History of Zorra

168th Battalion 'Oxford's Own'

A 1915 accounting of Oxford's Own during the Great War. Includes casualties, prisoners and those killed in action. Searchable.

1909 Embro & Zorra Old Boys & Girls Reunion

Souvenir programme details the events undertaken at the August 1909 Homecoming of Old Boys & Girls to Embro

1938 Zorra Highland Games Souvenir Program

Celebrating the third annual Dominion Day event, held in Embro on July 1, 1938, a cavalcade of parades, dances, piping and games: all with Gaelic flair.

1939 Zorra Highland Games Souvenir Program

Celebrating the third annual Dominion Day event, held in Embro on July 1, 1939, a cavalcade of parades, dances, piping and games: all with Gaelic flair.

1956 Zorra Highland Games Souvenir Program

Souvenir program celebrating the 20th Scottish Gathering, July 1956, produced by the Zorra Caldedonian Society.

Art Williams Scrapbook

A keyword searchable collection of the work of journalist, Art Williams, who wrote many of his newspaper columns on the history of Oxford County.

Banner United Church

A centennial church history, 1857-1957. Keyword searchable.

Catalogue of Books in the Library of the Mechanics' Institute, Embro, circa 1896

A searchable record of the original Embro Library collection. Includes a 1912 contract to engage a librarian for the Embro Library.

Embro & Zorra Municipal Records 1888-1910

Various taxation records, school fee receipts & financial statements.

Embro Business Invoices 1882-1912

A collection of Embro and Zorra area local business invoices related to the Campbell family, depict a snapshot of farm life and the goods required to support rural living.

Embro Courier Newspaper, September 16, 1908

A special 'Embro to St. Marys by Rail' edition.

Harrington Grist Mill

Harrington Community Club is dedicated to the preservation of rural heritage and the authentic restoration of the Harrington Grist Mill as a functional museum and working educational site

Heroes of Zorra

Recognizing the residents of Zorra who have served our country.

Historic Hamlets

This list was originally compiled in 1994, with additions ever since, ad hoc. This list is intended to be comprehensive of every historical hamlet that exists in Oxford County.

Historic Plaques

This list is intended to be comprehensive of every his-torical marker that exists in Oxford County including cen-otaphs, plaques placed by the Ontario Heritage Founda-tion, National plaques, and those placed by local citizens and groups.

Knox Church, Embro Ministers, 1832-1863

Issued by the Ladies Aid Society, image commemorates ministers that grew from Knox Church, including portraits of Rev. Donald McKenzie, Rev. Gustavus Munro, Rev. Gilbert C. Patterson & Rev. George Leslie MacKay

Knox Presbyterian Church, Embro, 1832-1982

A booklet commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the church. Searchable.

Lakeside Memories

Donald Seaton writes of an account of pioneer life in Zorra

Memoirs of the 1880s

Robert A. Conway details what life may have been like in Zorra in the 1880s

Ontario Ancestors Oxford County

Ontario Ancestors focuses on collecting and preserving information that will be useful for anyone doing research on ancestors from Oxford County.

Our anniversary album of memories

Created in 1980 by Oxford North District Women's Institutes, this booklet details the history of groups in Oxford County.

Oxford County Archives

Is committed to preserving Oxford County's archival heritage for future generations and making it available to the public.

Oxford County Libraries: a brief history

The short histories of the branch libraries of Oxford County, prepared in 1971 by Louise Krompart.

Oxford Militia : 1812-1815

Digitized muster lists and paymaster rolls, detail the names of citizens of Ingersoll, West Oxford, North Oxford who were called to arms during the War of 1812. Keyword searchable.

Oxford Tweedsmuir Histories

Explore this digital collection of Oxford County Women's Institute community histories. Searchable.

Schools of Zorra

Learn about the history of education in Zorra. Explore student photographs and one-room school histories.

St. Andrew's United Church, Brooksdale, 1883-1983

A commemorative booklet recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the church. Searchable.

Thamesford Memories

Thamesford Memories is community history collection that includes photographs, postcards, letters, clippings &, local materials. 

The Late Nineteenth-century Stone Farmhouses of John Thompson Crellin

by Karen Elisabeth Armstrong. Published in 2018, the author examines of the work of master stone mason, John Thompson Crellin and his twelve houses.

The Private LIfe of a Model T

In a Maclean's article, 22 June 1957 by Eric Hutton, read of the life a particular Model T Ford, originally sold to Bill Masters in 1918 by Atkinson Brothers Livery of Embro.

West Zorra Women's Institute Scrapbook : Vol 1

Owned by Mrs. Angus Gunn, these scrapbooks contain compiled area newspaper clippings of obituaries, births, marriages, news & accidents spanning the years of 1895-1915. Keyword searchable.

West Zorra Women's Institute Scrapbook : Vol 2

Owned by Mrs. Angus Gunn, these scrapbooks contain compiled area newspaper clippings of obituaries, births, marriages, news & accidents spanning the years of 1895-1915. Keyword searchable.

West Zorra Women's Institute Scrapbook : Vol 3

Owned by Mrs. Angus Gunn, these scrapbooks contain compiled area newspaper clippings of obituaries, births, marriages, news & accidents spanning the years of 1895-1915. Keyword searchable.

West Zorra Women's Institute Scrapbook : Vol 4

Owned by Mrs. Angus Gunn, these scrapbooks contain compiled area newspaper clippings of obituaries, births, marriages, news & accidents spanning the years of 1895-1915. Keyword searchable.

Western Ontario Historical Notes, March 1947

Produced by the Oxford County Library Association, this periodical focuses on early Zorra history, including: Embro, Kintore & Thamesford information.

Zorra Sports Clippings

Learn about winning hockey teams from 1950s Lakeside & Kintore. A Lakeside Gun Club photograph is also featured.

Zorra Township History Clippings

A keyword searchable newspaper clipping collection focused on the history of Zorra Township and the many villages and hamlets within.

Zorra: telling our story

Sam Coghlan writes of the prolific output of historical resources concerning Zorra.

Zorra's Men of Might

by Herbert Milnes. A detailed account of the Zorra Tug of War Team and it's victories.

168th Battalion 'Oxford's Own'

A 1915 accounting of Oxford's Own during the Great War. Includes casualties, prisoners and those killed in action. Searchable.

1850 Norwich Township Tax Collectors' Roll

Tax Collectors' Rolls are used to record information about a resident’s property in order to determine the amount of taxes payable on real property. Names of head of household, land and building values, and location.

1851 Oxford-on-the-Thames Patent Plan map

A map detailing land patents applied for by early settlers in Ingersoll the surrounding West & North Oxford townships

1875 East Oxford Township Tax Assessment Roll

Assessment Rolls are used to record information about a resident’s property in order to determine the amount of taxes payable on real property. Names of head of household, land and building values, and location.

1879 Ingersoll Fire Insurance Map

Published by Charles Goad in March 1879, this map depicts the core area of Ingersoll.

1884 South Norwich Township Tax Assessment Roll

Assessment Rolls are used to record information about a resident’s property in order to determine the amount of taxes payable on real property. Names of head of household, land and building values, and location.

1938 Zorra Highland Games Souvenir Program

Celebrating the third annual Dominion Day event, held in Embro on July 1, 1938, a cavalcade of parades, dances, piping and games: all with Gaelic flair.

1939 Zorra Highland Games Souvenir Program

Celebrating the third annual Dominion Day event, held in Embro on July 1, 1939, a cavalcade of parades, dances, piping and games: all with Gaelic flair.

A Genealogy of the Ingersoll Family in America 1629-1925

A comprehensive family history of Thomas Ingersoll, founder of Ingersoll, Ontario

Alexandra Hospital, 1909-1950

Published by the Hospital Women's Auxiliary on the opening of the newly constructed facility in 1950. Searchable.

Art Williams Scrapbook

A keyword searchable collection of the work of journalist, Art Williams, who wrote many of his newspaper columns on the history of Oxford County.

Banner United Church

A centennial church history, 1857-1957. Keyword searchable.

Embro & Zorra Municipal Records 1888-1910

Various taxation records, school fee receipts & financial statements.

Embro Business Invoices 1882-1912

A collection of Embro and Zorra area local business invoices related to the Campbell family, depict a snapshot of farm life and the goods required to support rural living.

Embro Courier Newspaper, September 16, 1908

A special 'Embro to St. Marys by Rail' edition.

Harrington Grist Mill

Harrington Community Club is dedicated to the preservation of rural heritage and the authentic restoration of the Harrington Grist Mill as a functional museum and working educational site

Heroes of Zorra

Recognizing the residents of Zorra who have served our country.

Historic Hamlets

This list was originally compiled in 1994, with additions ever since, ad hoc. This list is intended to be comprehensive of every historical hamlet that exists in Oxford County.

Historic Plaques

This list is intended to be comprehensive of every his-torical marker that exists in Oxford County including cen-otaphs, plaques placed by the Ontario Heritage Founda-tion, National plaques, and those placed by local citizens and groups.

Historic Postcards of Zorra

Postcards of historic structures in Zorra & Embro from the McCorquodale/Campbell photo collection.

Ingersoll History clippings

A collection of newspaper clippings, assembled over many years, related to the history of Ingersoll and its' people. Searchable.

Ingersoll Weekly Chronicle, September 1857 - January 1884

Digitized and keyword searchable newspaper database, made possible by Canadiana.ca & CKRN.

Knox Presbyterian Church, Embro, 1832-1982

A booklet commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the church. Searchable.

Lakeside Memories

Donald Seaton writes of an account of pioneer life in Zorra

Memoirs of the 1880s

Robert A. Conway details what life may have been like in Zorra in the 1880s

Ontario Ancestors Oxford County

Ontario Ancestors focuses on collecting and preserving information that will be useful for anyone doing research on ancestors from Oxford County.

Our anniversary album of memories

Created in 1980 by Oxford North District Women's Institutes, this booklet details the history of groups in Oxford County.

Oxford County Archives

Is committed to preserving Oxford County's archival heritage for future generations and making it available to the public.

Oxford Directories

Discover information about historic businesses and citizens

Oxford Militia : 1812-1815

Digitized muster lists and paymaster rolls, detail the names of citizens of Ingersoll, West Oxford, North Oxford who were called to arms during the War of 1812. Keyword searchable.

Oxford Tweedsmuir Histories

Explore this digital collection of Oxford County Women's Institute community histories. Searchable.

S. S. No. 6 West Zorra, Daily Register, 1920

Ledger recording the pupil attendance of the Youngsville School.

Schools of Zorra

Learn about the history of education in Zorra. Explore student photographs and one-room school histories.

St. Andrew's United Church, Brooksdale, 1883-1983

A commemorative booklet recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the church. Searchable.

Thamesford Memories

Thamesford Memories is community history collection that includes photographs, postcards, letters, clippings &, local materials. 

The Carroll Family

Discover the legacy of three generations of the Carroll family and their impact on Ingersoll and environs.

The Peltons of Zorra : Index

by Florence Pelton Patterson. Search the index focused on the this pioneer Zorra family

The Private LIfe of a Model T

In a Maclean's article, 22 June 1957 by Eric Hutton, read of the life a particular Model T Ford, originally sold to Bill Masters in 1918 by Atkinson Brothers Livery of Embro.

Tillsonburg Library Scrapbook I

A new Tillsonburg Library building was opened 1975. Learn about Tillsonburg Library’s building and history through these scrapbooks.

Volume 5

Discover stone houses in the eastern portion of Zorra, from the 37th Line to Road 74

Zorra Sports Clippings

Learn about winning hockey teams from 1950s Lakeside & Kintore. A Lakeside Gun Club photograph is also featured.

Zorra Township History Clippings

A keyword searchable newspaper clipping collection focused on the history of Zorra Township and the many villages and hamlets within.

Zorra: telling our story

Sam Coghlan writes of the prolific output of historical resources concerning Zorra.

Zorra's Men of Might

by Herbert Milnes. A detailed account of the Zorra Tug of War Team and it's victories.