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Perth & District Historical Society Meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Thursday of each month, at 7:30 pm, at the Perth Canadian Legion Hall, 26 Beckwith Street East. A voluntary “Toonie Fee” (donation) is suggested for each meeting. See below for upcoming meetings
* there are normally no meetings in July, August and December.
| 2025 |
| January 16 |
P&DHS Meeting, Perth Legion |
Looking ahead to February Black History Month, Allison Margot Smith will present Mary Ann Camberton Shadd Cary’s remarkable life of dedication to anti-slavery activism in the US and, subsequently, Canada, as teacher, journalist, publisher and lawyer. See the meeting announcement (PDF)
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PREVIOUS TALKS
| 2024 |
| January |
Doug Phillips |
A talk with display artifacts and photographs all about the Frost and Woods Company of Smiths Falls.
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| February |
Frances Rathwell |
An in-depth presentation on the documentation available on our area’s history in the Lanark County Archives
|
| March |
Shelagh Stevens |
Retired Officer Stevens on the role of women in International Peacekeeping
|
| April |
Allison Margot Smith |
Presentation of two films produced, with the Township of Rideau Lakes – ‘Beverly Riots and a Death in Phillipsville’, and ‘Taverns and Their Keepers’, on taverns in the early communities
|
| May |
Glen Russell |
Documentary, and upcoming exhibition, on Elgin area’s photographer Clifford Pennock, his artistry and photos of residents and early life in Elgin area
|
| June |
Rian Manson |
Smiths Falls railway historian and LAC archival assistant, on the LAC marine & railway collection, and navigating through the LAC archives
|
| September |
Stacey Niceliu |
On the Perth Veterans Banners Programme, it’s background, sponsors and community participation.
|
| October |
County Clerk Jasmin Ralph |
Marking Lanark County’s 200th Anniversary, an overview of stories, facts and photos of the County’s history and present services.
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| November |
Karen Prytula |
Maberly’s connection to famed musician Leonard Cohen’s early family from 1869 to the 1890s
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| 2023 |
| January |
Ron W. Shaw |
"Rendition on Wellington Street: London's Unrepentant Confederates and the Ku Klux Klan", Ron’s recent book on the 1872 kidnapping, and transporting to the United States, of Dr. James Rufus Bratton, and the subsequent government protests.
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| February |
Glenn Tunnock |
The historical context of Canada’s fractured relationship of the past with our First Nations, its evolving framework and suggestions on potential ongoing action
|
| March |
Lynne Haddon |
The history of three of Perth’s most prominent gardens - the Gore Street Flag Garden, Inge Va Garden and Matheson House Garden
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| April |
Gary J. Smith |
Gary J. Smith, author of the book “Ice War Diplomat: Hockey Meets Cold War Politics”, on the iconic 1972 Hockey Summit Series |
| May |
Allison Margot Smith |
Historical documentaries produced in partnership with Rideau Lakes Township: ‘The Rideau Canal; the Big Breakthrough’ and ‘Fettercairn; WWI on Indian Lake ’. |
| June |
PDHS |
A slide-show and artefact tour following the Perth Citizen’s Band from its 1852 founding |
| September |
Michael Dupuis |
presentation on the post-war time of turmoil in Winnipeg, the resulting 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, and its impacts
|
| October |
James Forrester |
“Deconstructing the Historic Old Red House in Perth”, the story of relocating the 1816 ‘Old Red House’ to the Algonquin College Perth Campus
|
| November |
Brian Tackaberry |
A presentation on the United Empire Loyalists, some of whom continued north to settle the Rideau River, and their area settlements.
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| 2022 |
| June |
- - |
‘The Canadian Federation of University Women – Sharing Their Past, Present & Future’, and ‘A Warm-up to Canada Day, with a Selection of Patriotic Canadian Songs, Written by Ellis Craig’ |
| September |
Meryl Oliver |
"Tracking and Discovery of the Elusive Franklin Ships by Parks Canada" |
| October |
Ross Lamber |
‘The Early Life of Dr. Norman Bethune, and His Connection to Spain’ |
| November |
Jennifer Irwin & Roy Probert |
The story of famous WWI Flying Ace, A. Roy Brown, presented by Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum and President of the Roy Brown Society. |
| 2020 |
| January |
Ron W. Shaw |
The story of Lanark Society Settler
families from Glasgow, and present-day Lanark County, to Salt lake
City, Utah. |
| February |
John McKenty |
'Joe Perkins' Life & Times' |
| 2019 |
| January |
Kathryn Jamieson |
A vision for Perth's Matheson House Museum.
|
| February |
Eric Halpin |
An introduction to The Perth Cemetery Company, Elmwood Cemetery and some inhabitants. |
| March |
Loree Tannett |
Revisits the world of Canada's early Fall fairs. |
| April |
Jack Hollinger |
Heritage Carpentry in our area, Canada and abroad. |
| May |
David Crowley |
The move to the Glen Tay multi-room school, in 1968, of the traditional one-room schools of early Bathurst and North Burgess Townships. |
| June |
Laura Desmond |
Frederick Remington's Northern Frontier |
| September |
James Forrester |
Perth's oldest building, the 'Old Red House', 55 Craig Street; heritage residence and early community centre, as military quarters, tavern, meeting hall, church etc.
|
| October |
John McKenty |
"The
Life & Times of Joe Perkins" |
| November |
John Clement |
History of the Perth Courier; recent developments in the community newspaper sector |
| 2018 |
| January |
Ellen Dean |
The 100th anniversary of the devastating Halifax
Explosion, the largest man-made non-nuclear explosion in history |
| February |
Ron Shaw |
The little known stories of the Black families who were an integral part of the Perth and area community in the late 1800s.
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| March |
Susan Code |
Stories of early Perth and our townships
|
| April |
Jim Winton |
Perth's early prestigious whiskey business
|
| May |
Brent McLaren |
The tradition and history of Perth's Town Crier |
| June |
Meet & Mingle |
A fun get-together, recognising Maximilian Restaurant's anniversary and the Summer Solstice |
| September |
Stuart Howard |
History of True Britons Lodge 14 |
| October |
Author Larry Cotton |
The Richmond Military Road, celebrating its 200th Anniversary this year |
| November |
Major General Clive Addy |
post-war options for the future |
| 2017 |
| January |
Perth 200th Anniversary Committee |
An audio-visual
review of the Town's anniversary celebration in 2016 |
| February |
Loree Tannett |
What Our
Forebears Wore in the 19th Century |
| March |
Perth-Upon-Tay Musical Group |
Janet Coward and Group on Dominion Days from 1867 |
| April |
Deborah Ireton |
The History and Contribution of the Women's Institutes to our Ontario Communities" (see presentation on the Perth Local History Page) |
| May |
Anne Raina |
Meeting cancelled |
| June |
Glenn Tunnock |
Events leading to Truth and Reconciliation, and insights into local opportunities for addressing them |
| September |
Anne Raina |
Author of Clara's Rib: A true
story of a young girl growing up in a Tuberculosis Hospital, presents
her book on Clara's life in 'the San' in Ottawa from her arrival as a
pre-teen to her departure as a young woman in her mid-twenties |
| October |
Frances Rathwell |
"The One Room Rural Schools in Lanark County", the series of books researched and published by Archives Lanark preserving the history of the County's early schools |
| November |
John Stewart |
Landscape Architect of Perth's award-winning Heritage Canada Main Street Program discusses the town's architectural heritage |
| 2016 |
| January |
Ken Watson |
"Finding the Settlers Trail": a visual presentation of the route of the first settlers from Brockville to Perth depot. |
| February |
Janet Coward with Rob Carroll, Murray Hodgins,
Melanie Weber and Mary Lou Carroll |
A celebration of seven decades of St. Patrick’s Day festivities in
early Perth and area. |
| March |
Brian Gilhuly |
The Ottawa Valley Railroads, including our area's 1865 Brockville to Ottawa line. |
| April |
Major John R. Grodzinski |
"The Legacies of Military Service": the lives of the 1812 veterans following the war. |
| May |
Drummond/North Elmsley Township |
Celebrating 200 years of the united Drummond and North Elmsley Townships |
| June |
Algonquin College Library |
Presentation on the Historical Mapping Project, with Barrie Crampton |
| September |
Susan Code |
An evening of story-telling on Tay Valley's original Bathurst, North Burgess and South Sherbrooke Townships |
| October |
Tim Zander |
Sports teams and Players that have made a significant contribution to the Perth & District area; introduction to the Perth & District Sports Hall of Fame |
| November |
John Fowler, John Gemmell |
The Role of the Church in early Perth, and the Perth Legion |
| 2015 |
| January |
Author Roy MacSkimming |
On the upcoming book 'The Secret History of John A.', marking the bicentennial of Macdonald's birthday. |
| February |
Annie Dalton/Barrie Crampton |
The story of the extinction, one
hundred years ago, of the Passenger Pigeon; followed by the digital
historical mapping project under development for the 200th anniversary. |
| March |
Brian Perkin |
Over 40 years of area broadcasting culminating in the development of local radio station Lake 88 |
| April |
Rhodena Bell |
How Joe Purdon dedicated his life to protecting the rare Showy Lady’s Slipper |
| May |
Brian & Renee Porter |
The second of our presentations on Sir John A. Macdonald's bicentennial; the domestic side of John A.'s life. |
| June |
Hélène Jasmin |
The story of Perth's Elsie Meighen Reford, founder of the famous Métis Gardens (also known as Reford Gardens) of eastern Quebec |
| September |
Video |
The documentary film 'The Story of Perth, Part One' by Robert & Sharon Newton |
| October |
Brian Gilhuly |
Our Ottawa Valley early railroads, including our area's 1865 Brockville to Ottawa line. |
| November |
Kay Rogers |
Tay Valley Township's 200th anniversary book, 'At Home in Tay Valley'. |
| 2014 |
| January |
Perth, Tay Valley Twp., Drummond/North Elmsley Twp. |
Representatives of three local municipalities unveiled celebration plans
for the area’s 200th anniversary, 2016 |
| February |
Author Shaun McLaughlin |
Stories of the 1838 attacks on Upper Canada, the aftermath of the 1837 Rebellion |
| March |
Show & Tell Presentations |
Nine local residents with presentations and displays on a wide collection of interesting artifacts and documents from our past
|
| April |
Author Claudia Smith & Perth Resident Frank Mahon |
A double billing featuring Claudia Smith and her grandmother's story of serving at the front, as a nurse, in WWI, and Frank Mahon of Perth with the mystery behind a seaman's travel desk. |
| May |
Jim Sands, F/O (Retired) |
Canada's Role in WWII development of Radar. |
| June |
Janet Coward Musical Evening |
This third annual musical evening featured the area's 19th Century Temperance Movement. |
| September |
David Frisch |
The story of unknown Almonte Hero George Eccles. |
| October |
John McKenty |
The story of how shoemaking became a significant Perth industry, 'St. Crispin's Legacy; Shoemaking in Perth, Ontario, 1834-2014. |
| November |
Denise Chong |
Harry (Fong) Johnston, of early Perth's Harry's Cafe, is remembered in 'Lives of the Family; Stories of Fate and Circumstance', the stories of three Chinese families living in small town Canada. |
| 2013 |
| January |
Ron Shaw, Irene Spence |
Forgotten Hero - the story of Alexander Fraser. |
| Feburary |
Chris Anstead |
The story of John Wilson (last duel) and family |
| March |
Roy MacSkimming & Don Beattie |
Otty Lake's North Shore |
| April |
David Taylor |
Our Lost Mills of the Tay River Area |
| May |
Ken Watson |
Why World Heritage? (Rideau Canal) |
| June |
Tobi Kieswalter |
Guided tour of the Silver Queen Mine, Murphys Point Provincial Park |
| September |
John Gemmell |
Welcome to the Perth Legion and tour of their Hall of Remembrance Museum |
| October |
Arlene Stafford-Wilson |
An evening of excerpts from Arlene's four books on reminiscences of Lanark County, and advice on developing our own family history interviews |
| November |
Glenn Tunnock |
update on the status of negotiations on land claims with the eastern Ontario Algonquin First Nations |
| 2012 |
| January |
Tobi Kiesewalter |
The History and Archaeology of Murphy's Point Park |
| February |
David Turner |
The Foundation of Representative Government in Canada: its BNA Origin |
| March |
Janet Coward and the
Perth-Upon-Tay Musical Heritage group |
An evening of song based on two 19th Century St. Patrick's Day evening social events in Perth |
| April |
Shaun J. McLaughlin |
The 1837 Rebellion along the New-York-Canada Border |
| May |
Major John. R. Grodzinski |
The War of 1812 on the Upper St. Lawrence |
| June |
Tour of Bowes Mill |
Tour of Bowes Mill followed by a meeting with the Tay Valley 200 Anniversary Committee at EcoTay |
| September |
Clark Theobald |
Talk about his recently published book on Daniel Daverne, controversial A/Supt. in early Perth. |
| October |
Ronald L. Doering |
Defending Our Homeland - Loyalist families of Dundas County and the Battle of Crysler's Farm (novel). |
| November |
John McKenty |
Arden Blackburn's Mail Route: The Early Days at Christie Lake. |
| 2011 |
| January |
Mike Jaques |
Colonel Myers and the Mount Myers in Perth |
| February |
Roy MacSkimming |
Sir Wilfred Laurier: Laurier in Love |
| March |
David Theobald |
Conservation of Historical Documents |
| April |
Carleton Place Representatives |
experience and opportunities under sister-city twinning agreements
|
| May |
John McKenty |
The Canada Cycle & Motor Company - the CCM Bicycle |
| June |
Janet Coward |
A Selection of Traditional Perth 19th Century Music |
| September |
Kay Rogers |
Recently Launched Book Voices of Pike Lake |
| October |
Edith George |
Designation of Heritage Trees in the Community |
| November |
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Film presentation "From Famine to Shipwreck: An Irish Odyssey". Presented by: Kay Rogers and Jane Murphy |
| December |
-- |
Christmas 2011 Newsletter |
| 2010 |
| January |
Keith Lindsay |
The War of 1812 |
| February |
Glenn Tunnock |
The Ottawa Valley Fire of 1870 |
| March |
Terence Currie |
The 175th Anniversary of the Tay Canal |
| April |
Brian Porter |
The North-West Mounted Police |
| May |
Susan Code-McDougall |
The Code Family of Perth and Area |
| June |
Glenn Lockwood |
History of St. James Church in Pert |
| September |
Glenn Tunnock |
Perth Scotland's 800th Anniversary |
| October |
Glenn Lockwood |
St. James Church, Perth - Chapter T |
| November |
Tim Zander |
The Canadian European War MemorialsI |
| 2009 |
| January |
Ron Watson |
Free Masonry in Perth and Area |
| February |
Rev. Canon Purcell |
The Irish and the Rideau Canal |
| March |
Ken Watson; Susan Code;
David Taylor |
The 175th Anniversary of the Tay Canal |
| April |
Neil Patterson |
Irish Settlers of the Rideau Corridor |
| May |
Jeff Earl |
Archaeology of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Site, Perth |
| September |
Hugh Chatfield |
The Daniel Daverne Documentary |
| October |
Tim Zander |
Perth & District Collegiate Institute Student Research |
| November |
Stephen Nichol |
The 21st Battalion C.E.F in WWI |
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