Upcoming Speaker

OxHS Meeting Tonight – Wednesday, April 24, 2024!

by
Major E. C. Norsworthy

Hello Everyone,

please join the Oxford Historical Society for our upcoming presentation:

All the Eyes of Canada Are Upon Us!

With those words, Major Edward Cuthbert Norsworthy inspired his small band of soldiers to hold the line and stem the onslaught of horrors fraught by the German hordes during the opening night of the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22, 1917.  This act of heroism came at a deadly price but established the reputation for Canadian troops as some of the fiercest, bravest and best fighters of the Allied effort during the First World War.  ~  What drove this young man; this boy from Ingersoll? ~ His story will inspire you. Warning! You may experience chills and shivers of pride as you listen to his tale.

Presented by Scott Gilles, local historian, former museum curator Norwich Museum & Archives and Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum.

Feel free to print and share this poster: All the Eyes of Canada Are Upon Us!

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.

The OxHS now has a Facebook page, to like us search: Oxford Historical Society 1897
Or click on the FB symbol on the top right of our website!

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 Meeting – Wednesday, April 24, 2024!

by
Major E. C. Norsworthy

Hello Everyone,

please join the Oxford Historical Society for our upcoming presentation:

All the Eyes of Canada Are Upon Us!

With those words, Major Edward Cuthbert Norsworthy inspired his small band of soldiers to hold the line and stem the onslaught of horrors fraught by the German hordes during the opening night of the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22, 1917.  This act of heroism came at a deadly price but established the reputation for Canadian troops as some of the fiercest, bravest and best fighters of the Allied effort during the First World War.  ~  What drove this young man; this boy from Ingersoll? ~ His story will inspire you. Warning! You may experience chills and shivers of pride as you listen to his tale.

Presented by Scott Gilles, local historian, former museum curator Norwich Museum & Archives and Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum.

Feel free to print and share this poster: All the Eyes of Canada Are Upon Us!

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.

The OxHS now has a Facebook page, to like us search: Oxford Historical Society 1897
Or click on the FB symbol on the top right of our website!

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!

by
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

OxHS AGM – Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:30pm!

by

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year!

Please join us for the Society’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at the Woodstock Museum NHS

Tonight’s presentation: Shipwrecks on Lake Erie – From Port Dover to Port Stanley, presented by Elaine Becker
 
From Elaine: “6,000 wrecks have occurred in the Great Lakes with  175 and 200 wrecks off Long Point. Many have never been identified.  Port Dover to Port Stanley on Lake Erie, will be the focus of the presentation touching on some of the more notable stories.“

For 2024 the Oxford Historical Society will not be taking membership fees.

Thank you, and we hope to see all of you at the AGM!

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

Upcoming Presentation – Dam Busters! Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30pm

by
Dam Busters 1943, photo courtesy of the Canadian Warplane Museum

Please join us for a special presentation by John Bullen, from the Canadian Warplane Museum, for the 80th Anniversary of the Dam Busters. John will discuss the daring raids launched by Bomber Command in WWII. Learn about Canadian’s involvement in these missions, crew training and the challenges that they overcame to complete their missions.

Please print and display the attached poster: OxHS Dam Busters!

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.