The Wellington County Historical Society is once again holding its annual essay contest.
This year’s topic is My Favourite Place in Wellington County, a theme of interest for people of all ages. Again this year, awards will be presented in youth and adult categories with winners being announced at the annual general meeting in early June.
The contest dates to the beginning of the Historical Society. The accumulated essay collection, the earliest is from 1933, is located at the Wellington County Museum and Archives. Archivist Karen Wagner noted, “With hundreds of essays written over 75 or more years on a variety of topics now held in the archives, this compiled collection is a wonderful addition to the county’s colourful history. It provides an ongoing and personal picture of life in Wellington County over many years.”
The contest is open to all ages. Steve Revell, past president of the Wellington County Historical Society and coordinator of the contest, noted, “Past contests have seen strong interest from young and old alike.” He added, “School age children are excited to be able to participate in this writing contest outside the school setting, and some teachers have even made it a class writing project within the classroom or home school setting. At the same time parents and grandparents are happy to share memories of times gone by.”
Essays need to be between 500 and 2,000 words. They should be typed and double spaced but hand written entries are acceptable. The deadline is April 14, and essays should be mailed to the Wellington County Historical Society, P.O. Box 5, Fergus, ON N1M 2W7. Essays become the property of the Wellington County Historical Society and are permanently stored in the County Archives located midway between Fergus and Elora.
Now in its eighth decade, the mandate of the society is to preserve, illuminate, and publicize the history of Wellington County. Through its ongoing work, its members, and many others in the community, the County Museum and Archives is enhanced and fostered through public awareness of the rich history and heritage of Wellington County.
