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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 The Barrie Historical Archive is a free, online archive that centralizes Barrie's historical content.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: Cops called over loud, raucous worshiping

REMEMBER THIS: Cops called over loud, raucous worshiping

When a local Black man from Allandale took up Pentecostalism, he took it to the streets and began preaching at the Five Points in Barrie; a court case soon followed
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REMEMBER THIS: Who shot Fred Parr? — Part 2

REMEMBER THIS: Who shot Fred Parr? — Part 2

Coroner's jury included the unusual step of firing bullets at the dead man's clothing and examining the results
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REMEMBER THIS: Who shot Fred Parr? — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: Who shot Fred Parr? — Part 1

In the fading light of a local hunting trip, three men picked up their gravely injured friend and started to carry him out of the Baxter-area swamp
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REMEMBER THIS?: Five Points intersection no stranger to fire

REMEMBER THIS?: Five Points intersection no stranger to fire

None of the famed Five Points escaped doing battle with fire, but the northeastern point may have been the most scorched of them all
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REMEMBER THIS: What happened to John Tomlinson?

REMEMBER THIS: What happened to John Tomlinson?

People who knew him didn't even know he was missing until his remains were found in Kempenfelt Bay six weeks after his disappearance
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REMEMBER THIS: Gunfire at the ice cream parlour — Part 2

REMEMBER THIS: Gunfire at the ice cream parlour — Part 2

Law caught up with three culprits, but one made a sweet escape
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REMEMBER THIS: Gunfire at the ice cream parlour — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: Gunfire at the ice cream parlour — Part 1

On a warm July night in 1891, the operators of a small ice cream parlour near the corner of Maple Avenue and Dunlop Street West suddenly found themselves dodging bullets
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REMEMBER THIS: The good old days of the Barbie craze

REMEMBER THIS: The good old days of the Barbie craze

Thousands of hours were spent creating elaborate lives for Barbie dolls
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REMEMBER THIS: Howdy Sheriff, early law enforcement — Part 2

REMEMBER THIS: Howdy Sheriff, early law enforcement — Part 2

Sheriff, high constable, jail governor, county detective ... Hollywood movies lead us to believe these fellows were knee-deep in crime-fighting
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REMEMBER THIS: Howdy Sheriff, early law enforcement in Simcoe County — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: Howdy Sheriff, early law enforcement in Simcoe County — Part 1

Thomas David McConkey was the owner of the building which today houses McReilly’s Public House, and it would have been he who had the jail cell installed there
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