Welcome to the Bruce County Historical Society

The Bruce County Historical Society was first organized in 1901 and was active until World War I. In 1957 the society was re-established. We publish a yearbook, Historical Notes, as well as a twice annual newsletter. We meet several times during the year, including for an annual bus tour in the spring and an annual dinner meeting in the fall. The society published its first book, The History of the County of Bruce by Norman Robertson, in 1906, and we continue to provide publications about Bruce County's history. The annual membership fee of $20 includes the yearbook and newsletter, and members receive a 25% discount on our publications.

Our society's goals and objectives are to research, document, collect, preserve and edit material pertaining to the history of Bruce County and its people; to actively promote and encourage public awareness and interest in our local history; to publish new and reprint publications of significance to the history of Bruce County; to disseminate and arouse public interest in Bruce County historical and heritage information by organizing and featuring programmes and promoting discussion at regular meetings; to encourage the preservation and protection of buildings and structures of historical and architectural significance and the protection of our unique natural landscapes; and to mark historic sites, structures, trails, etc..

Bruce County Military Project

Sergeant W. Merideth Reany on his horse "Bill" during W.W.I. Sergeant Reany, born in Saugeen Township, was with the 18th Battalion, 4th Canadian Machine Gun Company, and was awarded the following medals: The Military Medal; the 1914-15 Star; The British War Medal; and the Victory Medal.

The Bruce County Historical Society, with the assistance of the Bruce County Museum, is embarking on an ambitious project to compile information on the armed forces members and veterans of Bruce County. For more information, and to get a copy of the Military Project Sheet, please go to the Bruce County Military Project page.

Bruce County Barn Project

The Bruce County Historical Society has started a project to photograph the barns of Bruce County. For more information please go to the Bruce County Barn Project page.

Die Ontario Glocke Microfilm Donation Received

In 2012 the family of Mr. Wolf Haessler, Southampton, made a generous donation to the Bruce County Historical Society in honour of Mr. Haessler's 70th birthday. The donation funded the purchase of eight microfilm reels of Die Ontario Glocke, 1892 - 1910, which have been donated to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre's Research Room & Archives to make them available to the public. These are in addition to the eight reels previously donated by the Bruce County Historical Society, covering the years 1883 - 1891. Die Ontario Glocke was published in the German language in Walkerton.

Upcoming Activities

June 25, 2014 - Bus Tour - Tour of Bruce County lighthouses.north of Southampton and a boat excursion in Tobermory.

October 25, 2014 - Annual General Meeting - at the Port Elgin Legion. Speaker will be Mr. Alan Bartley who will speak on the 160th Bruce Battalion. Theme will be the 100th anniversary of World War I.

For the latest updates please visit us on Facebook

Do you have an old item in your home that you can’t identify? Want to know more about when a photograph was taken? Maybe we could help. Feel free to share your family heirlooms, pictures or mementos at one of our gatherings.

Recent Activities

Local Authors Night

On Monday July 8th, 2013 about 40 members and friends of the Bruce County Genealogical Society and the Bruce County Historical Society enjoyed their annual Author’s Night. Chaired by BCGS President Doug Lennox, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Ojibway Elder Wilmer F. Nadjiwon spoke about his memoir Not Wolf, Nor Dog, artist Paul Duff talked about his autobiography My Life, My Art, and Bob Day discussed his book Shores of Heaven, the Birth of Bruce Peninsula National Parks. All 3 authors call Bruce County home and we were very privileged to have them at our event.

Book Launch for Postcard History of Bruce County

The Bruce County Historical Society launched its most recent publication, Postcard History of Bruce County, at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre on Thursday evening, November 22, 2012. President Ross Lamont gave a brief history of the Bruce County Historical Society. Two current projects, one concerning barns and the other the military, were explained by Audrey Underwood and Dorne Fitzsimmons. MPP Lisa Thompson brought greetings from the province and expressed the importance and value of work being done by the society. Financial support from the Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, for this book and two others published by the society in 2012, was acknowledged. Secretary Marvin Doran presented a copy of each of four books published in 2012 to Deb Sturdevant, representing the reading room of the Museum, for use in the Archives of the County. William Stewart, editor of Postcard History of Bruce County, made a visual presentation about the book, which was printed in Bruce County at the Tobermory Press. The 300 page, hard covered book features numerous historical pictures of all parts of the county arranged according to present day municipalities in which they are located. Arrangement of the postcard pictures follows a north to south and east to west pattern. This book is a lasting pictorial reminder of many locations, buildings, streetscapes and events that are no longer with us.

Ross Lamont, President of the Bruce County Historical Society, Lisa Thompson, MPP Huron-Bruce, and William Stewart, editor and designer of new BCHS publication A Postcard History of Bruce County.

For ordering information please go to our Publications page.

See more of our past activities here.

Publications News

Not Wolf, Nor Dog by Wilmer F Nadjiwon of Cape Croker can now be ordered from our Publications page.

 We've recently added the following to our publications: Historical Plaques and Cairns in Bruce County; Postcard History of Bruce County.

Affiliated with the Ontario Historical Society

We thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a grant received in 2012 to publish and distribute three history books that document the heritage of the county and its people.

Supported by the Government of Ontario through the Heritage Organizations Development Grant Program

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