The Manvers Township Historical Society was formed in 1983 to preserve the Old Bethany Post Office. The building was moved back from the street to become the organization headquarters. That same year “Rolling Hills Volume 2” was published. In 2019, the building was restored with insulation, siding, windows and repurposed as a Research Centre.
A workshop for cemetery restoration was conducted with participants from five municipalities and presentations by funeral directors, monument companies, a review of the Ontario Cemeteries Act and Charitable status rules. Each year, a cemetery tour includes families of the deceased who volunteer family information that is recorded by the Society.
Celebrating Jewish Cottage Days in Pontypool was attended by 1,000 Jewish families from North America. This inspired Alex Poch Goldin to write a play “The Right Road to Pontypool” which was produced by the 4th Line Theatre Millbrook. Grant Curtis wrote and published the book “Laugh and the World Laughs With You in Pontypool” for this event.
Honouring a local WWII unsung hero who hid Jews in Holland from the Germans was an emotional ceremony attended by many survivors of the WWII.
The locally designated Pontypool Grain Elevator, one of nine left in Canada, was leased from the City of Kawartha Lakes and the exterior was restored by our Society and local community. A celebration recognizing the restoration with a floral display also features outdoor display boards of Pontypool history which also honoured the last remaining Jewish Family (Thomas White).
Canadian War Brides were honoured at a ceremony with Legion, Federal, Provincial and Municipal Representatives. 48,000 British brides and 27,000 children followed Canadian husbands to settle in Canada after WWII. Less than 259 are still alive.
We welcome the Canadian Buddhist Association to this area with a traditional Chinese dinner of 250 which was streamed worldwide. Our Society offers conducted tours of hundreds every year to the largest Buddhist temple site-Wutal Shan Gardens – 530 acres – outside of China. This is also streamed worldwide.
We also welcomed the Canadian Tibetan Organization with a traditional dinner.
Grant Curtis wrote and published “Women of Manvers” – their story with recipes.
An interactive facebook page launched in 2019 is the envy of historical groups.
Work has begun on a history book for Janetville with a proposed designation of a settler cemetery across the Scugog River in Ops Township. This is the site of the first settlers in the City of Kawartha Lakes. The damming of this site created View Lake, part of Janetville history.
Our organization attracts 1,000 followers with a growing active membership interested in preserving our history and developing tourism initiatives.
Submitted by Kathy Morton, President
The future goals of the Society include the establishment of a location where collected artifacts can be displayed and enjoyed by residents and visitors, expand the genealogy collection and support the efforts to record as much history of the area as possible.
Manvers Township Historical Society Goals and By-law
The Manvers Township Historical Society membership has adopted goals and a governing by-law to guide the organization.