poohhistory

When World War One broke out in 1914, Hary Colebourn, a skilled
veterinarian enlists as a regular in the Canadian Army. He was born in
England and earned his degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in
Guelph and had worked for the Department of agriculture in Winnipeg.
On August 23rd, Harry boarded a train leaving Winnipeg that was bound
for quebec to the ocean transport that took Canadian soldiers overseas to England where they would eventually be assigned to France where the fighting was.

The train stopped over in White River, Ontario and at this platform, he purchased a small black bear cub from a local hunter (it was not unusual back then to own animals such as a bear) for $20.00!!. His regiment later proclaimed the bear as their mascot and the bear was named Winnie after Harry's home town Winnipeg. Winnie became as tame as any house pet and was the darling of the soldiers. The 2 became good friends on the journey overseas and arrived safely at Salisbury Plain where the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was encamped. Winnie stayed in Colebourn's tent, slept under his bed and became a favourite pet to many of the canadian soldiers. She played games with the men and followed them around camp like a puppy.

When the call to France came, Harry brought the bear to the London Zoo for temporary safekeeping. Winnie thrived in the care of the Zoo and was extremely docile and playful. She was soon one of the Zoo's main attractions. Harry returned from fighting in 1918 to claim his bear, but, upon seeing the delight Winnie brought to the Zoo's visitors, he went jome to Canada and let Winnie stayed at the London Zoo for the next 15 years entertaining children (Winnie lived to the age of 20).

Christopher Robin was born in 1920 to Engligh author A.A Milne and his wife Daphne. For his 1st birthday Christopher Robin received a stuffed bear named Edward from his mother.The boy and the bear were never separated since then. The Zoo was a favourite spot for the Milne's family outings. So at the age of 5, Christohper Robin made his 1st visit to the Zoo and met the Winnie the bear. He loved Winnie so much that he decided to change the name of his own bear from Edward the Bear to Winnie. He made constant visits to the Zoo and never failed to play with real bear Winnie all day and night. The name "Pooh" was taken from a swan that Christopher had befreinded and named while on a holiday in the Engligh countryside.

A.A Milne began crafting children's storied inspired by his son. Winnie the Pooh was originally a girl but because Christopher Robin wanted the bear to be a boy, so A.A Milne decided to change the bears sex for his stories. The 1sr book of Pooh stories "Winnie the Pooh" was published in 1926 and featured the illustrations of E.H Shepard. The next book "The House at Pooh Corner" was published in 1928 and was extremely popular around the world.

Walt Disney, an avid reader of A.A Milne bought the rights from the Milne Estate and Disney Studios transformed stories from the novels into a series of short featurette movies.

Pretty amazing for a little bear from Northern Ontario!!!