Haliburton Highlands Museum
66 Museum Road K0M 1S0 Haliburton, ON, Canada

Snowshoeing is a great way to stay active in the winter, but we bet that little Hugh Gorrie would have needed a nap after trying out these rather large snowshoes with his sister, Clara, in this c. 1910 pic.

There can be no doubt that 2020 has been an unusual year, but there’s still lots to celebrate! We’re delighted that we’ve been been able to keep sharing our community’s history with you through it all - thanks for joining in on the fun!

New Year’s Eve 2020 is definitely one for staying safe and cozy at home, but where would you have gone to celebrate in Haliburton over 100 years ago? This pic from c. 1910 shows a gathering at the bar in the Lucas family’s Grand Central Hotel on Highland Street. At the back of the shot, you can see the bartender, Charlie Roberts. One of the most famous stories of this spot tells of a horse race through town in which one of the horses decided to dash into the bar mid-race for the drink. It was said the marks from the horse’s shoes could be seen on the wooden floor of the bar for years after!

In the early 20th century, winter in Haliburton County was dominated by the lumber industry. The men worked most days from dawn to dusk and beyond, but occasionally a travelling photographer might appear at the camp on a Sunday, giving us a snapshot in time.

This lovely shot really highlights the details of the Haliburton Town Hall, built in 1897 and still in use today, as well as the stone gates which used to stand at the side of the building, marking the entrance to the local fairgrounds. It’s said that the construction of the gates was funded by the Haliburton Women’s Institute in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.

The right attire can put a spring in your snowshoe! This photo from just over 100 years shows a very snazzily dressed William Gorrie enjoying some outdoor winter fun.

A few days back, we shared a photo taken by Thomas Stratton Moon Jr, who was a local amateur photography enthusiast in the early 20th century. Here’s another of his shots, showing his brother, Robert Moon, and sister, Fanny Moon, out for a carriage ride in what looks to be either the early spring or late autumn.

This early 1930’s photo shows off Haliburton Village from a bit of an unusual angle. The Town Hall with its prominent bell tower, seen from the side will help to get your bearings, as will the Haliburton Arena which is under construction at the far right of the photo. (It officially opened in 1932.) As for the kid making a beeline towards the camera, that’s said to be Stan Potts, grandson of former Municipal Clerk, George Potts.

It’s the day after Labour Day which means it’s back to school season - either in person or virtually! This postcard from our collection showcases the Victoria Street School in the village which was built in 1924 and operated as a school until 1999. When it was constructed, it replaced a former school on the same site which had been constructed in 1874, which was known locally as the Key of Knowledge.

Thomas Stratton Moon Jr, was born in Dysart in 1875, one of nine children of Thomas Stratton Moon Sr and his wife Jane Batchelor. He was known locally as an accomplished self-taught photographer at a time when cameras were still quite rare in the area. This photo, taken by Moon, shows his wife, Isabell Rogers (1879-1927), riding one of the horses they were also well-known locally for raising.

Two postcard shots of St. George’s Anglican Church that look very different...yet also very similar! The first one shows the church which was built in 1870 and as it would have been known by residents in the late 19th and early 20th century. The second image shows the church as it was reconstructed in the 1920’s after the earlier structure was lost in a fire.

We love the way that postcards can tell multiple stories at the same time! This great shot out over Head Lake gives a view in the distance of the village’s more industrial history and we know that the postcard was purchased at the Kosy Korner. Its destination? It was sent all the way to Cochrane, Ontario, in 1948!

James Roberts and his wife Hannah (née Knight) were two of the earliest settlers to make their home in Harburn. James, a farmer and lay preacher had come to Canada from Wales, first settled in Renfrew. In the fall of 1868, he and his young son William (also known as Curly Bill) built a log shanty and barn on the land they’d recently acquired at Harburn. They went back to Renfrew to work the winter in a lumber camp there. In the spring, the entire family, including Hannah and their other four children made their way permanently to their new home. A horse-drawn sleigh helped to carry their possessions, but the members of the family also had to take turns walking alongside the sleigh throughout the journey - a distance of about 200km!

We know lots of people are enjoying staycations this summer, so it’s the perfect time to check out some more local postcards from our collection. We bet this image of Highland St. will bring back memories for some people out there!

With the weather warming up, it'll soon be time to hit the beach again! This postcard from the shores of Lake Kashagawigamog features a splash of colour and perhaps an interesting story...what do you think?

This photo is similar to one which we know is a favourite of many people, but this one has a few subtle differences which help us to pinpoint its exact date. It includes a beautiful view of St. George’s Anglican Church, as well as its rectory, which we know was built circa 1899. What’s missing from this shot is the Haliburton Baptist Church, which was built in 1904, so we can definitely date this image to the first few years of the 20th century.

The Golden Slipper dancehall, just outside of Haliburton was one of the social hubs of the community for decades. Originally established in 1934 by the LeBoutilliers, it was run for most of its history by the Perrins. It was a place where those staying at Lake Kashagawigamog’s resorts, as well as local year-round Haliburton residents, would gather to socialize and dance the night away. We know that so many people have fond memories of the Slipper personally or have heard stor...ies of the place from family and friends who went there, but curiously, pictures of the place seem to be rare. (We’re always on the lookout for them, so if you know of any, please let us know!) In the spirit of the Slipper, today’s suggestion for our Summer 2020 Journal Challenge is all about music. It seems like every summer has at least one song that feels like its soundtrack - what’s yours been so far? See more

Today is International Friendship Day, so our suggestion for today’s Summer 2020 Journal Challenge is all about friends and the memories you’re making with them this summer. We love this photo of some members of the Gorrie family and friends taking friendship to new heights...or perhaps just going out on a limb for each other!

Reid House, which was the museum’s original home, has had many chapters in its life, but in the 1880’s and 1890’s, it was home to a trio of growing siblings. Russell (b. 1883), Agnes (b. 1885) and Charlotte (b. 1887) were the children of John Russell Reid, who was at one time the Town Constable, as well as an accomplished woodworker and his wife Janet (née Clinkscale). As an adult, Russell eventually inherited the house and lived there for many years with his wife, Jean (née McMullan). Today’s theme for our Summer 2020 Journal Challenge is a bit of an imagination exercise. Imagine what summer would have been like for kids in the area in the 1880’s or 1890’s - which parts of a late 19th century summer would appeal to you most?

Today’s suggestion for our Summer 2020 Journal Challenge is about sharing and skills. Have a think as to what fun skills you have that someone else in your family or social circle might want to learn. Passing skills directly from person to person through lessons, observation and imitation was a vital part of how settlers in Dysart in 19th century learned to live successfully in their new home. And even today, when YouTube tutorials abound, there’s still something great about an in-person lesson!