Special Notice
This site has recently been expanded to include historical information from the Cobourg History site. All information previously on this site is still here. Some Google searches may now end up here - use the site search box if you don't immediately find what you are looking for.
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For Genealogists
There is quite a bit of Information for genealogists on this site - it is best accessed using the search feature above. The best additional source of info for researchers is at the Cobourg Library where they have a local history room stocked with many historical books and documents. They do have some photos on-line but not much more - you need to visit.
Meetings
Based on the advice from the Town of Cobourg and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, face to face meetings at Victoria Hall have been cancelled until further notice. In order to stay connected and to keep you safe during the pandemic, monthly meetings are taking place by Virtual Zoom webinars. You can join by desktop or a laptop computer, tablet or smart phone!
Cobourg and District Historical Society Meetings are held every month except May, June, July, August and December. Meetings are held in the Citizen's Forum in Victoria Hall on the fourth Tuesday in the Month. Meetings start at 7:30pm but coffee and cookies are available starting at 7:00pm. Meetings are $5 for non-members and free for members of the society and students.
More on our About page.
Cobourg and District Historical Society
Mission
The Cobourg and District Historical Society promotes interest in the history of Cobourg and district and beyond, encourages the preservation of historical, archaeological and architectural heritage through meetings featuring speakers, the publication of presentations and organizing and participating in special events.
Meetings
Monthly meetings are held in the Citizens' Forum, Victoria Hall on the fourth Tuesday from September to May, excluding December. The doors open at 7:00pm and people enjoy this opportunity to socialize before the meeting convenes at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are free for members of the society and students.
Programmes include topics of local interest e.g. The American Summer Colony, Cobourg-Rochester ferries as well as subjects of more general interest e.g. The Barnardo Children or Preserving Your Family Archives. An annual dinner or bus trip is held alternately in May.
For more about the Cobourg and District Historical Society, go here.
Based on the advice from the Town of Cobourg and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, face to face meetings at Victoria Hall have been cancelled until further notice. In order to stay connected and to keep you safe during the pandemic, monthly meetings are taking place by Virtual Zoom webinars. You can join by desktop or a laptop computer, tablet or smart phone!
Temperance, Tonics or Both?
- Details
Join us on-line via Zoom, Tuesday evening, September 28, 2021 at 7:30 p.m., and learn about two celebrated women and discover their connections to Cobourg.
Please register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HAkaIHMHRJ6PfKd-ZVZJJA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Robert Washburn will present Letitia Youmans, a Canadian school teacher who became an activist for the temperance movement. Youmans founded and served as the first president of the Ontario chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Carla Jones will present Lydia Pinkham, the iconic maker and marketeer of the company's famous "Vegetable Compound" and other remedies meant to relieve female complaints among other ailments.
Robert Washburn is an award-winning educator in the Journalism Program at Loyalist College, where he teaches new and emerging technologies in journalism. A practicing journalist for nearly 40 years, he is known locally for his weekly current affairs radio show, Consider This Northumberland, covering local politics and community life. His hyperlocal news website, https://consider-this.ca/, is an archive of his journalism and academic work. Washburn is a member of the James Cockburn Society and the author of several history plays about Cockburn, the first speaker of the House of Commons and the Father of Confederation for Northumberland County.
Carla Jones, our CDHS President, joined the CDHS in 2011. She immediately volunteered to be our newsletter distributor and moved on to further roles as our Secretary and then Membership Director. Although Carla's career has been in the software business as a Sales and Marketing executive, she has enjoyed a long-time love of history
The History of the ACO and Why it Matters
- Details
On May 25 Diane Chin will be telling the story of the founding of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) organization and its relationship to Barnum House in Grafton including the history of Barnum House itself.
Diane ChinWhile putting this presentation together she came across a mystery yet to be solved about the founding of the Cobourg Branch of ACO. Perhaps one of the attendees can shed light on what happened to one of Cobourg’s oldest buildings and more importantly to the person who organized this building’s move.
Our speaker will also touch on legislative aspects of Heritage Conservation and the many recent threats that are now upon us. And you thought COVID was our only problem!
Diane Chin moved to Cobourg in 2013. She grew up in the Beaches in Toronto so an eastward move to another lakeside community, populated by historic heritage homes was a natural fit. Diane is a former high school teacher, school librarian, principal and real estate agent. She also spent many summers working for the Ontario Government including one working as a Park Naturalist at Presqu’ile. Currently, Diane is also on the Executive of the Victoria Hall Volunteers and is our Program Director. She is also a member of the Cobourg Horticultural Society, the Canadian Federation of University Women and the Willow Beach Field Naturalists. Diane is currently the Vice-Chair of ACO Ontario.
All CDHS members are invited to join us electronically on Tuesday, May 25 at 07:30 PM. Please register in advance by visiting (zoom link no longer valid).
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions concerning registration, please contact Brian Murphy, Membership Chair, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We look forward to you joining our upcoming CDHS webinar!