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Delve into the enlightening history of Orangeville with new book ‘Once Upon a Forest’

October 19, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield

A wonderful new book highlighting the history of Orangeville’s early days is being launched this Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11:00 a.m. in the Atrium of Orangeville’s Town Hall. 

Written by Mary Early and illustrated by Canadian award-winning illustrator Kasia Charko, “Once Upon a Forest” is full of facts most people never knew and pictures to amuse and delight. It is the second collaboration for these two ladies.

Special guests attending the launch on Saturday are Mayor Lisa Post, historian and archivist Wayne Townsend and Theatre Orangeville’s artistic director David Nairn.

In his heritage role as Town Crier, Andrew Welch will call for the attention of attendees. Refreshments will be served.

The idea of an illustrated town history book came first in Alton when Mary Early conceived the idea and got in touch with Kasia Charko, living in Alton, to see if she would be interested in the project. 

In January 2020, Alton was celebrating its bicentennial, and the question of whether there was a book about Alton was raised.

Ms. Early told the Citizen in a recent interview with herself and Ms. Charko, “Kasia Charko was in Alton and I told her I have this idea for a local history book for Alton.” They agreed together, “It was just the thing coming together. We called it ‘Once Upon a River.’ We didn’t think we’d be able to sell them because Covid had hit but the book sold like hot cakes, in spite of Covid.”

Kasia Charko’s illustrations are intensely detailed, comical as they are and harkening back to the illustrations by George Cruikshank in Charles Dickens’ novels. Ms. Charko admires Cruikshank’s work very much for the characters he created. 

They agreed between them that they would do one more book – about Orangeville.

“Kasia’s illustrations bring it to life,” said Ms. Early. “It’s kind of targeted for youngsters but we felt that adults would like to have this history at their fingertips too.”

Once Upon a Forest tells how first pioneers clear-cut the forests for their homes and potash and the kind of business this brought to the locale when the train was coming to the town. 

“By the turn of the century, they had cleared the trees,” they told us. “The story of the trees has really changed the history of the region. Kasia has captured a lot of characters.

We think it’s important the children and adults should have an idea of the town’s history. Wayne Townsend says local history brings the community together. He was the inspiration for us to write this; he wrote Orangeville – the Heart of Dufferin County, and we’re hoping to get to selling this book too.”

Necessarily, this is a self-published publication and funding that cost is another problem. There were several sponsors for the Alton book, but the ladies worried that businesses had been hard hit by Covid and were reluctant to seek sponsorship this time. Yet, eight sponsors did come through for the Once Upon a Forest project.

Ms. Early and Charko hope to go to schools for presentations and as school fundraisers. It is available for $20 at BookLore and Sproule’s Emporium. Books will be for sale at the book launch this Saturday. 

“It’s a labour of love,” they agreed.

The most fun for Ms. Early “has been working with Kasia, learning the stories. She takes my text and does her own research and illustrations.”

The Alton book took nine months, but Orangeville’s history took a little over a year, being twice the size.

They encourage people to come to the launch this Saturday (Oct. 21).

“It’s going to be a fun event,” they promised. “The heritage to unveil Orangeville’s own history book, one of a kind, our history, heroes and highlights. There will be tree saplings as give aways.” 

The two of them are considering doing one more book.

“That makes it a series,” said Ms. Early.

And Ms. Charko added, “We’ll call it the Once Upon a History series.”

Nancy Early wishes to thank Mayor Post and her team, Orangeville Public Library CEO Darla Fraser, Lauren Tilly and Booklore’s Nancy Frater for their incredible support in helping to launch Once Upon a Forest. 

Thanks also to the sponsors: Orangeville Optimists, Orangeville Lions Club, Mary & Kaitlan Klein, Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Rotary Orangeville Highlands, CIBC, Theatre Orangeville and CVC Credit Valley Conservation.

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