This year, to celebrate Manitoba Day and Mother’s Day, the Stonewall Heritage Committee will be hosting a historical walking tour around town. This event will provide members of town and surrounding communities with a free and fun opportunity to learn about Stonewall’s history.
Stonewall has a rich history that has made it what it is today for its residents and all those who visit. There is so much to learn: Do you know how Stonewall got its name or what year the town was established? Who was the first mayor? Who is Jimm’s Hill named after? These questions and many more will be answered by a number of local historical buffs.
The Stonewall Heritage Committee has existed since 1991 and has orchestrated numerous projects to protect the town’s history. The committee advises the council on matters of heritage, carries out the Stonewall Remembers exhibit in honour of our veterans, works on the Save the Kilns initiative, helps maintain oral histories, publishes town walking brochures, and much more.
Catherine Precourt, a new volunteer on the committee and former Quarry Park Heritage Arts Centre manager, has been involved with the committee for over 20 years and has done tours as a part of her job. This, however, is the first Manitoba Day tour.
Throughout the tour, committee members will wait at different historical points of interest around town to share stories and anecdotes about Stonewall and its people. The walk will take participants through the older part of town, starting at Memorial Park (across from RW Bobby Bend School) and returning to the cenotaph. Participants are then welcome to gather outside the former Rockwood Registry Office, the first municipal building in town, for refreshments and a question period.
“When the Rockwood Registry Office was built in 1882, a time capsule was placed in one of the cornerstones. That time capsule was removed in the 1990s and was on display at the Visitor Center at Quarry Park. It was lost in the Visitor Centre fire in 2007,” said Precourt.
“When the original capsule was removed from the cornerstone, it was replaced with a new time capsule, which is still in place. The Registry Office is included on the tour.”
During the approximately one hour and a half walk, those taking part will hear stories about Stonewall’s town war hero Alan McLeod, who grew up on Main St. His bravery in the No. 2 squadron in preventing his aircraft from exploding and pulling his comrade away from harm earned him the honour of the Victoria Cross at just 18 years old. McLeod’s family home is now the McLeod Tea House & Gift Shop. The Procure development also has a street just north of 2nd Ave. North, named after Alan McLeod. Fifty-six years after his death, McLeod was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.
Participants on the walk will also be able to hear the story of the old Halloween trick played with the town’s curfew bell. Before this bell was replaced with a siren after a fire in the 1940s, it was located on the corner of First and Main and was used as a fire bell. One year, the fire chief put manure on the rope to prevent kids from ringing the bell on Halloween.
Many of the committee members grew up in Stonewall.
The four who are helping to guide the tour are all long-time residents: Allison Mankewich, Bob Buck, Kim Ritz, and Precourt.
“They have all kinds of stories and know a lot about the history of the community,” shared Precourt. “One of the things that I love about the committee is hearing all of these stories. There’s some really fun ones, almost like town legends.”
The tour will start at 2 p.m. on May 12. There is no cost involved for the tour or refreshments. Participants should wear good walking shoes and clothes that suit the weather.
This is an excellent opportunity to see beloved Stonewall in a new, historical light. Join the Stonewall Heritage Committee to celebrate Manitoba’s birthday and mothers.
“I think it is a great opportunity to celebrate the history of our town and province,” said Precourt. “It is possible this will become an annual Manitoba Day event.”
