There are literally hundreds of books that have been written about the history and people of Simcoe County. This section is intended to provide a partial listing of those books, to show a cross-section of what is out there. We have tried to include some of the major works, as well as books that contain local family histories, or lists of early residents. We have listed a few Tweedsmuir Histories. Some historical books may now be viewed online and we have provided links to some of those sites.
For more comprehensive listings, see the publications of the Simcoe County Historical Association and the Barrie Public Library genealogical and local history collection. For publications of the Simcoe County Branch, Ontario Ancestors see Publications.
SIMCOE COUNTY
| A HISTORY OF SIMCOE COUNTY By Andrew F. Hunter Barrie: The Historical Committee of Simcoe County, 1948 (Originally published Barrie, Ontario: The County Council, 1909) Part 1, 335 p.; Part 2, 323 p. Includes appendix with list of settlers in each township before 1837, 48 p. EAST GEORGIAN BAY HISTORICAL JOURNAL FIGHTING MEN GAZETTEER AND DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SIMCOE: Including the District of Muskoka and the Townships of Mono and Mulmur for 1872-3 HURONIA: Cradle of Ontario’s History ILLUSTRATED ATLAS OF THE COUNTY OF SIMCOE, ONT. 1881 AND HOGG’S MAP OF THE COUNTY OF SIMCOE, 1871. INDEX TO THE ILLUSTRATED ATLAS OF THE COUNTY OF SIMCOE INDEX TO PROBATE & SURROGATE RECORDS FOR SIMCOE COUNTY 1828 – 1929 COUNTY MARRIAGE REGISTERS OF ONTARIO, CANADA, 1858-1869 – Volume 12: Simcoe County MONUMENTAL TRANSCRIPTIONS – Volume. I: Records of 60 Burial Grounds in Central North Simcoe County SIMCOE COUNTY BOOK OF DAYS – Volume 1: Beginnings to 1919 SIMCOE COUNTY MILITIA 1837: Muster Rolls and Pay Lists of the Volunteers SIMCOE COUNTY PIONEER PAPERS, 1908 – 1917 SIMCOE COUNTY: The Recent Past THE HISTORY OF CAMP BORDEN, 1916 – 1918: Land of Sand, Sin and Sorrow THE VISIBLE PAST: The Pictorial History of Simcoe County |
BARRIE
| BARRIE: A Nineteenth Century Town By Gary French, Su Murdoch and Irene Perri Rev. ed. 1993. 120 p. A pictorial history, showing the buildings of Barrie as they were in the last century. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE TOWN OF BARRIE |
ADJALA
| ADJALA By Francis V. McDevitt and Mary Margaret Munnoch Boston Mills Press, 1993. 256 p. Includes family histories. |
ESSA
| A CENTURY OF PROGRESS: The Centennial Review of the Township of Essa, 1850-1950 By Essa Township Council Reprinted by Simcoe County Historical Society, 1999. 141 p. EARLY HISTORY OF IVY |
FLOS
| BEYOND THE BUILDERS PLAN: Centennial History of Knox Presbyterian Church, Flos, Ontario 1878 – 1978 By Knox Presbyterian Church Published by the Church, 1978 Available at Barrie Public Library in the Simcoe County Branch, OGS Collection MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SHILOH UNION CHURCH, NEW FLOS, ONTARIO YEARS OF WITNESS – Elmvale Presbyterian Church |
INNISFIL
| AN INDEX TO INNISFIL HISTORICAL REVIEWS, 1951, 1967, 1984 Compiled by Elinor Sullivan 1993. 99 p INNISFIL HISTORICAL REVIEWS: 1850 – 1950 SKUNKS AND SCHOLARS: Memories of Growing up in Innisfil Township before 1940 |
MATCHEDASH
| MATCHEDASH MEMORIES: 1888 – 1988 By Historical Committee of Matchedash Township Moonstone, Ontario: 1988, 156 p. Available at Barrie Public Library in the Simcoe County Branch, OGS Collection |
MARA
| THEY CAME TO MARA. . . Pioneers of Mara Township Circa 1829-1900 Published by the Corporation of the Township of Mara, 1993. 886 p. Contains copies of family trees, obituaries and newspaper articles. |
MEDONTE
| HILLSDALE PAST & PRESENT: A History of Hillsdale, Ontario By Hillsdale Historical Committee Midland, Ont.: Midland Press, 1998. 173 p. Available at Barrie Public Library in the Simcoe County Branch, OGS Collection MEDONTE – A Township Remembered THE REGULATION PLACE “HILLSDALE”: The story of one Ojibway Family |
NOTTAWASAGA
| COLLINGWOOD HISTORIC HOMES AND BUILDINGS By Laurel Lane-Moore, Photography by Eileen Crysler 1989. 111 LET’S CELEBRATE NOTTAWASAGA’S SESQUICENTENNIAL AND ONTARIO’S BICENTENNIAL |
ORILLIA
| THE OLD BREWERY BAY: A Leacockian Tale By James A. “Pete” McGarvey Dundurn Press, 1994. 120 p. The story of Stephen Leacock’s home in Orillia from his first ownership of the land to the opening of the museum. THE ORILLIA SPIRIT: An Illustrated History of Orillia |
ORO
| HILLS OF ORO AND OTHER PIONEER LANDMARKS: Part of Oro’s History By The Township of Oro History Committee, 1993. 149 p. KITH ‘N KIN: Reminiscences, Biographies, Genealogies, Photographs KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1845 – 1986 MEN OF COLOUR: An Historical Account of the Black Settlement on Wilberforce Street and in Oro Township, 1819 – 1949 OUTHOUSES AND APPLE PIE THE STORY OF ORO |
RAMA
| REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST: The Story of Rama Township Compiled and edited by Gabrielle Latimer Published by Township of Rama, 1989 Includes 125 pages about local families. Available on line through Our Roots |
SUNNIDALE
| THE STORY OF SUNNIDALE, 1860-1960 Publisher: Unknown, 1960. 46 p. Available at Barrie Public Library in the Simcoe County Branch, OGS Collection SUNNIDALE LOOKS AT YESTERDAY: A History of Sunnidale Township WASAGA SAGA: A History of Wasaga Beach |
TAY
| CHICAGO OF THE NORTH: A History of Port McNicoll By Mark Bourrie 1993. 120 p. MIDLAND’S PAST INHABITANTS: Tombstone Inscriptions of the Cemeteries of Midland, Simcoe County, Ontario |
TECUMSETH
| A HISTORY OF TOTTENHAM, ONTARIO, AND THE AREA AROUND IT, FROM THE PIONEER DAYS TO THE PRESENT TIME. The Story of a Friendly Fun Loving Village Edited by Alan Anderson Published by The Tottenham Women’s Institute, 1980. 462 p. Includes 138 pages of local family histories Available on line at Our Roots ALLISTON TWEEDSMUIR HISTORY BOOK BEETON TWEEDSMUIR HISTORY BOOK CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS: Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Townships, Simcoe County (now the towns of New Tecumseth and Bradford West Gwillimbury) THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ALLISTON, 1891 – 1991 TOTTENHAM TWEEDSMUIR HISTORY BOOK |
TINY
| RECOLLECTIONS: Townships of Tiny By Township of Tiny Historical and Heritage Committee 1995. 189 p. WYEBRIDGE. . . A Nostalgic Look at Yesterday |
TOSORONTIO
| CENTENNIAL REVIEW OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TOSSORONTIO, 1850 – 1950 Tossorontio’s Centennial Council 1951 |
VESPRA
| A HISTORY OF VESPRA TOWNSHIP: Pioneers and Settlements, Communities, Historic Places, People and Events By Allan Anderson, Betty Tomlinson Anderson and the Vespra Township History Committee Vespra Township Council, 1987. 800 p. PIONEER HISTORY OF MIDHURST |
WEST GWILLIMBURY
| BRADFORD’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 1957 This book includes many school class pictures with all people identified and is available at Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS: Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Townships, Simcoe County (now the towns of New Tecumseth and Bradford West Gwillimbury) PINE HILL FARM, WEST GWILLIMBURY TOWNSHIP
By Christopher Armstrong
By Margaret Dunham Vanderploeg. This publication is available for purchase from the Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Historical Society. |