Otonabee Township, Peterborough County, is bounded on the north by Douro Township, on the south by Rice Lake and the Otonabee River, on the west by the Otonabee River, and on the east by Asphodel Township. Otonabee township was first surveyed in 1819 and, in the same year, was settled on by George Kent. Captain Charles Rubidge also visited the township in 1819 and he returned with his family for permanent settlement in May 1820. Numerous other settlers also came to Otonabee in 1820 (approximately 23 men, some with families, some single). By 1825, 51 emigrant families, mainly from the south of Ireland, were added to the residents of Otonabee Township. These emigrants were some of the many emigrants led to Upper Canada by the Honourable Peter Robinson under the auspices of the British Government. In 1825, Dr. Gilchrist opened a grist mill and during the winter of 1829/1830, a general store was opened, both in the town of Keene. After the opening of the mill, there was an influx of settlers into the Otonabee region. By the 1861 census, the total population of Otonabee township was 4221, made up of the following nationalities: Irish (759), English (289), Scottish (412), American (37), Upper Canada (2684), Lower Canada (30), and other countries (10).
The Quebec Camping Association Inc. was formed in 1937 and is a chartered unit of the Canadian Camping Association.The Quebec Camping Association is made up of individuals, representatives of agencies and institutions interested in the development of organized camping in the Province of Quebec. The membership includes camping directors, camp staff, institutional and agency directors, and others who are interested in or associated with camping. All types of camps (private, church, school, organizational and institutional, long and short term and day camps) are represented by the Association.The Quebec Camping Association's objectives are furthering the welfare and interests of children and adults through camping as an educative and recreative experience; raising the standard of camping practices and to be the voice of camp leaders by interpreting camping to parents, educators, the legislature and the public.(Taken from: The Quebec Camping Association)
During World War II, atomic bombs were used to attack Japan by the United States of America. Hiroshima was bombed on 6 August 1945 and Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. These were the first atomic bombs to be used in warfare. Two hundred and forty thousand Japanese civilians died.
The land which is now Peterborough County was originally part of Newcastle District before 1841, and the Colbourne District until 1850, the year when districts were replaced by counties in Upper Canada. At this time the United Counties of Peterborough and Victoria was created. In 1861, Victoria County was given independence from Peterborough. Peterbourgh County is made up of the following townships: Galway, Cavendish, Anstruther, Chandos, Harvey, Burleigh, Methuen, Ennismore, Smith, Douro, Dummer, Belmont, North Monaghan, Otonabee, and Asphodel. (taken from Illustrated Historical Atlas of Peterborough County 1825-1875. Peterborough: The Peterborough Historical Atlas Foundation Inc., 1975.)
The Steering Committee on Bikeways was approved by Peterborough City Council in April 1975. The Peterborough Bikeway Report, published in February 1975, summarizes the interest in and potential of developed bicycle paths around Peterborough. The City Council undertook to subsidize the planning and implementation of routes in the city.
St. Anne's Parish was established in 1956 at 859 Barnardo Avenue in Peterborough, Ontario. The Parish had the St. Anne's Catholic Women's League, sports activities such as hockey and softball leagues and the St. Anne's Boy Scout Association. They organized fun fairs and picnics. St. Anne's School was nearby for the parishioners to use.
The Royal Commission on the Northern Environment (Ontario) was established 13 July 1977 by an Order-in-Council of the Ontario Cabinet. The Commission was established pursuant to The Public Inquiries Act of 1971 and furthering the purpose of The Environmental Assessment Act of 1975 which dealt with the betterment of the people, of the whole or any part of Ontario, by providing for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of the environment. It was created to inquire into any beneficial and adverse effects on the environment for the people of Ontario of any public or private enterprise north of the 50th parallel of north latitude relating to harvesting, supply and use of timber resources, mining, milling, smelting, oil and gas extraction, hydro-electric development, nuclear power development, water use, tourism and recreation, transportation, communications or pipelines. The Commission also inquired into methods that should be used in the future to assess, evaluate and make decisions concerning the effects on the environment of major enterprises and to report and make recommendations to the Minister of the Environment from time to time and to carry out the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act of 1975. The Commission gathered information by holding informal meetings in communities such as Timmins, Geraldton, Nakina, Moosonee, Moose Factory, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Red Lake, Ear Falls, Pickle Lake, Osnaburgh, Sandy Lake, Kenora, Whitedog and Toronto. The purpose of these meetings was to gather information about the north, its people, its communities and resources by means of submissions from government departments, northern communities, northern residents and a wide range of organizations and enterprises with experience and knowledge of the north of Ontario. The Commission also heard submissions relating to issues that it needed to address, the roles it should play and the manner in which its inquiries were to be conducted. Submissions ranged from women and health services to trappers and methanol production. There were community and native people historical surveys as well as community and business officials' responses to reports published by the Commission.
Smith-Ennismore Historical Society was formed in 1983 and incorporated in 1985. The Society actively publishes historical works on the local area and provides research assistance to genealogists and school children.
The Conference on the State of English Language Publishing in Canada was sponsored by Trent University's Cultural Studies Program. Held in 1975 at the University on January 24 and 25 it had writers, teachers, publishers and librarians who attended, presented and discussed papers on a variety of subjects. Each delegate at the conference was assigned a student as a guide and host. Secretary of State, Hugh Faulkner gave the opening address and speech to the delegates. Out of the conference was the founding of the Canadian Book and Periodical Development Council. (Taken from: Cole, A.O.C. "Trent the Making of a University, 1957-1987." Trent University, 1992.)
The Toronto Trade Assembly was a labour organization established in Toronto, Ontario, in 1871. In February 1871 the Coopers International Union No. 3 appointed a committee of three men: Mr. John Hewitt, Mr. E.S. Gooch, and Mr. James Judge to confer with the various organized Societies of Workingmen of the City of Toronto for the purpose of discussing the question of forming a Central Body to be known as the Toronto Trades Assembly. On March 27, 1871 a meeting of delegates from several unions of the City of Toronto took place. The unions involved in the initial meeting included Lodges no's. 159, 315 and 356 of the Knights of St. Crispen, the Bakers' Union, the Cigar Makers' Union, the Iron Moulders' Union, the Coopers' Union, and the Typographers' Union. On April 12, 1871, it was unanimously carried by all of the union representatives that the Toronto Trades Assembly be formed. It was also decided that non-union shops be allowed to join the Assembly. By 1872, 27 unions had joined the Assembly representing the following trades: wood working, building, carriage making, and metal making, as well as several miscellaneous trades. The Toronto Trades Assembly was active in speaking on behalf of the working people of the community, encouraging union organization, acting as a watchdog on working conditions, and occasionally mediating disputes between employers and employees. No record of the Toronto Trades Assembly exists after 1878. Three years later a successor organization, the Toronto Trades and Labour Council, was formed in July, 1881 to carry on the work begun by the Assembly. This new organization was also instrumental in setting up the Canadian Labour Congress in 1883. The present Toronto and District Labour Council is a direct descendant of the Toronto Trades Assembly.
The Tourism Development Through Recreation Events was a project which commenced from July 1981 and ended April 1982. The project aimed at determining the tourist potential of recreational events in both the City and County of Peterborough.The idea for the project was developed during the 1980 Ontario Summer Games. The impact of the Games, within the region, and across the province, was quite considerable in terms of drawing attention to the importance of recreational activities for the local tourism industry. The general objectives of the program were: 1) To provide an opportunity to consider the impact that recreational events of a regional nature have on the local tourist industry; 2) To become more deliberate in the planning of recreational events that are of tourist appeal; 3) To determine the number, type and scale of recreation-tourist events; 4) To provide resource material for organizations interested in giving this tourism component more serious consideration; and 5) To increase the tourist potential of many existing events through this project. As a result of the project, a twelve month planning calendar was created which outlined upcoming events. Also a series of recommendations were brought forth concerning the creation of a new Peterborough Kawartha Tourism Convention, the yearly production of the planning calendar, that a clearing house of local tourist accommodations be created, and that the new Bureau conduct regular meetings to keep local organizers of tourist and recreational events up to date and organized.
The Save Maple Mountain Committee was created for the purpose of stopping the development of a proposed ski resort in the Maple Mountain - Lady Evelyn wilderness area north of North Bay, Ontario in 1973.
The Trent Valley Navigation Company, Bobcaygeon, Ontario, was incorporated in 1883. Mossom Martin (Mossie) Boyd was the president of the company and he and his brother William owned nearly all of the stock. The company consisted of a fleet of a half dozen steamboats which operated along the waterways surrounding Bobcaygeon, carrying passengers and freight from Lindsay to Coboconk, Sturgeon Point, Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon. At Lindsay there was a connection with the Grand Trunk Railway. In the most productive years (after the turn of the century) revenue was almost evenly divided between passenger and freight transportation. The Company closed in 1915, precipitated by the death of Mossom Boyd the previous year.
The Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) was founded in 1973 at Queen's University as a Pan-Canadian, non-profit organization which sought to promote a knowledge of Canada at the post-secondary level through teaching, research, and publications. A founding member of the International Council for Canadian Studies, the ACS is also a member of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and the Social Science Federation of Canada. The objectives of the Association was to promote multidisciplinary and comparative perspectives, and to encourage exchanges and co-operation between the numerous programs, centres, study groups, institutes and other organizations working in the field of Canadian, Quebec, and regional studies.
The Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) was founded in 1977 at Churchill, Manitoba and legally incorporated in March, 1987. The main founder of the Association was Professor Trevor Lloyd. Members include Universities across Canada, of which Trent University is one, that have an interest in Northern Studies. The Association does four types of work. It offers mutual assistance among member-universities in research, shared use of facilities, interchange of staff and students, the provision and use of libraries, preparation of bibliographies etc.; provision of assistance to northern residents through research, teacher training and higher education; makes available the knowledge, skills and services of universities to the Governments of Canada, the Provinces and Territories and to industry and the community at large; and, contributes towards Canada's international commitments for scientific information and research on the polar regions and increasing the exchange of scholars, students and information between polar countries. (Taken from: ACUNS - AUCEN Constitution and By-laws, 1979, page i.) The association has held annual conferences since 1979 at Chicoutimi, Quebec (1979), Trent University (1980), Calgary, Alberta (1981), Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario (1982) and at Regina in Saskatchewan (1983).
The Peterborough Community Concert Association was formally established in 1942 when the Peterborough Music Club joined Community Concerts of America, Inc. It was formed under the leadership of Dr. J.J. Craig, a well known Peterborough dentist, and a group of business people interested in bringing outstanding musical talent to Peterborough. The objectives of the Association were to "build and maintain through nonprofit plan a permanent concert audience on a strictly membership basis; to cultivate in the citizens of Peterborough and its surrounding area interest in good music; to provide for its members an opportunity to hear good music in the form of concerts and recitals, of which there will be a minimum of three presented annually; and to foster and encourage public appreciation of music and the teaching of music, history of music, and music appreciation in the schools of Peterborough and its surrounding area." Peterborough did have a concert association which existed before 1942, but unfortunately, all written records of this association have been lost. Over the years, the Peterborough Community Concert Association was able to bring many big name artists and groups to Peterborough including Ephriam Zimbalist, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Liona Boyd. In 1987, the Peterborough Community Concert Association broke its ties with Community Concerts of America, Inc. due to high commissions and the high American dollar and comparatively low Canadian dollar. The Peterborough Concert Association was the result of this split and it has continued to function effectively, holding five to six concerts a year and maintaining the high artistic standards set in previous years.
The Peterborough Fire brigade was established in 1850 and until 1908, the brigade ran on a totally voluntary basis. The volunteers were paid a fifteen dollar yearly honorarium for their efforts. The first Captain of the brigade was Robert Swayne. The first Chief Engineer was W.S. Conger and the Assistant Engineer was John R. Benson. From 1886 to 1908, the fire department was housed in the town buildings on the southeast corner of the market square and it shared quarters with the police department. On New Year's Day 1908, a new fire station was opened on Aylmer Street. In the same year, it was decided by the City of Peterborough that a permanent fire brigade was necessary. The change from voluntary to permanent brigade took place on June 30, 1908, and was marked by a grand procession of the old fire brigade. The personnel of the permanent brigade consisted of a Chief, Assistant Chief, two drivers, three paid firemen and six call men.
The Peterborough Light and Power Company was a private electrical utility company that operated between 1884 and 1913 in the city of Peterborough. By 1913, it had a total of 2320 hydro poles in operation, and provided electricity for residences, streetlights, industries, and the street railway. It was expropriated by the city of Peterborough in 1913.
The first normal school for the training of elementary school teachers opened in Toronto in 1847. In 1850 a system of township model schools was established. They were specially designated elementary schools where teachers or potential teachers could observe existing practice under supervision. The successful candidates received Third Class Certificates valid for three years. In 1880 there were forty-seven model schools. Candidates were awarded First or Second Class Certificates after attendance at normal school. At times there were two year courses at normal schools. Model schools were abolished in 1924 and with them the Third Class Certificate. In 1936 the Second Class Certificate was discontinued except at the Ottawa Normal School. In 1874 the Ottawa Normal School was established and in 1900 the London Normal School. In 1908 normal schools were opened in Hamilton, Peterborough, and Stratford. Peterborough Normal School was officially opened on September 15, 1908 and operated until the late 1960's. Several hundred teachers were trained there over the years of operation. The first principal was Duncan Walker. In 1973 the Peterborough Teachers' College (formerly the Peterborough Normal School) closed its doors and the staff moved to the Faculty of Education, Queen's University.
Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW (United Church Women) is a Peterborough, Ontario, organization. Prior to 2013, it was known as Peterborough UCW Presbyterial. Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW is part of a larger organization, United Church Women, formally established in 1962 through the amalgamation of two United Church women’s groups, the Woman’s Association and the Woman’s Missionary Society. As stated in Voices of United Church Women, 1962-2002, the UCW’s purpose is “to unite the women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which we may express our loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.” (p.v)
Peppermint and Abraxas Press are privately owned by Richard Miller and operated out of Toronto. Peppermint Press was established in 1973 as the printer's private publishing company (Taken from: Kotin, David B. "Reader, Lover of Books." Toronto: University of Toronto, 1981.) and Abraxas Press was established in 1978. Private printing presses in Canada are usually Canadian-owned, owner-managed and limited to an annual list of one to ten titles per year, receptive to new writers, rarely profit-making and often subsidized by government grants. These small private presses often make contributions to the advancement of new literary work and to Canadian cultural life. (Taken from: "Literary Presses in Canada, 1975-1985: A Checklist and Bibliography." Halifax: Dalhousie University, 1988.) Some publications printed by Peppermint include "Pocket Pool: Poems and Parables" by David Berry in 1975; "The Lavender Nightingale" by Catherine M. Buckaway in 1978 and "Stories of the Witch Queen" by Gena K. Gorrell in 1985. Abraxas Press has published a number of broadsides and helped to publish "The Lavender Nightingale".
The Progressive Conservative Association of Ontario was developed to provide a support network for Progressive Conservative MP's and candidates in Ontario ridings. Each riding has its own association to address concerns and draft policies that can be presented by MP's in the government.
The Young's Point Cheese Factory was located in Young's Point, Smith Township, Ontario. It was established in the early 1900's and was owned and run by Andrew Wilson. The factory was a family enterprise which included Andrew's brother George, and Andrew's sons, Rex and Len.
Windy Pine Point is a property located on Kushog Lake, near Minden, near Haliburton County, Ontario. The property was owned by Flora Morrison and Dr. Mary L. Northway from 1940 to 1982. As well as the main cottage, there were cabins which were available to friends and acquaintances. The owners planned and led girls' canoe trips from Windy Pine in the 1940's. It was deeded to Trent University.
The Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association was founded 1891 when a young man, who greatly appreciated what the Y.M.C.A. had done for him, felt that a similar organization should be offered to women. With the support of Mr. Colville, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., a meeting was arranged at which sixteen ladies attended (two from each church). These ladies became the charter members of the Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association. The first meeting took place over Long's Confectionery Shop on George Street. Bible studies, educational classes and club group meetings were held there. In 1892 a house on the north side of Brock Street (near George Street) was furnished to serve as a Residence for young girls who had no homes in the town. Before long all the work of the Association was carried out at the Brock Street residence. The Peterborough Y.W.C.A. was actively involved in many of the conferences and new ideas that came into the Association. For instance it was one of the first associations to take up Industrial work and offer meetings, in 1909, for girls employed at the electrical works. In 1901 the Y.W.C.A. needed to move into larger quarters due to the expansion of its members. They were able to secure rooms, with the aid of Hon. Senator Cox, on the west side of George Street and stayed there for two years. In 1904 the Y.W.C.A. decided it needed a Y.W.C.A. building and purchased the lot on the corner of Simcoe and Aylmer Streets. The Hon. Senator Cox provided rooms in the Bank of Commerce Building and the rooms on George Street and the house on Brock Street were given up. Mrs. Cox laid the cornerstone September 7, 1904 and the new building was opened in 1905. In 1912 rooms at 133 Rubidge street were formally opened. In 1916 a swimming pool was built and by May 30, 1918 was able to be used. In 1919 the Y.W.C.A. rented a cottage on Stoney Lake as a summer camp. The aim of the Y.W.C.A. was to provide religious education as well as special clubs, classes and parties to encourage the development of the all-round girl who would be the woman of the future. The Y.W.C.A. was considered a fellowship. In 1929 the Y.W.C.A. purchased nine acres of land near the centre of Stoney Lake as a campground, called Camp Inglestane and charged $7.00 a week per girl. The camp was sold at the end of the 1940's. The Y.W.C.A. continued to act as an employment bureau and forming clubs in the industrial sector. In June, 1939 the Peterborough Y.W.C.A. became more newly equipped with a more modern gymnasium and a new pool was opened. A nursery school opened in 1960. The Y.W.C.A. continued to grow and develop with each new year and national and international changes. In 1967 the Y.W.C.A. purchased the Knights of Columbus building as a Centennial project. This building was adjacent to the original Y building and was called Stevenson Hall in memory of James E. Stevenson, the original owner of the property. (Taken from: "The Peterborough Y.W.C.A. 1891 to 1981." Box 3, folder 2, Trent University Archives.) In the original Y.W.C.A. building programs such as Crossroads, which was a program for battered women and a series of shelters, and "Y's Buys" were run. The original building which was on the corner of Simcoe and Aylmer, and had been sold a number of years ago, burnt down on February 15, 1996. (See "Arthur" Volume 30, Issue 19, February 27, 1996, p 8.)