Thorold Historical Museum

Name: Thorold Historical Museum
Address: 2 Carleton Street S, Thorold, ON, L2V1Z5, CA
Telephone: +19059844435

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Thorold Historical Museum

The Thorold Museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying Thorold's unique community history. South, Thorold.

Archives are available by appointment Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm at 2 Carleton St. Our collection is viewable online and though satellite displays

06/23/2026

On June 24, 1912, construction began for the Ontario Paper Mill in City of Thorold.

The Ontario Paper Mill helped shape the Thorold we know today.
From powering local jobs to driving industrial growth along the Welland Canal, the mill played a major role in building our community’s identity. Its connection to the Chicago Tribune, its innovative use of hydroelectric power, and its influence on neighbourhood development made it one of Thorold’s most important historical landmarks. It wasn’t just a workplace — it was a community anchor, a driver of growth, and a symbol of the city’s resilience. For decades, it powered our economy, shaped our neighbourhoods, and connected our city to North America through the Welland Canal. A true cornerstone of our industrial heritage. Its legacy still lives on in our landscape, our stories, and our shared identity.

06/21/2026

On the early morning of June 22, 1813, Laura Secord set out from her home in Queenston to walk an arduous, dangerous, roughly 20‑mile journey through woods and rough terrain to warn the British outpost at DeCew Falls of an impending American attack. Her message to Lieutenant James FitzGibbon allowed British regulars and Indigenous warriors — including Caughnawaga and Grand River Iroquois fighters — to prepare an ambush that ultimately forced the American detachment to surrender. This historic marker is located in Beaversdam Battlefield Park, near the north entrance to the park, along a walking trail that runs north to south through the park, just southwest of the downtown business district.

06/19/2026

National Watch Day is an annual celebration held on June 19 that honors the history, craftsmanship, and cultural impact of watches. It was founded by Nordstrom in 2017 as a way to spotlight timepieces and the artistry behind them. It celebrates over 500 years of watchmaking history, from early spring‑driven portable clocks in the 1540s to modern mechanical and digital designs.

From our own collection we see a vintage Tissot Seastar Seven wristwatch, a classic Swiss timepiece first introduced in the 1960s. Known for its durability and sleek mid-century design, this model was part of Tissot's early line of reliable watches for active wear. Having a silver inner, perhaps rubbed from years of use. On the outside the color is that of gold.

06/17/2026

Historically, bicycle regulation — sometimes called the “law of wheelmen” — emerged in the late 19th century as cycling became widespread. Municipalities experimented with various rules, including registration and licensing.

On May 20, 1935, the City of Toronto passed a by‑law requiring residents who owned and used bicycles to obtain a license. Over the decades, the city repeatedly revisited the idea, usually in response to concerns about pedestrian safety, bike theft, or cyclist compliance with traffic laws.

Here we see an announcement from the Thorold Chief of Police on June 18, 1942 reminding all City of Thorold residents that own bicycles, that they require a license.

Ultimately, studies concluded that licensing created a large bureaucracy with little benefit, and the system was discontinued.

06/15/2026

June is national safety month for workplace and community safety. Here we see a photo of a Thorold paper mill crew from 1920. Paper mills in the early–mid 20th century were not as safe by modern standards. Typical hazards could include heavy machinery (rollers, cutters, pulpers), high‑temperature steam systems, chemical exposure (bleaching agents, acids, sulfites), slippery floors from pulp slurry, noise‑induced hearing loss and fire hazards from dust and dry paper. These risks were common across the industry, and accidents could occur.

06/13/2026

In June, 1948, the Austrian State of Carinthia issued a general operating permit for the Porsche 356.001, the first car to bear the Porsche name. This date is universally regarded as the birth of Porsche as we know it. It marks the transition from Porsche as an engineering consultancy (founded in 1931) to a true automobile manufacturer. The 356/1 prototype became the foundation for all future Porsche sports cars.

From our own collection we see a vintage Corgi Toys Porsche Carrera 6 (No. 330), a 1/43 scale die-cast model car originally produced between 1967 and 1969. It was designed with an opening rear engine hood to reveal a detailed engine, and some versions included a plastic driver figure inside. While originally a plaything for children, it is now considered a "classic from the archives," with some modern re-issues produced for the adult collector market.

06/11/2026

The Chicago Tribune began publication on June 10, 1847, founded by James Kelly, John E. Wheeler, and Joseph K. C. Forrest. It is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the United States. It quickly grew into the dominant newspaper of Chicago and the Midwest, later becoming the flagship of the Tribune Company.

Beginning in the early 20th century, the Chicago Tribune needed a reliable, high‑quality source of newsprint for its massive U.S. newspaper operations. To secure its supply, the Tribune purchased and operated its own paper mills in Canada, where timber and hydroelectric power were abundant.

One of those mills was of course, the Ontario Paper Company in Thorold. The Ontario Paper Company was founded in 1913 in Thorold due to the close access to the Welland Canal for shipping, proximity to Niagara hydroelectric power, abundant timber from Northern Ontario and a skilled industrial workforce.

The mill became one of Thorold’s largest employers and a defining part of the city’s industrial identity.

06/09/2026

Donald Duck was first released on June 9, 1934 in the Walt Disney Silly Symphony cartoon “The Wise Little Hen.” His debut design featured a long, thin bill, a slender neck and a sailor suit. Clarence Nash’s distinctive voice, shaped his personality from the start and Donald quickly became known for his short temper, comedic frustration and expressive body language.

By the late 1930s, he was appearing alongside Mickey Mouse and Goofy in ensemble shorts and starring in his own series. His design gradually shifted toward a rounder head and shorter bill.

During WWII, Donald became one of Disney’s most-used characters, appearing in propaganda and training films. His relatable “everyman” persona made him a natural fit for wartime storytelling.

From our collection we see an old Walt Disney Donald Duck push up puppet toy, made by MARX, a toy company which traces its roots to August 1919. The toy itself is made out of a hard plastic, the base is a red raised circle platform, when the bottom of the circle platform is pressed the toy on top tilts to the left like he is leaning, the toy itself has clear marks from the mold it was created in. The colours include red, blue, white, yellow, black for the eyes and brown.

This item was most like a collector's item or used as a fun souvenir for children to take home, based on the tag at the bottom, at the time, this item was $0.39, which in today's money would be about $4.50.

06/07/2026

Billy “Bill” Reid was born on June 8, 1943, in Thorold. Reid developed a reputation early for his speed, grit, and natural scoring touch. His small stature—5'8" and 161 pounds—never held him back; if anything, it sharpened his competitive edge.

Reid played his early mionor hockey in the Niagara region before advancing to the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), one of the most respected junior programs in Canada. His years in Peterborough helped refine his skating and offensive instincts, preparing him for the demanding world of professional minor‑league hockey.

Reid turned pro in the early 1960s, beginning a career that would span 406 professional games across several leagues, including the EHL, AHL, and IHL.

Reid is best remembered for his time with the Johnstown Jets, one of the most iconic teams in minor‑league hockey and the real‑life inspiration for the movie Slap Shot. With the Jets, Reid became a fan favourite—fast, fearless, and reliable in clutch moments.

His standout season came in 1967–68, when he exploded offensively, playing 67 games with 42 goals and 48 assists.
This performance cemented him as one of the Jets’ top scorers of the era.

Throughout his career, Reid also played for New Haven Blades (EHL), Providence Reds (AHL), and the Des Moines Oak Leafs (IHL).

Across all leagues, he recorded 334 points which reflect a consistent, productive forward who could be counted on to contribute offensively wherever he played.

Reid was known for quick acceleration, sharp positional instincts, a deceptive shot and relentless work ethic. He represented the classic Canadian minor‑pro forward—skilled, tough, and deeply committed to the game.

06/05/2026

National Donut Day was started by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honour women who served donuts to soldiers in WWI. It is celebrated every year on the first Friday in June. During WWI, Salvation Army volunteers — mostly young women — were sent to the front lines in France to support American and Allied troops.

They cooked in makeshift huts, mended uniforms, wrote letters for soldiers and famously fried donuts in helmets when supplies were scarce.

These women became known as the “Donut Lassies.”

The donut became a symbol of comfort, home, morale, and the human side of wartime service. Here we find a book from our own archives with recipes of yeast dishes, including Donuts.

Celebrate the day with a donut and a coffee!

Address

2 Carleton Street S
Thorold, ON
L2V1Z5

Telephone

+19059844435

Website

http://www.thoroldmuseum.ca/

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