Saturday, August 31, 2019

A Home Well Worth Preserving

Still in McCrae House, I'm carrying on with this visit. This uniform jacket is similar to those John McCrae would have worn in World War One. It is a Canadian Army Medical Corps uniform worn by Captain Trevor Bailie, circa 1918.


Some of McCrae's personal mementoes are displayed here- items like a pocket watch, bible, or mess kit.


McCrae would not see the end of the First World War, dying of pneumonia in France. He was buried with full military honours at Wimereux. The commanding general of the Canadian soldiers at the front, Arthur Currie, was in attendance, and McCrae's horse Bonfire was part of the procession, with the doctor's boots reversed in the stirrups as is tradition.


In the 1960s, a local effort got underway to save the house, which had long since been in other hands, from the wrecking ball. Out of the efforts of concerned citizens, McCrae House was restored and turned into what it is today, a museum honouring the man and his life. And today it is a national historic site.


This desk was used by the McCrae family at another address in the city after they had left this home. It has been added to the collection here.


Panels show a collage of McCrae's legacy, at home and around the world. His best known poem has transcended national boundaries in the century since his death.


I leave off with one last view outside the house. Thus ends my series on this road trip, which I hope you've enjoyed. I have the odd shot here and there in future posts, but starting tomorrow, I'm back on familiar ground.

38 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tour or Guelph. I didn't know is was such as substantial place.

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  2. Was a nice tour around Guelph ! I like the McCrae House !

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  3. ...horses were an important part of WWI, how times have changed.

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  4. It's a good thing that his house was saved. They made it into an interesting museum.

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  5. Interesting tradition about the boots in the stirrups.

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  6. I think I have enough reading material for the next period! Thanks! :)
    Hallo William! How are you?! :))

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  7. I think Bonfire is a marvellous name for a horse!
    I'd like to visit this museum. I'm very familiar with McRae's famous poem. How sad that he died in France, so young.

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  8. @Joan: you're welcome.

    @Gattina: I did too.

    @Tom: that's true.

    @Marleen: they did.

    @Marie: it is, yes.

    @Ella: thank you.

    @Shammickite: it is sad.

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  9. I also think Bonfire is a great name, and McCrae was a very exceptional person. I'm glad this museum exists.

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  10. I have indeed enjoyed this visit William, here and last posts. McRae was an exceptional man and I'm very happy that people power saved his house from demolition ✨

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  11. Truly a sad story. I love that his horse was i the parade. This was indeed a house worth saving and thank you for sharing it with us.

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  12. Thank you! I have enjoyed your post about McCrae.

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  13. Thanks for sharing your Guelph visit. I would never have known about it's history and beauty otherwise!

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  14. A good series of posts on very important part of our history. McCrae Makes us proud.

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  15. Hello, nice tour and photos. I like the horse's name too. Enjoy your day and weekend!

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  16. I love a good road trip and this one was certainly full of things to see and do.

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  17. A nice little house/museum. Have a nice weekend William

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  18. A very interesting and informative tour. Great pictures too.

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  19. I've enjoyed your tour of Guelph. This museum is well worth a visit!

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  20. @DJan: I am too.

    @Grace: thanks!

    @Jeanie: you're welcome.

    @Maywyn: I've enjoyed showing it.

    @Barbara: and it has quite a history.

    @Red: he does indeed.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Sharon: it was indeed.

    @Sami: thanks!

    @Happyone: thank you.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @RedPat: it really is.

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  21. It is great they preserved this house and made it a museum to honour McCrae.
    I've enjoyed your tour of Guelph, thank you, William.

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  22. That desk is unusual with the glass drop-down. I wonder if that was original.

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  23. Wonderful photos of your road trip ~ history at its best ^_^

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. Good the second to last and last posts have adjoining house photos, or I would have pointed out the gutter of the little house was failing. Charming little house and well preserved, on all fronts.

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  25. Snappy uniform in that first shot.

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  26. Wow what a story about McCrae. A real tribute
    MB

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  27. You had a packed trip with lots of interesting shots. Thank you!

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  28. Poppies. Such a tradition. I still have an empty package of seeds right here (the flowers came out great). "Legacy to 100th anniversary of Gallipoli", a friend gave to me 2015.

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  29. always enjoy the the uniforms. have a great weekend. ( ;

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  30. The display of items John McCrae left behind are very poignant as is the description of his funeral:)

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  31. Many thanks for this and your previous posts, I enjoyed the tour of Guelph.

    All the best Jan

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  32. I'd enjoy a visit to the McCrae House. In fact, Guelph as a whole looks like a lovely place.

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  33. Guelph is pretty place. Thank you for the tour.

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  34. @Agnes: thank you.

    @Bill: it was worth doing.

    @Anvilcloud: you wonder.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Joanne: it's well kept up.

    @Catalyst: very much so.

    @MB: definitely.

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  35. @Kay: you're welcome.

    @Iris: a good tradition.

    @Beth: thank you.

    @Rosie: indeed.

    @Jan: thanks.

    @Mike: it is.

    @Italiafinlandia: it is, yes.

    @Klara: you're welcome.

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