Resources

The Bayfield Cemetery was established in December of 1861 when Stanley Township Clerk, John Esson, bought an acre of land from Andrew Bronson. Bronson purchased the first burial plot for $3 and then the land was divided into shares. Buying an initial 10 shares were: James Gairdner, Andrew Rutledge, Thomas H. Bateman, William H. Hall, William W. Connor, William Bengough, James Thompson & Co., and George Erwin. Information is from the Corporation of The Village of Bayfield History 1876-1985 by The Bayfield Historical Society.

Records for the following cemeteries are available for viewing at the archives: Bayfield Public Cemetery; Baird’s Cemetery; Bayfield Memorial Cemetery; Varna United Cemetery; Varna Memorial Cemetery.

Recording and updating the cemetery records is an ongoing project. We continue to add records to Find-a-Grave.

In 1836, Baron von Tuyll donated two lots to the village for the construction of a school. The first school was built of cedar logs and was located on lots 12 and 13 on Bayfield Terrace. It is known to many as "The Hut" and is Bayfield's oldest building.

The Hut (information from Lucy Diehl)

A bigger school was soon needed and through the donations of lots 236 and 237, a second school constructed of brick was built in 1862. A back part was later added in 1875 and a second story was added in 1892.

A new public school was constructed in 1955 with the first classes taking place on November 14, 1955. The formal opening of the school was not held until May 30, 1956.

A larger and more central school, Huron Centennial Public School, was constructed outside of Brucefield in 1967.

Union School Section No.1 – Hay & Stanley
S.S. No. 1, Stanley – Baird's
S.S. No. 3, Stanley – Front Road School
S.S. No. 4, Stanley
S.S. No. 5, Stanley
S.S. No. 6, Stanley – Varna School
S.S. No. 7, Stanley
Union School Section No. 9 – Blake
S.S. No. 10, Stanley
S.S. No. 13, Babylon Line
S.S. No. 14, Stanley
R.C. Separate School, Stanley
Lakeview Christian School

Information come from the following books: Corporation of The Village of Bayfield History 1876-1985 by the Bayfield Historical Society and Township of Stanley History 1836-1986 by the Stanley History Committee.

The archives holds assessment rolls for the village of Bayfield. These rolls were conducted annually and list the head of the household, the number of persons in residence.

The archives has an extensive large collection of Bayfield ephemera. Broadsides, newspaper clippings and other related ephemera provide researchers with many insights into the activities of Bayfield throughout the years.

Several families who have played significant roles in the history of Bayfield and surrounding area have donated materials to provide insight into their lives and the events that have shaped the community.

These invaluable papers, photos and other materials are being preserved, protected and catalogued in the Bayfield Archives.

If you would like to donate items to the archives, please email us at bhsmembers@gmail.com so that we can arrange a time that works for both parties to meet and accept the donation.

For digitized Huron County Newspapers please use this link.

We have a small library at the Archives & Heritage Centre, which includes township histories, Huron County atlases, and more.

We also hold the Bayfield council minutes (1876-1965) and directories.