Saturday, August 9th, 2025

11am – 2:30pm

“Be Part of the Big Picture”

Harrington’s big picture, a 5½-foot-long photo portraying almost 500 people, hangs on the wall of Harrington Hall. The panoramic photo was taken here in our village on Pitt’s Hill on Labour Day, 1925 in celebration of the “Old Boys and Girls Reunion”, an event that attracted over a thousand celebrants at a time when Harrington’s population was around 400.

The Great War and the Spanish Flu had just ended. Great sacrifices had been made and hardships endured. Our ancestors were likely celebrating that they were still here, proud to be from here and full of optimism for a better future.

We face different challenges today, including the removal of Pitt’s Hill by a gravel company, but we remain proud of our history and will be celebrating the centennial of that exuberant weekend by welcoming all who hold some affection and/or attachment for this historic, picturesque village.

We’re going to re-create that big picture with a 2025 version and we invite you to be part of it!

Picture time will be 2:30 pm but there will be a wealth of activities until then at various sites around the village from 11 am to 2 pm:

· Visit what is now the “historic” Harrington Grist Mill that was just a part of daily commerce back then;

· Tour the Harrington Community Centre in what then was the school (S.S. #4, West Zorra) – the building still retains many of the original architectural features;

· Examine a variety of displays in Harrington Hall, previously Broadview United Church which in 1925 was transitioning from Harrington Methodist Church (historical memorabilia will be for sale);

· Bring YOUR heritage to Harrington Hall: Bring items and/or documents you have related to the history of Harrington & area. Professional staff from the Beachville District Museum will be available to provide practical tips on preserving family treasures at home. From photographs to textiles, learn simple, effective ways to care for your keepsakes and ensure they last for generations to come.

· Study the school-related displays in the 1869 stone schoolhouse;

· Participate in the Little Hobby Hill Farm petting zoo provided by Oxford County Library;

· Check out the library itself (now a branch of Oxford County Library, but back then the Harrington Library was in the librarian’s home);

· Enjoy good food of “The Sunset Shack”, the yummy food truck from the Sunset Diner in St. Marys;

· Catch “Ox on the Run”, Oxford County Library’s mobile library project:

· Accept the challenge of the scavenger hunt around the pond and conservation area, organized by the Coyote Nature School;

· Walk around and explore the history of Harrington by reading the signs in front of selected properties explaining what activities use to occur therein.

Activities will end at 2:00 pm as a pair of pipers from the Ingersoll Pipe Band call everybody to assemble to be included in the big picture. Photographer Doris Weir, on behalf of the Zorra Heritage Committee, will take a panoramic photograph of all present. A copy of the photo will be emailed to everyone who provides an address.

2:30 pm – EVERYBODY IS WELCOME! Anybody who feels some connection to Harrington and area, whether from being born here, having lived here, partied here, fished in the pond or even just passed through and thought what a beautiful spot. This will be our challenge to the future, to protect and celebrate the heritage and the community values that make Harrington special.