Description : The WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History Project) team has engaged the services of the Friesen's History Book Division, to help publish and print the History of West Gwillimbury. This Division specializes in helping local history groups, such as WEGWHIST, produce their own local history books. To this end, WEGWHIST will be assisted by Orland French, Friesen's Ontario representative. French was raised in Waverley, just south of Midland - so he is no stranger to Simcoe County. He was a reporter and columnist for the Globe and Mail, and now owns Wallbridge House Publishing, based in Belleville, Ontario. In his career as a writer and publisher, French has produced a number of history books and recently assisted with histories of Bancroft and North Hastings, and Northumberland County. His experience, and the support of Friesen's History Book Division, will provide a guiding hand as the project is completed.

Description : WEGWHIST, the West Gwillimbury History project, is looking for a Summer Student, currently attending college or university and planning to return to school in the fall, to work on a history of West Gwillimbury. The job involves using Word, scanning and cataloguing photos, some creative writing, and other varied tasks. This is a 12-week contract, full-time, paying position.

Description : On Thursday October 18, WEGWHIST - the West Gwillimbury History project - met for a Reunion, and a celebration of the reprinting of their 2-volume set, "Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury." The book was put together by the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, and volunteers from the community. The WEGWHIST group first met on October 11, 2001 with almost no experience in publishing, but with a desire to share their memories and stories. For the next four years, they collected and collated the histories of the families and farms of West Gwillimbury. The finished book contains over 4,000 historical photographs and tells the story of the people, churches, schools and activities of West Gwillimbury, from the date the Township was first settled to the post-war years. It was one year ago that the final draft was sent off to the printer, and on December 15th, 2005,the first books arrived in Bradford West Gwillimbury. By January 15, every copy had sold out. Last Thursday, five years after the start of the project, WEGWHIST volunteers invited representatives from 13 different schools to the Bradford Public Library, to receive two donated copies each, for the school libraries.

Description : More information is needed for the History of West Gwillimbury! Did your family reside in the Township of West Gwillimbury prior to 1960? A member of WEGWHIST - the West Gwillimbury History project - will be pleased to meet with you for a chat, and to take notes. If you have any old photographs, please dig them out. The Project will copy the photos and return them immediately.

Description : The West Gwillimbury History project (WEGWHIST for short) is gathering information and interest, pursuing the many aspects of Who, What, Where, When and How of the historic Township. The story begins about the time that the Township was surveyed in 1819, 183 years ago. The record-keeping of those days was not too detailed, but it is surprising the records that are available, and the story that they tell. All are welcome to come to the meeting and hear about WEGWHIST. A number of items need to be researched, such as old mills, post offices, meeting halls and fraternal societies. Pen, paper and an inquisitive mind will qualify you as a researcher.

Description : The final galley is back, and WEGWHIST volunteers are busy correcting spelling errors and misprints in the History of West Gwillimbury. This will complete the writing phrase; there is a commitment from the publisher that the book will be out by early December. October 13, 2005, will mark the 4th anniversary of the first WEGWHIST meeting, which took place on the 2nd Thursday of October, 2001. The team will meet at 2 p.m. on the 13th in the Bradford Library, to go over marketing plans, ask for help in contacting all those who have indicated an interest in buying the book, and offer an opportunity to purchase a copy, pre-publication. A sincere Thank-you to the 30 businesses and 85-plus private individuals who contributed to the Patrons Program.

Description : October 13th marks the 4th anniversary of the 1st WEGWHIST (West Gwillimbury History Project) meeting. WEGWHIST is now in the final stages of producing a 2-volume history of West Gwillimbury Township that will be available by this December. At 2 p.m. on October 13th, come out to the Bradford Library, to mark the 4th anniversary, learn more about marketing plans, and purchase a copy, pre-publication. WEGWHIST will be asking for help in contacting all of those who have indicated an interest in buying the book.

Description : Following four years of volunteer work by a team of members of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, Governor Simcoe Slept Here - The Legacy of West Gwillimbury was launched on December 15th. In October, 2001 over forty people responded to the initial invitation to meet and discuss the possibility of writing a history of West Gwillimbury and they choose to call themselves WEGWHIST - West Gwillimbury History. The book was written by a team of 15 Bradford West Gwillimbury residents. Governor Simcoe Slept Here tells the story of the two waves of pioneer settlers to West Gwillimbury - the Scottish, Irish and English, who settled on the highlands during the 1820 - 1830 period and the European settlers who arrived a century later to the Holland Marsh. Churches, schools and hamlets are documented in the two volumes, along a CD which includes "The Many Faces of West Gwillimbury" as photographed by Franz Aschwanden, a listing of the Marsh Land Owners in 1949 and a Genealogical Index of the Families.

Read about the pioneers who settled West Gwillimbury and left a legacy of responsible government, free schooling and community service. This hardcover, two volume book of some 900 pages contains the story of 470 families, includes pictures that will let you show your grandchildren your picture when you were in senior third in Bowles school; we tell of plane crashes, train wrecks and buggy accidents; baseball and lacrosse teams and horse races on the frozen lake. This early offering is at the pre publication price of $55 and will be in effect until the Book Launch, in early December from then on the price is $65, per copy. It will cost you $8 to have your copy mailed to you in Ontario.

Barbara Verney, Zelma Fuller and George Jackson thanking Lieutenant Governor Onley and presenting him with a copy of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Associations book "Governor Simcoe Slept Here; The Legacy of West Gwillimbury" at the official unveiling of the Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe Statue.