Please see this guest post from the Zorra Caledonian Society:
The Zorra Caledonian Society would like you to join us for a “Pub Night” with live music & a wee bit of Scottish fun on Saturday, April 6th, 2024, as we celebrate National Tartan Day!
Join us as we listen to the Paddy Stones, win prizes & enjoy some traditional Scottish “nibbles”….. everything from ‘Haggis Balls with whiskey sauce’ to ‘Dundee cake’!
When: Saturday, April 6th, 2024 Where: Embro Legion When: 7pm to 11pm Cost: $25.00 Tickets Available online at: www.zorracaledoniansociety.ca or at door subject to availability (please note numbers are limited)
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
Embro ON Scotia Mills 1916 – From the J. Gruszka Postcard Collection
Hello Everyone,
please join the Oxford Historical Society for our discussion: ‘Future of the Oxford Historical Society’
From the Pattullo Press Winter 2024 Newsletter – History of the Oxford Historical Society:
“Last year the Oxford Historical Society celebrated 125 years since its founding in 1897 by Andrew Pattullo. This year we think it is time to investigate what the future holds for our Society.
When the Historical Society was first formed, people kept items of historical nature they collected in their homes, which made it hard for the general public to access the information. Then we got a few shelves in the basement of the building at the southwest corner of Graham and Buller Steets, which at that time was the Oxford County Library. Then we moved in with the Oxford County branch of the Ontario Genealogy Society (now called Ontario Ancestors) in the building at the northwest corner of Graham and Hunter Streets, which was the Registry Officefor Oxford County. When Oxford County wanted to use that space for other purposes, they offered us space in the Governors’ House, which was being renovated and added to at that time. We spent about a year in a county building in Beachville until the renovations were completed. So in 2011 we finally moved back to Woodstock, where we shared the first floor of the Governors’ House with the Ontario Ancestors and the Oxford County Archives occupied the second floor. We thought we had finally been successful in having a place where people could easily research the history of Oxford County!
We held public meetings monthly with speakers talking about a variety of interesting historical topics at the Museum, then for a few years at the Woodstock Public Library before moving back to the Museum. We helped local authors like Doug Symons and Elaine Becker publish books. Chris Packman for many years led a committee that published questions about Oxford County history in the weekly Oxford Review, which we later published in a book called “Quizzical History”. We had a booth at the local Woodstock Fair in August and a table at the Oxford Arts show each October or November. And one of our biggest efforts was the tour of homes decorated for Christmas! Of course the pandemic put an end to that! However the Museum held one in November 2023, which some of our members assisted by staffing the homes.
When the Covid pandemic hit in March 2020, our office was closed by Oxford County to stop spreading the virus. We continued to pay rent for a space we could not access until the end of 2021. At that point we decided to transfer all the material we had collected to the Oxford Archives, so people could access it rather than have it dismantled and spread among other organizations or be returned to peoples’ homes.”
At this meeting we will discuss and explore options for the Future of the Society. Some reasons for this discussion is that we are having difficulty in finding individuals to serve on the Executive in key positions, volunteers to help with various activities like finding speakers, booth attendants, communications and other responsibilities.
The current Executive has been looking at options for our financial holdings. One option might include gifting our funds to other organizations, who would then provide funding to organizations or individuals, in accordance with the mandates of the Society.
We welcome suggestions from our members and would like to hear from all of you at our next meeting and to vote on an option (voting is restricted to paying members only).
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
Please see this guest post from the Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors:
Please join us at our next virtual meeting on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 pm:
Grandma’s Secret with Al Fewster
‘Tragedy, tribulations and triumph. Evelyn Herman (Greenland) kept a secret that was not talked about or shared. Few knew of her past. Like many of the thousands of children who emigrated to Canada as indentured labor Evelyn never spoke of her ordeal.‘
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.
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
Hello Everyone, please read this guest post from the Woodstock Museum NHS.
Join us at the Woodstock Museum with guest speaker and local historian Heather Rennalls exploring how Black History Month came to be founded. Learn about notable Black Canadians that helped make February an historically recognized month and see the Woodstock Museum’s permanent exhibit to learn about our own City’s Black History.
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
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.’
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
