File consists of correspondence relating to the Annswell Park. The land for the park was donated by Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Clark to the Markham Township when they moved from Thornhill, Ontario in 1967.
Included is a letter from W.H. Clark offering to donate this land to the Township of Markham, as well as a letter from the Township of Markham (1966) accepting this donation, along with legal documents relating to the transfer of land from the Clarks to the Township.
A letter dated June 29, 1973 addressed to the Mayor of Markham from W.H. Clark relates to the Clarks' concern that the Township have not yet followed up on their plans for the parkette which was to be created to preserve and enhance the memory of Ann Preston.
Other correspondence between the Clarks and the Parks and Recreation Department (1984) relates to the plaque which was put in place at Annswell Park to honour the memory of Ann Preston. Another letter to Councillor Doreen Quirk (1985) conveys the Clarks' concern over the poor condition in which the parkette and the Prayer Shed are kept. A letter from the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill (1985) is also among the items in this file and relates to the Society's recommendations for improvements to be made by the Township to Holy Ann's Prayer Shed and Well. Other letters (1986) from Clare Clark urge the Township to ensure that the recommended improvements to this historic site are made.
Other items in the file include correspondence (1987) between Clare Clark and Warren Thompson, Wills Consultant, with Canada Trust which relate to the current condition of the Annswell Park. Letters from 1988 from Clare Clark to the Director of Parks and Recreation convey her gratitude that the Park is now being kept in good condition. She voices her concerns, however, that a plaque or marker explaining the purpose of the Prayer House should be put in place and that a plaque should also be attached to the marker at the well. A response to this letter is contained in this file conveying this department's plans to make the changes recommended by Clare Clark. Letters from The Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill (1992) voicing their intention to mount a plaque on the prayer shed and asking the Township to help with other required improvements are also contained in this file.This Society are offering their help to Mrs. Clark and are asking the Township to do the same in response to a letter received from Mrs. Clark by this Society in 1991.
This file also contains photographs (many laminated). Some of these photographs appear to have been sent to the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill by Clare Clark along with her letter of Nov. 4, 1991. These photographs depict the parkette created by the Township and show the old marker, the Prayer Shed, and the plaque put in place at the park providing some information on the history of the park and about Holy Ann. A photograph of the Holy Ann Cross donated by the Clarks to Thornhill United Church in 1973 is also included among the items in this file. Other photographs depict the Thornhill property in the 1950s and in the 1960s. Also included here is a photocopy of a photograph of the old homestead of Dr. Reid Thornhill where Ann lived as a servant. A copy of this photograph appeared in Mrs. Bingham's book An Irish Saint. One of the Christmas cards, which was sent out by the Clarks on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the miracle of Holy Ann's well, and which includes a drawing of the well and Prayer Shed and historical information about Holy Ann, is also included in this file.
Additionally, this file contains the publishers note and postscript which were contained in a new edition of An Irish Saint published in commemoration of the 170th anniversary of the founding of Thornhill United Church in 1973. Mr. and Mrs. Clark wrote the postcript which appears in this edition of the book.
One letter in this file does not relate to the Annswell Park but instead to the Township's plans to extend Dudley Avenue north from Elgin to John Streets thus cutting a wide area through the Clarks' property. Mr. Clark is informed of the Township's plans in a letter enclosed in this file (June 23, 1960) from the Planning Director of the Township. The Clarks are also advised that the possible development of apartment houses on one side of their property will make it difficult for them to continue to use their home for residential purposes.
