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
Report from General Manager, Harold Carruthers
We currently have 69 members paid up. A tracking system exists for recording volunteer hours, and this year we documented approximately 2,350 hours. This reflects only a portion of the total contribution, as much volunteer time goes unrecorded.
This depth of commitment reflects both the passion of our volunteers and the trust placed in the Society as a steward of local heritage. We constantly seek skilled local individuals to contribute according to their interests and passions.
Norm McGill, Gerry Cross and I are working on picture albums: identifying people in the photos, mounting them on quality paper, and placing in albums. We are currently working on the McKellar, McAlpine and Carruthers families. We are looking for help identifying.
Louise Campbell has digitized our slide collection.
A sample of family research includes: Coalthard, McCutcheon, Mawhinney, Mumford, Leitch, Davidson, Mitchell, Thibideau, and Luckham.
The Executive enjoys meeting every quarter with our municipal CAO for Southwest Middlesex, Amanda Gubbels. We are the caretakers of this building and property and the municipality owns the building so we work closely on maintenance projects. This includes watching over the cemeteries that no longer have a board of directors.
Heritage Plaques and Community Engagement
The Society’s heritage plaque program remains a meaningful point of connection with the public. Community members regularly call, email, or visit the Archives to inquire about personalized plaques or gift certificates—often describing them as the “perfect gift” for those who are otherwise hard to shop for. A plaque, a package of information and a free membership to the historical society costs $150.
Plaques typically record details such as the original owner or builder, construction date, and profession, offering a tangible way to honour local history. To date, 17 plaques have been created or commissioned during the reporting period, contributing both to heritage awareness and modest earned revenue.
Stewardship of the Ken Willis Collection, Wardsville Museum
On March 13, 2025, the Glencoe & District Historical Society formally accepted custodianship of the Ken Willis Collection, housed at the Wardsville Museum (1787 Longwoods Road, Wardsville). Through a Deed of Gift and Declaration of Custodianship between Ken Willis and the G&DHS Executive, the Society acknowledged the significance of this collection and committed to its ongoing care in its current location.
The Wardsville Museum—originally built in 1880 as a bank and later serving as a tailor shop and village library—remains a vital community asset owned by the taxpayers of SWM. Denise Corneil and Ken are working together to record a series of videos that document Ken’s role in the community as Official Historian. We honour the vision and dedication of Ken and Sandi Willis to ensure that Wardsville’s photographs, documents, and artifacts remain accessible to the public for generations to come.
Glencoe Transcript & Free Press Archives, Marie Williams
Marie Williams continues her dedicated work as historian and archivist for the Glencoe Transcript & Free Press collection housed here at The Archives. She shares local history through photographs, articles, and curated content. Her consistent posting and thoughtful storytelling have significantly expanded the reach of the Society’s work.
Marie reported that the Facebook Page has 1456 followers. The average age of readership has gone down. Over the past 28 days, there have been 82,61 views. Notably, over 75% of views came from non-followers, showing that this content is reaching well beyond our immediate audience and attracting new interest in local history.
Expanded Outreach and Digital Capacity
Bill Simpson, Kellie Davenport, and Mary worked on the WordPress Website https://glencoehistoricalsociety.ca/ . The website is the place where we record our work, report on events, and share stories. It has a growing repository of information that has a good search function. There is a lot of stories and content on the website that needs to be backed up. Denise Corneil is joining the team to help sustain the website.
Bill Simpson has released new editions of our books, Houses of the Holy and Schools of our Heritage using the Amazon publishing app.
Gerry Cross – Military History and Find a Grave
I got involved in my family history about 21 years ago, looking for answers about life stories of my grandparents and the family tree. Sounds simple doesn’t it, well in that timeframe I have actually recorded 2465 people in my extended tree and still counting. That is my wife’s family in Scotland, my family from my 6th ggrand father John Cross in 1685 to Robinson Joseph Cross who immigrated with his family in 1818 from Brompton by Sawdon, York, England and landed in Nova Scotia after losing four of their children to drowning when their ship sank off the coast. My gggrandfather being born in 1820 and their movement to Lambton County.
My mother’s Dymock side from their immigration from Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland and my mother’s Goldsmith side from Eastbourne, Sussex, England and their immigration to British Columbia. This research got me involved in Find-a-Grave and my Legion involvement got me involved in tracking our Newbury WW1 and WW2 Veterans for their life story through Ancestry and the Library and Archives of Canada.
Also between Harold and myself we are in the process of obtaining grave marker plaques identifying a total of four more local Middlesex County Veterans of 1812–1814.
Working with the local libraries
With many local authors producing history books, historical fiction, and fiction rooted in local context, opportunities are emerging for joint programming that benefits both organizations. The Glencoe Library’s larger venue capacity complements the Archives, allowing for expanded audiences and more inclusive events. A joint author series has been planned for April and May 2026.
Deepening Understanding of Indigenous History and Treaties
The Society began more intentional learning around treaties and the deep time history of this region—over 13,000 years of Indigenous presence and stewardship. As part of this commitment to place-making and truth-telling, a dedicated space has been created within The Archives for an Indigenous display. A placeholder image—The King’s Beavers by Kent Monkman—signals both respect for Indigenous perspectives and an invitation for future collaboration and interpretation.
On March 18, 2026, Mark French explained history of wampum and the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Mark explained Treaty 21 as more than a historical document—it is a window into the complex relationships, misunderstandings, and negotiations between Indigenous peoples and the Crown.
Public Storytelling and the Middlesex Banner
The Society strengthened its relationship with the Middlesex Banner and editor David Gomez. Through the shared “Archive Alley” feature, both the Middlesex Centre Archives and G&DHS contribute a full page of local history (page 19) each month. Approximately 12 features per year are submitted on behalf of G&DHS, and all are archived on the Society’s website, extending their reach and preserving them for future reference.
Archive Alley page 19:
- Carrie Jeffery – Capturing Living Oral Histories (March 2025)
- Paul Langan – The Bandit of Skunks Misery (April 2025)
- Len Cuthbert – Story About a House in Rodney (May 2025)
- Kellie Davenport – Alexander Farm (June 2025)
- Brian Huis – Nicholas Bodine, Simpson Cemetery
- Bonnets and Banners (August 2025)
- Bill Simpson – St. John’s Anglican Church, Glencoe
- Stanley Knapp – Canoe Story
- Alberta Munson McFarlane Scrapbook Fond
- From Yorkshire to Ekfrid (November 2025)
- Gaelic Play in Southwest Middlesex (1st December Issue)
- Kae Elgie – 10,000 Years of Agricultural History (December 2024)
- Maria Moore – Mennonite History (January 2026)
- Russwurm & Shailer – A.W. Campbell Homestead (February 2026)
- Burwell Church Bill Simpson March 2026
Volunteers
Executive for Apr 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
Mary Simpson, President mary@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Norm McGill, Vice President norm@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Ayako Macdonald, Director ayako@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Ken Beecroft, Past President allofus2@rogers.com
Diane Jedig, Treasurer d.jedig@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Denise Corneil, Secretary denisecorneil@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Harold Carruthers coordinates a schedule of volunteer shifts during open hours, enabling steady progress on describing, organizing, and caring for archival materials. Denise Corneil enters shifts into an online Google Calendar where those covering shifts can confirm or adjust. The Archives are open Tuesdays 10 – 2 p.m; Wednesdays 2-4 and 7-9 and Saturdays 10 – 2. And it’s a fun place to be.
Managers:
Harold Carruthers, General Manager 519-857-2973 research@glencoehistoricalsociety.ca
Archives and Collections – Norm McGill
Membership Secretary – Harold Carruthers
Facebook Page – Marie Williams
Publishing – Bill Simpson
Gerry Cross – Military Research and Find a Grave
Obituaries – Ken Beecroft
Programming – Mary Simpson,
Webmaster – Tyler Thomson
Louise Campbell – cataloguing family histories
Teams:
Hospitality – Norm McGill, Maria Antunes, Erica Piercey(Event announcer), Kosta Vaklev (registration).
IT – Ayako Macdonald, Tyler Thomson, Bill Simpson
Find-a-Grave & Cemetery Care – Ken Beecroft, Gerry Cross, Harold Carruthers
The Simpson Descendants – Brian Huis, Wanda Simpson, Micheline Champagne-Johnston, Wendy Bestward, Mary Simpson, Dennis Simpson, Jan Simpson
Eddie Cemetery Board – Harold Carruthers, Ken Beecroft.
Wardsville Museum and Collections – Ken Willis, Official Historian; Denise Corneil
Appin Ekfrid Museum – Heather Jacobs, Dunc Hodgson, Marilyn MacCallum
Canada Barn Quilt Trails Denise Corneil, Mary Simpson, Diana Jedig.
Events and Activities
March 30, 2025 – A Stroll Through Time: Storytelling at Burns Presbyterian Church, Mosa
On March 30, 2025, the Glencoe & District Historical Society partnered with the congregation of Burns Presbyterian Church, Mosa, to host A Stroll Through Time, a storytelling afternoon celebrating the 190th anniversary of the church and the Kilmartin community that founded it. Through shared memories and researched accounts, participants reflected on the perseverance, faith, and community life of early settlers who established Burns Presbyterian Church. The event reinforced the Society’s commitment to place-based storytelling and to supporting rural congregations as stewards of living heritage.
April 5, 2025 – Workshop: Capturing Living Oral Histories
On April 5, 2025, G&DHS hosted a hands-on workshop at The Archives focused on capturing living oral histories before those opportunities are lost. Facilitated by Carrie Jeffery, the workshop inspired participants to record their own stories and those of parents and elders. Carrie shared her personal experience using the Storyworth platform to document her father’s life, demonstrating how digital tools can reduce the technical burden while preserving the intimacy and beauty of storytelling. The session aligned closely with the Society’s archival mandate, encouraging community members to see themselves as active contributors to the historical record.
April 16, 2025 – Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting for the fiscal year April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 was held in person on April 16, 2025, at The Archives, with 25 members in attendance. The meeting reviewed organizational activities, financial statements, and governance matters, and provided an opportunity for members to reflect on the Society’s progress and priorities. Detailed report.
April 19, 2025 – Author Reading: Mercy by Emma Stack
On April 19, 2025, G&DHS was honoured to host a soft launch and author reading for Mercy, the fourth novel by Emma Stack and the third in her War of 1812 series. Held at The Archives on Easter Saturday, the event was attended by Emma’s family and community members, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere. The evening highlighted the Society’s ongoing support for local authors and historical fiction as an accessible and engaging way to connect contemporary audiences with Canada’s past.
May 7, 2025 – The Bandit of Skunk’s Misery
On May 7, 2025, Paul Langan presented a compelling talk on the legend of Orval Shaw, known as The Bandit of Skunk’s Misery. Delivered at The Archives with a simultaneous Zoom option, the presentation explored folklore, local crime legends, and the ways such stories shape regional identity.
May 10, 2025 – Simpson Cemetery Cleanup
On May 10, 2025, descendants of the Simpson family worked in collaboration with the Municipality to carry out a cleanup of Simpson Cemetery. This hands-on stewardship activity demonstrated the importance of descendant engagement and municipal partnership in caring for historic burial grounds. The effort contributed to the preservation of an important heritage site while strengthening relationships between families, volunteers, and local government.
May 31 – June 1, 2025 – Wartime Homefront, Backus-Page House Museum
On May 31 and June 1, 2025, members of G&DHS attended Wartime Homefront at the Backus-Page House Museum in Wallacetown. This immersive, family-friendly event transported visitors to Canada during the First and Second World Wars through interactive exhibits and activities.
June 7, 2025 – Attendance at Play by Len Cuthbert
On June 7, 2025, members attended a theatrical production by Len Cuthbert at the Strathroy-Caradoc community venue. Supporting local theatre and playwrights aligns with the Society’s broader interest in storytelling, cultural expression, and the preservation of intangible heritage through performance.
June 11, 2025 – Virtual Tour: Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History
On June 11, 2025, G&DHS hosted a virtual Zoom tour of the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History at The Archives. Museum staff guided participants through historic buildings and grounds while sharing stories of freedom seekers who crossed into Canada via the Underground Railroad. The tour included reflections from a descendant of these courageous individuals and deepened understanding of early Black presence in Ontario, reinforcing the Society’s commitment to inclusive and truthful history.
June 19, 2025 – Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum Tour
On June 19, 2025, members joined a private tour of the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, a unique collection owned by Mr. and Mrs. Nordermeer and organized by the Strathroy & District Historical Society. The visit fostered regional collaboration and highlighted the value of privately held collections in preserving specialized aspects of material culture.
June 22, 2025 – Decoration Day at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Napier
On June 22, 2025, G&DHS promoted and supported the annual Decoration Day service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Napier. Organized by the local community, this long-standing tradition honours ancestors and maintains continuity with historic rural worship practices. The Society’s involvement helped broaden awareness and attendance while respecting community leadership.
July 17, 2025 – Executive & Member Session with Neil Johnson and Antony Upward
On July 17, 2025, G&DHS Executive members welcomed Neil Johnson and Antony Upward to a session focused on organizational sustainability and innovation. Antony’s presentation laid groundwork for later strategic work using the Flourishing Business Canvas. Neil Johnson told us about recent developments in his marketing business and told us how to lift up our storytelling and history sharing for broader interest and appeal.
July 19, 2025 – Glencoe Tartan Days 2025
During Tartan Days on July 19, 2025, G&DHS operated two heritage kiosks as well as welcoming people to The Archives. This high-visibility community event provided opportunities to share local history, engage new audiences, and showcase archival resources in a festive, accessible setting.
July 20, 2025 – Alexander Family Farm & Homestead Tour
On July 20, 2025, Kellie and her father Alexander Davenport, hosted an open house the Alexander Family Farm and Homestead near Melbourne. Participants explored the circa-1870 farm, now in its sixth generation of continuous family operation. The tour highlighted agricultural heritage, continuity of land stewardship, barn architecture, and the lived experience of Scottish settler families.
September 18, 2025 – Bonnets and Bayonets: Women and the War of 1812
On September 18, 2025, a full house gathered at The Archives for Bonnets and Bayonets, a presentation by Emma Stack examining the overlooked roles of women during the War of 1812. The talk explored both well-known figures and the under-recorded lives of soldiers’ wives and families, addressing the challenges of researching and presenting this history and underscoring why it matters today.
September 19–20, 2025 – Glencoe Fair Display
During the Glencoe Fair on September 19 and 20, 2025, Harold Carrithers and Norm McGill, with support from Society members, curated a heritage display. Harold and Norm judge the antique collections. The exhibit strengthened the Society’s public outreach and reinforced the Fair as an important venue for local history engagement. Kudos to the Agricultural Society for a beautiful fair. Every year it is tweaked, improved, and kept current with the times without losing its country charm and heritage.
September 21, 2025 – Presbyterian Heritage Centre Open House
On September 21, 2025, members attended the launch and open house of the Presbyterian Heritage Centre in North Middlesex.
September 25, 2025 – Book Launch: Behind the Bricks
On September 25, 2025, Mary Simpson attended the launch of Behind the Bricks: The Life and Times of the Mohawk Institute at the London Museum. The important book brings together Indigenous and settler voices, archival research, and survivor testimony to examine the layered history of the Mohawk Institute.
October 16, 2025 – Members Meeting & Launch of the Publishing Circle
At the October 16, 2025 Members Meeting, G&DHS formally established a Publishing Circle and approved $2,000 in seed funding in the 2026 budget. The decision marked a significant step toward moving local research, manuscripts, and stories into print, ensuring long-term preservation and wider access to community history.
October 22, 2025 – Building a Cenotaph for the Fallen
On October 22, 2025, Blair Ferguson and Colin McGugan presented Building a Cenotaph for the Fallen at The Archives. The presentation told the story behind Dutton-Dunwich’s long-overdue cenotaph, honouring local men who died in the First and Second World Wars, including Victoria Cross recipient Ellis Wellwood Sifton. The event highlighted citizen-led remembrance and historical accountability.
November 8, 2025 – Archival Donation: Bertie McFarlane Scrapbook
On November 8, 2025, Caroline Gough and her daughter, Betty Ann Carr, formally donated the Bertie McFarlane scrapbook fonds to The Archives. This significant contribution was one of several important archival donations received during the year, enriching the Society’s collections and preserving irreplaceable community records. For now, the extensive fond will remain at Caroline’s home.
November 11, 2025 – Remembrance Day
On November 11, 2025, G&DHS members attended Remembrance Day ceremonies in Glencoe, Newbury, and Dutton, despite challenging weather conditions caused by a heavy snow squall from Lake Huron. Our members honoured local veterans and reinforced the Society’s role in civic remembrance by laying a wreath.
November 15–16, 2025 – June Journey / Turas an Ògmhìos
The Glencoe & District Historical Society proudly sponsored June Journey / Turas an Ògmhìos, a Gaelic play written by Trevor Aitken and performed at the historic Tait’s Corners Schoolhouse. Three sold-out performances drew enthusiastic audiences and showcased the power of language, memory, and place in telling regional stories.
November 17, 2025 – County Archives study
On November 17, 2025, representatives from archival and heritage organizations across Middlesex County met with newly appointed CAO Paul Shipway. On November 25, 2025, Middlesex County Council passed a motion to undertake a feasibility study toward establishing a County Archives. Mayor Mayhew has expressed support for a County Archives. The study should be completed in 2026. Work first began on this project in 2002.
November 19, 2025 –Maria Moore Lecture
Over 40 people attended Maria Moore’s lecture on the Old Colony Mennonite experience at Glencoe Presbyterian Church, demonstrating strong community interest in complex migration histories.
Feb 12 – Capturing Oral Histories Virtual Workshop
Members participated in a virtual workshop led by Sarah Walker of the North Dakota State Archives, gaining practical guidance on conducting and preserving oral history interviews. The session emphasized storytelling as conversation, ethical considerations, and the importance of capturing lived experiences to enrich local archives.
Feb 18 – The Highgate Mastodon with Tom Chase
Members attended an on-line virtual presentation by Tom Chase of the North Dakota Heritage Center, exploring the discovery and significance of the Highgate Mastodon. The talk connected Ice Age history to local heritage, complementing the mastodon tooth held in the Archives collection and deepening understanding of prehistoric Southwestern Ontario.
Feb 24 – Ancestry Junk Journaling Workshop
Held in partnership with the 162 on Main Art Collective, this hands-on workshop welcomed guest instructor Lori Watson, who guided participants in creating personal journals using repurposed materials. The session combined creativity and storytelling, encouraging participants to explore family history and memory-keeping in an informal and expressive format.
March 26 – Battle Hill Memorial
Following a difficult weekend during which the world held its breath, a crowd of well over 50 bundled up and gathered at the Battle Hill cairn on Sunday afternoon for a ceremony honouring those who fought in the Battle of the Longwoods some 211 years ago. The ceremony was led by members of the Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society. Politicians and members of various groups, families and organizations laid wreaths to honour the fallen in this, the only conflict of the War of 1812 to take place in Middlesex County.
Supporting Private Collections & Independent Curators
The Glencoe & District Historical Society recognizes that some of the most rare and irreplaceable aspects of our cultural heritage are preserved not in large institutions, but through the lifelong dedication of private collectors.
The McEachren Collection @ Forty-87
The McEachren Collection @ Forty-87 is an extraordinary private museum curated by local historian and collector Dave McEachren. Inspired at the age of ten after seeing fellow farm boys display their toy collections at the Glencoe Fair, Dave made a deliberate choice to stop “playing in the dirt” with his farm toys and begin collecting them instead. Decades later, that childhood spark has matured into a world-class collection and a publicly accessible museum.
The McEachren Collection @ Forty-87 features more than 40 full-size tractors, thousands of farm toy models, and tens of thousands of pieces of memorabilia and sales literature, with a particular emphasis on John Deere equipment and local dealer history. The collection documents not only machinery, but also the evolution of agricultural technology, marketing, rural labour, and farm life in southwestern Ontario. G&DHS values this collection as an important complement to institutional archives and sees private museums such as Forty-87 as essential partners in safeguarding stories that might otherwise be lost.
Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum (Nordermeer Collection)
On June 19, 2025, G&DHS members participated in a private tour of the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum, an extraordinary collection owned and curated by Mr. and Mrs. Nordermeer and organized by the Strathroy & District Historical Society.
These instruments reflect the intersection of craftsmanship, engineering, entertainment, and domestic life, offering insight into how music was produced and experienced before the age of electronic amplification and digital media. Such collections require deep technical knowledge, patience, and sustained care—qualities exemplified by the Nordermeers’ stewardship.
Work with other organizations:
Objective – build close, working relationships with all our local groups, our regional heritage groups, and the elected reps and staff people of Southwest Middlesex, Newbury and County of Middlesex.
We do our best to support other cultural and heritage groups in our district:
- Your Wardsville – Wardsville Museum – Official Historian Ken Willis
- Appin Ekfrid Museum – Heather Jacobs, Dunc Hodgson, Marilyn MacCallum
- A Split Village at a Crossroad, Melbourne, Ontario. JoAnn Lucas Galbraith
- Tyrconnell Heritage Society – Backus Page House and Museum
- Committee to Establish a Middlesex County Archives
- Burns Presbyterian Church – Mosa
- Glencoe Comprehensive Library
- Ontario Historical Society
- London & Middlesex Historical historical Society
- London & MIddlesex Branch – Ontario Genealogical Society. Strathroy & District Historical Society – great monthly programs.
- Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society. They organize the annual memorial in early March every year.
- Chippewa of the Thames cultural staff
- History Symposium – monthly events.
- Municipality of Southwest Middlesex
- United Empire Loyalists
- Royal Canadian Legion Reg Lovell Br 219, Glencoe
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 510, Melbourne
- Words – by Josh Lambier. Monthly author series often featuring authors who write historical fiction and local histories.
