Friends of Auchmar

Having some fun bringing images from the past back to life. Does colour help us imagine a bit more acuately what the mood was like? Take a look at the convalescing wounded airmen in the years 1943-1945 having some fun golfing on the green created on the north side of the manor.

A different perspective of the south side of the manor house. Time era: Sisters of Social Service ownership circa 1950s or 60s. Full foliage- summer picture? Second photo: the North side ( Front of the manor). I’d love to be sitting in the lawn chairs under the tree (lower right) !!!

This is the Dovecote. One of the three remaining in all of Canada (one other is at Dundurn Castle). The photo is from the 1950s during the first two decades of the Hungarian Sisters of Social Service ownership of Auchmar. If you look at the dovecote today, you will note the details which have disappeared.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLF2W1Glnd9/?igshid=wfmhbpyn3ozx If you are on Instagram, you can follow us there, too!!! Here’s an interesting image of the south side of Auchmar ... note the canopy over the main door.

Looking westward at the Dovecote and Stables (from near the current eastern boundary?). Notice the building between the Dovecote and Stables or is that the Manor House beyond the stonewall. Also, the grounds are clear of scrub vegetation and no large trees and pines block the Dovecote.

D.DAY, JUNE 6, 1944 THE HOMEFRONT (R.C.A.F. CONVALSESCENT HOSPITAL NO. 2)... Flight Lieutenant Dr. Philip A. Voelker had many things to consider on this Tuesday. People unknown to him were heading into Normandy. James Stocky Edwards was in his Spitfire. John Douglas Young landed at Juno Beach. R.C.A.F.Convalescent Hospital No. 2 (Young Division) had been operational for nine months. Among the items on his desk was the monthly return covering all patients treated at C.H. No.2. Each of the six facilities was required to submit these returns to the R.C.A.F. Dr. Voelker oversaw the treatment, phsyiotherapy and rehabilitation of airmen injured during battle. The men came from England, Australia, New Zealand and from across Canada. All passed through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. All Canadians, passed through one of the Manning Depots. Did Dr. Voelker look back on those days? After graduating from the School of Medicine, University of Toronto and prior to joining the R.C.A.F.and reporting for basic training at Manning Depot No.1, Toronto, Dr. Voelker married Viva Curly Macdonald from Carlyle, Saskatchewan. Together, they established a home and family practice in Waterloo. But back to the phsyiotherapy. Was the camera ready? Dr. Voelker documented the physio regimens. Also, the men were looking forward to this week’s dance. Being far away from home and injured can take its toll on men. When Dr. Voelker learned that one of the recovering airmen was from Carlyle, he brought him home to dinner. They talked the evening away about the towns, prairies and home. Friendships were forged during these years. Men from around the world, men and women from Canada, sharing the wartime years. Letters and memories were exchanged long after V.E. Day and many were thankful. Thank you to Maggie Voelker for sharing a family story.

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades. 2360 Major John Douglas Young (R.M.C. 1933) was the son of James V. Young and Wilmot M. Young of Ottawa Ontario. He served with the Royal Canadian Artillery. He died on June 6, 1944 at 28 years of age.... His name is listed on the Bayeaux Memorial in Bayeuax, Normandy. The J. Douglas Young Sword of Excellence at the Royal Military College of Canada was donated by the Class of 1933 in memory of their Classmate #2360 John Douglas Young (R.M.C. 1933). Source: The Canadian Virtual War Memorial www.veterans.gc.ca//remembr/memorials/canadian-virtual.../ 2628824_7 2628824_8 2628824_13 2628824_12 Original Source: John Douglas Young Photo (top left corner) Hamilton Spectator, November 12, 1944 Photos: 1. John Douglas Young 2. The Stained Glass Window 3. John Douglas Young R.M.C. 4. The J. Douglas Young Sword of Excellence See more

Recording if the recent AGM 29 Oct 2020. Find out about what’s going on with the Auchmar Gate House. https://youtu.be/YO873N2rBqE

VERNON ISLAND Vernon Island, near Beaumaris on Lake Muskoka, was purchased from The Crown in 1881 by Dr. Elias Vernon, a Hamilton physician. He is the father of Georgina Abigail Vernon who married James Mason Young. The Young family used it as a summer place from the beginning. Ownership was transferred into Georgina’s name in 1895.... Twenty years later, the Lusitania was torpedoed in May 1915. James Mason and Georgina Abigail Young were among those who lost their lives. After the death of their parents, Vernon Island was shared by the families of A.V. Pete, J.V. Bill, Annie Kathleen Doug and Elsie. Each family would take half a summer every second year. New properties were purchased. Shares of Vernon Island continued to be passed down to the succeeding generations. Vernon Island is still within the family. Anne Young Lindsey is the current owner. Thank you to Anne Young Lindsey for sharing her memories. The Photograph of Vernon Island is courtesy of Anne Y. Lindsey. See more

FRIENDS OF AUCHMAR VIRTUAL AGM Thursday October 29th - 5:OOpm to 7 :OOpm THEME - THE AUCHMAR GATEHOUSE... Keynote speakers: John Summers - Manager: Heritage Resource Management, City ofHamilton Carolyn Samko - Senior Project Manager, Heritage Facilities & Capital Planning, City of Hamilton Carol Priamo - Heritage Consultant and Artist, Heritage board member of the Beasley Neighbourhood Association Follow our webpage for information on attending virtually.

Only a few more signature required to reach 5000!!! http://chng.it/2wKjFQSyQ6