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43°06′N 82°00′W / 43.100°N 82.000°W Forest is a small town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located between London and Sarnia. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores and the county of Lambton. As of 2011, the population of Forest was 2,876, a 0.8% decline from 2006[1]. The average age of residents is 46.8 years, which is more than six years above the national average[1]. The average earnings among Forest's residents was $27,902 (CAD) in the year 2000.
History
[edit]Forest is situated on what was once dense forest. When the Grand Trunk Railway was built through where the town now sits, the station was named for the dense forest. Hickory Creek, which meanders through the town, provided water for the station in those days when wood and water were essential to the operation of steam locomotives.
The first post office, in 1859, was then named Forest. The site was very near the junction of three township boundaries, with parts of Warwick, Plympton and Bosanquet townships all annexed into the town. None of these townships remain as political units due to amalgamation, with Bosanquet joining Forest in forming Lambton Shores (along with the villages of Arkona, Thedford, and Grand Bend).
The industry of the town was initially tied to the abundant fruit growing operation; there was once a canning factory and a basket factory situated in Forest. In more recent years the town has become a dormitory community for the city of Sarnia (and to a lesser extent London). Support to the extensive tourism area along the shores of nearby Lake Huron also supports several businesses. Several small factories supporting the auto industry have also opened in the past few years.
Notable Structures & Facilities
[edit]Schools
[edit]Forest currently contains three schools: two elementary schools and one secondary school. The public elementary school, Kinwood Central Public School, was established in 1998 as a union between three former schools (Kinnaird, Woodside, and Forest Central schools)[2]. St. John Fisher Catholic School is the other elementary school in Forest. The high school, North Lambton Secondary School, consists of a large gymnasium and cafeteria, as well as meal preparation facilities.
The Shores Recreation Complex
[edit]Newly constructed in 2007, the Shores Recreation Centre features:
- NHL size rink (200ft x 85ft): Seating capacity of 700, standing room for several hundred more
- Gymnasium: one full size basketball, volleyball and badminton court (can be split into two by a curtain wall)
- Walking track overlooking the ice rink
- Fitness Centre operated by the YMCA
- Two Meeting rooms
- Concession Booth
The new centre replaced an older arena, which still stands for curling activities and community uses. The old centre also features a soccer field and baseball diamond, as well as a lawn bowling club.
Elsi Dodge Conservation Area
[edit]Establised in 1994, the Forest Amphitheatre is a natural amphitheatre located at the conservation area (Esli Dodge Conservation Area) in the south part of the town. The stage is situated on a small island, and spectators sit on the surrounding hillsides on lawn chairs or blankets. The hillside can seat up to 6000 people. Hundreds attend outdoor performances there each summer. An annual performance of a religious play (entitled: The Promise), acted in by members of the town, was held annually from 1995 until 2005. In 2006 a play entitled "Their Finest Hour" was performed, and since 2007 country music concerts entitled "Music In the Valley" have been held there.
Kineto Theatre
[edit]In 1905, the Rumford family of Forest began showing the first silent moving pictures at old town hall located beside the Carnegie building on Main Street North. Floyd Rumford (known as Toby) connected a generator to the back wheel of an old Ford vehicle and a Kineto projector that had been imported from England. The turning of the wheel powered the generator, which allow the Rumfords to show moving pictures at various places around town. On April 13, 1917, the Rumford brothers purchased a building located at present-day 24 King Street West for $2100[3]. They converted this building to be Forest's first permanent movie house, still known as the Kineto Theatre today. The theatre played black and white shows every night of the week except Sundays, and played two shows on Saturdays to accommodate large crowds. The Rumford family, along with their friends, provided musical background to add excitement to shows. Shows costed 15 to 25 cents (depending on age), and snacks could be purchased for about ten cents. Travelling bands also used the facility to perform during the week.
In 1938 the theatre was expanded to double the seating capacity and construct a balcony that is still in place today. The Kineto was also the first business to install air conditioning for their patrons, which consisted of a large block of ice situated near a fan that blew the cold air through the building. In the 40's, the theatre began playing movies with sound. During the second world war, the theatre would update patrons on the status of the war, followed by the national anthem.
Following the death of Floyd Rumford in 1966, the theatre was inherited by his son, Grant, who operated the theatre until 1976. On February 1, 1977 Grant Rumford sold the theatre to the Kiwanis Club of Forest for $18,000. The Kiwanis Club still owns and operates the theatre as a non-profit venture today. After decreases in ticket sales in 1981, the Kiwanis Club decided to renovate the theatre to entice patrons. Approximately $65,000 was raised by the community to assist in the renovations that included new wiring, seats, ceiling, plumbing, washroom, furnace, heating, ticket booth, and concession booth. A Wintario grant of $18,000 and raw materials valued at $15,000 were also supplied. The theatre underwent additional renovations in 2012.
Ticket prices are much less than larger cinemas, and only cost five dollars. Low prices are thanks to volunteers of the Kiwanis Club, who operate the theatre through various fundraising events. The Kiwanis Kineto Theatre shows one movie per week Friday through Sunday and on Tuesdays.
Station Library
[edit]The first railway station situated in Forest was built in 1860, but was later destroyed in 1898 by a fire. This was part of the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1901 a new station reopened on the same site. The station was closed and torn down in the 70's when the trains stopped running. The station library was built in 1985 on the same site based on the architect's drawings of the second station[3]. The station library remains an important landmark today.
Notable people
[edit]Forest was the birthplace of John L. McPherson, missionary and General Secretary of the Hong Kong YMCA from 1905 to 1935.
Brothers Dan and Thom Speck of the a cappella group The Essentials grew up in Forest.
Emily Murphy, one of the "Famous Five" who fought the "Persons Case" in the 1920s, once lived in Forest where her husband was an Anglican minister.
The Ipperwash Inquiry held hearings at Forest's community centre from 2004 to 2006 regarding the death of Dudley George during a protest by First Nations representatives at Ipperwash Provincial Park.
Singer-songwriter Emm Gryner grew up in Forest. Her birth name is Mary, hence "Emm".
Dublin (Ireland) - based author Roslyn Fuller also grew up in Forest before moving to Europe at the age of 19.[4][5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Statistics Canada Census Profile". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ^ "Kinnwood Central Public School". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ^ a b "Forest, ON Landmarks". Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ^ "From Forest to Dublin via Germany with Roslyn Fuller". Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ^ "Trinity College Dublin". Retrieved 2009-08-16. [dead link]
- ^ "Seven Towers Agency - Friends and Colleagues". Retrieved 2009-08-16.