Woodstock Ontario

Public Meeting – Wednesday, May 25, 2022 – featuring Gold Medallist Ella Shelton

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Ella Shelton in Canada’s Olympic Jersey 2022

Hello Everyone,

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.

Oxford Local History Day 2022!

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Hello Everyone,
This guest post is provided by Oxford County Libraries.

Please join the Oxford County Libraries as the once again celebrate Oxford County’s Local History!

Mark Saturday, April 23, 2022 as the day to enjoy seminars, presentations and stories from Oxford County.

Experience collections, exhibits & featured stories from archives, museums & heritage groups from around Oxford County, as we celebrate our local history.  Watch Oxford County Library Facebook Live & YouTube Channel throughout the day as focused presentations bring to light the story of Oxford.

Oxford County. We’ve made history!

OxHS Board Nominations

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Hello Everyone,

It’s that time of year again when the current Oxford Historical Society Board reaches out to its members to see who might be interested in serving on the 2022 Executive.

Our current Board members are:

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

If any member would like to serve on the upcoming Board please email us at info@oxhs.ca.

Board members are voted in at our AGM on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. You must be a member of the Society to serve on the Board. The positions are held for one year.

Oxford Historical Society & Woodstock Museum Holiday Social December 9, 2021

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Hello Everyone,

Please join the Oxford Historical Society and the Woodstock Museum, NHS for a Holiday Social on Thursday, December 9 from 1-4pm.

If you wish to attend the 15 minute talk on the new Heritage database, either at 1:30pm or 3pm, please reserve your spot as space is limited: https://volunteersignup.org/YYWDK

We hope to see you at the Social!

The Village that Straddled a Swamp

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Hello Everyone,

The Oxford Historical Society and the Woodstock Museum, NHS are pleased to once again offer this publication for your reading pleasure.

This wonderful book tells the story of Woodstock Ontario, from 1799 until more modern times.

The Village that Straddled a Swamp will be available for purchase at our booth at the upcoming Arts Market in the old Dairy Capital building. It is $25.00 (taxes included), cash only.

This publication can also be purchased by contacting the Society at info@oxhs.ca or at the Woodstock Museum, NHS gift shop.

Christmas in the Square Arts Market

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Hello Everyone,

The Oxford Historical Society will have a booth at this year’s Arts Market where we will be selling some publications by our local authors and other items from the Woodstock Museum, NHS. We will only be accepting cash at our booth.

The dates for the Arts Market are:

Friday, November 26 from 5-8pm
Saturday, November 27 from 10am-4pm
Friday, December 3 from 5-8pm
Saturday, December 4 from 10am-4pm
Saturday, December 11 from 10am-4pm
Saturday, December 18 from 10am-4pm

There are also many other events happening downtown Woodstock for the holiday season. The complete list of events can be found on the Christmas in the Square web page.

We are looking for volunteers to help out at the booth. Each shift is three hours.

The following are the shifts that we need filled:

Friday, November 26 from 5-8pm
Saturday, November 27 from 1-4pm
Friday, December 3 from 5-8pm
Saturday, December 4 from 1-4pm
Saturday, December 11 from 1-4pm
Saturday, December 18 from 10am-1pm
Saturday, December 18 from 1-4pm

If you are interested in volunteering at our booth please send us an email: info@oxhs.ca, thank you.

Cross Stitch Patterns of Woodstock

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Historic Woodstock Cross Stitch Patterns by Helen Mackenzie

Hello Everyone,

The above cross stitch patterns were designed by Helen Mackenzie. Helen has long admired her adopted home of Woodstock, especially for its preservation of its historical buildings. She has chosen to capture elements of her favourite buildings in cross stitch patterns.

These patterns are available on her Etsy shop page: Blyss Stitch Designs

Complete kits of the patterns are also available for sale at the Woodstock Museum, NHS. The kits include the pattern and all the materials needed – hoop, fabric, needle, embroidery floss etc., to complete each project. Each kit also includes some historical information about the buildings. Contact the Woodstock Museum, NHS for pricing.

Preserving Caroline East’s Home

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Caroline East’s Home
685761 Hwy 2, RR #5, Woodstock ON N4S 7V9
Photo by Doug & Kathie Richards

Caroline East’s house, pictured above, was built in 1839 by Henry Vansittart, for his sister Caroline East. It is a brick 14 room Georgian style house in Eastwood, ON. In June of 2020, the City of Woodstock purchased the property from Dr. R. Corlett and are planning to develop the area as the Northeast Industrial Park.

There are many concerns about conserving the house as it is the last remaining house that Vansittart built. Henry Vansittart’s house in what is now called Vansittart Woods was torn down in the 1950’s, and his son John George Vansittart’s house, which was located at the corner of Lansdowne & Dundas, was torn down when Commercial Print Craft bought the property in the 1980’s. It would be a shame to have the last Vansittart house also demolished. More information about Caroline East and Henry Vansittart can be found in the book “The Governor’s Road”, by Mary Byers & Margaret McBurney, on page 239. The book is available from the Woodstock Public Library.

The City of Woodstock has commissioned a study of the Northeast Industrial Park, https:// www.cityofwoodstock.ca/en/city-governance/municipal-studies-and-plans.aspx#Northeast-Industrial- Park-Planning–Servicing-Study

The Oxford Historical Society is asking for the public support in helping to preserve this lovely home. To voice your support please use the above link to read about the proposed land use and how to contact city representatives.