Background. Pilkington Township is considering an application to extend the Bowman gravel pit. The extension will consume the back 40 acres of Wilfred Shoemakers farm, which is on the Bethel Church Road (8th Line West) between Middlebrook Road and County Road 18.
This parcel of land is mostly Class 1 (good) farm land, surrounding its centre core which is a woodlot and wet area. At the present, the farm land is zoned Agricultural, and the woodlot and pond are zoned Natural Environment, meaning these have been set aside by the Township to protect them from industrial exploitation. The Township is now proposing re-zoning to allow the pit extension is to proceed.
If you want more information or want to make comments on this matter, please drop a letter off at the Pilkington Township office or attend:
Public Meeting 7:00 PM, Wednesday, June 24, at the Pilkington Township Office
History and the Environment. It has been said that "we do not so much own the land as we care for it and pass it on to our children and their children". The question that must be answered regarding this application is to what extent we will pass to the next generations what we have received from our parents and ancestors. The particular site of the proposed pit carries interesting cultural heritage.
Andrews Creek. John Connon, in his book "The Early History of Elora and Vicinity", tells us of previous generations living on this land. The book devotes a chapter to the episode that explains that what we now call Carroll Creek was known in previous years as Andrews Creek. Connon tells us about the unfortunate Andrew Dalgarno, and why the creek was named after him. The event takes place in 1836 at which time Andrew lived "within a couple of miles of Elora". At the time, Pilkington West was largely a trackless wilderness. In Connons own words: "On a Saturday morning, in the month of August, he left his home, carrying on his arm a scythe for the purpose of cutting some beaver meadow grass, for winter provender for his cow." To make a long story short, he got lost in the wilderness for several days, wandered down Carroll (or Andrews) Creek, right past the currently proposed pit site, eventually made his way to the Grand River, and, quite tired and hungry, was eventually rescued. (Incidentally, poor Andrew met an early death when a tree he was chopping down on Mr. Watsons farm fell hitting another tree which fell on him.) At any rate, we conclude that Andrews (Carrolls) Creek and vicinity including the proposed site carry an interesting and documented historical significance.
Original settlements. Among the earliest settlers to this area were two Bosomworth brothers, Christopher and Thomas. (See the "History of Wellington County" by Jean F. Hutchinson.) Christopher arrived in 1845, settled lot 9, con A, and built a stone cottage on what is now the entrance to the Bowman pit on Middlebrook road. Thomas settled on Lot 18, con. 5 (1871 Directory) and built the yellow-brick house which is now Ric and Marie Holts home at 6565 8th Line west. Both of these century houses are still standing and in good shape, and are lived in by neighbourhood families. Unfortunately, one views the old pit and one views the proposed pit extension. The imposition and extension of a gravel pit degrades the very nature and perspective of these venerable old homes in the Pilkington landscape. The back 40 acres of Thomas original farm are the site of the proposed pit. (Descendents of Thomas still live in this same block.) We conclude that the site is part of one of the original settlements in this area.
Original School House. In "The History of Wellington County", Jean F. Hutchinson writes: "Squatters along Upper Pilkington-Nichol Townline arrived in 1835-36. The log school was build in 1845, but it was destroyed by fire in 1854. A cement school was built in 1866, but it was condemned in 1875, and was replaced by the present yellow brick school on lot 9, con. A, Upper Pilkington in 1885. In the early days, children were brought across the Grand River by canoe. The fifth grade teacher at the school was David Boyle, who gave the name of Middlebrook, because it was located half-way between two picturesque brooks, Carrolls Creek and Bosomworth Creek [now commonly called Middlebrook Creek]." This same one-room school was attended by many local residents until the time it was closed in 1965-6. Most recently it is owned by Sarie Marais, an artist, of Salem and now Sophia Hogan. This important building is located directly next to the Murray pit and it seems likely that gravel trucks for the proposed new (Shoemaker) pit will exit next to it. Our concern is to: Preserve this historical school house and its environs, protecting it from truck traffic and other dangers.
Beauty and the Pit. Pilkington Township, in this instance the area in the general vicinity of the Grand River and Carroll Creek, has provided good farm land and woodlots for generations of families. It is a truly beautiful land, with streams, woods, rolling hills, and wildlife which are the delight of those living here, and draws people to admire this lovely rural setting from many miles away. The woodlot and wetland which is the centre of the proposed pit have no doubt been played in, hunted in, and enjoyed by generations of Bosomworths, Shoemakers and others.
A gravel pit is not a beautiful thing. From a few thousand feet in the air, as seen for example in the aerial photograph (see, for example, Map 1 of the "Planning Report for the Shoemaker Pit", Murray Group), there are certain highly noticeable features in our country side. We see the great winding path of the Grand River and of its smaller glistening tributaries, including the Swan, Cox, Canagagigue and Carroll creeks, with carefully tended farmlands and woodlots. And sadly, we cannot help seeing certain "scars" in the land, namely, we see large expanses of barren soil which are our gravel pits. The question before us is: Should we further scar the land, or do we say to the good earth: "Enough is enough".
The question that faces us is whether it is time to take this land and make it into a gravel pit. Should we permanently remove these hills, lying now much as they were when Andrew Dalgarno made his way past them in 1836? Should this Class 1 farmland, which is much needed by farmers in this generation, and by their children, and their children, become a pit? Should we create a barren, lunar-like landscape within metres of two cold water creeks (Middlebrook and Carroll)? Should a woodlot and wetland that is designated Natural Environment become completely surrounded --- on all sides --- by a gravel pit? We believe the answer to these questions is No.
We should not turn this beautiful, useful and culturally interesting land into a gravel pit.