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Mary Harris

Mary Harris

The history of Barrie goes back to the early 19th century. More than 170 years have passed and Barrie has been without a museum — until now. The Barrie Historical Archive exists to celebrate and preserve its rich history by telling your story through digital media. The Barrie Historical Archive is a free, online archive that centralizes Barrie's historical content. We are on a mission to preserve, protect and promote your story and the story of those who have built our great city into what it is today.

Recent Work by Mary

REMEMBER THIS: Hunting for Caston houses —Part One

REMEMBER THIS: Hunting for Caston houses —Part One

Once you have seen one or two, you can’t stop seeing them — they are everywhere, writes columnist Mary Harris
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REMEMBER THIS: The house beyond the hedges

REMEMBER THIS: The house beyond the hedges

You may drive past it and never see it, but Thomson Street home is a 'green thumb’s delight'
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at Shanacy's mansion

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at Shanacy's mansion

Home at 87 Toronto St. 'would have been one of the finer homes in downtown Barrie' in its time
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 49 Park St.

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 49 Park St.

Fifty years would pass before the address was no longer home to the Marshall family
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 185 Dunlop St. W.

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 185 Dunlop St. W.

House was home to members of mining family who came to Canada from England
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 245 Dunlop St. E.

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 245 Dunlop St. E.

After moving many times around Ontario and Michigan, family settled in Barrie
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at the decorators

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at the decorators

In 1920s, Goldie Harper ran successful interior decorating business at 34 Toronto St.
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REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 12 Thomson St.

REMEMBER THIS: Looking through the windows at 12 Thomson St.

Two years ago, the Barrie Historical Archive began to collect short stories about some of the lesser-known buildings in Barrie
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REMEMBER THIS: The little cabin on Innisfil St. — Part 2

REMEMBER THIS: The little cabin on Innisfil St. — Part 2

Somewhere between 1928 and 1938, the Webb family built their first addition, possibly the closed-in summer porch, and found hidden cabin at Innisfil Street home
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REMEMBER THIS: The little cabin — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: The little cabin — Part 1

Current owner of home discovers old log construction while renovating
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