The McGowan name is largely unknown today in Wellington County, but a century ago that was not the…
Valuing Our History
Spring thaw in 1927 created a nightmare for motorists
By 1930, trucks and motor cars had, to a large measure, replaced the railways as the most popular…
Toronto promoter proposed making automobiles in Wellington
Until the past generation or so, the manufacture of automobiles and car parts did not form…
Introduction of prohibition in 1916 caught many by surprise
The liquor question was perhaps the most controversial and divisive one in Ontario in the late 19th…
West Garafraxa’s poisoning and shooting case of 1921
The former township of West Garafraxa has the dubious distinction of being the most violent and…
Groves tried unsuccessfully to donate hospital to town in early 1920s
Many people, in Centre Wellington at least, are aware that Groves Memorial Hospital was established…
Election of 1925 highlighted town-country divide in Wellington South
For students of Canadian politics, the 1920s is one of the more interesting periods in our history.…
The glory days of the Grand Theatre in downtown Fergus
Way back in 2002 this column featured a series on the various movie theatres that have operated in…
County firefighters prevented several conflagrations in summer of 1929
The increasing skills and training of Wellington County’s volunteer firefighters in the early…
Hugh Templin’s continued efforts for dams in the early 1930s
The history of flood control and associated conservation measures has been a theme pursued by this…
J.K. Blair caused furor with maiden speech in House of Commons
About 18 months ago this column featured an outline of the public career of Dr. J.K. Blair of…
Hustonville founded, thrived, vanished in 20 years
The following is a re-print of a past column by former Advertiser columnist Stephen Thorning, who…
Old time Halloween nights sometimes rowdy
Hooliganism and property damage at Halloween seem to rise and fall in cycles that are neither…
Railways struggled to open lines after March storm
Last week’s column offered the first part of the story of the winter of 1908, and the storms…
Knox Church in Ospringe marking 150th anniversary
Several churches in Wellington County are marking a century and a half of service this year.…