Meeting minutes June 18, 2008
Presiding: President Mike Sheehan
Team#3was responsible for this evening
Invocation:Keith Sherman
Introduction: Norm Narancsik
Thanks: Paul Bradford
Attendance/Greetings: Coral Sheehan
Sergeant at Arms: Erik Tremblay
Guests: Mary Gladwin (guest speaker), Bill McLeish, Joan Sherman
Present: Mike and Coral Sheehan, Norm Narancsik, Steve Halyk, Keith and Joan Sherman, Wim Duizer, Peter VanWees, Paul Leroy, John Garton, Rick Kiers, Rama Murthi and Paul Turner
Fine master Eric fined Steve for showing up too late. After that Eric showed that we are a club with very happy members. We had the following happy bucks:
- Wim Duizer for a good performing Dutch team at European Championship Soccer
- Eric was happy because this time Manon has received a ticket for speeding. Also happy for the good turnout at Rotary Medals and at WDDS
- Paul Bradford was happy to come home save and sound form trip to Montreal
- Paul Turner thanked everybody for the pledges he received for 'the Relay for Live' walk. He was the highest individual fundraiser for this event. Congratulations !
- Keith is just home from 5 weeks of holidays and he and Joan are still happily together at this meeting
- Norm attended Tavistock meeting Monday together with Mike and Eric to celebrate 60th anniversary
- Peter van Wees his oldest grandson graduates from University of Toronto
- Steve Halyk is extremely happy for being married to his dear wife Susan for 22 years. Congratulations !
Norm introduced the guest speaker Mary Gladwin.
Mary told us about the history of the Oxford County Board of Health building. This building is originally build in 1853 and was finished in 1855 and cost in that time 5,000 pounds. At that time the building was build as a jail (Gaol) for the District of Brock.
The style of this building is Italianate Romanesque with Tuscan Gothic details. It is constructed in a cruciform plan.
Life in prison was hard in those days. The food was mainly bread with some meat and potatoes. Each prisoner had his own cell. Sometimes whole families lived in jail because dad was convicted (there was no income). In total there were 5 hangings for murder. First one convicted was Thomas Cook, Lord Somerset, Norman Garfield, Lizzie Tilford and last Velibor Rajik. He was hanged on November 16, 1954.
The jail was county operated until 1968 when the Province of Ontario took over administration. By 1977 the Province closed the Oxford County Jail. In June 1986 the Oxford County Board of Health took possession of the buidling.
More information can be found at the Oxford County Archives, 12 Vine St., Beachville, tel. (519) 423-1928. This is the most complete pre-1850 archive of the Province of Ontario. Everybody is welcome to visit.
Rama asked if the archives are open for public and this the case. Paul Bradford asked if somebody is writing a book about Oxford County History. This is more done by the separate townships as far as Mary knows.
Bil Mcleish asked what District of Brock was. This was pretty much the current County of Oxford.
Paul Bradford thanked the guestspeaker.
President thanked John Garton for the excellent evening at Rotary Medals. Thank you !!
Norm mentioned that June 26 there is an award ceremony at the District. Cost are only $ 15,= for dinner and everybody is welcome.
John Garton reminds Steve and Eric that they have to present a cheque to students at June 24.
Bill McLeish mentions a hands on project for Habitat for Humanity' Ingersoll Club is leading this project.
8.00 pm meeting adjourned