In 1996, I began wondering if Springfield had its own unique emblem or crest to use on T-shirts, mugs, and other saleable items. What I had been looking for was a way to fund raise for our annual Springfield Family Fun Day.  After checking with the Village clerk at the time, Cathy Bearss, I discovered that we had been an incorporated village since 1877 and no one had ever gone to the effort to establish a distinctive symbol for our fair village! 

Well, after some brain-storming with a few family members and friends over the winter months, I had an idea. 

So in the spring of 1997 in conjunction with the Springfield Family Fun Day Committee, and with some much needed financial backing from the Springfield Lioness Club, I organized a contest.  I wanted it to be from the community.  After all, this is our little corner of the world and we should have a say in how others perceive it.  Flyers were mailed out to Springfield and Springfield rural routes as well as posters being distributed.

The winner of the contest would receive $25.  When the contest deadline came there were a handful of entries.  I had selected a committee of a broad range of ages and talents to judge the entries.  The committee of Reeve Bill MacIntyre, Margaret Charlton [senior], Bob Nesbitt [active community member], Lori Smit [youth], and Kelly Pearson got together and went over the entries.   There were no identifying marks on any entry so that the decision could be unbiased. 

However, we were at a standstill !!  There were two entries that we just could not make a final decision one way or the other.  After some discussion we felt they could be blended in to one design, but we didn’t have the know-how.  It was suggested to ask a local graphic designer Dawn McClintock if she could take the two sketches and bring them together into one. 

Dawn took the two entries and combined them into what you see.  The emblem shows the things that “make” Springfield.  The tree [which represents our local apple orchard & other area trees], the barn [which represents our close ties to area farms and their importance in keeping Springfield on the map], the buggy [which represents two things in my mind - the close ties to the Amish colony around us and the ties to our ancestors who built Springfield into a village], the open door church [which has always been an integral part of Springfield’s history] and the railway crossing [which is in the heart of the design because the railway is what actually MADE Springfield.  Without it we would not be here!!!]  The shape of the pin is a very well balanced frame to surround the images of Springfield.  The Trillium flower of Ontario and the Maple Leaf from the Canadian flag anchor  the crest portion of the emblem.

The official unveiling of the emblem took place on the evening of July 4th, 1997 at Springfield’s Annual Family Fun Day’s Variety Night. The two winning designs were submitted by area citizens Anna-Lu Poley and Giles Hume.  Both of these generous citizens gave their contest winnings back to the community [each received $25.].  One was donated to the Springfield Fire Department and the other was donated to the Springfield Family Fun Day Committee. 

After telling Anna Lu about her winning effort and how we had come about the final design, she said something that has stuck with me ever since and has made me feel very proud about this project.  She said, “This has truly been a community effort”.   That’s what I had hoped for when this began....A community emblem designed by the community for the community.

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Kelly Pearson