Electrical generating plants began operation in most of Wellington County’s towns during the…
Valuing Our History
Harriston hosted huge political rally in 1874
An important part of 19th century political life was the big rally. Those events were something of…
Looking back at the Christmas season of 100 years ago
This is the 20th Christmas column I have written since Valuing Our History began in the old Elora…
Two English airmen killed in 1941 crash near Monck
Several years ago this column carried an account of an air crash in Eramosa Township during…
Squabbling among Irishmen escalated to a murder in 1847
Unlike some parts of Ontario, Wellington County was largely spared the violence that came to Canada…
Donkey baseball was popular attraction in mid-20th century
Donkey baseball was a popular attraction at civic gatherings a half century and more ago in the…
Corpse found near Harriston was tagged The Minto Mystery
In the late afternoon of Saturday, April 22, 1899, Peter McEachern was returning to his farm in…
Competitive speed skating became a local fad in 1899
Ice skating and hockey became popular winter pastimes in Wellington County during the 1880s and…
16-year-old youth assisted cattle thief in 1902 spree
Back in 1901, a man named John O’Donnell rented a farm in Minto at Lot 5, Concession 12, in…
Parisian Steam Laundry offered service to Wellington County
Laundry is a mundane subject, but it has an interesting history over the past century and a half.…
Downtown Fergus flour mill was burned down in 1911
Today there is a good sized parking lot in downtown Fergus, located at the rear of the library and…
Raid on Guelph novitiate drew national attention in 1918
The introduction of conscription in 1917 was the most controversial step taken by the Canadian…
Short but interesting: Three bizarre incidents from 1921
This column normally tackles topics that can be dealt with in the 1,200 or so words the editor…
Pay to county councillors was a live issue in summer of 1924
The salaries and allowances paid to county councillors have figured prominently for decades in…
Fergus council considered appealing a court decision in 1925
Through the years municipalities occasionally have been the defendants in lawsuits brought by…