Pieces of the Past

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around Perth County every year. Articles published in local newspapers from a century ago, preserved at Stratford-Perth Archives, give a glimpse on how the day was celebrated in times gone by.

You’ve heard of President Trump calling for annexing Canada as the 51 st state. As a historian, I can tell you that any such attempt is doomed to failure. Over and over, Canadians have driven off American invaders.

March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD). Celebrated since 1911 in some European countries, this year’s theme is “Accelerate Action”, focusing on the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.

Stillman’s Creameries welcomed community members from across Perth County to visit their Stratford plant on Feb. 24 and 25, 1925.

In the 1870s, during the stiflingly hot summer months, who did the residents of Stratford go to…

John Broderick (1840-1926) was a well-respected figure in Mitchell’s history. His jovial and good-natured disposition earned him the affection of not only the town, but the surrounding Perth County communities as well.

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There are some discrepancies in the retelling of the Town of Listowel’s history. Although much credit is given to John Binning, he actually purchased land from a Mr. Henry. Henry is a bit of a mystery, his first name is not even known now over a century later.

The Dolly Varden shoe gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The design was…

In Jan. 2025 wildfires, driven by hurricane-force winds, invaded Los Angeles, destroying over 17,000 structures. Over a century ago, towns in Bruce County suffered similar, if much smaller, destruction.

This is the 12th installment of a series initiated by the Wingham and Area Historical Society featuring articles on  memories from, or about, Wingham seniors.

In January, 1923, a blacksmith from Listowel paid a hefty price for dabbling in moonshine sales during prohibition in Ontario, with the story being published on the front page of the Listowel Banner newspaper.

The solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 was witnessed by millions, with modern technology allowing people from all over the world to view it through live streams, social media, and enhanced images from space-based telescopes.