John Muir Lived Here in Grey County – Lecture by Robert Burcher

Robert Burcher is a photographer, writer, historical researcher and wilderness explorer who has been fascinated by John Muir, the Scottish-born American conservationist and Sierra Club co-founder, for decades.

The discovery of an abandoned historical plaque in the Epping Conservation Area in the Beaver Valley galvanized Robert to action. The plaque honoured the fact that John Muir had lived in Meaford for two years during the late 1800s. That was the beginning of a 30-year research project culminating in a book called My Summer of Glorious Freedom. The book was a discovery process of tracing Muir’s 1864 wanderings in Southern Ontario using plant specimens that he had collected. While living in Meaford, Muir made several subsequent trips to Owen Sound to study with fern specialist Jessie Roy.