4Square: An introduction to the Sharon Temple National Historic Site, to the Children of Peace who Made it, and to their Place in the History of Canada Before Canada.(Book review)

Publication: Ontario History

Publication Date: 22-MAR-06

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Ontario Historical Society

4Square

An introduction to the Sharon Temple National Historic Site, to the Children of Peace who made it, and to their place in the history of Canada before Canada.

By Mark Fram and Albert Schrauwers. Toronto: Coach House Books, 2005. 64 pp. Illustrations. $10.00 softcover. ISBN 1-55245-164-X.

4SQUARE is more than a story about a religious building; it is an account of a religious community and its interaction with place. A collaborative effort, this monograph combines the theoretical expertise of Albert Schrauwers (Awaiting the Millennium) and the architectural knowledge of Mark Fram (Well Preserved). Both authors' works are landmarks in their respective fields and I would recommend each as worthy reading. 4SQUARE outlines the history of the Children of Peace, a Quaker offshoot community, and the temple they built in Sharon, Ontario, south of Lake Simcoe. The Sharon Temple is now a National Historical Site and one of the most remarkable pre-Confederation structures in Ontario. This book also speaks to the larger societal context in which the community and the...

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