Archives room undergoes interior facelift

A number of new artifacts have been acquired at the Bayfield Archives, the most popular of which is an old homemade diving helmet donated from the late Stu Atkinson’s estate. In this photo, Bayfield Historical Society President, Bill Rowat, tries on the helmet while Archivist Ralph Laviolette mans the bicycle pump which supplied air to the helmet wearer during underwater exploration. (Photos by Melody Falconer-Pounder)

A little ingenuity and some elbow grease have given 20 Main Street a fresh new look.

The building at that address is home to the Bayfield Historical Society’s Archives Room (BHS). It has undergone an interior facelift over the summer to make it more spacious for interpretative and publication displays as well as a larger work area.

Helen Varekamp, of Huron Hearth and Home, came up with a design to improve the use of the small space. A vast amount of archival material and several filing cabinets were moved to off-site storage at the Bayfield Town Hall. Archivist Ralph Laviolette put on his carpenter’s hat to enlarge the shelving along the walls. Phil Gemeinhardt donated a new archivist’s desk. New mobile display racks have been acquired to better display historical publications and prints. Plus Carl Richardson built a beautiful large “antique” table to replace the old mismatched smaller ones.

A number of new artifacts have been acquired, the most popular of which is an old homemade diving helmet donated from the late Stu Atkinson’s estate. The helmet was used, among other things, to do spring underwater inspections of the wharf to see what ice damage had occurred over the winter. The helmet had heavy lead weights to keep the wearer from floating to the surface while he walked the riverbed. Air was supplied through a rubber tube with a friend feverously pumping on a bicycle pump up above. No fatalities were recorded.

A large portion of the Archive’s collection of pictures, postcards and documents has been put on disc and a new larger monitor has been acquired to show these treasures to the public.

The recently re-discovered Agnes Metcalf watercolors of Bayfield circa 1900 are on display; prints are for sale and society members suggest these would make a great Christmas gift.

Also for sale at the Archive’s Room are Bayfield 2012 Calendars. These are selling for $10 each with proceeds dedicated to cover the production costs of Dave Gillians’ upcoming history of Bayfield.

This past July and August, for the first time in many years, the Archives Room was open daily, staffed entirely by volunteers. As a result compared to 2010 figures, the number of visitors tripled reaching 475 and sales of publications and prints plus donations quadrupled. The majority of visitors were tourists with an interest in the village’s history. The Saturday walking tours also proved to be as popular as ever.

During the off season, the Archives Room is open Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and the membership of the BHS encourages visitors to check out their new look in person soon.

The Bayfield Archives has a new more spacious look due to the efforts of many volunteers.

st. boniface student reports on outing to fire hall 

Jared Ducharme, a Grade 3 student at St. Boniface School in Zurich sent in a report to the Bayfield Breeze about his class trip to the Zurich Fire Hall.

On Oct. 11, the Grade 3 class went to the Zurich Fire Hall. There were four fire fighters there. They were Greg O’Brien, Dave Erb, Chris Gingrich, and Jordan Jeffrey. The Grade 3 class went to the Zurich Fire Hall because it was fire prevention week. The Grade 3 class learned to stop, drop and roll in a fire. The class also got to spray the fire hose and hit the pylon down and the three students that answered the questions right got to spray firefighter Jeffrey.

flu clinics

It is Flu shot season once again. The Bluewater Area Family Health Team will be holding three Influenza Clinics within the municipality with Bayfield’s being held on Nov. 2 at Trinity Anglican Church.

The church is located at 10 Keith Crescent and the clinic will be open from 4-6 p.m.

Clinics will also be held in Dashwood and Zurich for those people who can’t attend the Bayfield one.

The Zion Lutheran Church Hall will be the location for the Dashwood Clinic on Oct. 29 from 10-11:30 a.m. The Zurich Medical Centre will also host a clinic on Nov. 9 from 4-6 p.m.

Those people receiving the shot are asked to wear a top with sleeves that will roll up easily and also bring their OHIP Health Card.

town hall 

A retirement party is being held for Joe Perlement and you are invited. It is to be held at The Bayfield Town Hall on Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Perlement will be celebrating his long awaited retirement from Bayfield River Pearls, a thriving, award winning company that he established over twenty years ago. His family and friends invite you to celebrate and join in the fun!

This retirement party will also provide an unique fundraising opportunity for the Bayfield Town Hall. Those who wish to attend the “Black Pearl Murder Mystery Dinner” should be quick to get a ticket for the evening that shall include a three-course dinner and a cash bar. Tickets are $35 and are available now from Pat Langley 519 565-2894 or Judy Keightley 519 565-4515.

optimist club

Bayfield “Hearts” Goderich was a fundraising campaign established by the Optimist Club of Bayfield just hours after the tornado struck on Aug. 21.

Club members placed collection boxes in prominent locations around the village to accept cash donations and “spare” change. The Optimists are pleased to announce that over $790 was collected. The campaign concluded on Thanksgiving Weekend.

The money collected was given to the Goderich Salvation Army to help people affected by the disaster.

fitness fun

The time has come to get back into the routines of autumn and fitness for both mind and body is once again a focus. One Care is sponsoring several programs for both men and women to stay fit over.

Dancefit and Toning classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. The cost is $40 for four months or $3 per class. The Sit and Get Fit classes are offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. The cost is $1 per class. Both of these fitness opportunities are held at the Bayfield Community Centre.

For the more adventurous among us, there is Pole Walking. Walks for women are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays while walks for men are held on Monday and Friday mornings All walks begin from 6 Main Street and begin at 8:30 a.m. Poles are provided free for those who require them.

A Yoga Class will be held at the Bayfield Town Hall starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. The cost for is $3 per class and participants are asked to bring a yoga mat. Starting on Nov. 1, a time of quiet reflection and meditation will follow the yoga class starting at 11:15 a.m. All in the community are invited to take part.

Indoor badminton is played on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Varna Complex The cost is $3 each and no experience or equipment is required to play.

Call 519 565-2202 for more information on the above exercise opportunities.

For those people looking to exercise their minds, Women’s Bridge is played every Wednesday at 1 p.m. No partner needed to play the cost is $1.50 per game. For more information call Brenda Blair 519 565-2881.

Mah Jongg games are also offered on the first and third Mondays of the month starting at 1 p.m. Call 519 565-2468 for more information.

Both Bridge and Mah Jongg are played at the Bayfield Lions’ Community Building.

Are you ready to dance yourself into SHAPE? ZUMBA is a Latin inspired, easy to follow, calorie burning dance fitness party and participants say it is so much fun. ZUMBA classes are held Wednesday evenings at the Bayfield Community Centre from 7-8 p.m. Drop-ins and beginners are welcome. Drop in rate is $11 or you can purchase a Ten Pass for $90. Please contact Alison de Groot at bayfieldzumba@gmail.com for more information.