Archives for the Trent Valley and Peterborough County area and history book seller
Welcome to Trent Valley Archives
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
Trent Valley Archives Theatre – Tide of Hope
Trent Valley Archives is commemorating the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the “Peter Robinson settlers” in the Newcastle District of Upper Canada with a production of Tide of Hope for school groups on May 15 and the general public on May 16, 2024. The emigration play is based on the life of David Nagle and follows his flight from turmoil and oppression in Ireland to Upper Canada. It is set in 1825 in the Blackwater district of Ireland at the height of the agrarian rebellion against excessive land rents and church tithes. Please visit our TVAT page more information about school group bookings, public performance tickets, and the content of the play.
Green Routes: Experiencing the Peter Robinson Emigration 1825
Rosemary McConkey has been spinning stories about the Irish in the Peterborough area for many years. As the bicentennial of the major Irish emigration of 1825 approaches, she shares her favourite stories in a book, Green Routes. The stories span some 200 years and showcase the impressive legacy of the Peter Robinson Settlers and their descendants from before, during and after their transatlantic voyage. These families developed a love for Canada over generations.
Green Routes looks at different experiences by the Robinson Settlers of 1825 and their descendants. Stories of the earliest Robinson settlers include that of schoolmaster Patrick Barragy and his brave efforts to persuade the government to support schools for new emigrants. McConkey also writes about the Robinson settlers of Douro Township who were truly thankful for the opportunities that came from emigration. Her fascination extends to descendants whose far-flung paths took them to destinations as far away as Indiana and points in the American mid-west, including Coach Frank W. Leahy of the University of Notre Dame football team.
These stories resonate with Peterborough experiences at other times. The area has a long history of migrations, short and long, coming in or going away. The First Nations, the Colony Settlers, later emigrations of Irish, British, and Italians, those from other parts of Canada, and more recently from diverse parts of Asia and Central America have come to Peterborough.
Green Routes looks at different experiences by the Robinson Settlers of 1825 and their descendants. In part, McConkey pays tribute to the resilience of the pioneers and their enduring values. She also invites others to join her in celebrating their continuing contributions to the life of Peterborough city and county.
Time is running out to purchase your tickets for our Wednesday evening performance of Tide of Hope! Our actors will be taking the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre stage tomorrow at 7:30pm to tell the origin story of the Peter Robinson Settlers through the experience of David Nagle, an Irish land agent who flees to Upper Canada with the Peter Robinson Settlers to escape the wrath of Irish rebels fighting against English tyranny. Tickets cost $30 for regular seating and $40 for table seating (both types of seating are still available) and can be purchased on the Market Hall website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=357. All of the revenue generated from the play will go to support the work that we do to preserve local history at the Trent Valley Archives, so we appreciate anyone who has purchased a ticket to either of our public performances so far! Tide of Hope is generously sponsored by The Gardens of Peterborough Retirement Residences (Platinum Sponsor), KawarthaNOW (Platinum Media Sponsor), Templeton Law (Silver Sponsor) and The Peterborough Canadian Irish Club (Bronze Sponsor).Image Caption (left to right): Peter Robinson (played by Lucas Pronk) and Lord Kingston (played by Nathan Govier) in a scene from Tide of Hope. ... See MoreSee Less
Meet the cast and crew of Tide of Hope! Today, we’re continuing to post the headshots and biographies of our Tide of Hope cast and crew. Everyone involved in this production has been passionate about bringing the story of the Peter Robinson Settlers to life on stage, and we’re excited to share their names, faces and stories with you.PRODUCERS Greg and Mary Conchelos:Mary and Greg became involved in the Peterborough theatre scene in 2004.They continued the efforts of Ed Schroeter with regard to Heritage Pavilion Stage, which provided school tours of Canadian history plays throughout the Kawartha region and beyond. Plays included Ed’s “Shadow of Genius,” “Figure of Peace,” “And Freedom for All,” and others. Greg and Mary also commissioned Ryan Kerr to write “Bonfire House,” about Dr. Hutchison, and Beau Dixon to write “Freedom Belles.” A number of productions were done as “environmental theatre” - in which plays are produced in places other than on a stage. One example was “A Figure of Peace,” which took place at the Peterborough Cenotaph. Greg and Mary also volunteered for several years with the Trent Valley Archives Cemetery Pageant. Greg contributed dramatization ideas and acting, and both were involved in writing scripts.PLAYWRIGHT Ed Schroeter: Ed Schroeter has been telling stories since he was a small child growing up in Markham Village, Ontario. He loves dogs, red licorice, community theatre, Suzanne, Morgann, David, Rozee, Cassi, Ollie, and Lucy. Ed began his professional writing career as a newspaper reporter. Wheatland Theatre and the Turgeon International Youth Hostel produced Ed's first professional plays while he was working as a theatre and film critic at the Regina Leader Post. Ed's writing specialty is historical fiction and current events drama. He has won four national one-act playwriting awards for his work. He is a retired kindergarten teacher, a former Artistic Associate at 4th Line Theatre, a forner Artistic Producer of Arbor Theatre, and was playwright-in-residence of Heritage Pavilion Stage, a joint venture of Arbor Theatre and the Peterborough Museum & Archives. Ed is grateful to the cast and crew of Tide of Hope for bringing his play to life on stage, especially his longtime friend Gerry McBride for directing it, and the Trent Valley Archives Theatre committee for their hard work.If you want to see the fruits of our cast and crew’s labour, there will be two public performances of Tide of Hope on Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16 at 7:30pm at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. A prequel to the Peter Robinson immigration story, Tide of Hope follows Irish land agent and rent collector David Nagle, who must flee to Upper Canada with the Peter Robinson settlers of 1825 to escape the wrath of Irish rebels fighting against English tyranny. Tickets cost $30 for regular seating and $40 for table seating, and can be purchased on the Market Hall website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=357. ... See MoreSee Less
We’re only a few days away from our two public performances of Tide of Hope on Wednesday May 15 and Thursday May 16 at 7:30pm at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. Our cast gave a special performance of the second half of the play at the Royal Gardens Retirement Residence in Peterborough last night (May 9), and we filmed two scenes from the performance to share with you!This scene features Patrick (played by Paul Baines) and Elizabeth (played by June Govier) engaged in conversation about Patrick's decision to emigrate to Canada with the Peter Robinson Settlers. Still looking for tickets to see the play next week? Our Thursday night performance is sold out, but we still have tickets available for Wednesday night. They can be purchased on the Market Hall Website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=357 and cost $40 for table seating and $30 for regular seating. ... See MoreSee Less
We’re only a few days away from our two public performances of Tide of Hope on Wednesday May 15 and Thursday May 16 at 7:30pm at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. Our cast gave a special performance of the second half of the play at the Royal Gardens Retirement Residence in Peterborough last night (May 9), and we filmed two scenes from the performance to share with you!This scene features David (played by Drew Mills) and Mary (played by Lauren Murphy) engaged in conversation about David's offer to work as a land agent on Lord Kingston's estate. Still looking for tickets to see the play next week? Our Thursday night performance is sold out, but we still have tickets available for Wednesday night. They can be purchased on the Market Hall Website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=357 and cost $40 for table seating and $30 for regular seating. ... See MoreSee Less
Meet the cast and crew of Tide of Hope! Today, we’re continuing to post the headshots and biographies of our Tide of Hope cast and crew. Everyone involved in this production has been passionate about bringing the story of the Peter Robinson Settlers to life on stage, and we’re excited to share their names, faces and stories with you.DIRECTOR Gerry McBride: Gerry is a retired elementary school teacher. He is grateful for this opportunity to direct a cast of actors older than 12. Gerry has thoroughly enjoyed this experience, although, as he told the cast more than once, it's exhausting sitting around telling people what to do all evening, and watching them work. A big thank you to the cast and crew and everyone involved in this little adventure for making it so much fun.STAGE MANAGER Marilyn Robinson: Marilyn began her journey in theatre with a group of friends at Whispers Dinner Theatre in 1984. She has worked on over 60 Productions with Whispers Dinner Theatre, St. James Players, Peterborough Theatre Guild, and Emerald Sky Entertainment. As a retired Teacher, one of the highlights has been facilitating a theatre arts workshop series for Arts students at TASS for two years. She has been involved with Trent Valley Archives for approximately 14 years helping with Ghost Walks and Cemetery Tours. Marilyn is excited to be Stage Managing this Inaugural Production for Trent Valley Archives Theatre.If you want to see the fruits of our cast and crew’s labour, there will be two public performances of Tide of Hope on Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16 at 7:30pm at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. A prequel to the Peter Robinson immigration story, Tide of Hope follows Irish land agent and rent collector David Nagle, who must flee to Upper Canada with the Peter Robinson settlers of 1825 to escape the wrath of Irish rebels fighting against English tyranny. Tickets cost $30 for regular seating and $40 for table seating, and can be purchased on the Market Hall website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=357. Our Thursday evening performance is now sold out, but we still have tickets available for Wednesday evening! ... See MoreSee Less
Green Routes looks at different experiences by the Robinson Settlers of 1825 and their descendants. Stories of the earliest Robinson settlers include that of schoolmaster Patrick Barragy and his brave efforts to persuade the government to support schools for new emigrants. McConkey also writes about the Robinson settlers of Douro Township who were truly thankful for the opportunities that came from emigration. Her fascination extends to descendants whose far-flung paths took them to destinations as far away as Indiana and points in the American mid-west, including Coach Frank W. Leahy of the University of Notre Dame football team.