It was May 1999 when Geraldine Kuehl and I, the then remaining members of the Sebastopol Historic Committee that established the Historic Stone Fence, visited the Sebastopol Council and enquired as to what was being done to preserve the history and heritage of Sebastopol and its portion of the Opeongo. The Council reply indicated no formal action but made some recommendations. Since our mandate as a committee of Sebastopol Township would likely terminate upon amalgamation we could recommend to Council names to be added to our present committee and begin to formulate a solution, taking care to get legal advice as to our options.

The next morning my telephone call to Lorne Foran received this response. "No I won't offer you any free legal advice, but I'd be honoured to become a member of your committee." When we needed committee support, he was there.

As our first venture, Sebastopol Homecoming in October 2000, we needed publicity for our walking tours, Saturday party at St. Ann's, dance, and interdenominational church service. His close friendship with the Tracey lads was called into play and again, he was there. As the events unfolded, the first visitor to my area walk, the Vanbrugh Trail, was Lorne, followed slightly later by brother Mac and sister, Mildred with niece, and grandniece. When it came to personal support and family involvement, he was there.

Our only avenue to proceed following amalgamation appeared to be incorporation. In September 2000, as president, I received Letters Patent for The Sebastopol Heritage and Historic Society from the Ontario Ministry of Commercial Relations and also the good news that our organization was approved as a charity by the Charitable Property Program, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario. When we needed legal expertise to make this happen he was there.

When we opened our first Stopping Place in rented facilities at Breen's Store in June 2002 an interesting part of our display consisted of items provided by Lorne, including the Lake Clear mill saw of his former friend, the late Emmett Graham. We needed practical participation and he was there.

When family commitments made me decide to step aside as president, Lorne took over and with grim determination pursued the idea of a permanent Stopping Place on the Opeongo. When we needed forcefull leadership, he was there.

On June 11, 2005, the permanent Stopping Place was officially opened. Lorne had worked through the financial plan, the politics of the location and prepared an exciting program for the day. His health was seriously deteriorating and the weather was unmercifully hot but, he was there.

No one will fill the hole in our Society left with his passing, but he didn't leave us empty handed. If we were observant we would have seen that Lorne looked at each challenge as if the glass was already half full, not half empty. If we can apply that philosophy to our future work as a Society, I am sure we can achieve the collection of historical and heritage information that we eagerly desire, building on the large collection of dates, places and names that Lorne had researched and recorded. In that sense he is still there.

On behalf of the Sebastopol Heritage and Historic Society I say goodbye and a heartfelt thank you to our former colleague.

Personally, it seems ironic that Lorne and I, two lads born in the same year to families less than two miles apart on the Opeongo, never became close friends until our retirements and the events I have noted. As Marion and I got to know Dallas and Lorne, it became evident that we shared many similar experiences and values. Lorne loved his country (Canada), his birth home (on the Opeongo), his ancestry (Irish), his denominational heritage (Catholic), his family (especially grandchildren), and good old time fiddle music. He honoured each with passionate vigour, his scholarly energy, his intellectual integrity, and his personal stories to share with others.

Thanks for the memories and for being there Lorne.

Sincerely, Arden Walther