Maple Syrup Fund Raiser

Mike and Wendy Sniderhan and the Madoc Maplefest group have graciously offered the O'Hara Volunteers Association half of the maple syrup production from 1,500 trees in return for the Volunteers supplying some help to keep an eye on the boiling sap and cutting and stacking firewood.  The O'Hara Volunteers will be selling this maple syrup to help finance the O'Hara Mill Homestead through the 2010 season.

In this, the 21^st Century, the Madoc Maplefest group processes maple sap very much as it was done in the 19^th Century era of the O'Hara Mill Pioneer Homestead (see photo below) – with open vats, or kettles, heated by manually stoked wood fires.

Maple syrup pricing and contacts are as follows:

Here are some photos of O'Hara Volunteers in action at the Madoc Maplefest sugar shack:

Ward Allen, a farm boy born May 11, 1924 near Kirkton, Ontario, who became one of Canada's legendary old time fiddlers, was inspired by maple syrup to compose a reel.  This reel, a hit in 1956, is one of the most widely recognized fiddle tunes across Canada although few people know its name.  It is, of course, Maple Sugar Reel or just Maple Sugar.  You can hear it on YouTube. 

Frank LaRiviere later wrote lyrics, titled Maple Sugar Sweetheart, which he set to the tune of Maple Sugar.  You can listen to Mac Wiseman's rendition, again with Ward Allen on fiddle, on YouTube as well.  Just two weeks after making this recording, Ward Allen passed away on August 3^rd, 1965 while performing in Hull, Quebec.

Maple Sugar Sweetheart

Now I left her in the mountain in the golden summer time,
And I told her not worry little darlin' gal of mine.
I told that I loved her and I always would be true
When the moon comes o'er the mountain, I'll be waiting here for you.

She's my darling, she's my sweetheart, she the only one for me.
With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see.
For soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime.
I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time.

The old time fiddle playing folks, will come from miles away,
To the maple sugar hoedown, On our happy wedding day.
I'll be a newborn country King and we'll paint a pretty scene.
I'll kiss her smiling ruby lips; she'll be my pretty Queen.

She's my maple syrup sweetheart, she's the only one for me.
With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see.
For Soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime.
I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time.

Making Maple Syrup at the O'Hara Mill Pioneer Homestead Sometime in the 1800's.  Notice the apparent absence of snow.

We are always curious as to who the people are in these old photographs from the O'Hara Family Archives.  Now, this is just your webmaster ruminating and comments (aka enlightenment) would be welcome, but…. The gentleman in the picture certainly has the build of James O'Hara Sr.  He appears to be in his thirties or very early forties.  Now, James Sr. was 26 years old when he, wife Mary and four year old Elizabeth arrived in Madoc Township in July 1823.  If my speculation is correct, that would be Elizabeth with her back to the camera and this girl would be at least in her mid-teens – say 16 or 17.  If this were correct the year would be about 1836 when James Sr. would have been about 39 years old.  The woman on the right, cutting a slightly more matronly figure would be Mary.  The kettle riggings tend to suggest the year was earlier rather than later when chain and iron hooks might have been probable.  The clincher for this argument would be if ten year old James Jr. were to be seen in the photo.  Enough speculation;  does anyone out there know the facts?

Maple syrup is a long standing Canadian tradition.  Order your maple syrup today and enjoy your Canadian heritage while helping the O'Hara Volunteers Association preserve and maintain our local heritage treasure, the O'Hara Mill Homestead.