Albion Bolton Historical Society to celebrate 50th anniversary

Community invited to June 22 celebration at Caledon Seniors' Centre

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A local historical society will soon be marking an important day in its own history. 

On June 22, the Albion Bolton Historical Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary with refreshments, historic displays, a presentation and live music in the Egan Room at the Caledon Seniors' Centre.

The celebration runs from 12 to 3 p.m. and all are invited to come out for a fun afternoon learning about the history of the Albion and Bolton areas. 

Heather Broadbent, one of the founding members of the Albion Bolton Historical Society, which was founded in 1974, is active with the society to this day. As part of the celebration, she will give a presentation titled “50 Years of the Society” at 2 p.m. for all to enjoy. 

The society has been collecting Albion and Bolton memorabilia from 1974 and will display this “time capsule” at the event. 

Nathan Hiller, the current president of the Albion Bolton Historical Society, explained that in 1974, the Region of Peel was formed and the Town of Caledon was incorporated. The Village of Bolton and Township of Albion became part of the Town of Caledon, and many people were worried the historic names of Albion and Bolton would be forgotten.

Hiller explained as Bolton grew, development in the village and surrounding farmland was changing its landscape. 

“Some historic buildings such as the Queen's Hotel and the Albert Street School were

destroyed by fire and the Goodfellow Mill was demolished in order to build a road to a new

subdivision,” wrote Hiller in a recent letter submitted to the Ontario Historical Society. “History was rapidly being lost.”

The Rotary Club of Bolton played a key role in the founding of the Albion Bolton Historical Society. The club sponsored the society's first meeting, which was a major success. It turned out there was much interest in forming a historical society for Albion and Bolton.

The founding members of the society were Harold Egan, Chair; Beryl Goodfellow, Treasurer; Rowena Colman, Secretary; and Werden Leavens, Murray Hesp and Heather Broadbent, Executive members.

Hiller said it's very fitting that the Society's 50th anniversary will be held in the Egan Room at the Caledon Seniors' Centre — as it's named after Harold Egan.

In its early days, society members helped York University Students with a geological survey of Albion. Members also helped the University of Toronto do an archaeological survey of Albion.

“The society played a role in establishing for Caledon the very first Heritage Evaluation of a

Planning Study in the Province of Ontario,” wrote Hiller. 

The Albion Bolton Historical Society has helped establish other historical societies in Caledon, created a film, installed numerous plaques and display boards, held talks, visited schools, hosted bus tours, implemented exhibitions, and much, much more in its 50 years. 

Residents may remember the big role the society played in helping celebrate Bolton's recent bicentennial (and Caledon East and Sandhill's, too).

Hiller said the society is looking forward to its 50th anniversary.

“We're hoping that people come in and socialize and see something they may have never seen before,” said Hiller.