For well over a century some of the most important men and women for the ongoing safety and well-being of our community were also the most isolated and in danger themselves. Yet their indomitable spirit shone as brightly in the story of Collingwood as the light they maintained shone over the waters of the bay. Join us in our latest episode as we recount some of the personal stories connected to over 124 years of lighthouse keepers on Nottawasaga Island.

After the story we invite our listeners to check out some further

Nottawasaga Lighthouse and Keeper’s Cottage, 1936 Collingwood Museum Collection X968.896.1]

Sandell, Marion, Keepers of the Light. The Print Shop, Collingwood 2004.

Collingwood Times October 30, 1984. p.7

Library Historical Files. Nottawasage Lighthouse.

Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society

“No Shot in the Dark” Season 1, Episode 7

We begin season three with a sweet treat as we tell you the story of a

Telfer Biscuit Tin [Collingwood Museum Collection X2017.2.1]

Untitled Newspaper Article, Collingwood Library Files on the Telfer Family

Isabel Griffin, “Telfers were Fine Pioneers”. Enterprise Bulletin. June

Isabel Griffin, “Telfers were Fine Citizens”. Enterprise Bulletin. July

Isabel Griffin, “Telfers were Fine Citizens”. Enterprise Bulletin. July

Collingwood Bulletin, December 20, 1906.

Lane-Moore, Laurel. Collingwood Historic Homes and Buildings. Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts. 1989. 83.

Telfer, Alan. Revelations of a 50 year Old Takeover. Collingwood Library Files on the Telfer Family

Vuckson, David. The Telfer Brothers-Biscuits, Brooms, & Whisks-A Clean Sweep. Stories of Collingwood, Collingwood Historical Society. June 30, 2023.

Links:

“The Elegant Lady Who Built Our Town” Season 2, Episode 1

In this bonus summer episode we take a break for the heat to remember winter and snow as we hear the harrowing (and hilarious) tale of a horse and sleigh, and a young girl and her bloomers.

Are you old enough to remember bloomers? Did you wear them? Did you like them? Should they make a comeback? (Not right now ... for winter weather of course.) We would love to hear what you think!

Episode Picture:

Horse-drawn sleighs line the streets outside of the Dominion Stable on Hurontario Street, c. 1890s. [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.961.1]

Research:

Miles, Anita; The Chicago of the North. Town of Collingwood, 2004. p.123.

Have you heard all the back to school ads yet? They are a sure sign that the seasons are soon changing. But they also can’t compare to the flare, fun, and marketing genius of a long time Collingwood store owner Mr. T. N. Brown from many long years ago.

And because the fall will soon be upon us, this will be the final bonus episode of the summer, as we look forward to our fast approaching third season of the podcast. Make sure to tune in on September 5 for the first episode.

What is the one advertisement from the past that you still remember to this day? (Let’s see how far back we can go!) What was the best one you ever heard? We would love for you to share those ads of yesteryear with us!

Episode Picture:

Interior of T.N. Brown’s Grocery Store, c. 1913 [Collingwood Museum Collection X973.637.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 195.

Flag raisings are an important part of our Collingwood culture and community even to this day. In this bonus summer episode we travel more than a century into the past to tell the tale of a flag raising that nearly sparked an international incident right here on our main street. Or so one young lad would later say.

Episode Picture:

United States Consulate Office in Collingwood in the 1890s. [Collingwood Museum Collection X973.404.1]

Research:

Leithead, Maggie. Collingwood Skiffs & Side Launches (Collingwood Museum, Collingwood, 1994), 10.

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 105.

For many people, July and fireworks go together like peanut butter and jelly. So what better time to share the story of youthful fireworks gone very wrong. And the best part of this bonus summer episode? It is a story told by the son of a former town’s fire chief.

Do you have a story of something you thought was a good idea at the time, but which turned into something very different than you had planned? We would love to hear it!

Episode Picture:

Built in 1911, Collingwood’s 3-storey Fire Hall located on the west side

Research:

Skelding, Douglas. Ordeal By Fire: A History of the Collingwood Fire Department 1852-2005(Barrie: Northern Printworx Inc., 2005), 167.

In this special bonus episode of the Collingwood Museum's Stories from Another Day podcast we turn the microphone over to local student, Grace Johnson, who shares with us a story she researched and wrote for the Simcoe County Heritage Fair which was held in May at the Simcoe County Museum. The touching history of Grace’s ancestors may be familiar to many families who now call Canada home.

Grace’s project won the Ontario Ancestors Award from the Ontario Genealogical Society at the Simcoe County Heritage Fair and she was one of six students chosen to represent Simcoe County at the Regional Gathering in Toronto. We are honoured to share “Grace’s Story: Dutch Immigration to Canada after WWII” with you. We know you are going to love this episode as much as we do.

In the last episode of our second season we revisit the story of the railroad in Collingwood, this time to trace its slow and steady decline and eventual disappearance from our town. Along the way we will discuss some of the wonderful and wild ideas proposed to keep the role of the railways a going concern for Collingwood, and the lasting impact the now removed railways still have on our little town today.

After the story we take some time to thank all those who have been an important part of bringing you this season’s stories. We invite everyone to come out

And finally a big thank you goes out to all of our listeners and subscribers. We appreciate all your comments and feedback. Please keep sending in

Episode Picture:

Canadian 1363 National Steam Engine at the Collingwood Station, 1937 [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.414.1]

Research:

Isabel Griffin, Enterprise Bulletin May 21, 1980

Sewell, John. The History of Collingwood. 5 Lectures. 2003

Messenger, William. Building of the First Railway. 1969

The Story of Collingwood. Enterprise Bulletin Presses Ltd. 1958 p 22-26

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 237

J.T. MacMurchy, Enterprise Bulletin. Twenty in the Series of Business Articles “The Railway Has Always Been A Part Of The Collingwood Business Scene”.

Links:

“A Royal Snub” Season 1, Episode 8 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cwoodstories/episodes/A-Royal-Snub-e16qvsq

The work of museums in preserving the past is sometimes fraught with loss and disappointment. Despite everyone’s best efforts sometimes a piece of our history still gets away and is lost in time. In today’s episode we look at two such losses connected by a strong sense of irony. We also end with a note of hope for the same currents of time and circumstance sometimes work in the museum’s favour. Join us as we follow the story of a stuffed Passenger Pigeon that was on display at the Collingwood Museum’s predecessor, the Huron Institute, until disaster struck.

Ken will be there and is hoping to say hi to any podcast listeners who want to come by! We look forward to seeing you then.

Episode Picture:

The Huron Institute [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.577.1]

Miles, Anita; The Chicago of the North. Town of Collingwood, 2004. p.17-18

Passenger Pigeon. Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/passenger-pigeon

Vuckson, David. The Carnegie Library Revisited. Collingwood Historical Society, April 2017. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/3bf734df-da42-4fed-b6fc-91e612df8825/downloads/April%202017%20-%20The%20Carnegie%20Library%20Revisited.pdf?ver=1678821694161

Enterprise Bulletin April 11, 1935

Enterprise Bulletin April 18, 1935

Enterprise Bulletin May 9, 1935

“The Museum That Wasn’t” Season 1, Episode 23 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cwoodstories/episodes/The-Museum-That-Wasnt-e1ig37a

For more than seven decades of our town’s history the Kiltie Band provided the soundtrack to Collingwood’s joys and celebrations. They were also present to mark many a special occasion and more than a few sombre moments. This community band provided a welcoming stage to many local musicians and encouraged many a young boy and girl to learn an instrument and give back to the community. In their smart kilted uniforms they brought a sense of pride and awe to countless town parades and events. In the latest episode of the Collingwood Museum’s podcast Stories from Another Day we remember the gift of their music to Collingwood.

The Kiltie Band [Collingwood Museum Collection 001.12.1]

Enterprise Bulletin Dec. 10, 1925

Enterprise Bulletin Nov. 20, 1926 (p.1) Collingwood Kilties on Air Thursday Evening

Enterprise Bulletin Sep. 6, 1928 Collingwood Kilties to play at T.O. Exhibition

Enterprise Bulletin Mar. 17 and 24, 1932 The Band Question

Enterprise Bulletin July 31, 1958 (p. 2) Collingwood Bands Kept Town in Step Since Early Years

“Coming Home ... Again” Season 1, Episode 17 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cwoodstories/episodes/Coming-Home-----Again-e1eeis5