Uncategorized Archives - Oxford Historical Society

“This exhibition at the St. Marys Station Gallery is a collection of 14 renderings that document, in the timeline, the invasion of Canada on October 13, 1812. The renderings and stories attempt to question the myths and official documents that exist describing this event.
For the 2012 bi-centennial of the War of 1812, I set out to create renderings honouring the “Battle of Queenston Heights”. For over 30 years I lived on what was the battlefield in the village of Queenston and had studied the documents and diaries written by the soldiers who fought and witnessed the battle. It became quite clear to me that much of the history we read and is portrayed has been romanticized. These documents uncovered mutiny, sabotage, failed organization and questionable leadership on both sides. In other words, the army that makes the least amount of stupid decisions will most likely win the battle. Because most of the battle took place at night and in foul weather, it was important to walk the battlefield in the “timeline” with an attempt to see what it must have been like. So on October 13 at 4 a.m. I set out to document each important hour of the battle.”

St. Mary’s Station Gallery is located at 5 James St. N(VIA train station), St. Marys ON N4X 1B1

For further information about this event contact St. Marys Station Gallery at 416-523-8899, email stmarysstationgallery@gmail.com

Salvation Army Burnside Lodge

22 July 2020 by Laura Centore

Many thanks to Dr. Elaine Becker for providing the information in this post.

*Stamp issued by Canada Post in October 2010*

Your help is needed!

Dr. Elaine Becker is in the process of compiling another local history which is related to an important immigration scheme that ran from 1923 to 1936 – the story of Burnside Lodge over the years and the young men who became valued citizens in this area of Ontario should not be lost.

Small scale operations began in 1903 when The Salvation Army established the “Migration and Settlement Department”.

The principles of the department were:

The needs of the individual were of major concern, including his mental and physical condition
Ascertain the reasonable prospect of the individual succeeding overseas
The absorbing power of the overseas Dominion was taken into account
The after care of the migrant was to be undertaken as a moral obligation by The Army

The work that was carried on at Burnside Lodge in Woodstock, Ontario should not be confused with any of the programs, such as the Dr. Barnardo group which brought orphaned children to Canada. The young men who came to Woodstock came by their own choice and planning.

The Salvation Army Boy Farmers Scheme

The Boy Farmers program was only a small segment of The Salvation Army’s immigration scheme. The Army sponsored and oversaw the migration to Canada of more than 250,000 immigrants from England and other European countries.

Young men between the ages of 14 and 20 applied to the Salvation Army to come to Canada under this plan. If accepted for the training, they attended farm training at Hadleigh Farm in England and then were examined for their suitability to immigrate to Canada. Once accepted they were booked for transportation to Woodstock or to Smith Falls, Ontario. They were employed by local farmers and their situations were supervised by an officer from Burnside Lodge. They stayed at the lodge until everything was settled.

*Some of t*he boys who would arrive in Canada

Burnside Lodge was located on the present site of the YMCA at 808 Dundas St, Woodstock ON

Some of you may remember the building on Dundas Street and have pictures or memories of the facility later used during the war for housing the Women from the training base at the fairgrounds.

We are working to compile some of the stories of the young men who immigrated to Canada to work on local farms. If you can help in any way with this story or if you know any of the families who share those roots or any of the farmers who engaged the young men when they arrived, please contact the Oxford historical Society by email at info@oxhs.ca, thank you.

Woodstock Museum, NHS Collecting Photos & Stories About Life in COVID-19 Pandemic

27 April 2020 by Laura Centore

Hello Everyone,

The Woodstock Museum, NHS is asking for your help in collecting stories and photos about life during this pandemic. The following quote and photograph are from the Museum’s Facebook page:

Send us your written accounts, artwork, photographs or video recordings about everyday life during the pandemic to museum@cityofwoodstock.ca with the subject “Writing COVID-19 History.” Future generations are depending on you to explain what social distancing was and why toilet paper was being hoarded in 2020!

This historic photo depicts men wearing masks during the Spanish Influenza epidemic in 1918. The Woodstock Museum was surprised by the lack of local firsthand accounts and artifacts documenting the epidemic during the final year of the First World War. (Photo from Library and Archives Canada)

Woodstock Sentinel Review published an article about the Museum on April 22, 2020, written by Kathleen Saylors. Here is the link to the Woodstock Sentinel Review article.

A further article and interview about the Museum’s request for submission can be found on the London CTV News site.

Submissions can be sent by email to museum@cityofwoodstock.ca with the subject: “Writing COVID-19 History.” For more information visit the Museum’s website or their Facebook page.

Cancellation of ALL OxHS Events

6 April 2020 by Laura Centore

Hello Everyone,

As I’m sure by now all of you are aware that all non-essential businesses are closed and all public meetings are cancelled.

This includes all of the Society’s regularly scheduled meetings for April and May.

Therefore, until further notice the Oxford Historical Society has cancelled all of its events.

Please stay healthy and remember to practice the safe distancing. The City of Woodstock has provided a simple guideline for everyone to follow.