Canada's Birthday in Kettleby

                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

Hurray for Canada Day!

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Barry Wallace

Pumphouse Road ~ south of Hwy. 11

                                                                                             Photos by Barry Wallace

Wetting a line in the Holland Marsh...

There's no shortage of people wanting to fish in the Holland Marsh's river or canals these days.   Everyone brings all their gear and portable chairs to their favourite spots and spend a few hours enjoying the summer sun.   Not everyone picks the perfect spot however, especially when there are wires or cables over the water (as seen in the photo below) and a lot of fishing lines, floats and hooks, etc. become hopelessly snagged overhead....all part of fishing's rich pageant.

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Barry Wallace

Keele Street ~ north of the 17th

                                                                                             Photo by Barry Wallace

Black Forest Garden Centre

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Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad of King...

                                                                                      Photo by Barry Wallace

Ancient mower ~ old but colorful

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Barry Wallace

11th Concession of King...

                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

Rhubarb or burdock?

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Barry Wallace

spresso dessert bar opens in King City

                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

A new coffee and dessert bar has opened on the east side of Keele Street, just south of the King Road, in King City.   It is a small but charmingly chic spot with desserts that will tempt everyone!   The last thing I need is another place to get desserts and sweets, as I'm trying to lose 20 lbs., but I did try something and it was absolutely decadent.   You have been warned.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Signs of the times...

                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Here are a couple of signs flanking a driveway entrance on the Lloydtown-Aurora Sideroad, south of Kettleby.   I don't know if they are one-of-a-kind or first of their kind In King Township, but they are certainly topical.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The undeniableness of Red Squirrels...

                                                                     Photos by Barry Wallace

They can be threatened.

They can be thumped.

They can be thwacked.

They can be thrashed.

They can be throttled.

But they cannot be thwarted.

                  

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Barry Wallace

Keele Street - north of the 16th Sideroad

                  

          Lily pond at the Field Farm

                                     

Photos by Barry Wallace

 Pulchritudinous Pink

                    

  Please comment if you wish.

  Barry Wallace

                                                 

Kingscross Estates ~ King City

                                                                            Photo by Barry Wallace

Watch Hill Road

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Barry Wallace

34.5 Celsius - Saturday afternoon...

                                                     Photo by Barry Wallace

"CATatonic"?

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Barry Wallace

In the backyard...

It must be summer...

 the peonies are blooming

                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Laskay landmark still stands...

                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

LASKAY EMPORIUM - 21st Century

Black Creek Pioneer Village

~

19th & 20th century views below

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Barry Wallace

A century or so later...

                                                                                               Scott Family photo

Circa 1900

Pictured above is a photo of James T. Scott and his wife Edith Jane Wells, with a grandson, in front of their "little tin house" on Jane Street, south of Kinghorn.   James and Edith were my late wife Linda's great grandparents and lived here for many decades.

                                                                                                 Kingsbridge Photo

Circa 2020

120 years later, the old Scott property is now the expansive home of the Kingsbridge Conference Centre & Hotel, a new King Township 21st century landmark.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Station upgrade at Kinghorn...

                                                                                                                  Photos by Barry Wallace

The original King City Railway Station at the King Cultural & Heritage Centre site in Kinghorn is currently getting an all-new and much-needed platform around the station.   In 2020, the station marks its 167th year of existence.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Built about 1863 by Benjamin Lloyd...

                                                           Photo: Elizabeth McClure Gillham

The original general store at the four corners in King City was built over 150 years ago, around 1863, by Benjamin Lloyd.   The photo of the store, pictured above, was taken about 1907, approximately 7 years after James MacDonald purchased the building and business for his two sons.   The store remained under ownership by succeeding MacDonald family members, (including Crawford Wells) for almost 75 years.   New local owners, in 1975 continued to operate under the Crawford Wells General Store name (see photo below).   The old store became Locale Restaurant & Bar in 2012 (see bottom photo).

                                       

   Photo above and photo below by Barry Wallace

                                                                                       

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Barry Wallace

                                                                   

Much needed improvements at Kinghorn...

                                                                               Photos by Barry Wallace

New parking lot and pathways

paved at King Cultural & Heritage Centre

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Barry Wallace

Worth the wait...

                                                                                    Photos by Barry Wallace

My poppies were a few days late this year.   None in May, but they did show up early in June, and very welcome they were.

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Barry Wallace

Entering the village...

                                                                                     Photo by Barry Wallace

On the side of the Kettleby Road

Dryad's Saddle Fungus ~ a.k.a. Pheasant's Back Mushroom

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Barry Wallace

In the spring garden...

                                                                                       Photo by Barry Wallace

Fresh herbs to the rescue

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Barry Wallace

Back-breaking work on Keele Street...

                                                                              Photos by Barry Wallace

'Lifters' ~ not stone masons

These two young, good-looking lads were hard-at-it last week on Keele Street, just south of the Anglican Church, in King City.   The cut-stone retaining wall on the east side of the street is being rebuilt after decades of service and at the same time as new sidewalks are being installed.   I told these hardy lads that they looked rather young to be stone masons.   One of them replied: "We're not stone masons - we're "lifters".   Candid and charming...well done guys.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Eversley Presbyterian Church - built in 1848

Photos by Barry Wallace

The Eversley Presbyterian Church is now owned by JTF Homes Ltd., a custom estate property development company.   It began as a church in 172 years ago on Dufferin Street, close to King City.   It closed 110 years later in 1958.   In 1960, it was purchased by Lady Eaton.  It was taken over by the York Pioneer and Historical Society in 1967, and was sold as part of the Lady Eaton estate in 1971.   Upkeep of the old church has been conducted by several occupants over the last several decades.   I think it is fair to say that old church and the property it sits on, accompanied by a pioneer graveyard looks as attractive today as it ever has.   After 172 years of existence, it looks as though it could easily serve some appropriate cause for another 100 years.   This is a one-of-kind treasure for King and long may it inspire us.  Fascinating information on this Eversley landmark is to be gained from Elizabeth McClure Gillham's 1975 book entitled "Early Settlements of KING TOWNSHIP Ontario".

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comment
if you wish.

Barry
Wallace

The Grackle ~ by Ogden Nash

                                                                                                               Photo by BarrytheBirder

The grackle's voice is less than mellow,

His heart is black, his eye is yellow,

He bullies more attractive birds

With hoodlum deeds and vulgar words,

and should a human interfere,

Attacks the human in the rear.

I cannot help but deem the grackle

An ornithological debacle.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder