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

May 2 – Appin Jane’s Walk

A walk exploring the Appin community and surrounding landscape. Facilitated by Dunc Hodgson & Heather Jacobs

Meet at. The Ekfrid Museum behind the community centre

This walk will invite conversation about:

The story of Appin as a rural crossroads community

Key places of gathering, past and present

Connections between land, history, and community life

Appin Community walk

May 2. Ken’s Walk – Wardsville

Join local historian Ken Willis for a guided walk through Wardsville. This walking tour highlights the history of Main Street, sharing stores of the buildings, people and events that have shaped the village. Link to fb Event: Ken’s Walk

Meet at 10 a.m. at the Wardsville Museum. Rain date is May 9, 2026

What is Jane’s Walk?

This walk is part of the global Jane’s Walk festival (https://www.janeswalk.org), a weekend of community-led walking tours held around the world.

Mar 18, 2026 – Treaty 21 and the Longwoods Treaty:

March 18, 2026June 18, 2026Glencoe & District Historical Society

A 200-Year-Old Agreement in Southwestern Ontario

Date & Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Archives, Glencoe
Guest Speaker: Mark French
Hosted by: Glencoe & District Historical Society

On March 9, 1819, representatives of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and the British Crown signed what became known as Treaty 21—the first of three written versions of the agreement now commonly called the Longwoods Treaty. This treaty set in motion a process that still shapes southwestern Ontario today.

The Longwoods Treaty covered land north of the Thames River, stretching from Strathroy and Komoka in the east to Oil Springs in the west, Bothwell in the south, and Watford in the north. While the second version (1820) repeated the same boundaries, the third version (1822) listed the land as 580,000 acres—a “rounding up” that continues to raise questions about accuracy and fairness.

Unlike earlier treaties, such as one that exchanged two million acres south of the Thames for a one-time payment of goods worth less than $5,000, Treaty 21 introduced the concept of an annuity. For the Longwoods Treaty, the Crown promised $2,400 annually, in perpetuity. While the payment is still made today, it goes into Canada’s consolidated revenue fund rather than directly to the First Nation.

Historical records also show that Indigenous leaders came to negotiations with their own vision for the future, including land for additional reserves, a blacksmith, and support for animal husbandry. Yet none of these provisions were written into the treaty.

Language and worldview also played a role in shaping outcomes. The treaty text, rooted in British legal nomenclature, could not be translated directly into Anishinaabemowin. The very concept of drawing lines on the ground to buy and sell land was foreign to the First Nations worldview, which saw the people as stewards of the land rather than owners.

As Mark French explained, Treaty 21 is more than a historical document—it is a window into the complex relationships, misunderstandings, and negotiations between Indigenous peoples and the Crown. It also raises questions about what was truly agreed to, and how responsibilities to the land continue to this day.

Mary Simpson’s piece on her Treaty Responsibilities.

For more context, you can view the official map of Ontario treaties here:
👉 Map of Ontario Treaties and Reserves.

Feb 12: Capturing Oral Histories Virtual Workshop

February 12, 2026June 10, 2026Mary Simpson

Members of the Glencoe & District Historical Society recently joined a live online presentation by Sarah Walker on the art and practice of gathering oral histories. The session was both practical and inspiring, reminding us that capturing memories is not simply about recording sound—it is about creating space for storytelling, trust, and preservation.

We learned that an oral history interview is closer to being a thoughtful radio host or podcast interviewer than a researcher reading questions from a page. Preparation matters greatly, but so does allowing conversation to unfold naturally.

Why Oral Histories Matter

Oral histories capture:

Personal experiences not found in written records
Community traditions such as foodways, farming practices, celebrations, and daily life
Emotional tone, humour, and memory that enrich archives
Stories that might otherwise be lost within a generation

Mary Simpson’s Reflections on a Live Presentation by Sarah Walker, Head of Reference Services, North Dakota State Archives. Reference: State Archives Facebook page

Peter McArthur’s beloved farm, his grave, and back to the Archives in Glencoe.

June 16, 2024June 10, 2026Glencoe & District Historical Society

Marie Williams: An impressive crowd gathered for the “Haunts of Peter McArthur” road trip Sunday afternoon, June 16, starting out at what was the McArthur homestead on McArthur Rd. before moving onto the Eddie Cemetery on Glendon Dr. and finally back to the Archives in Glencoe. Two plaques were unveiled along the way as McArthur trivia and memories were shared. Both young and more established fans of the works of the “Sage of Ekfrid,” family members and historians enjoyed the afternoon which was organized by the Glencoe and District Historical Society. The Society is marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Peter McArthur in 2024. See photos on Facebook Post.

Tartan Days 2019

July 23, 2019June 10, 2026Ken and Sharon Beecroft

Glencoe. Tartan Days in Glencoe celebrates Scottish heritage. On July 20th, our volunteers were at Glencoe’s Historic Train Station dressed in period attire, conducting free tours of this wonderful facility. We shared the history of the area and displayed interesting books, displays and artifacts. Volunteers from Backus-Page House near Wallacetown, in Elgin County, were with us with a superb visual display featuring Scottish settlement.

Our Archives were busy that day with a G & DHS yard sale fund-raising event. As it was a brutally hot day, folks visiting our sale were invited inside to cool off and look around. Thanks again to volunteers who helped that day.

Meanwhile, across the street from the Train Station, members of Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society (UTMRS) were encamped. The re-enactors gave visitors, particularly the children, an idea of what British military life in Upper Canada was like during the War of 1812. Many thanks to these volunteers who escorted our wonderful piper, along with a number of children up Main Street. (Did I mention that it was brutally hot…those guys wear wool clothing!)

The Classic Car Show, free Pancakes, BBQ’s, Thistle Contest, Children’s Fun Zone, merchant events, town wide yard sales and many other events pleased many visitors during this year’s Tartan Days.

Ken Beecroft, President, Glencoe & District Historical Society

Glencoe& District Historical Society

Community Event