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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 The Barrie Historical Archive is a free, online archive that centralizes Barrie's historical content.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: 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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REMEMBER THIS: Drug dependency, death on streets of NYC

REMEMBER THIS: Drug dependency, death on streets of NYC

Just prior to First World War, Fred and Shirley Van Patter decided to come to Barrie and seek their fortune, but things would go terribly wrong
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REMEMBER THIS: Downtown 'hole in the ground' has history

REMEMBER THIS: Downtown 'hole in the ground' has history

Most recently known as the 'pink building,' structure served as music hall, hotel and more before being demolished last month
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