Written By David Gomez
GLENCOE - The Glencoe & District Historical Society and the Glencoe Library continued their joint Spring Author Series on May 20 with a presentation by author and researcher Kae Elgie, whose talk traced “10,000 Years of Food and Agriculture in Southwestern Ontario.”
Held at the Glencoe Library, the afternoon event drew local residents interested in regional history, farming and genealogy. Mary Simpson, past president and current member of the Historical Society, introduced Elgie.
Elgie’s presentation was based on her book This Land: The Story of Two Hundred Acres in Kent County, Ontario, which examines the history of the farm where she grew up near Dresden and Dawn Mills. Using archaeological findings, census records, historical accounts and family documents, she explored how the land and its use changed over thousands of years.
“My goals for today are to share what I learned from researching the history of the farm where I grew up, inspire you to find more about the place where you live or where you grew up, and also share a few historical research tips,” Elgie told the audience.
The presentation moved through several historical periods, beginning with Paleo-Indigenous communities that lived in Southwestern Ontario after the retreat of the glaciers.
Elgie discussed archaeological evidence found near her family farm, including ancient tools and burial sites, and contrasted Indigenous relationships with the land against later settler farming practices.
She also spoke about the evolution of agriculture in Ontario, from subsistence farming and forest clearing to mechanization, industrial agriculture and modern robotics.
During one portion of the talk, Elgie reflected on the environmental cost of early settlement.
“What really broke my heart when I read these accounts… was just the burning that went on for weeks and weeks and weeks of these old growth trees just chopped down and girdled,” she said.
The Spring Author Series will continue June 18 with author Jennifer Grainger discussing her book Vanished Villages of Middlesex.
