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Page THE VOICE of Pelham Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Historic headstone missing
LEGION’S ON FIRE
For almost 200 years a triangular field stone has stood in the bush off Centre Street, to mark an important point in history. In all that time it has remained untouched, until this week, when it disappeared. Sidney Beamer explained the stone has been on her family’s property a long time. It was there two weeks ago but when her husband Stuart, went out to take a photo of it, it was gone. “There is no way anyone would have known what it was or where it was,” said Sidney. “The fact it has been removed is bizarre.” The original land, two hundred acres, was granted to Peter Hendershot in 1797. He sold the land in 1829 to Oliver Hodgkins, who then sold it to Aaron Winchester. In 1847 100 acres were purchased by Benjamin Beamer and have been in the Beamer family ever since. In every deed for the sale of the land from Hendershot’s sale to Hodgkins in 1829 mention is made of a burial ground “that is not to be cultivated but remain the peaceful abode of the dead.” That request has been honoured since 1821, the
date scratched into the fieldstone. Other than the history of the stone being mentioned in the deeds of the property, Sidney says her family has no idea who the stone memorializes. The stone, Sidney explained, is a triangular fieldstone about 12 inches on each side, that has left a foot-wide depression in the soil. “It would not have been easy for someone to have removed it,” she said, noting it was about 300 or 400 feet away from the houses on the property in the bush. “It was a heavy stone to pick up, they would have had to have a vehicle,” she said. While the bush is part of the Beamer’s private property, Sidney said it used often by snowmobilers, horseback riders, dog-walkers, and bike riders The stone is important to someone, says Sidney, and has been a part of her family’s land for 166 years so her family would really like to see it returned. “We just want the stone back,” she says.
PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION Annual General Meeting
CAST members of On Fire, created by Crossley drama students to teach fire safety to elementary school children, were on hand to mark the donation of $1,500 to cover transportation costs so all public school children in Pelham can see the play. Taking part in the cheque presentation were: Catherine King (back, left), a member of Pelham Community Policing, Crossley Principal Ed Goertzen, Legion Public Relations officer Bernie Law, Legion President Howard Margeson, Pelham Fire Prevention Officer Saskia Holditch, Pelham Fire Chief Bob Lymburner, and drama members, Jen Benson, drama teacher, Brooke Bishop, Curtis Wikston, Kennedy Cameron, Madeline Wallace and Holly Kews. Sarah Murrell/Voice Photo
The 46th Annual General Meeting of the Pelham Minor Hockey Association will be held at
The Fonthill Legion, 141 Highway #20, Fonthill
Monday, May 6, 2013 • 7:00pm
All Members of the Association in good standing are permitted to attend.
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