Speakers’ series bringing history to life
Port Colborne’s history will come to life when the L.R. Wilson Archives’ local history speakers’ series returns this fall.
“We’re gearing up for the series,” says Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum director/curator Stephanie Powell Baswick. “We’ve had some pretty diverse topics over the last few years.”
First, on Oct. 4, is Cooking Up the Past, a look at local cultural heritage with the museum’s Abby Stansfield.
“This time of year people are starting to harvest and get things in,” says Baswick.
She says the archives and the museum use a mix of museum/ archive staff to speak on various topics and outside historians and experts. One of those outside speakers is Jeffrey Reichheld, who speaks on Oct. 25.
“He’ll be speaking about the impact of the Feeder Canal on Wainfleet’s development. Part of our mandate is to collect local rural history.”
On Nov. 8, the archives’ Michelle Vosburgh will hold a talk honouring local military service.
“She’ll be doing an armchair cemetery tour from the archives. We have cemetery tours as part of our programs but not everyone can make it out to them for accessibility, timing or weather reasons.
“There will be a focus on the 100th anniversary of the 1918 armistice.”
The final talk, on Nov. 22, will be on the effects of the various Welland Canals on Port Colborne. Baswick says Vosburgh will be the speaker again that evening.
“Marine history is in our mandate and we like to have marine content for the talks.”
She says anyone with an interest in history or someone new to the area who wants to learn more about Port Colborne should come out to the speakers’ series.
“You can engage with and meet like-minded people in the community. There is a question and answer period afterwards.”
All of the talks are on Thursdays, are free and start at 7 p.m. at the archives, 286 King St.