Perth County communities celebrated Victoria Day in May of 1897 with concerts and picnics, as was customary.
Pieces of the Past
In and around local bakeries through Perth County’s history
Bakeries have been a growing part of Canadian communities since the early 1900s. According to the…
Taking a look at the history of Wong’s Café
Did you know? 107 Ontario Street (currently the location of Fellini’s restaurant) in Stratford…
Seeking advice in ‘Cupid’s Corner’
In the 1930’s and 40’s,residents of Stratford and the surrounding area had few opportunities for posing questions anonymously.
A glimpse of The Great War through the headlines of Perth County
The town of Listowel was a young 39-year-old when WWI broke out in Europe, and those living among the quiet pastoral fields of Perth County and the many communities within it sent their loved ones to places unknown for King and country, their lives immortalized by ink on page.
The Capitol Theatre: A Small Town’s Cinematic History
This week I will take you back to the somewhat humble beginnings of Listowel’s own Capitol Twin Cinema.
Recording the history of Perth County
In 1902, when William Johnston sat down to record the history of what is now Perth County, he noted that the “modern town” of Listowel then had a population of 2,661 people and property assessed at $830,850.
Clachan School in North Easthope destroyed by fire
S.S. #3 North Easthope, or as it was also known, the Clachan school, had a long history, with many children having graced the desks there.
Hiccups: A great annoyance that can turn deadly
Hiccups are normally just a small annoyance many people have had to suffer through temporarily over the course of their lives. But, what happens when these little diaphragm spasms turn deadly?
The ‘spring rush’ is on: gardening tips from 1925
As temperatures rise and the first signs of spring begin to show, many will start to prepare their gardens for the growing season. In 1925, the Listowel Horticultural Society supplied a few gardening tips to readers of the Listowel Banner and the Atwood Bee to help them “get ready for the season tha
Listowel Cyclones: Named for early hockey star, local team has storied history
The Listowel Cyclones have carved out a name for themselves in junior hockey circles, a name that originates with one of the games’ earliest superstars.
Celebrating Archives Awareness Week
Coming soon – April 7 – 11 is Archives Awareness Week in Ontario! It is a time to celebrate our…
Good fortune on St. Patrick’s Day
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.
History shows annexing Canada doomed enterprise
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.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
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.

