Author: headperson

WHAM – Youth Volunteer Mentorship Program

Written by headperson on 1 February 2024. Posted in Children Programs & Workshops, Programs & Workshops. No Comments on WHAM – Youth Volunteer Mentorship Program

WHAM – Youth Volunteer and Mentorship ProgramOrientation Day June 110:00am – 12:30pm WHAM’s youth volunteers are vital to the success of our camps. We believe that each volunteer can offer something unique to our programs , whether you have a special talent or interest or just enjoy working with kids. The Youth Volunteer and Mentorship Program is offered to youth ages 13 and older. Volunteering is a great way to begin a resume, earn school volunteer hours, make new friends, and develop leadership skills. Before they can begin to volunteer, all youths are required to attend an...

Norfolk County’s New Web Archives

Written by headperson on 11 September 2023. Posted in Blog. No Comments on Norfolk County’s New Web Archives

BLOGNorfolk County Archives recently received private funding through the Community Webs Program for a subscription to an Archive-It account. Archive-It is a web archiving service developed and maintained by the non-profit Internet Archive. The software enables organizations to build and share archived collections of websites, social media, and other web documents and materials. In our increasingly online world, web archiving – the process of capturing and preserving portions of the World Wide Web and making them available for future use – is becoming a critical aspect of archival...

ESB Moore Photograph Donation

Written by headperson on 11 September 2023. Posted in Blog. No Comments on ESB Moore Photograph Donation

BLOGA very neat discovery from a recent donation of photographic negatives. The collection consisted of approximately 400 cellulose acetate negatives, mostly portraits. When we first received the donation the photographer was unknown but we knew the photographer was local from the surnames etched on the negatives. A volunteer noticed that the etching on the negatives was very similar to the etching on the glass plate negatives from our large ESB Moore photograph collection. Since we have the registers of photographer ESB Moore, we checked the numbers etched on the cellulose acetate negatives...

WHAM – Agricultural Hall of Fame – List of Inductees

Written by headperson on 29 August 2023. Posted in Other. No Comments on WHAM – Agricultural Hall of Fame – List of Inductees

Agricultural Hall of FameInducteesClick on an inductee’s photo below for a full biography and a selection of photographs.

Henry Harris Groff (2022)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Henry Harris Groff (2022)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Henry Harris Groff (2022)Henry Harris Groff was born in Simcoe in 1853. He displayed an interest in cross-breeding as a young man when he experimented with livestock, poultry, pigeons and rabbits. He turned his attention to flowers and cross-pollinated gladiolus plants in 1890. The results weren’t immediate but he persevered and, in 1895, published a catalogue with gladioli, cannas and clivia seeds.“For 10 years, Groff laboured quietly and without public notice,” reported Bruce Pearce in Maclean’s, “then came the reward.” In 1901, the Pan-American Exposition...

Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (2022)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (2022)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (2022)The Ag-Awareness Program at the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (NCF) has provided generations of youth an opportunity to learn the importance of agriculture and how it impacts the world around them. Originally created in 1982 as a consumer awareness component of the fair by long-time volunteers Walter and Sharon Petheram, it evolved into a youth agricultural awareness program which officially launched in 1990 for the NCF’s 150th Anniversary.With upwards of 1,400 grade four students...

Raymond E. Anderson (2022)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Raymond E. Anderson (2022)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Raymond E. Anderson (2022)A pioneer in Norfolk County agriculture, Raymond E. Anderson spent most of his life championing innovation, policy and farmer rights. Born in Bealton on July 7, 1891, Raymond’s first agricultural endeavor started at age ten when he established a crop of 200 wild strawberry plants on the family farm. By the age of fifteen, after seeing first-hand the limitations of individual farmers peddling their own berries, he understood and recognized the importance of centralized marketing. This would become a key motivator, helping to formulate more...

Annie Zaluski (2020)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Annie Zaluski (2020)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Annie Zaluski (2020)Annie Zaluski (nee Steel) was born in 1929 on the family farm in Glasgow, Scotland. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1930, establishing a dairy, chicken and hog farm in Townsend Township. After graduating high school, Annie joined the Ontario Farm Service Force as part of the nation’s post-war Land Army. Following this service, she continued her studies at the University of Toronto and spent six years with Agriculture Canada as a seed analyst.Annie married Paul Zaluski in 1956, returning to Norfolk County and life on a farm. Not wanting...

Robert Laning (2020)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Robert Laning (2020)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Robert Laning (2020)Robert Laning was born on the family’s century farm near Villa Nova in 1927. The farm bred and milked 150 thoroughbred cows, including two Canadian champion females. Robert’s early involvement in the farms operation included taking on leadership roles with a number of breeding associations in the province. He became President of the Norfolk Holstein Club, the Oxford District Cattle Breeder’s Association (later merging into the Western Ontario Breeders Inc.), and the Ontario Association of Animal Breeders where he held a 16-year tenure with cattle...

Jim and Mary Field (2020)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Jim and Mary Field (2020)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Jim and Mary Field (2020)Jim and Mary Field both grew up on Lynn Valley Road farms – Jim’s family a mile west of the Cockshutt Road, and Mary’s a mile east. The couple met in elementary school, dated throughout high school and married in 1958. Mary became a teacher and Jim a qualified Class A mechanic.The couple purchased their first farm on the 14th Concession of Townsend in 1969. The two entered into the dairy business but quickly realized the life of a dairy farmer wasn’t for them. In 1970, they turned their attention to purebred swine, focusing on Landrace...

David Reid (2019)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on David Reid (2019)

Agricultural Hall of Fame David Reid (2019)David Reid was born and raised on a tobacco farm east of Lynedoch, Norfolk County. After earning his Fish and Wildlife Biology degree from the University of Guelph, he embarked on a 36-year career with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources as a biologist and stewardship coordinator. Throughout, Reid advocated for the natural environment and connected with farmers, advising them on soil conservation, good forestry practices, windbreaks and many other aspects related to stewardship.Dave became an integral part of the Land Stewardship Program...

Ken Porteous (2019)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Ken Porteous (2019)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ken Porteous (2019)Ken Porteous was nominated by the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture. Porteous has been actively involved in local and provincial agriculture since the early 1970’s. He started his career on Lingwood Farms outside of Simcoe – a family partnership now involving his son, son-in-law and grandson. Porteous first started as an elite dairy breeder who sold bulls around the world. In 1973, the herd was put up for sale, bringing the highest average price per animal ever paid in Canada. This was a testament to the high standard and quality of Ken’s work.By...

Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (2019)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (2019)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (2019)The Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association was nominated by the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture. The Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association (NFGA) was established by Mr. James E. Johnson in Simcoe on March 26, 1906. Together with 17 charter members, Johnson set out to organize Norfolk County’s numerous small-acreage farmers into a solid and knowledgeable force that could realize the benefits of pooling their product and employing a competent manager to market it.In the early years of the Association, growers packed their own...

Bauke Vogelzang (2018)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Bauke Vogelzang (2018)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Bauke Vogelzang (2018)Bauke Vogelzang was born in 1933 on a dairy farm in Schargouton, Holland. He and his wife Nelly immigrated to Canada in 1960 where Bauke worked on local dairy farms.The Vogelzangs bought their first farm outside Waterford in 1964 and transformed it into a diverse operation of produce and livestock. Early on, Bauke gained a reputation as an innovative farmer and a good steward of the land. He was one of the first in Norfolk to adopt no till for planting corn and beans along with implementing changes to livestock barns in order to reduce...

Hellyer Ginseng (2018)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Hellyer Ginseng (2018)

Agricultural Hall of FameHellyer Ginseng (2018)Hellyer Ginseng began in the 1890s when Clarence and Albert Hellyer, two brothers from Townsend Centre, embarked on an agricultural experiment that would eventually result in a large-scale, commercial industry.The brothers cultivated seeds from wild root discovered right here in Norfolk County. The strain they developed is still in use in today’s ginseng fields. Subsequent generations of the Hellyer family continued to grow ginseng and made significant strides in the cultivation, marketing and exporting of this important agricultural...

St. Williams Forestry Station (2018)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on St. Williams Forestry Station (2018)

Agricultural Hall of Fame St. Williams Forestry Station (2018)Established in 1908, the St. Williams Forestry Station was the first reforestation project in Canada. Its purpose was to convert blow sands of Norfolk County back into woodlots and to grow seedlings for distribution to other areas. Its development and success was due in large part to three gentlemen, Lt Col. Arthur C. Pratt, Walter F. McCall, and Dr. Edmund J. Zavitz. They secured the land and convinced the Ontario Government that soil conservation was critical and could be achieved through reforestation. Throughout its history,...

David MacLaren (2017)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on David MacLaren (2017)

Agricultural Hall of Fame David MacLaren (2017)David MacLaren was born August 27, 1927 in Windsor, Ontario. His family moved to a tobacco farm near St. Williams when David was only six months of age. This move set in motion a lifetime of involvement in the tobacco industry in Norfolk County.David graduated from Simcoe High School and started working in ta bank but soon moved back to the family tobacco farm as a share grower. He married Grace Durward and they had one daughter, Suzanne. In 1928, The MacLaren tobacco farm located in South Walsingham become one of the first farms to grow...

Ronald Judd (2017)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Ronald Judd (2017)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Ronald Judd (2017)Ronald Judd was born in 1928 in Simcoe, Ontario and is a lifelong resident of Norfolk County. Ron lives at Meadow Lynn Farm on the outskirts of Simcoe, a farm that was purchased by his father Fred Judd Sr., in 1946. The farm is now operated by Ron’s son Fred, daughter-in-law Sharon, and grandson Thomas and his wife Sarah making it a fourth generation farm.As busy as Ron was with his dairy and cash crop farming, he was a keen supporter of many agricultural organizations. As a youth, he was a member of 4-H, both the Potato Club and the Dairy Calf...

Andy Zei (2016)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Andy Zei (2016)

Agricultural Hall of FameAndy Zei (2016)Andrew (Andy) Zei was born in Szakadat, Hungary in 1925 and moved to Canada with his family at the age of three. Andy was involved in the tobacco industry in Norfolk County for more than six decades, taking over from his father who started growing tobacco in 1938.He planted his first crop in 1951 and by 1955, he was one of two tobacco growers who received the top price of 51 cents per pound. Andy’s tobacco crop was one of the finest in the County. Andy served on the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board for forty years. In his role...

Monroe Landon (2016)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Monroe Landon (2016)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Monroe Landon (2016)Monroe Landon was born in Norfolk County in 1887. Upon graduation from Simcoe High School, he attended the Ontario Agricultural College where he reportedly spent more time in the library than the classroom.Monroe was a farmer and successful breeder of purebred Jersey cattle which he regularly showed at the Canadian National Exhibition and Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He spent his lifetime promoting the planting, preservation and promotion of woodlots including the establishment of windbreaks to restore the wind-blown sand plain of Norfolk...

Larry Chanda (2016)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Larry Chanda (2016)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Larry Chanda (2016)Larry Chanda was born in Simcoe, Ontario in 1941. After moving away for a short time, Larry returned in 1967 to work on the family tobacco farm. In 1970, he purchased the family farm making him the 4th generation to farm this land. Larry is not only a farmer but an ardent conservationist as well.Diversifying the family farm has been key to Larry’s farming success. While continuing to grow tobacco, his farm operation has expanded to include cash crops and cattle. He, also, operates a wholesale large caliper tree farm. In the 1970s, Larry served...

Harry B. Barrett (2016)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Harry B. Barrett (2016)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Harry B. Barrett (2016)Harry B. Barrett was born on May 29, 1922. He was raised on a farm located at Lot 12, Concession 3, in the former Township of Woodhouse. He attended both public and high school in Norfolk County. After high school, he joined the Ontario Experimental Union. Harry B. grew experimental plots – root crops as well as barley and oats to test their adaptability and compatibility to Norfolk County conditions.Upon returning to civilian life after serving in the Second World War, Harry joined his father in managing a 600 acre farm. They maintained...

Richard Walker (2015)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Richard Walker (2015)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Richard Walker (2015)Richard Walker was born in 1924 and raised on the family farm in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County. According to Richard, it was a typical mixed farm operation. They milked cows, raised pigs, chickens, sheep and beef on 100 acres.Growing up on a farm in the 1920s developed a strong work ethic in Richard. Even as a youngster he loved to tinker with small engines and enjoyed carpentry work. He attended Simcoe High School and in 1941 was chosen to represent his school at the Canadian National Exhibition’s wood working display. Richard, along...

Arthur Loughton (2015)

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Hall of Fame. No Comments on Arthur Loughton (2015)

Agricultural Hall of Fame Arthur Loughton (2015)Arthur Loughton was born in 1931 and raised on the family farm near Cambridge, England. He attended the University of Nottingham where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Horticulture. Rhubarb was the subject of his Master’s research. It was at university that Arthur met Ruth Bullivant whom he later married. They had two sons Martin and Graham.The Loughtons moved to Canada in 1967 when Arthur accepted a position as a Research Scientist at the Vineland Research Station. Arthur became internationally renowned for...

WHAM – Norfolk County Cabinet Makers

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Virtual Exhibits. No Comments on WHAM – Norfolk County Cabinet Makers

Virtual Exhibit WHAM – Norfolk County Cabinet MakersThe following represents documented individual makers and factories in business between 1840 and 1965. While not complete, it is the most comprehensive list currently available. The date indicates the year the maker/factory was recorded as being in operation and not the year established. If you have information about a maker from Norfolk County not listed, please email the Waterford Heritage & Agricultural Museum with details. (Sources: WHAM files, Norfolk County Archive files, and “The Cabinet Makers of Norfolk County” published by...

Archibald Reid Walnut Sideboard in the late-Empire style c.1850

WHAM – Archibald Reid, Vittoria

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Virtual Exhibits. No Comments on WHAM – Archibald Reid, Vittoria

Virtual Exhibit WHAM – Archibald Reid, VittoriaArchibald Reid is credited with making some of the most beautiful and finely crafted furniture in Norfolk County. He learned his trade in Scotland, immigrating to Canada and setting up a cabinet making shop and undertaking business in the village of Vittoria around 1847. Photograph of Archibald Reid Archibald Reid Walnut Sideboard in the late-Empire style c.1850 (collection of Norfolk County Heritage and Culture) Advertisement from the O.L. Fuller Business Directory Rod-Back Windsor side...

Judd Showroom from an advertising postcard (collection of WHAM)

WHAM – James William Judd, Waterford

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Virtual Exhibits. No Comments on WHAM – James William Judd, Waterford

Virtual Exhibit WHAM – James William Judd, WaterfordOne of Norfolk County’s more contemporary and perhaps most recognizable furniture manufacturers was James William Judd who, in 1968, officially launched Judd Gunstocks Limited in Waterford, Townsend Township. Judd Gunstock started on “the road to success” by producing what were described as the finest hand-crafted gunstocks in the country. The company distributed to major firearm manufactures throughout Canada and the United States. Judd Showroom from an advertising postcard (collection of WHAM) Judd DisplayIn...

Detail of Barber’s classic “sun” motif carving

WHAM – John L. Barber, Waterford

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Virtual Exhibits. No Comments on WHAM – John L. Barber, Waterford

Virtual Exhibit WHAM – John L. Barber, WaterfordJohn L. Barber was the youngest of five sons and three daughters, children of John Sr. and Elizabeth Barber. He was born in Townsend and spent most of his life in the area. At an early age he went to Simcoe and learned the trade of cabinet making. Around 1829, he married Abigail Shaw and settled in Waterford. The J.L. Barber firm, also known as the Waterford Furniture Factory, was established soon after and operated for nearly 40 years. The factory produced a wide arrange of finished pieces as well as providing undertaking services....

McCall Furniture (collection of the Port Rowan/South Walshingham Heritage Association)

WHAM – McCall Factory, St. Williams

Written by headperson on 19 July 2023. Posted in Virtual Exhibits. No Comments on WHAM – McCall Factory, St. Williams

Virtual Exhibit WHAM – McCall Factory, St. WilliamsThe McCall Furniture Factory in St. Williams, was one of the largest producers of furniture in Norfolk County. Daniel McCall founded what would become a family firm in the 1860’s and worked in partnership with both William McBurney and later John Mason. For a time, the business was known as McCall, McBurney & Company and also McCall’s Planing Mill. McCall Factory c.1910 (near the corner of Townline St. & Queen St. East McCall Furniture (collection of the Port Rowan/South Walshingham Heritage Association)...

DTMHC – A Child’s Journey to Norfolk: Our Living Heritage

Written by headperson on 18 July 2023. Posted in Children Programs & Workshops, Programs & Workshops. No Comments on DTMHC – A Child’s Journey to Norfolk: Our Living Heritage

DTMHC – A Child’s Journey to Norfolk: Our Living HeritageProgram Offered: Tuesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am or 1:00pm to 3:00pm Program Duration: 2 hours Maximum Group Size: 36 Ratio: 1 adult per 5 children. Due to space limitations, we request that schools do not exceed this ratio. Cost: $5.85/student (Teachers and Chaperones Free) Payment: The program can be paid for on the day of delivery. We accept payment by cash, credit cards, debit or cheque (made payable to Norfolk County). Program Description: A Child’s Journey to Norfolk: Our Living Heritage is a grade 6 curriculum based program...