Eaton Reunion, 1926
Free Press
September 14, 1926
The Eaton-Vanduzen Centennial Picnic
Dear Sir,
At the executive committee meeting Saturday, plans were considered
for the next event in July, 1927.
They have in contemplation the removal of a log house built a few years
later than the original Eaton cabin of a hundred years ago, which was
burned down by accident last year, to the picnic site , in Messrs. Tudor
and John Eaton's grave, where the picnic was held this year, and piping
the water from the original camp meeting spring over to the cabin and
picnic grounds, reproducing as nearly as possible the pioneer start of
a hundred years ago.
The cabin will contain all the historical furnishings now in possession
of the various family descendants, either as a loan for picnic day, or
a permanent contribution to the Association House.
Among the articles of historic interest will be the Vanduzen-Stewart
chest of drawers from Holland on the Mayflower, the trunk, bibles, hymn
book, etc. of the Vanduzen-Hawkey collection, the spinning wheel and hand-weaving
loom of the Anson Eaton-Panabaker collection, which were brought from
New Jersey to Canada in 1788 and presumably from Holland a century or
so earlier, which have been in use by the family descendants almost continuously
ever since. Miss Catharine Panabaker who is an expert spinner and hand
loom weaver of special designs, displayed and operated these spinning
and weaving machines in the pageant put on last summer by the Hespeler
Old Boys Reunion, and will be seen shortly in the movies, as per the government
film taken with much care showing its operation in the procession.
The spinning wheel and hand weaving loom of my grandmother, Lucinda
Sutton-Eaton, should be found in the cellar or attic or barn of her last
place of abode in Carlisle (trusting it has not been scrapped, but just
laid away so carefully that it cannot be located for the minute). On this
loom she wove all the flannel blankets I slept under, and all the clothes
I wore until I was ten years old, and it was in one of these suits of
clothes that I attended Sunday School when Mrs. E. J. Davis, teacher (later
Hon. E. J. Davis, minister of crown lands), who is still living and enjoying
good health at King near Newmarket, North York, presented me with a Testament,
and often read the inscription in his handwriting over his complimentary
signature, because in those days we only had one suit for Sunday and every
day as well. However Miss Panabaker has volunteered to shear the sheep,
spin the yarn and weave on her hand loom and have tailored a suit of clothes,
already for me at next year's picnic so if you notice the best dressed
guy on the grounds next year, yours truly will be inside the homespun
suit. It may not be done as quickly or as smooth as what the manufacturers
made in a day for his honor the Lieut. Gov., of Quebec, but it will be
much warmer and last much longer than his and be smooth enough for the
average man.
I do hope though that they find the Eaton spinning wheel and hand loom
of my grandmother's on which I used to tie together the broken threads
of the warp and wind the shuttles, and otherwise help in a child's way,
in fact the rag carpet of our first kitchen 45 years ago was woven by
Grandma Eaton, and I think we have a small mat of her weave still about
the house.
To complete the furnishings of the old log house, we will require the
following, so whoever has anything of this kind will kindly advise us
quickly: A wooden bolt for the front door, a latch string for the back
door, a pair of and irons from the fire place, a fire box, crane to swing
the pots and pans over the fire to boil and cook with, a kitchen table
with saw horse legs, a candle stick, a candle lantern, pots and pans,
a couple of wooden benches, and a chair or two, an ox yoke with bows stationed
at the back door, where the oxen came up every morning and placed their
heads under the yoke for the bows to be keyed on, an early day plough
with wooden mauld-boards, handles etc., a logging chain, chopping axe,
broad axe (I can supply this), a set of triangle ox shoes one for each
toe, a few muskrat skins to tack on the outside to dry, a couple of stag
heads with large horns, a bear's front paw that resembles a human hand,
a rabbit foot, a fishing net, a bettle and wedge, and many other tools
and articles used by our ancestors, a wooden wash tub and sundry other
articles of early days. John Eaton's high silk hat, 1856, now at Tudor
Eaton's.
Practice is already beginning for ball game between Hespeler and Carlisle,
quoit games between Hilton and Saltfleet, the usual concert programme,
camp-meeting revival and hand-shake races, etc. Prizes.
The ladies' committee, who so splendidly decorated the cemetery for
last picnic day would perhaps have plants, vines, hanging baskets, flower
boxes and lawns, etc. all in preparation this fall and winter, so in the
early spring they could be planted to a good start and by July 17, 1927,
it would look like a rose garden of a hundred year standing. The running
water would help wonderfully. It would be like an old established premises
and eventually one of Canada's historical beauty spots that would receive
a call, overflowing praise, etc. from many tourists, who would be attracted
to make a call if they happened within a few miles of it.
This would make an ideal spot for individual family picnics or two
or three families together at all times during the summer or evenings
for those who live nearby.
A swing or two and a few other amusements for the children might be
provided so it would be a going concern park all the time and the younger
people would unconsciously acquire some historical knowledge.
The boys might get the log house bought at once and moved to the spot
early this fall, so that it could be constructed before winter, so the
interior could be finished during the winter and by spring it would be
just like any other log cabin that had been well kept for the last century.
Tudor Eaton might get the length of pipe necessary to conduct the water
from the spring to the log house, as well as the height of fall and grade
and would give an estimate how long it would take to dig a trench and
cover the pipes.
Think we can get 2 inch used pipe in good condition for about 12c per
lineal foot, and 1 inch for about 6c or better. A branch could go into
Tudor's house and another to John's house.
The hunters can get the deer heads etc. this fall, and all the relics
coming to the notice of any of the Eaton descendants could be collected
during the winter.
The historical family records and sketches should be gotten into shape
and in the hands of the committee at a reasonably early date.
Bronze Tablet
John Eaton, battle of Stoney Creek, 1813. he was a trustee when the
original site, corner King and Wellington was purchased, and the first
Methodist Church in Hamilton built.
War records for the Eaton-Vanduzen descendants: Case Eaton, Reil Rebellion
(sic), Batoche and Duck Lake, 1885. Dr. Murray Eaton, England, France,
New York, Canada, 1915-18. Dr. Archie Eaton, Somme, Gallipos, Suez, Cairo,
Egypt, 1914-1920, Canada. Lieut. Harry N. Vanduzen, artillery-flying corps,
1915, injured, died 191[?]. Margaret Eaton, nurse, England, Canada, 1916-1920.
Ruby Eaton-Galloway, nurse, England, France, 1915 -18. Evelyn Galloway-Richards,
nurse, England, France, 1915-18. Harold Eaton, engineer, 1914-18, England,
France. Fawcett Eaton, artillery, flying corps, England, France, 1915-18.
Edward L. Eaton, Hespeler, killed in action. Andrew J. Eaton, Hespeler.
Irvin D. Panabaker, Hespeler, Princeton. Princeton, W. O. and Mrs. Sealey,
a machine gun.
We have found a fountain about 10 feet high with a foundation reservoir
basin about a foot deep with six or seven feet in diameter, which would
hold about a thousand gold fish, that we haven't used recently, but which
is quite ornamental and artistic, and originally cost about $500. Now
if Tudor will make a bee and get the trench dug from the spring to the
grounds there, and get the pipe laid, we will send the fountain out to
the association so it can be placed in front or at the side of the log
cabin as an ornament.
All having relics or interesting historical things, kindly notify the
committee at once.
The committee are providing accommodations for twenty thousand visitors
next year, and if another five thousand happen to come along, they will
be accommodated as well.
The Christening class will number about a hundred this year, will the
parents of all the kiddies [send the] names and addresses to the [committee]
so sufficient provision can [be made] for all this year.
The evening concert [...] will be a feature as usual.
The 'E' Eaton crest will [....] then.
Kindly show this to an [.....] living near you, send us [...] or additions
to the [....] suggestions generally.
Yours truly, W. O. Sealey
|
Search This Site.jpg)
