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Toronto Historical Society program June 30 will be ‘Memories from the Battlefront, WWI’

Contributed HEAR THEIR STORIES — The Historical Society of Toronto will present a new program, “Memories from the Battlefront, World War I,” on June 30 at 7 p.m. at the corner of North Third and Market streets in front of the World War I Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the commons.

TORONTO — The Main Street Museum, located at 210 Main St., Toronto, is now open for the 2021 season and the Historical Society of Toronto couldn’t be happier, according to its president, Carolyn Walker.

“We had programs planned but had to wait for our governor’s final OK for assembling,” noted Walker, who explained the organization has replaced its previous “Ghost Walks” with a new program — “Memories from the Battlefront, World War I.”

It centers around the stories of those listed on the World War I Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the commons. The program is scheduled for June 30 at 7 p.m. at the corner of North Third and Market streets in front of the monument.

Tickets are being sold in advance for $10 at Clarke Funeral Home, the Toronto High School Alumni Office and the Main Street Museum — Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. or by calling (740) 537-2157.

“The monument was commissioned by the Toronto War Board after the Armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918,” explained Walker. “Giuseppe Moretti was chosen as the sculptor, and exactly one year later, on Nov. 11, 1919, with a crowd of more than 15,000, it was dedicated. It has been refurbished and rededicated twice during the past 102 years — once in 1983 and again in 2004 with the creation of the Veterans Victory Pavilion,” she added.

“What we will be presenting are the stories of some of the 300 persons from the Toronto area who are listed on the base of the monument. We have collected stories through personal letters that they sent their families and others that were sent to the local paper, the Toronto Tribune. We also have stories from their families,” Walker continued.

There are 11 names on the monument that have a star beside them indicating that person died during the war. “Ten of those were men, including two brothers, and one was a woman, Sister Mary Jean Connor,” Walker noted.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair and enjoy listening to the touching stories as the historical society presents, “Memories from the Battlefront, WWI.”

Proceeds from the event benefit the operation of the Main Street Museum. For information about this program or other events sponsored by the historical society, contact Walker at (740) 537-2157.

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