Pieces of the Past

After 50 years of operation, Stratford-Perth Archives houses an ever-growing collection of material that is carefully preserved and made accessible for researchers from not only Perth County, but around the world.

After 50 years of operation, Stratford-Perth Archives continues to house an ever-growing collection of material that is carefully preserved and made accessible for researchers from not only Perth County, but around the world.

Stratford-Perth Archives is celebrating a special anniversary this year! On Jan. 13, 1972, work began on a project championed by the late Tom Orr and the Stratford Public Library to protect the Orr Family Collection of local history books, documents and photographs, plus archival material from the P

In January 1894, a local newspaper alerted readers to the rules for, risks of, and equipment needed for a new game called ice hockey, “which is destined to be the great winter sport in every province.” Just a few years later, famous players like Listowel’s own Fred “Cyclone” Taylor (pictured in acco

In many places around the world, the new year was ushered in by a baby representing “rebirth.”

In “the old days,” travelling anywhere was a multi-day event and required several stops, and hotels were a staple in small towns.

The first Santa Claus Parade in Canada was held on Dec. 2, 1905 in Toronto and sponsored by Eaton’s Department Store. Since that first one, many communities across Canada and Perth County have been holding parades, with Listowel being no exception. Excitement is always in the air when waiting to see

Christmas 1946 was a magical time for many families, as many Second World War veterans had returned home. That year, the Santa Claus parade in Listowel was a huge event with great emphasis placed on the visiting Sea Cadet band.

When John A. Hacking was elected Warden of Perth County by his fellow county councilors, he held a supper to celebrate – as is customary – on Jan. 24, 1894. The venue was the Royal Hotel in Stratford.

The Girl Guide movement began in 1909 when girls demanded to take part in a Boy Scout rally at the Crystal Palace in London, England. Lord Robert Baden-Powell was a British Army General who had written a series of articles on scouting based on his experiences and they were published in an English bo

There have been many books, news stories and plays written about the Donnelly family of Biddulph Township over the years. Discord seemed to follow them and on the fateful night of Feb. 4, 1880, they met their demise.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Stratford paper ran a column titled “Minute Interviews.” Some questions were amusing, while others were quite serious and still resonate today. Some were directed at adults and some to children. The question to you is: how would you have answered?

The book, History of Blanshard Township in Review, records that “In the tragic days of 1914 when war was declared by Germany, the young men of Blanshard responded to the call, true to the traditions of loyalty and devotion shown by their forefathers, enlisted to the number of 138.

In 1912, Norman Honderich was inspired after seeing an illustration of a kitchen cabinet in an issue of Ladies Home Journal. He knew that most of the kitchen cabinets for sale in Canada were manufactured in the United States. He believed that this type of product could easily be made and sold in Can

Trick-or-treat! Halloween is fast approaching and Oct. 31 will be here before we know it. It’s a night for children to dress up in ghoulish or character-themed costumes, going door-to door in hopes of getting a tasty treat.