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 federally incorporated, non-profit organization dedicated to the principles of conservation, preservation and restoration with respect to the culturally and historically significant components of our Village.
We've been busy upgrading the wheelhouse
Wheelhouse Hosts Santa
We have completed the main floor.
We have installed an engineered steel structure to strengthen the support of the upper deck.
We have insulated the walls with professionally applied spray foam.
The walls and ceiling have been paneled and lighting has been installed.
As a result, we were able to provide Santa Claus with a warm and cozy spot to meet with the children attending the 2025 Santa Claus Parade
Exterior Solar Lighting
We are pleased with the effect that our new exterior solar lighting on the upper deck provides to the facade of the bridge.
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 December 31, 2025: OVER $44,480
HOW CAN YOU HELP:
1. With a cheque made payable to the Port Burwell Historical Society Inc., 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. Send an e-transfer to pbhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Recent Historical Society Events
Santa Claus Parade 2025
Santa Claus Parade 2025
Santa Claus Parade 2025
The Port Burwell Historical Society was extremely proud to host Santa Claus in our Wheelhouse at the Marine Museum after the parade so he could spend time with the children who came to visit.
The Society provided hot chocolate and hot apple cider to all who came through our refurbished Wheelhouse.
A huge shout out to the Beachfest team for organizing the evening, to the Vienna Swans for supplying gift bags for all the kids after they had their time with Santa, and, of course to Santa himself for visiting our village.
Remembrance Day 2025
Santa Claus Parade 2025
Santa Claus Parade 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 laid 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
Kayak Fun Run 2025
Kayak Fun Run 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
Kayak Fun Run 2025
Kayak Fun Run 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.
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
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.
