The South Dumfries Historical Society was founded in 2003 to assume the operation of the St. George Museum & Archives that had been set up by the St. George Trade & Tourism Association. Our mission is to “preserve, present, and promote the history of the people and places of the former South Dumfries Township.”
The Society is located in the St. George Memorial Hall building, a former commercial building that was constructed in 1891 as the Howell Block. In 1925, the building was donated to the community by Mrs. Louise Kitchen for use as a community hall and memorial to the local citizens who served in the Great War. The Hall contained at various times meeting rooms, an auditorium and stage, a radio station, a library, and a post office. It was operated by a board of trustees until the 1950s, when the property was deeded to the Township so the Hall would be eligible for grants for improvements.
In 2009, the County of Brant, which had become the owner after the elimination of township governments in the municipality, declared that the Memorial Hall was surplus to the needs in the village and the Society successfully negotiated to become the new owners. The Society now maintains the Memorial Hall as a memorial to the local men and women who have served in the armed forces, as a community hall, and as the St. George Museum & Archives.
We invite you to join the SDHS and become a partner in preserving our community’s history. We encourage you to become involved in the many events and fundraisers that we organize in support of this community, some of which include:
* The Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in St. George
* Chili Chow Down
* New Year’s Brunch and Levee
* Hot Chocolate and Treats during the Santa Claus Parade
* Breakfast fundraiser during the Civic Weekend Community Yard Sale
* Participation in Canada Day and AppleFest Festivities
* Tech Tuesday, a public computer education series
* Public Forum on Opiods
South Dumfries Historical Society’s Museum is open Saturdays 11-2. For more information, you can call the Museum at 448-3265, or contact Cliff Jones at 448-1075