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story Maureen Scott  As you walk through the quaint, picturesque Olde Meadowvale Village, admiring the tree-lined streets and historic homes and buildings, it’s hard to believe you are just minutes from the 401 and a Wal-Mart. By car, that is, not horse and buggy. This historic village along the Credit River near Old Derry Road is old-style country living with all the modern conveniences of the city close by. Drive into the village, past the sign which reads "Meadowvale Village, Since 1836, First Heritage District in Ontario," and you will be transported back in time - 175 years ago, to be exact. On September 17, 2011 the village celebrated their 175th anniversary with tours of historic buildings, heritage exhibits, Irish music and dancing and the streets were transformed like a movie set with vintage cars and townsfolk decked out in their Sunday best. The village looked much like it did in the 1800’s when Irish immigrants first settled here. They built flour and woollen mills, two hotels, a school, a wagon shop and all their homes. “Over 4,000 people attended the anniversary celebrations. They just kept on coming!” says Mike Byrne, Chairman of the Meadowvale Anniversary Committee. “People were taken with what a small town in Ontario looked like and how well this village has been preserved. We are a tight-knit community that’s very proud of where we live.” The historic plaque on his home reads, "The Francis Silverthorn Estate, Mill Owner, Circa 1840." Many of the original homes still stand today and The Olde Meadowvale Heritage Review Committee plans to keep it that way. “This is an idyllic, special place,” says Terry Wilson, a member of the Olde Meadowvale Village Heritage Review Committee. Four of the members live in the Village and the 5th member is Mississauga architect Michael Spaziani. “Many people don’t get it,” continues Terry. “They move here and try to bring in silly things like big boulders to landscape or want to pave everything. This changes the character of things. The Committee has regulations for everything from the style of the home to the number of panes in the windows. Houses must blend in so we can maintain the look and feel of the 1850’s. We don’t want replicas necessarily, but the homes must be similar in scale and design. Often new buildings have a turret here, some brick here, and some stone there. We want quiet, basic uncluttered lines and simplified architecture.” According to Terry, residents may tear down a building due to poor condition - IF they have permission from the Heritage Review Committee and as long as the building doesn’t have historic designation. Terry will be first in line to salvage the materials, all of which he uses in his Olde Meadowvale Miniature Village he has built in his backyard. (See below for more details) More than 1,000 people trampled through Terry’s yard on September 17 to see his village-in-miniature which is a replica of Meadowvale village in the 1800’s. “I took people through 50 to 75 at a time and the line ups went on all day,” says Terry with great fulfillment. Terry, a retired history teacher who is a third-generation Villager, started building his miniature wonderland 14 years ago as a hobby. His mother Rosemary worked alongside Terry, and the mother-and-son team used photos of original village buildings as their inspiration. Terry designs and builds about two buildings a year, adding to his village scene, which now consists of two mills (one with a water source from a creek), a school house, general store, mercantile shop, emporium, blacksmith’s shop, a millworker’s cottage, a train station and out buildings. Each is decorated with period furniture, knick knacks and clothing or dry goods which Terry and Rosemary have found, sourced or donated. Rosemary, who lives just two doors from Terry, has a miniature museum and a library in her backyard. For several decades, Rosemary has been signing out library books to local school children and Ontario history books to adults.  Terry’s mini world is not so mini. “My yard is 300 feet deep which allows me room to set up the village,” says Terry. “The buildings are mostly 9’x 6’feet; large enough to step inside.” Terry begins his backyard tour at the miniature train station, and although there’s no real train, or even tracks for that matter, he will take you on a journey back in time. “It’s about using your imagination to experience things as they were. We are all kids at heart who love to pretend. Young kids and adults grew up watching Little House on the Prairie and they love to relate to a simpler time. People who visit here tell me it’s a surreal experience.” Each fall, Terry again welcomes visitors as part of the Doors Open Mississauga event (on October 1 this year). The village is open for “special occasions” only, although group tours can be arranged by reservation. Each Christmas, Terry decorates the village with heritage decorations (no icicle lights here) and is contemplating inviting the entire village over for an evening of old-fashioned fun and carolling. “I have never taken a dime for the tours,” says Terry. “I do this because I love doing it and love this village. If people want to donate money I suggest they donate to a heritage building in their own community.” People dropping by and asking for a tour are constant in Terry’s life. He admits he sometimes obliges, but more often he sets up an appointment. “I estimate I get about 1,000 people a year visiting. This year will likely be double that. I’d say about 7,000 people have visited the village. I now have a sign on the lawn which reads: Please Don’t Enter. For Tours Call 905-564-8632."  GL

The Meadowvale Mill circa 1920s Photo courtesy of Heritage Mississauga The sign on Old Derry Road Gooderham family estate house on Old Derry Road Mike Byrne, chair of the committee of Meadowvale residents for the Anniversary Celebration, with the Mayor on September 17, 2011 Some of the old cars on parade for the Anniversary

As part of the Heritage Mississauga Doors Open event on Saturday October 1, 2011 Terry Wilson’s Olde Meadowvale Village Miniature Village is one of the ten stops on the tour. Terry’s backyard village-in-miniature is located on Pond Street in  Meadowvale Village. His mom Rosemary’s exhibit, including a museum and working library, is located just two doors down on Pond Street too. Terry’s 1800’s style village looks like it is straight out of the TV show Little House on the Prairie. “The Mercantile Shop” or post office where you get your mail is like Nellie Olson’s house,” laughs Terry. Here are some of the other shops you will see in the village. They took Terry 14 years to build, and in fact, he’s still building it - adding a building or two each year...   The General Store Filled with replica dry good tins, antique game boards and everything a pioneer farm wife would need in the 1800’s School House The exterior may be a brick school house, but the interior is a church with wooden pews from yesteryear. “In pioneer days, communities had to improvise and hold services wherever they could. Several congregations have rented the building to hold services here,” says Terry. The Blacksmith’s Shop Complete with original tools and horseshoes The Emporium Filled with high-end vintage fashions and materials. Terry says the Meadowvale Emporium once rivalled Eaton’s department store in terms of selection of fashion Library and Museum (at Rosemary’s home at 7105 Pond Street) For decades long-time resident Rosemary Wilson (Terry’s Mom) has been signing out library books at her miniature backyard library. She’s only ever had one book not returned! The library is filled with history books on Ontario heritage plus children’s books. The adjacent museum houses antique photos and items from the historic village of Meadowvale. Tours can be arranged by calling Terry Wilson at 905-564-8632. Both Terry and Rosemary will open their doors to the public on October 1 as part of the Open Door Mississauga event. For information on the event visit the Heritage Mississauga website at www.info@heritagemississauga.org or www.mississauga.ca/doorsopen Photos by Steve Uhraney