BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Heritage Port Stanley - ECPv6.15.17.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Heritage Port Stanley X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Heritage Port Stanley REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Toronto BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250123T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250123T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T155150Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T152036Z UID:100932-1737639000-1737644400@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:The Settlement of Orchard Beach: Cottages\, Community & Legacy DESCRIPTION:In January 2025\, Mike Baker delivered a captivating presentation on the early settlement and cottage history of Orchard Beach\, a treasured corner of Port Stanley. From the first peach orchard cottages to the families who shaped its growth\, Mike’s talk brought to life the vibrant community and iconic architecture of this historic lakeside area. \nKey Points from the Presentation:\nThe First Cottage (1883)\n\nBuilt by Rev. J.W.P. Smith in a peach orchard.\nDepicted in a painting by Susan McKay (now in the Port Stanley Library).\nK.W. McKay and James A. Bell were involved in laying out the area formally.\n\nEarly Maps & Beach Development\n\nIncluded photos and maps of the Drinkwater farm and original cottage\, postcards (1910–1915) of beaches\, federal groynes\, and Edward Street cottages\, as well as LE&DRR’s New Orchard Beach development diagrams.\n\nSummerholme & the YWCA Legacy\n\nBuilt in 1892 by the London YWCA as a girls’ summer camp in Orchard Beach.\nPurchased by Don Anderson in 1950 after the camp closed.\nThe final YWCA invite was sent by Betty Bone of Alma College.\nCurrent ownership: Katie (Anderson) Valentine.\n\nFamily Cottages & Notable Residents \n\nDarch Cottage (linked to Craig Cole’s family) and Findley Cottage were featured.\nJohn Darch’s widow operated a six-story store on Talbot Street\, which was London’s tallest building at the time.\n\nThe Purdom Legacy\n\nT.H. Purdom (ca. 1910):\n\nPublisher of the London Advertizer\nPresident of Savings and Loan Bank\nBought the Port–London Traction Line\nFounded Northern Life Insurance\nKey figure in both London business and cottage development in Orchard Beach\n\n\n\nAlma Villa & Duffield Family\n\nBuilt in 1916 by James Duffield (founder of Atlantic Petroleum).\nDuffield also owned a mansion on Queen St.\, London; Duffield Block named after him.\n\nThe Hyman Cottage\n\nMr. Hyman: Ran a tannery\, was an MP (1900–1907)\, and national tennis champion in the 1880s.\nHis London home is the Idlewild Inn on Grand Ave.\n\nPagoda Roof Cottage (1931)\n\nBuilt by Florence Wood (widow of Francis Wood)\, inspired by a Japanese tea house and Butchart Gardens.\nLater owned by John Sackville Labatt (1936) and Johnny Downs (1965).\n\nMoore Family Connection\n\nShirley Wood (Florence’s daughter) married Jake (John) Moore\, who became CEO of Labatt.\nThe Moore cottage was relocated to 165 Harrison Street.\nDescendants Penny and Nancy Moore still live in Orchard Beach.\n\nFinal Reflection\n\nPresentation concluded with a Savings and Loan Bank board photo\, illustrating the deep social and economic ties among Orchard Beach’s cottage families. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/the-settlement-of-orchard-beach-cottages-community-legacy/ LOCATION:Alma Villa\, 201 Lakeview St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1A1\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/orchard-beach.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250227T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250227T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T163953Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250624T190951Z UID:100948-1740663000-1740668400@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Art Grayling & The Evolution of Port Stanley’s Fishing Industry DESCRIPTION:In this engaging presentation\, historian Mike Baker shared an interview by George Thorman with lifelong Port Stanley fisherman Art Grayling. Through rare photos and firsthand accounts\, the audience was given a deep look into the local fishing industry\, its challenges\, and how Art and his family navigated decades of change on water and at the dock. \nYou can view the full interview here: https://www.elginhistoricalsociety.ca/node/74 \nKey Points from the Presentation:\n\nArt began fishing as a young boy in small boats on Kettle Creek\, later becoming a full-time professional fisherman.\nOver the years\, he owned a series of boats: starting with a handmade wooden boat\, then larger wooden tugs\, and eventually metal boats like the Noskca-J\, Stanley Clipper\, and LeeJay.\nGill nets were introduced after his father got a license. Nets evolved from cotton and linen to nylon and eventually microfilament\, which didn’t rot when wet.\nIce cutting was a crucial winter task. Ice was taken from the harbour and stored beside the fish house before Art installed an ice machine in 1964.\nIn 1962\, Art launched the Noskca-J by dragging it over the frozen harbour to reach open water\, catching 12 tons of fish in three days.\nArt opened the Grayling Fish Store at 174 Main Street in 1973. Initially\, customers picked whole fish themselves\, but preferences shifted to pre-filleted fish.\nFish were handled multiple times before sale\, explaining the $3.00/lb price.\nArt discussed the decline of whitefish and herring populations due to poor survival rates without hatchery support. Perch have better spawning conditions.\nA mercury scare in 1970 devastated local fish sales\, despite no actual contamination in the Great Lakes.\nThe high cost of fishing tugs and equipment was detailed—highlighting economic challenges.\nArt’s daughter Heather and grandson Jason shared family stories and contributed many of the historic photos used in the presentation. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/art-grayling-the-evolution-of-port-stanleys-fishing-industry/ LOCATION:Port Stanley Festival Theatre – Harbourview Room\, 6-302 Bridge Street\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C3\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-24-at-3.08.59 PM.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250327T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250327T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T175821Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T145235Z UID:100970-1743082200-1743087600@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Letters from the Past: The Life of Sam Shepard at Windjammer DESCRIPTION:At the March 2025 meeting\, held inside the historic Windjammer house\, the audience was treated to a theatrical and heartfelt portrayal of Sam Shepard\, a prominent 19th-century figure in Port Stanley’s history. Craig Cole\, performing in character\, brought Shepard’s life and letters to vivid life—revealing personal love stories\, early trade ventures\, political tensions\, and moments of national mourning through documents found in his old home. \nKey Points from the Presentation:\n\nCraig Cole appeared as Sam Shepard\, wearing the original Shepard top hat\, traditionally awarded to the first ship into the Port Stanley harbour each spring.\nThe performance was set at Windjammer\, the home Sam and his wife Mary built and where the letters were said to be discovered in an old desk drawer.\nShepard’s letters spanned from 1863 to 1871\, and included correspondence to:\n\nHis wife Mary\, expressing deep affection and family concerns.\nHis business partner Yarington\, who had moved to Nevada and invited Shepard to join him.\n\n\nShepard shared frustrations about profit margins from grain deals and confessed to buying gold with his earnings\, which didn’t always yield returns.\nThe letters gave insight into travel expenses in Chicago\, including:\n\n$3/day for a hotel room\n$0.15 for a shave or boot polishing\nCigars for $0.03\n\n\nHistorical side notes included:\n\nThe first dried apples shipped to England by Shepard.\nHenry Bostwick\, son of John Bostwick\, drowned in Lake Tahoe after also relocating to Nevada.\nA Port Stanley procession honoring President Lincoln after his assassination.\n\n\nLocal fears surrounding Fenian raids in the region.\nOccasional trips aboard the Mary Rose\, the family’s ship.\nSam and Mary Shepherd had two sons: John and Francis (Frank).\nYarington’s extravagant wedding and their political commentary\, especially regarding Sam Price\, the local Justice of the Peace\, were also included in the readings.\nThe event concluded with applause for Craig Cole’s engaging\, informative\, and imaginative storytelling. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/letters-from-the-past-the-life-of-sam-shepard-at-windjammer/ LOCATION:Windjammer Inn\, 324 Smith St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C6\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WindjammerInn.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250424T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250424T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T181118Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250624T190633Z UID:100975-1745501400-1745506800@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Growing in Water: The Legacy of Moore Water Gardens DESCRIPTION:At the April 2025 Heritage Port Stanley meeting\, Farley See shared the rich\, multi-generational story of Moore Water Gardens\, one of Port Stanley’s most unique and enduring businesses. From swampy beginnings to a thriving wholesale nursery\, Farley’s presentation traced the evolution of the gardens through rare photos\, family history\, and industry innovation—offering new insight into a beloved local landmark. \nKey Points from the Presentation:\n\nMoore Water Gardens was established by Monte Moore\, son of John Moore\, who originally purchased the swampy land.\nMonte had polio as a child—gentle steps at the business were designed to accommodate him.\nHe studied Entomology in Florida and developed an interest in water plants.\nMarried Isabelle Keen—both families had Port Stanley cottages—and built their home on East Road.\nMonte constructed cement-framed ponds down the hillside for growing aquatic plants.\nThe business formally began selling water plants in 1932.\nEarly operations focused on mail orders; today\, it’s largely wholesale to garden centers.\nFarley passed around catalogues dating from the 1930s to the 1980s.\nPhotos showed the original greenhouse layout\, ponds\, and business growth over time.\nDuring the pandemic\, they paused fish sales due to lack of overseas stock\, but plan to restart in 2025 with Canadian suppliers.\nFarley showed an original fish shipping container used via the L&PS Railway\, designed with a compartment for ice to keep fish cool during transport.\nAlso presented: a unique oak lily planter that sinks to the pond bottom.\nThe original cement ponds still exist\, though much of the cement has worn over time.\nThe presentation generated strong audience engagement\, especially from those who hadn’t yet visited the gardens. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/growing-in-water-the-legacy-of-moore-water-gardens/ LOCATION:Moore Water Gardens\, 4683 Sunset Dr\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1J4\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/moore-water-gardens.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250529T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250529T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250624T181603Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T144315Z UID:101920-1748525400-1748530800@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:The Mill and Log Cabins: A Legacy Rebuilt DESCRIPTION:John Smith welcomed the group to the old Mill and log cabins and shared the remarkable story of how his father\, Teskey Smith\, relocated the mill from its original site in Selbourne twice and brought together two log cabins from different locations. Together\, they were reassembled at this scenic spot overlooking Lake Erie\, preserving a piece of the region’s early heritage. \nKey Points from John Smith’s Presentation\nOverview & Mill History\n\nThe mill was originally built in 1831 and changed ownership multiple times.\nTeskey Smith (John’s father) bought it in 1949 to convert into a family cottage.\nIt was dismantled and moved by Floyd Gilbert to Harrison Street (then Victoria Street)\, and rebuilt in 1950\, originally 300 feet from the lake cliffs.\nBy 1955\, erosion brought it within 100 feet\, prompting a second move.\n\nSecond Relocation\n\nThe mill was moved again across frozen farm fields over two winters by Norman Brookes.\nIt was vandalized during the year it sat en route to the new location.\n\nLog Cabins & Family Use\n\nIn 1962\, Teskey found a log cabin in Tavistock\, paid $100\, dismantled and moved it. He organized a “cabin raising bee” to reassemble it\, and the following year\, a “chinking bee” with Teskey mixing materials in large tubs. Later\, a washroom and small kitchen were added. Teskey and Teen moved in\, and the mill was left to the children.\n\nSecond Log Cabin\n\nIn 1972\, Teskey bought a two-storey log cabin from the New Dundee golf course area for $500 and hired Mennonite builders to reconstruct it. He sold his farm near Kitchener to finance his retirement. Teskey and Teen lived in this new structure.\n\nFamily Transition\n\nJohn and Lois took possession of the Mill after the death of Teskey and Teen and later moved into the log cabins as their permanent home. The mill was later transferred to their daughter.\n\nWindows & Contributions\n\nWindows came from demolished buildings during Toronto’s Yonge Street subway construction.\nBob Fish was acknowledged for his craftsmanship at several stages of the renovations. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/the-mill-and-log-cabins-a-legacy-rebuilt/ LOCATION:The Old Mill and Log Cabins\, 4118 Thomas Rd\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1J2\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-59.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250621T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250621T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250624T174337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250804T162729Z UID:101904-1750492800-1750525200@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:June Heritage Day in Port Stanley DESCRIPTION:Heritage Port Stanley members\, dressed in historical attire\, welcomed visitors at key locations around the village. They shared local stories and historical facts\, bringing Port Stanley’s rich past to life for the community. \nWindjammer (Original Sam Shepherd’s Home)Hosted by Barbara and LaurieDiscussions centered on the Shepherd family history and current services. The covered porch provided shelter from the rain. \nTelegraph HouseHosted by Dave Russell and Joan ClaytonVisitors came after the rain stopped and engaged with the hosts about the history of the house. \nPier & Lighthouse InterpretationHosted by Ted Halwa and Nora SandersVisitors visited the lighthouse and learned about its history\, architecture\, and earlier lighthouses. Nora encouraged taking group photos at each interpretation site for the website. \nBridge & Main StreetsSummer student Drake McLenaghan dressed in military costume and distributed flyers with eight heritage locations to encourage exploration. \nMorrow House on Colborne StreetSally Martyn explained the architecture and history of this very early Port Stanley home. \nSt. John’s Presbyterian ChurchHosted by Penny Moore and Helen Albert\, who told visitors about the history of this historic church. \nLivery StableHosted by Anne Kent and Bronwyn Fitz-James\, who told the history of this early building\, originally serving as a livery stable when horses were the main means of transport. \nHarbour HouseHosted by Mike Baker and Nancy Moore\, who highlighted the history of the building from its early use for fishing net mending and storage\, to later serving as the site of the Kettle Creek Canvas Company. \nKing George VI Lift BridgeHosted by Richard Haddow and John Morrow\, who shared stories about the construction of the bridge in 1939 and the tragic loss of some workers during its construction. \n \n  URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/june-heritage-day-in-port-stanley/ LOCATION:Windjammer Inn\, 324 Smith St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C6\, Canada CATEGORIES:Tour ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/June-heritage.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250626T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250626T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T203412Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T040255Z UID:101013-1750944600-1750950000@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Settlement of Erie Rest DESCRIPTION:Explore the rich story of Erie Rest\, one of Port Stanley’s early coastal communities. Hosted at her home\, Laurie Nagge shares personal research and historical records that highlight the lives and legacy of this lakeside settlement. \nHeritage Port Stanley  \nThursday\, June 26\, 2025  1:30 \nLaurie Nagge’s Home\, 468 West Edith Cavell \nAttendance 36 ( 35 members and 1 guest) \nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 and welcomed everyone.  \nNora Sanders shared the reason for land acknowledgements    \nAdoption of the Minutes of May 22 meeting: Moved by Bronwyn Fitz-James and seconded by Anne McPhail that the minutes be approved as circulated and the motion carried. \nTreasurer’s report: Anne Kent  presented the treasurer’s report: Current balance in the general account is $3970.81 with two GICs of $8000 and $3000. Moved by Craig Cole\, seconded by Barb Cookson that the report be adopted as presented. The motion carried. \nExecutive Update: Nora outlined the work on the web site and that it was progressing nicely and should be up in the next few weeks. Everyone will be notified when it is up and are asked to read through it carefully for errors and suggestions \nReport on Oral Histories:  Dave explained that two videos have been edited and we have a proposal to have them edited for $60 each. Motion: That we approve $1000 for the editing of the videos which will cover more than 15 videos. Moved by Bronwyn Fitz-James\, seconded by Joan Clayton and carried. If you know others who should be interviewed please email them with suggestions to (dave3000@bell.net or norahome@rogers.com) \nHeritage Village Presentations:  All who took part felt it was a success once the rain stopped. Dave thanked the participants and Katie Valentine and Nora Sanders for the lunches provided.. \nHeritage Question of the Month Question: What was the original entrance to the Erie Rest area? Both Joan Clayton and Craig Cole felt it was the walkway bridge from Fraser Heights. Craig even brought a photo of the walkway bridge. Sally explained that it had still been there until about 7 years ago. The actual entrance was River Road which comes off George Street and used to go right through to the lake. It ran under the walkway Craig and Joan named. \nTentative Future meetings: \n\n\n\nDate\nLocation\nTopic\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\nJuly 24\, 2025\nMoore Water Gardens\nTour\nFarley See\n\n\nSept 25\, 2025\nPSTR Station\nHistory of the L&PS\nBen and Bradly (7:00 PM)\n\n\nOct 23\, 2025\nAlma Villa\nInterview Videos\nNora & David\n\n\nNov 27\, 2025\nRiva\nIndustrial Harbour\nDan McNeil\n\n\n\nHeritage Announcements  \nJoan Clayton invited everyone to a Heritage Summer Party at her home on Mitchell Heights on David Russell invited everyone to his place on Canada Day for a party at 6:00 pm Laurie Nagge showed a poster done by Candy McManiman and asked if anyone would be interested in purchasing one if she could get them reprinted. Several expressed an interest. \nFeature Presentation: Laurie Nagge \nLaurie told the history of the original Pollyanna Cottage which belonged to her great grandfather Charlie McCorckle. Charlie came to Canada from Ireland somewhere between 1898 and 1908 and built his cottage on the hillside below Front Street. Rustico was to the west of it and Dr. Hutchinson’s cottage to the east. She showed the group a diagram of the cottage and its layout. There was a gravel road in front of it. She shared her memories of the cottage and how it got hot water and a bath tub in the 1950s\, how you had to go outside to the porch to get to the washroom\, and that grey water (wash water\, shower water etc. but not sewage) just ran into the ravine beside it through a pipe. Her great grandfather owned all the land to the lake’s edge. It eventually became her mother’s cottage and after her marriage breakup she sold the cottage but in 1980 for Easter she gave Laurie and her sister\, Janice the two lots below the cottage where they each built a cottage of their own. Janice eventually sold hers but Laurie and Charlie still live in Laurie’s.  \nMinor variances were needed all over the area and places were built without surveys and often crossed property lines.  Others started to build in 1943 using Stanley Park as a place to leave their vehicles and walked to their cottages along the sandy lane towing the food\, clothing\, etc. in wagons. There are several private right of ways to the lake from the cottages back of the road and much of the land to the beach is privately owned.  The road originally was gravel and ran right in front of the cottages but it was so dusty that it was moved further south. One of the owners put up a gate in 1958 to block the traffic to the east end where the curve is now. West Edith Cavell was paved around 1994. \nLaurie shared photos of her early days at the cottage and photos of the cottage. Her great grandfather’s cottage was torn down a few years ago. Laurie invited the attendees to tour her current Pollyanna cottage named for her mother Polly Plastow.  \n  \nDavid thanked her for the great presentation and adjourned the meeting. \nThe meeting adjourned at 2:45. And the tour of the house followed. \nThe next meeting is July 24 with a walking tour of Moore Water Gardens with Farley See. It will be a tour only with no business meeting. \nSecretary: Sally Martyn \n Chair: David Russell URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/settlement-of-erie-rest/ LOCATION:Laurie Nagge Home\, 468 West Edith Cavell\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1G9\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/M5-S1-Sh1-B1-F5-33.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250724T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250724T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T203724Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250728T175628Z UID:101015-1753363800-1753369200@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Moore Water Gardens Tour DESCRIPTION:Join Farley See on-site for a special guided tour of Moore Water Gardens\, where aquatic plants have been cultivated for nearly a century. Discover the history of the Moore family’s innovation and how the gardens evolved from hand-dug ponds to a renowned horticultural business. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/moore-water-gardens-tour/ LOCATION:Moore Water Gardens\, 4683 Sunset Dr\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1J4\, Canada CATEGORIES:Tour ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_6705.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250925T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250925T210000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T204216Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T173551Z UID:101017-1758826800-1758834000@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:The L&PS Railway DESCRIPTION:Take a step back in time to learn about the London & Port Stanley Railway\, the vital link that transformed Port Stanley into a thriving transportation link between harbour and land.  Presenters will be Ben and Bradley Roberts\, active volunteers with the Port Stanley Terminal Rail. \nHere are the key points from Ben and Bradley Roberts’ presentation on the London and Port Stanley (L&PS) Railway: \n\nSpeakers and Topic: The presentation was given by Ben Roberts (father) and Bradley Roberts (son) about the history of the L&PS railway. Bradley displayed photos while Ben spoke.\nStation Locations: Ben provided the exact location of White’s Station and specified that the station at the County Building was named Craft Station. The trains were very busy at both stations during the 1940s\, serving the RCAF training station.\nEstablishment and Duration: The L&PS started in 1853 by the London Railroad Company and ran until 1966 when it was bought out by CN.\nConstruction: It took three years to lay the 24.6 miles of track. Laborers from Scotland and Ireland performed the work.\nFirst Run and Power: The first train ran on July 6\, 1856\, from the Richmond and Bathhurst Station in London to the Beach Station in Port Stanley. It was powered by diesel locomotives.\nFreight and Ferry Service: A freight terminal at the lake edge allowed freight cars to be loaded directly onto a ferry. Lumber from Canada was shipped to the USA\, and coal was shipped from the USA to Canada.\nPassenger Experience: At the Beach Station\, passengers could take the incline railway up to picnic hill for 5 cents. The incline railway cars are currently in St. Thomas at the Railway Museum\, with a possible eventual return to Port Stanley.\n1887 St. Thomas Accident: A severe accident in St. Thomas saw a freight train hit an L&PS passenger train\, resulting in 27 fatalities. This led to the installation of a BX tower.\nBX Tower Restoration: The BX tower is still standing\, though the CN tore out the tracks. After the key was recently found following the death of the last worker\, Charlie Beckett\, St. Thomas is planning to restore the tower as a tourist attraction.\nZavitz Bridge: The Zavitz bridge\, just north of Port Stanley\, was unaffected when it was hit by a tornado in 1990; the tornado “just bounced off.”\nElectrification and Profitability: In 1913\, Sir Adam Beck\, Mayor of London\, decided to electrify the L&PS\, paid for by the city. This made the train highly profitable from the 1920s to the 1940s.\nSpecialized Electric Cars: Special electric passenger cars were ordered\, featuring Tiffany glass and being twice as long as regular cars. They had driving abilities at both ends\, eliminating the need for a turntable. Even-numbered cars were powered\, and odd-numbered cars were trailers.\nPost-War Decline: Freight service slowed after the war. Passenger tour trains began in 1956\, but all regular passenger service stopped in 1957 due to the rise of car ownership.\nCN Takeover and Abandonment: Freight service continued until 1966 when CN bought the line and tore out all the electrical towers. CN continued to service the Ford plant and grain silos in Port Stanley. Train service was ultimately abandoned by CN in 1976 following a major washout north of Union.\nPSTR Revival: After five years of negotiations\, the Port Stanley Terminal Rail (PSTR) purchased the section from St. Thomas to Port Stanley. Service\, run entirely by volunteers\, began in June 1984 from the Bridge Station to St. Thomas.\nPSTR Rolling Stock: The PSTR restored the old station and owns the original electric box cabs L1 and L5\, along with several passenger cars\, including the 1937 passenger car the meeting was held in.\n\nConclusion: David thanked Ben and Bradley for their presentation and gave them a donation for the PSTR for preserving Port Stanley’s history. \nFor the full minutes of the meeting\, please click here: Meeting Minutes \n  URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/the-lps-railway/ LOCATION:Port Stanley Terminal Rail\, 309 Bridge St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C5\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pstr_station.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251023T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251023T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T204410Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251112T163451Z UID:101020-1761226200-1761231600@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Interview Videos: Voices of Port Stanley DESCRIPTION:Meeting at the historic Alma Villa\, David Russell and Nora Sanders will share excerpts from Heritage Port Stanley’s oral history interviews\, capturing memories of long-term Port Stanley residents to bring local history to life. \nHeritage Port Stanley\nThursday\, Sept. 25\, 2025 1:30\nAlma Villa\, 201 Lakeside Dr. \nAttendance 35 ( 31 members and 4 guests)\nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 and welcomed everyone.\nNora Sanders shared the land acknowledgement and explained the reason for it. \n\nAdoption of the Minutes of September 25 meeting: Moved by Richard Haddow and seconded by Anne McPhail that the minutes be approved as circulated and the motion carried.\nTreasurer’s report: Anne Kent presented the treasurer’s report: Current balance in the general account is $2304.85 with two GICs of $8000 and $3000. A $300 donation was made to PSTR and $102 in book sales was collected. Moved by Joan Clayton\, seconded by Laurie Nagge that the report be adopted as presented. The motion carried.\nExecutive Update: David and Nora noted the web site was up but still had errors to be corrected and thanked those that had offered suggestions for corrections or improvements. Work is progressing on the updating of the walking tour brochure. The heritage interview videos are now available. Members are encouraged to think about whether there are topics that they would like to learn about in future meetings\, and/or topics that they would like to research and report on.\nNovember meeting at Riva: We need to know by mid November if members are planning to have lunch at Riva before the meeting. There will be limited options but will include pizza and salads. Please let Sally Martyn know if you are coming for lunch at 12:00. The regular meeting will start at 1:30.\nHeritage Question of the Month\nQuestion: Who built Alma Villa and in what year? Nancy Moore (as well as Craig Cole) knew it was built by James Duffield in 1916.\nTentative Future meetings:\ndate location topic Speaker\nNovember 27 Riva Industrial harbour Dan McNeil\nDecember 11 Alma Villa getting to know each other All\nHeritage Announcements\nCraig Cole and Janice Mann will work with Mahesh to get the post cards up on the web site and catalogued in an easily searched form.\nSally announced there were just a few tickets left for the fall heritage feast in Sparta November 8th featuring 1952 and the Stork Club with an 8 piece brass band and food of the period.\nFeature Presentation:\nNora and David introduced the 10 edited videos from the first year and showed us brief excerpts from each video. The order was Katie Valentine\, Sally Martyn\, John (Blutch) Moore\, Bob Shewan\, Don Bell and Len Gilbert together\, Craig Cole\, Laurie Nagge\, John Smith\, Sharon Larmour and Bob Nemett. Everyone seemed to enjoy seeing these videos and thanked Nora and David for all their work making the videos. To watch the full version of each go to our website heritageportstanley.ca. On the website go to Heritage and History then to Heritage Gallery. It was noted with appreciation that funding from the Municipality of Central Elgin has been received to help with the editing costs.\n\nThe meeting adjourned at 2:48. \nThe next meeting is November 27 at Riva with Dan McNeil speaking on the Industrial Harbour. (See note above concerning lunch and times) \nSecretary: Sally Martyn \nChair: David Russell \nFor the full minutes of the meeting\, please click here: Meeting Minutes \n Excerpts from the first 10 videos: Video Link URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/interview-videos-voices-of-port-stanley/ LOCATION:Alma Villa\, 201 Lakeview St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1A1\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Heritage-History-Interview.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251127T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251127T150000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20250618T204650Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T030206Z UID:101022-1764250200-1764255600@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Port Stanley’s Industrial Harbour DESCRIPTION:Meeting Highlights\nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 PM and welcomed everyone. Nora Sanders shared the land acknowledgement. \n\nMinutes Approved: The October 23 meeting minutes were approved as circulated.\nTreasurer’s Report:Presented by Anne Kent.\n\nGeneral account balance: $1\,644.85\nGICs: $8\,000 and $3\,000The report was adopted as presented.\n\n\n\nExecutive Update\n\nWebsite improvements are ongoing\, with additional historic postcards being added.\nSmaller discussion-focused meetings will be introduced for members interested in deeper conversation.\nFour new oral histories have been recorded (Skip Taylor\, Steve Martin\, Carmen Speers\, and Bob Hubert) and will be edited using grant funding.\nRepairs to heritage signage are being reviewed.\nThe walking tour is being updated.\nAn Indigenous presentation is being planned in conjunction with PSVA.\nMembers were reminded of Heritage Port Stanley’s participation in the upcoming parade.\n\nConstitution Update\nA proposed change will rename the Director of Promotion and Social Media position to Director at Large\, along with minor editorial revisions. These changes will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Members are encouraged to consider volunteering for this role. \nUpcoming Meetings\n\n\n\n\n\nDate\nLocation\nTopic\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\nDecember 11\nAlma Villa\nGetting to Know Each Other\nAll\n\n\nJanuary 29\nPSFT\nVignettes of Port Stanley\nSteve Peters\n\n\n\n\n\nHeritage Question of the Month\nQuestion: What was the original use of this building and what is unique about its construction?Answer: It was a customs building for non-Canadian ships. It is uniquely constructed entirely of concrete and built like a bridge. The only other building in Canada of the same construction style is the Queen’s Quay Terminal in Toronto.Winner: Robert Langlois \nHeritage Announcements\n\nJane Austen 250th Birthday Celebration:Hosted with the help of Joan Clayton on Saturday\, December 13.\n\n2:00 PM at Lake House Books\nFollowed by a wine and cheese reception at the original Mitchell House on George Street\nScreening of Persuasion\n\n\n\nFeature Presentation\nSpeaker: Dan McNeilTopic: The Naval History of Port Stanley and Its Role in Canada’s Naval Story \nDan McNeil presented a richly illustrated talk tracing Port Stanley’s connections to Canadian naval history. Highlights included: \n\nEarly international shipping through Port Stanley\nArtifacts such as an ice-clearing sail mallet and a historic anchor\nNaval vessels including the Petrel\, Vigilant\, Elsie Doris\, and HMCS Sackville\nThe Rush-Bagot Treaty and Port Stanley’s role in naval peacekeeping\nThe Ojibwe submarine and challenges posed by Lake Erie seiches\nHistoric naval traditions\, surveillance tools\, and ship models\n\nRobert Langlois also displayed his detailed model of a 1942 corvette. \nClosing\nChair David Russell thanked Dan McNeil for his engaging presentation. Attendees had the opportunity to view the model corvette before the meeting adjourned at 2:50 PM. \n \n  URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/port-stanleys-industrial-harbour/ LOCATION:Riva\, 191 Carlow Rd\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1B6\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20251127_135212.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251129 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251130 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20251216T043712Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T124624Z UID:103511-1764374400-1764460799@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Port Stanley Dickens Day Parade DESCRIPTION:The Port Stanley Dickens Day Parade brought the community together for an evening of holiday cheer\, featuring festive floats\, seasonal music\, and classic small-town charm. Visitors enjoyed the warm atmosphere\, twinkling lights\, and joyful spirit that mark the start of the holiday season in Port Stanley. \n \n  URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/port-stanley-dickens-day-parade/ LOCATION:Ontario CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251129_154324.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251210 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251211 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20251222T022250Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T205752Z UID:103538-1765324800-1765411199@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Balaclava St. School Tour DESCRIPTION:Balaclava St. School Tour was a visit organized by Heritage Port Stanley to explore historical sites in the surrounding region\, including St. Thomas. While outside Port Stanley\, the visit reflects our ongoing mission to document\, preserve\, and celebrate the heritage of southwestern Ontario\, connecting communities\, people\, and stories that have shaped the region over time. \nSome of our members and also some guests were able to attend this wonderful tour led by MJ Ferriman from Indwell. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/balaclava-st-school-tour/ LOCATION:Balaclava St. School\, 20 Balaclava St\, St. Thomas\, ON N5P 3C2\, St. Thomas\, Ontario\, N5P 3C2\, Canada CATEGORIES:Tour ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251210_120811.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20251211T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20251211T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20251213T180511Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251213T192608Z UID:103486-1765459800-1765472400@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Heritage Christmas Party @ Alma Villa DESCRIPTION:Celebrate the season with our Heritage Christmas Party at Alma Villa\, a warm and festive gathering that brought together members\, friends\, and the community to share holiday cheer. Set in the historic charm of Alma Villa\, the evening featured great conversation\, seasonal treats\, and a joyful atmosphere as we reflected on the year’s achievements and celebrated the spirit of togetherness. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/heritage-christmas-party-alma-villa/ LOCATION:Alma Villa\, 201 Lakeview St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1A1\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251208_185307.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260129T133000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20251216T124414Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T140201Z UID:103519-1769693400-1769693400@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting DESCRIPTION:Heritage Port Stanley \nAnnual Meeting\n \nThursday\, January 29\, 2026 – 1:30 p.m. \nPort Stanley United Church \n  \nAttendance: 37 (36 members and 1 guest) \nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 and welcomed everyone. \nNora Sanders shared the land acknowledgement. \nAdoption of the Minutes – November 27\, 2025 \nMoved by Richard Haddow and seconded by Al Slater that the minutes be approved as circulated.\nMotion carried. \nTreasurer’s Report \nAnne Kent presented the annual treasurer’s report. Current balance in the general account is $1284.85 with two GICs of $8000 and $3000 due February 10. \nMoved by Kathy McNeil\, seconded by Bronwyn Fitz-James that the report be adopted as presented.\nMotion carried. \nProposed Constitutional Amendments \nNora explained the reasons behind the amendments and read the proposed amendments that had been circulated to all prior to the meeting. \nMotion: That the following amendments be made to the Constitution of Heritage Port Stanley: \na) In section 5 a.\, remove the words\, “of promotion and social media” and add in that same place the words\, “at large”; \nb) In Section 6.3\, add at the end of the section\, the following sentence\,\n“Correspondence sent by email is deemed to be included in the definition of written correspondence.”; \nc) Amend s. 6.5 to read\,\n“Director at Large. The director at large shall serve as part of the executive\, promoting and supporting the activities of the organization according to the projects and needs of the time.”; \nd) At the end of s. 8\, replace the words\, “for the following year”\, with the words\, “as needed”. \nMoved by Nora Sanders\, seconded by June Ayrhart.\nMotion carried. \nElection of Director at Large \nDavid called for nominations and Craig Cole nominated Janice Mann. After calling three times for any other nominations\, Richard Haddow moved that nomination be closed\, seconded by Joan Clayton. \nDavid declared Janice Mann elected and welcomed her to the executive. \nExecutive Update \nNora noted that she and David were presenting the group’s heritage videos at a Lunch and Learn on March 19 at Port Stanley United Church. Everyone is welcome. This will help spread the word throughout the community. \nAnne Kent and Ted Halwa are revising the walking tour brochure\, preparing both a website version and a new printed edition. Nora and David are leading another walking tour for the West Elgin Walking Club and encouraged members to attend to learn about the tours so they can guide in the future. \nDavid mentioned that the group is preparing a sign inventory for all heritage signs in Port Stanley\, with Robert Langlois volunteering to help with this effort. The group has also offered to help with the Oneida commemoration of their landing in Port Stanley on October 9. \nNora noted that a working group is reviewing the postcard collection and that anyone is welcome to participate. Sally will send out notices of the working group meetings. Dave shared that additional oral histories have been completed. \nAnnual Memberships \nMemberships remain $20 and should be paid by the February meeting. Membership cards will be distributed following that meeting. \nHeritage Question of the Month \nThe lighthouse is one of the many designated buildings in Port Stanley and Central Elgin. How is its designation different from the rest? \nAnswer: It was designated by the Federal Government under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act before being transferred to Central Elgin ownership. Ted Halwa explained it as no one knew the answer. \nTentative Future Meetings \n\n\n\nDate\nLocation\nTopic\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\nFebruary 26\nPS United Church\nNetting the Waters\nMovie\n\n\nMarch 26\nTBA\nAgnes Hepburn Papers\nSally Martyn\n\n\nApril 23\nTBA\nThe McKee Treaty and Local Indigenous History\nNora Sanders\n\n\n\nHeritage Announcements \nThe Elgin Historical Society March meeting features James Reaney speaking on Music in Port Stanley. Check their website at elginhistoricalsociety.ca. \nSteve Peters is speaking on Jumbo at the Elgin County Heritage Centre on March 11. Check with the centre for the time. \nOn Saturday\, March 7\, the Sparta & District Historical Society is hosting their annual potluck supper and games night at the Sparta Church Museum. There will be crokinole\, as well as board games and cards. Potluck at 6:30 (bring your own dishes and cutlery and one food item to share) with games to follow. \nFeature Presentation – Steve Peters \nSteve shared many stories and historical facts about Port Stanley through artifacts from his extensive personal collection. Having lived in St. Thomas since 1959\, much of his collection focuses on St. Thomas\, but he also has many items relating to Port Stanley. He fondly remembered family trips to Port and the strong sulphur smell near Moore Water Gardens. \nHe began collecting old bottles as a youth and continues today. He joked about what might become of his large collection and said he would never let his sister get her hands on it. Some items have been donated to the Elgin Heritage Centre. \nHe passed around a native spearhead found just north of Port Stanley and discussed the naming of Kettle Creek using maps from the book Ontario’s History in Maps. The creek appeared on maps as early as 1660. One map showed it was a five-hour walk from the Oneida settlement to Port Stanley via Kettle Creek Road. He recounted that fur trader David Ramsey landed here\, marched north\, killed one Indigenous man and two women\, and scalped them. \nSteve described proposed canal projects by Ermatinger and another individual that were never realized. Talbot first visited the area in the 1790s with Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and later asked for 5000 acres from the Duke of Cumberland in this area. \nHe passed around postcards\, including aerial photo cards by Billy Bishop. One featured the Fraser House\, purported to have the longest bar in Canada. He displayed a creamer featuring the Fraser House and noted that he had donated several pieces of china with Fraser House images to the Elgin County Heritage Centre. He also showed the Clifton Hotel parking sign that he acquired when the hotel burned. \nOther items included a milk pint jar from Jones Jersey Dairy and a butter carton from Chestnut Grove Dairy\, both from Port Stanley. He also spoke about MacKies dating to 1911 and a 5 cent token which he passed around\, as well as a flat beach stone inscribed by Nettie Simons in July 1891 and an L&PS lock key. He showed a tintype photograph of the beach by Fred Loftus\, a local beach photographer. \nHe read a humorous newspaper excerpt from 100 years ago refusing women in beach attire from coming downtown. He spoke about the plank road built from London to Port Stanley between 1844 and 1846. He showed a photo of a massive flood in 1901 and a young girl’s photo album containing pictures of Port. He mentioned the sinking of the Bessemer\, a vessel 364 feet long and 54 feet wide that sank in a storm and has never been found. \nSteve spoke about the Hopkins Casino (dance hall) (1909–1932)\, the L&PS Pavilion (including a 1926 popcorn box)\, and the Port Stanley Ballroom (dance pass from 1938)\, later known as the Stork Club (1951). More recent topics included the Kettle Creek Queen tour boat\, the Kettle Creek Canvas Company\, and the New Coal Company. \nDavid thanked Steve for his interesting stories\, all represented by artifacts in his collection. He thanked him for being a collector\, noting that much history would be lost without collectors. \nThe meeting adjourned at 3:15. \nNext Meeting: February 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Port Stanley United Church. \nSecretary: Sally Martyn\nChair: David Russell URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/annual-general-meeting/ LOCATION:239 Colborne St\, 239 Colborne St\, London\, ON N6B 2S4\, Canada\, London\, Ontario\, N6B 2S4\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_20260223_083221.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260226T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260226T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260223T032604Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T150236Z UID:103681-1772112600-1772125200@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:February 26 HPS Meeting DESCRIPTION:Heritage Port Stanley \nAnnual Meeting \nThursday\, February 27\, 2026 – 1:30 p.m. \nPort Stanley Festival Theatre \nAttendance: 28 members \nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 and welcomed everyone. \nNora Sanders shared the land acknowledgement. \nAdoption of the Minutes – January 29\, 2026 \nMoved by June Ayrhart and seconded by Margi Cole that the minutes be approved as circulated.\nMotion carried. \nTreasurer’s Report \nAnne Kent presented the treasurer’s report. Current balance in the general account is $1926.22 with two GICs of $4000 and three GICs of $1000. \nMoved by Barb Cookson\, seconded by Bronwyn Fitz-James that the report be adopted as presented.\nMotion carried. \nExecutive Update \nNora noted that she and David will be presenting the group’s heritage videos at a Lunch and Learn on March 19 at Port Stanley United Church. Everyone is welcome. \nShe also spoke about the new Municipal Grant available and advised that an application will be submitted to support several initiatives\, including the walking tour brochure\, oral histories\, and heritage signage. This will help spread the word throughout the community. \nAnne Kent and Ted Halwa have completed revisions to the walking tour brochure and will soon be preparing both a website version and a new printed edition. \nAnnual Memberships \nMembers who have paid their 2026 memberships will receive their cards at the March meeting. \nHeritage Question of the Month \nWhat fish could only be caught by locals in March or April at night? \nAnswer: Smelt. Helen Albert won the mug\, although many members knew the answer. \nTentative Future Meetings \n\n\n\nDate\nLocation\nTopic\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\nMarch 26\nPSFT\nAgnes Hepburn Papers\nSally Martyn\n\n\nApril 23\nPSFT\nThe McKee Treaty and Local Indigenous History\nNora Sanders\n\n\nMay 28\nThe Mill\nHistory of the Mill\nJohn Smith\n\n\nJune 25\nMitchell House\nHistory of the Mitchells\nJoan Clayton\n\n\n\nHeritage Announcements \nCraig Cole noted that a working group is reviewing the postcard collection and that anyone is welcome to participate. Members interested in joining are asked to contact Craig\, Nora\, or Janice Mann. \nTed Halwa expressed concern regarding the incline rail cars\, as the future of the St. Thomas Railway Museum is uncertain. This matter will be looked into further. \nSally Martyn encouraged members to attend the Central Elgin Council meeting on Monday\, March 2 to sit in the gallery in support of saving the designated portions of the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Several group members will be speaking. \nHeather Emerson is researching the military history of Port Stanley citizens and welcomes any information members may have. Sally mentioned that local churches have honour rolls listing members who served in the two World Wars. \nOn Saturday\, March 7\, the Sparta & District Historical Society is hosting its annual potluck supper and games night at the Sparta Church Museum. There will be crokinole\, as well as board games and cards. Potluck begins at 6:30 p.m. (bring your own dishes and cutlery and one food item to share)\, with games to follow. \nFeature Presentation – Netting the Waters \nThe movie featured excellent historical photographs of the early days of fishing and the “fish wars” on Lake Erie\, followed by an overview of modern commercial fishing practices on the lake. Members learned about the use of gill nets for pickerel and yellow perch\, and troll nets for smelt. \nFor those unable to attend\, the film is available online at: https://nettingthewaters.vhx.tv/ \nThe meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. \nNext Meeting: March 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Port Stanley Festival Theatre. \nSecretary: Sally Martyn\nChair: David Russell URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/february-26-hps-meeting/ LOCATION:Port Stanley Festival Theatre\, 302 Bridge St\, Port Stanley\, ON N5L 1C3\, Canada\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C3\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260226_135738.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260319T104500 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260319T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260311T134236Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T130345Z UID:103761-1773917100-1773939600@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:March 2026 HPS Meeting DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special Lunch and Learn event at the Port Stanley United Church on Thursday\, March 19\, featuring Dave Russell and Nora Sanders. They will be presenting excerpts from the Oral History Project and sharing insights about the ongoing project that captures the stories and memories of our community. \nThis event is open to everyone\, and we would love for you to attend. The Lunch and Learn program begins at 10:45 AM with the presentation\, followed by a soup and sandwich lunch. There is no set fee for the lunch. Guests are invited to contribute whatever amount they wish in the donation bowl as they line up for their meal. \nCome for the stories\, stay for the community\, and enjoy a delicious lunch. We look forward to seeing you there! URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/march-2026-hps-meeting/ LOCATION:Port Stanley United Church\, 239 Colborne St\, Port Stanley\, ON N5L 1B9\, Canada\, London\, Ontario\, N5L 1B9\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/March-2026.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260326T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260326T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260316T131259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T124323Z UID:103771-1774531800-1774544400@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:Agnes Hepburn Papers DESCRIPTION:Heritage Port Stanley Meeting\nThursday\, March 26\, 2026 | 1:30 PM\nPort Stanley Festival Theatre \n  \nAttendance: 32 (31 members\, 1 guest) \nChair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 PM and welcomed everyone. He expressed condolences to Brian Welsh on the loss of his wife\, Lin. \nLand Acknowledgment: Nora Sanders \n1. Adoption of Minutes (February 26\, 2026)\nMoved by Richard Haddowt\, seconded by Kathy McNeil\, that the minutes be approved as circulated.\nMotion carried. \n2. Treasurer’s Report\nAnne Kent presented the report: \n\nGeneral Account Balance: $1\,768.19\nGICs: Two at $4\,000 and three at $1\,000\n\nMoved by Nancy Moore\, seconded by Al Slater\, that the report be adopted as presented.\nMotion carried. \n3. Executive Update\n\nDavid reported that the incline railway cars will likely return to Port Stanley.\nNora noted their heritage video presentation at the March 19 Lunch and Learn at Port Stanley United Church was well received and featured in the Aylmer Express.\nGrant application submitted to Central Elgin.\nSally and Dave photographed all designated and clerk’s list buildings\, as well as signs and murals in Port Stanley.\nDave attended a meeting of Port Stanley committees at the Kokomo Club House.\n\n4. Annual Memberships\nMembership cards were distributed to paid members present. Missing cards will be printed by Nora. \n5. Heritage Question of the Month\nQuestion: The current public school in Port Stanley is its fourth. Where were the first\, second\, and third schools located? \nAnswer (Janice Mann): \n\nFirst: East side of Francis Street (1 room)\nSecond: West side of Francis Street (2 rooms)\nThird: West side again (4 rooms on two floors\, later 2 basement rooms)\n\n6. Tentative Future Meetings\n\n\n\nDate\nLocation\nTopic\nSpeaker\n\n\n\n\nApril 23\nPS United Church\nMcKee Treaty & local Indigenous history\nNora Sanders\n\n\nMay 28\nThe Mill\nHistory of the Mill\nJohn Smith\n\n\nJune 25\nMitchell House\nHistory of the Mitchells\nJoan Clayton\n\n\n\n7. Heritage Announcements\n\nSally Martyn reported Sparta & District Historical Society hired two students available for Heritage Port Stanley projects.\nHayden Sawyer assisted in producing three video histories (Sparta driving tour\, walking tour\, and war veterans video). These will be available on the website.\nNora reported on a Heritage Central Elgin motion supporting retention of designated structures on the Psychiatric Hospital property.\nA presentation on preserving heritage barns through photography was also noted.\n\n8. Feature Presentation\n“Who Was Agnes Hepburn” – Presented by Sally Martyn \nSally shared extensive materials and photographs highlighting Agnes Hepburn’s life and contributions\, including: \n\nTeaching career and lifelong residence in Port Stanley\nHandwritten histories (St. John’s Presbyterian Church\, family history\, local resorts)\nTweedsmuir Histories of Port Stanley\nHistorical booklets and archival materials preserved thanks to Skip Taylor\n\nThese materials will eventually be housed at the Elgin County Archives. \n9. Adjournment\nThe meeting adjourned at 2:55 PM. \nNext Meeting \nApril 23\, 2026 | 1:30 PM\nPort Stanley United Church \nSecretary: Sally Martyn\nChair: David Russell \nAppendix: Sally Martyn’s Speaking Notes – “Who Was Agnes Hepburn?”\n\nBorn 1881 – Died 1972 (age 91)\nParents: Susannah (Kennedy) and Andrew Hepburn\nLifelong resident of Port Stanley (285 Bridge Street)\nTeacher (Barrie and Port Stanley\, 32 years)\n\nKey Contributions: \n\nWrote St. John’s Presbyterian Church 100th anniversary history (1954)\nCompiled family and community histories\nPreserved early records (e.g.\, voter lists\, settlement histories)\nAuthored Historical Sketch of the Village of Port Stanley (1817–1952)\nCompiled Tweedsmuir History of Port Stanley\n\nLegacy: \n\nMaterials preserved through Skip Taylor\nNow housed or destined for Elgin County Archives\nRecognized as “Citizen Exceptionale” for preserving Port Stanley history\n\nKey Historical Topics Covered in Her Work: \n\nFormation of Elgin County (1851–1853)\nCholera outbreaks (1832\, 1849)\nLocal landmarks and industries\nRush-Bagot Treaty (1817)\nEarly tourism and businesses\n\nAgnes Hepburn’s work remains an invaluable resource for researching the history of Port Stanley. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/agnes-hepburn-papers/ LOCATION:Port Stanley Festival Theatre\, 302 Bridge St\, Port Stanley\, ON N5L 1C3\, Canada\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C3\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326_141304.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260423T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260423T133000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260316T132245Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T180449Z UID:103776-1776951000-1776951000@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:The McKee Treaty and Local Indigenous History DESCRIPTION:Join Heritage Port Stanley for its April monthly meeting on Thursday\, April 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. \nThe featured presentation\, “The McKee Treaty and Local Indigenous History\,” will be given by Nora Sanders. This talk will discuss the historical background and local significance of the McKee Treaty and its connection to Indigenous history in the region. \nMembers and visitors interested in local heritage are welcome to attend. \nLocation: Port Stanley Festival TheatreTime: 1:30 p.m. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/the-mckee-treaty-and-local-indigenous-history/ LOCATION:Port Stanley Festival Theatre\, 302 Bridge St\, Port Stanley\, ON N5L 1C3\, Canada\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C3\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-McKee-Treaty-and-Local-Indigenous-History.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260528T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260528T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260316T133832Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T133832Z UID:103779-1779975000-1779987600@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:History of the Mill DESCRIPTION:The May meeting of Heritage Port Stanley will take place on Thursday\, May 28 at 1:30 p.m. at The Mill in Port Stanley. \nJohn Smith will present “History of the Mill\,” sharing insights into the origins\, development\, and historical importance of the Mill within the Port Stanley community. \nAll members and guests interested in local heritage are invited to attend. \nLocation: The MillTime: 1:30 p.m. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/history-of-the-mill/ LOCATION:The Old Mill and Log Cabins\, 4118 Thomas Rd\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1J2\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/history-of-the-mill.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260625T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260625T170000 DTSTAMP:20260403T171037 CREATED:20260316T140938Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T140938Z UID:103782-1782394200-1782406800@heritageportstanley.ca SUMMARY:History of the Mitchells DESCRIPTION:Heritage Port Stanley’s June meeting will be held on Thursday\, June 25 at 1:30 p.m. at Mitchell House. \nThe featured presentation\, “History of the Mitchells\,” will be delivered by Joan Clayton. The presentation will explore the history of the Mitchell family and their contributions to the heritage and development of Port Stanley. \nMembers and guests are welcome to join for this informative session. \nLocation: Mitchell HouseTime: 1:30 p.m. URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/history-of-the-mitchells/ LOCATION:Mitchell House\, 320 George St\, Port Stanley\, ON N5L 1C5\, Canada\, London\, Ontario\, ON N5L 1C5\, Canada CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/History-of-the-Mitchells.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR