Oxford County

National Tartan Day April 1, 2023!

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Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Zorra Caledonian Society!

The Zorra Caledonian Society would like you to join us for a “Pub Night” with live music & a wee bit of Scottish fun on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, as we celebrate National Tartan Day!

A few fun facts:

  • National Tartan Day originated in Canada in the 1980’s, when just over 15% of the population was of Scottish descent
  • The date of April 6th was chosen as it was the day on which Scotland in 1320 became an independent country at the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath
  • Every province and territory of Canada with the exception of Nunavut has its very own tartan & that Canada also has a national tartan
  • 9,500 jobs in Scotland are provided by Canadian Companies
  • Canada is a top 10 export partner for Scotland
  • 5 million Canadians claim Scottish heritage

For questions directly contact the Zorra Caledonian Society at events@embrohighlandgames.ca.

Ingersoll Library: Black History Month Event!

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Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Ingersoll Library:

Curious about the new Underground Railroad Sculpture in Ingersoll?
Join us at Ingersoll Library Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 1-3PM

Meet local artist Duane Kumala-Thomas and discover the vision behind an Ingersoll art installation recognizing significant dates in town history.

Join local historian, Heather Rennalls and explorer her knowledge of Ingersoll’s Black history.

Ingersoll Town Councillor, Khadijah Haliru, will speak about her story from Nigeria to Brampton to Ingersoll.

Special Guests including: Town Councillor, Mike Bowman, Oxford Caribbean Canadian Association and more.


“Using the familiar theme of the underground railroad as a focal point, the sculpture aims to represent Ingersoll’s involvement in accepting, aiding and growing amongst a new and increasing black population in the 1800’s and beyond. The visual of train tracks breaking through the soil and springing up into the Ingersoll air will present viewers with the emphatic feeling of a journey to this place, where travellers came up for air, settled and planted new roots”.

Duane Kumala-Thomas

Feel free to spread the word about this special event via social media or by printing and displaying the attached posts: Ingersoll Library Event Duane Kumala-Thomas

The Ingersoll Library can be reached at:
The Town Centre, 130 Oxford Street Ingersoll ON N5C 2V5
Email: ingersolllibrary@ocl.net
Phone: 519-485-2505

Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors February Zoom Presentation: Black History Month

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Logo from the OCBOGS

Hello Everyone,

please see this guest post from the Oxford County Branch of Ontario Ancestors.

Heather Rennalls will discuss the importance of Black History Month; the who, why and when Black History Month was designated both in the United States and here in Canada.  

This meeting will be a virtual Zoom meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 7pm.

All are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is required.

To register for this event (or for inquiries), go to their website Oxford County Branch of Ontario Ancestors, and follow the links.

Presentation Tonight – Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 6:30pm: Doris Weir – Cold Springs Farm in Thamesford!

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Mr. Harvey Beaty (photo provided by Doris Weir)

Hello Everyone,

Please join us on Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30pm to hear Doris Weir’s presentation on the Cold Spring’s Farm in Thamesford. The presentation will be held at the Woodstock Museum, NHS.

From Doris Weir:

“Mr. Harvey Beaty was a huge employer and contributor to the town of Thamesford and surrounding areas.  He started Cold Springs Farm in 1949 and up to his death in 1994 he created a business with over 100 farms, processing plants and was starting to build a mini town in Florida. 

When I received his memoirs I wanted to ensure everyone knew who he was and what he had done for Thamesford, Oxford County and many other areas in Ontario, Michigan and Florida so I digitized the memoirs and created a book for everyone to read and enjoy.

I will be talking about Mr. Beaty’s memoirs book, his upbringing, how he crippled himself (his word) and how he started in to the poultry and feedmill business and more.”

This presentation will take place at the Woodstock Museum, NHS. Doors open at 6:30pm and the meeting will start at 6:45pm. This is a free public meeting, all are welcome to attend.

Family History & Memory Book!

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Book Cover image provided by the Oxford County Archives

Hello Everyone,
Please see this guest post from the Oxford County Archives about their latest publication.

The Oxford County Archives is spreading awareness about the importance of recording your family history with a new book to help genealogists get started at home:

‘The Family History and Memory Book is a fun and meaningful way anyone can record their personal or family history. The book contains typical genealogical and autobiographical questions about birth, education, marriage, occupations, death and residence locations. It also includes more personal questions like, “What is your favourite childhood memory?”, “Share some stories about your pets.”, “Which cultural traditions does your family observe?”, “What do you remember about your first vehicle?” and more, with over 40 questions total. The interactive book includes a family tree diagram, a recipe section, and blank pages for scrapbooking mementos.’

In collaboration with staff at the Woodingford Lodge sites in Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock, copies of the Family History and Memory Book are being donated by the Oxford County Archives and distributed to interested residents at the long-term care homes.

Copies of the new book are also available to the general public for $15, with an option to have the completed book scanned and preserved as a digital record

For more information or to purchase a copy of the Family History and Memory Book, contact the Oxford County Archives at archives@oxfordcounty.ca or by telephone at 519-539-9800 ext. 3070.

Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors October Meeting: A Tour of European War Memorials

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Hello Everyone,

This guest post is from the Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors.

Please join them on Monday, October 17, 2022 at 7pm for their Virtual October meeting:
“A Tour of European War Memorials” presented by Dave MacLeod

Visit their website to register: Oxford County Branch of Ontario Ancestors

You will be sent a separate link to join the meeting.  Everyone, members and non-members alike, are welcome to attend.

Please contact them directly for additional information and upcoming events.

Upcoming Presentation Wednesday, October 26, 2022: Doris Weir – Cold Springs Farm in Thamesford!

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Mr. Harvey Beaty (photo provided by Doris Weir)

Hello Everyone,

Please join us on Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30pm to hear Doris Weir’s presentation on the Cold Spring’s Farm in Thamesford. The presentation will be held at the Woodstock Museum, NHS.

From Doris Weir:

“Mr. Harvey Beaty was a huge employer and contributor to the town of Thamesford and surrounding areas.  He started Cold Springs Farm in 1949 and up to his death in 1994 he created a business with over 100 farms, processing plants and was starting to build a mini town in Florida. 

When I received his memoirs I wanted to ensure everyone knew who he was and what he had done for Thamesford, Oxford County and many other areas in Ontario, Michigan and Florida so I digitized the memoirs and created a book for everyone to read and enjoy.

I will be talking about Mr. Beaty’s memoirs book, his upbringing, how he crippled himself (his word) and how he started in to the poultry and feedmill business and more.”

Woodstock Public Library Truth & Reconciliation Event – Sept 29 @ 7pm!

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Hello Everyone,

This guest post is provided by the Woodstock Public Library.

They are excited to share with you their upcoming Woodstock Public Library Truth and Reconciliation Event on Thursday, September 29th @ 7 pm. Through conversation with our Ontario Indigenous community, we are welcoming Dr. David Anderson, a well-known Canadian educational specialist who is currently working with Goodminds.com, our neighbouring Indigenous bookstore in Six Nations. This online event is free but requires registration.

Please join them as Dr. Anderson promotes his vision to ensure Indigenous Knowledge is available to all of Our Relatives and Relations!

Unable to attend on the date? WPL will also be offering it on our YouTube channel for a limited amount of time that will be announced through social media.

To register for the event you can either call the WPL directly at 519-539-4801 or register online: www.mywpl.ca – programs – for adults/learning programs

Annandale NHS’s Fall/Winter Programs

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Annandale NHS

Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from Annandale NHS.

Upcoming events include:

Cemetery Walking Tour of the graves of Tillsonburg’s first Mayor and Council
A Tillsonburg 150 Event
Thursday, September 15th, 2022 OR Saturday, September 17th, 2022
Time: 1pm to 2pm
Cost: By Donation
Meeting Place: Cemetery Office
Come visit the Tillsonburg Cemetery and take a guided walking tour of the graves of Tillsonburg’s first Mayor and Councilors.

“Wade into Tea” Tea Party with the Curator
Wednesday, October 5th, 2022
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Cost: $20 plus taxes
Enjoy tea and pie while learning about the history of the Red Rose Tea Company’s Wade tea figurines promotional campaign. Take a Wade Figurine home as a gift.

A Tillsonburg 150 Event: Luncheon with John Armstrong: Past Mayor of Tillsonburg
Friday, October 21st, 2022
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 plus tax
A delicious luncheon followed by an interesting talk by former Mayor John Armstrong, as he discusses his time as the Mayor of Tillsonburg with emphasis on the downtown Tillsonburg Redevelopment Project.

Exhibitions:

“Annandale NHS and Oxford Creative Connections Inc. Present: Small Wonders Art Show & Sale”
September 12th through October 28th, 2022
Looking for a unique, small holiday gifts, come and visit OCCI’s “Small Wonders Art Show and Sale” located at the Pratt Gallery at Annandale NHS. All pieces of art are no larger than 12 by 14 inches! Plus, 20% of the sales go to the Annandale House Trust!

To register for these events contact Annandale NHS. For further information about their upcoming programs download the attached Fall/Winter 2022 Programming Guide.

King Henry Five – In Ingersoll’s Centennial Park!

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Hello Everyone,

Information for this post is provided by Scott Gillies, from the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum:

Driftwood Theatre is returning to Ingersoll this Saturday night with their performance of HENRY V.

Show begins at 7:30pm in Centennial Park. Bring your own blankets, bug spray and lawn chairs. Pay what you can afford admission.

For more information, call the Ingersoll Museum at 519-485-5510.

Scott Gillies, Curator
Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum
290 Harris Street, Ingersoll ON
519-485-5510
Twitter: @IngersollMuse1     Facebook: IngersollCheeseMuseum