Historical society discusses police memorabilia recently
By Florence Blanchard

Essa Historical Society held a meeting at the Thornton library recently.

The meeting was opened by honourary president Brian Baker with the Lord's Prayer. Secretary Olive Lee read the minutes from the January meeting. She reminded us that the next meeting would be held on March 29. On Sept. 13, the Simcoe County Historical Association unveils the plaque for T.P. Loblaw at Stevenson Farms.

Roll call was answered by naming a pioneer post office. Essa Township had quite a number of them.

Treasurer Margaret Baker gave the financial report. The group was asked to bring in a list of sites for new plaques. We are going to make a calendar for 2009 and anyone who wants to submit a picture for it should do so before the end of March. We are having 50 copies of the township's centennial history book from 1950 reprinted.

Please circle June 21 on the calendar for Brain Baker's mystery tour.

Wayne Cole was our guest speaker and he spoke on police memorabilia. He spoke about the different badges seen on policeman's uniforms. Their cars always seem to be Plymouths in York County and the City of Toronto. Cole held models of these cars and their colours, through the years, have remained constant. They were white and black or black and white. Two kinds of police hats were shown. Ornamental figures of the RCMP were also seen. From Sutton, the snowmobiles on Lake Simcoe have to be checked. Photography is important to the police as it is used in so many cases. The police are involved in school safety programs today.

Our society is looking for pictures of the pioneer settlement of West Essa. West Essa was settled in the 1830's and Alliston wasn't settled until 1847.