Visitor Information:
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WELCOME!
The Bayfield Historical Society in the Village of Bayfield, Ontario, is dedicated to recording and preserving our rich historical legacy for future generations. We are a registered non-profit organization affiliated with the Ontario Historical Society and incorporated in December 11, 1976. The Historical Society discovers, collects, classifies, publishes and presents materials concerning the history of Bayfield and its people.
SOCIETY OBJECTIVES
In order to promote the education of Bayfield area residents of all ages, the Society will discover, collect, classify and preserve any material concerning the history of the area and its people. To hold open meetings for the presentation of papers and discussions. To publish local historical material.
NEW SERVICE
Genealogists have a number of resources from which to draw. We have original archive collections on site which can be viewed by special appointment by emailing in advance.
We are also offering to research your family tree through Federal Census records, Birth and Death Certificates, Marriage Licenses, extensive newspaper collections, Immigration, and Cemetery records. If you supply us with your grandparents' birth and death dates, as well as your parents, we will create a personalized family tree for you. We require a $50 donation in advance based on 2 hours of research. Please contact us for more details. bhsmembers@gmail.com
EVENTS
In 2018 there are no monthly Bayfield Historical Society meetings. The speakers series has been amended to 4 times a year, a reminder will be sent out by email to members.
For 2018 special guest speakers have been scheduled for the following dates; April 23, June 25, July 23, and October 22.
To learn about details of upcoming meetings and presentations, click the link Meetings/Events. You can also consult the Bayfield Breeze, the village’s e-newspaper published every Wednesday, at its website Bayfield Breeze.
Email reminders are sent to members to announce dates and details prior to each monthly meeting. Please provide (or update) your email address when registering membership to receive meeting reminders.
SELF GUIDED WALKING TOURS
Self-Guided Walking Tour booklets are available at the Archives & Heritage Centre for $5.00.
THE HERITAGE CENTRE & THE ARCHIVES ROOM
The Archives Room, established in 1977 is housed in a historic clapboard building that was built in 1893. It originally served as a furniture/undertaker’s business. In 1929, it operated as a grocery store and in the 1940’s, local fishermen used it to build, repair and store their nets.
In 1964, Dorothy and Harold Ormand purchased and donated the building for the community. It was moved to its present location at 20 Main Street North in Bayfield in 1977.
In 2013, the Bayfield Branch of the Huron County Public Library was relocated to a new adjacent and larger municipal building that also now accommodates public washrooms and a post box depot.
The Archival collections and records of the Society were moved into the space vacated to provide expanded facilities for cataloguing and research by villagers, visitors and the public for people and places in Bayfield and the surrounding area. The holdings include photos, postcards, genealogy records, cemetery records, maps and assessment rolls, in addition to family collections and personal and business records donated over time.
The former Archives area has been converted into a Heritage Centre which was officially opened on May 18, 2015. The Heritage Centre features artefacts and short videos that showcase Bayfield's history.
The Heritage Centre is open to the public during the summer visitor season and at other times, by chance or appointment. Contact us for a tour or visit.
