Monday, August 2, 2010

North Burgess Heritage Mica Festival a Big Success!

More than 400 people made their way to Murphys Point to take in the North Burgess Heritage Mica Festival on Sunday, Aug. 1!

The festival, hosted by the Friends of Murphys Point Park, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the start of mica mining in North Burgess, which is now known as Tay Valley Township (where the park is located). The event was made possible thanks to a grant received by the Friends from the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Funding Anniversaries program. Other partners include Tay Valley Township and Ontario Parks.

The day featured activities at the Lally Homestead site, including the Lally General Store where ginger beer, candy and a variety of merchandise was available throughout the day served up by volunteers in period costume.
There were crafts for children in the homestead and children's games on the lawn, such as a tug of war, bean bag toss, egg race, sack race and more.
Visitors tested their knowledge at the What Is It? table, where a variety of vintage implements were on display for folks to guess what their uses would have been a century or more ago.
Blacksmith Tony Walsh was on hand to demonstrate his trade with his portable forge, putting on a great show.
Archaeologists displayed finds from sites within Murphys Point, include the Lally Homestead area.
 A spirit from the past led visitors on a walk around the homestead site, where they could learn more about pioneer life.
Don Green and his wife Lois spent the day demonstrating the ropemaking craft.
 In the barn foundation, Bear the Tinker entertained with a variety of musical instruments and folk tales of days gone by.

Beyond the homestead site, park staff in period costume were stationed along the Silver Queen Mine trail to tell stories of bygone days.
The mine was open for visitors, with the foreman and a miner on hand to explain how mica and other minerals were extracted from the Shield rock that predominates North Burgess (now known as Tay Valley Township).
At the nearby bunkhouse, a troupe of musicians entertained as folks lined up for a delicious miners' lunch of corn on the cob, maple baked beans and lemonade.


A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteers and park staff who contributed to this wonderful event! Kudos to Friends volunteers Beth Peterkin and Jane Irwin who spearheaded the organization of the weekend.

David Archibald Kicks Off Festival

A great crowd turned out on Friday night at the Park Amphitheatre to enjoy a terrific show by children's entertainer David Archibald!

The show kicked off the North Burgess Heritage Mica Festival, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the start of mica mining in the area.

David is an interactive songwriter, composer and playwright who is a regular and popular feature at national and provincial parks. He has been commissioned to compose songs about natural and cultural history for various parks and has produced several CDs. His music is a regular feature on CBC radio programs. He has performed on children's television shows such as Sesame Street and he has toured across North America. He is also active in writing, directing and composing for musical theatre and has been musical director and composer for the Young Company for several years. Be sure to check out his new show, Up the River, at the Ganaoque Playhouse from Aug. 6 to Labour Day!
The Great Bear of Summer is found!

The show at Murphys Point featured laughter for kids and adults alike as we sat on the edge of our seats for the arrival of the Grrrrrreat Bear of Summer. Lots of great tunes! A big thank you goes out to David Archibald for getting our festival off to a great start!