40 years, it is hard to believe that the A. Sheila Boyd Foundation has been in existence since 1984. Looking back to the 1890s when a group of like-minded citizens decided that Bobcaygeon needed a library. At that time libraries were called Mechanics Institute. These were generally aimed at working people. Early days Thomas Need, having brought many books with him from England, loaned out his books (for a small amount of money!) to local settlers. The first Mechanics Institute was located upstairs in the then known Taylor Building on Bolton (Boulton) St. Open only one or two evenings a week and geared to working people. Early names involved in this enterprise are all recognizable today. (This early library was moved to the bottom floor of the Masonic Lodge, or known at that time, as the Orr Building. Sheila Boyd, a very community minded person, was considering the Boyd Lumber Office (empty for many years) as a possible permanent site for the local library. Her close friend, Amy Cosh, the librarian at that time, certainly would have encouraged Sheila to consider the Boyd Building as a library site. Plans were made and because the library could never afford the entire building, Sheila and her brothers suggested the Village of Bobcaygeon move to the center section of the building and the Township of Verulam (and the Hydro Commission) in the former office of Mossom Boyd. This would allow the library to afford to stay in the original two front rooms. The front room of the Boyd Building was the Boyd children’s private school room. Bobcaygeon and Verulam both supported the library. In the 1960s Sheila built on the 3rd room as the non-fiction room and the art room (for showing and teaching art classes). She also built in a small bathroom (the first in the building!).
The library was still supported by a group of volunteers who raised funds, cleaned and supported the library. In 1984 a well-known local business man (John Brown) and another Board member suggested that this volunteer group apply for incorporation status so they could own property. The Board moved on this suggestion and achieved incorporation status in 1984. Sheila Boyd died in 1982 and the Board named this new incorporated group the ‘A. Sheila Boyd Foundation’. As the deed stated, the three groups owned the Boyd Building and if one party left, the building would revert to the remaining parties. In 1998 Bobcaygeon moved to their new building and the Boyd Building was then shared with Verulam Township and the Library. In 2000, you guessed it, Verulam was swept into the City of Kawartha Lakes. Our lawyer suggested the Foundation allow the City to own the former Verulam section and the responsibility of building maintenance would be shared 50/50, as per the original deed. The City then allowed the local Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Transport to occupy the Verulam section.
In 2024 the MTO and Bobcaygeon Chamber moved to the Service Center and the good ‘ole’ Sheila Boyd Foundation now owns the whole shebang. By the end of April or May the keys will be turned over to the Foundation. Who woulda thunk it! I think Sheila would be very pleased.
We have rented out the third room to an art group, who meet twice a month, different local groups renting space for special events, special shows, birthday parties etc. The art room continues to hold our art shows and provide meeting space for special interest groups. I have had displays throughout this space this past winter. Wedding gowns, 23 gowns on display in the front room, second, third and if events took over the upper rooms the ladies had to cool their heels in the Art Room. Carolyn has had on-going book sales, only coming down when the rooms are rented out for other occasions, and these book sales have literally kept the lights on in the building. Carolyn is the only Board member from the early 1980s. Over 40 years of volunteering!
I may be next for longevity and then Larry Weiler (our Archivist) is next. It has been quite a ride. Now moving into Mossom Martin Boyd’s office, finally a bit of space for the three of us. Sue Rasksen (secretary/bookkeeper ) will probably have our office, giving Willy Boyd his office back (The Trent Valley Navigation Co.). Our volunteer reference book person (Viv Leigh) has been using the slant top professor’s desk in the front room.
The far space (MTO space) needs some serious cleanup work, and then do we rent that out to help maintain the whole building? Or use it for archive and collections space? Lots of decisions have to be made. To get from one side of the building to the other we may have to use roller skates!
Unfortunately, I am late with this newsletter, but we have been working hard getting these new rooms ready. We have also accepted a very large ‘walking spinning wheel’, a small spinning wheel and a wool winder, an 1886 Singer Sewing machine and out of the blue we were asked to accept a large cabinet (1889) from the Curling Club with all of the trophies from the 1880s up to 2000. I would hate to see this collection of memorabilia just thrown out. Settler’s Village have also loaned John Belcher’s slanted desk to us. It would be lovely to have a copy of his early architectural drawings. Forgot, a couple of early 1900’s photographs of Gardiner Cust Boyd rowing for his school at Oxford and the rowing oars used here on Pigeon Lake. The oars will be mounted above the photo. So, these also are now in Mossom Boyd’s original office. Our office will now be moved into the MTO space. The next move for our office will be out in the parking lot. A fair bit of work has to be done before we actually move the desks in. Walls have to be repaired and painted. Floors cleaned and revitalized. The City will remove all of the electrical stuff (used by the MTO). Sue assures me that we can afford the whole building. We are planning many fund-raising activities throughout the summer and into the late fall.
Again, for the second year in a row we have not received funds for a student. This is most unfortunate. Carolyn, Sue and I are trying to figure out the hours we can operate. Carolyn’s book sales are every day (as long as the space has not been rented out) but we are realizing the books actually keep us afloat. The number of special events (teas) etc. are icing on the cake.
This past weekend a special birthday for a very special lady was held. Barb Craven’s 90th. The rooms looked beautiful. These special events help us and showcase the building. The comments are always very positive. Mostly ‘I had no idea this building was sooooo beautiful in here’. Good enough eh!
All the wedding ladies rest in the art gallery while a special show is using the upper rooms.
Honestly, we have been very busy getting the new sections up to snuff and holding book sales and special events in the old library rooms. The MTO space is being refurbished, painted etc. By the time we walk from the old library space to the new office and show room the cookies or muffins we have with our morning tea are well deserved. We will walk off the extra pounds.
Sylvia Green and Joyce Bryon have created a really neat brochure to commemorate our 40th. Thanks to our sponsor/members for their support.
I am going to sign off these notes now, opening day this Saturday and Monday, Wendy and Joyce B. are holding a ‘Happy 40th’ complete with cake, thanking Sheila for her initial donation. Thanks to all those early Board members up to the present Board for their work and dedication to keep this building throughout her many guises, standing.
Wendy Hall has been writing a monthly newsletter keeping everyone up to date on the mischief we are up to between the two Papers.
Hope to see you this summer, come by and ‘see us now!’
May 2024 - Barb McFadzen
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