Barrie’s changing skyline
Iconic bell tower slowly disappearing from the downtown landscape. The Toronto Street address wasn't the first location of the former Central United Church building, but it was its last. Just over 2 years ago, the sanctuary which has stood at the corner of Ross and Toronto Streets, virtually unchanged since it was erected in 1957, was deconsecrated as a church on June 25th 2017. That was the final service for a congregation that has been in Barrie for more than [...]
Ted the Wonder Dog
One of the original 'dogs with jobs'! You may recall from previous blogs, mention of the Tordiff family - long time contributors to the Barrie Archive, since before it even launched. Whenever the Tordiffs drop [...]
Barrie says goodbye to two role models
They were just two. But to all, they were many. Willard Kinzie, to some, was the "Milk Man". To hiking partners, he was "Titanium Man". Officially, a mayor, a businessman. But also a husband, father, [...]
Our military neighbour: Camp Borden
Canadian Forces base west of Barrie has been a long-standing part of the community. This past weekend there have been numerous local events to commemorate Remembrance Day. We join with others around the world who [...]
A soldier’s sacrifice tells us all we need to know
"Here's another one of Borden. Some more on Borden here." And so on, and so on it goes. Sitting with Ann Campbell, she lifts one voluminous book after another onto the dining table before us. [...]
Walking Tour Reveals Places in Time
Mary Harris tells the history of buildings in Barrie's downtown core. Exposed to the stiff fall breeze, a large group of warmly dressed people looked south from Homestead Bakery and Artisan Cafe and [...]
From Barrie with Love Part VII, Last Entries: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
This is the final set of entries in an exciting blog series for the Barrie Historical Archive, made possible by archive supporter Diana Strachan. When last we heard from Diana’s mother, Peggy Newman, she was [...]
From Barrie with Love Part VI: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
Ready for another read? This blog series, made possible by the Diana Strachan, daughter of our author Peggy Newman, offers us a look through the lens of a 16-year-old Briton in Barrie during the Second [...]
From Barrie with Love Part V: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
Read the fifth instalment in this exciting new blog series, made possible by Barrie Historical Archive supporter Diana Strachan. Diana's mother, Peggy Newman, writes her parents after returning from a two-week camp excursion in Honey [...]
From Barrie with Love Part IV: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
Read the fourth instalment of this exciting new blog series for the Barrie Historical Archive, made possible by archive supporter Diana Strachan. If you need to catch up, check out the preceding blogs here. Diana’s [...]
From Barrie with Love Part III: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
This marks the third installment in an exciting blog series for the Barrie Historical Archive, made possible by archive supporter Diana Strachan. Check out the preceding blogs here. Last time, we felt Peggy Newman’s anticipation [...]