Sebastopol Heritage and Historic Society
4716 Opeongo Rd.
Approx. 2 km west of the Opeongo Rd/McGrath Rd junction
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"Striving to Link the Generations"
The organization was incorporated in 2000 and Heritage House opened in 2002. The society is governed by a board of Directors who are elected by membership at an October annual general meeting at the Heritage House. Since the first successful homecoming celebration Thanksgiving weekend 2000, there have been annual dances and church services attended by many descendants of the township and tourists alike. To promote our heritage churches, stone plaques were placed at 3 sites and there are plans for more. We also maintain the Historic Stone Fence (see below). The executive is pleased to receive news items of historical value or inquiries about ancestors that others may be able to answer. Any information that can be shared will help to enrich the history of our roots. Sharing of family photos and accounts of social events are part of what we wish to develop in our Stopping Place (see below). |
Historic Stone Fence
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On the Opeongo Line
by Tom Devine On the Opeongo Line I drove a team of bays, One summer, once upon a time, For Hooligan and Hayes, Now that the bays are dead and gone And grim old age is mine A phantom team and teamster Start from Renfrew, rain or shine Aye, dreaming I go teaming On the Opeongo line. |
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Heritage House/Stopping Place
The historic log home was purchased from Wayne Rhode of Grattan Ward of Bonnechere Valley Township. It was located on Wentland Road off Hwy. 41. This house was probably built there in the late 1800s on Lot 18, Concession 17, which was patented to John McCormick on June 26, 1882
It was then sold to Otto R. Bimm in in August 1898 and in October 1903 to Herman Wentland. In November 1930, it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kohlmeir who lived there until 1949 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reinert. In 1966, Gordon and Doris Bochert purchased it and retained ownership until selling it the Mr. and Mrs. Rhode
Relocating the house to the municipal park on the Opeongo is appropriate historically. The park comprises part of lots 50 and 51, Range C North and part of the road allowance between them. The original owner was the first land agent responsible for the settling of the Opeongo, T.P. French. Up until the mid-1860s all Irish, German, Scottish, Polish and other settlers would have had to stop at land agent French's office. It is therefore fitting that the Stopping Place be located there.
In the Spring of 2004, the Sebastopol Heritage and Historic Society began the task of moving the house to its present location - check out some of the pictorial highlights below:
It was then sold to Otto R. Bimm in in August 1898 and in October 1903 to Herman Wentland. In November 1930, it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kohlmeir who lived there until 1949 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reinert. In 1966, Gordon and Doris Bochert purchased it and retained ownership until selling it the Mr. and Mrs. Rhode
Relocating the house to the municipal park on the Opeongo is appropriate historically. The park comprises part of lots 50 and 51, Range C North and part of the road allowance between them. The original owner was the first land agent responsible for the settling of the Opeongo, T.P. French. Up until the mid-1860s all Irish, German, Scottish, Polish and other settlers would have had to stop at land agent French's office. It is therefore fitting that the Stopping Place be located there.
In the Spring of 2004, the Sebastopol Heritage and Historic Society began the task of moving the house to its present location - check out some of the pictorial highlights below:
Heritage House before renovations
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Tom Kaddits contemplates job at hand
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Verner Hass removes old chinking
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Reg Benoit, Lornie Foran and Wayne Rodde examine house deed
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Dodging wires on route
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Easy does it
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Come on in
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The finished job
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Tribute to Lornie Foran
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
Island to be renamed Lornie Foran Island
Lornie's attachment to Lake Clear was obvious to all who knew him, as was his passion for conservation of the lake's natural and cultural heritage. A founding board member of the LCC, Lornie was instrumental in bringing about the Conservancy's acquisition of Green Island and the Twin Islands. In honour of Lornie's many contributions to the LCC and to the community at large, the LCC has applied to the Ontario Geographic Names Board to have the name of Little Rock changed to Lornie Foran island.
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
Island to be renamed Lornie Foran Island
Lornie's attachment to Lake Clear was obvious to all who knew him, as was his passion for conservation of the lake's natural and cultural heritage. A founding board member of the LCC, Lornie was instrumental in bringing about the Conservancy's acquisition of Green Island and the Twin Islands. In honour of Lornie's many contributions to the LCC and to the community at large, the LCC has applied to the Ontario Geographic Names Board to have the name of Little Rock changed to Lornie Foran island.
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The beauty of Lake Clear was not lost on Canada's art community, and the tiny island known as Little Rock at the west end of the lake has figured prominently in the paintings of famous Canadian artists such as A.Y. Jackson and Charles Comfort, not to mention our own artist-in-residence, John Almstedt. The controversy surrounding the little building with the big red roof constructed on the island came to a happy conclusion with the gifting of the island by its owner to the Lake Clear Conservancy on July 1, 2006.. LCC's team of able volunteers soon removed the building from the island, and undertook the required landscaping to restore the island to its natural state. We hope the residents of the west end of the lake will enjoy the view!
Lake Clear lost one of its most fervent advocates with the passing of Lornie Foran on July 2, 2005. His attachment to Lake Clear was obvious to all who knew him, as was his passion for conservation of the lake's natural and cultural heritage. A founding board member of the LCC, Lornie was instrumental in bringing about the Conservancy's acquisition of Green Island and the Twin Islands. In honour of Lornie's many contributions to the LCC and to the community at large, the LCC has applied to the Ontario Geographic Names Board to have the name of Little Rock changed to Lornie Foran island. Click Here for More Historical Notes |
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