The Community News, Friday, October 18, 2013 PAGE FIVE
Mapleton Musings Column courtesy of Mapleton Historical Society Walter Charles Moody, local artist Walter C. Moody was born in the Township of Peel. His parents, Walter and Anne Moody, homesteaded on a 100acre farm on the west half of Lot 3 Concession 17, in 1858. Walter learned the wagonmaking trade as a young man. He later worked for Thomas Gordon, a wagon-maker and the first blacksmith in Drayton. In 1882 Walter married Caroline, the youngest daughter of Thomas Gordon. The couple purchased the east 50 acres of the Moody homestead. The Moodys had no children. Caroline Moody died in 1904. Walter continued on the farm
until 1911 when he sold the property and went to Chicago to build carriages. Lore has it that Walter drove a horse and buggy to Chicago rather than travelling by train. Walter Moody may have earned his living as a wagon and carriage-maker and farmer, but he was also a talented artistic painter. He painted large oils on canvas of rural scenes peopled with locals he knew and farm animals. He mounted and framed his own paintings. The frames were fairly wide, flat, varnished wood. A neighbour, now deceased, when interviewed in 1984, told of visiting Moody’s small farm
home. She described how he had painted a scene of Niagara Falls on the stairway wall, a horn of plenty in the dining room, and a fountain in another room. As well the house was filled with his paintings. Unfortunately, these walls were wall-papered and painted over and by now perhaps even the house has been razed. Walter Moody was also an amateur taxidermist. He collected and stuffed a large collection of local birds. The neighbour interviewed in 1884 recalled that he presented her father with “three cages of stuffed birds.” One had small black and white birds, one had
snow birds and the other had gray birds. When Walter sold his farm he left some money, a collection of his paintings and his collection of stuffed birds to the Village of Drayton. No record of the collections being catalogued has been found. There is record of six large paintings (about five feet by eight feet) and several about half that size hanging in the council chambers in the town hall. As a young child I can recall several of the paintings being used for a back-drop for fall fair concerts in the arena on Elm Street. They were no doubt used for similar purposes
around the village. The locals did not seem to place much value on these paintings. In the account of the town hall in the 1957 History of Drayton, there is no mention of either collection, although some paintings still hung in the council chamber and the birds were the library. Only two of these paintings are known to have survived. One is large with the blacksmith, Thomas Gordon, at his forge with cooper Alfred Smith watching and enjoying his pipe. Shown through the open rear door is the railway bridge crossing the Conestoga River. The smaller painting
depicts a flock of sheep. Both paintings have been restored and now hang in the council chambers at the Mapleton municipal office. The collection of stuffed birds resided in a large glass case in the Drayton library for many years. Times changed and it was illegal to catch and mount the birds in the collection. When some renovations to the library were done in the late 1900s the collection was removed from the display. It seems Walter Moody was a generous man who shared the results of his hobbies without remuneration. submitted by Jean Campbell
Last chance to see Godspell at St. Jacob’s playhouse this weekend ST. JACOBS – Godspell is “fresh, vibrant, completely engaging, and an exuberant production designed to lift spirits with its eternal story of friendship, loyalty and love,” Drayton Entertainment officials state. Based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, this modern retelling of the life of Jesus has touched the hearts of audiences around the world with its sparkling score filled with such iconic numbers as Day By Day, Light of the World, and Turn Back, O Man. “Godspell is a truly captivating theatrical experience,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic
Director of Drayton Entertainment. “A contemporary twist with great music and audience engagement brings new appreciation to the beloved parables, while being both entertaining and inspiring”. Jake Stern, who performed in the Youth Ensemble for Disney’s High School Musical at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, makes his professional Drayton Entertainment debut in the role of Jesus. A remarkable ensemble cast is full of explosive voices and the inspiring young talent of Lisa Michelle Cornelius, Mi-
chael De Rose, Michael Hogeveen, Stacey Kay, Ivan Lo, Alessia Lupiano, Rebecca McCauley and Janelle Murray. Run ends Oct. 20 Godspell plays until Oct. 20. Tickets are $40 for adults and groups of 20 or more are $32. Youth under 20 pay only $20. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may by purchased 24/7 online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com; in person at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse Box Office or by calling 519-747-7788 or toll free 1-855-372-9866.
Godspell - The musical, based on The Bible, plays until Oct. 20 in St.Jacobs.
submitted photo
Friends of the Drayton Festival Theatre presents four country artists in one concert DRAYTON – Friends of the Drayton Festival Theatre will present an interactive concert experience with four Canadian country songwriters. Patricia Conroy, Charlie Major, Duane Steele and Jamie Warren will share the stage in Songs and Stories at the Drayton Festival Theatre for two performances only, Nov. 8 and 2 and 8pm. “The calibre of these artists is astounding,” says event organizer Ron Ellis. “It’s a rare opportunity to see four recording artists interact together on stage, as well as hear the stories behind their classic country hits.” The Drayton Festival Theatre, an intimate 1902 Opera House, contains 375 seats and boasts marvellous acoustics that will enhance the concert experience, organizers state. Originally from Montreal, Patricia Conroy has had a life full of music. Starting as a child with musical influences from family and friends, Conroy’s country career began with winning a “battle of the bands” competition that gave her the opportunity to demo original work.
Since then, she has gone on to release six albums with more than 15 hit singles. Conroy has won many awards, including the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Independent Artist of the Year, two years in a row (1999-2000). Charlie Major has had a prolific career that started when he made Canadian history as the first artist to have six number one hit singles on his debut album. When he continued to release nine more hit singles, he was soon signed by a major U.S. label. The move to the States, and the changes to his music that were expected by this new re-
cord deal, were enough to send Major back home to his true Canadian fans. While touring across Canada, Major has won three Juno awards and seven CCMA’s. Spending summers with his cousins playing weddings and parties, Duane Steele’s Alberta upbringing was chock-full of music. His first professional band, Rock ‘N’ Horse, toured and recorded for nine years, achieving 20 top singles and a Juno nomination. As his solo career took off, Steele worked fulltime as a songwriter, eventually returning to the life of tours and recordings. His band was awarded a CCMA, and in 2001
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career goals changed and he set his heart on being a singer. Warren’s album Just Not the Same earned Juno and CCMA nominations, including a win for Independent Song of the Year and Independent Male Artist of the Year. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 20. All proceeds from the concerts go directly to charitable projects at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Ticket information Tickets may be purchased online at www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com, in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre box office or by calling 519-6385555 or toll free 1-855-drayton (372-9866). For more information about the Songs and Stories concert or the Friends of Drayton Festival Theatre please contact Ron Ellis at 519-638-3056.
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Steele won the CCMA Independent Male Vocalist of the Year. A native of Ontario, Jamie Warren resides in KitchenerWaterloo where he attended Conestoga College for broadcasting. After winning a regional talent show that sent him to Memphis, Tennessee, where he won second place at an international competition, Warren’s
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