Tay Valley prepares for 200th Anniversary

Nov 26, 2014

At a special gathering held at the offices of Tay Valley Township near Perth on November 22, staff members outlined the upcoming events they are planning to usher in the township's 200-year anniversary in 2016. The anniversary will mark not only the arrival of the first European settlers to the region but will pay tribute to veterans of the War of 1812, and to the First Nations people who were instrumental in helping the early European settlers survive their first, harshest winter here. The anniversary will also celebrate the communities that were developed over the 200-year period that followed, beginning in 1815 when Perth was designated by the British government as one of three military settlements that encouraged settlers, comprised of unemployed tradesmen and discharged soldiers following the end of the War of 1812.

Outgoing Deputy Reeve Susan Freeman highlighted numerous projects in the works and a number of the special events that will be taking place beginning in the fall of 2015 and continuing through 2016. The events will include pioneer-era reenactments, events on the Tay River and canal, a winter carnival, a wide array of musical and theatre entertainment, arts and crafts displays, historic exhibits, and much more.

There will be home tours, a home-coming program to welcome expatriates, a settler's trail and lots of memorabilia including 200-year anniversary calendars, plus special 100, 150 and 200-year plaques, which will be made available to the present owners of heritage buildings and homes in the area.

Kay Rogers, who also spoke at the event, acknowledged the over 70 area residents who contributed either through interviews, written submissions or by donating photos and other memorabilia to a special book celebrating the history of Tay Valley Township, which is currently in production through a partnership between Tay Valley Township and General House Publishing.

Rogers is editing the book, which is titled “At Home in Tay Valley”. She described it as “similar to a barn raising, threshing or quilting bee - in its essence it is another form of work bee, another kind of community project with a host of contributors.”

The book has for its cover a photo of a barn raising on the Scotch Line that took place in 1880. It includes chapters written by numerous local contributors including Ompah's own master weaver and textile scholar, Ellen Good, who contributed a chapter about pioneer textiles. The book highlights the history of the Algonquin peoples, the arrival, settlement and lives of the first settlers, the 20th century arrivals, cottagers and campers and of course, who could forget, the back-to-the-landers. The book includes maps, paintings, photos and special memories from local area residents.

A limited print run of the book will be available in the fall of 2015. A single copy costs $30 and copies of two or more are available for $25 each. To order contact Kay Rogers at 613-326-0363 or Noelle Reeve at 613-267-5353 ext 128. All proceeds from sales of the book will fund two history scholarships made available to one graduate from each of Perth and District Collegiate Institute and St. John's Catholic High School, who have been accepted into a post-secondary program and who have demonstrated a keen interest in history.

As Frontenac County will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2015, it is nice to see how our older neighbours to the east are making plans to celebrate their 200th birthday.