In two years it will be the centennial of Robert McLaughlin's death (Nov, 1921) and the sesquicentennial of the birth of his son Robert Sam (Sept. 1871), aka Colonel Sam, aka R.S. McLaughlin. Good time to plan a Brilliant Oshawa tribute!
Thursday I met with Danny Gallagher, an Oshawa resident and well-known journalist who has authored a new book "Genius" (available at the Oshawa Indigo store, business section). It is a good read, well-researched by Danny, about the inspiring success story of Swiss Chalet and Harvey's restaurants founder, Rick Mauran. As Danny has not yet determined what the subject of his next book will be, I was encouraging him to write about the McLaughlin family in Oshawa, even suggesting the title 'Brilliant' :) -kinda nervy of me I admit...but hey, nothing ventured... and you never know!
Danny didn't seem to mind. My pitch to him was thinking it's time for a 'refresh' of the tale of the McLaughlin family's significant leadership and impact, not only economically and culturally on Oshawa, but on many other communities as well. Through the lens of history, likely there are many new Oshawa residents who would appreciate learning more about the extraordinary philanthropy of Oshawa's R. S. McLaughlin and his and his father Robert and brothers George and John's enduring legacy too.
In fact, Danny was obliging enough to attend the Canadian Automotive Museum with me and as you see in the picture here, took notes! CAM curator Alex Gates was happy to share interesting information and ever humorous Oshawa native Greg Milosh (who makes it a habit of not smiling for the camera) made it an entertaining visit.
In our conversation I told Danny I'd share a letter from the 1950s written by R.S. McLaughlin that Kathie Vanular and I came across during research at the Ontario Archives the summer of 2012. That was when a group of us were trying to save the George McLaughlin craftsman style stone house on Simcoe St. N. Although, unfortunately the developer Minto demolished the one-and-a-half-storey stone house Dec 20, 2013, our 'Save Our Heritage' Steering Committee was appreciative of learning more about the McLaughlins. This letter in particular, showed a slice of life, a family's waning recollection of the location, while aiming for an accurate record...of where to place the Robert McLaughlin Memorial Plaque in Tyrone! I'm copying Robert Sam McLaughlin's letter dated 1959 here thinking Danny (and others) might find it as delightful as Kathy and I did.
Thursday I met with Danny Gallagher, an Oshawa resident and well-known journalist who has authored a new book "Genius" (available at the Oshawa Indigo store, business section). It is a good read, well-researched by Danny, about the inspiring success story of Swiss Chalet and Harvey's restaurants founder, Rick Mauran. As Danny has not yet determined what the subject of his next book will be, I was encouraging him to write about the McLaughlin family in Oshawa, even suggesting the title 'Brilliant' :) -kinda nervy of me I admit...but hey, nothing ventured... and you never know!
Danny didn't seem to mind. My pitch to him was thinking it's time for a 'refresh' of the tale of the McLaughlin family's significant leadership and impact, not only economically and culturally on Oshawa, but on many other communities as well. Through the lens of history, likely there are many new Oshawa residents who would appreciate learning more about the extraordinary philanthropy of Oshawa's R. S. McLaughlin and his and his father Robert and brothers George and John's enduring legacy too.
In fact, Danny was obliging enough to attend the Canadian Automotive Museum with me and as you see in the picture here, took notes! CAM curator Alex Gates was happy to share interesting information and ever humorous Oshawa native Greg Milosh (who makes it a habit of not smiling for the camera) made it an entertaining visit.
In our conversation I told Danny I'd share a letter from the 1950s written by R.S. McLaughlin that Kathie Vanular and I came across during research at the Ontario Archives the summer of 2012. That was when a group of us were trying to save the George McLaughlin craftsman style stone house on Simcoe St. N. Although, unfortunately the developer Minto demolished the one-and-a-half-storey stone house Dec 20, 2013, our 'Save Our Heritage' Steering Committee was appreciative of learning more about the McLaughlins. This letter in particular, showed a slice of life, a family's waning recollection of the location, while aiming for an accurate record...of where to place the Robert McLaughlin Memorial Plaque in Tyrone! I'm copying Robert Sam McLaughlin's letter dated 1959 here thinking Danny (and others) might find it as delightful as Kathy and I did.