NEWS RELEASE
For release June 11, 2007

Historical calendar launches Southampton's 150th anniversary celebrations

Southampton, Ont., June 11, 2007 -- 2008 may be half a year away, but Southampton's 150th Anniversary committee has started early, publishing a commemorative 16-month calendar titled Southampton, Then and Now.

At Monday night's meeting of Saugeen Shores Council, June 11, 2007, Tim Andersen and Don Matheson presented a copy of the calendar to mayor Mike Smith and thanked council for its help.

Committee Treasurer Tim Andersen said, "We have been aided by a loan from the Town of Saugeen Shores to help make the calendar a reality. We are very appreciative of this support and want to publicly thank Council for its faith in our project."

Committee member Don Matheson added his acknowledgement of support from the Chamber of Commerce. "Our committee is acting as a sub-committee of the Chamber and the assistance we are getting is greatly appreciated," he said.

Southampton was incorporated as a village on July 24, 1858. The 16-month calendar (September 2007 to December 2008) recounts 150 years of town history, using a mix of period photographs, old postcards, modern images, and historical captions. The theme of "Southampton, Then and Now" contrasts how the town used to look with how it looks today, with a different subject for each month.

"Distilling 150 years of history into 16 monthly subjects wasn't easy," said Southampton, Then and Now writer Robin Hilborn. The famous Southampton sunsets made the cut, along with the shipwreck on the beach, the boardwalk, the train station, the Long Dock, Chantry Island lighthouse, and ten other subjects, including the championship baseball team, the Southampton Fishermen.

The calendar was an all-volunteer team effort, with photo selection by Donnie Matheson and Katherine Leonard and historical texts by Robin Hilborn. Photographs in Southampton, Then and Now came from the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre and many other contributors.

The calendar ends by highlighting important dates in Southampton history from 1816 to 1993, and lists 12 Southampton web sites.

Robin Hilborn credited knowledgeable townspeople with making the calendar possible. "We couldn't have assembled this historical calendar without the help of the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, especially Ann-Marie Collins, and the excellent marine history by John Weichel," he said.

Official calendar vendors

Copies of the 36-page calendar are $20 each. Look for the sign "Southampton 150th Anniversary Calendars, On Sale Here" at these approved sales locations:

Bayberry's Hills Insurance Martin's Home Hardware Logan's Vincent Jewellers

Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre Chantry Island Tour Base Saugeen Memorial Hospital Southampton Market

and in Port Elgin at:

Brucedale Press

Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce

You may also buy the calendar at the sales table, run by Katherine Leonard, at various events around town.

For more about Southampton's 150th Anniversary see the web site www.saugeenshores.ca/southampton150.

The events of 2008

2008 marks 150 years since Southampton was incorporated as a village, in 1858. The 150th Anniversary committee has chosen the slogan "Meet me at the flag in 2008".

2008 celebrations start one day early, with the kick-off New Year's Eve Dance on Dec. 31, 2007 at the arena. Incorporation Day Commemoration on July 25, 2008 will recall the events of the day 150 years ago, July 24, 1858, when Southampton became a village.

Celebrations culminate in the 150th Anniversary Weekend, Aug. 14-17, 2008, featuring a parade, musical events, car show, dance ... and closing ceremonies at Fairy Lake. Throughout the year many local groups have planned their own events. For the events lineup, see the Events Flyer, or the web page www.familyhelper.net/150/events.html.

For more information
 16 months, 16 historical captions ... read them at www.familyhelper.net/150/16captions.html
 See the summary of important dates in Southampton history (1816 to 1993) at www.familyhelper.net/150/historydates.html
 The people on the 150th Anniversary organizing committee are listed at www.familyhelper.net/150/committees.html
 This news release is posted at www.familyhelper.net/150/news/070611calendar.html
 The main web site for Southampton's 150th Anniversary is www.saugeenshores.ca/southampton150
 For a complete list of 150th anniversary events, pick up the Events Flyer at the Chamber of Commerce and at various locations around Southampton, or see www.familyhelper.net/150/events.html
 And don't miss this ... Top Ten Things You Won't Know About Southampton   ... unless you get the 150th Anniversary Calendar