December 6, 2013

2013 Wine & Cheese

"Sveikt" Latvian Heritage took place two days after a major snow storm which left Lac du Bonnet with a downfall of 10 - 12 inches of snow. The weather that evening was -25 without the wind chill. Needless to say we were concerned that the turnout would be affected.

However at 6:15 pm the guests began to arrive. We had approx. 145 people, which equaled last years' attendance.

Lettonia balsam firs were centerpieces on each table, and a huge Lettonia Balsam was placed beside the four photo display boards and artifacts.The photo displays showcased: Bird River, Lee River, Lettonia, and Newcombe Latvian immigrants, Latvian entrepreneurial spirit, "Janis", Newcombe School, and Lettonia Post Office.

2013 Wine & Cheese

The artifact displays featured John Lapin's story including a home tanned leather jacket and bag, carved wooden tool handles he sold through Osis Building Supply, and homemade soap made by his wife Mary. The Sarapu broad ax was wedged into a hewed dovetailed log and told the story of the Sarapu family barn. There was also displayed a Latvian doll donated by Peggy Yuill (Sarapu), a hand hooked rug, and a Latvian wool blanket on loan from the Apsit family, Latvian woven fabric, embroidery, knitted socks, and mitts from Aina Turton, along with a Latvian inspired embroidered skirt donated by the Dancyt family. There was an original wax paper bread wrapper (framed) circa 1947 from the Usackis Bakery which showcased their 25 years at the bakery. Also showcased was an anvil from Alex Dancyt telling his story, the original Bird River 1924 and 1936 school records, and an old box of sturgeon hooks along side Alfred Apsit photo with a huge sturgeon catch. A color portrait of Arnold Urban playing his accordion done by Gay Kirby, who was Lettonia Albert Johnson's daughter added to the display.

We also had for sale three local history books "Caviar and Venison", "The House Beside the Rock Hill", and "Tramway to the Pointe".

2013 Wine & Cheese

Karen David (Dancyt) was the MC who gave a short story of her grandfather Alex Dancyt coming to Lac du Bonnet from Latvia with just the shirt on his back, becoming a camp cook, laborer, blacksmith, baker, and eventually a store and dance hall owner ( Aleda Hall).

She spoke of the Austin street connection in Winnipeg where her mom lived upstairs.

Mary Louise Chown with her Dulcimer and Donna Drysdale (Aina Turton's daughter), accompanied on guitar by her son Jordon, performed Latvian folk tales and songs to the delight of the audience.

Arnold Urban on accordian, Allan Urban on guitar, and Betty Dancyt on keyboard also performed. Betty has been playing with Arnold for 64 years in the Lac du Bonnet area.

Allan was showing the audience a bit of the Urban humor by his intervening comments.

Susan Karklin, Diane Neal, and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Drawson served their homemade pirags to the guests at the tables.

The finger food also consisted of local smoked goldeye and Dancyt's Kurtwurst sausage.

The atmosphere was wonderful, there were tears shed, laughter abound, and friendships reunited. Joyce Alksne shed a tear when a lady brought in her grandfather's citizenship paper from 1918 which had John Alksne's signature on it.

We thank all our local businesses and volunteers who contributed to the success of this event.

December 7, 2012

This year the Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society combined the annual wine & cheese event with a historical tribute to the Ukrainian settlements in the area. The title of the fundraiser was Brightstone our Ukrainian Heritage and welcomed a full house of curious onlookers. Guests were treated to a wonderful array of foods including the ever popular local smoked fish and Mrs. Betty Kondratiuk's Pyrizhky. Various wines were served along with a Ukrainian beer that sold out quickly.

December 15, 2011 - By Marc Zienkiewicz; Lac du Bonnet Leader

For Grant and Derek Erickson of Lac du Bonnet, history runs in the family.

The two brothers took some time out of their evening December 9, 2011 to stop in at the Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society's annual wine and cheese fundraising evening, which celebrates and raises cash for the society's historical museum in Halliday Park.

The museum building is a restored version of the Hans Erickson Log Cabin, formerly located in Old Pinawa.

It was built by Grant and Derek's great-grandfather in 1935.

"He built it for his daughter, Linnea," said Grant. "You don't see many of these old homesteads being preserved. Nowadays people buy land and they tear it down and build a new house."

And while the brothers don't have any memories of their great-grandfather, thinking of the cabin brought back memories of their grandfather Axel (Hans' son), who worked for Manitoba Hydro for years.

The evening was a huge success once again, said historical society president Kathy Willis, with at least 200 people showing up.

The museum will officially open in the spring, and the historical society is already trying to arrange to hire a student to staff it.

The historical society celebrated the opening of the museum earlier this year with a free pork roast, open to everyone in the community. A cake decorated with spruce trees and a log cabin was donated by Waterview Bakery for the occasion.

"We were overwhelmed! Certainly the (hot weather) had something to do with it but our purpose was to thank our volunteers and most of all to let the people of Lac du Bonnet know that they now have a museum to be proud of," Willis said.

December 10, 2010

A Wine and Cheese Fundraiser was held on December 9, 2010, at the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre.

The celebration format has not changed much through the years. A popular draw to the event is the fish smoked locally by one of our members. In additon, a wide variety of appetizers were offered together with crackers and cheeses. Wines from many countries, and including some Canadian beers, were offered for sale. The free punch as always is a popular refreshment. Towards the end of the evening coffee was served together with a wide assortment of home-made dainties.

Each year as in the past years singers and musicians from the community volunteered to entertain the crowd. This year it was the sweet voice of Esme Boone and the gentle sounds of a golden harp that she hand-crafted for herself. The relaxing ambiance is helped by low overhead lighting and the glowing candlelight centering each table.

The crowd generously participated in the purchase of items presented for auction. Also available were 50/50 tickets and door prizes.

It is through the generosity that our community displays at this type of fund-raiser that will allow the Society to complete the building renovations and open it as a museum during the summer of 2011.

Submitted by:
Miriam Simoens, Secretary
The Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society Inc.

December 11, 2009

The Historical Society held its second annual “Wine and Cheese” evening fundraiser on December 11, 2009, at the local community center. This year the special “background” entertainers were three young people, Sarah-Jane Nesbit,

Loreena Kardash and Les Poss using keyboard and vocals. Then, the local Lutheran Church Choir volunteered a few carols to really get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

The 170 guests sat at round tables covered with white cloths upon which Christmas decorations were placed, including candles that sparkled in the dim light.

The festive food tables included delicious home-smoked fish, a variety of cheeses and home-made hors d’oeuvres, with a wide variety of sweet dainties. Although the wine was enjoyed, beer, coffee and a refreshing non-alcoholic punch were also served.

Throughout the evening different types of fund raisers like, 50/50 draw, rainbow auction, silent auction and a game referred to as “Heads and Tails” were played. The Society made a net profit of just over $4000. - tidy sum which will come in handy as renovations of the Hans Erickson cottage continue in 2010.

The Historical Society is most appreciative of all those who so generously contributed with their time, talents and donations to this worthy cause.

Submitted by:
Miriam Simoens, Secretary,
The Lac du Bonnet and District Historical Society Inc.

Lac du Bonnet & District Historical Society is Reactivated

In 2004 the Society was given a mandate to develop a community museum. They have since been restoring an old log cottage built circa 1935, situated nearby the Old Pinawa Dam for use as a museum. It is a fine and rare example of log construction, built by a Norwegian immigrant named Hans Erickson

Erickson was one among many men hired to build the Pinawa Hydroelectric Generating Station between 1903-06. (The generating station closed down in 1951, and then for years the property was used as a training site by the Canadian Army. In the mid 1980’s the Manitoba Government declared it the Pinawa Dam Heritage Park, commonly referred to now as the Old Pinawa Dam.)

The cottage is currently being referred to as the Erickson Cabin, or the Hans Erickson Log Cabin; but it will eventually be called the Lac du Bonnet District Museum. It was designated a historic site and is listed on the Canada’s Historic Places website. It originally received Municipal Heritage Building status through the Provincial Government in 2005; that status was re-assigned once the building was placed on its new foundation in Halliday Park in 2009.

Renovations began at the original site, and continued after the building was moved unto a new foundation at Halliday Park, located nearby the town of Lac du Bonnet. During the summer of 2010 a frame extension was added to the back of the building and sided with log siding, and the log front porch was re-assembled and cedar shingles adjoined all the roof sections. Then a fresh coat of paint, and new windows and doors have given the outside of the old log building the dignity it deserves. Work on the interior of building will be ongoing during the summer months.

The had hoped to celebrate completion of the renovations by hosting a party for the community on the Civic Holiday, September 4th., 2010. Plans are to have a fully functioning community museum during the summer months of 2011.