 I love the Glenora ball diamonds. There is something about playing in that great setting and feeling the history of community spirit that motivates a guy like me. It is amazing that one lady started it all over 60 years ago.
Mary Waldon was a well recognized resident of Glenora. She was known for her wonderful huge and colourful gardens and her her farming prowess and her generous passion for her community.
Mary Burton Waldon came from Yorkshire England at the age of 12 in 1912, with her parents and two brothers to settle on a farm in Glenora. Soon her brothers had gone off to war. Her mother died in 1927 and her father in 1946 and that is when she took over the family's farm on her own. Mary served as president of the Agricultural Society, Fall Fair, Cowichan Exhibition and the SPCA and was noted as one of the top jersey breeders and presenters in the country. In 1957, as a gesture honouring the province's upcoming centennial year, she donated land for a park to the Glenora community with only one stipulation: that it was to be used for recreational purposes only.
Glenora launched "Waldon Park" as the official Glenora Centennial Project with a full blown parade and family picnic. The parade was awesome. It was led by a donkey and filled with many Glenora residents dressed in turn of the century clothing and travelling in covered wagons and decorated bycicles. There were clowns and musicians, a ball game and a big rock and roll party after at the nearby hall. When Mary Waldon was introduced by Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Heyd she officially presented the land title of Waldon Park to the people of Glenora, and future generations thereof, wishing them many hours of pleasure in the park.
Mary lived in what is now the Zanatta Winery house until 1969. She moved to her house on Norcross Rd. and lived there until she passed away in 1984. Although she sold the property taht is now the winery her legacy of gifts includes property for the Glenora Community Hall and part of the property that makes up the school. She lived to see many people enjoy her park for years after the original Centennial opening, including a ball field rejuvination ten years later...
Meanwhile, back in Duncan circa 1960, a hotshot teen has just pulled his Cutless Supreme out of Chinatown with his bootleg whiskey safely hidden in that secret part of the dashboard that has kept him from being busted many times before. And sure enough, not two minutes later, he is pulled over yet again. The teenager almost looks forward to another fruitless RCMP shakedown. Unfortunately for our boy, the young and scrappy Gordie Closson was about to encounter a collosal policeman with shoulders as broad as a barn and a moustache just as wide. Without bothering to check the trunk or look beneath the seats the constable quickly reached up under the dash and destroyed young Mr. Closson's plans for the evening. Gordie felt pure rage and swore revenge as the bottle left with the big Constable Orick.
Fast forward to 1969. Gordie Closson was fresh out of logging camps that had kept him busy for the previous decade. Although he hadn't played ball much as a kid in Manitoba, the camp games became regular events and the boys found it a great distraction and had a blast playing whenever they could. So in '69 when Gordie found himself back in Duncan, he and a few others thought they would use the Glenora field for their pick up games. So off he went to speak to Brook Williams of the Glenora Society to get the go ahead to tackle the now over grown Waldon Park.
The Glenora Society was supportive, but before Closson could go in there he needed to get the permission from the owner of the home next to the field who was considered the caretaker. No problem. Gordie happily scooted over to the house, walked up and rapped confidently on the door. Moments later the door opened and the entire entrance was filled with a very familiar person.
"Well if it isn't Gordon Closson."
Gordie distinctly remembers feeling shock, anger, and fear all at once as he saw the smirk beneath big Constable Orick's moustache.
I will finish this up next week. Diamonds in the Rough - part 1
|
