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 off family memorabilia for the Archive, Bob always tells the tale (tail?) of his brother's dog Ted. So without further delay, here's the story of Ted the Wonder dog. "You all have heroes right?" Bob begins. "Well, I do as well! Let me introduce you [...]
From Barrie with Love Part II: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
This is the second instalment in a new blog series for the Barrie Historical Archive, courtesy of archive supporter Diana Strachan. Catch the first instalment here. After settling in Barrie with her sister, auntie and [...]
From Barrie with Love: Wartime Letters from a Briton in Barrie
This piece marks the first in a new series for the Barrie Historical Archive, courtesy of archive supporter Diana Strachan. Strachan’s mother, Peggy Newman, was just 16 years old in July 1940 when she, along [...]
History Lesson: Accessing the Tollendal Mill
In the 1800s, getting to the Tollendal Mill could be a precarious journey. The only access, before a bridge was built over Lover's Creek, was by way of water or the Tollendal Mill Road. This [...]
In Memory of the Postcard
Wish you were here. A simple sentiment that, at one time, was likely entirely overused. At one time, when distance was a real thing. When entering into someone’s company, regardless of spatial separation, wasn’t as [...]
Historically Happy Holiday Wishes from the BHA
Members of the BHA celebrate their group award from Heritage Barrie. All the Barrie Historical Archive wants for Christmas is...you! Cliche? Maybe. But in earnest, we want you in 2018! We would be amazed [...]
Tiny Building Leaves Big Impression – BHA Monthly Meeting, November 1, 2017
It's just a tiny, clapboard building in Oro-Medonte, just a few kilometres from Barrie's city limits. But it's left a HUGE impression on our community. Now, learn about the HUGE undertaking required to restore the church, first constructed more [...]
National Pines
"If you build it, they will come." - Field of Dreams, 1989 In 1989, Ed Membery purchased 215 acres of property from the Ross family of Cookstown. The year before, the Membery family had sold [...]
A special message from our Chairman, Dr. Travis Doucette
It would seem fitting that on Canada's 150th Birthday I finally let out a secret I've been keeping for 150 days: I'm moving to Florida in August! Many of you know my educational background and [...]
Back Stage Pass a Blast from the Past
A recent site visit provides glimpses into theatre's many glory days. Test, test and test again is how you de-risk an event so everything will run smoothly ... and that's just what we were doing [...]
Saying Goodbye to Anna: The East End Variety & Snack Bar Fades Away
“Hey Lang, you should go out of business more often!” shouted one jokester, but I doubt that that Lang even heard him over the drone of the kitchen exhaust fan, that was running full tilt, [...]