[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 59-03, July - September, 2005 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Preserving history

By Waldo Redekop, EditorPublisher, The Trillium

As some of you who have read my editorials over the years will recall, I am often mentioning that we must preserve our history, chapter, district or Society. I have mentioned many reasons in the past and a lot of you have given me collections of barbershop memorabilia (mainly old Northern’ Hi-Lites and Harmonizers).

I recently received a publication from Doug Doull, the historian for the Sarnia Chapter who are celebrating their 60^th anniversary this year. Doug had taken the information that he printed for their 50^th anniversary and added a section on the last ten years.

As well as the history, there also were lists of all of the chapter presidents and music directors, quartets and their members, chorus uniform descriptions through the years, chapter recognition to individuals (as well as who won district recognition from the Sarnia Chapter).

A very impressive page listing the various schools, individuals and groups in the community that the chapter has given awards to caught my eye. There were four awards — Honorary Members of the Chordsmen, Junior Youth Award, Senior Youth Award and Note of Thanks. Great to see a barbershop chapter giving recognition to community groups and members for their work in the field of music.

All this in a small coil-bound book. They are selling copies (I believe for $2 each), but unless someone was preserving the chapter’s history, this book likely would not have been possible. Sometimes you shouldn’t just throw it out!     k