Kirkfield, Ontario · Est. 1905
History living
today.
Home of the Kirkfield & District Historical Society
The Portage Road
The road in front of the Olde Kirk is older than the province and older than the country. Since the hills were young it was a portage trail, Indigenous peoples carrying their canoes across the high ground between Lake Simcoe and Balsam Lake.
European surveyors mapped it in 1785. The Scottish settlers of 1829 dodged tree stumps and mud to forge a new life near it. By 1834 British Vice-Admiral, Henry Vansittart, was enjoying champagne by the lake at the end of it.
Horses and wagons were replaced by station wagons with children in the back asking “Are We There Yet?”
The Olde Kirk has been steadfastly standing on the Portage Road for more than 120 years.
Add your story to the long history of this road. Visit us this weekend!
WHAT WE DO
Three Great Reasons to Visit
The Museum
Step inside a 120-year-old yellow brick church and find yourself inside a story. Stained glass windows. Local artifacts. Open Sunday’s, Victoria Day to Labour Day — admission by donation, everyone welcome.
Events & Community
A Victorian Tea. An evening Cemetery Walk by lantern light. Film screenings, author talks, and seminars — all summer long in one of the most distinctive buildings in Kawartha Lakes. There is always a reason to come back.
The Historical Society
If your family has roots in Kirkfield, Eldon Township, or the surrounding district — there is a good chance we have something to share. Archives, genealogy, land records, and years of research into the people who built this place. Your name may already be here.
2026 HERITAGE SEASON
Something is happening at the Olde Kirk this summer!
Museum Season
Victoria Day → Labour Day
The museum is open Sundays this summer. Every open has a theme, a story, a reason to visit. The stained glass is the draw. The programming is the reason to stay.
Bring the Scots Back to the Kirk
August – Wine & crepes, an exhibit on the Scottish settlement in Eldon Township, a Gaelic moment, and a preview of Stories Behind the Glass. Clan organizations and diaspora invited.
·Seminars· ·Cemetery Walk· ·Victorian Tea·
A thoughtful calendar of events from June through September. Something for everyone — history buffs, families, researchers, and anyone who loves a good story.
2026 Membership
The Kirkfield & District Historical Society is changing things up for our members in 2026. We are introducing a new structure with a deeper connection, exciting online resources, and a direct link to the building’s 120th anniversary.
Host Your Event at the Olde Kirk
An extraordinary setting for an extraordinary occasion.