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18 THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1974 Michael Reesor of Vaughan Town, des- cendant of two pioneer families of this area, one of 23 harnessmakers in Canada, is seen at Young Artisian Bridges 150 Years 01‘ History By MARGARET GOVAN The harness shop .and saddlery at Black Creek Pioneer Village is a very pleasant place to visit. It smells nice: a combination of wax and leather. Everyâ€" thing is neat and orderly and business like. The saddler or “journeyman harness maker" is young and wel- comes you with a smile. His name is Michael Recsor, and his mother was 3 Baker, daughter of Isaac Baker who is also a harness maker and outstanding in his trade, making harness for race horses. It was from him that Mich- ael learned the craft, doing it in the old way, all hand- work, and the sewing done an awl. It was work which Michael found most satisfying. There is pride of work well done, a feeling of relationship with ancestâ€" ors who have lived here for more than 150 years, and a craft which is connected with farming and animals and real life. LANGSTAFF STUDENT That doesn‘t mean that Michael is not part of this modern world. He attended Langstaff Secondary School. sang in the choir, played the 'cello, and is trying his hand at writing. “This work gives me time to think; there are no pres- sures.” It may give him time to ‘think but he also accomp- . with I i I 7 7972/22“ (Photo by Susan Samila) work above in the saddlery at Black Creek Pioneer Village. lishes a good deal of work in the leather line. A complete harness is hung from the rafters. Time to make that was three weeks, with con- stant interuptions for he is there as an “Interpreter” of pioneer life, and has to meet the public whenever the public enters his shop. While I was there a group of senior citizens, out on a spree, arrived. “You could get your belt loosened here,” somebody remarked, and they all left chuckling. “I’ve done od-der things than that," said Michael. “Camera case straps, purse handles, belts and shoes. I don't like shoes because it always seems to be heels, and I don’t know what to do with them." ONE OF 23 We talked about harness “I've been through making. the government census re- port. There are only 23 of them listed in all of Can- ada. I take orders for har- ness." I showed my ignorance by for about harness “They don‘t wear it, asking oxen. just the wooden yoke with , attachments.” “You live in two worlds, a century apart." I suggested. “Is it difficult to move from one to the other?" But Michael doesn't seem to find it so. Perhaps those times when after measuring ‘ the cutting, he is free to go ahead and sew and think, bridge the transition. Gulf Crown 78 POLYESTER/RAVOII BELTED . it . - \4, .» \ \‘x. nann- The Crown 78 belted with 2 plies of polyester re- inforced with 2 belts of rayon to provide excellent cornering, steering and braking. Under normal driv- ing conditions, the Crown 78 is recommended for those who plan to drive up to 30,000 miles. And it's guaranteed for the life of the tread in proportion to wear by over 30,000 Gulf dealers across North America. NOW ONLY s2 WAS $31.95 _ USE YOUR GULF TRAVEL CARD OR CHARGEX SUGGESTED LIST (H\R(;I 50 SIZE G 78-14 BUY NOW WHIL SUPPLIES LAST Available only at FRANK EN GEL 7738 YONGE STREET. THORNHILL DAVE SANDERSON 10826 BAYVIEW AVE. RICHMOND HILL 889- â€" BAYYIEW PLAZA 884-57 0007 31 Not your average service station PHONE 889-5372 There will be a very spec- ial story hour August 21, at 1:30 at the Thornhill Public Library. It. will take the form of a puppet show: the “Adventures of Binkly and Doinkel". Hope you‘ll be there. 9: III it Residents of Thornhill will get an opportunity to learn about the Region of York's Official Plan when the “Regâ€" ,ion Plan Caravan" is located at the Farmers‘ Market for two days in mid-September. The dates are September 13 and 14 and the hours from 10 am to 10 pm. Qualified nel from the region will be constantly in attendance to THIS planning department person-, provide information, broch- ures and to answer quesâ€" tions. * >k * Have you caught up with a new book called “The Watership Downs" by Rich~ ard Adams yet? I hadn‘t until I saw the front page of a Saturday edition of the Globe and Mail, entertain- ment section. devoted to it. It is truly an amazing book for people of all ages. Cur- iously enough it is a story about rabbits, and any young- ster would enjoy it for the simple tale of all the ad- ventures that the rabbits had, although it is long. But for adults it is a different DISPLAY minor hockey matter. So many of our thornhi 1974- support ,present day customs and at- ,‘titudes enter into it in a ‘critical sense through the exciting plot of the story. It really is a remarkable com~i ment on Our times. The‘ library in Thornhill has i quite a number of copies. it (is so much in demand. Thorn~ link with hill history has been broken. Edward Scager died at thcl end of July at the age of 87. He was a farmer as had been An other his ancestors, and his farm - was on Highway 7 about one 1 mile from Yonge Street. He had never married but he left a number of very sor~ rowful nephews and nieces. Their uncle had been the backbone of the family. He has one sister, still living, Miss Minnie Seager who lives on Centre Street. In recent years Mrs. Jack Harrison of John Street, had looked after Mr. Seager. Mr. Seager had attended the Thornhill Public School on Elizabeth Street. It was in 1832 when riding on Yongc St. that Mr. and young men walking up the road. They were twin bro- thers. sons of a Vicar in England, who had emigrated to Canada because of the stories told by an uncle who was captain of a schooner. The Gappers and the Seagâ€" ers discovered mutual friends, so the boys settled in Thornhill. Edward mar- ried Catherine Cane of King Township and became a Re- man Catholic like his wife. He was instrumental. with others, in founding the parâ€" ish of St. Luke's. and buildâ€" ing the church on Church Lane. Edward Seager of this era was a great-grand son, so his roots go down deep into this community, it xk >IK JOHN HARRISON Last June John (Jacki Harrison died. He left his wife, his eldest son, William, of Bayridges, his eldest daughter, Mary June Ver- aecke, who lives in Burford, and George who is in the. Navy stationed at Halifax. The rest of the children are at home: Paul. Michael, Wayne and Lynn. Mr, Harrison had been ov- erseas during the last war, with the RCOC. 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