Commemorate Remembrance Day With Us
At the Trent Valley Archives, we think it is important to honour the members in our community, past and present, who have fought in conflicts for our freedom. This November, we encourage you to commemorate Remembrance Day with us and learn more about our community’s military history by attending our upcoming Military History tour in Little Lake Cemetery or by purchasing a military history themed book from our bookstore.
Have you seen the updated Heritage Gazette?
We are pleased to continue and expand on the pioneering work of archivist Elwood Jones and Steve Gavard as we explore the near and distant past in this full colour publication.
View the current and past issues
Happy Halloween! 🎃 We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween night tonight.
We have 1-2 extra tickets to our Downtown Ghost Walk happening tonight (Wednesday, October 30) at 7pm! If you're interested, send us a message or email us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. This is the last Ghost Walk we'll be hosting this year, so if you're interested, act now!We're still a long way from spooky season, but it's never too early to think about getting tickets to our ghost walks! Due to popular demand, we're bringing back our Downtown Ghost Walk this year on five nights in October: Thursday the 17, Friday the 18, Wednesday the 23, Thursday the 24 and Friday the 25. ![]()
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If you want to be a part of this Halloween tradition, you'll need to purchase your tickets soon as they're already selling quickly! They cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/cc/ghost-walks-3369799 Have a large group of family, friends, or co-workers? Send us an email at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com or call our tour inquiry phone line at 705-298-2350 to discuss the possibility of booking a private tour.
Want to go on our Military History tour in Little Lake Cemetery? Our first tour has sold out, but if we get 10 people on our waiting list we'll run another tour on the same day. Send us a message to be put on the waiting list!Peterborough has had a long military history, a history local historian Don Willcock will bring to light on his Military History tour in Little Lake Cemetery on Sunday, November 3 at 3pm. Although most Peterborough citizens who enlisted fought in the First or Second World Wars, the tour includes people who served in many different conflicts.![]()
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As you walk through the cemetery and pay your respects at each soldier's final resting place, you'll learn about people like John Roche, a Royal Navy officer who served in the Napoleonic Campaigns; Colonel John Wesley Miller who enlisted in the American Civil War and was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg; and Colonel Alexander McDonnell who participated in the War of 1812 at Sackett's Harbour.![]()
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And of course, you'll also hear about those who served in both the First and Second World Wars, including military nursing sister Agnes Campbell Neill who was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Second World War; and brothers Harry and Heber Rogers who were both taken prisoner in the First World War.![]()
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Tickets to the tour cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/honouring-our-military-history-tickets-897536885987?aff=oddtdtcreator. Please note that this is a walking tour in Little Lake Cemetery that covers a large portion of the cemetery grounds. It stays on the main roadways whenever possible, but covers some uneven and hilly ground and may not be accessible to everyone. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as the tour will run rain or shine. The tour also covers difficult and sensitive material and may not be appropriate for everyone. If you have any questions about accessibility or the content of this tour. please email us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com or call us at 705-745-4404.![]()
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If this tour sells out, please contact us to be added to a waiting list. We will add a second tour date if there is enough demand.
There's no better time than November to do some reading about Peterborough Military History, and this book is a great place to start. Written by Robert J. Gordon, Captains and Colonels of Peterborough County documents military activities that took place in the Newcastle District (and later Peterborough County) in the 19th century, a time when militias were formed across Ontario to counteract rebellions and assist the government in other ways. If you enjoy 19th century Canadian history and the social and political climate of that time period, this book is a great addition to your library. Copies are $25 and can be purchased in-person at our archives building at 567 Carnegie Avenue (which is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm) or online, here: trentvalleyarchives.com/shop/captains-colonels-of-peterborough-county/
We held our third and final Fireside Chat this Tuesday, and now that the series is over we would like to thank everyone who attended one or more of our Fireside Chats this September and October. All three chats were a huge success and we're glad you enjoyed attending them as much as we enjoyed hosting them! ![]()
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We would also like to extend a huge thank-you to local musician and folk music scholar Al Kirby for organizing the series; Rob Cory, Rob Niezen and Nick van der Graaf for speaking and playing at each chat; and all the other dedicated volunteers who helped to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for attendees at our archives building. ![]()
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If you missed out on the series, don't worry! We are already starting to plan another one for next year and will share more information on it as soon as we can. ![]()
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[Image Caption: Musicians Al Kirby, Rob Niezen and Rob Cory at our Murder and Mayhem in 19th Century Rural Ontario Fireside Chat this Tuesday, October 22]