Kettle lakes ~ moraine gems

Photos by Barry Wallace

MStarcliff Nature ReserveM

One of the prettiest views of an Oak Ridges Moraine kettle lake, in King Township, is to be found on the south side of the  17th Sideroad, north-east of Nobleton.   It is part of the Starcliff Nature Reserve, an 18-acre property donated to the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust by Beth Harper and family in 2005.   In addition to the kettle lake, the site is also designated as a provincially significant wetland.   The Land Trust is assisted in its work at Starcliff by A Rocha, a religious organization that assists with community-based conservation projects.   Starcliff is not open to the public but volunteers can work on A Rocha projects from time-to-time.   Interested volunteers can contact A Rocha at www.arocha.ca.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Near Pottageville

Photo by Barry Wallace

Milkcan for the mailman

Holland Marsh miscellany...

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Dufferin Marsh ~ bat house

Photo by Barry Wallace

I was looking for kingfishers at the Dufferin Marsh on Wednesday and came across the item pictured above.   This bat house stands near the west side of the south pond, at Dufferin Marsh, in Schomberg.   The bat box itself is atop a pole, almost 4 metres above the ground.   It has only been in place since last fall.   Mary Asselstine of the Dufferin Marsh Committee tells me the box is an original design and hand-made by Jimmy Dala of Schomberg.   The colour of the box is black, which absorbs the heat of the day and warms the bats at night.   The box will be watched closely this spring and summer for occupants...probably Little Brown Bats.

Bat Photo ~ Wikipedia/Don Pfritzer

Eaton Hall photos ~ circa 1940

Here are some photos of Eaton Hall, shortly after its completion, which I recently came across on the torontothenandnow.blogspot.com site.   The site is put up by Richard of Muddy York Walking Tours (www.muddyyorktours.com).   His Toronto Then & Now blog is a photographic history of the city of Toronto.   One of his blogs covered the Eaton family quite extensively and the photos here are taken from that entry.   The construction of Eaton Hall was begun in 1937 and completed in 1939, just a year or so before these photographs were taken.   The photo below shows a hunt club gathered in front of Villa Fiora, the first Eaton estate house built on the property.   Sadly Villa Fiora has fallen into a state of disrepair and is boarded up, seemingly doomed for demolition.  

Lady Eaton is seen above, in the right foreground, with members of the hunt at Eaton Hall.

(These photos  appear to be sourced from the City  of Toronto Archives)

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Easter Monday

Photo by Barry Wallace

8th Concession ~ King Township

Eaton Hall at Easter

Photos by Barry Wallace