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Wallace Havelock Robb and Abbey Dawn
















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*Acknowledgments*

Photograph of Wallace Havelock Robb by Klaas Tuinmanİ

The following words and writings are "in part and portion" from "The Abbe' of Abbey Dawn” written by Dr. George Stanley and are transcripts of the Kingston Historical Society Vol. 8, 1970:

 

Whilst searching for a place in which to live, found what he wanted four miles east of Kingston Ontario. "I stopped. I sensed something. A feeling. A presence. I had to have this land. It would be my ivory tower" was the way he explained his aquisition of the farm just north of the Modona mash.

Here, at what he called “Abbey Dawn” he established a sanctuary (500 acres) for birds of prey. There were plenty of sanctuaries for good birds. "But what about the rebel birds, the outcasts, the crows, the owls and the hawks?" he said. In 1929 The Province of Ontario designated Abbey Dawn a Crown and Game Preserve. And, on May 24, 1929 the first Canadian Poet’s Festival was held there.

On October 24th, 1948, Wallace Havelock Robb was initiated into the Kent Mohawks, was given the name: Gonaragon Odonyoh Gowah (Great White Eagle) and, was invested with the rank and title of: Ganaydanondakto (Pine Tree Chief) with three eagle feathers to his crest (the most sacred rank and title in the power on the Iroquois that can be bestow to a whiteman).

Wallace Havelock Robb continued to live at Abbey Dawn. For many years he farmed his land, milked his cows, wrote his poems and gave public recitals.

Having collected Indian relics for years he started a small museum in his house in 1945 and in 1950 had to build, a plain wooden structure on the top of a cliff overlooking Madoma marsh. For years tourists visited here paying their fifty cents admission, examined the artifacts, listened to Wallace Robb recite some of his poems, and if they were children or brides as they to had the spirit of poetry in their souls, sounded Gitchi Nagamo, a lage bell which had been cast to the poet's specifications. In 1960, how ever, the museum was closed, the building was removed, and the collection was turned over to the Kingston Historical Society.

Wallace Havelock Robb through out his life attracted controversy. His patron was, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII who later abdicated).

 

Wallace Havelock Robb

 

May 19, 1888 ----- January 29, 1976.

 

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Wallace Havelock Robb's chief works are as follows:

 

The Quill & Candle, 1927, poems

The Door of Dawn 1937, N.Y.C., poems

A Far Bell Calling, 1949, prose and poetry

Thunderbird, 1949, epic in prose and poetry

Tecumth, 1958 (Tecumseh), epic in prose and poetry

Kay-on-a-kon-te, 1961, 1000 Isles, legend, poetry

Arrayed -In-Wampum, 1966, legend, prose and poetry

The Tyrian Quill, 1969, poems

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