The County of Haliburton turns 150
![Haliburton county 150 logo Haliburton County 150 Logo](https://myhaliburtonhighlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HC-150-logo-1-e1720555101976.jpg)
Celebrate With Us!
Join us in commemorating 150 years of history, heritage, and community spirit in the Haliburton Highlands! Since March 24, 1874, when an act to incorporate the municipality of Haliburton into a provisional county was passed, our region has grown and flourished, becoming the County of Haliburton we know today.
Throughout this special anniversary year, we invite you to participate in a variety of exciting activities and events that highlight the rich history and natural beauty of our county. From scavenger hunts and photo contests to historical tours and community photo booths, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Join us as we connect with the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future. Scroll down to discover all the ways you can join in the celebrations and make this 150th anniversary year truly memorable!
Contest
Then & Now Contest
Stroll down memory lane and go on an adventure scavenger hunt as you try to locate twelve historical landmarks located throughout Haliburton County. Many of these buildings are still standing today!
Submit your answers to info@myhaliburtonhighlands.com for a chance to win a great prize!
Photo contest sheets can be found at various locations throughout the Haliburton Highlands or by downloading it here. Good luck!
HCPL 150 Trivia Contest
Try to get a high score with this fun & interactive trivia… CLICK HERE
Join in the Fun!
Downtown Banners
Historical scenes can be found on banners located in downtown Haliburton Village and Minden Hills. Made to commemorate the sesquicentennial, the banners feature images such as the old train, Sterling Bank, the County of Haliburton office and Reid house.
We encourage you to check the banners out next time you’re strolling through the downtown.
History and Heritage - Museums
Get enlightened and check out the wide variety of museums available for your learning experiences. From science oriented to our pioneering history, the museum experience in the Haliburton Highlands has something for everyone.
MUSEUM AND HERITAGE VILLAGE
This picturesque museum invites visitors to imagine what life was like 150 years ago back when Minden was a rough and tumble logging town..
HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS MUSEUM
The Museum is located in beautiful Glebe Park. The main gallery is open year-round and features a range of exhibits, on topics including early businesses, sports history and the story of our local lumber industry….
NATURE’S PLACE
A nature interpretive centre, with a mandate to educate, inspire and expand our understanding of our place in nature. Open seasonally, admission by donation.
STANHOPE HERITAGE MUSEUM
Home to more than 140 years of records and artifacts. This Ontario museum specializes in local pioneer history and is home to the historic Hawk Lake Log Chute.
DORSET HERITAGE MUSEUM
Featuring early exhibits of early pioneer life, local settlers, traditional logging practices and historic information pertaining to pioneer settlement of the Dorset area.
LAKE OF BAYS MARINE MUSEUM
You will find several historical collections from the marine history on Lake of Bays. There are artifacts and photographs on display from the legendary Bigwin Inn.
WILBERFORCE RED CROSS OUTPOST
Visit our National Historic Site. View the displays of artifacts and learn of the fine contribution of Red Cross Nurses in providing health and medical services for over four decades.
KIDD SCHOOLHOUSE MUSEUM
The Kidd Schoolhouse Museum is located in the town of Highland Grove…
HIGHLANDS CINEMAS
Movie projectors dating back more than a century, original movie posters, 5-cent ticket stubs and every day items from various decades all guarded by 110 mannequins dressed in period costume…
History & Heritage - Experiences
There are many ways to celebrate the history and heritage of the County, not just this year but every year.
Take a guided historical boat cruise that explores the long lost lodges of Kashagawigamog lake. For more information about the Haliburton Museum, or to book a spot on the Lost Haliburton Boat tours, visit: Book Now
If art is more your thing, you can enjoy a self-guided art tour of Andre Lapine’s works which are located throughout the village of Minden. More information can be found here: Lapine’s Minden Tour
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that the County of Haliburton is located on Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory, and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations. We acknowledge a shared presence of Indigenous nations throughout the area and recognize its original inhabitants as the stewards of its lands and waters since time immemorial.
Celebrate with the HCPL
The Haliburton County Public Library is ready to celebrate the County’s 150th with you! Staff have been working hard to help you brush up on your regional history and learn about the sesquicentennial of the County of Haliburton. Some exciting ways you can celebrate the 150 at the library are:
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- Enjoy a listing of local history books in the online catalogue, compiled by the HCPL Circulation Coordinator. This will debut on the HCPL’s homepage on Aug. 1. You will find it here: https://www.haliburtonlibrary.ca/
- Test your history knowledge! Starting in August, the county libraries will host a County of Haliburton 150th Anniversary quiz using Kahoot. The link will be active starting August 1st.
- To commemorate the 150th Anniversary, all of the eight branches will showcase a book display featuring local history books.
150 in style - shirts
Don’t go out of style with a special commemorative 150 shirt. A signature sweatshirt will be making an appearance this summer and one could be yours!
Hike Haliburton
Stay tuned for more information about special historical hikes taking place this year during Hike Haliburton, an award winning festival that takes place in September. Learn More
County Crest
INFORMATION ON HALIBURTON COUNTY COAT OF ARMS
On-line research shows there are elements taken from an existing coat of arms, in particular, the stag and the motto “Watch Weell”.
At right is a scan of the cover of Donald N. Haliburton’s book, Watch Weell/Haliburtons of New Zealand and Their Scottish Forebears. According to the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada: “the crest and motto are taken from the arms of Haliburton of Newmains, which were granted to the Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland in the early 1670’s. The motto, Watch Weell, is Scots for “watch well”.
The Haliburton County coat of arms (below) shows a stag at gaze “statant guardant” (with the body positioned sideways but with the head turned to face the viewer). The stag is standing directly on a terrace of grass, where one would normally expect to find a “torse”, a twisted wreath of two colours that hid the join where the crest was mounted on a knight’s helmet. The second shield behind the first one is something that would never be seen in a grant of arms.
The red maple leaves are also on the coat of arms for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Haliburton Highlands O.P.P. and Canada, together with 5 pine trees. The gold chevron (chevron or) represents the roof-tree of a house, derived from the French word “chevron” meaning rafter. The chevron was traditionally granted to those who had participated in some noble enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service.
Normally, a yellow chevron would not be shown against a white background, as it does not show up well. The hatching in the gold chevron is a mistake. When a coat of arms is rendered in black and white, standardized hatching designs indicate what the colour should be when rendered in colour; the hatching shown here indicates the colour version would be gold. Once the coat of arms is rendered in colour, the hatching is redundant.
The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada felt that the Haliburton County Coat of Arms was likely designed in the mid- to late-20th Century. This Coat of Arms has not been granted or registered anywhere.
Provided by the Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group. We thank them for their keen interest and expertise in this area!
To celebrate this anniversary, a novelty 150 logo was created and will be on display on various items.
![Haliburton county 150 logo Haliburton County 150 Logo](https://myhaliburtonhighlands.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HC-150-logo-1-e1720555101976.jpg)