What do you do when you think you are not being treated fairly by the powers that be? You cheat your way into a better deal, of course! Or at least that is what some of the citizens of the fledgling town of Collingwood decided to do when they felt they were not getting fair play. Can two wrongs make a right? Join us in this episode to find out. Finally, we let you know of a series of four videos coming from the Museum just in time for Halloween ... Stories of Unsettling Lore ... from Collingwood’s past. And the haunting story Ken will share as part of that series is directly tied into our next podcast episode, so don’t miss it.  You can find all our Stories of Unsettling Lore on our Face book page in the last two weeks of October. Go to facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum ... if you dare!

Episode Picture:

W.B. Hamilton, First Mayor of Collingwood. [Collingwood Museum Collection X976.545.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 10-11.

Cotton, Larry. Whiskey and Wickedness, vol. 4, Town of Collingwood, Angus, Stayner, Creemore, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township, Ontario 1830 to 1900. (Deep River: Larry D. Cotton Associates Limited, 2005), 86.

Water and fire combine in a story of irony and anguish on the day on August 13, 1890 when a day of celebration turns to grief and a local landmark is changed forever. We then discuss historical tours of places that no longer exist, ask your help in discovering if photographs of a particular building still exist. (We would love to see them if you have them!) And finally we let you know about our upcoming PA day activity kits and how you can keep your eyes out to snag one when they become available. As always you can contact us at facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum or by sending us an email to [email protected]

Episode Picture:

The Steamer City of Midland and The Collingwood Town Hall [Collingwood Museum Collection X974.838.1 and X007.19.41]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 97.

What do absentee politicians, horse races, the queen’s birthday, and a deck fire on a great lake steamer all have to do with the beginnings of our town’s shipbuilding past? In today’s episode we will find out as we journey back to 1883 and the grand opening of the Collingwood Dry Dock! We also point out where you can still see this local landmark for yourself and invite you to come and see our brand new permanent gallery exhibit “Launch Day” which details one of the most exiting parts of that very same shipbuilding history. We are open, by appointment only, Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call us at 705-445-4811 or email us at [email protected]to set up your appointment.

Episode Picture:

The Steamer Oneida in the Collingwood Dry Dock [Collingwood Museum Collection X986.31.25]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 78-79.

Leithead, Maggie. Collingwood Skiffs & Side Launches (Collingwood Museum, Collingwood, 1994), 9-10.

Royal visits are fraught with etiquette and ceremony ... so what happens when you break protocol? In this episode we journey back to 1860 for the visit of Albert Edward, the young Prince of Wales and the future King Edward VII of England to explore what can only be described as a Royal Snub. Later, we discuss meeting famous people and ask for your stories of the same. We also enlist your help to track down a photograph of this royal visit that disappeared from our care nearly sixty years ago.

Episode Picture:

Gold Tassels from Prince of Wales’s Royal Coach Car [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.266.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 38.

1860 – The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales. https://europeanroyalhistory.wordpress.com/2020/09/21/1860-the-future-king-edward-vii-of-the-united-kingdom-the-first-visit-to-north-america-by-a-prince-of-wales/

“A Royal Visit”, The Collingwood Museum: On Track vol 5 issue 3, 2011. 3

This Episode places us in the middle of a night of terror gripping Collingwood. The threat of armed invasion seemed imminent. How would the citizens respond? The answer, given in part through later advertising in a local paper, might surprise you! Finally, we also give some updates around our Gallery reopening, which you should take advantage of while the podcast is on a short break in August. And lastly we tell you how your children can still take part in some of our summer crafts and activities at home, even though all our physical kits have been spoken for.

Episode Picture:

The Collingwood Rifle Company, posing before the Globe Hotel, ready to defend the Niagara Front [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.890.1]

Research:

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 30-31, 272.

Senior, Hereward. “Fenians” The Canadian Encyclopedia.ca, February 7, 2006. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fenians

The Dictionary of Canadian Biography “The Fenians” © 2003-2021 University of Toronto/Université Laval   http://www.biographi.ca/en/theme_fenians.html

In this episode we discover just how rowdy our town could be when we travel back to the year 1856 to witness a riot in Collingwood’s streets that overwhelmed the good townsfolk, carried over two days, and required an armed force from Barrie to come and finally break it up. And all of it because a group of revelers didn’t want to leave something behind. Ken tries to blame Mr. Dressup for something important he once left behind and we ask for your own stories of leaving something important behind. And finally we let you know about our Summer Activity Kits to keep little hands (ages 6-12) busy over the school break. You won’t want to miss these Heritage inspired Activities and Crafts.

Call (705) 445-4811 ext 7211 to place your order.

Episode Picture:

Huron Street Saloons [Collingwood Museum Collection X2012.85.1]

Research:

Cotton, Larry. Whiskey and Wickedness, vol. 4, Town of Collingwood, Angus, Stayner, Creemore, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township, Ontario 1830 to 1900. (Deep River: Larry D. Cotton Associates Limited, 2005), 83-84.

In this episode we look at the life and times of John Rutherford Creelman, Chief Constable of Collingwood from 1874 to 1876. A man trapped in a tough job (and some ridiculous situations) made even more difficult because of his personal failings. We'll cover his run-in with a church camp and how a local businesswoman escaped his clutches on the train to Barrie. We also dig a little deeper into early policing in the Town of Collingwood and encourage our listeners to explore more of this same history through a couple of wonderful resources available in our gift shop.

Episode Picture:

“Billy Club and Police Badge” [from the Collingwood Museum Collection items 2010.22.1 and 999.52.1]

Research:

Cotton, Larry. Whiskey and Wickedness, vol. 4, Town of Collingwood, Angus, Stayner, Creemore, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township, Ontario 1830 to 1900. (Deep River: Larry D. Cotton Associates Limited, 2005), 106-110.

In this episode we head down to the fair in the year 1913 for the very first appearance of an airplane over the skies of Collingwood. We also consider the adage "Be careful what you wish for ... " and ask for our listeners' favourite memories of the GNE (The Great Northern Exhibition). 

You can reach us by email at [email protected] or leave a message on our podcast page. We would love to hear from you!

Episode Picture: Airplane at the GNE 1913 [Collingwood Museum Collection X970.538.1]

Research: Shaw, Melissa. “Fairgoers Flee Fairgrounds for First Chance at Flight.” CollingwoodToday.ca, September 22, 2019. https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/remember-this/fairgoers-flee-fairgrounds-for-first-chance-at-flight-1705410.

In this episode we step into the strange world of town politics circa 1864. We are introduced to Mr. Charles Gamon by way of an unusual announcement he felt compelled to publish to the Electorate of Collingwood. Ken asks what job would you go to great lengths to get out of? And finally, we provide you with more information on our "cheeky" new T-shirts at the museum. Get them while they last! https://www.facebook.com/collingwoodmuseum

To order your T-shirts call the Museum at 705-445-4811 ext. 7211

Episode Picture: 

Collingwood Town Hall, 1858. [Collingwood Museum Collection, X973.515.1]

Research: 

Barbara Arp, ed., Reflections An Historical Anthology of Collingwood (Collingwood: The Corporation of the Town of Collingwood, 1983), 43.