Time Warp

This week, Kate takes a dive into the pages of a 1940's Echo newspaper and finds an etiquette column. The suggestions for how to conduct ones self seem to be a little quaint and Victorian. Plus, Paul talks about the gritty life of a troubador and Canadian icon - Stompin' Tom Connors - and the influence he had on culture, the music industry and new generations of musical performers. . Kate Butler i...

This week, Kate talks about a picture of Marilyn Monroe featured on the front page of the April 17, 1952 Haliburton Echo newspaper. She was filming the movie 'Niagara' at Niagara Falls at the time. Was it possible she was heading for the Highlands? Plus, Paul talks about the story behind Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and the first major Canadian political scandal - the 1873 Pacific Scandal...

This week, Kate talks about Haliburton County history columist and author Nila Reynolds who was able to interview some early settlers of the County and weave their stories into a historical record. Plus, building on last week's episode about enslavement in Canada, Paul talks about the circumstances in the late 1700's - early anti-slavery activism, court decisions and legislation - that paved the w...

This week, Kate talks about the depressuion era origins of Haliburton's iconic restaurant - the Kozy Korner. It was a tough start for the little restaurant that could - why would people spend perfectly good money to have someone else make you breakfast when you could make it yourself - cheaper - at home? The restaurant still exists today in a different location on the main street and is still a br...

This week, Kate talks about Spring's renewal of life in late 1800's Haliburton County - logging drives, maple syrup and planting crops. Plus, Paul talks about the Great Lakes - huge bodies of sometimes treacherous water that collectively are the world's largest freshwater shipwreck graveyard. So many stories with 6,000 ships having sunk and 30,000 lives lost over the centuries - today is the story...

This week, Kate was thinking of International Women's Day and decided to talk about a midwife in early Haliburton County - Catherine Shaw. Plus, Paul was thinking about the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts and wondered if there was anything similar in Canadian history. There were several, but the outcomes were quite different. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Pau...

This week, takes a look at an archived copy of the October 1965 Haliburton Echo newspaper and finds the dramatic events surrounding a young man lost in the bush. Plus, Paul talks about the Liverpool Packet - a speedy 2 masted schooner that was converted to a privateer during the War of 1812 and captured 50 American merchant ships. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Pau...

This week, Kate talks about Archibald and Margaret Burke and their 13 children (phew) - another interesting story about 1860's settlers in Haliburton County. Plus, Paul talks about Captain Frederick Thornton Peters - Canada's most decorated naval hero with medals from both world wars - including the Victoria Cross. And a couple of updates on 2 earlier stories - the Great Stork Derby from Nov 12, 2...

This week, Kate talks about 1895 Haliburton when there were 4 businesses. One was the first blacksmith - James Erskine - who went on to do so much more. Plus, Paul talks about the border dispute in the late 1830's between New Brunswick and Maine that almost became all-out warfare between British North America and the US. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Paul Vorvis i...

This week, Kate talks about some late 1850's Haliburton Highlands love stories in honor of Valentine's Day. Plus Paul talks about William Johnston, a Canadian Loyalist who became a smuggler, spy, rebel, and pirate. Unfortunately, it was for the Americans - starting in the War of 1812 - because the British had embittered the wrong man. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum....

This week, Kate talks about Jimmy Scott's tavern in 1890's Gooderham (Haliburton County) and a lumber camp bully looking for trouble. What could go wrong? Plus, Paul talks about John Ware who was born a slave in the U.S. prior to the Civil War, was freed, became a cowboy, and ended up in Alberta where - despite racism - rose to the top of his profession and earned the respect of his colleagues. Ka...

This week, Kate ponders why many communities in early Haliburton County were situated on intersections and were named after a significant early settler. That being the case, Haliburton could have been named something like........Lucas Corners? Plus, Paul talks about the 1914 sinking of the Karluk in the high Arctic and the extraordinary leadership of her Captain - Robert Bartlett - in saving many...

This week, Kate talks about how small communities at the end of the 1800's were built on families and neighbours - their interactions and relationships. And here's a quaint example. Plus Paul talks about Ambrose Small, a theatre mogul working out of Toronto. Ambrose was not well liked and people weren't surprised when he disappeared in 1919 - never to be seen again. The case remains unsolved today...

This week, Kate talks about the difficulties that the Reeves (mayors) of the various Townships in Haliburton County would have in getting to County Council meetings in the early 1900's. A full week there and back to attend 2 days of council meetings, including picking up more Reeves on the way and changing teams of horses. All for a low paying, part time job. Talk about dedication! Plus, Paul talk...

This week, Kate talks about the dramtic events around a young man who is shot while hunting in the bush near Soyers Lake in 1879's Haliburton County - and there aren't any doctors available. What do you do? Plus, Paul talks about the Canadian connection to Anna Leonowens who is probably better known from 'Anna and the King of Siam' fame. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Muse...

This week, stories of New Year's celebrations and alcohol from the 1890's Haliburton County. Plus, the feuds that led to the 1880 massacre of the Donnellys in Lucan, Ontario fueled by religious differences, grudges imported from back home in Ireland, vigilantes, and a small Ontario farming community with a wild-west atmosphere. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Paul V...

This week, Kate wraps up her Christmas in the village celebrations from 150 years ago. Lights and music are an iconic part of Christmas, but what did early settlers do without electricity and modern technology. Plus, Paul talks about the origin story of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hint - he started as part of a Department Store promotion during the depression. Kate Butler is the Director of the...

This week, Kate talks about what it might Christmas might have been like for new settlers first Christmas in Haliburton County in 1864. The postal service was one way to keep in touch with far-away family. Plus Paul talks about bicyles from the Dandy Horse, to the Penny-Farthing to the first modern bikes in the late 1880's. And how do you get on a penny-farthing bike? And, then there's the 'Great...

This week, Kate embarks on stories of Christmas life over time in Haliburton County. More seasonal stories next week. Plus Paul talks about Lucy Maud Montgomery who was born in Prince Edward Island and wrote her first two Anne of Green Gables novels there. But she moved to a small rural community called Leaksdale when she was 37, wrote most of her sequels there, and served the local church communi...

This week, Kate talks about Walter Kidd, born in 1854. Walter had a pretty diverse life in Haliburton County - lawyer; school teacher; farmer; hunter - and finally pioneer rebel. Plus, Paul talks about a storm that might not raise many eyebrows now during this age of climate change, but in 1954 Hurricane Hazel was a rare - and disastrous - event that struck Ontario resulting in death and destructi...

This week, Kate talks about Joseph Burns who was born in the Minden area (part of Haliburton County) in 1868. He was blinded in an accident at an early age but went on to accomplish so-much with his life. He was a man of many talents. Plus, Paul talks about Anna Durie who at the age of 60 followed her son Arthur to war-time Europe. Arthur died in battle, but Anna was not going to accept France as...

This week, Kate talks about Haliburton Village's Branch 129 of the Royal Canadian Legion that was originally chartered in 1928 following WW1. The Legions were organized by - and for - veterans of the war for mutual aid and to do community work. It languished for a few years between the wars, but came back stronger than ever due to the foresight of one man - Alfred Schofield. Plus, Paul talks about...

This week, it's a Remembrance Day episode of sorts. Kate talks about what non-combatants at home in Haliburton County did to contribute and help the war effort - ranging from fund raisers, metal collection, knitting and quilting. Plus, Paul talks about the WW1 riot by demobilizing Canadian soldiers staged at the Kinmel Park Camp in Wales. They were to be there for 1-2 weeks before shipping home, b...

This week, Kate talks about the Hodgson family and their lumber mill on Haliburton Lake. Lumber mills were ubiquitous in Haliburton County at one time. One of the unique features about this particular mill is an artifact that has been loaned out but has returned to the Highlands Museum for display. Drop by and see it if you're in the neighborhood. Plus Paul takes a look at the Great Depression tha...

This week, Kate talks about a small community newspapers and how they were the social media of their day. There's some items from a June 1919 copy of the Haliburton Echo that include who's having visitors for the weekend, how well the strawberry crops are doing, local soldiers returning home from WW1 - as well as that nasty flu pandemic sweeping the world. Plus Paul talks about a pioneer who was c...