Ruthven A Mansion in a Ghost Town

Ruthven Park is located at the site of a town which used to be called Indiana, which no longer exists. Throughout most of the 19th century, Indiana was a town that grew up around mills on the Grand River, with a canal and  locks nearby.
By the 1870's, railways arrived, and the wooden gates rotted and the locks filled with debris. In 1900, because of this, Indiana became a ghost town with fewer than two dozen inhabitants remaining. The only thing remaining of Indiana is the Ruthven mansion and the cemetery of the town.
The mansion was built of Indiana limestone, between 1845 and 1847. Four columns are situated at the front of the building, overlooking the Grand River. When we visited the site, we got to tour the building. It is need of repair, with quite a bit of work needed to restore it to its original condition. It is an ongoing work in progress.
In 1994, the building was declared a national historic site. It is an interesting place to visit and is located on Highway 54 between Cayuga and Caledonia.

Whistling Gardens

Today, we visited Whistling Gardens, located in Wilsonville, Ontario. Wilsonville is in Norfolk County just a few minutes south of Brantford and 20 minutes south of Highway 403.
There are theme gardens located on 20 acres featuring 4 kilometres of walking trails, ponds, musical water fountain shows and more. Canada's only all stone outdoor amphitheatre boasts over 120 fountains choreographed to music. Over 4,000 different plants are showcased and it is home to the largest conifer collection in the world with over 2400 species, hybrids and cultivars.
Whisting Gardens is Canada's newest botanical gardens which has only been open for a couple of years. The atmosphere is very relaxing and it is definitely worth a visit. Below are a few photos of different  scenes at Whistling Gardens, and if you like, feel free to check out the link below the photos to view more from the garden.

http://www.pinterest.com/canuck120950/whistling-gardens

Normandale

Recently, on a trip to Port Dover, we visited the small village of Normandale, situated on the shore of Lake Erie. Large peat bogs were located near here, and when burned in a furnace, bog ore produces iron. The first iron foundry in Upper Canada was located here.
Timber and bog ore became depleted, and Normandale became a ghost town. It didn't remain this way as cottagers and a few others moved into the area. It is worth a visit, two reasons being the original Union Hotel, built in the 1840's, and the Post Office/general store, built around the same time, are still both standing.
The area is quite picturesque, and a short walk takes you to a small beach. When visiting Port Dover, continue on until you come to this small village. You won't be disappointed.

Port Dover Mausoleum

When we visited Port Dover this year, we drove through the town west on highway 6, and came across a unique structure. We didn't see it at first heading west because it is over grown with trees and bushes, but heading east back into town, it was clearly visible. It stands on the north side of the highway, and the first thing we noticed were the four columns at its entrance.
The bulding is in fact a mausoleum that was built by the Port Dover Cemetery Board in 1927. However, the cost of $225 to $275 per crypt seemed too expensive for any to be willing to pay, and so it was never used and remained vacant.
In 2008, a science fiction movie entitled 'Six Reasons Why' and starring Canadian actor Colm Feore shot three scenes there. The mausoleum is in bad need of repair, with concrete slabs falling off of the front of the building. I looked through the front door, but it looks like it is being used now to store workmen's tools, possibly from the neighbouring cemetery.
It is worth a look while it still is partially intact, but because of its present state, it is hard to say if it will deteriorate to the point where it is torn down. It is an interesting and unusual piece of history for the town of Port Dover.

Port Dover

We try to get to Port Dover on Lake Erie once every summer. We went there again recently and it was as enjoyable as every other time we have gone. Port Dover is famous for many things, one of them the Arbor which has been going strong for over 85 years. It is famous for its foot long hot dogs and its drinks which are called Glow.
Also, because the town is on Lake Erie, it is famous for its fresh perch. We went for lunch to the Erie Beach Hotel and had a meal of perch. I would highly recommend trying a meal there. Port Erie is also known for its white sandy beach.
Every year when a Friday falls on the thirteenth of any month, either summer or winter, tens of thousands of motorcyclists come to Port Dover. This has become a tradition here. I managed to get there one year, but didn't own a motorcycle, so they have parking facilities about 10 km outside town for autos and shuttle buses take you in. Only motorcycles are allowed in to town at these events unless you are a local resident.
Port Dover is located on highway 6 on Lake Erie. It has a lot more to offer than I have mentioned here, but it is well worth the trip.

Westfield Heritage Village

Recently, we visited Westfield Heritage Village. We have been there a few times, but each time is just as enjoyable as previous visits. At the village, there are roughly 30 buildings of historic significance. They are divided into five different time periods from 1775 up to around 1925.
Volunteers dress up in clothing of the era, and they are a wealth of information about the history of many of the buildings. All the buildings were originally located in neighbouring counties and were transported here and set up in a village configuration.
The founders of Westfield were both high school teachers in Brantford. D. Glenn Kilmer and Golden L. Macdonell purchased 30 acres of land in 1960 at the site which now houses Westfield. They envisioned a unique project that would develop a pioneer village as a non-profit educational institution for both children and adults as well. It is the village's 50th anniversary this year.
The village was recently purchased by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. It is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552) in Rockton off highway 8. For more information go to www.westfieldheritage.ca

Royal Botannical Gardens Earth Art Exhibition

       A few years back, on mother's day, I bought a membership for Karen and myself to the RBG. That way, she could enjoy flowers all season long, not just a dozen roses that die after a couple of weeks. Well, it has become a tradition now so every year she gets the membership.
       Throughout the season, they have various shows and exhibits. This year they have the Earth Art Exhibit. It opened Canada Day, July 1 and continues until October 13 2014. They hired a few artists on 15 June, using natural elements to create original and unique art forms.
       Below, I have included 2 of the pieces on display. The first is entitled 'Origenes' from an artist called Pilar Ovalle. She was born in Santiago, Chile and uses wood in her artwork, gathered from Chilean forests. Her work represents the struggle between human unnatural progress and Nature.      
       The second is from an artist called Firman Djamil from Indonesia, and is entitled 'O2 Chimney'. In the sculpture, he uses logs and twigs to form a chimney-shaped structure. At its base, a pile of rocks and sand are used to symbolize the forest and plankton. These produce oxygen (O2) and reduce carbon dioxide to assist in reducing global warming.
       This is a unique display that is only on for a limited time. It may not be for everyone, but I think it is worth checking out. The exhibit is at the RBG located on Plains Road in Burlington.