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The Town of the Blue Mountains was formed in 1998 with the amalgamation of the Township of Collingwood and the Town of Thornbury. Communities in the municipality include Thornbury, Banks, Camperdown, Castle Glen Estates, Christie Beach, Clarksburg, Craigleith, Duncan, Gibraltar, Heathcote, Hurlburt, Kolapore, Little Germany, Loree, Ravenna, Redwing, Sixth Line, Slabtown, and Victoria Corners.

Clarksburg

Clarksburg was founded by William Jabez Marsh.

Thornbury circa 1912 as remembered by H. Elmer Cook

A hand drawn map of Thornbury, its businesses and residences, in around 1912. H. Elmer Cook, of Meaford, Ontario.

Topographical Map of the Township of Collingwood [1872]

From original and other surveys by J. Fleming, 1872.

"The Mountain and other topography is as accurate as can be determined from surveys up to the present time. The names on the lots are from the Revised Assessment Rolls of the Municipality.'

"Occupants of lots are mostly owners, but some are tenants."

"Scale: 40 chains to an inch."

Truck loaded with lumber

This is a photo of a truck hauling lumber from the McKean Mill to the Massey Harris Company. It was suggested that this was an REO truck. REO Motor Company was established by Ransom. E. Olds in 1905, Michigan. Ransom E. Olds further went on to be the founder of Olds Motor Company, makers of the Oldsmobile (later to became a part of General Motors). It was possible to have a touring body placed on the back of the truck so entire families could go on outings together. We cannot comment on the comfort of riding in the back considering it had solid rubber tires!

The McKean family was involved in several sawmills, including a mill built in Kolapore in the 1870s by Archibald McKean. Son Albert McKean set up a mill on the Eighth Line, and another mill on the north part of Lot 7, Concession 7.

Andrew McKean (son of Archibald McKean) built a sawmill on Lot 4, Concession 7 prior to 1895, which had burned. He built a second one on the same location, which included a chopping mill. The second mill was in operation until the early 1920s until it had a fire as well. (An Illustrated History of the Township of Collingwood, pg. 179)

Collingwood Township Coucil, 1931

Photograph of the Collingwood Township Council in 1931.

From top left: Norman Kneff; Charleton Cardiner; W.I. Fields (Reeve); Emerson Brown (Reeve); Ross Bowen (Redwing); Dr. Frank Moore; F.R. McKnight (Board of Health); Bruce Hamilton (Township Clerk); Charles Pyei (Treasurer); J.B. Ferguson; William Weir (Road Superintendent).

Richard Hallam and Horse Team

Richard Hallam, Lois Plummer's grandfather, worked for local farmers and lumber mills in the Beaver Valley area from the late 1800s to the 1920s. Here he is posing with his two horses who were used to pull heavy materials and as transportation.

Portrait of Hannah Rorke Moore

Portrait of Mrs. Benjamin Moore (Hannah Rorke Moore), circa 1920s.

Country Home on Grey Road 2

Photograph of a country home located on Grey Road 2 at 496487. Owned by Bill Wright family during the early 1900s and was later sold to the McNallys.

June Abbotts, Miss Beaver Valley 1946

June Abbotts speaking about her experience becoming Miss Beaver Valley in 1946.

The Presbyterian Heritage Cemetery

The Presbyterian Heritage Cemetery located at 595190 on the 4th line, just south of Gibraltor.

Letter: Messrs. Lloyds of London - W. Rorke - Part 1

Letter to Messrs. Lloyds of London from W. Rorke. The letter depicts Rorke's search for information in regards to his great grandfather’s voyage from Ireland to Canada and the corresponding shipwreck

Letter from Willard to his Mother - 5-1-35 - Part 12

Letter from Willard to his mother from when he was stationed on the H.M.S Emerald, East Indies Station. Willard wrote an eight page typed letter to his mother describing his time away from home. The letter was written January 5, 1935. Back of page 6

Letter from Willard to his Mother - 5-1-35 - Part 14

Letter from Willard to his mother from when he was stationed on the H.M.S Emerald, East Indies Station. Willard wrote an eight page typed letter to his mother describing his time away from home. The letter was written January 5, 1935. Back of page 7

Letter from Willard to his Mother - 3-1-36 - Part 1

Letter from Willard to his mother from when he was stationed on the Union club Aden Arabia. Willard wrote a two page handwritten letter to his mother describing his time away from home. The letter was written January 3, 1936. Page 1

A Brief Ancestry - Written by Dr. Annie S. Rorke-Greenwood

This docment was compiled by Dr. Annie S. Rorke-Greenwood in August 1939. Dr. Rorke-Greenwood made a brief description of the ancestry of the Rorke family.

Willard Rorke - Chaplain of the Royal Navy - Part 3

This document shows Willard Rorke recieve a special Ecclesiastical Licence from the Archbiship of Canterbury which would allow him to become a Chaplain for the Royal Navy.

Edward Rorke - Cemetery Receipt - Part 1

Cemetery receipt for the Thornbury and Clarksburg Union Cemetery. The reciept document gives a plot of land to the heirs of Edward Rorke.

Edward Rorke - Cemetery Receipt - Part 2

Cemetery receipt for the Thornbury and Clarksburg Union Cemetery. The reciept document gives a plot of land to the heirs of Edward Rorke.

Edward Rorke - Cemetery Receipt - Part 3

Cemetery receipt for the Thornbury and Clarksburg Union Cemetery. The reciept document gives a plot of land to the heirs of Edward Rorke.

Wedding Announcement - Margaret Yvonne Newell to Willard Rorke - Part 1

Wedding announcement for Margaret Yvonne Newell to Willard Rorke

Newspaper Article - “Former Clarksburg Girl Dr A.S. Rorke Greenwood is U.S. Religious Teacher” - Part 2

This is part 2 of the Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times article “Former Clarksburg Girl Dr A.S. Rorke Greenwood is U.S. Religious Teacher” which talks about Dr Annie S. Rorke Greenwood and how the Rorkes were an early pioneering family in Grey County.

Polaroid Photograph - Bushes Outside the Depot

This photograph is of the bushes outside The Depot restaurant. It was taken with a polaroid camera. Most likely taken in the spring or summer.