Search the resources below for keys to Zorra’s past, featuring information about businesses, architecture, culture and pioneers of the area.


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.
1891 invoice from Embro tin ship to the Campbell family
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<br />
Heroes of Zorra
Recognizing the residents of Zorra who have served our country.
Old oxford county map
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.
Norwich quaker settlement plaque
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 book cover
Lakeside Memories
Donald Seaton writes of an account of pioneer life in Zorra
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.
man farming with large cow
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.
inside of oxford county achives building showing table and book shelf
Oxford County Archives
Is committed to preserving Oxford County's archival heritage for future generations and making it available to the public.
Image is a photo of the cover of the monograph Oxford County Libraries: a brief history. The cover is a light green and the title is inset in the outline of the shape of Oxford County on a map.
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.
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.
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.
tug boat on the river thames thamesford
Thamesford Memories
Thamesford Memories is community history collection that includes photographs, postcards, letters, clippings &, local materials. 
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.
A detailed account of the Zorra Tug of War Team and it's victories.
Zorra's Men of Might
by Herbert Milnes.
A detailed account of the Zorra Tug of War Team and it's victories.
Image of a house by the river in black and white
Zorra: telling our story
Sam Coghlan writes of the prolific output of historical resources concerning Zorra.