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flag  History of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Journey back in time to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Explore Peterborough, Ontario, Canada! Uncover its rich history and discover the stories of the people who once called it home. Dive into old newspaper articles, vintage pictures, postcards, and genealogy to learn more about this fascinating town.

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Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - St. Johns Church

Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in Ontario, Canada, about 125 kilometres (78 miles) northeast of Toronto.

Peterborough is known as the gateway to the Kawarthas, "cottage country", a large recreational region of the province. It is named in honour of Peter Robinson, an early Canadian politician who oversaw the first major immigration to the area.

Peterborough's nickname in the distant past was "The Electric City" as it was the first town in Canada to use electric streetlights.



Explore even more about Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Keep reading!



Peterborough Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - St. John's Church
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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St. John's Church
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - A Road near Peterborough, Ont., 1905
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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A Road near Peterborough, Ont., 1905
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - George Street looking North from Charlotte Street
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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George Street looking North from Charlotte Street
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Fire Station and Equipment
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Fire Station and Equipment
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Snowstorm, 1910
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Snowstorm, 1910
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Driveway in Jackson Park
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Driveway in Jackson Park
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - St. Joseph's Hospital
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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St. Joseph's Hospital
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Victoria Park
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Victoria Park
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Y.M.C.A.
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Y.M.C.A.
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Civic Hospital
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Civic Hospital
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Jackson Park Creek
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Jackson Park Creek
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Former Floating Bridge at Chemong Lake replaced by New Causeway near Peterborough, Ont., Canada
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Former Floating Bridge at Chemong Lake replaced by New Causeway near Peterborough, Ont., Canada
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Empress Hotel
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Empress Hotel
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - View of Lift Locks
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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View of Lift Locks
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Rock Haven Motel
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

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Rock Haven Motel

Discover Unique Gift Ideas and Genealogy Resources From or Related to PETERBOROUGH

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CHRISTMAS - FRENCH CANADIAN Coffee Mug – Celebrate Family, Heritage, and Holiday Cheer

Sip Christmas the way your ancestors would have loved it with this festive French-Canadian coffee mug. Featuring the elegant greeting “Joyeuses fêtes de Noël à vous et vos proches!” (Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones), it’s perfect for genealogy enthusiasts, Francophiles, and anyone who cherishes family traditions. Joyeuses fêtes de Noël – literally “Happy Christmas holidays,” which is a common way to wish someone a merry Christmas and holiday season in French. à vous et vos proches – “to you and your loved ones,” adding a friendly, inclusive touch.

CANADA - Canadian Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug - Curling and Olympics

"My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for curling and watching the Olympics!"

CANADA - Canadian Roots Ceramic Coffee Mug - Maple Syrup and Apologies Edition - Genealogy

Embrace your Canadian heritage with our "My ancestors came from Canada" ceramic coffee mug! Perfect for sipping your favorite brew while reflecting on your roots, this mug features a moose sampling maple syrup and a humorous caption that reads, "My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for maple syrup and apologizing!" Whether you're enjoying your morning coffee or unwinding with an evening tea, this mug is sure to bring a smile to your face.

ONTARIO - My Ancestors Came from Ontario Mug – Funny Canadian Genealogy Coffee Cup for Hockey Fans, Maple Syrup Lovers & Toque Wearers

If your family roots trace back to Ontario, this mug probably explains you perfectly. Featuring the proudly accurate caption, “My ancestors came from Ontario. That explains a lot about my love for hockey, maple syrup and wearing toques into April!”, this funny genealogy mug celebrates classic Canadian habits with a wink and a grin. Perfect for genealogy enthusiasts, family history lovers, hockey fans, and anyone who considers maple syrup a staple and cold weather a lifestyle.

Discover Peterborough: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1895 - Peterborough
Peterborough, a town of Ontario, capital of the co. of Peterborough, on the navigable Ontonabee River, with a station on the Midland Railway, 31 miles N.E. of Port Hope, and 94 miles N.E. of Toronto. it contains, besides the county buildings, 6 churches, 4 branch banks, 2 newspaper offices, about 70 stores, several saw-and grist-mills, and manufactories of iron castings, steam-engines, machinery, agricultural implements, leather, woollens, wooden-ware, & c., and has a large export trade in grain, pork, and lumber. The streets are well laid out and lighted with gas, and a handsome bridge connects the town with Ashburnham, on the opposite bank of the Otonabee. Pop. (1891) 9717.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

Discover YOUR Roots: Peterborough Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

We currently have information about 22 ancestors who were born or died in Peterborough.

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Updated: 11/30/2025 3:38:04 PM