Newcastle Village and District Historical Society was formed by local citizens in 1981. The original Statement of Purpose reads; “To preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the former Village of Newcastle and its immediate environs.”
Soon after, the Historical Society moved into the former Village of Newcastle Library rooms in the Community Hall at King and Mill Streets. Here, the former cabinets originally used to keep the library collection were restored and special artifacts, documents and photographs were and still are displayed there.
The organization is a registered non-profit charity with about 150 members. The Historical Room is open, free of charge, on Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Volunteers are on hand to assist the general public as well as members with their inquiries on local and family history.
The Village of Newcastle has 5 Provincial Heritage Plaques; The Baldwin Homestead (son Robert Jr. was Premier of the Province of Canada 1842-43 and 1848-1851); Joseph E. Atkinson (founder of Toronto Star and Atkinson Foundation); Massey Manufacturing (Daniel Massey – later became Massey Harris, Massey Ferguson started in Newcastle); Bishop Brent (Anglican Bishop, promoter of Christian Unity and advocate of drug control); Newcastle Fish Hatchery (first full-scale Fish Hatchery in North America). The Historical Society has numerous artifacts, books, documents and photographs and film related to all of these. There is also a vast amount of historical information on local families, businesses and buildings and these are available to the general public for their perusal.
There are four informative newsletters issued to the membership each year, as well as several General Meetings with interesting speakers.
We look forward to seeing you at “The Room.”
Newcastle Village and District Historical Society Board Members:
Brian Jose, President
Noel Gordon, Vice-president
Paddy Duncan, Secretary
Sher Leetooze, Treasurer
James Breech, Director
Roger Farrow, Director
Greg Forget, Director
Fred Graham, Director
Erla Jose, Director
Marilyn Kent, Director
Sandra Long, Director
Peter Martin, Director