Category: Archive Alley

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives What you are about to read is a story about a community-inspired project… and forethought and planning, or the lack there of.Ilderton had…

Written By Harold Carruthers and Natasha Kalita A new commemorative book, The History of the Glencoe Fair, 1848–2026, brings together 178 years of agricultural, social and community history, preserving the…

Written By Beverly Hughes, Middlesex Centre Archives Beginning in 1851, the London Township Agricultural Society held fairs each Spring and Fall. The Spring Fair’s purpose was to encourage the importation…

Written By Denise Pelley The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Chapel at Fanshawe Pioneer Village is one of the most significant surviving landmarks of Black history in Southwestern Ontario. Originally built…

Written By Krista Taylor, Archivist, Middlesex Centre Archives It is not uncommon in modern times to only have “family reunions” at funerals. Phrases such as “we have to stop meeting…

Written By Donna Costa The death of Jumbo the elephant in an 1885 train accident shocked the world. The story of his tragic demise in St. Thomas, Ontario, is still…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Boundary Communities of Lobo and Delaware Townships Kilworth, the oldest community in Middlesex County, straddled both Lobo and Delaware Townships on the Thames…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Former Lobo TownshipCommunitiesForgotten Communities Amiens, has had three different locations before it disappeared around 1840, shortly after it was bypassed by a road…

Written By Ian Mason Nestled in the cemetery in the hamlet of Carlisle, 6 kms east of Ailsa Craig, is the Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre (PCHC). It contains the national…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Communities that still exist within the former London Township have retained some of their former prominence and are hubs of activities. Others have…

Written By Jenny Grainger Western Middlesex – in fact, all of Southwestern Ontario - was once covered with pioneer villages that faded in the twentieth century. Often, we see reminders…

Written By Krista Taylor, Middlesex Centre Archives The Middlesex Centre Archives (MCA) will be hosting its annual Heritage Fair on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.…

Written By Bill Simpson On one of my earliest explorations when I moved down to this area last year, I took the Burwell Road from Longwoods (a couple of kilometers…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives The Municipality of Middlesex Centre comprises the former Middlesex County townships of London, Lobo Delaware and part of Westminster. Among those townships, no…

Written By Kathryn Shailer, Friends of Campbell Park The story of the Campbell family of Alvinston is the history of Scottish settlement in SW Ontario in the mid 19th century.…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives When one thinks of Valentine’s Day, romance, chocolates, cards and flowers come to mind. From stories of St. Valentines (there were several) to…

Author Maria Moore shares historical insights and herpersonal story at Glencoe Presbyterian Church. The Old Colony Mennonite story stretches across continents and centuries—a journey shaped by faith, identity, and the…

Written By Sid Prior, Middlesex Centre Archives William Henry Fonger was the son of Alfred (Alf) Fonger and Mary Jane Lipsett, but went by Harry most of his life. He…

Written By Kae Elgie For many of us, December brings thoughts of Christmas feasts from our past. We hunt up favourite recipes, place orders for fresh Christmas fowl, bake treats…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Every family celebrates holidays based on tradition and what is currently in vogue. Often those traditions have roots in the “Old Country”, and…

Written By Kellie Davenport As our Uber approached the stately manor house at Grimston Park, a historic North Yorkshire estate about 25 minutes west of York, the size of the…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Often, in wartime, our thoughts turn to the horrors, suffering and grief. However, the arts had a role to play. Soldiers in the…

Written By Mary Simpson & Ron McRae When Ron McRae first began researching how to build a cedar strip canoe, it was during the COVID outbreak and at the urging…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives November 11th is fast approaching. With that our thoughts turn to the promise of hope for lasting world peace. Today, once again that…

Written By Bill Simpson St John’s Anglican sits at the heart of Glencoe at the junction of Main St and Concession Drive, a corner it shares with the Presbyterian and…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives “Mommy, do we have anyone there?” asked a chorus of little voices from the back seat of the car as we passed by…

Written By Emma Stack There is never a doubt that a soldier marching obediently into a volley of musket fire is a hero. An army surgeon, his white apron stained…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives Many of those churches that have remained open have a long history. Most went through transformations from log, to frame to brick, with…

Written By Brian Huis Cemeteries can serve as public parks, providing green spaces and a sense of place as well as cultural and historical context for local communities. Many graveyards,…

Written By Carol Small, Middlesex Centre Archives According to Delaware and Westminster Townships Honouring Our Roots Volume 1, many of their churches have closed their doors. In fact, the village…