Pembroke’s Wild West
Posted on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014
Total lawlessness, violence and a lot of liquor consumption. Hard to think about Pembroke in those terms, but according to local historian Bruce Pappin, that’s exactly what it was like to be a Pembrokian during its “wild west” settlement period in the early 1800’s. Of course it wasn’t known as Pembroke then–that came later, when in the mid 1800’s , the area grew from a community of log shanties to a modern Victorian town built with a lumber baron’s money.
Over the past two centuries, Pembroke has evolved to become a small rural city, but it is its founding years that provide the most interesting stories. Those tales will come to life through the words of Pappin, who has been studying Pembroke’s past for almost 40 years, and will teach a “History of Pembroke” series, as part of our new Speakers Series at the Waterfront Campus.
The series is broken into four segments, starting with a History of Pembroke’s Churches and Patterns of Destruction–chronicling the impact of Pembroke’s great fires and how they changed the face of the community. Both of these classes will be offered in the spring. In the fall, Pappin will focus on the Wild West years in the mid-19th century and what he calls “Pembroke’s Golden Years,” from 1861 to the end of the First World War in 1918.
Pembroke’s Grand Trunk Railway Station was always a hub of activity. It was both a passenger and service
link for the community and was located near Pembroke City Hall.
The classes are sure to provide history buffs with a lot of great information and were sparked by a Facebook page that captures the imagination of anyone who is interested in Pembroke’s past. The site, known as “I’m from Pembroke, Ontario and I’m Not Afraid to Admit It,” now has almost 3,000 likes.
What makes the site authentic is its participation by people of all ages and the sharing of photographs that capture Pembroke’s early years. The dialogue is rich and quite often articles are posted that catch people off guard, like the one by local historian Jackie Patterson, who questioned whether Peter White was in fact, the Founder of Pembroke.
For the record, White still has the Founder title, as noted in the City’s official history on its website.
Pembroke City Hall. It was originally the City’s Post Office.
When people talk about Pembroke being a logging town, there is so much more to the story. Yes, it was trees that brought the early settlers here, but to really appreciate its history, you have to dig deeper, as Pappin has done. His research should be celebrated and shared. It’s why Algonquin College is so pleased to present his “History of Pembroke” series. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Pembroke.
Posted by: Jamie Bramburger
- Posted in
January 31st, 2014 at 9:33 am
Great post, and nice to see the renewed interest in Pembroke and its rich history. History and culture buffs can also visit http://ottawavalleyculture.ca/ to discover many of the cultural assets that we have in the Ottawa Valley that make this area unique!
February 1st, 2014 at 6:41 am
Do you have a date for these talks? Can’t see any info for these talks on the link itself. Thank you….and can’t wait!
February 1st, 2014 at 7:22 am
I too would love to know the dates. I can’t wait to sign up. thank you
February 1st, 2014 at 11:38 am
Let me know when this series is set to begin. I am very much interested in knowing more about Pembroke and its coloful past.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:29 am
“Pembroke, A Glimpse of the Past” is available at The Champlain Trail Museum, the UOVGG library, Prince Street Books, and, of course, from the author. Looking forward to your series, Bruce.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:47 am
Sound Like a GREAT series. Any chance the series will be televised? I could telecommute from Florda.
Diane Hooper Angello
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:20 am
HI all, thank you for your comments and interest in the “History of Pembroke” series. We will certainly consider taping the lectures if Bruce is comfortable with this idea. Registration for the two sessions being offered in the spring will begin in mid-March when all of our spring continuing education courses are posted on our web site.
Here are the dates and price points for the two spring sessions.
A History of Pembroke’s Churches: Tuesday, April 29 and May 6th. $25 cost for both classes. Classes will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with the May 6th class being a walking tour of three of Pembroke’s historic churches.
Patterns of Destruction-Pembroke’s Great Fires: Tuesday, May 27th. $20 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Pembroke’s Wild West will be offered on Tuesday, September 23rd and Pembroke’s Golden Age will be offered on Tuesday, September 30th. Both of these sessions will be priced at $20 each. Registration for these classes will begin in August.
Space will be limited for these sessions. Please mark these dates and watch the college’s web site and Facebook site for reminders on when registration begins.
February 7th, 2014 at 10:10 am
Bruce is a treasure in this community and perhaps someday he will pen a book, as treasure Jackie Patterson has done. I am very grateful to Bruce for his assistance to me in the creation of my new historical walking tour of downtown Pembroke: from its humble beginnings, its boom-time as the hub of a newly-created county, and its glorious highpoint as a national demonstrator of new and wondrous technology…to its tragic downfall, during what should have been a glorious post-World War I era.
Pembroke is very interesting and that’s why I created Pembroke History Tour Adventures – a labour of love to share this community’s past with residents and visitors alike. See you all at Bruce’s presentations! And thank you to Algonquin College!!
March 18th, 2014 at 1:50 am
It sounds like it will be a very interesting and historical lesson for some. But from my research Peter White a squatter who lived not at the mouth of the muskrat river and for over 20 years never lived within the actual Pembroke village limits and also never had the village or town named whiteville or whitetown etc, but it was named moffatville after the actual settler who lived right on the muskrat river shores and had first the land and lots of the pembroke downtown area surveyed. mr alexander moffat was indeed the actual founder of Pembroke a matter of fact his house is still standing, No Family Lore to back Mr Moffat as the actual founder of Pembroke just real research and documents.For all those who visit the peter white historical plaque at the Pembroke museum ask them for the actual research and paperwork other than the information given by the white family to prove beyond a 100 percent that Peter White was the actual founder of Pembroke.It seems The History for the Founder of Pembroke is in Question But there are many who would rather like to see the founder of Pembroke remain as it is rather than seen History Corrected for Future Generations.I have been in touch with the organization which is in charge of the Historical Plaques such as the one at the champlain museum and they are more concerned about the cost of replacing the plaques rather than the information on them being historically correct. It seems no one wants to question the information which was given at first. We have come a long way in 50 years or more with genealogical research. The historical Plaques can be updated and in the case of the Peter White Plaque The Sooner The Better. It is Our Duty to make sure History as it is or was In its form now is as correct in every way before we make it public and if we find inperfections it is our duty once again to pass on our corrections and there sources. This has not Been done with the Founder Of Pembroke And his Historical Plaque which by the way is not at the location of his homestead. It is some 2 miles east of his actual homestead in what was actually campbelltown.