The Original Winnie the Bear Turns 100 in 2014

The History of Winnie the Pooh

Back in 1914 I bet no one of White River, Ontario, Canada knew their town would be part of a world-wide phenomenon that would eventually be known all over the world and in Onamia as Winnie the Pooh.

 

There was a little black bear cub that became an orphan when a trapper killed her mother. She was found by a trapper who brought her into White River.  It sounds surprising , but it was not an uncommon thing to do back then.

Lieutenant Harry Colebourn

White River, founded by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, was an important stop for trains.  In town trains would take load coal and do train maintenance. During WWI, most trains carrying troops also carried horses so they would stop in White River from four to six hours at time to allow the horses to be watered and exercised.  Soilders were drilled along Winnipeg Street where the Train Station was located.  It was here at the Train Station, that the trapper sold the bear cub to a soldier during a stopover. The soldier was Lt Harry Colebourn. An entry in his journal reads, "August 24, 1914 Left Port Arthur 7AM. In train all day. Bought bear $20". A later notation identifies the stop as White River.

 

Harry Colebourn, was attached to both the Fort Garry Horse Regiment and the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. He was responsible for the horses on the troop train. He was headed for Val Carteir, Quebec and then on to England. Harry was born in England and came to Toronto, Ontario, Canada when he was eighteen.  He later moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Harry decided to name the little cub "Winnipeg" after his hometown - a long way from Onamia. This little bear, known as "Winnie" became a pet for the soldiers, sleeping under the bed of her master even after they reached the Salisbury Plains in England.

The London Zoo

Harry Colebourn was now a Captain. In 1914 he received the news that he would soon be deployed to France. He knew that Winnie would not be able to accompany him, so he made arrangements to keep her in the London Zoo until he returned. Winnie soon became a favorite attraction. Kids would knock on her door and she would open it and come out. She would allow boys and girls to ride on her back and she would eat from their hands. The zoo keepers who cared for her stated that Winnie was completely trustworthy. Other bears were not allowed to have such a close relationship with the visitors.

 

Captain Colebourn visited Winnie at the Zoo whenever he was on leave. He always recorded his visits in his journal.  When Harry saw how popular she was with the children and adults, he decided he would not take her back to Canada as he had planned. She was officially donated to the Zoo on December 1, 1918.

A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin

This little bear captured the hearts of many guests to the Zoo, among them Alan Alexander Milne and his son Christopher Robin Milne. They became frequent visitors and it was Christopher who added "Pooh" to Winnie's name. He got the name from his pet swan named Pooh. Christopher had a bear given to him on his first birthday on August 21, 1921 which he first called Edward Bear, but soon changed to "Winnie-the-Pooh" after the wonderful Winnie the Bear at the London Zoo.

 

Alan Alexander Milne started to write stories about a loveable bear in his children's books based on that bear in the Zoo. In his first edition in 1926, he mentioned that these stories were about this bear and his son and his son's stuffed toys. We have been told that Christopher Robin had a birthday party at the Zoo that included some of his friends and "Winnie-the-Pooh" as well, since it was held in Winnie's cage.  Thus started the stories parents liviing in Onamia and all over the world would read to their kids by the Zoo Officials.

In Memory of Winnie The Pooh

A bronze statue of Winnie now stands at the London Zoo in her memory. It was unveiled in 1981. Part of the inscription reads "She gave her name to "Winnie-the-Pooh" and A.A. Milne and Ernest Shepard gave "Winnie-the-Pooh" to the rest of the world".

 

The White River Eighth Grade Class also went to the London Zoo in 1997 to present another plaque detailing White River's part in Winnie's history. A copy of this plaque is on display at the White River Visitor's Centre. There is also a bronze statue of Captain Colebourn and Winnie in the children's section at the London Zoo which is a copy of the one in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg. It was given to the Zoo by the Manitoba Government.

 

The White River District Historical Society has received touching and sometimes humorous letters from those who knew the Milne family or visited Winnie at the Zoo. A.A. Milne passed away January 31, 1956. Christopher Robin Milne, who passed away April 20, 1996, had previously been in touch with the Historical Society and autographed six books, three books that his father wrote as well as three books he had written. These are on display in the Museum.

 

Fred Colebourn, the only son of Harry, passed away in May 1998 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a young boy growing up, he was aware of his father's connection to "Winnie-the-Pooh" and was pleased when it was verified in 1987. Fred was the guest of honour at White River's first Winnie's Hometown Festival in 1989 which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the purchase of the bear cub and the meeting of the Captain and Winnie at the train station in White River.

 

Disney purchased the copyright to "Winnie-the-Pooh" in 1961. The stories have been translated into 33 languages.  What boy in Onamia hasn't heard the Pooh stories.

 

In 1996, the Disney Company commissioned Canada Post to introduce a set of 4 stamps which depict the story of "Winnie-the-Pooh" beginning with the little Canadian Black Bear and Captain Colebourn in White River, then her life at the London Zoo, the meeting of Winnie and Christopher Robin Milne and lastly showing the "Winnie-the-Pooh" character as developed by the Disney Company.

White River Commemorates Winnie the Pooh

Every year on the 3rd weekend in August, White River holds Winnie's Hometown Festival to celebrate and remember when the little black bear cub came from.

At the 4th festival in 1992 a statue, based on the Disney "Winnie-the-Pooh" was unveiled. It stands in Pooh Park just down the street from the Visitor Centre.  There are beautiful planted flowers surrounding the statue which can be viewed and visited from Highway 17.

 

The White River District Historical Society has received many "Winnie-the-Pooh" memorabilia from fans and friends from all over the world. In 1994 a large collection from Saperstone family and from Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.A. was brought to White River and is displayed at the Visitor Centre. In 2003, Lisa Yee, then residing in Orlando FL, US contacted the Society, as she felt the White River Heritage Museum would be a perfect home for her unique, one of a kind "Winnie-the-Pooh" collection.  And, Deb Hoffmann, Guinness World Record Holder for the 'Largest Pooh and Friends Memorabilia Collection' has donated several items to the museum.  Deb and her husband, Gary, have emceed the festival since 2008 and donate Winnie the Pooh items each year to the festival raffle.

 

White River would love to share the history and original story with Pooh fans from Onamia anytime you're in the neighborhood.

 

It is Deb's crazy love for Winnie the Pooh which was the inspiration for the cartoon collectors auction website www.cartoonfreakboutique.com