IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ
Milton Historical Society will re-open the Waldie Blacksmith Shop area for live blacksmith demonstrations on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon, beginning on July 24 and continuing until Aug. 28. Other Society programming will be phased in as safely as possible, beginning after Labour Day. Please keep checking this website for further information about our upcoming programs and services, or call us at (905) 875-4156.
In keeping with Government of Ontario and Halton Public Health safety protocols, what follows are the Society’s requirements for attending MHS activities:
- As a museum, the Waldie Blacksmith Shop can only accommodate 50 percent of its permitted capacity.
- All guests must maintain a two-metre distance from one another;
- All guests must wear a clean face mask at all times;
- All guests must clean their hands with sanitizer provided by Milton Historical Society upon entering the Shop. Bottles of sanitizer are located at all entrances to the building.
We are looking forward to hosting you and your friends and families back at the Shop!
Welcome back!
Welcome
Welcome to the Milton Historical Society, located at 16 James Street in Milton, Ontario. We are above the Waldie Blacksmith Shop, one of the MHS major restoration projects.
The Milton Historical Society and the Waldie Blacksmith Shop are located in historic downtown Milton, between Main Street and Mill Street.
EXPERIENCEMonthly speakers, walking tours, blacksmithing classes, special interest programs, our annual book fair and more!
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
GET INVOLVEDSupport the work of the Milton Historical Society by becoming a member, donating, or through corporate sponsorship.
JOIN USBECOME A MEMBER
Only $25 a year, or $40 for the whole family
THE WALDIE BLACKSMITH SHOP
Come watch the smiths at work, or take a class and learn this ancient craft
HISTORIC PROPERTIES
Learn more about some local Milton landmarks and the people who built them
ARCHIVES
Research Milton's history online or in person at our archives
BOOK SHOP
Bring history home with a book from our new online bookstore
UPCOMING EVENTS
Anniversary of 200 years of Early Settlement: 1820/1821 – 2020/2020
Background History:
Research by past MHS members Alex Cooke, Jack Charlton and Jim Dills it was found that the land known today as the Region of Halton was part of two purchases from the Mississauga Indians. The purchase of the Indian lands was intended to open up the district for settlers.
Halton County consisted of four Townships – Trafalgar, Nelson, Esquesing and Nassagaweya. The first purchase, on Sept. 5, 1806, was for 1000 pounds and included 85,000 acres. This included the area south of the lower base line to the shore of Lake Ontario.
The second purchase on Oct. 15, 1818 included our Milton area. The 648,000 acres purchased include much more than just the area we are concerned with around the original settlement site of Milton. Those who came had an influence on the establishment, growth and development of the district.
Here are a few of the early 1820’s names who requested a Patent for land in Trafalgar Township, Halton County, around our original settlement site – Concession 1, 2 & 3; Lots 12, 13 & 14:
Brooke, Dyer, Harrison, Lynch, Martin, McNabb, Nunan, Pelkie, Whitfield, Will and Templer