Perth & District Historical Society

Latest News

For Coming Events - Please see the Events Page


New Document Posted

Added an article about Perth's bridges to the Town of Perth Page.



New Documents Posted

Six new articles have been added to our History Section. Bowling Since 1857, Perth Courier 1916 Articles on History of Perth, The English Game - The Perth Cricket Club, Perth Municipal Airport - An Idea That Didn't Fly, The Gaelic Sermon and Blair & Son Funeral Home, Two Centuries, Two Families, have been posted to the Town of Perth Page.



New Documents Posted

The Ottawa Valley Twang by Wes Darou. See the Miscellanous Article Page. In addition, an updated version of Hebrew Merchants, A History of Perth’s Jewish Community has been posted to the Town of Perth page.



New Documents Posted

Six new articles have been added to our History Section. The Drummond Township Hermit has been posted to the Neighbouring Townships Page.. Perth Courier 1962 - Early History of Perth and Semi-Ellipsoidal Landmark - Perth’s Water Tower have been posted to the Town of Perth Page. Fugitive Missionary - Muriel Smith-Livesay and The Gould Inheritance - Matthew Gould (1764-1852) have been posted to the People and Families Page. Snake Oil - The Wizard Oil Travelling Medicine Show has been posted to the Miscellanous Page



New Documents Posted

Nineteen Perth Courier articles written by historian Clyde Bell in the early 1960s have been posted. See the Early Perth Courier Articles (1963-64) by Historian Clyde Bell



New Mystery Added

We've posted a new mystery - who made a hand stitched image of the Maberly Methodist Church in 1900? See our Mysteries Page



Mills of the Tay Watershed and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay Watershed and Area of Eastern Ontario' has been updated (December 2023) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



New Mystery Added

We've posted a new mystery - a photo with a lead backing. See our Mysteries Page



New Documents Posted

Four new articles have been added to our History Section. Lanark Members of Parliament since Confederation, Lanark County Court House - text of a 1973 speech by Judge Edward McLeod Shortt, History of the Perth Fair, and No Yankee Gingerbread Machine - History of the Perth Town Clock have been posted to the Town of Perth Page.



New Documents Posted

Two new articles, both about circuses, have been added to our History Section. Under the Big Top - Best Circus Town in Eastern Ontario and High Grass Circus - NFB Documentary, have been added to the Miscellaneous Articles History Page.



New Documents Posted

Five new articles have been added to our History Section. Automotive Homecoming - William L. McLaren’s 1910 Russell-Knight Model-22, Genesis of a Hospital - The Great War Memorial Hospital of Perth & District, The Woodyard - Perth’s Fuel Committee 1917-1932 and Hollywood North - A Tale of What Might Have Been have been posted to the Town of Perth Page and HMML-373 - Lieutenant Charles Ross Watt, RVNR has been posted to the Military Page.



Videos Posted

We've posted links to two videos. One is about the work of photographer Clifford Pennock who did extensive photography of the South Crosby Township area in the early 1900s. See the link near the bottom of the Neighbouring Townships Page.

The other is a 1955 National Film Board film featuring the Perth Curling Club of the 1950s. You'll find the link near the bottom of the Town of Perth page.



New Documents Posted

Five new articles have been added to our History Section. Vladivostok, October 1918 - April 1919 to the Military Page. HRH The Prince Of Wales Visits Lanark and Renfrew to the Neighbouring Townships Page. In A Wood Open In All Directions, Perth’s Burying Grounds and Radio Craze to the Town of Perth Page and A Summerless Year, Perth 1815-1816 to the Perth & Region Settlement Page.



A new article, SLAVES, STATUES & STREET SIGNS - Naming the Legacy of Slavery has been added to the Town of Perth Page.



New Documents Posted

Seven new articles have been added to our History Section. A Life Of Vicissitudes - Frances Jessop - The Cranky Schoolmistress of Brock Street has been added to the People Page. County Sheriffs, Early Days of the Perth Settlement, and Not So Fine & Healthy - The Ague have been added to the Perth and Region Settlement Page. Bathurst Independent Examiner and The Fraser Reminiscences - Donald Fraser (1841-1933) have been added to the Town of Perth Page and Fighting for the Blue and Grey has been added to the Military page.



New Documents Posted

Four new articles have been added to our History Section. Startling and Tumultuous - Burton Campbell and Genius in the Granary - William Sydney Porter, aka O. Henry have been added to the People Page. A 1966 article about the Rideau Ferry Road and the story The Burgess Haunting have been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page



New Documents Posted

Four new articles have been added to our History Section. Two, Lanark Settlers Jubilee Speech by Malcolm Cameron, 1870 and Plumbago: The North Elmsley Graphite Mine have been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page. One, Foster Street & Other Miscalculations: Rueben Sherwood & the Surveyors’ Story has been added to the Town of Perth Page and one, Miss Dominion of Canada: Veronica Marie ‘Bonny’ Brady has been added to the People Page.



New Documents Posted

Three new articles have been added to our History Section. A Letter From Thunder Bay Bivouac 1870 has been added to the Military History Page. Two more, Catspaw of Carnegie: Perth’s Carnegie Library 1907-1980 and Links O’ Tay Golf & Country Club have been added to the Town of Perth Page



New Documents Posted

Five new articles have been added to our History Section. Four, Let The Boy Scout Do It, Perth's earliest Boy Scouts, The Barefoot Ferry Boy: Malcolm Cameron 1808-1878, Trophy Guns and Turkey Fair, 1879-1958 have been added to the Town of Perth page and The Other Diefenbunker - CFS Richardson Detachment 1962-1994 has been added to the Military History page.



New Documents Posted

Four new articles have been added to our History Section. Two, Conflagration: The Lanark Village Fire of 1959 and History of Lanark Village (Perth Courier 1905) have been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page. Two more, First Baptist Church Perth and Balderson Theatre 1915-1957 have been added to the Town of Perth Page



New Page Added

In recognition of ‘Women In Canadian History’ month, see the recently added list of some relevant books, at: Books about Women and Canadian History.



New Documents Posted

Four new articles have been added to our History Section. Two, Vimy Ridge, 09 - 14 April 1917 about Perth men involved in the WWI battle of Vimy Ridge, and Home Front Casualties, The Trenton Explosion of 1917, about several Perth men who died in a munitions explosion at Trenton, have been added to the Military History Page. An article about Moose Factory Doctor, Dr. William Bell Malloch (1845-1881) has been added to the People and Families Page and The Voyage of the David of London 1812, Journal of John McFarlane (1779-c1830) which contains a transcription of McFarlane's journal of his journey from England to Perth has been added to the Perth & Region Settlement



New Mystery Added

We've posted a new mystery - a strange metal pan of unknown use. See it on our Mysteries Page



New Document Posted

Added an article about Chaplin’s Dairy in Glen Tay Hamlet to the Neighbouring Townships Page



Updated Document Posted

An updated of the Born at Perth biographies has been posted to the People and Families Page



New Documents Posted

Two interesting new articles have been added to our History Section. Captain Jack - John Weston ‘Jack’ Walker (1924-2009) about a prolific boat model builder and boat builder in Perth, and Captain Hooper's Farmhouse - The Battle of Kitchener’s Wood Ypres, April 1915, about several Perth area men serving in WWI to the People and Families Page



New Document Posted

Two interesting new articles have been added to our History Section. War Crimes: HMHS Llandovery Castle about the sinking of the hospital ship Llandovery Castle and the subsequent massacre of its survivors by the U-boat that sank it, and Regional War Memorial Listings, listing the war dead from communities in the area, haves been added to the Military History Page



New Document Posted

An interesting new article has been added to our History Section. Hebrew Merchants: A History of Perth's Jewish Community has been added to the Town of Perth page



New Documents Posted

Three interesting new articles have been added to our History Page. The Cohens of Budvieciai, Maberly and Montreal, The Gentle Giant, John Lee (1811-1919), and Reverend Robert Campbell (1835-1921) have been added to the People and Families Page



Mills of the Tay Watershed and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay Watershed and Area of Eastern Ontario' has been updated (July 2021) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



New Documents Posted

Four interesting new articles have been added to our History Page. Northman - William Creighton ‘Rags’ Wilson (1885-1929), Pistol Provenance - Weapons of the Last Fatal Duel, Recollections of the Ferry Road (1896), and Wet Jackets and Torn Breeches - Perth's Early Fire Companies have been added to the Perth History Section



New Document Posted

Barbaric Relics - Lanark County Toll Roads
has been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page



Mills of the Tay and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay and Area' has been updated (December 2020) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



Five new articles: Chains of Office - Lanark Wardens & Perth Mayors --- Le Petit Canada - John Andrew Kerr (1852-1940) --- Mechanical Genius - John Dittrick (1849-1925) --- Prosperous Progressive Perth Has ... (1921) and Settlement of Retired Military Heroes - Profile of Perth (1887) have been added to the Perth History Page.



New Mystery Added

We've posted a photo of an unknown metal item. Do you know what it is? See the Mysteries Page



New Document Posted

Two interesting new articles have been added to our History Page.
See "CPR Comes to Town" in the Perth History Section and
"Trouble on the Border" in the Military History Section



New Document Posted

The Nimrod Antarctic Expedition - Dr. W. A. Rupert Michell
have been added to the People and Families Page



New Documents Posted

Six new articles have been posted: Early Adopters - Perth's First Telephone --- St. Bridget's Chapel --- The Necessary Acid Touch - Charles Rice --- The Long Swamp Fire - 1834 have been added to the Perth History Page. Elder Duncan McNabb - North Elmsley Baptist Church has been added to the Neighbouring Townships page. Unfortunate Child - John A. McLaren has been added to the People and Families page.



New Documents Posted

Several (11) new articles have been posted: A Life Well Spent - Flora Madeline Shaw R.N. --- American Ambulance Hospital Paris - Isobel Mary Watts --- Boer War Nurse - Mary Ellen 'Minnie' Affleck --- Croix de Guerre - Lillian Gibson Spence --- In Flanders Fields and No.1 Canadian General Hospital - Edith Alberta Gallagher
have been added to the Military History Page. Lanark County's Pioneer Woman Doctor - Dr. Agnes Douglas Craine has been added to the People and Families page. The Dalhousie Saint Andrews Society and Early Settlement in Lanark County and the Glasgow Colonial Society have been added to the Perth & Region Settlement page. A listing of Perth's Built Heritage has been added to the Town of Perth page.




New History Layout

The History Section has been revamped to add some new categories that will hopefully make finding articles of interest a bit easier.



New Documents Posted

"Born at Perth - short biographies" and "Printing Money, William and John Bell"
have been added to the Perth History Page



Mills of the Tay and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay and Area' has been updated (January 2020) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



New Documents Posted

"John Graham Haggart, (Controversial) Industrialist, Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister" and "Avocational Archaeologist, Dr. Thomas William Beeman"
have been added to the Perth History Page



New Document Posted

#9 Mill Street - Oldest Stone House in Perth and Hart's Bookstore & Almanac
have been added to the Perth History Page

In No Way Disappointed - Mormon Pioneers Arza & Barnabas Adams
has been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page



New Mystery Added

Have you seen a photo of the second Wemyss railroad station that was once located at the corner of Highway 7 and Bathurst Con. 5?. See the Mysteries Page



New Document Posted

Chief Shawanipinessi and the Forgotten 1844 Land Tract Reserve in Bedford, Oso and South Sherbrooke Townships

An article from the Lanark County Neighbours for Truth & Reconciliation website (used with permission) has been added to the First Nations Page



New Photos Posted

A new gallery of area train wrecks has been posted to the Photo Gallery Page



Perth's Verbruggen Guns, and the legend of Crysler's Farm

A new article "Perth's Verbruggen Guns, and the legend of Crysler's Farm", by Ron W. Shaw has been posted on the Perth History Page



New Documents Posted

Memories of the Great War by Murray Walker and On the Way to Berlin by John Edward de Hertel
have been added to the Perth History Page

RCMP Deputy Commissioner, James Wilson Spalding
has been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page



Mills of the Tay and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay and Area' has been updated (January 2019) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



New Mystery Added and One Solved

Our last mystery about the location of a home pictured in a painting has been solved. A new mystery about heritage apples has been posted. See the Mysteries Page



New Mystery Added

A reader asked us if a painting he acquired was of a local home (the painting was framed in Perth). See the Mysteries Page



New Mystery Added

Was there an oil field discovered in Elmsley? See the Mysteries Page



New Documents Posted

First Woman at The Polls, Klan Gathering Yonder, and One Knight Girt With Sword

These articles by Ron W. Shaw have been added to the Perth History Page



New Document Posted

Indigenous Use of the Rideau Waterway

A short article about Indigenous use of the Rideau waterway has been added to the First Nations Page



New Documents Posted

Story of the Great War - Scott Family; Traffic Control - Lanark's Evan John McIlraith; and When Lyon Fell by Wilson's Hand

These articles by Ron W. Shaw have been added to the Neighbouring Townships Page



New Documents Posted

Trails and Tree Markers

Articles about our area's early First Nations's trails and about the use of bent tree markers on trails has been added to the First Nations Page



New Mystery Added

Readers are invited to contribute information on an important part of our area history that has been lost, or overlooked, in time - the location of the early trails of the First Nations peoples in this area. See the Mysteries Page



New Documents Posted

E.J. Robertson - Man of Fleet Street; Knight of the Realm; God Bless our Land; and Snow Birds, Waddell Brothers

These articles by Ron W. Shaw have been added to the Perth History Page and the Neighbouring Townships Page



New Videos Posted

Early Log Drives

Links to two videos about early log drives has been posted to the Neighbouring Townships Page



New Document Posted

The Perth Railway Station (1859-1979)

An article about the Perth Railway station by Eugene Kirkham has been posted on the Perth History Page



Mills of the Tay and Area Booklet

The booklet 'Mills of the Tay and Area' has been updated (November 2017) - you can view/download it (PDF file) from the Tay Canal & River Page



New Section Added - First Nations

We've added a new section dealing with First Nations' history. See the First Nations Page



More New Documents Posted

Two new research papers by Ron W. Shaw: Canada First - Charles Adam Mair (1831-1927) and Aristocrats in the Wilderness - Jean-Louis Viscomte de Chalus and Burgess Township C-10/L-19 & 20 - have been posted on the Neighbouring Townships History Page (see bottom of page)



New Documents Posted

Last Fatal Duel Location

A new report "Locating the Site of Upper Canada's Last Fatal Duel", by Ron W. Shaw has been posted on the Perth History Page



New Research

Several new documents by historian Ron W. Shaw have been posted. These include, James Shaw (1798-1878), Livingstones of Lanark, Lumber Baron Peter McLaren, and Thomas Scott - Opening the North-West. Look for in the History Section under Town of Perth', or 'Neighbouring Townships'



Mystery Solved

Mystery of the unknown mill solved - the Caldwell Mill at Lanark - see the Answer to the Unknown Mill on the Mysteries Page (near the bottom)



Walking Tour and Map of Historic Glen Tay

A walking tour and map will introduce you to the historic hamlet of Glen Tay. See the Documents section on the Townships History Page



New History Research

We are pleased to announce a large new collection of documents by historian Ron W. Shaw: look for in the History Section under 'Military', 'Town of Perth', and 'Neighbouring Townships'



New Mystery

Do you know the person or persons who created our mystery 'WW II Victory Quilt? See the Mysteries Page.



The 1816 Routes to Perth

We've posted a new section to this website, all about the routes the first settlers took to Perth in 1816. See The 1816 Routes to Perth



2016 Talks

Posted the full 2016 listing of PDHS Talks. See the Events Page.



Postcards of Perth and Area III

Another gallery of old postcards of Perth and District has been added to the photos page.



New Perth History Books

Three recent books on local history:

1. "The Slippers' Keeper", by Ian Wallace (the story of the Purdon Conservation Area);
2. "First We Were Soldiers; the Long March to Perth", by Ron W. Shaw;
3. "Tales of the Hare; a Prequel and Sequel to the Last Fatal Duel", by Ron W. Shaw.



Key Dates in the Founding of the Perth Military Settlement

A document describing key dates in the founding of the Perth Military Settlement can be viewed/downloaded (PDF file) from the Military History Page



?? Mysteries ??

We've opened up a new page on the website devoted to local history mysteries. These mysteries often come to us from our website readers, or just pop up from old photos and documents, such as postcards. Have a look at the Mysteries Page.



War of 1812 Veterans Graveside Marker Program

On October 2, 2013, four veterans of the War of 1812, buried in local cemeteries, were recognised with a dedication ceremony and the placing of memorial markers at their graves. This is expected to be the first of a number of such small ceremonies that will take place in this area, under the Government of Canada Graveside Marker program. The program is managed by the Historic Military Establishment of Upper Canada, an Ontario non-profit organisation, with funding from the Canadian Heritage Department. The purpose of the program is to recognise the contribution of War of 1812 veterans to the defense of Canada and their dedication in building the foundation of the Canada that we live in today.

In this first ceremony, which took place at Perth’s Old Burying Grounds, on Craig Street, plaques were unveiled for Roderick Matheson, Alexander Fraser, Michael Harris, and Alexander Thom, all of whom were buried in that ceremony. Also recognised at the event were Joshua Adams, Andrew Playfair and William Horricks, whose graves are located in other area cemeteries. The markers for these will be placed in future events. Joshua Adams is buried in the Old Methodist Burying Ground on Robinson Street (St. Pauls United Church); Andrew Playfair in Elmwood Cemetery; and William Horricks at the Prestonvale Cemetery.

Photos of those for whom markers were placed on October 2, 2013, and subsequent cermeonies, may be seen in the photo section of this website.

The research and application for the marker for these veterans has been carried out by the families of these veterans and by local historians in Perth and neighbouring municipalities.

Many veterans of the War of 1812 settled in the Perth Military Settlement and the immediate area, following its founding in 1816. An objective of this first ceremony was to raise awareness of the program, and encourage other nominations to the program for area veterans. Further information on the program is available at: www.1812veterans.ca.



Perth & District Historical Society Facebook Page

We now have a Facebook page. Click the button: Find us on Facebook



Postcards of Perth and Area II

Another gallery of old postcards has been added to the photos page.



Maps of the Maberly and Bolingbroke hamlets

Maps of the Maberly and Bolingbroke hamlets showing early mills, homes and other structures can be found in the Townships History section



YAK Youth Centre History of Perth Video

On August 25, 2012, the YAK Youth Centre released their new video on the history of the Perth area - a project delivered under their Skills Link Program. Ten young people in YAK (Youth Action Kommittee of Perth & District), beginning with no experience in the sector, developed the video over a three month period in the summer of 2012 - including the researching, writing, acting, shooting, design and production. One of the on-site visits was to the site of the original Tay Canal - a central theme - at Port Elmsley, in cooperation with the Drummond/North Elmsley 200th Anniversary Committee. Assistance on the video was provided by several local organisations, including the Perth & District Historical Society.

The video may be viewed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXqGWvGQEn4&feature=plcp

Congratulations YAK!

YAK is a charitable organization working to provide opportunities, support, resources, information, training and encouragement to youth in Perth and the surrounding rural area. Further information is available at www.yakyouth.ca/index.html



Log House at 103 Peter Street

An old and interesting house left 103 Peter Street in downtown Perth recently to be resurrected at a new site on Rideau Lake. Photos of this log house, taken while it was being dismantled, may be seen in our photo gallery. Watch this spot for the upcoming story of this interesting house



Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy

Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy Workshop - August 15 in Perth. See the RCLS Workshop page



Tay Watershed Geology and Mining History


If you are interested in mining and geology, you might wish to review the following report by Don Sherwin - 'Geology and Mining Deposits and History of Mining in the Tay Watershed' - see: www.tayriver.org/documents/geology_report/geology_report.htm



Perth Regional Heritage Fair

The Perth Regional Heritage Fair, on May 17, 2012, again attracted a wide range of creative displays documenting our regional and national history, produced by area students. Examples of three of the displays are: 'Influence of the Caldwells' by Shayla Fisher of Stewart School; 'Burns Jewellers' by Owen Willows of Stewart School; 'The McParlan House and Lally Homestead' by Aidan Pierman of St. Johns School. Photos of those displays can be found on the Perth Regional Heritage Fair page.



Burgess Wood History

The community of Burgess Wood have produced an illustrated 60-page history of this unique area on Otty Lake in Tay Valley Township. The booklet may be seen at the Perth Museum and the Perth & District Union Library



Map of the Perth Military Settlement

Added a map showing the Town of Perth and the original six townships of the Perth Military Settlement Area. The early hamlets and sites around which the settlement gradually took place are also shown. See the Perth Military Settlement Map.



New 200th Anniversary Page

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new page to our website that will provide up-to-minute information on the preparations underway for the '200th Anniversary' celebration of the area's founding in 1816. Although it is five years away, the three local municipalities - Perth, Tay Valley Township and Drummond/North Elmsley Township - have started organising, including the formation of committees. See that page in the top bar for the latest news and how you might participate.



New Look to Website

The Perth & District Historical Society website has undergone a makeover. The content has been updated and the website has a new design that will make it easier to use.

Perth, the Capital of the District of Dalhousie; from the N-East bank of the River Tay - painting by Thomas Burrowes, 1828, Archives of Ontario, I0002141

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