The Oxford Historical Society is honoured to have one of Team Canada’s Hockey Gold Medallists from the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, Ella Shelton, as our next speaker. Ella is from Oxford County and grew up on a farm near Ingersoll. Her love of hockey began at a very young age and her dream of playing for Canada came true in 2020.
Please join us at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 25 at the Woodstock Museum, NHS to here Ella Shelton speak about her experiences growing up in a small town and how her love of hockey led her to an Olympic gold medal.
This is free event and all are welcome to attend. As this is an in-person event all Covid-19 protocols will be followed.
Please join the Oxford Historical Society on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 6:30pm, for a Zoom presentation by Thomas Crowl. Thomas will discuss his latest work: Queen of the Con: From Spiritualist to Carnegie Imposter!
Thomas delves into the many schemes undertaken by Cassie Chadwick. He explores her life from her humble beginnings as Elizabeth Bigley, born in Oxford County, to her becoming a clairvoyant, a fraudster, an imposter posing as Andrew Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter and many other cons along the way.
Please join the Oxford Historical Society on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 6:30pm, for a Zoom presentation by Thomas Crowl. Thomas will discuss his latest work: Queen of the Con: From Spiritualist to Carnegie Imposter!
Thomas delves into the many schemes undertaken by Cassie Chadwick. He explores her life from her humble beginnings as Elizabeth Bigley, born in Oxford County, to her becoming a clairvoyant, a fraudster, an imposter posing as Andrew Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter and many other cons along the way.
Gordon Stanley Boswell stacking wheat. Photo courtesy of Brenda Boswell
Please join us tonight on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 for our Annual General Meeting, via Zoom at 6:30pm. Here is the Zoom information:
At this meeting all paying members will have a chance to vote for this year’s Executive. If you would like to serve on this year’s board or if you are not able to attend tonight’s meeting and you wish to place your vote, the Society can be reached by email at: info@oxhs.ca
The following lists the current board members:
President:Kathie Richards Past President:Jim Groulx Vice President:Vacant Treasurer/Research:Dr. Elaine Becker Secretary:Laura Centore Communications and Newsletter:Laura Centore Membership:Judy Klages Archives/Architecture:Eleanor Gardhouse Board Members at Large:Jim Groulx,Don Wilson Museum Liaison: Karen Houston
Our speaker for tonight will be Brenda Boswell, presenting Harvest Excursions: Featuring the Story of Gordon Stanley Boswell
This excerpt is from Brenda’s presentation:
‘Between the 1890’s and 1930 thousands of men participated in the fall wheat harvest in Western Canada. Organized by the CPR and local government, call outs were made annually to Eastern Canada, the northern United States and Britain. Tens of thousands of men would converge in Winnipeg over a 2 week period answering the call.
The stories of the Harvest Excursions stories vary between a crusade, an adventure, a binge, hard work, good money, hooliganism and violence. The excursions were a noisy, colourful and important part of Canada’s history, but little was recorded at the time. Gordon Stanley Boswell joined the excursion in 1923 with other members of his Woodstock baseball team Snowy’s Snowbirds. His daughter Brenda Boswell recorded his story for a Canadian history project in 1972 and is proud to share it with the Historical Society.’
2022 Membership fees are due. If you have not already paid please do so. Membership fees are $25.00 for an individual and $30.00 for a family membership.
Fees can be paid by cheque to the Oxford Historical Society, or by e-Transfer to purchases@oxhs.ca.
If paying by e-Transfer please send you membership form in a separate email.
