This circa 1920s photograph is of the Anglo Canadian Leather Company Band baseball team.

The Anglo Canadian Leather Company, known in Huntsville as The Tannery, was an offshoot of the forestry industry. Leather was processed using the tannins found in great concentration in hemlock tree bark. This bark would otherwise have been a useless discard of the logging and forestry industry.

C.O. Shaw, owner of The Tannery, had a love of orchestral music. Consequently, Shaw hired workers from places overseas which were rich in classical musical tradition and ability. Many of Huntsville’s long-time resident families were imported from Europe. These tannery workers formed Shaw’s labour force, his band, and also his baseball team. Descendants of these workers are still making music around here.

Huntsville’s legacy is built on the resourcefulness of its pioneers. Shaw was certainly tuned in to specialization in the labour force and diversification in product lines, bringing strength to all bases across economic sectors, while successfully playing with sophisticated culture on the world stage.

Perfect pitch. Play ball. We’re with the band.