This Sunday, Jan. 29, the Perth County Historical Foundation kicks off its winter series at the Kiwanis Community Centre at 2 p.m.

The featured speaker is Wellington County Museum and Archives curator Susan Dunlop, who will talk about the museum’s award-winning exhibit If These Walls Could Speak: The Wellington County House of Industry & Refuge, 1877-1947.

This permanent exhibit, created in 2006, tells the story of life at the poorhouse for destitute men, women and children, many of whom were also physically and mentally challenged.  

The creation of houses of refuge marked the beginning of state intervention in poverty and led to what we describe now as the welfare state of the mid-20th century.

Stratford’s House of Refuge evolved into what is known today as Spruce Lodge and was located on the same site.

This is the first of three winter presentations sponsored by the Perth County Historical Foundation.

Lutzen Riedstra is scheduled to speak March 4, and Dr. Susan Tamblyn will be the guest speaker on March 25.

For more information, visit www.stratfordperthheritage.ca