SC Rewind: Remembering The Scrapbook

In the current edition of 'Rewind' Robert Smith recalls the importance of the once popular family scrapbooks that most families once kept.  The emphasis is centered on how horse people in particular liked to assemble their mementos in a good old fashioned scrapbook.  Modern methods may have replaced them but they still are an important piece of the past. Included are a number of actual old scrapbook clippings. 

People of a certain age will surely remember the traditional old well worn scrapbooks that once existed in many families.  They served as a repository for all of the important events down through the years;  not only for one's own family but also those of neighbours, friends and even significant events and happenings in one's community.  The scrapbooks of old were nothing like their modern counterparts.  Those who were the custodians of these old gems didn't attend classes to learn how to assemble them, nor did they follow any set of rules, they just "cut and pasted" as the occasion demanded.  And that was not yet a computer term. 

An old scrapbook item (Gardner family) 

For quite a number of years we have seen a steady transition from the "old" ways of receiving our news.  In days gone by most families received at least one newspaper on a regular basis;  many received multiple papers, some just published on a weekly basis.  Once read they were often retained for various reasons.  One of those was as a way of remembering certain things like pictures of important events, recipes, announcements and for future inclusion in the family scrapbook. 

An old scrapbook item (Tiffin family) 

I can recall in most of my growing up years that we received two daily newspapers and probably at least two weekly local publications.  In addition we received three or four harness racing journals. If you really wanted to keep a reliable record of something you carefully cut it out and saved it.  If all went well it eventually made its way into a scrapbook at many homes. 

Today I believe only a small percentage of households rely on the newspaper for their news.  We have become spoiled as news is delivered almost as fast as it happens now that we rely on the internet.  Often individuals immediately become "reporters" as they begin to tell their version of an event as it unfolds.  While it works in the short term one wonders how long it will be kept available.  

An old scrapbook item (Tiffin family) 

The above items that have been forgotten in today's world were essential to the scrapbook custodian of yesteryear. 

One person comes to mind when I think about scrapbook items and this gentleman's writings made their way into a lot of harness racing family's treasured  albums. That man was Harry Eisen, long-time sportswriter for the London Free Press.  I have included a short passage from an earlier Rewind in 2015 devoted to this memorable writer.  

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"We once lived in a simpler, less complicated world than we know today; everything wasn't instant. People waited for news and enjoyed it in its own good time. There was an old saying that 'bad news travels fast.' Well by today's standards, pretty much all news travelled slowly back then. What happened today, especially if it took place some distance away, was reported the next day at the earliest. While phone calls were made sparingly, the most popular medium was a newspaper. We relied on good and accurate reporting and no one was any better at it than Harry Eisen." 

An old scrapbook item (Gardner family) 

While the old scrapbooks were rather rudimentary in design their function was monumental.  Sad to say that today many old scrapbooks soon make their way to landfills as old family members pass on and their importance is no longer deemed necessary.  If you are lucky enough to have one, treasure it. 

Many people think that scrapbooking is a recent phenomenon, but the history of albums, recognizable as something that we’d call a scrapbook today, dates back not only before the invention of photography – but also to before the origin of the word “scrapbook” itself. -- Quote from "The History of Scrapbooking"

Down through the years I have been privileged to view the scrapbooks of quite a number of racing families.  Their value is immeasurable and I have enjoyed looking at each and every one,  all very similar but all a bit different. 

Rideau Roll Call Trivia 

Rideau Carleton Raceway recently observed its 60th anniversary of operation.  This milestone was reached on September 1st as opening night was September 1, 1962.   The Rideau track is Ontario's second longest operating harness facility, just a year behind the London track that ushered in nighttime racing in the Province in May of 1961.  

A check of the unofficial list of drivers that I compiled a number of years ago who competed at the inaugural meeting shows a few remaining from that original group.  This will be part of this week's trivia assignment to name as many as you can.  There may even be some that I am not aware of. I believe there are at least six possibilities.  Can you name a few who raced at the opening meeting and are still around today as the track turns the big 6-0!  

Quote For The Week: "Don't forget that maybe you are the lighthouse in someone's storm." - Unknown 

Who Is It? 

Can you identify the two gents on either side of the horse? Both are legendary figures in horse racing.  I have no idea who the fellow on the far left is so he does not become part of the quiz.