Brant Historical

06/26/2026

Our this week features an image of Eclipse Oils Limited, c. 1927-1930. Cottage style automobile service centre located on the corner of Colborne and Clarence Street. There are three cars in the lot, and an attendant is servicing a car while the driver is cleaning his window.

06/23/2026

REMINDER: BHS walking tours return tomorrow night!

Join Brian tomorrow (Wed. June 24) at 6:30pm for the Black Community Heritage Walk. Starting at the southwest corner of Alexandra Park (Colborne St and Park Ave), attendees will learn about the history of the Black Community in this area of the City.

Walks are FREE for BHS members, and $10.00 for non-members. Call 519-752-2483 or email [email protected] to register.

06/19/2026

Our this week features a portrait of Jimmy Wilkes, taken in 2003.

Born in 1926, he broke into the Negro Baseball League in the United States in 1945 before the colour barrier was broken in 1947. He signed with the Brantford Red Sox in 1954, spending ten years with the club - five of which were championship seasons. In 1964, he traded his bat and mitt for an umpire's mask, officiating games in the league for the next twenty-seven years. He became a well respected citizen of Brantford and a goodwill ambassador for the sport of baseball with the youth of the community.

Want to learn more about Jimmy and his baseball career? Visit the "Roots and Routes" exhibit at the Brant Museum and Archives, on display until the end of August 2026.

06/18/2026

We have TWO historical walking tours coming up this week!

Join us on Saturday June 20th at 10:30am for a tour of the property and gardens at Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant!

On Wednesday, June 24th at 6:30pm, Brian will be leading the Black Community Heritage Walk. Starting at the southwest corner of Alexandra Park (Colborne St and Park Ave), attendees will learn about the history of the Black Community in this area of the City.

Walks are FREE for BHS members, and $10.00 for non-members. Call 519-752-2483 or email [email protected] to register.

06/05/2026

Our this week features an image taken in 1976 from the Brantford General Hospital, showing the Brantford Carriage Company building and the White Farm Equipment storage area on Pearl Street.

Want to learn more about this area of Brantford? Join Brian on the Usher Street Walking tour this Saturday, June 6th at 10:30am! More information about the walk can be found on the Brantford Station Neighbourhood Association page.

06/04/2026

06/02/2026

The Brant Historical Society is partnering with the Brantford Station Neighbourhood Association for TWO walking tours this week - the first is TOMORROW night!

Wednesday, June 3rd - 6:30-8:00pm: North Ward Veterans Walk

Join Lillia in front of BCI (120 Brant Ave) and walk through the Brant Ave and William/Albion St. area. Lillia will take you on a journey into the past where you will learn about some of the brave people who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars who lived right here in our very own neighbourhood.

Saturday, June 6th - 10:30am-12pm: Usher Street Walk

Join Brian at Edward Goold Park (186 Pearl St.) for our second historical walking tour. Brian will guide you through some of the long vanished industrial, cultural and railway history of the Usher St. area. You will learn how our neighbourhood was an industrial epicenter of Brantford with a rich Ukrainian and Hungarian culture for many years and how it all shaped our area.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPwUGNmIh54nVeJuq7EY7DIeVYkYU9iwI8h49mCVTPLph0oQ/viewform

05/26/2026

Join us tomorrow night, Wednesday May 27th at 6:30pm for a walking tour of Mount Hope Cemetery (169 Charing Cross St, Brantford)!

Walks are FREE for BHS members and $10.00 for non-members. Email [email protected] to register.

The full schedule of walks can be found on our website: https://brantmuseums.ca/walking-tours/

05/22/2026

PLEASE NOTE: The Black Community Heritage Walk scheduled for Saturday May 23 has been CANCELLED due to forecasted rain.

This walk is scheduled for two other dates this spring/summer: Wednesday June 24 and Wednesday July 29, both beginning at 6:30pm.

Brant Historical Society Walking Tours return this weekend!

Join Brian this Saturday, May 23 at 10:30am to learn about the Black Community in Brantford, focusing on the early history of one of the first culture groups to settle in this area. Following the walk, we encourage you to visit the corresponding exhibit at the Brant Museum and Archives!

Walks are FREE for BHS members, and $10.00 for non-members. Email [email protected] or call 519-752-2483 to reserve your spot.