Lambton County Archives

Lambton County Archives The Lambton County Archives is the archival centre for genealogical and local history research in Lambton County.

As part of The Corporation of the County of Lambton's Cultural Services Division, the Lambton County Archives offers a variety of services and access to historical records. Our documents tell the stories of the people and events that have shaped our local history. We specialize in assisting patrons to trace their genealogical roots. Our collection contains documents, pictures, negatives, newspaper

s, historical atlases, and Tweedsmuir Books, to name a few! We are always happy to respond to research requests by telephone or email, and encourage individuals to visit in person for their research projects. Visit our blog, "Lambton County Archives: History from the Vault" to learn more about our collection and heritage events in the community. http://lambtoncountyarchives.blogspot.ca/

Disclaimer:
This page is intended to foster respectful, diverse commentary and opinions by members of the public. Any comment, opinion, post made to this page cannot and shall not be attributable to The Corporation of the County of Lambton and/or its employees, officers, and elected officials. Comments, opinions, and any other posts made to this page are solely attributable to the party providing the comment, opinion, and/or post. The Corporation of the County of Lambton does not monitor and/or moderate this page on a daily basis. Because this site is only periodically monitored, offensive materials or commentary may be present for which the County of Lambton denies all responsibility. The Corporation of the County of Lambton thereof cannot be held responsible or liable for any comments, opinions, and/or posts made to this page, and reserves the right, but not the obligation, to delete any comment, opinion, and/or post reasonably found to be offensive, derogatory, inappropriate, or libellous in any way

Are you curious about the history of your property and unsure where to start looking? Join Archives staff for a special ...
05/12/2026

Are you curious about the history of your property and unsure where to start looking? Join Archives staff for a special presentation about OnLand.ca, a free online resource with historical Ontario land records!

Learn to perform property searches and interpret the results in this free interactive workshop at the Watford Library on Thursday, May 28 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Secure your seat here: https://loom.ly/k5bIZ5I

Check out this week's X-files!Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and assorted donations, the X-fil...
05/07/2026

Check out this week's X-files!

Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and assorted donations, the X-files are stored in a dozen numbered binders and known only by their number and whatever is written on the back.

Can you help us identity the cute cow wranglers in this photo? If so, let us know in the comments below!

This week's features "Lancey Block". Originally constructed in 1881 during a period of rapid growth and prosperity, th...
05/05/2026

This week's features "Lancey Block".

Originally constructed in 1881 during a period of rapid growth and prosperity, the building also known as the “Lancey Block was commissioned by prominent surveyor, builder, and entrepreneur Henry Warren Lancey. At a time when Petrolia was emerging as a global centre of the oil industry, Lancey envisioned a substantial commercial structure that reflected the town’s rising status.

However, shifting economic conditions and the unpredictable nature of the oil trade soon challenged that optimism. The project earned the nickname “Lancey’s Folly,” symbolizing both the ambition and the risks associated with Petrolia’s early development as Canada’s “Victorian Oil Town.”

The building was home to many well-known and prosperous businesses such as Scarsbrook’s General Store, Lambton-Kent Creamery, Law offices of Moncreif & Wilson, and many more.

Despite its bold beginnings, the building did not survive into the modern era. The building was demolished in 1964, marking the end of one of Petrolia’s most recognizable early commercial landmarks.

Today, the site reflects a different chapter in the town’s history. Following its demolition, the property was redeveloped for commercial use, including a Sunoco service station, and now home to Chuck’s Roadhouse, illustrating the continued evolution of Petrolia’s downtown landscape over time.

The story of Lancey’s Folly reminds us that Lambton County’s heritage is not only found in the buildings that remain, but also in those that have been lost—each contributing to the layered history of our community.

The people of Lambton’s past have shaped the community we know today, often in quiet, meaningful ways that ripple across...
05/02/2026

The people of Lambton’s past have shaped the community we know today, often in quiet, meaningful ways that ripple across generations. Today, we’re taking a closer look at one of those people: Anne Koncovy Podolinsky.

Anne Koncovy was the fourth child of Jakub “Jack” and Margita (nee Blasko) Koncovy. Her older siblings, Simon (1925–1926) and Agnes (1927–1928) who were born and died in Czechoslovakia.

In 1926, after seeing an advertisement by the Canadian Pacific Railway looking for people to work, Jack came to Canada. When he was satisfied that he could make a living in Canada he returned home tell some of his friends about the "New Country" and to asked them if they would move to Canada.

Jack and his friends arrived in Canada and and worked in the mines in Manitoba. Jack did not care for this work, so he went on to work various jobs throughout Canada, often “riding the rails" through the depression.

Jack worked and saved the money so he could bring his wife to Canada.

In the early 1930’s, Jack began a homestead in Hunta, Ontario and he built a log house in preparation for Margita’s arrival in 1934.

In Hunta, Jack and Margita welcomed a son, and soon after Anne was born.

While living in Hunta, Jack’s cousin Jozef “Joe” and his wife Maria (Pavlech) Koncovy, lived nearby.

Anne writes in Mary Janes book “From Slovakia to Hunta” that her mother did not like Hunta and felt she left better living conditions in Slovakia.

They received word from friends that Southern Ontario was a warmer climate and they should consider the move.

Both Jack and his cousin Joe and their families arrived in Brooke Twp., Lambton County in 1940. They shared a small home with another family for a couple of months. It was tight quarters for three families, but they made it through.

In August of 1940, the brothers found a house to rent large enough for their two families and went to work for farmers in the area. In 1941, Jack and Joe bought their first farm and lived to together until Joe purchased a farm for his family and Jack bought out Joe’s interest in the farm they shared.

Joe and Margita lived on this farm the rest of their lives.

Stay tuned later this month as we continue Anne's story...

On your mark, get set, go! Check out this week's X-files!Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and as...
04/30/2026

On your mark, get set, go! Check out this week's X-files!

Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and assorted donations, the X-files are stored in a dozen numbered binders and known only by their number and whatever is written on the back.

Can you help us identity these young racers? If so, let us know in the comments below!

Throughout Archives Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some of the tools, records, and behind-the-scenes work that help...
04/29/2026

Throughout Archives Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some of the tools, records, and behind-the-scenes work that help preserve Lambton County’s history.

Today, Y is for Yellowing. Over time, paper can change colour as it reacts to light, air, and the materials around it. One example in our collection is the "Honor Roll of the Deceased Members of the Alvinston Women’s Institute".

This document is over 100 years old and shows signs of yellowing around the edges where a frame once was. There is also signs of yellowing visible on the back of the piece, highlighted from the ink used for the beautiful hand-lettered calligraphy.

These changes are part of a document’s history, offering clues about how it was displayed, stored, and used over time. They also remind us why careful preservation is so important for protecting these community records.

Throughout Archives Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some of the tools, records, and behind-the-scenes work that help...
04/27/2026

Throughout Archives Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some of the tools, records, and behind-the-scenes work that help preserve Lambton County’s history.

Today, W is for Wedding. Our collection includes a beautiful Golden Wedding Certificate, created to celebrate Mr. & Mrs. William Campbell of Alvinston reaching their 50th wedding anniversary, a milestone often marked with special commemorative documents and celebrations.

These certificates were often richly decorated and proudly displayed in the home, celebrating not only the couple’s marriage but also their lasting place in the community. They serve as a reminder of the traditions families used to mark life’s most important moments.

Their anniversary celebration was also featured in the local newspaper. The Alvinston Free Press on January 29, 1902, described the festivities:
"At four o'clock dinner was announced, and the grand march to the dining room took place, led by the bride and groom, to the strains of "The Campbells are Coming." The large table legs got weak from the load of turkeys, geese, chickens, salads, wedding cakes, etc., etc. Two large arches of chrysantheums decorated the table, while from the top of each festooned streamers of yellow ended in a centre-piece of flowers in the ceiling."

Today, U is for Unique. Among the records in our collection are drawings and blueprints for the J.H. Fairbank House in t...
04/24/2026

Today, U is for Unique. Among the records in our collection are drawings and blueprints for the J.H. Fairbank House in the Town of Petrolia, Ontario. While blueprints are often preserved for large public buildings or industrial sites, it’s much less common to find detailed plans for a private residence from this time period.

These plans offer a unique glimpse into the design and layout of the home, revealing how this well-known house was originally envisioned and built. For anyone who has ever wondered what’s beyond those walls, records like these help bring a little piece of that story to light.

It’s one of the many unique pieces of Lambton County’s history preserved in the Archives.

Check out this week's X-files!Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and assorted donations, the X-fil...
04/23/2026

Check out this week's X-files!

Comprised of photographs from newspapers, family albums, and assorted donations, the X-files are stored in a dozen numbered binders and known only by their number and whatever is written on the back.

Can you help use identify these archers? If so, let us know in the comments below!

Long before it became Cosmo's Restaurant, many people remember this as the home to the Little Pigs Barbecue.The origin...
04/21/2026

Long before it became Cosmo's Restaurant, many people remember this as the home to the Little Pigs Barbecue.

The original building actually began its life on Christina Street. It was eventually relocated to its current site, 181 Capel St. Sarnia, ON.

This building serves as a reminder of a time when structures were sometimes physically moved rather than demolished. Structure relocation was not unheard of in Ontario communities, especially during periods of downtown redevelopment or street reconfiguration.

Today, Cosmo’s has become a long-standing local institution in its own right. Approaching nearly 50 years in business, Cosmo’s has served multiple generations of Sarnia families, making it one of the community’s enduring independent restaurants.

Its longevity speaks to both the strength of locally owned businesses in Lambton County and the continued importance of this historic building as a gathering place in downtown Sarnia. From relocation to reinvention, this structure tells a story of resilience and continuity.

Lambton County Archives would love to hear your memories. Do you recall the building on Christina Street? The Little Pigs Barbecue era? Or your early visits to Cosmo’s?

Share your stories and photos to help us preserve this piece of Sarnia’s history for future generations.

04/20/2026

Throughout Archives Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some of the tools, records, and behind-the-scenes work that help preserve Lambton County’s history.

Today, Q is for Q&A. Before search engines and online forums, people often turned to books for answers. One example in our collection is "Book of Games" by Hoyle, published in 1879.

This handy guide explained the rules and strategies for popular card and parlour games of the time. If you had a question about how to play (or wanted to settle a friendly dispute) this was the place to look.

It’s a reminder that long before the internet, books like this served as a trusted source for answers, bringing people together for a little learning and a lot of fun.

Address

787 Broadway Street
Wyoming, ON
N0N1T0

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 8:30pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+15198455426

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