Uncategorized

School Garden – S.S.#6 North Gower c.1909 In the years leading up to Word War I, an undertaking emerged to address what was viewed as an emerging and undesirable tendency…

The following is from the Tweedsmuir History of Kars, Volume 1. Published by the Kars Women’s Institute. Courtesy of the Rideau Branch, City of Ottawa Archives, North Gower

By Fred O’Callaghan, as told to Lewis O’Callaghan This article is taken from the Tweedsmuir History of North Gower, Volume 3, published by the North Gower Women’s Institute. Used courtesy…

They Did the Heavy Work Better Than Horses Could Were Steady, Reliable and Strong – Could be Easily Trained – Were Able to Scent Water a Mile Away.

They Did the Heavy Work Better Than Horses Could Were Steady, Reliable and Strong – Could be Easily Trained – Were Able to Scent Water a Mile Away.

~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ April, 2022 Ian McKercher “I like history and I like stories; that’s what I do.” On April 20th we were treated to a lively,…

Daniel Woolf ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ March, 2022 The past doesn’t change, but does history? And if it does, so what? Those were the central questions Dr. Daniel…

Chris Rodgers ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ To steal a phrase, and perhaps repurpose slightly “oh what a night!” RTHS asked Chris Rodgers, local musician and amateur historian, to…

Andrew King ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ January, 2022 Andrew King, a local artist and amateur historian, shared with us the latest results of his ongoing and wide-ranging curiosity…

Richard Van Loon ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ November, 2021 On November 17th we were treated to an extension of Dr. Van Loon’s Hard Travels series, this time about…

Councillor Scott Moffatt ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ October, 2021 The recent City of Ottawa Ward Boundary Review provided all councillors with the opportunity to review both ward boundaries…

~ by Susan McKellar ~ The Kars Community Recreation Association is organizing a celebration of the 200 th anniversary of the Village of Kars, planned for July 16, 2022. They…

Richard Van Loon ~ Report by Margot Belanger ~  Our guest speaker, Richard Van Loon, took us travelling back in time, and up the Ottawa River – a very interesting…

~ Report by Margot Belanger ~ Mention of the Ku Kluk Klan usually evokes disturbing images of white-robed, hooded figures and burning crosses in the Southern United States. But author…

John Trot [Trott], farm help, [1914?] Rideau Archives, MGR00701-037 / 2004.47 / RV 229.1 Photographed at the Panel & Ping Pong Studio, 164 Sparks Street, Ottawa. Stuart Clarkson Community Archivist…

~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ April, 2021   On April 21st members and friends of RTHS were treated to a talk by Dorothy Anne Phillips about her book: Victor…

Theresa Kelly ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ March, 2021 On March 17th, 28 lucky souls were fortunate to meet Theresa Kelly, of the River Road Kellys, who shared with…

Bargain and sale by James Trimble and Lydia Ann Trimble, his wife, to Agnes Brown of part Lot 21, Concession 3 in the Township of North Gower, 1876. (Rideau Archives,…

The Viola Desmond Ten Dollar Canadian Bank Note ~ Report by Myra McFarlane ~ February, 2021 On February 18th some 22 members & guests were treated to a presentation from…

by Stuart Clarkson On a sunny day in April 1957, a Desoto Firedome station wagon marked “Imperial Records” pulled to a stop on Highway 16 beside the Ashwood House in…

This year marked RTHS’s first (and hopefully last!) Zoom AGM, and 22 participants logged in from the comfort of their homes to be welcomed by President Susan McKellar, and to…

Written for the Journal by Joan Finnigan This uplifting article (found in papers donated to the Archives by Helen Dunbar) seemed appropriate to the season, and especially this year. The…

Our annual Christmas “party” (although ZOOM get-together might be a more accurate description) took place on Wednesday December 16th with about 25 people signing in for the virtual meeting. Susan…

Contributed by Margot Belanger, Current RTHS Board Member and Past President of MHS In my basement, in a large, somewhat dilapidated cardboard box, rests a great deal of the recorded…