By Sean Delaney
It happens the last Sunday of August – every August. Descendants of Emery Village and Humber Summit’s historical pioneers gather to meet and reflect on memories of their earlier ancestors.
On Sunday, August 28, the Pine Ridge Cemetery Board of Trustees officially met for their annual meeting once again. The Pine Ridge Cemetery is located on the northwest corner of Rowntree Mills Road and Islington Avenue. It is the final resting place of almost all of Emery’s and Humber Summit’s original pioneer homesteaders.
The cemetery was deeded for grave usage in 1848 by Joseph Rowntree. His wishes were to have a board of trustees forever preserve a common cemetery named Pine Ridge.
The land also housed a primitive Methodist Church known by the same name. 
The tombstones of those buried at the cemetery receive ongoing preservation and maintenance overseen by the current Board of Trustees – Rick Jackson, Glenn McClure, Kirby Shaw, Don Rowntree, Harold Evans, Faye Smith, Marion Rowntree-Russell and Cyndi Rowntree).
Pine Ridge was a thriving farming and milling town in the late 1800’s with the advantage of the nearby Humber River, with the waterway providing critical mill power.
The town was renamed Humber Summit as a result of a post office conflict with another town in 1937. The complete rural character of Humber Summit disappeared with the building of industrial and residential subdivisions beginning in the early 1960’s. 
At the annual gathering this year, Tim Lambrinos of the Emery Village BIA acted as keynote speaker.
He reflected on the incredible story of Fullerton McClure and the Bow Bent Farm (Bluehaven area). In addition, Dr. Laurence Hutchman read some of the latest poetic verses from his most recent book about Emery – Two Maps of Emery.
At the end of the day, Marion Rowntree-Russell was presented with an official scroll from the Emery Village BIA that honoured her continuing efforts to help preserve the history of Emery and Humber Summit for future generations of area residents.
