WELCOME! The Bayfield Historical Society in the Village of Bayfield, Ontario, is dedicated to recording and preserving our rich historical legacy for future generations. The Historical Society discovers, collects, classifies, publishes and presents materials concerning the history of Bayfield and its people.

Events
The Society holds regular monthly meetings, featuring interesting speakers and topics, on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30PM (February to November) at the Lion's Community Building at 6 Municipal Road in Bayfield.

The next instalment of the Speakers series will be on May 27th

Our next event will be the 13th Annual Collector Show and Exhibition to be held at the Bayfield Community Centre on Apr 20th and 21st, from 10 am to 5 pm each day featuring a live auction of local food products which is sure to be a big draw.

The live auction will immediately follow the Opening Ceremony at 1:30 pm on the Saturday. MP Ben Lobb will serve as auctioneer. Over thirty locally produced food items have been generously donated by local producers and merchants for the auction.

The exhibition will feature an assortment of collections from around South Western Ontario. The show has become known as the largest and best-attended collectors exhibition in South Western Ontario. As one collector noted last year, “You rarely find such a fun, crazy, obsessive, eclectic group of people in one place at one time.� There is something of interest for youngsters and adults alike.

There will be a silent auction with over 100 items donated by local merchants and friends of the BHS including a vintage 1953 girl’s CCM bike. Check the window at The Archives Room on Main Street for more items.

Tim Saunders, local antiques expert, will offer his ever-popular Antiques Appraisal Service to assess the provenance and value of people’s treasures.

BHS greatly appreciates the support of 12 sponsors who have generously made financial donations to help defray the costs of putting on the event. They are listed in the window display at the archives.

Net proceeds from the event will go to fund the expansion of the BHS Archives into the old library space on Main Street and to the restoration of the Helen MacLeod II.

Reminder: 2013 memberships will be available at the show or contact Bud or Pat Langley at 519 565-2894 or budlangley@tcc.on.ca

Historical Walking Tours:
During July and August on each Saturday at 1p.m. members of the Bayfield Historical Society lead informative and liesurely walking tours through the village's Heritage district. Learn about the history of the area, the ghosts, the fires and the fascinating characters who helped make the village the wonderful place it is today.
The $10 fee for the walking tour is used to support our Archives.
For your convenience walks can be arranged by appointment, call 519-440-6206.

Primary Fundraiser:
The Bayfield Historical Society's primary fundraiser is our annual Collector Exhibition at the Community Center in the arena in April.

Helen MacLeod ll:
The society facilitates the preservation of the Bayfield built, Helen MacLeod ll, the last sail powered commercial fishing boat to work on the Great Lakes.

The restoration of the Helen MacLeod can be seen here . . .

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.

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. It is open May to November, Wednesday and Saturdays: 1-5PM

The Bayfield Archive’s mandate is to collect, record and preserve local history. Collections include photos, postcards, genealogy, cemetery records, maps and assessment rolls for research

Charitable Donations

The Bayfield Historical Society is registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) as a charitable corporation. The Society issues tax receipts in line with Canadian Taxation guidelines for donations, gifts and bequests of money, material assets and property according to the conditions made by the donor. You can help support the activities of the Historical society with your generous donations.