A Note on 4Chan

Not UrbEx related . . .

Looks like the US presidential nominee Sarah Palin just had her Ya-Hoo account broken into . . . (yes we get news up here in Canada-Land).

Apparently the culprit(s) were members of that wonky internet short-bus known as 4Chan. You just have to bless the mischievousness of those /b/-tards over there for keeping teh internets on its toes.

Urban Exploration is a bit like the sport they practice over on 4Chan but we hack buildings instead of computers. Having said that, I'm happy that my particular shadowy hobby is not attracting the sort of attention that those desu weeaboos will be getting right now from the Feds.



Speaking of which, here is a pic of Palin in the 4Chan Party Van . . . so guys - just watch out.






Anyway - to save myself and the blog from being hacked by these miscreants in response to this post, I have decided to do it myself -->


Aha! To be astounded. An army of assholes, an association armed with an arsenal of asinine ambiguously adult anonymii. This ambidextrous armada, no mere attack force is an astounding assembly of articulate aristocrats. assuming the collective affliction has not atrophied, another day of ardent internet argument arises. Under the ambiguous aegis of internet anonymity, all annoying assertations may be announced with reckless abandon. the armored amplifiers of info, The antithesis of approbates, aided and abetted by all things arbitrary. Apology? do not forgive, do not forget. alas I am all aflutter, after the anticipation. You may call me anonymous.

Again, please don't hack my blog . . .

Collier Street United - Doors Open

My Church is participating in Doors Open Barrie 2008, so here is a little plug. Take some time to visit this site on Sunday 28th September, 2008 from 11:30pm to 4:00pm. For additional information, click HERE.

Services began in 1819, but the present church was erected in 1864. Renovations and remodeling have been fairly constant over the years to make room for a growing congregation. The latest major changes were completed in 1986. The bell tower and steeple have been a big part of the city’s skyline for about 150 years. Lunch available at noon ($).

Collier Street United Church, located in Barrie, Ontario had a humble start in a stable in 1819. Mr. Peter White, a Methodist preacher rowed across Lake Simcoe and conducted the first formal religious service for Barrie's early settlers in a barn owned by Mr. William Mann of Kempenfelt.

The first service in a building set apart for worship in Barrie was held on April 18th, 1836. In 1841, the first Methodist Church was erected but rapidly became inadequate for the growing congregation. The present structure located on 112 Collier Street was constructed in the fall of 1864 and provided seating for 600 persons.

In 1896 a brick parsonage was constructed by George Ball adjacent to the present structure. A parlour and sunday school room with seating for 500 more was accomplished with an addition to the rear of the church in 1905. A further addition was constructed in 1907 to boost total seating in the sanctuary to 1,200. It is beleived that the the large rose windows were installed at this time as well.


Collier Street Methodist Church, along with over 100 families from the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches joined the United Church of Canada on June 10th, 1925 to form the Collier Street United Church.

In 1954, the Church purchased the lot at the north-east corner of Collier and Poyntz and began construction of a new church scholl and gymnasium. The Gryphon Theatre held performances here for 3 years starting in 1970 before moving to their current home on the Georgian College campus.











Contact information . . .

Collier Street United Church
112 Collier Street,
Barrie, Ontario, L4M 1H3
email: collierunited@bellnet.ca
Phone : 726-1511 Fax: 726-0774
www.collierunited.ca

Barrie Arena Demo

At 74 years old, it really did not come as much of a surprise that the Barrie Arena (aka Dunlop Arena) had its days numbered. Back in March when demolition plans were being discussed, I had provided a bit of history on this old building. Today, I took a look at the demolition site.

For a great article on this buildings history, check out the Thursday Sepember 4th Barrie Advance by local historian Andrew Hind. As Andrew did all the leg work here, I will just highlight a few of the interesting tid-bits.










In 1934, William Wright (founder of today's Globe & Mail) provided the lion's share of the money to fund the construction of the Dunlop Arena which was of course no small feat considering that the country was in the depths of a major recession.













The Barrie Arena, used natural ice for the first decade of operation when it was proposed that an artificial ice system be installed. As this was an expensive venture as well, City council placed the decision on the municipal ballot. By September 1945, municipal pride had won and the artificial ice system was installed.

The 3,000 seat facility served its community well over the years. It is not mortar between those bricks, its memories.

:-(

Huntsville Explore

I had spent several days over the course of the summer camping in the wilds of Muskoka near Huntsville. One day feeling the UrbEx itch, I headed out in search of abandonments and adventure . . I found neither but do have these few images I snapped along the way on my sunny afternoon out exploring.

First Stop : Dyer Memorial just north of Huntsville. Access to this unique outdoor point of interest is accessible by a treacherous and dangerous road, no more than an widened goat-path, which winds it's way high above the East River. A brief lapse of attention while on the road could plumet the vehcile down a rocky face into the East River 100 feet below.

The Dyer Memorial is a stone monument where the cremated remains of noted Detroit lawyer Clifton Dyer and his wife Betsy Brown rest. Clifton and Betsy Brown honeymooned in Muskoka in 1916 and loved the area. Twenty years later, they retired to the area and lived in a small cabin on the riverside.









After almost forty years after her marriage to Clifton, Betsy died in 1956. Clifton immediately commissioned the construction of the Memorial as the final resting place for her ashes constructed near their cabin. The memorial took one year to complete and Betsy's ashes were then encased in a stonewall near the peak of the Memorial.

Clifton then spent two more years overseeing the clearing and landscaping of the Memorial grounds. Clifton passed away a year after this was completed in 1959 and according to his wishes, his cremated ashes were placed within the monument next to his wife's.

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Second Stop : Deerhurst Private Airport. I had heard rumours of an abandonned airstrip near huntsville. Some tiime researching only provided one possible location just east of Huntsville. Upon arriving, it was discovered that the small airstrip was still active and being used by the Deerhurst resort across the road for guests arriving by air.










This location was by no means busy and I essentially had a free run of the place once inside the gates / fencing. A quick peak inside the office and maintainance building showed several large dog food bowls obviously placed there for use by an even larger dog or dogs. Any thoughts of entry into this building for exploration was immediately dismissed. I quit the property after snapping a few images of the runway.

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Summary : Not much to see in and around Huntsville if you are an Urban Explorer but quite a bit to see if you are a tourist. There is an interesting old hotel / bar now converted into apartments near the train station which appears to be close to shutting it's doors for good so perhaps we will wait this this hatches and return before demolition.