Visit & Tour 2008 - (Page 7) Tourism Services & St. Thomas Times-Journal, February 2008 • www.elgintourist.com 7 Bayham Four generations of Edison’s survived floods, fires, wars, revolutions and epidemics to become one of the founding families of Vienna, Ontario, dubbed “the most flourishing place in Canada West” by a Toronto reporter in 1851. The museum, boasting authentic artifacts donated by the last surviving Edison descendant in Vienna, Nora Edison Coombe, is a testament to one of the most exciting eras of Canadian history. Each Edison generation not only bore witness, but was intricately involved in events such as settling land granted by the notorious Colonel Talbot, the War of 1812, The Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837 (causing Thomas Edison’s father Samuel to make a daring escape to the States), The Fenian Raids, and the completion of the CN Railway. The pro- Edison Museum of Vienna lific inventor himself,Thomas Alva Edison, summered in Vienna with his grandfather during his formative years. The house where the museum is housed, built in 1853 on ground once owned by the Edison family, was donated to the village by Helen and Douglas Howard to be used as a museum. Visit the Inventor’s Room, which contains variations of earlier light bulbs and storage batteries, as well as an experiment involving Thomas Edison along with his great friends, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone. Sadly to residents of Vienna, the original Edison Homestead, located adjacent to Otter Creek, was of such interest to Henry Ford, he commissioned the move of the entire building to Dearborne Michigan. While in Vienna, plan to visit the Pioneer Cemetery, then the Marine Museum and Lighthouse in nearby Port Burwell, and live a little of Canada’s most colourful history. The museum is open daily from midMay to Labour Day.For more information call (519) 866-5521, or call the Museum during operation hours at (519) 874-4999, or visit www.bayham.on.ca. Port Burwell Area Wind Turbines Come to Port Burwell and start the day off by picking up a wind farm souvenir from one of the local businesses, see the Wind Farm exhibit at the Marine Museum then tour the Erie Shores Wind Farm for yourself. General Information Definition: A wind turbine is a machine that converts kinetic energy (wind) into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is then converted into electricity. Tower Height: The wind blows faster at higher altitudes due to the drag of the surface (sea or land). By making towers so high, you increase the wind speed by approximately 10%.At night, wind speed stays the same or even increases at higher altitude. Each tower is between 60 and 75 metres tall and the blades are 30 to 40 meters in length. Depth of Foundation: Approximately 20” deep, it can support about 125 tones. Did You Know? How much cement was used in the foundation? – 48 truck loads. How much electricity is generated by one wind turbine in one day? – 1.5W/ hr is the maximum amount that one turbine can produce. How many turbines are there? – 66 all together in the Port Burwell area. How many homes will the generated power supply? – 32,000 homes. What is the expected life of a turbine? – 20 years. Why do they operate certain days and not on other days? Lack of wind is the main reason but sometimes they are down for maintenance. How do the blades always face the direction of the wind? – Each turbine has wind instruments on top which are connected to a computer inside the tower. The computer takes that information and then is able to control the direction of the turbines and the pitch of the blades. What is the range of speeds of a wind turbine? – 4 m/s to 25 m/s. How much Van Den Nest Nursery Pat & Julie Van Den Nest Rd. 44 #3 Hw y land does one turbine take up? – 3 to 4 square kilometres of land. For more information please visit www.aimpowergen.com Come & Visit our Garden Centre Large selection of potted flowering shrubs. Tillsonburg #19 ers R d. Aylmer Van Den Nest Nursery Som EDEN OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK APRIL THRU NOVEMBER • HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 8-5, Closed Sundays 9594 Somers Road, Eden 519 866-5269 www.amtelecom.net/~edentree MAY 1ST TO OCTOBER 15TH Family Camping Daily, Weekly & Seasonal Phone: 519-866-3504 • Fax: 519-866-3582 OPEN Email - redoaktravelpark@amtelecom.net Webpage - www.redoaktravelpark.ca Located 14 km E. of Aylmer on Hwy. 3 (54428 Talbot Line) http://www.elgintourist.com http://www.bayham.on.ca http://www.aimpowergen.com http://www.amtelecom.net/~edentree http://www.redoaktravelpark.ca http://www.redoaktravelpark.ca
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