Oxford County

PDHS Exhibit at the Chesterfield Museum!

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Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from the Plattsville & District Heritage Society:

A Look Back at Clubs, Teams & Organizations!

Join us on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm until September 16, 2023 (or by appointment, we welcome groups small or large for weekday or evening) for an exciting event that takes a trip down memory lane! We’ll be reminiscing about the clubs, teams, and organizations that have made an impact on our community over the years.

Located at the Chesterfield Museum, 816661 Oxford Road 22, Bright, this in-person event is a chance to connect with old friends and make new ones while celebrating the history of our community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about the groups that have shaped our town and the people behind them.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the clubs, teams, and organizations that brought us together over the years!

For more information or to schedule a visit call/text Denise at 519-535-1417, or message them on FaceBook.

New Publication: Bodwells of Elgin Hall

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Hello Everyone

The information for George Emery’s newest publication is provided by Debbie Kasman, co-author of:

THE BODWELLS OF ELGIN HALL: MOUNT ELGIN HAMLET, DEREHAM TOWNSHIP, OXFORD COUNTY, 1848-2023

BY GEORGE EMERY PH. D. (UBC) PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF HISTORY, WESTERN UNIVERSITY AND DEBBIE L. KASMAN, M. ED.

Is now available for pre-order – CA$50.00

This 8 1/2 “ x 11” 260 page authoritative, evidence-based study memorializes Elgin Hall, a stately home and landmark in Mount Elgin hamlet, Dereham Township, Oxford County, the Honourable Garth Turner’s ancestral home, from its construction in 1849 to its demolition in 2023. This book also explores the history of descendants of James Bodwell, Sr. (1764-1853), the family’s pioneer settler in Dereham Township, and his roots in 17th Wales, through New England, Stanstead, Nissouri, and eventually Dereham Township.

The book evolved from our “Save Elgin Hall from Demolition” Project. Debbie L. Kasman was the project’s leader; the Hon. Garth Turner, its patron; George Emery, its Historian; and Cody Groat, its expert on heritage designation.

We offer this book as a tribute to Garth Turner PC, Patron of the Elgin Hall Project, and to anyone with a love of history.

The book makes an excellent coffee table book, with its detailed studies, its rich stories, and its 125 images, 62 of which are colour.

To pre-order a copy click on this link: Bodwells of Elgin Hall

National Indigenous Peoples Day – Wednesday, June 21, 2023!

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Hello Everyone,

please see this guest post from the Tillsonburg and District Historical Society:

The Tillsonburg and District Historical Society is again Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day Wednesday, June 21st, 2023, at 4 pm at the Tillsonburg Soccer Club, Attawandaron Way, Quarter Townline Rd. 

This is the site of the largest known Attawandaron Peoples village which was settled in the 14th and 15th Century.

This National Day was established to celebrate the contributions of First Nations. Metis and Inuit people. More information can be found at About National  Indigenous Peoples Day (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca).

The theme this year will be recognition of Indigenous Veterans and their ancestors and will include participation by Branch 153 Royal Canadian Legion and a presentation by Dr Jason Pankratz. Local Dignitaries’ have been invited.

 All are invited…bring your friends and family. A limited number of Pins commemorating the Indigenous Veterans of Canada will be presented to those attending.

For more information, please contact Dave Morris, President. Dcmorris95@gmail.com

Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors May 8th Meeting: The Hawke Papers!

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Hello Everyone,

Please see this guest post from Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors:

“Please join the Oxford Branch of Ontario Ancestors for a Zoom meeting on Monday, May 8th at 7 pm for the presentation: The Hawke Papers and Anthony Hawke, Chief Emigrant Agent 1833-1864

Speaker Wendy Cameron will begin an introduction to the Hawke Papers with their 21st century return to Ontario, a wonderful tale of archival good fortune. A highlight is six large volumes of letters chronicling government aid to immigrants in every year from 1835 into 1869. Other treasures include ten volumes of registers (lists) kept at Toronto. They record immigrants as they arrived in the city and left for a next destination in Canada West/Ontario, and they date between 1857 and 1892.

Please visit our website at https:\\oxford.ogs.on.ca to pre-register.  Everyone is welcome.”

Liz Buchanan
Oxford Branch Publicity Coordinator Ontario Ancestors

Join the OxHS for Tonight’s Presentation: The Big World of Joe Boyle!

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Joe Boyle’s Machine Gun Brigade

Hello Everyone,

It has been a 100 years since Joe Boyle’s Repatriation and Brian ‘Chip’ Martin has prepared a special presentation honouring this event!
Please join the Oxford Historical Society and Chip Martin on Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30pm at the Woodstock Museum, NHS for his presentation: The Big World of Joe Boyle!

He grew up in Woodstock, made millions in the Klondike, challenged for hockey supremacy with miners from there, contributed to the First World war in unconventional ways and hobnobbed with European royalty.

Along the way, Joe Boyle was dubbed the “King of the Klondike,” and “Saviour of Romania.” It was quite the life for an Ontario boy whose efforts saw him decorated by Great Britain, France, Russia and Romania, but was considered persona non-grata by officials in his own country. He became so close to the queen of Romania that was he was forced to leave the country whose Crown jewels, reserves and archives he managed to rescue at the risk of his life.

Boyle caused fits to the Canadian government because he acted as a soldier of fortune and would not follow orders or explain his wartime activities. In the end, he depleted his own fortune and the Queen of Romania stepped in to provide suitable markers for his gravesite following his untimely death in London, England exactly 100 years ago. And it wasn’t until 40 years ago that his remains were brought to Woodstock with the help of the Canadian armed forces that had considered him a rogue pariah when he was alive

Joe Boyle is a figure not unlike Gravenhurst medical doctor Norman Bethune, who was considered a hero in a faraway land, but virtually unknown at home. Boyle’s story is of epic proportions.

From Chip Martin – The Big World of Joe Boyle

Chip Martin’s latest work – From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge: Canada and the Civil War; will be available for purchase, $25.00, cash only. For more information about this book go to: OxHS Upcoming Events

This presentation will take place at the Woodstock Museum, NHS. The meeting will start at 6:30pm. This is a free public meeting, all are welcome to attend.