History Lives Here is hosting a series of “History Nights” in 2024/2025 at The Andrew, the former St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on King Street in Picton.
“History Nights” are 90-minute audio-video presentations on a wide range of local history topics of first settlement, founding industries, prominent people, and significant events, which have shaped the history of Prince Edward County and Canada.
A first event in September outlined the history of History Lives Here Inc., the little company with the big idea to make history a significant economic driver in the area.
Company founder, journalist Peter Lockyer, shared his personal story of working as a volunteer to restore Picton’s historic Glenwood Cemetery over nearly a decade and some lessons learned. Today, after nearly 25 years working with many local volunteer heritage groups, it is his firm belief that we need to do more than tell stories – even as compelling as they are. What really needs to happen, he says, is that we package our history into a community business retailing historical events, experiences and locally made products to consumers with a portion of all revenues contributed into a central, existing fund that supports local heritage projects.
October’s presentation highlighted the story of the Miss Supertest race team, the Canadian boat which raced to victories in Picton waters in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The next “History Night” will take place on Thursday, January 30th at 7 – 8:30PM at the Andrew, 31 King St. in Picton. This presentation will tell the tale of a town, a time, and a team that made hockey history – the story of the 1959 world champion Belleville McFarlands.
In late February, Lockyer will be presenting “Great Journeys” – his experiences documenting Canadian development projects in China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam and Ghana.
The concluding presentation in March will showcase some of the History Moments video series, short stories based on local history themes, produced by the History Lives Here team. These highly produced video vignettes were broadcast on regional broadcast networks and before movies at several area theatres.
Tickets are $30/person. For more information, contact: standrewspicton.com/historynights
