Be a part of our Port Burwell Historical Society, creating positive change in your community
Welcome to the Port Burwell Historical Society webSITE
Join us in making a difference in your community! The Port Burwell Historical Society is a volunteer organization dedicated to the principles of conservation, preservation and restoration with respect to the culturally and historically significant components of our Village.
The Historic (1840) Lighthouse Restoration fundraising
How Its Making a Difference
STAGE ONE
We are happy to announce we have exceeded our Stage One target. With the addition of the funds from the March 1st concert we are now sitting with the required funds for the Municipality to produce the Engineering Design/Drawings required to apply for Grants from various Government Agencies and Private Foundations that will be necessary to finance the actual restoration. All funds that have been raised and forwarded to the Historical Society have been deposited into our Lighthouse Restoration Fund segregated bank account with the First Ontario Credit Union branch in Tillsonburg.
We are currently waiting for the Municipality to confirm the contracts have been signed with the Engineering firm to produce the Design/Drawings prior to releasing the funds.
FUNDS RAISED THROUGH August 4, 2025: OVER $43,000
HOW CAN YOU HELP:
1. With a cheque made payable to the Port Burwell Historical Society, P.O. Box 10, Port Burwell, ON, N0J 1T0,
2. The Port Burwell Historical Society has rededicated our Lighthouse GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/.../historic-1840-lighthouse...) to achieving this goal,
3. Support our Frisky Beaver fundraiser by using our unique Promo Code, PBHS25, when ordering wines from their website (www.shopwine.ca) or when visiting the winery. (No Tax Receipt for this one, just some great wine),
4. Send an e-transfer to pbhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Recent Historical Society Events
Remembrance Day 2025
Remembrance Day 2025
Remembrance Day 2025
President Bill Ball (middle) and Secretary/Treasurer Roy Sullivan (left) represented the PBHS at the Port Burwell Remembrance Service on Sunday, November 9th.
Bill and Roy paid a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of all the Society's members.
Thank you Rose Sofalvi Beuk for capturing the day's event.
Kayak Fun Run 2025
Remembrance Day 2025
Remembrance Day 2025
This year's Kayak Fun Run was once again held as part of Port Burwell's Beachfest weekend activities.
We had a great turn out with 15 participants taking on the Big Otter.
Afterwards they enjoyed some fellowship time at the Otter Creek Distilling facilities with free hot dogs and samplings.
In addition, we raised $375.00 for the historic Port Burwell Lighthouse.
Canada Day 2025
Remembrance Day 2025
Once again our Canada Day celebration had a great turnout on a beautiful day.
The streets of Port Burwell were lined with smiling faces enjoying the Parade that opened the day.
We were joined by Andrew Lawton, MP, Rob Flack, MPP, Grant Jones, Warden, and Ed Ketchebaw, Mayor. Not only did they walk in the Parade, but addressed the crowd and cut our Canada Day cake. Thanks to all our dignitaries for taking time to join us.
Hats off to the Marine Museum staff for organizing and running their children's activities. The glitter fish craft was a hit.
We served 400 hot dogs, 260 cupcakes, one cake and about 40 litres of Gatorade to our guests.
Thank you to Bob Derer and North of 60 for entertaining everyone.
Thank you to those who participated in our Community Information Village. I hope you were able to interact with the great people of our area.
And last, but not least, thank you to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association for the thrilling and inspiring flyover.
Please check out to Canada Day page for more.
Directors and Executive for 2025
The Port Burwell Historical Society Held it's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, April 8th.
The members approved an expansion to the Board from 4 Directors to 10 Directors.
Directors elected to a one year term were:
Ken Kokko
Margaret Rushton
Roy Sullivan
Laurie Tone
Directors elected to a two year term were:
Bill Ball
John Regan
Jim Tone
Albert White
Rosemary White
Our 2025 Executive is:
Bill Ball - President
Jim Tone - Vice President
Roy Sullivan - Secretary/Treasurer
Port Burwell Santa Claus Parade 2024
The Port Burwell Historical Society is proud to have had the opportunity to participate and support this annual Port Burwell tradition.
The Historical Society provided Hot Chocolate and Hor Apple Cider to those who needed a little something to warm up on the blistery night.
The Historical Society also provided a shelter for Santa to meet all the children due to the ongoing construction in the MArine Museum.
A big shout out to the Beachfest Organizing Committee for your hard work and to the Vienna Swans who provided the candy packs for the kids after their visit with Santa.
Charles "Chuck" Buchanan Honoured
At our recent Annual General Meeting, our President, Ron Bradfield, presented a plaque to Chuck Buchanan in recognition of his many years of service to the Historical Society and the Port Burwell community
Chuck was a founding member of the Historical Society and spent 21 years as the Society's Treasurer before stepping down in November 2022. Chuck also spent years as the Treasurer of E.O.N. ( Elgin Oxford Norfolk Association of Curators, Archivists & Directors) and as a member of the Bayham Museum Board. Many of the exhibits in the Port Burwell Marine Museum are the direct result of Chuck's hard work.
Thank you, Chuck, for all your work on behalf of Port Burwell.
Donation to Trinity Church
Donation to Trinity Church
Donation to Trinity Church
On December 2, 2023, after the close of the Santa Claus Parade, our President, Ron Bradfield, presented a donation to the Trinity Anglican Church, represented by Stan Rushton.
The members of Trinity Church have assisted the Historical Society on many occasions and projects and have never asked for any compensation for their efforts. We felt it was time to formally recognize these contributions to our community with a small token of appreciation.
Thank you, Trinity Church, for all your work in making Port Burwell a better place to live
united states medal of honor presentation July 3, 2024
Ceremony Has A Bayham Connection
On April 12, 1862, during the height of the American Civil War, a military raid that would come to be known as the Andrews Raid and the Great Locomotive Chase took place in Northern Georgia. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered a train, The General, and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives, including The Texas, for 87 miles (140 km).
Confederates eventually captured the raiders and quickly executed some as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee. The surviving raiders, who were members of the Union Army, were the first to be awarded the newly created Medal of Honor by the US Congress for their actions.
In 2008, the House of Representatives passed a bill which would retroactively award the Medal of Honor to two of the three remaining raiders, Charles Perry Shadrack and George Davenport Wilson. On July 3, 2024, President Joe Biden posthumously presented the medal to descendants of both Shadrack and Wilson. All the Medals of Honor presented to the Andrews Raiders used identical text.
Citation:
One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Accepting the Medal of Honor from President Biden on behalf of Private Shadrack's descendants was Gerald Taylor of Straffordville. Mr. Taylor is the Great-Grandnephew of Private Shadrack and his oldest living descendant. Mr. Taylor was accompanied at the ceremony by his daughter, Penny Clarke of Straffordville, and his grandsons, Nathan Clarke of Richmond and Andrew Clarke of Port Burwell.
To watch the entire ceremony, follow the link below.
Left to right: Nathan Clarke, Andrew Clarke, Gerald Taylor, and Penny Clarke
We’re Putting The FUN In Fundraising
The Port Burwell Historical Society is pleased to announce we have renewed our association with Frisky Beaver Wine Co. to raise funds for the restoration of the Port Burwell Historic (1840) Lighthouse.
When you purchase any of the excellent Frisky Beaver products, either in person at their winery in Port Dover or online at www.ShopWine.ca, use our exclusive Promo Code: PBHS25
You will receive 5% off on any purchase (even off their sales prices) and the Port Burwell Historical Society will receive 10% of your purchase total towards the Lighthouse restoration.
So … Raise A Glass - Save Our Lighthouse!
Port Burwell Historical Society Land Acknowledgement
The Port Burwell Historical Society acknowledges we are located on lands that have been occupied by First Nations for millennia.
Port Burwell is situated in Treaty 3 (Between the Lakes Purchase) territory, a treaty signed in 1792. This is the traditional territories of the Anishinabewaki, the Attiwonderonk (Neutral), the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee) and the Mississauga; civilizations knowledgeable of architecture, preservation of culture, and the perpetuation and sustainment of Turtle Island.
The Port Burwell Historical Society is committed to reconciliation. We will honour the land through acts of conservation and preservation that reflect and respect this heritage. We will forge new relationships and partnerships with our First Nations neighbours and strive to share and protect this land for future generations.