Greetings:

Plans have been finalized for our Fallbrook public meeting: April 19, 2008. We are excited about the opportunity to gather as a group to discuss the past and future of the farm, the preservation of the heritage home, and our next steps. Of significance, also, will be the pleasure of meeting many of you face-to-face for the first time, and to share our stories and reflections on the effort we are collectively pursuing to protect the heritage site. A copy of our invitation is attached. If you have any difficulties opening the attachment, or would like more information, please contact us. We sincerely hope that you can join us on the 19th in Limehouse: it would be great to see you!

Last week, Wayne Gates and I met with MPP Ted Arnott at his constituency office in Fergus. Mr. Arnott was sincerely interested in the effort to preserve and protect the Fallbrook homestead. While cautiously non-committal about his ability to effect a specific outcome, he did indicate that his first action would be to contact Credit Valley Conservation to arrange a meeting to discuss the situation with them. We have subsequently heard that Mr. Arnott has already taken that step, and we await further news on his progress. We will keep you updated as we hear more on this front.

Action continues with CVC to obtain permission to obtain core samples from the logs of the cabin. The scientific analysis of the wood will enable us to get detailed information about their type, age, and likely origin. From this data we can then reasonably deduce the actual build date of the house and some other features. More news on this front as it is available.

Sandy McKay has brokered a meeting next week at the Ministry of Culture in Toronto for an important dialogue on the Fallbrook issue. Attendees will include Michael Johnson and Tamara Anson-Cartwright of the Ministry, Tom Murison (heritage expert), Michael Vaughan (whose family purchased the property from the McKays in 1943 and sold it to CVC in 1973), Rollo Myers (Ontario Architecture Conservancy), Wayne, Sandy and myself. This meeting has been desired for some months, and we are optimistic that a hearty / fulsome discussion will produce some concrete ideas and plans for activities that will help save the historic heritage homestead at Fallbrook Farm.

We remain focused and excited about the progress our campaign continues to achieve. Your support and encouragement are important to us, and we thank for all of that!

Hope we can see you on the 19th. If that is not possible, an update in the days following will let you know how it went and what is coming next. Stay tuned!

With sincere best wishes, and on behalf of the Friends of Fallbrook,

John Carroll

Invitation to the elders, farm

families and friends of the

fallbrook farm heritage site

The farm families of Fallbrook (McKay, Keir and Gates) wish to extend to you a very special invitation.

After much effort the Friends of Fallbrook are well on the way to saving the homestead and promoting the preservation of the heritage site (its other buildings, icehouse, bridge, stone walls and Providence Cemetery). All are classic examples of traditional Scottish architecture and craftsmanship.

More significantly, the Fallbrook heritage site will be preserved as a symbol of the courage, the determination and the struggles of the pioneer families (old and new) who opened this harsh land to human endeavour: a tribute to the pioneers of ballinafad. We wish to reunite with you (elders, descendants and friends of Fallbrook) and listen to your stories. Your history will be heard, recorded and taught to future generations.

Our invitation extends to all persons interested in interrupting a potentially significant injustice. At this moment, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) persists in its commitment to persist in its commitment to demolish. In spite of their mandate for conservation they have already eradicated the spectacular Vaughan house on the property, as well as the original pine barn (seen central-rear in the photo above). It is time for the nonsense to end. We need your help to stop Credit Valley Conservation from destroying what is left of Fallbrook and the proud history and heritage it represents!

Please join us at this special community meeting. An update on the status of the work to save the house will be presented, an outline of the next steps will be provided, and an open forum discussion will follow. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with other friends to share your stories, memories and ideas. Refreshments will be served.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008

LIMEHOUSE COMMUNITY HALL

NO. 22 SIDEROAD - 1 KM WEST OF TRAFALGAR ROAD

2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Please bring your photos, letters and memorabilia

We will endeavour to accommodate those with special needs

come and join the campaign to save fallbrook

e-mail - fallbrook@live.ca telephone - (905) 878-8232