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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 The Barrie Historical Archive is a free, online archive that centralizes Barrie's historical content.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: Suspicious Characters — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: Suspicious Characters — Part 1

It wasn’t called human trafficking in 1890, but the crime certainly existed at that time
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REMEMBER THIS: An arsonist finally caught — Part 2

REMEMBER THIS: An arsonist finally caught — Part 2

Downtown Barrie businesses targeted by fire bug in late 1800s
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REMEMBER THIS: An arsonist finally caught — Part 1

REMEMBER THIS: An arsonist finally caught — Part 1

Downtown Barrie businesses targeted by fire bug in late 1800s
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REMEMBER THIS: A break in the cold case of James Speers

REMEMBER THIS: A break in the cold case of James Speers

Four years after column about local fugitive, writer learns of late-1800s fraudster's journey to Los Angeles
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REMEMBER THIS: Family keeps Glenn family history alive

REMEMBER THIS: Family keeps Glenn family history alive

Fred Glenn left behind wife and six kids when he died in workplace accident at age 48
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REMEMBER THIS: Hunting for Caston houses — Part Two

REMEMBER THIS: Hunting for Caston houses — Part Two

Caston-built homes have distinctive look that look could be described as Gothic Revival, says columnist
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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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