News

Eminent Clarington historian Myno Van Dyke has been honoured with the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.

“I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” said Van Dyke.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards celebrates those who make “exceptional contributions to cultural and natural heritage conservation, environmental sustainability and biodiversity.” The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes outstanding individuals who — for 25 years or longer — have volunteered their time to preserve heritage. Read more….

https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/8583880-newcastle-s-heritage-champion-myno-van-dyke-recognized-for-lifetime-achievement/

Join us at the next General Meeting on April 10th at 7 pm in the Centennial Room, Newcastle Community Hall. Free Admittance and refreshments! Peter Klose will relate his research on the Beachs, whose tombstones rest along Hwy 115. Peter is a past member of the Abandoned Cemetery Board. This will be a very interesting meeting as these tombstones have been a mystery to us for a long time. They were mentioned in our very first newsletter in 1982.

The NVDHS has a variety of local history books available for sale, from the Newcastle Celebrates 150 years, a photo book celebrating Newcastle’s Sesquicentennial in 2006, to The 1793-1813 Settlers of Durham County, which contains detailed information of the earliest settlers, origins, birth, marriage and death information. We also have a number of books on local buildings and, while they last, a number of Clarke High School Yearbooks. Check out our new Books for Sale page. If you’re interested in a book but can’t pick it up in person, please let us know and we can arrange shipping.

Merry Christmas

Come celebrate the holidays with Newcastle Village and District Historical Society

Saturday, December 23, from 9:30 to 12:00 at the History Room in the Community Hall, Four Corners, Newcastle

• Mulled cider
• Christmas cookies
• Movies
• Carols
• Good friends!

See You There!

Come out and enjoy the fun and merriment at the annual Newcastle Santa Claus Parade through downtown on Sunday, November 19 at 5:30 p.m.!

The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society will have a float in the parade and we are looking for volunteers. We need two men as loggers and two people to carry the banner and help to assemble the float on Nov. 11th. Call Shelly at (905) 987-7259 if you can help.

The Newcastle Santa Parade is a wonderful event starting with a fantastic fireworks display at 5:30 p.m. followed by 70 entries that range from marching bands, to clowns and beautifully lighted floats that children (and adults) of all ages enjoy. We are all in great anticipation for Santa’s next magical visit to Newcastle with sounds, lights and marching bands of a night time parade. This year the theme for the Parade is “Canada 150th.”

Please bring a non-perishable food donation for the Clarington East Food Bank. Grocery carts will be collecting items along the parade route.

More information at newcastlesantaparade.com

A celebration of the family farm

On Saturday, September 30, we will be hosting Culture Days featuring what it would have been like to live on a farm in bygone days. Come out and see our tractors! Take our “What is it?” quiz. Visit the other displays in the History Room.

As part of Culture Days, Storyteller, Kathleen Smyth, will be presenting ‘The Massey Story‘ at 1 p.m. at the History Room. Please come out to see the Massey Tractors and stay to hear the storyteller.  A unique perspective on storytelling, told in the first person, Kathleen will wear many hats during her presentation! A must for anyone interested in local history.

Hours: Saturday, Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Come visit us in the arena at the Orono Fair, September 7-10. We’ll have a fun “What is it?” quiz featuring items found in a historic farm kitchen. Come and test your knowledge and find out a bit more about your community history!

Sunday, June 25, 2017, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Newcastle Community Hall

• Local family genealogy
• Kids corner
• Heritage demonstrations
• Antiques
• Local historical videos
• Collections by local residents
• Historical displays
• Music
• Participants/Exhibits
  • Ganaraska Quilters Guild
  • Spinners and Weavers
  • Orono Fair Booklet Group
  • Durham Farm Families
  • Walbridge, Jose & Chapman Families
  • Newcastle Lion’s Club
  • Blackburn Family
  • Stapleton Family
  • Peter’s Antiques
  • Metal Finds
  • Walton Family
  • Indigenous Artifacts
  • Local Railroads
  • Rickard, Rudman & Allin Families
  • A Gift of Art
  • Who Lived Here in 1867
  • Children’s Table
  • Various NVDHS historical displays

Music by Orono Cornet Band

If you are looking for an authentic 1867 Canada Day experience then come to the Orono Cornet Band concerts in Clarington on June 25 and July 1. The band will perform patriotic songs and popular music of 1867 Canada.

The band has recreated a town brass band of the confederation era playing original instruments and music. Back in the days of the New Dominion of Canada, brass bands existed in almost every town and village of the four original provinces. These bands provided the music that celebrated that first Canada Day.

The first concert is at the Newcastle Town Hall at 1:00 pm on June 25. The second is on July 1 at the Sara Jane Williams House, Clarington Museums in Bowmanville at 10:30 a.m.

For more information visit oronocornetband.com