Upcoming Speaker

OxHS Upcoming Presentation – Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6:30pm!

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Alice Munro – 1960

Hello Everyone,

please join the Oxford Historical Society for Brenda Boswell’s presentation : ‘Party Line – Supporting Homemakers Over the Airwaves’

From Brenda:

Alice Munro was invited into the homes of many women within the CKOX  listening area every day from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  CKOX introduced a new program “Party Line” in 1959 on an experimental basis.  Women’s Commentator, Alice Munro invited listeners to call in and describe any problem pertaining to Homemaking which might require an answer. Others in the listening audience were encouraged to phone and supply the answer. 

The show was so popular that Alice produced three booklets of “Hints and Recipes for the Homemaker” in 1960, 1961 and 1965 which were “must haves” for her followers.

Party Line was part of a bigger movement across North America to help women feel less isolated in their homes.  As many women who had joined the workplace during WWII were displaced by returning soldiers, popular culture encouraged women to return to domestic life and look after their family which included creating interesting meals, keeping the home spotless and stain free.  

While Alice Munro did not create the concept of reaching homemakers by the radio, she certainly captivated local homemakers.  How many of us remember the hour after the 10:00 a.m. as being a sacred time in the kitchen.  The presentation will explore some of the early homemakers tailored to reach an untapped part of the market and how the stringing of hydro lines brought the most isolated women a connection to the world.  It also provided a wonderful opportunity for broadcasters to sell advertising.

From Alice Munro to Martha Stewart and beyond, women continue to connect with each other via the media.  

Oh yes, we will also touch on the story of Aunt Sammy, a fictional character created by the US Bureau of Home Economics which focussed on rural farm women.  And how does this relate to the Queen of Romania you ask?  Set your dial to the Oxford Historical Society channel on Feb. 28th, to find out!

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.

If you would like your event or article published (relating to Oxford County ON or South-Western ON), on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

OxHS AGM – Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:30pm!

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Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year!

Please join us for the Society’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at the Woodstock Museum NHS

Tonight’s presentation: Shipwrecks on Lake Erie – From Port Dover to Port Stanley, presented by Elaine Becker
 
From Elaine: “6,000 wrecks have occurred in the Great Lakes with  175 and 200 wrecks off Long Point. Many have never been identified.  Port Dover to Port Stanley on Lake Erie, will be the focus of the presentation touching on some of the more notable stories.“

For 2024 the Oxford Historical Society will not be taking membership fees.

Thank you, and we hope to see all of you at the AGM!

If you would like your event or article published (relating to Oxford County ON or South-Western ON), on the Society’s blog please email us at info@oxhs.ca

Upcoming Presentation – Dam Busters! Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30pm

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Dam Busters 1943, photo courtesy of the Canadian Warplane Museum

Please join us for a special presentation by John Bullen, from the Canadian Warplane Museum, for the 80th Anniversary of the Dam Busters. John will discuss the daring raids launched by Bomber Command in WWII. Learn about Canadian’s involvement in these missions, crew training and the challenges that they overcame to complete their missions.

Please print and display the attached poster: OxHS Dam Busters!

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.

OxHS Presents – Dam Busters! On Wednesday, October 25, 2023

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Dam Busters 1943, photo courtesy of the Canadian Warplane Museum

Please join us for a special presentation by John Bullen, from the Canadian Warplane Museum, for the 80th Anniversary of the Dam Busters. John will discuss the daring raids launched by Bomber Command in WWII. Learn about Canadian’s involvement in these missions, crew training and the challenges that they overcame to complete their missions.

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.

OxHS Special Presentation: Woodstock Museum NHS 75th Anniversary on Wednesday, May 31, 2023!

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Please join us on Wednesday, May 31st as Karen Houston, Museum Curator, discusses the founding of the Woodstock Museum, NHS and its ties with the community and with the Oxford Historical Society.

From Karen:

“The Oxford Historical Society created a committee to oversee the founding of a museum to highlight the history of Oxford County. The committee consisted of naturalists, historians, university professors and interested citizens. The museum was incorporated in 1947 when artifacts were temporarily displayed in the county courthouse. Members of the committee worked on fundraising, preparing future exhibits, and learning museum best practises.

The committee later acquired a permanent home for the museum on the top floor of the Old Town Hall, which housed the City of Woodstock’s council chambers and mayor’s office on the main floor. Artifacts were moved into the new space and displayed for viewing.

The museum first opened on Jan. 28, 1948, on the second floor of the Old Town Hall.

Originally called the Oxford County Museum, it was renamed the Woodstock Museum in 1985 when the City of Woodstock took over operation of the museum and its collection.

Today the museum continues to reside in the Old Town Hall, which is designated as a national historic site“

Presentation on the Woodstock Museum’s 75th Anniversary will be held at the Woodstock Museum, NHS, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Doors open at 6:30pm.
This is a free event, all are welcome to attend.