Back Story
Forgotten Factories: Remembering Bolton’s King Street Ashery
Discover the history of potash production in Headwaters, and the rise and fall of entrepreneur Edward Porritt’s ashery in the late 1800s.
A Good Friday Donnybrook Fair
Prohibition laws of the late 1800s often led to hotels functioning as underground drinking holes that even local constables had trouble breaking up.
When Cattle Were a Traffic Hazard
Cattle drives were once a familiar sight on Owen Sound Street in Shelburne – often to the dismay of local residents.
Oscar and Sport, Erin’s War Dog
The true tale of a World War II four-legged soldier who found a forever home in Erin – and a posthumous honour.
When Peepabun Was More Than a Name on Google Maps
Once a thriving centre of Christian revivalism, Peepabun was known for its annual camp meetings in the early 1900s.
The Little Engine That Could
Steam locomotives like the James McKay helped shape and build our communities in the early 1900s.
Now, That’s a Snow Fort!
The historic Globe Hotel in Erin was the backdrop for many key moments in the town’s growth, until the landmark burned down in 1945.
The Old Fire “Excape” at Shelburne’s Old School on the Hill
Shelburne’s old ‘school on the hill’, built without fire escapes, added in two evacuation slides which students gladly used during fire drills.
Jolting Along the Gravel Road
Back when it took four hours to travel 30km from Erin to Guelph by stagecoach, a bumpy ride was a guarantee.
Norman Jewison’s Local Connection
A Caledon farm was a touchstone for a Hollywood legend.
A “Snow Blockade” Wreaks Havoc
Almost 18 feet of snow fell in February 1904, bringing train travel to a halt and stranding hundreds of passengers north of Shelburne in the cold.
Mary Brett, Farmerette
As World War II raged in 1943, dozens of Shelburne High School students traded in their textbooks for farmers’ tools to support the war efforts.
