TORONTO BRANCH - for United Empire Loyalists

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Toronto Branch
S
oft light from the glittering chandelier in the ballroom of the Old St. Lawrence Hall enhanced the
handsome attire of the ladies and gentlemen attending the annual Christmas Dinner held December 2,
1970.
New members of Toronto Branch and guests from Governor Simcoe Branch were present, in addition to
an excellent attendance, of the membership. Head table guests were: Branch President Mr. Richard L.
Mudge and Mrs. Mudge; Association President Mr. Michael Spohn and Mrs. Spohn; Mr. and Mrs.
Stanley Honsberger; Mr. Philip Smart; Mrs. Stanley Clark and Dr. and Mrs. Fred Branscombe.
Enthusiastic participants in carol singing before and after dinner was under the up-tempo leadership of
David Low, pianist. His talented wife, Gaynor Jones, soprano, delighted the audience with solos chosen
from carols both modern and ancient.
1971 Autumn
A
t the Toronto Branch May meeting, three members spoke on research sources. The three were Mrs.
Robert Kirk, Mrs. Basil McGillivray and Mr. Arless Flint, who keep excellent files for Toronto
Branch in our 'back room'. Incidentally, we learned lineage with much history of the Dorland and
Richardson families. Mrs. McGillivray showed how a simple Sunday class card led to the placing of an
ancestor in Metcalfe Township when, before visiting the Methodist Archives in Victoria College, she had
no more leads than the card. Mrs. Kirk showed how one can document a lineage through any one of four
or five different sources, anyone being sufficient. Mr. Flint showed a history around the riddle of who was
Sarah Dorland; after a few clues we find her to be a Miss Booth.
On June 12 thirty-seven persons turned out for a sunny and humid picnic at Black Creek Pioneer Village.
Sunburns were the order of the day for some of us. We picnicked at tables set in an open hollow, while
several cows lunched nearby to emphasize the bucolic setting. Coffee and tea were served on the spot.
Afterwards most of us toured the village houses and, barns, at our own speed. The rain held off until
evening. For a smoothly organized day, we have Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Strahm to thank. In addition,
Miss Jeanice MacLaren, Miss Isobel Robertson and Mrs. Hilda Jackson helped meet us at the gate. We
were glad to see Mrs. Lawrence Smith out.
At the Toronto Branch general meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 1971, President Mudge pointed out the
exhibition of the paintings in oil and lithography by Lillian McGeogh, a member of the Women's Art
Association . and of Toronto Branch U.E.L. Association.
Two student violinists, sisters Marlene and Phyllis Dankiew, accompanied by their teacher, Miss Gundy,
played lively Bach third movement from his concerto in D Minor, and then a Slavic Dance.
Dr. Fred Branscombe introduced John Churchill, a twenty-eight year old film producer, who spoke on
production, problems and fun with filming a documentary. He learned not to overfeed hens before the
cameraman is ready to shoot. Dr. Branscombe ran the projector. We saw two samples of ten-minute
movies aimed at the twelve year old student depicting Household Crafts and Recreation. For every ten
minutes of good film we see, there are ninety minutes behind the camera, plus other worries. The movies
were good from a sociological viewpoint for the film implied how interdependent pioneer people were on
each other. The actors and the location were all of Black Creek, Pioneer Village.
Dr. F. R. Branscombe introduced the first in a series of speakers of 'Telling it as it was'. Mrs. Jean Smith
has lectured at schools in costume, with her collection of wooden ware such as maple syrup buckets and