Ranking high among the businessmen of the early twentieth century in Wellington County was Joseph…
Valuing Our History
Appointment of Elora postmaster caused stir, controversy in 1929
Through most of the 19th century the appointment of postmasters in Canada was a valued and…
Highway departments undertook paving despite 1930 Depression
This column has touched on the subject of highway and road improvements during the 1920s several…
Briefs: Churches, fires, taxes, trade boards and a runaway horse
While searching through old records and newspapers I frequently stumble on very interesting items…
Will of Rev. William Barrie disputed by sister
The following is a re-print of a past column by former Advertiser columnist Stephen Thorning, who…
Waiting riders witnessed 1908 Moorefield train wreck
Historians of North American railways have noted that the first decade of the 20th…
Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale had an Elora connection
Those who make a habit of reading daily newspapers may have spotted an obituary notice in early…
Years of talk before construction of Conestogo Dam
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Conestogo Dam, near Glen Allan in the current Township…
Oversharp cattle buyer bilked local farmers in 1893
During the first weeks of 1893, a number of farmers in West Garafraxa, Eramosa, Nichol and…
Misleading 1894 personal ad was costly to Elora man
“Personal – Widower, over 60, without family, with moderate means and education,…
Motor cars have driven on county roads for over century
Many local history buffs look forward to the publication every spring of Wellington County…
Nichol Mutual Insurance Company folded 78 years ago
A feature of the 19th century rural economy was the local mutual fire insurance company. Most of…
Fergusson sons played roles in county history
A few weeks ago I received a call from a reader with a question regarding A. J. Fergusson, son…
Prominent Fergus citizens fought in 1883 bar room brawl
Hotel bar rooms in the 19th century normally were quiet and orderly places. Governments…
Itinerant Gypsies sometimes ran afoul of the law
Few readers of this column have ever seen old-fashioned bands of Gypsies – or Roma, as they…