Ancaster Township Historical Society

Ancaster Township Historical Society 2026-2027 Speaker’s Program.

Friday October 30th 2026.
Speaker: Robin McKee, Hamilton Historian and Author
Topic: "Cemeteries of Ancaster”.

Friday November 27th 2026.
Speaker: David Beland, researcher.
Topic: “Escandia Pottery Works, and Wedgewood of Canada”

Friday January 27th 2027.
Speaker: Ben Dyment, Archivist and Researcher
Topic: “The Archives of The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board”.

Friday February 26th 2027.
Speaker: Roger Zsiros Westry, Author and Historian
Topic: On his book “Ancaster’s Early Settlers”

Friday March 26th 2027.
Speaker: Dr. Laura Smith, Author and Historian
Topic: “1847: THe Great Irish Famine and Hamilton, Canada West”

Friday April 30th 2027.
Annual General Meeting.
Members Only Event.

*Note. All regular meetings to tentatively take place at Ancaster Old Townhall 310 Wilson Street East. Any change of venue will be announced and advertised with appropriate notice to both members and the general public.

Salute to our Past!
In 1951, at Memorial School, The Ancaster Township Historical Society became live.
We salute the following for their wisdom and foresight 75 years ago!

Honorary President - Dr. J. Howard Holbrook
President - Lawrence R. Greene.
Vice Presidents - William C. Whitfield and Mrs. John G. McMurray
Secretary - Ms. Fannie Postans
Treasurer - Russel Brown.
Custodian - Dr. A.L. Speers.
Publication Editor - Bert Lewis
Councillors - Roy Moffat, John W. Sturrock, Alex Klim, Stewart Smith, and Sanford Bonham
Honorary Member - T. Roy Woodhouse

Together, along with others, they researched and wrote " Ancaster's Heritage"

Congratulations to our Hamilton Wentworth Heritage Association Volunteer Award recipients for 2026: The Rev. Canon Robert "Bob" Brownlie, and Mr. Emannuel Franca.

As a result of city staffing restrictions with respect to the screening for Covid 19 at Ancaster Townhall (a city owned property), and the unavailability of an alternate venue, the decision has regretfully been made to cancel the ATHS meeting scheduled for Friday, November 26th.

Photo Cred: Dave Puskas.

Monarch Butterfly, Fieldcote Gardens. [Photo Cred: Dave Puskas]

I have 5 gliclee prints made of my painting Ancaster 1970. They can be purchased, signed and numbered for $150.00 each, with $50.00 going to the Ancaster Township Historical Society. The original goes for $250.00 with the entire amount given to the Society.

ATHS 2021-2022 Guest Speaker Series.

Friday October 29th 2021.
Speaker: Zig Misiak, Prominent Ancaster Citizen and Local Historian.
Topic: “Zig’s Story” The tale of a refugee family’s journey from war torn Poland to Canada.

Friday November 26th 2021.
Speaker: Pauline Grondin, Professional storyteller and historical interpreter.
Topic: “Aboriginal Farm Workers of Wentworth County”.

Friday January 28th 2022.
Speaker: Diane Dent, Phd. Professor, Redeemer University College and Chair of “Friends of Auchmar”.
Topic: “History of Auchmar”.

Friday February 25th 2022.
Speaker: Noni Iler, Historical Interpreter, Whitehern House National Historic Site.
Topic: “Whitehern and the McQuesten Family”

Friday March 25th 2022.
Speaker: Mike McDonnell, Local Historian and Interpreter.
Topic: TBD.

Ancaster downtown 2000 acrylic on panel the Rev Canon Robert Brownlie
I have had 5 Gliclee prints made, I will sell them, numbered and signed for $150 each, 50 Dollars goes to the Ancaster Township Historical Society from each print sold. The Original may be puchased for $250. with the full amount given to ATHS.

Ancaster Farmers Market - St. John's Church
Acrylic on canvas - The Rev. Canon R. L. Brownlie