NEWS RELEASE
OMAH HISTORY COMMITTEE
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Our surveys have told us that attendees of our OMAH History Speaker Series want to learn about Orillia’s industrial past and we aim to please.
Join us via Zoom on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. to hear John Smith of the Orillia Heritage Centre share his knowledge about the Tudhope Carriage Company, the Tudhope Motor Company, Orillia bodies and much more.
Orillia had the largest carriage maker in the British Commonwealth, with a car designed by men as famous as Henry Ford at the time. It had a pan-Canadian sales network and it had favourable tax laws. It might have been destined to be the Detroit of the north, but we know that wasn’t to be.
You will be amazed to hear about the wide array of goods manufactured in the factory at the corner of West and Colborne Streets, and also its many offshoots. Visionary members of the Tudhope Family contributed in a major way to Orillia being an industrial hub in central Ontario. In the end, we are left with just the Tudhope building today. What happened?
Our speaker, John Smith was born into an antique car family in Orillia and he has been involved with locally built cars ever since. He has a particular interest in the automobiles built by Tudhope and, more broadly, Orillia’s industrial heritage.
While serving as president of the Orillia Heritage Centre its collection grew to more than 500 locally-produced pieces. At present, he is part of a team completing the restoration of the sole surviving example of a 1914 Fisher, also manufactured in the Tudhope plant.
John has a fascinating tale to tell you about. The Tudhope businesses are just one of his many passions. What did happen? You won’t want to miss this one!
To receive a link to the talk, visit www.orilliamuseum.org/10-24 or call Vanessa at 705-326-2159. Registration is free, donations to OMAH are appreciated.
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