One of the more bizarre political campaigns in the history of this county was that of Joel Marvin…
Valuing Our History
Needs during First World War resulted in revival of flax growing
The history of flax growing in Wellington County is a sporadic one. In the 1870s a number of…
Alma flax mill destroyed by fire in February,1921; ends industry here
Flax raising and processing – both for the fibre and for the production of linseed oil…
Superior Knitting Company did not enjoy good relations in Mount Forest
This is the second of a two-part column on the stormy history of the Superior Knitting Company in…
Draconian measures employed during the anti-booze wars of the 1920s
This column has dealt several times with the increasingly draconian steps taken by the provincial…
Andrew Spalding was a notable man in Elora’s early history
Kinship ties and family connections, and old-country friendships played major roles in emigration…
A glimpse into the family of railway baron J.J. Hill of Rockwood
Back about five years this column outlined the early life of James J. Hill, the American railway…
Fergus Fur Farms was a successful venture for two Fergus men
This column has on several occasions dealt with aspects of the Beatty Brothers firm in Fergus. That…
East Luther man jailed for theft of horses in 1931
On the morning of Christmas Eve in 1930 James Robb, a farmer who lived near Cumnock, went out to…
Fergus mill made oat flour for Cheerios, other brands
The following is a re-print of a past column by former Advertiser columnist Stephen Thorning, who…
Relocated railway station doomed Hustonville
From time to time, this column has offered short histories of some of the hamlets of…
Beaten candidate tried to unseat Arthur’s 1908 reeve
In the early decades of Wellington County, disputes over election results were so common as to…
Notorious woman criminal died at House of Industry
Gangs of criminals in rural and isolated areas were a feature of life in old Upper Canada in…
Woman shot Palmerston hotel clerk in 1933
One cool Monday morning of June 12, 1933, a woman with a pillow case filled with some personal…
Major drought of 1864 resulted in many major fires
Weather historians state that dry, hot summers have become more common in recent years, but the…