By Sean Cann-Sheppard [1]
SHANNONVILLE – Tyendinaga Township [2] is hosting a heritage event at its public library [3] next Monday to help promote the creation of a local historical society.
The event will focus on the early days of the township and its first settlers, says Jim Kennelly of the Hastings Historical Society [4], who will speak during the evening.
“Nobody has really done the history of Tyendinaga in a formal way,” said Kennelly, who grew up in the township.
“It’s going to talk about different aspects of the township: what people were doing to survive, the cheese factories in the township, a little bit on the churches and some of the problems with the Catholic-Protestant divide,” he said.
He will also talk about the development of the roads and the potash industry. Other points will include early schools and the political scene.
Kennelly said he hopes the event will spark interest in the creation of a local historical society and help promote the history of the region.
“We’re hoping we can use this as a kickoff to create a group of people who might like to come together and share stories and information on the township, and create a more formal history of the township.”
He hopes to draw in local residents and others who are interested in learning more about the area, he said. He wants the stories to give them a new respect for the past, he added.
“I hope that people will walk away with an appreciation of our background, the struggles of the early settlers, an appreciation of the hard work they put forth to carve out a living.”
The event will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be held in the main atrium of the public library, located at 852 Melrose Rd, Shannonville.