Then and Now

Then and Now shares historical photos and personal stories of past people, places, and events and connects them to their significance today. They are made possible through the continued support of Fawcett Funeral Homes as part of our Community Leaders Program.

Collingwood name floated around 1893 Chicago World's Fair

A story of a Scottish immigrant in Nottawa, a ship design inspired by a whale's back, a wooden steamer named Collingwood, and some world fair fame

Apr 27, 2024 2:30 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: Collingwood’s hospital retains 'marine' tribute for over 135 years

Before Collingwood's hospital existed, the Ladies Hospital Committee advocated for a hospital, and undertook the enormous task of raising the money needed to build one

Mar 29, 2024 2:30 PM Read more >

'Last of its kind' caught fire in Collingwood’s harbour in 1917

'Yes, she's lost, but she's most certainly not forgotten,' was the tagline used by Side Launch Brewing Company for their Germanic Block beer, a tribute to a Collingwood-built ship that burned in the harbour

Feb 29, 2024 7:00 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: Collingwood built Canada's biggest ship in 1906

The Midland Prince was the longest ship built in Canada in 1906 for $375,000, which is about $10 million of today's dollars

Jan 29, 2024 2:30 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: 100 years ago today, a fire destroyed CCI

The history of Collingwood's original high school pre-dates the town's incorporation in 1858

Dec 21, 2023 2:30 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: Huron Street business rises from ashes of 1915 fire

Bryan Manufacturing Co. rebuilt and continued to serve customers for 50 years from the property that is now Sobey's grocery store

Nov 24, 2023 9:58 AM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: historic scrapbooks show war-time Collingwood

News of the arrival of the Third Contingent from Barrie to Collingwood in 1915 reached the front in Europe and sparked a tongue-in-cheek letter home from a soldier

Oct 23, 2023 2:30 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: Collingwood-built Pelee survived vandals and groundings

The big ship that could met its final match in 1963, a full 50 years after it was built

Sep 28, 2023 8:00 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: The finest retail store north of Toronto

'Go into the big store at any time on an afternoon, and the observer will find the place swarming with customers,' boasted a newspaper's industrial periodical

Aug 29, 2023 12:00 PM Read more >

THEN AND NOW: Overfishing led to Collingwood's first hatchery in 1912

A report in 1894 recommending a limit on fishing net sizes later prompted the work of hatching and re-stocking local waterways, which has continued today

Jul 24, 2023 5:00 PM Read more >

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