March 24 2018 – Sources for Researching Goulbourn Genealogy

GTHS PHOTO EXHIBIT

Stittsville Public Library February 1-28 2018 (library hours)

The Goulbourn Township Historical Society is delighted to join with the community of Richmond to celebrate its 200^th anniversary this year with a selection of historical photographs from the GTHS  Archival collection.

We have selected several historical images from our extensive photo collection for this presentation. Thanks to the Ottawa Public Library, the pictures are on display in the ArtsSpace of the Stittsville Branch during the month of February 2018.

GTHS relives the The Great Ice Storm – 20 years after

Saturday February 17 2018, 1:30 pm at the Stittsville Public Library

It was considered by many to be the “Storm of the Century” but it started off innocently at the beginning of January 1998 as a light freezing drizzle.The accumulation of freezing rain over several days created havoc and turmoil as a natural disaster that is still felt in many communities today. Goulbourn Township was under a state of emergency for 11 days (ending January 18 1998).  In the end it brought down over 100,000 kilometres of power lines and caused an estimated $2 billion of damages to eastern Ontario and southern Quebec.

Our entire community came to the rescue with community suppers, drop-in centres, shared accommodation and clean-up help. Come out and reminisce as we look back at this major disaster that affected Goulbourn township as the icy grip spread through eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Do you have photos or stories to share? Bring them along.

This month’s event is being held at the Ottawa Public Library – Stittsville Branch  Saturday February 17 2018 at 1:30pm. Come along, and bring a friend to relive our heritage. Refreshments will also be available.

GTHS Annual General Meeting – 2018 – Saturday, January 20^th, 2018 at 12:00 noon.

The Board of the Goulbourn Township Historical Society is pleased to invite you to the Annual General Meeting on Saturday, January 20^th, 2018 at 12:00 noon.

There will be a delicious, hot luncheon at a cost of $18 per person, followed by the Annual General Meeting.

The event will take place at St. Paul’s United Church, 3452 McBean Street, in Richmond. Parking is available on the street.

Please RSVP by Friday, January 12^th to: president@goulbournhistoricalsociety.org

As always, this is a great time to renew your membership(s). Our Membership Secretary will be there to assist. Membership fee is still only $15 per single membership and $20 per family.

We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

See you there!

Bob Halberstadt,  Acting President, GTHS

Sesquicentennial Farms of Goulbourn Township

Farming was a well established activity in the former Goulbourn Township. A Centennial project initiated in 1967 by the Junior Farmers’ Association  of Ontario (JFAO) identified farms meeting the criteria of being owned for 100 consecutive years by direct descendants of the same family and that a family member was still living on the farm, and it that was still in active operation.

As we celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial, and in association with JFAO we have identified four families that have been farming the same land in Goulbourn Township for over 150 years. This is a noteworthy showing of dedication to their homesteads. In appreciation of the accomplishment by the Anderson, Dawson, Hobbs and Kenny families, the Goulbourn Township Historical Society celebrate this achievement.

A reception will be held on Saturday, November 25^th from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Grace Thompson meeting room at the Ottawa Public Library – Stittsville Branch, where in association with the Junior Farmers of Ontario, GTHS will be presenting the Canada 150 signs to the families.Come out and celebrate and thank our local farmers and their families for the phenomenal work they do and especially for the length of time they have been doing it. Hope to see you all there!