DECEMBER 15th, 2015
By LANA CARBON & JOHN LILIES
[Lana] In a world full of modern conveniences, it can sometimes be difficult to imagine what life was like back in the 1800’s (don’t just try to Google it, it isn’t the same). Without the internet, movies or television, so many people would be at a loss… but what if they didn’t even have electricity? It’s okay. We still have our electricity. It was only an exercise in pretending. Please don’t panic. If the scenario has you intrigued however… read on.
We wanted to do something special this year in honour of the holidays and when we saw that the Black Creek Pioneer Village was hosting their Christmas by Lamplight event on one of the days we were free to attend, we bought our tickets right away.
[John] I had attended this event once, about six or seven years ago, and had a fun time so I wanted to take Lana and share the experience with him. I knew he would truly enjoy it.
[Lana] Located in York Region, the Black Creek Pioneer Village opened its doors in 1960 as a representation of how a community would have existed in the early to mid-1800s in Southern Ontario. The farmlands of Daniel and Elizabeth Stong (the first European pioneers on the land) are the heart of the village. This includes their first home which was built in 1816 and barn, as well as their second home built in 1832; all of which having been meticulously restored. The village would also boast a blacksmith shop, a store, another home and a church. Over the next couple of decades, the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (now simply the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) saved other historical buildings from all over Southern Ontario and transplanted them to the 30 acre Village.
The staff dress in period costumes of course, and talk about life back in that era while demonstrating their jobs (blacksmith, telegraph operator, baker, etc.) or showing how it was to try to take care of homes with such large families.
For these reasons alone, we would have gone to enjoy the old stories, sights and sounds but at this time of year, the tour is even more special. This is when the Christmas spirit invades the Village. Christmas by Lamplight is what they call those evenings where they stay open late to allow their guests to experience the Village by candlelight.
I must add at this point that John is so creative that she crafted our very own lanterns to take with us. They were light, easy to carry, looked great and received many compliments from the others enjoying the festivities.
[John] Aw shucks. Thanks. I don’t think they were really that creative; I wanted us to have lanterns to carry like everyone else would have but our budget meant – well, low-budget lanterns, so I figured I would just make them. Nothing fancy.
[Lana] The tinsmith was our first stop and we were given the simplest but extremely cool little decorations to be hung on the tree or, if held properly and blown on with the appropriate amount of breath, became spinners.
The Edgeley Mennonite Meeting House was our first taste of Christmas music as we walked in to hear two gentlemen playing Jingle Bells while three youngsters accompanied them with sleigh bells.
It wasn’t too much further along the pathway until we came to the bonfire with the carolers. It was at this moment that the nostalgia of simpler times washed over me. I could imagine that small town community where all the neighbours went out to share in their holiday spirit by singing together.
A couple stops later we found ourselves in the old Town Hall. I don’t think it would have been possible to cram more people inside but everyone was willing to put up with the tight quarters to make their own beaded ornaments…a souvenir from a time long past but made with those we love today.
The next homestead held great interest for us. The building itself was gorgeous…everything I would picture for a larger home of that era. The house belonged to a doctor who ran his practice from within those very walls. Here we also had the opportunity to listen as more carols were played, this time on a gorgeous piano in the sitting room. This was also the start of a new trend…holiday snacks. Just a little, only enough for a taste, but oh so good.
[John] It was lovely watching and listening to the pianist casually entertain everyone. His music was beautiful and really filled the room with a special ambiance. I wanted to sit on the chesterfield and get cozy with a blanket and hot cup of cocoa and take it all in, watching his fingers dance over the keys.
[Lana] The next couple of buildings were too busy to stay for very long; apparently everyone loves to hear about printing presses and blacksmithing. The shoemaker’s home had become Santa’s temporary home (cobbler’s elves / Santa’s elves… I think I’m seeing the connection here) and as much as we love Santa, we thought we would give the kiddies a chance to visit with him so we moved on.
The Burwick House was the highlight of the night for us. We walked inside to the sound of old folk music. Three musicians (a guitarist, fiddler and banjo player) were playing beautiful toe-tapping tunes that we just had to stick around for. It was a heart-warming thing for me to see John’s face light up with a huge smile.
[John] I would not hesitate to say this was my favourite house in the Village. I’m a big fan of the fiddle and, well, a fan of music. These gentlemen made me incredibly happy and I did not want to leave. It took me back a few years to my cousin’s house at Christmas, with her dad playing guitar, her brother playing the fiddle and everyone singing along. This was a fantastic part of our evening; recalling it now makes my heart smile.
[Lana] Somehow we managed to pull ourselves away and continued with our adventure. We took a quick stroll through the one classroom school and across the bridge to see the impressive Roblin Mill (the last working stone mill in the Toronto area). I really wish it had been open for us to explore. Also located in this little section of the Village was the church and minister’s home. Personally the most interesting thing that I found here was the Noah’s Ark play set. Everything from the Ark to each animal was carved out of wood. These were simple toys for the children which allowed their imagination to run free.
We backtracked then to the home stretch, as it were. The only building we had yet to visit was the Halfway House Inn, which in this case meant halfway to your destination on the other end of town. The bar area was set up for games as well. Across the hall was a huge dining area fully decked out with Christmas dinner and all the fixins. We didn’t end up going upstairs to the actual rooms, or downstairs which now houses the Black Creek Brewery (both were just far too crowded).
The next stops were the buildings which started it all…the houses of the Stong family. There was certainly a huge (figuratively and literally) difference between their first and second houses. Set up only a couple dozen feet apart you could see how prosperous they had become over those couple decades between the homes being built. I still have no idea how a family of nine could possibly have lived in a two-bedroom home.
[John] It did make me wish I could be less dependent on material things taking up space. However, material things we do have and our books alone would fill half that house, and Lana’s DVD collection… well… suffice it say there would certainly not be room for nine people to occupy any space after the movies were added.
[Lana] Laskay’s Emporium was the true hub of the village. It was a true general store acting as everything from grocer, hardware, clothing, boots and shoes and post office. Here we made our own embossed Christmas cards and were able to send a Morse Code telegraph (which we dedicated to all our readers).
[John] It still amazes me that people could learn to be proficient in Morse Code. Being able to watch the telegraph operators translate our message into a series of choreographed taps on a little machine was mesmerizing for me. I wished we could spend more time observing the process but we did have to move along and so after retrieving our message (from the other side of the shop), we pressed on.
[Lana] With only two brief stops along the remainder of this main road at the saddle and harness shop (where we learned about the different bells used depending on how many horses were pulling your sleigh/carriage) and the firehouse with the old water pumper, we were back to where this whole adventure had begun. There was only one side road which we had yet to take and we had purposely saved it until the end. We barely re-read the sign as our pace quickened. We were on our way to get some hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts (hot cider was also available for those who enjoy that sort of thing). With hot drinks in hand, we decided we would return to the much more modern ticket area/museum/gift shop.
[John] This was Lana’s first time trying roasted chestnuts; he was not a fan. I however, quite enjoyed them and I loved the look on Lana’s face as he tried really hard to appreciate the experience of eating them. It was very entertaining and he did give it a good effort.
[Lana] We took a quick tour of the museum items (including a gingerbread replica of the entire village), picked up a souvenir postcard (as we try to do everywhere we go) and said our fond farewells to the Black Creek Pioneer Village.
[John] This was such a lovely experience and really filled me with the Christmas spirit. It was an odd feeling to roam through the Village as we did, taking in the atmosphere and seeing the employees in period costumes; while planes were flying overhead and street traffic was flowing through one of Ontario’s major universities across the street. Regardless, it was a special night for us both and I am very happy I made us lanterns to carry as it added a lot to the experience; and the light was quite welcome in some of the areas we crossed, as darkness flooded most parts.
[Lana] For anyone in the area, or who is thinking of a vacation to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), we strongly suggest a visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village any time of the year but especially during the Christmas by Lamplight festival.
(*Side note to our friends of the paranerdal nature, there is also a ghost tour in the fall nearing Hallowe’en, for those so inclined.)
