7th Town Historical Society

Mission Statement
To collect and preserve the history of the Township of Ameliasburgh and, as a result of a bequest in 1990, to own and operate, in Trust, the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre.

Rev. Maurice McLeod, speaking at the funeral of Harry Bisdee on October 23, 2000, noted that Harry had, in the late 1960's, suggested starting a historical society. The Township of Ameliasburgh Council proceeded, according to Daisy Wannamaker in her Tribute to Harry at 7th Town Historical Society November 28th meeting (see Quinte Kin June 2001 page 11), to ask a group of people to take this project on. Seventh Town Historical Society (7th Town) was born in 1969, and on June 21, 1971 it was automatically incorporated, under the "An Act to Incorporate the Ontario Historical Society, S.O. 1899, C108, S.10.", when it was accepted as an affiliate by the Ontario Historical Society.

The Society began amassing the History of the Township and with the assistance of a New Horizons Grant were able to publish, in 1984, 7th Town/Ameliasburgh Township Past & Present, a 754 page hard cover history. The Book Committee was made up of Bruce Graham, Harry Bisdee, Seymour Hamilton, W.D. Hanthorn, Julia Sager, Rev. Maurice McLeod, Nellie Montgomery, Evelyn Hamilton, Marion Calnan, Beth Nightingale, Mildred Wanamaker, John Wannamaker, Daisy Wannamaker, Thomas Short and Loral Wanamaker. More were to come, 7th Town Remembers, Hamlet of Ameliasburg, Gunshot & Gleanings, Mission on Grape Island, The Accidental Prime Minister on CD, and many others. Time was also found to restore S.S. # 12, an Ameliasburgh school house, after it was the victim of a fire in 1981. It is now known as the Al Purdy Library, and houses the Ameliasburgh Branch of the County of Prince Edward Public Library.

In the fall of 1989 former local resident, Marilyn Adams, returned to the family home on Rednersville Road, having retired from teaching in Oshawa, Ontario. She promptly joined 7th Town. In the Spring of 1990 she discovered that she had only a few weeks to live. She changed her will to leave the bulk of her estate to the 7th Town Historical Society. A few days thereafter Marilyn left this world and the Society learned of her bequest. This extremely generous philanthropic act by Marilyn set in motion the creation of the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre (MAGRC). 7th Town holds two Trusts as a result of Marilyn Adams will: 1) Cunningham House/MAGRC; and 2) a Trust Fund which generates income to help operate the building and centre.

Saturday June 18, 1994 saw the opening and dedication of the Cunningham House, the building that houses the MAGRC. Tuesday August 2, 1994 saw the library open with 7th Town records and Marilyn Adams records on hand to be researched.

In 1997, 7th Town created the Friends of Marilyn Adams in order to enhance the aims and purposes of the will of Marilyn Adams; raise funds for the Trust; and recruit interested persons as members and volunteers.

In the Spring of 1998 Minet Inc., an insurance brokerage in Montreal, donated an $80,000 dollar set of custom built wooden rolling archival shelves to 7th Town. This was the beginning of a major change that took place at the MAGRC, with individuals and companies donating equipment and records, personal collections, family histories, old letters, maps etc. in earnest. This is continuing at an unprecedented rate:

7th Town Meetings are held on the 4th Saturday of Feb., Mar., April (Annual General Meeting), Oct., and Nov. at 1:30 pm at the Ameliasburgh Town Hall, 13 Coleman Street, Ameliasburg. See the Events page for details.

Donations to 7th Town, and The Trust are welcome and income tax receipts are issued as 7th Town is a registered charity BN 89191 7577 RR0001. Memorials in lieu of flowers at times of bereavement and to remember other loved ones are part of the society's fund raising for the Trust. See our Memories page for details.

Fifteen Presidents have led 7th Town:
1969-70 Loral Wanamaker 1971 Mac Wallbridge 1972 Reg Barber 1973-74 Frances Young 1975-76 Mildred Wanamaker 1977 Bruce Graham 1978-79 Daisy Wannamaker 1980-81 Ron Dickens	1982-85 Rev. Maurice McLeod 1986-87 Nellie Montgomery 1987-89 Edith Cairns 1990-92 Gary Wilson 1993-95 John Wannamaker 1996 Pauline Sprague 1997-present Ian E. Reilly UE

These officers and a large number of other dedicated volunteers created the 7th Town Historical Society and the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre. They have made them work, and those that follow will continue to build on these foundations. 7th Town is a very different organization now, than it was in 1969, BUT it is still collecting history, only on a larger scale thanks to Marilyn Adams.

Membership in 7th Town is open to anyone with an interest in preserving the history of the Township of Ameliasburgh and operating the MAGRC. If you are interested in joining the society please complete and mail the application form.