Archives for the Trent Valley and Peterborough County area and history book seller
Welcome to Trent Valley Archives
Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026
June 4, 5, 6 and 7 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough. Click here for more information.
The Kid from Simcoe Street
In our adaptation of this moving World War II era memoir, James Clarke recalls growing up in the poor and alcohol-ridden neighbourhood of downtown Peterborough.
As a boy, his father had been a foot soldier, but after coming home from the battlefields he turned to manic drinking and belligerence, shattering his wife’s dreams, and casting a dark shadow over James’ boyhood.
This story, told with emotion that is unflinching in its honesty, lets us see just how remarkable it is that James Clarke became not only a man esteemed and honoured as a judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, but as a respected poet, too.
We are pleased to continue and expand on the pioneering work of archivist Elwood Jones and Steve Gavard as we explore the near and distant past in this full colour publication. View the current and past issues
James Clarke, the boy with the poet’s heart who grew up on Simcoe Street in a time of war and survived a troubled home, going on to uphold the scales of justice as a Judge in Ontario’s Superior Court. Don’t miss Trent Valley Archives Theatre’s 2026 production “The Kid from Simcoe Street,” based on the memoir of the same name by James Clarke, at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and June 6 and 7 at 2pm. Tickets cost $40 for cabaret seating and $30 for regular seating and can be purchased by clicking the link in this post. ... See MoreSee Less
We're "turning back the clock" with our local history tours this year and are excited to share our full 2026 local history tour season with you today! We have a packed tour season this year with 18 Downtown Peterborough, Ashburnham, and Little Lake Cemetery walking tours for you to enjoy beginning this month and running all the way through to November. Whether you're a true crime enthusiast, want to learn more about the Peterborough citizens who helped shape our community into what it is today, or enjoy spooky stories on a dark lantern-lit evening, we've got something for you! NEW for 2026 are two Downtown walking tours that will help you engage with unique areas of Peterborough's past. The first is "The World of the Kid on Simcoe Street" developed to tie in to this year's Trent Valley Archives Theatre production "The Kid from Simcoe Street." The tour will explore James Clarke's wartime neighbourhood, and is perfect for anyone who wants to enhance their theatre-going experience by learning more about the play's setting. The second is "Mainstreet Music: Downtown Peterborough's Iconic Music Venues," which will highlight the live music venues that nurtured Peterborough's music scene from the 1950s to the present. Perfect for live music lovers, the tour may even take you into those venues that are still supporting the local music scene to this day, with enough time to spare for a drink!Tickets to all of our tours cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/o/9633726313 Part of a company, club, or other organization? We also offer private tours and can run any of the tours on our 2026 tour schedule for small groups of 15-25 people. If you're having trouble purchasing tickets or would like to book a private tour, please email us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com or call us at 705-745-4404. ... See MoreSee Less
Happy Mother's Day! 💐We would like to wish all mothers and motherly figures a Happy Mother's Day! 💐 We hope you are getting to spend some quality time with your family today. This photograph is from our Examiner photograph collection and was published in the Examiner on August 18, 1971 with the caption: Heading For Camp: Ten Peterborough youngsters left by bus Tuesday for the Salvation Army summer camp at Robin Lake, near Belleville. Mrs. John Spinks of Sherbrooke St. leans over to kiss her son Philip, 9, before departing. With them is her daughter Christine, 8. ... See MoreSee Less
Spring is in full bloom and so is the print edition of our April 2026 issue of the Heritage Gazette! This issue contains 36 full-colour pages and is packed with local historical content of every kind. There's Mary Smith's "Reflections on Ireland Connections Leading Up to the Bicentennial," which highlights the relationships the Peterborough and Ballyhoura regions developed in the process of commemorating the Peter Robinson Emigration; Elwood Jones' "Henry Calcutt and Riverside Park," which explores letters exchanged between Henry Calcutt and W. H. Moore about the proper use of the park; reviews of several local historical books published last year; and articles from Trent Valley Archives President Madison More and Archivist Elwood Jones about recent events and acquisitions at TVA. If you are currently subscribed to the print edition of the Heritage Gazette, this issue will mark the first issue of your print subscription for 2026, and will either be readied for you to pick up at TVA or mailed to you, depending on your subscription. If you are not currently subscribed to our print edition but would like to subscribe, subscriptions cost $30 (or $40 if you require shipping) for three issues. Individual copies of this issue of the Heritage Gazette can also be purchased at our archives building at 567 Carnegie Avenue for $15 each, or mailed to you for $20 each. We're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-4pm. ... See MoreSee Less
The Kid from Simcoe Street
