Visitors were able to step back in time at the Glenorchy Community Festival in the Trafalgar Township Historical Society Pavilion! The successful festival was held at Fowley Park on Post Road, north of Dundas in North Oakville, 12noon to 5pm.
Visitors were able to watch our school teacher demonstrate the finer points of ringing the Palermo schoolhouse bell. We had vintage school books that visitors could browse through. Each text book is a piece of history used in the Trafalgar Township schools. Many were able to try their hand at using chalk and chalkboards to take notes.
Our our country farm maid was showing visitors that it was hard work hard to wash clothes. Of course, kids had more fun with the bubbles that were made with the hand plunger in the washtub. The vintage sock stretch drying rack was a feature that surprised many people, mainly at its large size.
In our Pavilion, there were several vintage toys from the past (no batteries required!). Many of the kids were able to try their hand with the challenge posed by each toy. And we even had some adults try their hand.
Visitors were able to pinpoint where their home was located on the 1858 Map of Halton County. Trafalgar Township is 1 of the 4 townships in Halton County. Visitors were able to explore the map in more detail, as we had a map insert that showed many local historical farms, inns and pioneer cemeteries
Overall, it was a hands-on history day for kids and adults alike. We look forward to next year’s Glenorchy Festival.
Note: The community of Glenorchy never had a large population and had all but vanished until the city of Oakville expanded into the area with the many new sub-divisions. Glenorchy Conservation Area protects 400 hectares of environmentally sensitive land containing both the Sixteen Mile Creek Valley and Trafalgar Moraine.