MERRITTON MATTERS

Art Barclay
By Tom Barwell
Merritton is mourning the loss of one
of its own. Art Barclay, whose family
name is well known in Merritton,
recently passed away. Art was a big
man and a gentle giant type of guy.
But for his size he was surprisingly
light on his feet. This enabled him to
be a very good athlete. I remember him playing basketball for
Merritton High School and he was one of the better players.
Baseball was another one of his favourite sports and he played
at all levels in Merritton. One little episode has stuck in my
mind even though it happened over 50 years ago. It was a
midget game and it was being played at Kernahan Park against
our hated rivals, St. Catharines. Art came up in a dream
situation. His team was losing by three runs in the bottom of
the last inning and heads were hanging. Up comes Art. The
pitch was thrown and with one mighty swing he belted the
ball out of sight. Game over. As Art came trundling down the
third base line, he was surrounded by his team who were all
yelling and screaming. His reaction? Next to nothing. That’s
the way he was. Humble to the core. Just a great person. I lost
track of him over the years but I was not surprised to learn of
his activities socially in the area. Now, tragically, he is gone,
well before his time. But, I am sure that up among the stars he
has hit another grand slam. God bless you Art and thanks for
the memories.
The Evolving of a Neighbourhood
(continued from last issue)
Editor’s Note: The gremlins must have been at work in the Fall/Winter issue because the
last paragraph of the article ‘The Evolving of a Neighbourhood’ on page 15 became lost in
the printing process. The only positive thing about it was that so many of you noticed it
was missing and wrote or telephoned to let us know. (Thanks to Mel Lawrence of Trenton
Ontario for being the first to alert us!) We have apologized to our writer Phyllis Thomson
(and promised her a lifetime supply of tea so she’ll keep writing for us) and we have
reprinted the conclusion of this article.
Synopsis....The little area to the west of Burleigh Hill was originally a dairy farm
owned by Francis Wark. It became a subdivision of thirty-six homes in the ‘60’s, but
has remained relatively obscure, hidden as it is at the foot of the escarpment…….
Conclusion....There have been a few larger homes added to the area since l960, but
basically it has retained its small neighbourhood status with only one road serving
both in and out traffic to/from Burleigh Hill Drive which seems to have worked pretty
well for many years. But no neighbourhood is totally perfect, and I’m sure there have
been some challenges along the way and I witnessed one on my recent visit to the
area. Ste-Marguerite French Speaking School, which replaced St. Patrick’s school in
l989, and the adjoining Day Care Centre, appears to have grown in popularity and
population and with that has come traffic problems as cars arrive to pick up or deliver
the children and have no place to park except along the narrow street leading in and
out of Burleigh Hill. And I understand that there is now a proposal to build several
townhouses where Rockdale and Warkdale meet, which is cause for concern for the
residents and, having lived there, I can understand their consternation. But, from my
point of view, this remains a unique little community.
I MERRITTON MATTERS