by Jean Turnbull Elford (1982) Beginning with British rule in the northern part of this continent, land was acquired from the Indians as it was needed for new settlers. Because of legislation passed in 1763, no Indian band forfeited their land without their own and the Crown’s consent. The Indians [...]
by Sarnia Observer staff (2015) Gus Pantazis decided to show gratitude to the country he loves, and first responders and members of the military who serve and protect it. The owner of Global Donuts and Deli on London Road in Sarnia invited politicians, fire and police officials, and others to [...]
by Jean Turnbull Elford in Canada West’s Last Frontier (1982) Point Edward, Lambton’s largest incorporated village, placed where Lake Huron empties into the River St. Clair, made its way into recorded history earlier than any other part of Lambton. The first written account comes from the pen of Father Hennepin [...]
By Phil Egan – Special to the Sarnia Journal, Then and Now. It began with the blowing of a company whistle. At 4:45 pm on June 28, 1913, the sound of that whistle heralded the opening of Sarnia’s new H. Mueller Manufacturing plant at 100 Clifford Street. It was a [...]
by Stephen Huebl (2005) Over the past 100 years, the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce has played an active and vital role in Sarnia Lambton's growth. But even before its official incorporation in 1905, the Chamber can trace its roots back to the late 1800s. It all started on Feb. [...]
by Charles Phelps writing in A History of Blackwell Church & Community, 1880-1980 (1980) The Purdy family has been fishing commercially in Lake Huron for more than 75 years. The 1911 Sarnia and Port Huron Directory lists the name, “Purdy, Milton B., fisherman, lives 310 Nelson.” Later, his son, William [...]
by R.W. Ford (1987) Stretching for over 30 kilometres along the St. Clair River from the southern tip of Lake Huron to the village of Sombra lies the largest concentration of petroleum and chemical industry in Canada. Some 25 kilometres inland ancient oil wells grudgingly yield a few barrels of [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He was the great fence-mender of Sarnia politics. That's how people who served with him remember Ron Gordon's brief tenure as our 66th Mayor. Gordon, they say, helped unite a badly fractured City Council on two separate occasions. Born in Timmins in 1938, [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer Andy Brandt was one of the most active - and popular - Mayors in Sarnia's history. Elected our 64th Chief Magistrate in 1975, the 36-year old native of London, Ontario, immediately set out to transform the face of the Municipality. Working with private [...]
By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer He stood up for the little guy. That was the reputation enjoyed by Marceil Saddy, our 65th Mayor. The London, Ontario native argued against tax increases at every turn, using his well-worn example of how Council's actions would impact on the "little old [...]
