There are many. A trip through the Torrance cemetery reveals much about our community.
This is the grave marker for the contractor, Hal Grossman, who built our house in 1991!
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| Thanks to G8 Tony Clement signage! |
A ripe old codger, he fled Germany. He was also a taxidermist, and had many critters he'd hunted and killed. I remember seeing them in his house.
Hal, as we all called him, was in the German youth organization. He had no choice.
He settled here in Bala and his fine work can be found in many Muskoka buildings. He bought land here, about the same time of all of us old geezers, in 1960 or so. He built a chalet, then built a larger home having married a Brit, they wanted a larger house. He used to blast German music from loudspeakers down the water front, when the lake began to be more populated. He liked his lake quiet!
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| Hal Grossman, circa 70s, with Aunt Adie |
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| Hal cleans up a dead tree for us! |
We'd arrive for a vacation, and he'd complain about the 'G. D. tourists' arriving, smile on his crusty old face, waving a paddle at us!
My parents had Hal build their cottage and subsequent home!
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| Me at the cottage |
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| The cottage, 1960 caption |
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| Cottage 1970s |
There are some very old stones, reflecting the nature of Muskoka's pioneers.
Little babies, far from health care, who died in infancy.
A recent tombstone, Patty Parsons. This is the woman after whom the latest
Habitat Muskoka build is named.
And here is the stone marking my parent's grave. It is a beautiful spot.
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| Josephine & Isabelle visit great-gramma/grampa's grave |
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| Mom & Dad |
Hal, as we all called him, was in the German youth organization. He had no choice.
We'd arrive for a vacation, and he'd complain about the 'G. D. tourists' arriving, smile on his crusty old face, waving a paddle at us!
A recent tombstone, Patty Parsons. This is the woman after whom the latest Habitat Muskoka build is named.
4 comments:
Jenn,
Have you read 'Bala Boy' by David McKee? Quick read, with references to the Torrance cemetery.
I did read it; it was the most difficult read. The spelling, typo and grammatical errors were appalling. A trite story, more like a boy's story. I didn't like it al all. It gives a bad name to elf-published books. I co-published and had a wonderful editor from Kingston, ON.
I love wandering around old cemeteries.
lovely headstones and markers, and the sepia photo with you, so special. There are so many stories to be found, and you showed us some today, lovely man, and his tractor with the log loader at the front. Well, " I want one". We are having a few, or more days, off firewood work right now, till Hugh is back to 100%. Hugs,Jean
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