Harriston Historical Society

05/18/2025

Entry Form
9th Annual Headstone Hunt
Presented by the Harriston Historical Society

Name: _____________________________ Phone: __________________
Address: _________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________
*Be sure to also pick up a copy of our Special Edition Palmerston 150th Headstone & Plaque Hunt!*
Information:
Contest Runs From: June 11th to August 6th, 2025 Prizes: lst-$100. 2nd-$75. 3rd-$50.
Draw Date: Sat. August 9th @ during Harriston Street Days Celebration at the Cenotaph
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Entry forms available on the Harriston Historical Society website OR pickup at the John Webb Room, 3rd floor Harriston Library, Leslie Motors, Harriston Home Hardware, Harry Stone's, Harriston Royal Bank, Clifford County Store, Red Express, Palmerston Home Hardware, Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, and Palmerston Public Library.
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Submit completed forms before August 6th to the Harriston Historical Society on the 3rd floor of the Harriston Library OR Email to: [email protected]
Our donation box is in the John Webb Room 3rd floor Library.
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This year’s theme has a name for every letter of the alphabet - ENJOY YOUR HUNT!
Stop by the Harriston Historical Society’s John Webb Room to learn more.

LOCATION: HARRISTON CEMETERY - End of Jessie Street

NAME SECTION QUESTION
ARMSTRONG,
Arthur G Q: What is the name of Arthur’s wife?

A:

BLACKWOOD, George R Q: How many other Blackwood’s are buried with George?

A:

NAME SECTION QUESTION
CHAMBERS,
Emma May F Q: What is the name of Emma’s husband?

A:

DARROCH,
Harold Leslie B Q: What does the 2-word epitaph for Harold say?

A:

EEDY,
PTE. Gerald Dewitt U Q: In what country is Gerald buried?

A:

FYFE,
John A
X Q: What does the epitaph at the bottom of the headstone read?

A:

GREENWOOD,
John C Q: What year was John’s wife born?

A:

HARVEY,
Wellman A. CC
(centre circle)
Q: What two letters after Wellman’s name indicate his profession?

A:

IVEL,
Emerson A.
V Q: Who is Emerson buried with?

A:
JARDINE,
Mary E. Russell CC
(centre circle)
Q: What year was Mary born?

A:
KIRBY,
Robert
P Q: How many other people are buried with Robert?

A:
LEE,
A.L. Ford T Q: What is the name of A.L. Ford’s wife?

A:

MACKILLOP, Archibald H Q: What month was Archibald born?

A:

NAME SECTION QUESTION
NEIL,
LIEUT. F. S.

F Q: What was the fate of Lieutenant Frank Scott Neil?

A:

OVENS,
William

L Q: What is the name of William’s wife?

A:
PRITCHARD, Joseph J.
R Q: What military rank was his son Raymond?

A:
QUIGLEY, Caroline Esther

E Q: What does the epitaph at the bottom of Caroline’s headstone read?

A:
READING, Hannah Jane
H Q: Who is Hannah buried with?

A:

SINCLAIR, Duncan
Q Q: How old was Duncan when he died?

A:

TOMLIN,
James Edward
R Q: What image is pictured at the top of James’ headstone?

A:

UNA Collison

D Q: What are the other three names listed on the same side of the headstone with Una?

A:
VERKADE,
Wilma D Q: What is the name of Wilma’s husband?

A:

WILSON, Sarah Matilda Stewart CC
(centre circle)
Q: How many sides/faces does this headstone have?

A:

NAME SECTION QUESTION
X Section X Q: How many signs in this section are labeled
‘SECTION X’?

A:

YOUNG,
Thomas
R Q: What year did Thomas die?

A:

ZIEGLER,
William Frederick X Q: What year was William born?

A:

CEMETERY QUESTIONS - Harriston Historical Society/Harriston Cemetery
Q: Including this year, how many Headstone Hunts has the Harriston Historical Society hosted?

A:
Q: How many faces/sides does the columbarium have?

A:
Q: What is the name of the garden to the immediate right upon entering the cemetery?

A:
Q: What year was the Chapel near the front gates built?

A:
Q: There is a monument to WWI with a Canadian flag flying on a flagpole, what section can this be found in?

A:
Q: What is the name of the trail that links the community, parks, CP/CN lines and cemetery? *Hint - see signs near trail entrances in cemetery*

A:

10/11/2024

08/22/2024

Only one more week to view the summer display - 50th Anniversary of the Grey-Wellington Theatre Guild

07/05/2024

Cutting the ribbon in celebration of 's past & feeding Minto's future! ✂️🎀

On July 13th, in conjunction with the , we will be officially honouring the following:

🎀10AM: New Community Pantry in Clifford Rotary Celebration Square. This intiative is a collaboration between , , and Minto's DEI Community to help with food insecurity in our area.

🎀10:30AM: Brown Cemetery will be officially honoured as a historically significant with a new bench & plaque.

Stop by both to join the celebrations!
Learn more about the Carnival on https://www.cliffordconnects.ca/clifford-connects-carnival-celebration

06/11/2024

Entry Form
8Th Annual Headstone Hunt
Presented by the Harriston Historical Society
Name: ________________________________ Phone: _____________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________
Information:
Contest Dates: June 10 -August 7 2024 Prizes: lst-$150. 2nd-$100. 3rd-$50.
Draw Date: August 10th @ during Harriston Street Days Celebration at the Cenotaph

Entry forms available on the Harriston Historical Society website OR pickup at the John Webb Room, 3rd floor Harriston Library, Leslie Motors, Harriston Home Hardware, Harry Stone's, Harriston Royal Bank, Clifford County Store, Red Express, Palmerston Home Hardware, and Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, Palmerston Public Library.

Submit completed forms before August 7/24 and return to Harriston Historical Society, 3rd floor of the Harriston Library OR Email to: [email protected]
Our donation box is in the John Webb Room 3rd floor Library. Much appreciated.

ENJOY YOUR HUNT – All individuals listed in the hunt are historically significant to Minto! Stop by the Harriston Historical Society’s John Webb Room to learn more.

Clifford Cemetery - 91035 W Heritage St, Clifford (can enter from Elora St)
Section A (west side) – Francis Brown was the first settler of Clifford. Where was Brown originally from? ______________________________

Section A – Robert Wightman’s headstone indicates something important about his achievements. What does the inscription below his name read? _______________________________________________________________

Section A – Arnold Nay Darroch was an important political figure for the community of Clifford and was its first reeve before being elected to parliament.
What year did he die? _____
Section A – Clayton G. McPhail built McPhail’s Garage, which was an early automobile repair shop for the area. What year was he born? ______

Section C (north of where Pioneer & Chapel Lane meet) – Clifford’s Rotary Centennial Park is named after a local man – John Hobelman. What phrase is inscribed on the bible in the bottom left corner of his headstone? __________________________

Section C – The land that the Clifford Cemetery sits on was purchased from James Mathewson. James’ father is buried with him. What’s his father’s name? ________

Salem Methodist Cemetery - 5807 Minto Normanby Townline, Clifford
Main Section/cairn - Matthew Burnett is recorded as one of Minto’s earliest pioneers. He first immigrated to the US but later settled in what is now called Clifford. What was his wife’s name? __________

Main Section/cairn - The land that this cemetery exists on was originally owned by an Irish settler named James Cochrane. He sold it so that Salem North Methodist Church and Cemetery could be built there. What year did he die? _______

A cenotaph to what World War sits on the property of the cemetery? ___________

Minto Roman Catholic Cemetery - 6549 12th Line Road, East of #89, Minto
Main Section/cairn - Jeremiah Burke donated half of the land that the former Catholic Church, which doubled a school, was built on. What does the inscription at the bottom of his headstone read? _________________________________

Main Section/cairn - John Connolly and his wife Margaret were early settlers to the area in 1851 and owned a local farm. What country does their headstone say the Connolly’s are from? _________

What year was the Minto Roman Catholic Pioneer cemetery established? ______
(Hint: Check stone in back left corner of lawn)

Harriston Cemetery – at end of Jessie St, Harriston
Section C – John and Margaret Webb were the first settlers in what would come to be known as Harriston. How old was Margaret when she died? ____

Section C - A pyramid-shape monument made of stones sits behind a cairn of pioneer headstones. It reads ‘In memory of the pioneers of _______________ and the tp. of ___________’

Section D – John ‘Jack’ Ward Foster of Harriston holds the record for most goals scored in a period in the O.C.S.H. League. He was also a WWII veteran. What does inscription at the bottom of the headstone read? __________________

Section SG (south side of cemetery) – Theodore ‘Ted’ Zimmer was the police chief of Harriston for 30 years. What is the shape of his headstone? ___________

Section R – Hugh Murray was a member of the Murray family which owned & operated the Crystal Dairy in Harriston. What’s the name of his brother who is buried with him? _________

Section CC (center circle/middle of cemetery) - Alexander Meiklejohn was the first reeve of the village of Harriston. Where was he born? __________________

Section CC (center circle/middle of cemetery) – John Livingston was one of the early settlers of Harriston. He was an avid supporter of quality education for every child. How many people, including John, are buried in this family plot? ___

Section M - Dr. Carol Homuth was extremely involved in his community, working as an optometrist and volunteering his time as a scout leader and as a member of the Harriston public school board. What image is at the end of “HOMUTH” at the top of the stone? ________________

South Salem Pioneer Cemetery – 5275 3rd Line, Minto (Palmerston)
East side – Sarah Holgate Lee, along with her husband, were among the first settlers to the area in 1854. Sarah’s husband provided the land for the Salem church as well as the cemetery for its first burial - Sarah. What is the name of Sarah’s husband? __________

East side - Private Elgin R. Lee died while serving in WWI. He is not buried at this location, making this grave a cenotaph. In what country did he die? ___________
What year was the South Salem Pioneer cemetery established? _____
(Hint: Check stone at entrance)

Palmerston Cemetery – 5240, Hwy 23 Minto (Palmerston)
Section M – J.R. Hamilton was the first clerk & treasurer of Palmerston. Where was he originally from? ____________________________

Section M - Hugh D. Wilford died at a hospital in England while serving overseas in WWI. His case is unique as not all those who perish are able to be brought home for burial. What was his military rank? __________

Section O – Peter Robertson was the grandson of Thomas McDowell. McDowell is often called the ‘father of Palmerston’. It is speculated that he may be buried directly left of Peter. Assuming this is true, what do you notice about McDowell’s headstone? ____________________________

Section L – Dr. Alexander Stewart was the founder of the first location in Ontario to produce a smallpox vaccine. How many of Stewart’s children share a headstone with him? ___

Section L – William Barnes was an engineer for the Wellington, Grey & Bruce Railway and drove the first train through Palmerston to Harriston in 1871. How old was he when he passed? _____

Section E – Walter White was the highest-ranked Grand Trunk & CNR official to live in Palmerston. He was also mayor and White’s Road’s namesake.
What year was he born? ______

Section Y – Arthur ‘Art’ Carr was the owner of the Palmerston Observer for nearly 40 years. What does the inscription under his name read? _____________________________

Harriston Historical Society/Minto Township
Including this year, how many Headstone Hunts has the Harriston Historical Society hosted? ____

This year, in 2024, Minto is celebrating _____ years since Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston amalgamated to create Minto Township in 1999

09/15/2023

Coming up soon - Save the date