A Cruizin' Parkard

Every Thursday evening from 6 p.m. till dusk until September 24th the Hyde Park Lions Club is hosting Country Cruizin' at Steve Plunkett's Fleetwood Farms. The nights are free, with optional donations going to the Special Abilities Riding Institute in Arva, which offers horseback riding to children with disabilities. Expect to see several hundred cars at each event, mostly beautiful Detroit iron but there are always a few like the 1932 Packard shown. If all this sounds interesting, visit http://www.countrycruizin.com for directions and more details.

Jones, Box and Label Moved

This red brick building at 1173 Dundas St. E., dates back to the 1920s. It has seen its share of changes over the years, with the last changes seeing the windows securely sheeted over with aluminum panels, the front entrance stripped of its elegance, and all in the name of security. The former Jones Box and Label manufacturing and warehousing building is now a self storage facility. On the bright side, it is understood that Jones Packaging, a successful fourth generation London company with roots dating back to 1882, is now headquartered in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on Page St. at Veteran's Memorial Parkway.

Weed Warrior on the Move

London, Ontario, was a leader in the move to curtail the cosemetic use of pesticides. A bylaw addressing the issue was passed by London City Council long before the Province of Ontario took a stand. An Ontario-wide pesticides ban came into effect this past April. With the war on weeds stripped of its chemical weapons, weed warriors like the dandelion are again claiming territory. An increased exposure to dandelions but a decreased exposure to toxic chemicals seems like a fair trade-off. The ban has the full support of London's winged community.

Photo tip: This picture was taken with a Canon SD10 point and shoot camera. Use the macro setting and hold camera near the flower while you keep your distance. (I have long arms.) The camera was within a couple of inches of the flower. Try shooting from a low vantage point and from the side and not from the top. This will show more of the insect.

Thames River Bridge

For years the walking bridge over the Thames River at the
Thames Valley Golf Course was a beautiful to look at, fun to cross, single lane, suspension bridge that creaked and swayed with every step. A few years ago, I believe, the aging structure was condemned. Its replacement is an oh-so-practical solid steel and concrete bridge. It is not beautiful but it is handsome – a solid, wide, well-used, wooden-decked span.

Ruggles Motor Truck of Saginaw also in London

In the Vernon City Directory for London, 1922, this elegant building on Dundas Street was listed as the home of the Ruggles Motor Truck. This was a Saginaw, Michigan, company that built trucks from 1921-1928 and which also operated a plant in London until 1926. Today Ruggles are exceedingly rare as few Ruggles survived the Great Depression. I understand there's a truck in a San Diego museum and a bus in Australia. When a rare Ruggles appears at an historic vehicle auction, it's news.

Soon to be gone

I believe this bit of vandalism was on the side of the Embassy Hotel which recently was destroyed by fire. One more reason not to put your craftsmanship on the side of buildings - brick and mortar may not last as long as canvas. Many will miss the hotel, far fewer the graffiti.

Fire Guts Embassy Hotel

The Embassy Hotel, closed for two months and awaiting demolition to make way for a 150-unit condominium development, was gutted by fire Tuesday, May 12. Built in the early 1900s, the Old East landmark had been an East London music spot and popular watering hole for 50 years.