Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026
June 4, 5, 6 and 7 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough. Click here for more information.
The Kid from Simcoe Street
In our adaptation of this moving World War II era memoir, James Clarke recalls growing up in the poor and alcohol-ridden neighbourhood of downtown Peterborough.
As a boy, his father had been a foot soldier, but after coming home from the battlefields he turned to manic drinking and belligerence, shattering his wife’s dreams, and casting a dark shadow over James’ boyhood.
This story, told with emotion that is unflinching in its honesty, lets us see just how remarkable it is that James Clarke became not only a man esteemed and honoured as a judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, but as a respected poet, too.
Purchase your copy from Exile Editions
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
The print edition of our February 2026 issue of the Heritage Gazette is hot off the press! ![]()
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Inside its full-colour pages, you'll find articles like "Iva Virginia (Wells) Edgar" Mike Dolbey's deep dive into Peterborough postmaster and politician James Edgar and his wife Iva; "The Memos of WWII Radar Specialist and President of General Electric Walter Ward" featuring two of Ward's original letters (transcribed by Alicia Bertrand) highlighting issues he experienced while serving in the British Royal Navy and offering his advice to other Canadians preparing to serve about the differences between British and Canadian culture; and articles from Trent Valley Archives Librarian Carol Sucee and Archivist Elwood Jones about the newest acquisitions to our library shelves and archival holdings. ![]()
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If you are currently subscribed to the print edition of the Heritage Gazette, this issue will mark the third and final issue of your print subscription for 2025, and will either be readied for you to pick up at TVA or mailed to you, depending on your subscription. If you would like to renew your print subscription for 2026, please do so prior to the release of our April 2026 issue. Subscriptions cost $30 (or $40 if you require shipping) for three issues. Individual copies of this issue of the Heritage Gazette can also be purchased at our archives building at 567 Carnegie Avenue for $15 each, or mailed to you for $20 each. We're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm.
The latest issue of the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley is here! We're still catching up on our publishing schedule, so this issue (originally intended to be our December 2025 issue) has been dubbed our February 2026 issue and marks the third and final issue of Volume 30. ![]()
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This month, we invite you to turn your thoughts away from the cold and snow towards summers on the water with the feature articles in this issue, including "Kelly's Island Revisited" Mike Parnell's anticipated second half of his exploration of the cottage on Chemong Lake; "The Steamboat Sturgeon Stem to Stern," Mike Dolbey's investigation into the claims made in an intriguing letter sent to Peterborough Postmaster James Edgar in the 1910s; and "Remembering the Whistle Wing and Henry Calcutt" featuring a Peterborough Times article from 1873 chronicling the author's trip on the newly built Whistle Wing steamboat. ![]()
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In addition to these articles, there's so much more to explore in this issue, and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did! If you're subscribed to our mailing list, check your inbox for an email from us with links to download the issue. If you're not already subscribed to our mailing list, you can do so via the link in our bio. The issue (along with past issues) is also available to download on the Heritage Gazette page on our website. Once you've read the issue, we'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment down below with your thoughts on this issue and any suggestions you have for our next issue (which is expected in April 2026; we're hoping to resume our regular publishing schedule for Volume 31!)
On the eve of Family Day this year, we want to highlight the fact that our 2026 Trent Valley Archives Theatre production, The Kid from Simcoe Street, is a family story at its heart. ![]()
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Based on the memoir of the same name by James Clarke, The Kid from Simcoe Street focuses on a local family, the Clarke family, who lived in a tenement on Simcoe Street. Navigating the challenges of living in poverty in wartime-era Peterborough, the family (consisting of young James, his two sisters, and his parents) experienced a series of life events that had a huge impact on their lives.![]()
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Young James was particularly impacted by these events, especially the prolonged absence of his father who went overseas to serve in the Second World War, depriving him of a father figure and leaving his mother to care for her three children on her own. Although his family was broken apart, community members stepped forward to support him, proving that family extends to those you choose to surround yourself with. ![]()
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His father returned home from the war impacted by the trauma he had endured overseas and his resulting struggles with addiction, but the support James received from the community at large set him on the right path, a path that would eventually lead him to become an accomplished Ontario Superior Court Judge and poet. Now in his nineties and with a large family of his own, we think the Clarke family story will resonate with theatre-goers from all walks of life and from different family backgrounds. ![]()
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Written by playwrights Ed Schroeter, Gerry McBride and David Francis Clarke (James' grandson), directed by Drew Mills and stage managed by Barb Mills, The Kid from Simcoe Street will be staged at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in June of 2026. There will be two evening performances on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and two matinee performances on June 6 and 7 at 2pm. Tickets are on sale now, and would make an excellent outing for your family and friends. ![]()
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Tickets cost $30 for regular seating and $40 for cabaret seating and can be purchased by calling the Market Hall box office at 705-749-1146, emailing the Market Hall box office at boxoffice@markethall.com, or visiting their website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526 We hope to see you in June for this memorable family story!
Last fall, our archivist Dr. Elwood Jones travelled to the Circus Historical Society convention in Las Vegas to tell the story of a murder that occurred in Peterborough's Market Square in June of 1888. The murder occurred between two employees of the Howe Circus, one shooting another in Peterborough's market square before some 40 witnesses, and the consequences were felt in several directions.![]()
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Now, he has agreed to tell the same story to Trent Valley Archives members as part of our members-only presentation series. Join us on Zoom on Thursday, February 12 at 7pm to hear him share what he has learned from both the story itself and his experience presenting it to the conference. In his words:![]()
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"First, I learned quite a bit about Peterborough, a town that opposed hanging.![]()
Second, I learned that the circus world supports its own.![]()
Third, I learned that there was another murder in the same circus that year.![]()
Fourth, I learned that Peterborough loved circuses.![]()
Fifth, I learned about Ashburnham’s Riverside Park.![]()
Sixth, I learned that I really like circuses."![]()
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The story was well-received both at the convention and on our Peterborough Perpetrators true crime walking tour last summer. It is also featured in a chapter of Peterborough's Unique, published in 2024. It is a compelling look into the Peterborough community, circus culture, and the justice system in the 1880s, and if you have an interest in any of these topics you won't want to miss this presentation!![]()
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This is a free, members-only event and you must be a member to view the presentation. If you are already a Trent Valley Archives member, you will have received an email yesterday (Wednesday, February 4) with a link to register for the presentation (please register by the end of the day on Wednesday, February 11).![]()
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If you are not yet a Trent Valley Archives member, there's still time to become one! A single membership costs $60 a year and a family membership costs $75 a year. To learn more about our membership tiers and benefits or to purchase a membership, please visit the membership page on our website, here: trentvalleyarchives.com/membership/
We are saddened to share that on Friday, January 30, Karen Carter-Edwards passed away. Karen was an enthusiastic supporter of the Trent Valley Archives and a long- standing volunteer and member, sharing her love of local history with us in many ways. ![]()
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An engaging public speaker, Karen ran several local history tours for us, including a women's history tour in Little Lake Cemetery and a tour chronicling the history Jackson's Park, which were always well received by the community. She also enjoyed dressing up in historical attire and portraying women from Peterborough's past at our annual Little Lake Cemetery Pageant, bringing to life the stories of women like Emma Jane Morrow, Clara Mina Calcutt Rogers and Mary Shaw, alongside her husband Dennis. ![]()
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Karen was also a member of our Board of Directors for several years, taking time out of her busy schedule to help guide our organization with her knowledge and expertise. In 2019, we were proud to celebrate her as the recipient of a Cultural Betterment Award at the City of Peterborough's Civic Awards, for her work with us and with other organizations in the community who benefited greatly from her keen involvement. ![]()
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One of the many topics Karen was passionate about was women's history, and telling the stories of women who made important contributions to our community that would otherwise have been forgotten. We think the same sentiment should be extended to Karen herself; throughout her life, she has made her own important contributions to our community and we want to ensure that she is not forgotten. All of us whose lives she touched at the Trent Valley Archives will certainly miss her. ![]()
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If you have any stories you would like to share about Karen (perhaps you went on one of her engaging local history tours, saw her perform at one our cemetery pageants, or attended one of her informative talks) please share them in the comments.