There's A Factory On Our Street

The movie is finished!!

Here's the movie

Northern Rubber in The Ward, Guelph Ontario

Alison has lived up to her end of the bargain, rendering this picture of Northern Rubber in pastels as part of our documentary project.

Now we just have to put the movie together.

She's good at what she does eh?!

Northern Rubber (now Chemtura) by Alison Walton

While Alison has been creating this picture, I have been filming and trying to figure out editing.

I have also been reading "The Massey Murder" by Charlotte Gray. Interestingly it talks about 'The Ward' in Toronto: a working class neighbourhood of the early 1900's, that was neglected, often had issues with clean water and disease, and was considered the seedy or dangerous part of town.

Ward Kids Toronto

The Ward Walking Tour

Welcome to The Ward Documentary blog. Throughout these pages I will document the making of a documentary film about something in The Ward.

You can read about the Hidden History Documentary Project HERE. You can even make your own documentary!

The Guelph Arts Council leads historic walks through Guelph and here we are at Toronto and Short Street enjoying a tidbit about a charming home from the 1860's

May Warren and Chris Seto of the Guelph Mercury have done a bang-up job of reporting on the walk. See HERE

Now, that the walks are done for the time being, it is time to focus on the movie making. Stay Tuned.

Guelph Carpet and Spinning Mills

I am a camera

I guess I wont be strapping this to my bicycle helmet 

OK, now this is getting really scary. Now we have to produce something. This week we're learning how to use the camera AND learning a ton about movie making to the point where we're asking ourselves "who the heck wants to do this stuff?"

The concept for the movie keeps changing minute by minute. The project has just started and all ready I feel completely lost. HEY maybe that's it?!

"Lost in the Ward" a documentary.

The Ward Doc

Welcome to the St. Patrick's Ward documentary blog.

Here is where we'll document the making of a documentary. Another example of the information age on steroids, documenting documentary making...sheesh.

The Project:
Make a 2-3 minute documentary about a person, interesting story, place or point of interest stemming from The Ward in Guelph Ontario. Enter the documentary in "Hidden Histories" a component of the Guelph Film Festival. Details HERE

Now, Jay, that's me, and Alison have never made a movie before.

The good folks at Ed Video, have said they will hold our hand every step of the way, BUT, we still have to come up with the concept, shoot it, add audio, and edit.

So, to begin: the concept.

I've been gathering some stories, interviewing residents and reading up on The Ward because I lead historic walks through the place in the summer and fall.

There's lots of history, starting with Sir John A MacDonald buying up the land because he heard a rumour there might be a train coming through Guelph.

The train is a prominent feature of the Ward, as is the Speed River, several foundries, textile and rubber manufacturing, market gardens, small business and lots of exceptional people,

We're going to try and bring as much of that to this documentary as possible (2-3 minutes remember) BUT the documentary will focus on an activity - rendering a building in pastels, (making a picture) all the while discovering what we can about its location, when it was built, who lived in it, what did they do, what was going on in the ward when the house was built and so on.

How will we select which building? Well oddly enough it will having nothing to do with its history, architecture, materials or owners. Alison, the artist is just going to pick out a building that she likes and wants to create in pastels. In fact, you see, the documentary about the documentary has already begun...

The Ward Project Website

And speaking of the Ward. Can anyone tell me who runs Thewardproject.omeka website?

Lifting an image without giving credit is the fastest way to find out who owns the site.

Let's try it and see if we get a response.

This is a lovely picture! Nice to see the Opera House. Stay tuned for other posts about theatre in Guelph.
http://thewardproject.omeka.net/exhibits/show/the-industries-of-st--patrick-/industry-ward-pages

A cultural centre off centre?

I'm starting a rumour. I think The Ward is a magnet for artistic expression in Guelph. Help me to dispel this rumour by proving it true.

The evidence is mounting. There is Guelph Little Theatre on Morris Street (doing a Ward One Acts festival no-less)

Studio 404 on York Street, home to a photography studio and all sorts of visual, performing and other art related activities, as well as a great place to hold a hospitality event!

There's also Ed Video within Studio 404 but very much extending throughout the community by sharing equipment, knowledge and encouraging video - making (like this project!)

Then there is the Guelph Jazz Festival. For 2015 the main stage events will be held at Guelph Little Theatre.

I also hear news of Pandora's Sox moving into Studio 404 every Sunday afternoon this July for some special puppet performances for kids.

Malleable Iron and the Church of the Universe

One of Guelph's biggest employers, now a brownfield awaiting environmental clearance, the International Malleable Iron Co. site was also, for a time, home to Walter Tucker's "Church of the Universe" (love the name!).

Walter Tucker, squatted on the Malleable Iron site (1997). His religion included use of Marijuana and disrobing (dancing naked).



His knowledge of law (a self taught lawyer - thanks to his dad) helped him to avoid immediate eviction from abandoned industrial sites (he squatted in Preston too!).

Damn. He sure looks happy!

Walter Tucker, like the poet James Gay, represents those flamboyant characters that make up a town's story. Walter's story is fodder for another documentary. Any takers?

James Walter Lyon

Lyon's home "Wyoming"

One can't talk about The Ward without mentioning James Walter Lyon. He ran The World Publishing Company, noted for producing an Encyclopedia. He lived on Queen Street in the house called Wyoming.

JWL bought up 400 acres in the Ward. His plan to give land to industry, while selling plots to prospective employees, contributed to rapid growth as many industries, located in The Ward.





My fascination with James however is because he hired an accountant by the name of William Harvey. If you come on my walk, I'll gladly tell you the story of the Harvey Murders which is now a play looking to be produced!

Jerk 'em up gallows

The William Harvey story is fascinating and brings together many elements in Guelph. After all Guelph was then becoming home to Homewood and the "not guilty by reason of insanity" issue was first played out here.

As was the use of a new hanging technique called the "jerk 'em up method". The Harvey case inflamed the issue of prohibition and put Guelph on the national stage as William Harvey's case was discussed extensively in newsprint across the new country called Canada.

More images and anecdotes.

Still standing.

Welcome to the Ward Doc Blog. As we await filming of the documentary...
this picture reminds me of the story about the boy (a Valeriote I think?) who, after raking leaves noticed the wind scattering them about the yard.  His father suggested burning the leaves so the boy raked the pile into the shed (to get out of the wind) and set them on fire.

He burned the shed down, resulting in papa getting a new shed thanks to a fire insurance policy.

These and other tales can be heard during the Ward Walk - Sunday June 28 at 2pm. Meet at Tytler School 131 Ontario Street.

Thanks to Terry Crowley for the book that accompanies the walk.