Lambton County Archives Blog

Collecting COVID-19 History at Lambton County Archives

As Federal, Provincial and Municipal authorities have taken measure aimed to restrict the spread of COVID-19, we have shifted our daily routines and become accustomed to uncertainty. Many of us have found new ways of working, learning, and communicating during this time. We see the kindness made by caregivers, neighbours, and essential service providers while learning how important social distancing is at this time when friends and family feel even more valuable to us. Each of us is experiencing...

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas,

When all through the Archives

Not a student was stirring, for Christmas soon would arrive.

DVD’s were arranged in the Gift Shop with care,

In hopes that last minute shoppers soon would be there.

The staff were nestled all snug in the Reading Room

Rachel sharing truffles, too many to consume.

With the microfilm buzzing and doors locking at noon

Colleen’s at her desk listening to holiday tunes.

When back in the vault there arose such a clatter

Nicole sprang from her desk to see...

1829 Ginger Pop Recipe Experiment

A few months ago, our Archivist Nicole found a recipe page in the front of a small appointment book in the family files collection dating back to 1829. Although the top recipe was unusable due to the use of mercury in the recipe, the bottom recipe for Ginger Pop was a great opportunity for a historical recipe project!

Ginger Ale was my go to beverage whenever I felt feverish as a child. So when I came across this recipe for Ginger pop, I thought it might be interesting to give it a try and see how...

Sarnia Mechanics Institute

Early Mechanic Institutes

The earliest Mechanics Institute was established in Great Britain during the early 1820’s as a means to address underlying class and moral issues in society. The upper and middle class believed the best way to ‘save’ the lower class communities from the grips of moral decay caused by past times such as drinking and gambling was to offer the access to knowledge otherwise held exclusively by upper class patrons, at a fee of course.

The Mechanics Institute was a hit and by 1835...

The Story of Reverend George John Rawkin Salter

Early in 2019, the Lambton County Archives acquired a transcript by Reverend George John Rawkin Salter taken under oath on September 20th 1887. The transcript, regarding a dispute between Alexander Vidal and the Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Huron, shares valuable insight to the life of Rev. Salter in Sarnia including the Vidal family and St. Georges Church in Sarnia.

Who is Reverend Salter?

Rev Salter was born in Devon England on May 26th, 1815 to Reverend John Salter and Dinah Adams (some...