August 12, 2016
1791
To the Editor:
RE: "Reader has good memories of Clarke Church in Huron Township"
Yes, Bruce (Aitken), we have so many good memories of that little church. My parents were married there and we, as a family, spent all our summers in that wonderful community.
My favourite memories are of the variety concerts in the basement, with Grandpa Ben Farrell and Clarke’s Quartette, the Middelkamp family singing, Sharon Lowry all western with her guitar, the Clelands doing “There’s a hole in my bucket”, and Dick Stanley and Anne Marie hilariously performing too.
As a young girl, I remember going to my aunt’s wedding, and one of the little side pews was reserved just for cousin Anne and me. So special.
My mom told me that for Anniversary Sundays, her mother stayed home to prepare the big dinner, and Ben was given instructions to invite everybody back who had nowhere else to go. At that time, there were always many visitors for that special Sunday, so she said there were unusual groupings of all sorts of people who would not normally be sitting down together for a meal. I imagine the conversations were lively!
One more thing: I will always remember my dad and I singing at the top of our lungs, trying to outdo the organ in an attempt to pick up the pace of the hymns. Sometimes we won, and sometimes Aunt Jean won. It was always a fun battle!
I, too, wish there could have been a better way to say goodbye to Clarke’s Church. However, I am grateful to have an original watercolour by local artist Gloria Messenger. I’m wondering if there is a place for memories, a mini-museum for this area, because I would donate the painting. Maybe the township office? If anyone knows, please pass it on. I asked Gloria to paint it as a gift for my parents, and then copies of it were included in the collage she created for the reunion that year.
I hope other people will write their memories as well, because I’d love to hear more.
Thank you.
Patt (Harrison) Lowry
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