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
