Our Local Mastodons

April 30, 2026June 18, 2026Glencoe & District Historical Society

The Mayfair Mastodon

Glencoe Transcript, October 30, 1890: The bones of another Mastodon have been found on the farm of T. Jones, at. While plowing on Wednesday, the head, upper jaw, three teeth and one rib of a mastodon were ounearthed. The rib is 4 ft in length and the teeth are 3 in wide and 6 in long.. The parties are still digging, and additional discoveries are expected.

A Bit of History about the Mosa Mastodon

… by Glennda (WATSON) Dupuis, 2024

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Watson, along with their two sons, Edward and James, came from Ompah, Ontario (in Frontenac County in eastern Ontario) in 1919. Andrew purchased a farm on the C.P.R. Road in Mosa Township (northerly half of Lot #8, Third Concession, Mosa Township) from Mr. George Innes.

Andrew and Elizabeth resided on this farm until Andrew’s death in 1947. James purchased the farm from his mother and resided there with his wife, Dora, until 1956, when they sold and moved into the town of Glencoe. Their children were Clara, Morley, and Glenn. I am Glenn’s daughter and James’ granddaughter.

In 1939, while plowing a drained bog on his farm, James unearthed two giant teeth which were later confirmed to be those of a mastodon. Each tooth weighed approximately 4.5 lbs (just over 2 kg) and measured approximately 7.5 inches by 4 inches.

Other bones were found on the site and were described by James as being “as far round as a football.” These were believed to be leg bones. Unfortunately, not being well versed in the preservation of fossils and not truly understanding what he had discovered, the process used to unearth these other bones resulted in them falling into pieces.

Ina’s Penny Bank: A Small Object, A Larger Story

April 19, 2026June 8, 2026Glencoe & District Historical Society

By Mary Simpson

Brantford; On April 13, 2026, David Nelms and Mary Simpson travelled to Brantford, Ontario, to visit the Woodland Cultural Centre, located on the grounds of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School.

In their care was a small metal penny bank—simple in form, worn with age, and carrying with it the memory of a life.

The bank belonged to Jemima “Ina” Simpson Nelms, who passed away in the summer of 2025 at just over 100 years old. As a child growing up in rural Southwestern Ontario, Ina attended St. John’s Anglican Church in Glencoe. She received the penny tin through her Sunday School program known as “The Little Helpers.” She would save her pennies and drop them into the slot, believing—as she had been taught—that the money would help “the little Indian children.”

Printed on the surface are images of children from around the world, as they were depicted at the time, along with a short prayer: “God bless all the missionaries all over the world, and all the little helpers, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.” Strangely, the handsome North American Indigenous boy is standing aloof from the group. Jesus has his back to him and the child is not part of the group – he’s just watching.

The Little Helpers of the Sunday School. Penny bank sponsored by the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Anglican Church of Canada. The Indian child stands apart from the group of children talking to Jesus.

April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 in review

April 12, 2026June 10, 2026Glencoe & District Historical Society

Glencoe & District Historical Society– Annual General Meeting for 2025 – 2026

President’s Report, Mary Simpson

Prepared for the AGM April 15, 2026– 7:00 p.m. Nineteen in attendance.
The ARCHIVES, 178 McKellar St., Glencoe

Founded in 1978, the Glencoe & District Historical Society (G&DHS) was established to preserve and share the rich history of Southwestern Ontario, with a particular focus on the Glencoe area.

We are supported by a dedicated group of officers, directors, and managers—those remarkable volunteers who have taken on defined roles. Their commitment is the foundation of our work. General Manager Harold Carruthers and Vice President Norm McGill keep it all going, providing steady operational oversight, community presence, and mentorship to volunteers.

Mary Simpson’s report, Outgoing President

As I complete my two-year term as President, I do so with deep appreciation for the strength of this organization and the people who sustain it. I am pleased to be moving into the role of Past President, and to welcome Norm McGill as incoming President.

When I stepped into this role, I had a few simple hopes. I wanted the Historical Society to feel like a safe and welcoming place—where people could show up as themselves, and where we support each other in the work we care about. I wanted us to be inclusive, to open the door wider, and to recognize that everyone here has something valuable to contribute.

I also saw this Society as part of something bigger. Not just one organization, but part of a whole network of heritage work happening across our district—our museums, our libraries, our local historians, our community groups. Over the past couple of years, I think we’ve taken real steps toward connecting those dots, building relationships, and working more collaboratively.

At the heart of it, my goal has been to help us grow as a community-based organization—one that is rooted in the principles of community development. That means sharing leadership, supporting volunteers, encouraging initiative, and trusting people to step forward and take on meaningful roles. And we’ve seen that happen. Thank you, everyone—for your time, your energy, and your commitment to this community and its history.

This work doesn’t belong to any one person—it belongs to all of you. I’m very grateful for the chance to serve as President, and I’m looking forward to continuing in a supporting role as Past President. Norm, I know you’ll do a wonderful job, and I’m here to support you and the team however I can. – Mary Simpson

My Treaty Responsibilities –

April 6, 2026August 19, 2026Mary Simpson

by Mary Simpson, Old River Farm, Mosa Township, Treaty 21.

Attending Mark French’s presentation at the Glencoe and District Historical Society (18 March 2026) felt like waking up to a responsibility I had never fully acknowledged. Mark, an Elder from Deshkan Ziibiing (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) and husband of our G&DHS treasurer Diana Jedig, spoke about treaties not as dry legal relics but as living relationships.

As a farmer and settler whose family names – Simpson, Moorehouse, Pearce, McEachran, Stalker – are written into this land, his words left me moved. We begin meetings with a land acknowledgement, yet what follows? Learning about the treaties themselves, understanding how they were made in good faith, and recognizing the complex histories and losses Indigenous peoples have endured are our next steps. This piece is my attempt to articulate what I learned.