Thursday, November 30, 2017

Cute dogs are everywhere in King

Photo by Barry Wallace
I spotted these two being walked by their mistress on Keele Street in King City.  There names are Tasha and Sadie.  Yes, they were very friendly, but very short and I dare say they might disappear altogether in 6" of snow.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Very specific sign...


                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace
This new sign is on the north-west corner of Keele Street and Kingcross Drive, in King City.   It seems there is quite a menagerie of critters roaming around Kingscross Estates and residents have their concerns.   At this time of year, I'm sure turtles and frogs are safely tucked away for winter.   Canada Geese?   That could be another matter altogether.   I guess the real message is "slow down".
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Old house was once a train station


The Schomberg-Aurora Railway operated for 25 years, from 1902 to 1927, and ran along a 14-mile track between the village of Schomberg and the village of Oak Ridges, where it met the main railway track, running north to Aurora or south to Richmond Hill.   The house behind the trains cars (pictured above) was located on the modern-day, north-west corner of Main Street and Dr. Kay Drive.   The road bed of Dr. Kay Drive sits atop the former railway track bed of a 100+ years ago.   The picture below, taken a few days ago, shows the same century-old house that once served as a make-shift train station.
     
Photo by Barry Wallace
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, November 27, 2017

Field stone cladding appears on Laskay Hall

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Passersby at Kinghorn can now get a glimpse of the field stone cladding being applied to the new lower foundation of the historic and transplanted Laskay Hall, beside the King Heritage & Cultural Centre.   The old hall is to become functional once again as a treasured community resource next spring, with a tentative grand opening celebration in May.



Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Paintings by Ann Murray Livingstone...

Photo by Barry Wallace
Seen above is one of Ann Murray Livingstone's vibrant oil pointings that are currently hanging on the walls of the King Heritage & Cultural Centre in Kinghorn.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, November 24, 2017

'Trees of Giving' at Heritage & Cultural Centre


                                                                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace
Pictured herewith, are two of the ten Christmas Trees in the 'Trees of Giving' presentation at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre, which opens for public viewing this Friday, November 24th.  Highly creative in themes and artistically decorated, Christmas trees have been decorated by local community groups which are a special treat for visitors to the Kinghorn site.   The tree of delicious treats (above), is the work of the King Township Food Bank, while the tree below is the Grinch creation of King Township Library.   This community effort is a great attraction and treat, especially for folks with children.   You can vote for your favourite tree by donating $1 per vote and the proceeds go to the King Township Food Bank.   The 'Trees of Giving' are on display until December 18, and may be viewed Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sure sign of winter...

 Photos by Barry Wallace
If the woodstove in the cafe at Pine Farms Orchard, on the 16th Sideroad, has been fired up, then winter is almost upon us.   You can tell the stove is once again doing its annual job, by the sign that tells visitors: Caution HOT Stove!  Buttertarts anyone?

Please comment 
if you wish.

Barry Wallace


Thursday, November 23, 2017

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Thornton Bales Conservation Area

 Photos by Barry Wallace

There are not
99 steps...

...there are only
80 steps!

I decided this last week to visit the Thornton Bales Conservation Area (a.k.a. "The 99 Steps") to see if my arthritic legs and wonky heart could still make the climb.  The good news is I went down and back up and only had to stop once, to pet a friendly dog.  Even better news: there are only 80 steps - not 99, as recorded in local folklore.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

King's Cardinal Golf Club

Photos by Barry Wallace
How many times have I driven by Cardinal Golf Club on Highway 9, in King Township, and its huge billboard on the north-east corner of Hwy. 9 and Jane Street, and never knew that Cardinal was Canada's only 72 hole Golf Club?  I've never golfed there, for starters, and I gave golf up before Cardinal was even built.   Even so...I can't believe I never knew of Cardinal's unique Canadian distinction.   The only excuse, and it's a weak one, is that I was always preoccupied by looking at Cardinal's iconic and eye-catching roof-line.
















Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, November 20, 2017

19th Sideroad and Keele Street

Photo By Barry Wallace
A rural warrior rests in peace
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, November 19, 2017

16th Sideroad and Keele Street

Photo by Barry Wallace
Since the end of September I've raked up and bagged just over 40 bags of leaves for yard waste pick-up by the refuse collectors working for the Township of King.   While driving up to Pine Farms Orchard for apples this past week, I passed the pile of leaf bags, pictured above, and determined there were over 100 bags of leaves waiting to be consumed, on one day, by a big truck.   I wonder if 1/2 million leaves would fill a truck all by themselves.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, November 18, 2017

19th Sideroad of King ~ east of Kettleby

Photo by Barry Wallace
Prevailing breezes bend branches to the east
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace
                                             

Friday, November 17, 2017

Cropping cold carrots in the Marsh


Photos by Barry Wallace
Davis Road and Highway 400



 Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Three new stores at King's Ridge Marketplace

Photo by Barry Wallace
Pizzaria ~ Drycleaner ~ Dog Groomer
Steel is up for three new businesses at The King's Ridge Marketplace in King City.   I don't know if the news is official yet, but the info was passed on to me by one of the King's Ridge merchants.  The new structure is between Tim Horton's and the LCBO.
Please comment if you wish.  
Barry Wallace 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Forde Crescent ~ King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

WHAT

DID THEY

USE

TO PICK

UP YOUR

GARBAGE

THIS WEEK?

Things are not always as they seem as they seem, are they?   No, and garbage collection in King City has not been taken over by monster lifting cranes.   This rig was delivering heavy cement building forms to a home under construction, next door, and parked itself hovering above our garbage.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Long way from home...

 Photos by Barry Wallace
This American licence plate caught my eye, a day or so ago, outside The Roost Cafe on Keele Street in King City, and I noted with interest that, to my knowledge, I had never before seen a Utah licence plate in our village.   King City and Utah are a mere 3,000 kms. apart.   Two phrases on the licence plate reminded me that many Americans do not understate things, when pride of country is on the line.   The phrases were "Greatest Snow On Earth" and "Life Elevated".   I hope your stay in King City was pleasant, folks.   Come again.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace



Monday, November 13, 2017

If it's good enough for Kim Kardashian...

Photo by Barry Wallace
Vampire facials available in King
I've no idea what a vampire facial is, but I'm told Kim Kardashian is promoting them, so they must be a hot item.  Anyway, they are available in King City.   The advertising reader-board above was spotted in the village, on Doctors Lane, at Keele Street.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Linda's last rose of summer


                                                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace 
'Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes,
Or give sigh for sigh...
-- Thomas Moore / 1805
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


Saturday, November 11, 2017

Lots of activity ~ not much to see yet

Photo by Barry Wallace
Construction of the new King Township municipal offices is now well underway, at the west side of the village, but there is not much to see yet that resembles a monument to local municipal government.   Completion will take place in 2018.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, November 10, 2017

Tamarack ~ the yellow evergreen

Photo by Barry Wallace
TAMARACK
(Larix laricina)
The Tamarack tree is an evergreen that turns yellow in the fall, like many deciduous trees.   It also loses its needles the way deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall.   It is also know as the Eastern Larch, Black Larch, Red Larch, American Larch and Hackmatack.   Wikipedia says the word tamarack is an Algonquian name for the species and means "wood used for snowshoes".
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, November 9, 2017

King City Cemetery ~ early November

Photos by Barry Wallace


King City Cemetery was started 130 years ago, in 1887.   Elizabeth McClure Gilliam in her 1975 history of King, entitled Early Settlements of King Township Ontario, tells the story of Mr. R. Kirbyson who was one of the first caretakers.   He was paid $1.00 for a ten-hour day.   One year his wages amounted to $33.75, but as he had taken hay off the land and the hay was valued at $24, his pay that year was reduced to $9.75.      
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Outdoor performance centre at Kinghorn

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Some folks are calling it an amphitheatre and others say it is a bandshell, but whatever it is to be called, it is well under construction and will be a delightful alfresco musical venue in the spring of next year.   When the type of structure is nominally described it will probably be only at matter of time before it is named and dedicated to a well-deserving historical or modern-day personality, or an event, etc.   If I close my eyes and listen carefully, the grounds of the King Heritage & Cultural Centre are already alive with the sound of music.



Please comment
if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

18th Sideroad of King

                                                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace
PORTAL PAST ITS PRIME
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, November 6, 2017

Upon Kingsbridge's long path ~ Jane Street

Photos by Barry Wallace
The pastorality of Kingsbridge Conference Centre


The Sun tries to penetrate the autumn leaf cover 


East Humber River runs over rocky dam


Woodland waypoint


Hiding in the river valley's forest


Remnants of an old river crossing


Steep banks down to the silent river


Sign beside the path

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Family photo from WW1 era


This photo of my wife Linda's Scott ancestors is not a Remembrance Day photo, as such, but I thought I would present it here and now because it has a direct connection to the WW1 era and there is an excellent WW1 exhibit currently on display at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre.   It was taken on Jane Street, south of Kinghorn, at the home Lewis W. James Scott.   I do not know the exact date of the photo, but judging by the three family members in uniform, it was early in the 1900s.   The elderly couple in the centre of the back row are James and Edith Scott and there are four generations of  their family in the photo.   The soldiers are husbands of James and Edith's granddaughters.  This house still stands today on the west side of Jane Street, south of the Kingsbridge Centre.  There are a number of Scott descendants still about in the King area.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace 

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Locale Restaurant to celebrate 5th Anniversary

      Photos by Barry Wallace 
Locale Restaurant, at the four corners in King City, will celebrate five years in business, early in December.  It was a success from its opening day on December 11, in 2012, and is thriving to this day.  Success begets success it seems because the folks at Locale are opening a new restaurant on Yonge Street in the south end of the Town of Aurora.   Opening should be some time in November, but certainly before the end of the year.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace