WAS THIS CHARMING LADY, VISITING WITH US SEVERAL TIMES EACH WEEK, WHO WAS MALNOURISHED TO THE POINT OF DELUSION, AND WE JUST WROTE IT OFF TO HER AGE. TO THAT POINT HOWEVER, SHE HAD BEEN OUT AND ABOUT, EVEN IN THE MOST ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SHE WASN'T FIT TO COVER THE DISTANCE OF THE MONCK HILLSIDE, AND DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR CABS. ONE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE LED TO ANOTHER, AND THEN SHE BECAME SO WEAK AND DELUDED, SHE WAS FINALLY TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. WHEN HER NEPHEW CAME IN TO TALK WITH US, ABOUT HIS AUNT, SUZANNE AND I BOTH STOOD THERE WITH MOUTHS WIDE OPEN, COMPLETELY STUNNED BY THE CLEAR REALITY, WE HAD BEEN A WITNESS TO A SOCIAL / WELFARE INJUSTICE, AND DID NOTHING TO HELP HER....OTHER THAN ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION. WE DON'T FEEL MUCH CONSOLATION THAT SHE DIDN'T TELL US OF HER SITUATION....BECAUSE FRIENDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AWARE OF THINGS LIKE THIS. I FELT REALLY BAD SAYING, "WE DIDN'T KNOW," AND "SHE NEVER SAID A THING." EVEN WORSE THAN THIS, WAS THE FACT WE HADN'T NOTIFIED ANYONE, OR GONE TO CHECK HER APARTMENT, WHEN WE HADN'T SEEN HER FOR THREE WEEKS. THAT WAS OUR FAULT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN A SMALL MUSKOKA TOWN, WHEN WE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

    WHAT WAS PROGRESS TO SOME IN TOWN, BECAME A DISADVANTAGE TO OTHERS. IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU PUT A FACE ON "OTHERS" AND REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE, WAS ALL WITHIN ARM'S LENGTH. IN RETROSPECT, WE WOULD HAVE GLADLY DRIVEN HER TO GET GROCERIES, OR PICKED-UP SUPPLIES FOR HER, IF ONLY WE HAD KNOWN. WELL FOLKS, AND I CAN'T HELP THAT THIS READS LIKE I'M PREACHING, THERE ARE LOTS OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS OUT THERE, THAT WE SHOULD REACT TO, AND RECTIFY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. OUR FRIEND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD, AND WAS LATER ADMITTED TO A NURSING HOME. DID IT ALL COME DOWN TO THE MOVING OF A GROCERY STORE? NO, IT WAS THE RESULT OF US NOT RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF DISTRESS, WE SHOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED SOONER. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT TOOK US THREE WEEKS TO SERIOUSLY WONDER WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER. WHAT KIND OF FRIENDS ARE WE? BUT YOU KNOW, IT CAN HAPPEN THAT EASILY. WE WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF OUR OWN BUSINESS, AND FAMILY, TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE WELFARE OF A GOOD AND REGULAR CUSTOMER....WHO HAD BEEN SO KIND TO US OVER OUR YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP. I NEVER GOT A CHANGE TO APOLOGIZE TO HER. OFFERING IT TO HER NEPHEW WAS EMBARRASSING, BECAUSE IT WAS THE ADMISSION OF OUR OWN GUILT OF INHUMANITY. IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE...., THEN WE'D BE A MUCH MORE HUMANE SOCIETY; BUT TRUTH IS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IN OUR COUNTRY, WHO ARE IN THE SAME DIRE STRAITS, GOING UNDETECTED IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF A SPINNING WORLD.

     THERE IS A GENERAL ASSUMPTION, THERE ARE POOR AND DESTITUTE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL BELIEVE THAT THEIR COMMON WELFARE IS BEING LOOKED AFTER, BY SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THEIR FOOD NEEDS BEING PROVIDED BY THE FOOD BANK. BUT HERE'S THE HITCH. SO VERY MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SENIOR CITIZENS, ARE TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE; TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THEY CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET. THEY'RE NOT ON THE RADAR. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS. THEY ARE THE INVISIBLE POOR, WHO CAN BE FORGOTTEN JUST LIKE OUR FRIEND.....AND OF COURSE, WE SHOULD FEEL SOME SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. IF ONLY TO IDENTIFY THESE PROBLEMS, AND HELP INITIATE SOLUTIONS....BY MAKING A CALL TO THOSE WHO CAN BRING IMMEDIATE RELIEF. THIS IS WHEN GOOD NEIGHBORS COME THROUGH FOR THOSE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK, OR DISADVANTAGED BY PHYSICAL ISSUES.....WHO CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES.

     THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO A LOCAL FOOD BANK; THE MANNA FOOD BANK IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK IN GRAVENHURST....OR A FOOD BANK IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN. IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME HEALTH AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, MAYBE YOU COULD FIND IT IN YOUR HEART, TO LOOK IN ON THEM NOW AND AGAIN. A CHRISTMAS GREETING FOR SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM LONELINESS, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK...WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO VISIT. THIS MULTI PART SERIES, ON SALVATION ARMY MISSIONARY / ARTIST, ADA FLORENCE KINTON, IS DEDICATED TO THE WORK OF THESE FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERS, WHO MAKE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE.....HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. HER JOURNAL CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ME, AND I'M A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

     WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EARLY WINTER DAY IT IS, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA; THIS MOMENT, OUR REGION BEING SO GENTLY IMPRESSED WITH LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES WITH LOTS OF FOLKS HIKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.....IN THE FESTIVE ESSENCE OF A ROCKWELL PAINTING; THE OLD HOMETOWN LOOKING SO HISTORIC AND NOSTALGIC TODAY, ON THE CUSP OF CHRISTMAS.