Oxford Historical Society

Zorra Heritage Committee Meeting – Wednesday, March 6 at 7pm!

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Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Zorra Heritage Committee:

The Zorra Heritage Committee (ZHC) is exploring the stories behind those “Historically…”signs you see to mark the forgotten places throughout Zorra.

We are gathering this information to:
1. Prepare an exhibit for Oxford Local History Day (Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Ingersoll Library)
2. Develop a website explaining the signs and encouraging people to see them all and consider Zorra’s interesting history
3. Enrich our own knowledge of Zorra’s history

Here is the history behind Holiday:
‘The Crossroads, now known as Holiday, at the town line between East Nissouri at the former West Zorra TownshipRoad 78, has historically been known by many names. According to W.J Winterberg, the hamlet was known as Nissouri since 1853. In 1880, Holiday was known as McBrayne’s Corners. The hamlet boasted a school, blacksmithshop, and a general store. The population was 25 individuals, and mail was delivered daily. Mr. McBrayne owned a hotel, and general store on the south west corner of the farm at Lot 11 Con 1 West Zorra. The hotel was also home to a local post office. Before the CPR was established through Thamesford, mail was delivered via stage from Ingersoll. According to post office records, the town name was officially changed from Nissouri to Holiday in October 1894. By 1902, the population of Holiday had risen to nearly 50 people. There was a spring that carried throughout all of the citizens farms and eventually branched into the Thames River. This spring proved greatly important during the depression, as it allowed families to easily access water, as well as give the children a place to play. The community in Holiday, was very close, and held many events together.’

Click on this link to read about other Zorra Historic Rural Communities!

There are many Historical Communities to research, contact ZHC for the complete list of communities.

The next meeting of the ZHC will be on Wednesday, March 6th at 7pm at the Beachville District Museum. The meeting is free and open to the public.

If you wish to attend the meeting or participate in the research contact Sam Coghlan:

Sam Coghlan,
Secretary ZHC
(519) 475-4097
sam@oxford.net

If you have an event, pictures and articles concerning the history of Oxford County that you would like published on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

OxHS Upcoming Presentation – Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6:30pm!

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Alice Munro – 1960

Hello Everyone,

please join the Oxford Historical Society for Brenda Boswell’s presentation : ‘Party Line – Supporting Homemakers Over the Airwaves’

From Brenda:

Alice Munro was invited into the homes of many women within the CKOX  listening area every day from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  CKOX introduced a new program “Party Line” in 1959 on an experimental basis.  Women’s Commentator, Alice Munro invited listeners to call in and describe any problem pertaining to Homemaking which might require an answer. Others in the listening audience were encouraged to phone and supply the answer. 

The show was so popular that Alice produced three booklets of “Hints and Recipes for the Homemaker” in 1960, 1961 and 1965 which were “must haves” for her followers.

Party Line was part of a bigger movement across North America to help women feel less isolated in their homes.  As many women who had joined the workplace during WWII were displaced by returning soldiers, popular culture encouraged women to return to domestic life and look after their family which included creating interesting meals, keeping the home spotless and stain free.  

While Alice Munro did not create the concept of reaching homemakers by the radio, she certainly captivated local homemakers.  How many of us remember the hour after the 10:00 a.m. as being a sacred time in the kitchen.  The presentation will explore some of the early homemakers tailored to reach an untapped part of the market and how the stringing of hydro lines brought the most isolated women a connection to the world.  It also provided a wonderful opportunity for broadcasters to sell advertising.

From Alice Munro to Martha Stewart and beyond, women continue to connect with each other via the media.  

Oh yes, we will also touch on the story of Aunt Sammy, a fictional character created by the US Bureau of Home Economics which focussed on rural farm women.  And how does this relate to the Queen of Romania you ask?  Set your dial to the Oxford Historical Society channel on Feb. 28th, to find out!

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.

If you have an event, pictures and articles concerning the history of Oxford County that you would like published on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

TDHS General Meeting – Monday, February 26, 2024 @ 7pm!

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Hello Everyone,

please see this guest post from the Tillsonburg & District Historical Society (TDHS):

The TDHS’s next General Meeting will be Monday, February 26th at 7pm at Annandale House NHS.

To learn more abut TDHS our February issue of The Society Pages is available for download!

If you have an event, pictures and articles concerning the history of Oxford County that you would like published on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

Beachville District Historical Society Presentation – Tuesday, February 13 at 7pm!

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Beachville District Museum

Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Beachville District Historical Society (BDHS):

Speaker Series: Zorra Farmer to Canadian Icon – The Bob Hayward Journey

Hear the story of this Embro-area farmer and mechanical genius. He was a pathfinder in racecar development and later became a national hero when piloting one of the world’s fastest raceboats, Miss Supertest III. 

He fuelled national pride by defeating the best the U.S. had, winning the international Harmsworth trophy three years in a row and giving Canadians a boost during concerns about a lagging economy, unemployment and U.S. influence.  

When: Tuesday, February 13th at 7pm
Where: Beachville District Museum, 584371 Beachville Rd, Beachville ON N0J 1A0 (west end of the village)

For more information contact the Beachville District Museum, or by phone at 519-423-6497

This is a free event and all are welcome!

If you have an event, pictures and articles concerning the history of Oxford County that you would like published on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

Ontario Ancestors Present – Virtual Meeting February 12, 2024 at 7pm!

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Photo courtesy of the Toronto Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors:

Please join us at our next virtual meeting on Monday, February 12 at 7:00 pm, Hilary J. Dawson presenting:

Hunting for Hidden History: How Slavery Came to the Town of York

“How do you find out about people who had no rights, rarely appear in the public record and for the most part were illiterate? Where do you look for information about the disadvantaged who did not receive direct payment for their work, and who had little control over their own lives? How can we uncover the stories of indentured servants and enslaved Africans?

Hilary Dawson will explain where she found personal papers and other manuscripts, and show how she used them to piece together the stories of the Pompadour family, Henry Prince and others who were regarded as “property” by York slaveholders like Peter Russell and William Jarvis.”

Hilary Dawson is a professional genealogist, historical researcher and educator who has worked in museums in the UK and Canada.

Please visit our website at https://oxford.ogs.on.ca and click on the link “Register Here” for the zoom meeting.  The meeting is free and we welcome everyone.

Liz Buchanan
Oxford Branch Publicity Coordinator
Ontario Ancestors

If you have an event, pictures and articles concerning the history of Oxford County that you would like published on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca